The Outlandish Companion - Diana Gabaldon [309]
I’ve also supplied a brief description of the publishing history of each title, with a note of varying cover designs, for the use of book collectors. In this regard, I would point out that a) each publisher chooses cover designs according to that publisher’s conception both of the book, its market, and national tastes and preferences—all of which may vary quite a bit from publisher to publisher. Also, b) an author usually has nothing at all to say about cover design upfront, unless and until said author establishes a long-term, solid relationship with a domestic publisher. An author generally has nothing at all to say about foreign cover art in advance of publication. It is, therefore, only fair that one can say something about it ex post facto.
U.S. EDITIONS
Publisher: Delacorte Press (Dell) Bantam Doubleday Dell Inc. 1540 Broadway New York, NY 10036
Outlander
(hardcover)
ISBN 0-385-30230-4
Still in print, still with its original cover art, which I like very much. The excellent artist who does all of the U.S. hardcover designs—Kinuko Craft—actually reads the books before implementing her artistry, an attention much appreciated by the author.
Outlander
(paperback, limited low-price edition; out of print)
To facilitate the introduction of new readers to the series, concomitant with the publication of Drums of Autumn, Dell issued a limited special edition of the OUTLANDER paperback, retailing at $3.99.1 However, this edition was sold out, and has not been reissued. The cover design (and contents, naturally) are identical with the regularly priced paperback; the only difference is the ISBN and a large “$3.99” in a red starburst superimposed on the cover.
Outlander
(paperback)2
ISBN 0-440-21256-1
This paperback has had two covers (so far): The first featured some elements of the hardcover design, including the clock, dirk, necklace, and tartan. However, it also featured a Rather Unfortunate stepback cover (an inside cover, visible when the outer cover is opened. This one, though, is visible through the outer cover, which has a cutout, allowing a face to leer out through the clock), with drawings purporting to illustrate the story within. Okay, the drawing of Jamie is not bad. It’s not quite Jamie, but it’s at least a mildly attractive young man with red hair, and he is holding a sword of the right period and design. The woman (purporting to be Claire, I suppose)… well, she has straight, reddish hair, and she strongly resembles the horse she’s holding.3 The outer cover also featured quite a lot of gold foil.
The next cover was simply a nice adaptation (for smaller size) of the hardcover art, with solid-color bands across top and bottom, carrying the title and author name. Very attractive.
Dragonfly in Amber
(hardcover)
ISBN 0-385-30231-2
I’ve always particularly liked this cover, both because it’s very attractive and because it’s the first one I got to say anything about. The artist having done preliminary drawings of the overall scene, the publisher sent these to me, saying that the drawing required a “central object” of some kind, and did I have anything to suggest?
“Well,” I said, rubbing my hands together, “it is called Dragonfly in Amber. You think it would be stretching things too far actually to have a dragonfly on the cover?” I promptly faxed them pictures (from my research sources) of several “period” Scottish cups and chalices, and lo and behold… a dragonfly, hovering over a cup filled with liquid (it should probably have been red liquid—”Dragon’s Blood,” as prepared by Master Raymond—but I gather the thinking was that this would merely look like wine, whereas the green liquid portrayed looked more like poison).
Dragonfly in Amber
(paperback)
ISBN 0-440-21562-5
Again, this book has had two covers—or three, counting a sort of intermediary form. The first was a smaller rendition of the hardcover, with a Really Horrible stepback illustration inside. I won’t go into all the gory details, save to note that my final request for the illustration—for a red dress on the female