Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:18:11 GMT

owlor@meow.social — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 21:18:11 GMT

@hannah This absolutely looks like something that would contain eldritch knowledge of some kind, heck, that illustration wouldn't be out of place for a printed version of the King in Yellow play.

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:53:28 GMT

donutage@mastodon.social — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:53:28 GMT

@hannah That's a badass cover illo! I'm much more interested in that than in Walton Beacham's idea of explication.

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:48:02 GMT

susan_calvin@mastodon.social — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:48:02 GMT

@hannah I want this book

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:07:05 GMT

ireneista@adhd.irenes.space — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:07:05 GMT

@hannah especially for a topic like that. it's important to ward off people who think everything has exactly one meaning.

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:02:26 GMT

jalefkowit@hachyderm.io — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:02:26 GMT

@hannah A terrifying quest into the subterranean heart of [ checks notes ] the Iowa Writers' Workshop

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:00:32 GMT

hannah@posts.rat.pictures — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 20:00:32 GMT

@jalefkowit can you fight your way out of (turning to page richard wilbur's "year's end"?

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:20:57 GMT

hannah@posts.rat.pictures — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:20:57 GMT

@apocheir credited to Ben Smith, who seems to have been an atlanta based illustrator (i found eg this which is definitely the same guy) https://cityissue.com/shop/art/ben-smith-painting

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:16:22 GMT

apocheir@hachyderm.io — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 19:16:22 GMT

@hannah does the front matter say who drew that?

Reply to Ideally, cover art should give the impression that the contents of the book will drive the reader permanently insane on Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:47:18 GMT

jalefkowit@hachyderm.io — Wed, 08 Jul 2026 18:47:18 GMT

@hannah Real "first edition D&D" vibes here