Cover Whiplash!

Posted on by scott

Okay, so remember how I posted the US cover for Leviathan ? Well, it turns out that there has been a change . . .

So this will be the actual cover in the United States:

leviathanusfinalsmall

Behold the gloriousness. It’s steampunky, baroque, and very, very shiny.

But, you may ask, why did this happen? From where comes this entirely new cover?

Well, I just work here. The writer’s job is to write and the publisher’s job is to publish, and covers are a key part of publishing a book. Which is not to say that I haven’t been consulted, but I’m not privy to all the pressures that come from Sales, Marketing, Major Accounts, and all the other Powers That Be. So I’m not sure exactly what happened to the old cover, except that it may have been deemed a bit . . . young.

The thing is, I loved that cover and I love this one too. But I will admit that this cover is more adult-friendly and, for lack of a better word, literary. Both of which are good things, though I’m a bit sad to lose the manga-ness.

But we must remember: adults are very delicate. Like horses, they are afraid of loud sounds, sudden movement, skateboards, the internets, slang, and getting band names wrong. So in order to bring more people gently into the fold of Leviathan reading, Simon & Schuster has decided to use a cover that won’t ruffle anyone’s fragile sense of adultiness.

And hey, I’m a big tent kind of guy. So welcome everyone, and I hope you like this new cover as much as I do.

Note 1: To my readers in the UK, you’re still getting this cover, and I don’t know yet which way France and Australia will go.

Updated Note 2: Turns out that Sammy Yuen, the overall designer of the book, created this new cover based on some of the elements drawn by Keith. (That’s Keith Thompson, the illustrator of the book.)

Leviathan comes out October 6, and you can preorder it at Barnes and Noble, Amazon, or at independent book stores everywhere.

Canadian Update: For you folks up north, it’s the same cover as above, and you can pre-order from Amazon.ca or Chapters Indigo.

104 thoughts on “Cover Whiplash!”

  2. I liked the old cover very much, but I LOVE LOVE LOVE this one. Even if I didn’t know to expect a great story inside, I would surely grab it off the shelf just for that gorgeous cover. And I think it will appeal to female readers as well as males, whereas the other one was a bit more boy-centric.

  3. whats going on with the uglies movie.
    seriously is that ever gonna happen? its been like 3 years.

  4. Excellent. This makes me much more comfortable, and now perhaps I will read the book. Before, my fragile ego couldn’t have managed it…

    ;’)

  5. Love it. I actually like it more because of the deep red. It draws more.

    I’M soooo exitteeddd till it comes outtt!!!

  6. and kel – movies take a REALLY long time. plus, it was just in the thinking stage when there was a first post. hopefully we’ll hear more about it soon though =]

  12. I really do like this one better…still like the UK one a little bit more, but it’s close to a tie…

    BOOK COVER FACE-OFF!

    (P.S.: Not sure if I really want an Uglies movie now that I’ve seen how screwed up the Avatar movie’s going to be… :<)

  13. I love this cover. It’s wonderful. I don’t care that much about covers, the writing is what makes it waht it is. However, I disliked the Peeps and Last Days covers. They weren’t creepy enough.

    I do have a question though. Is this book specifically for adults or is it YA that adults would like to read? I don’t care either way. I’m definetly going to read it.

  15. Well, I still prefer the UK cover, bu this is MUCH better. Any design ideas for my Google Doodle? (read my latest post on the Scott-la’s previous post).

    ClICk ThE lInK

  16. Both covers are great! You’re right though, this cover has a bit more of a mature-sense.

  18. This one is infinitely more awesome, though I loved the previous one, too. But it’s so industrial! And intricate! And gorgeous! 😀

  20. I love this cover, but I also loved the old one. Though, the old was a *teensy bit* juvenile. But the robot and the dude’s outfit were really neat! 🙂
    I can’t wait until Leviathan comes out!!! 😀 Leviathan actually inspired me to rework a story of mine, because after seeing the artwork on the old cover I realized the setting of the book wasn’t right for the story. So, yay Leviathan!!! 😀 😀 😀

  21. I agree, this cover does feel “older”. Personally, I’m a bigger fan of this one and it’s wholesome steampunkiness.

  22. FRICKIN GORGEOUS. The other was intriguing and cool, but I would pick up this book WAY before the other. I wanted to read the book really badly already, but now I HAVE to hold it! It just got that much more fascinating. Dude, I’m sold. (Not that I wasn’t already, but I’m trying to make a point. :P)

  25. but scott la:what will happen to the ones that were all ready published? CAN I HAVE THEM!? lolz jk. but will they be distroid or hidden or made into a sneek suit?

  27. As a few people have mentioned (including Scott), the original cover, while very cool, looks at first glance a bit more like a junior book than teen.

    Having said that, I like them both.

  29. I like this cover much better! Yup… hey, you think they messed up Avatar? Well, they completely changed The Vampire Diaries. Like, they might as well just call it a different name. Their casting is atrocious. Utterlly vile. Bonnie, who is a small red-head and eaisily frightened, is being played by and African-American! And Elena is supposed to be blonde, not a brunette! And the Salvatore brothers… oh, and they changed the name from Salvatore to Whitmore or whatever. And the name of the city. And they deleted Meridith, who I belive is an extremely important charecter!!! I mean, really. Come on, this is just lame, what they’ve done to The Vampire Diaries.

  30. *Sigh* Me and my friends were going to make an Uglies movie, but sadly, it’s not going well right now. The person who’s playing David is moving to Japan June 20th, and I’ve got no money for the special effects software yet, nor a script… The movie needs to be made during the summer, when school’s out, but like I said Anthony is moving, so unless I meet some other guy in the next few weeks, the movie’s not going to be made. I know how many people are waiting for this… it really would be awsome… well, I just don’t want Anthony to move!! He’s like the life of the party, our lives would be so dull without him!!! UUUUGGGHHHH so I of course hope that somehow meraculusly he won’t have to move, and we’ll find our two missing cats…

  32. Thats the new tv series on the CW next year right?
    I dont really care about it(because I havn’t read the books) but I do care that because of this dumb show Smallville is being moved to FRIDAYS!! NOT KOOL…..Im not home on Fridays thats the worst possible night to move my favourite show to! ARGGG NOT HAPPY!!!!lets see Superman….or Vampires…EASY DISSISION HERE…..of course Superman.

  33. LOL, I love it! The blue was just a tad to suttle and I like the red much better! It draws the eye.

  34. Ahhhh! I’m in love! This cover is positively amazing. I mean, the previous one was okay, and you got to see the robot and whatever, but this is just about EPIC.

    Can’t wait for the book:D

  35. I know this doesn’t have to do with the subject but you should make another book for the Ugly series! That is my favorite series! You should make more!
    (don’t mean to push you or anything just suggesting)

    Love your series,
    Haley-wa

  41. But I was going to marry the other cover! Do I have to call off the wedding? What’s the protocol when the groom goes through a drastic change?

  45. I like this new cover, too, but I prefer the previous one. I’m a manga fan, so I enjoyed how the boy (probably Alek/Alex) looked manga-like. Oh, well, I don’t really mind. It looks good, and I’m only getting Leviathan to read the story, not stare at the cover all day long. “Never judge a book by its cover”, is what my library teacher said.

  48. Well the other cover was bubbly, but this one is super icy. Of course what matters most to me is whats on the inside… *MUST HAVE BOOK!! DON’T WANT TO WAIT*

  49. I must say I LOVE this cover. And don’t hate me for this, but I love this cover more than the original one. Do you still get to keep the original art for your covers? I mean, do you collect your cover art? I think that would be a very cool collection.

  50. I love the art on this one, I’d like to see it without anything covering it up, personally

  51. Nine kinds of fawesome. I love the art…very steampunk. Apt for the book, as far as I can tell without having read it. I love all the deep colors, especially the red. Tis eye-catching.

    If I didn’t know what Leviathan was, I would so be drawn in by this cover.

  53. Alex-wa you stole my idea…lol jk….I hope your friend doesn’t have to move either! I love acting myself, so I’m sure that feels pretty awful…Good luck anyway!

  54. I like this cover so much.

    It does seem a little bit more friendly to the older peoples.
    Good.
    I am happy.

  57. Me likey. Me likey more even than your other cover, Scott. I must admit, as a girl who rides horses, it’s a smart move. Don’t want to startle those adults into bucking and thus making you land on your head as a result. It’s ouch-making.

    It’s a lot more intriguing as compared to the seemingly kid-friendly prior cover. Not to say that the other one wasn’t fantastic; this one just makes you wonder a bit more about the story.

    That’s most of the fun in getting a new book, I’ve found; you have no idea what’s going to happen and, contrary to all advice, you DO judge a book by its cover. In judging it, you decide with what intensity you are going to read it, and then you keep going further and further until you’re finished.

    Totally bubbly. -nods-

    -Hope

  58. i love the horse-adult similie thing( is that what its called?) oh. comparison. sorry people, but i am very slow today… no sleep last night…..

  59. oh and btw dessometrics, do you ride english or western? i ride too. i do dressage and i just got a new horse( YIPEE!) although she can be VERY mareish

  60. AMAZING……I think the old one looked a little to young. The new one is awesome!! I love it sooo much…..I would totaly buy that book if I only saw the cover! It is sooooooooo cooool!!

  61. Wouldn’t it be so cool if you moved the book cover back and forth, or side to side, and the gears looked like they were moving? Like, whenever you move a holographic (?) card, it looks as though it’s really moving. It would be so cool to see all the gears in this cover move.

  67. Well, I’m a person who grew up on manga and comics and light novels, so I did prefer the old cover. But at least it still has the illustrations inside.

    I assume the picture from the 1st cover will also be in B&W somewhere on the interior, right? I mean, it was so nice looking it’d be a waste not to put it in somewhere.

  68. Pony-la and RC:

    xD I ride English, happily so. Western is fun for trail riding, but it seems like no matter how I try to adjust to it, I get sore the next day. I enter a few competitions for showmanship and equitation, but don’t get far.

    Eh, horses are just fun in general. -hugs horse plushie-

  69. dude… awesome… i do take to shiny stuff. I CAN’T WAIT!!!!!!!!! YAY!! itz gonna rock scott. glances back at her own writing and then thinks about what she’ll be doing in oct…. HOW THE HECK AM I GOING TO FIND TIME TO READ!?! omjoe. well… who needs sleep anyway? seriously?

  71. I wish my Mom would let me ride horses. She says it’s too dangerous. Not fair. My kitty died…

  72. wow!! Even if you weren’t my favorite author/I’d never heard of you i’d totally pick up that book.

    you’re right, adults are afraid of the internets but they are SHAMELESS when it comes to band names.

  75. Yeah…it’s sad, but okay I guess. She was 22 years old, so we knew it was going to happen soon…poor kitty.

  76. thats sooo old!!!
    and I thought 14 was old!
    Sorrey about your cat
    I know its such a bad feeling.

  78. I think you should sell all of the books, because all of the covers are amazing. (all of them as in, the UK one in US) I love the list of things that adults are afraid of…hee hee

    Tally&Zane: Sorry about your kitty!

    Dessometrics Pony-la: My friend (when my name is blue, it’s a link to her Maximum Ride fan-fic[harsh criticism about it is appriciated]) loves horses. One of them just had a baby.

    Saki: Wow. That skintenna top is amazing. A little see-through..:D

    back to writing for english…(I came here for the Scott Facts and I kind of got dragged in to this blog…and any other pretty blue links…)
    PEACE!

  80. Holly-wa: Have you finished your doodle yet? I’m sorry I don’t have any good ideas…maybe make and ‘O’ a manga eye?

    Haley Rae: That picture you made is vastly amazing! (I finally looked at it..lol)
    😀 I’m so excited for this book.:D

  81. OH MY GOSH! I am BEYOND excited for this book.
    I JUST finished the “New York Trilogy” yesterday and the MIDNIGHTERS series 1 day before that.

    I ADORE THESES BOOKS and cannot wait for this new series.
    Uglies is what got me hooked and until October I am going to DEVOUR anything Westerfeld related.

    Love the new cover.
    Love your books.
    thank you <3

  82. i love your books! i was just thinking how happy-making it could be if there was like a game or something were you could go through life in tally’s city! that would be soo bubbly! i also really like the idea for charecter biographies and maps. or maybe something were you could be on the pretty commitee and desine faces. how totally bubbly would that be!?!?! Poor Paris though, i guess he was ment to stay bubblehead. o well.

    Stay icy,

    lily-wa

  83. I just finished The forest of hands and teeth…..its amazing….thank you scott for recremending such a fantastic book!……its so sad yet so happy in the end I love the confusing of that. You don’t know wether to feel sorrey for her or to feel happy for her!I like that……Zombies FTW

  86. Horses are a pain in the butt. Literally. Cause I got bucked off my friend’s horse and now I HURT all over. And the seat of my jeans ripped. ^_^ Fun stuff. When your mommy tells you horses are dangerous, it’s true! The risk is worth it, though, because it’s usually pretty guud. 😉

  87. TZ! YOUR ALIVEEE! I miss you on scott facts! It’s all new people now! every1 ditched me! 🙁

    Go Zane! Woot woot!

  88. Sorry Laura-wa! Ya, I’m alive! Scott facts just takes FOREVER to load on my computer!

  89. I like this one a LOT better than the other one. It was too gray and boyish. Or maybe just not my thing… whatever. I like this one though 🙂

  92. I am very very excited! I like this cover better than the old one, but they’re both amazing!
    The book comes out on my birthday , haha. 😀

  93. As an adult, and a very sensitive delicate flower, I must say: Awesome! I was going to read it anyhow, but I love the steampunk gears and that deep red, too. Pretty and shiny, yay!

  94. I think I like this better than the first. I love the colors. Not that I didn’t love the original, because I most definitely did, but this new one is very eye catching! 🙂

  95. i just realized i have a freckle on my neck. woo-hoo my first freckle! or…. ugh my first skin cancer!!!!! ah!!!! okay i’m over it. i’m so bored * Looks around car for something that isn’t there* *sigh* BORED!!!!!!!

  96. October sixth is being marked on my calendar! If I could manage reading Paper Towns last October in the midst of the Evil that is High School, I can surely make it through Leviathan!
    Plus it looks gooorgeous.

  97. Ick, I don’t like the new cover. The old cover was clear, this book somehow involved giant robots. Now it looks like some graphic design student had a last minute project and took the abstract machinery route.
    And uh-oh, I just realized this post was a month old, I wonder if my livejournal is still getting the feed regularly…

  98. Last comment was July 3rd? Yes, I’m late to the party.

    I just wanted to say that this cover is absolutely gorgeous. To the point where, if I lived in the UK, I would be highly tempted to order it in from the States. Granted, that would be very expensive, and probably more than I could afford. But I would have been very, very tempted.

    As it is, I live in Canada, and the first thing I saw was this cover. I was immediately drawn over to it, and then I saw the name “Scott Westerfeld” in big letters smack in the middle. That alone would have sold the book, but the cover added very large (though unnecessary) bonus points.

    Needless to say, a copy of Leviathan is now in my possession. I tore through it, it was fabulous, and I am eagerly awaiting Behemoth in 2010.

    There is a very good reason that you are my favourite author, good sir.

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