Foreign cover art - great, funny & weird

[Murun]

Recently, I had I lot of the German (plus some French)´paperback editions passing through my hands, and remembering lively discussions on cover art, I thought it might be fun to showcase them here. I concentrated on the main images, leaving superficial design variants aside.
While Darrell K. Sweet's covers have seemed a bit corny to some, they are fairly close to the text - not so here: you will find some quite creative renderings, some funny miscommunication between publisher and artist, and also quite a bit of carelessness on the publisher's side and a regrettable tendency to switch from commissioned artwork to some "generic fantasy" picture, most likely on reasons of cost.
So join me on a story in 36,5 chapters - as translation into German makes texts about 20% longer by byte count, the books were split into two or more volumes. (For a couple of years there are also one-volume editions of most of the books, which show the familiar Sweet covers- no need to feature them here.)
And if there is memorable cover art on translations into other languages, I'd love to see it!

 

[Murun]

The Eye of the World part 1 - Drohende Schatten

The Eye of the World part 1 - Drohende Schatten (Threatening Shadows) - Version 1 (artist Peter Eilhardt)

Well, this it it - not much comment needed. However, this was replaced by version 2 (artist Keith Parkinson)

Oh yes, nightmares a plenty. Sorry to say, even that did not last - version 3 (artist Geoff Taylor):

An image that could be on hundreds of fantasy paperbacks.

The French have an interesting alternative for the start of the series - L'invasion des ténèbres (Invasion of the Shadows):

If you can't descide on something specific, what about symbolism ...

 

[Murun]

The Eye of the World part 2 - Das Auge der Welt

The Eye of the World part 2 - Das Auge der Welt (The Eye of the World) - version 1 (artist Peter Eilhardt):

Definitely not his best, but then, it was replaced by this (artist Darrell K. Sweet, back of TSR):

Nice, but quite out of place.

 

[Murun]

The Great Hunt part 1 - Die große Jagd

The Great Hunt part 1 - Die große Jagd (the great hunt) - version 1 (artist Peter Eilhardt):

Nice enough, but replaced by version 2 (generic):

 

[Murun]

The great Hunt part 2 - Das Horn von Valere

The great Hunt part 2 - Das Horn von Valere (the horn of Valere) version 1 (artist Peter Eilhardt):

This must have been inspired by scenes from Nynaeve's testing - dangerous woman, she sure is. But maybe one could like the next version even better (artist Larry Elmore):

Elayne and Min on dangerous endeavours? Maybe, but the clothes ...

 

[Murun]

The Dragon Reborn part 1 - Der wiederdergeborene Drache

The Dragon Reborn part 1 - Der wiederdergeborene Drache (the dragon reborn) artist Peter Eilhardt.

One of the few images that noone thought needed changing. But then, this should be Perrin having a nightmare, and the axe doesn't quite fit the description.

 

[Murun]

The Dragon Reborn part 1 - Der wiedergeborene Drache

Please delete.

 

[Murun]

The Dragon Reborn part 2 - Die Straße des Speers

The Dragon Reborn part 2 - Die Straße des Speers (the road of the spear), artist Peter Eilhardt. Rand climbing the Stone; also carried through all the editions.

 

[Murun]

The Shadow Rising part 1 - Schattensaat

The Shadow Rising part 1 - Schattensaat (seeds of shadow) version 1 (artist Ralph Voltz):

Nice Perrin, the axe is a bit oversized. Replaced by generic fantasy image:

 

[Murun]

The Shadow Rising part 2 - Die Heimkehr

The Shadow Rising part 2 - Die Heimkehr (Homecoming) - artist Ralph Voltz:

Well, hunting trollocs ... and Perrin holds the hammer, a bit early.

 

[Murun]

The Shadow Rising part 3 - Der Sturm bricht los

The Shadow Rising part 3 - Der Sturm bricht los (the storm breaks) - version 1 (artist Darell K.Sweet):

Replaced by this (artist Geoff Taylor):

If this is meant to be Rhuidean ... well I guess it wasn't.

 

[Murun]

The Fires of Heaven part 1 - Zwielicht

The Fires of Heaven part 1 - Zwielicht (twilight) - well, what would you expect?
Certainly not this. Shame on them!

 

[Murun]

The Fires of Heaven part 2 - Scheinangriff

The Fires of Heaven part 2 - Scheinangriff (sham attack) - would you expect Darell K.Sweet's image for TGH on the cover? No, but there it is.

At least, it was replaced with some generic fantasy image by Geoff Taylor:

 

[Murun]

The Fires of Heaven part 3 - Der Drache schlägt zurück

The Fires of Heaven part 3 - Der Drache schlägt zurück (The dragon fights back) . only one version (artist Attila Boros):

 

[Murun]

Lord of Chaos part 1 - Die Fühler des Chaos

Lord of Chaos part 1 - Die Fühler des Chaos (feelers of chaos) - version 1 (artist Attila Boros):

Replaced by a generic battle scene:

 

[Murun]

Lord of Chaos part 2 - Stadt des Verderbens

Lord of Chaos part 2 - Stadt des Verderbens (city of perdition) - version 1, by Attila Boros:

Recently changed to this -

 

[Murun]

Lord of Chaos part 3 - Die Amyrlin

Lord of Chaos part 3 - Die Amyrlin (the Amyrlin) - version 1 by Attila Boros:

Does not fit the title, but an assassin coming for Rand? Quite plausible. Replaced by version 2 (artist Geoff Taylor):

... and the only nice thing I can find here are the wolves in the background.

 

[Murun]

Lord of Chaos part 4 - Die Hexenschlacht

Lord of Chaos part 4 - Die Hexenschlacht (witches' battle) - version 1 by Attila Boros:

Like it or not, there is a lot of reasonable detail in it - and at least a certain sense of turmoil. Nothing like that in the recent version (by Geoff Taylor):

 

[Murun]

A Crown of Swords part 1 - Die zerbrochene Krone

A Crown of Swords part 1 - Die zerbrochene Krone (the broken crown) - version 1, by Attila Boros:

Replaced with something by Geoff Taylor:

Must have been done for another book altogether.

 

[Murun]

A Crown of Swords part 2 - Wolken über Ebou Dar

A Crown of Swords part 2 - Wolken über Ebou Dar (clouds over Ebou Dar), version 1, by Attila Boros:

Mat fighting for his life at The Wandering Woman - replaced with an image by Geoff Taylor:

Is this meant to be a raken? But they're not due yet ...