Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Forums

Generally speaking we don't go back and change the main cover image unless there is some compelling reason. Reasons include things like:

- current image is incorrect

- current images is of bad quality

- book gets added to Masterworks series

- current image does not fit series covers

- current image is offensive

- first publication was in UK but we have the US cover

Now, having said that, we're not super fastidious about adhering to rules. We try to have the first edition cover of the book in most cases but sometimes those images are terrible, hard to find, or have been superseded by later editions that became the iconic cover for that book. I also like to have the same cover that you'll find when you click the link over to Amazon to buy -- if possible. And probably the biggest reason to change out a cover is so that the whole series matches. I've changed out many covers to get a new cover series simply for the sake of the display. Lastly, since I have to do the work to change the cover I'll sometimes opt for the one I like more. What's the point of having a site like this if I can't do what I want once in awhile?

In this particular case I think the cover we have screams 1980's but it's good quality and I think it fits just fine as is. The new cover is swanky and I like it but I think when the cover fits the time it was written in the reader gets a better idea about what she's getting into. If I bought that book with the current modern cover art I'd be dismayed by the 80's character of the story and writing style etc. I think I'll pass on the cover replacement BUT, since this is bringing an old book back to life with this new edition, I'll add the new cover and the new publication info to the current record so folks will see that it's back in print in another form.

Good question and I hope I didn't go too long with the answer. I thought some other folks might like the details.