Friday, July 11, 2014

WE RANK 'EM: The 6 Worst Baen Books Covers of All-Time

Baen Books has long been an influential player in SF/F circles. Now, of course, the imprint is best known for cornering the market on politically-conservative SF and fantasy--though perhaps too strong of an association would be unfair (they do also publish Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga, after all). Regardless, the one thing everyone can agree on is that Baen is justifiable famous for its...unique art style. Here are some of the finest most insanely terrible awesomely terrible examples I could find:

6. Poul Anderson and Gordon R. Dickson. Hokas Pokas! [Baen, 2000].


Hokas Pokas is just your average teddy bear in 19th century naval blues riding a horse-like thing on an icicle under the cosmos. I will remember to always bet on the hocus.

5. David Weber. At All Costs [Baen, 2005]


Why is the cat trying to hypnotize that baby?

4. David Drake and Janet Morris. Explorers in Hell [Baen, 1989]


I have no idea what to do with this one.

3. Poul Anderson. Sir Dominic Flandry: the Last Knight of Terra [Baen, 2010].


Another winner for Mr. Anderson. this one gets extra Baen points for Flandry's tight grip on the meter-long electroschlong protruding from his loins.

2. Sarah A. Hoyt. A Few Good Men [Baen, 2013].


This little gem of wingnuttery looks like something Sean Hannity might paint if Colmes returned to the set and dosed him with LSD.

1. Eric Flint, ed. The Best of Jim Baen's Universe [Baen, 2007].


A masterpiece of clusterfuckery that speaks for itself.