Publishing house HarperCollins is set to release a series of classic sci-fi and fantasy books in illustrated cloth-bound covers, in a hope to target a new audience with the books’ new looks.
From The Hobbit and Assassin’s Apprentice, to A Game of Thrones and I Robot from the HarperCollins ‘Voyager’ list, the eight books would be designed and illustrated by illustrator Clare Skeats—who has previously never worked on sci-fi and fantasy genres.
Alice Moore, the publisher’s senior art director, told Design Week: “I wanted to get somebody who doesn’t work on the science fiction and fantasy genre—Clare normally does quite high-end literary packages.”
“Sci-fi titles can often be very commercial looking and feature old-fashioned looking illustration.”
For each title, Skeats was given a concept and brief, by Moore and Harper Collins’ editorial team, to interpret.
“Each has its own identity but they feel like a set because of the finishes and the spines; they look unified when their beautiful cloth spines are facing out,” Moore said about the final tomes.
Of the eight titles, The Hobbit has already been out in the market to coincide with the release of the film earlier this year—the other seven would be published in March.
Whether you're a sci-fi and fantasy fan or not, the set of tomes does make a beautiful collector's item.
[via Design Week]