Hello fellow book lovers! Each year I look forward bringing you my annual review of the cover illustration/design for science fiction and fantasy books that caught my eye. I am quick to report that the covers showcased are my favorites. I am not an art critic; I simply know what I like. The problem inherent in an annual review is that there is always more great work than can be reasonably captured in one post.

I work from the assumption that passionate readers everywhere can relate to the hypnotic draw of a well-designed book cover. We can all relate to that feeling of being arrested mid-stride in a particular row of the bookstore, or library–or virtually in this online age–unable to resist the siren call of a book’s cover art.

In my earlier days, Stainless Steel Droppings featured art and artists on a more frequent basis and one way I would like to bring that forward is to do a monthly review of the covers that excite me for scheduled releases of science fiction and fantasy books/comics. From this monthly feature I will draw my favorites for the annual review, and this will also give you the opportunity to suggest covers I might have missed, thus giving all of us a broad view of all the worthy science fiction and fantasy book cover illustration and design that 2014 will offer.

Here is what January 2014 has to offer.

The appeal of the cover for Hollow City by Ransom Riggs, follow up to his successful debut, Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, is that Riggs is inspired by odd vintage photographs, several of which are the inspiration for characters in the novels. The first book featured several of these photographs and the new one promises to do that as well.

There is an interesting collector’s market for such photographs and Riggs is one of those collectors. The cover design for Hollow City is by Doogie Horner and it captures the eerie atmosphere of this science fiction/suspense series, published by Quirk Books.

On January 23rd I will be attending an author event featuring Ransom Riggs hosted by Rainy Day Books. I look forward to the event not only to hear and meet Ransom Riggs but also because I will be coming away with a copy of the book, one I am anxious to read.

Wolves by Simon Ings, published by Gollancz, features a fabulous cover.

The illustration is the work of artist Jeffrey Alan Love. The use of the negative space to create part of the image is brilliant and the sparse color palette, particularly in choosing to emphasize black and white together, really draws your attention.

Jeffrey Alan Love has done a number of cover designs for Gollancz books which you can see on his blog.

In addition to finding the illustration interesting in and of itself, I like the way in which the cover plays off the book’s title while projecting an assumption of what the book is about, an assumption that is not entirely correct if you read a synopsis of the book. The novel features a future-tech aspect that reminds me of Love Minus Eighty while at the same time promising a much different read. I won’t simply be admiring this cover, I’ll be reading the book.

Update: I just noticed over on Jeffrey Alan Love’s blog that the illustration for Wolves won the Gold Medal in teh Books category at the Society of Illustrator’s competition. Congratulations Mr. Love!

Fury of the Demon by Kara Gillian features cover art from an artist consistently on my favorites list, Dan Dos Santos. The book is published by DAW Books.

Art Directors seem to work very well with Dan Dos Santos. It is a fairly consistent trait that the title and author text, as well as any additional copy, work well with his work rather than overshadowing it. Instead of being a distraction, the print gives way to allow the cover illustration to draw the reader in. In this case the title coloring also reflects the color used in the painting which helps with the integration.

I have shared before that the color orange, in its varied tints and hues, is one of my favorite colors and the way it is used to reflect fire and light and the glowing tattoos on the main figure are of particular interest to me. I like the way in which Dan Dos Santos captures the texture and folds in the fabric of her dress. Interestingly enough the dress reminds me of the bride’s maids dresses at my daughter’s recent wedding, sans the torn strap, of course.

Solaris Books is re-issuing A Different Kingdom by Paul Kearney this month. The cover is a design by artist Pye Parr.

This is another cover whose design is effective because of the use of just a few color washes, colors that are very complementary. The blacks stand out and create a nice sense of atmosphere in both the shadows of the church and in the trees.

And oh, what trees. I am very fond of trees and Parr’s small forest has some great tree shapes.

Also striking is the angle at which the image is set. Not having read the story, I am unsure as to the significance of the circular shape in the center of the image. Pertinent to the story or not, it adds a nice design element to the overall piece.

I have long been in awe of the sea. I remember in elementary school wanting to be a marine biologist, not because of a fascination with biology but because I had this romantic image of being able to spend my days exploring the deliciously frightening wonders of the ocean depths.

The cover for the debut novel by James L. Cambias brings back those adventure-filled daydreams. Tor Books is publishing A Darkling Sea this month, the cover art is the creation of Thom Tenery, who created concept/design art for my favorite film of 2013, Oblivion.

I look at this cover and I long to be on that undersea adventure. I want to know all the details of the moment this image captures. I have read some criticism of the color choice for the book’s title but it is not an opinion that I share. The cover art is effective because of its darker tone, given that it is set in the depths of the ocean. In order to make sure that the title information is not lost in that darkness, the choice of a bold color is wise.

I am a big fan of the Eddie LaCrosse books, though I must confess being a few novels behind. Forgive me Alex Bledsoe. I do keep buying the books though! The first novel in the series featured great art by Justin Sweet. Along the line the series left that publisher and was acquired by Tor Books. I miss Sweet’s art, but the photographic illustration by artist Larry Rostant imagines Eddie in a way that I can get behind.

I like the choice of model used for LaCrosse. He isn’t Fabio-manly, which I appreciate, and Rostant makes sure to establish him as a rough and tumble character. The cover for the recently released He Drank and Saw the Spider might be my favorite of the Rostant covers.

I like the choice of the earthy colors and I love that title font for these particular books. If you are not reading the Eddie LaCrosse books, you are missing out on some fun story telling.

At the risk of turning this into the Tor Books Show, I had to include Richard Anderson‘s cover art for The Emperor’s Blade by Brian Stavely, out now.

The first time I was exposed to this style of art was in seeing concept art for movies and video games and I cannot help but classify it that way when I see it, which is undoubtedly an inaccurate descriptor.

There is an impressionistic feel to this work. I enjoy the way in which the work has that unfinished quality that attracts me to the aforementioned concept art.

If you look closely at the image you can see how the light shines on the title text. The dust jacket has the raised lettering that I am so fond of. It gives that wonderful texture to the book when you are holding it in your hands. If you follow the title link above the first seven chapters of this novel are available on Amazon Kindle for free.

And finally, the image that opened this post is the gorgeous cover art created by Dan Dos Santos for Issue #136 of Fables. It was technically released the last day of December, but I am cheating because a) it is beautiful and b) I didn’t pick up the issue until January.

What really needs to be said in defense of this being “eye-catching”? I mean, Wow!!! Dos Santos creates such interesting texture in his paintings. I look at this and get the impression that if I reached out to touch it I would feel the contours of the design on her armor.

It is absolutely beautiful.

Dan Dos Santos is one of many artists that will be featured at this year’s Spectrum Fantastic Art Live 3. Tickets are on sale now, you won’t want to miss it.

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Well here is where you get a chance to contribute to this discussion. Not only can you share your feelings about the art I chose as standing out for the SFF released in January 2014, you can suggest your own favorites in the comments section and I will, as time permits, post those images here at the end of this post. Check the date to be sure that the cover image is for a book, etc. with a January 2014 publication date. If it is later in the year, save it until that month’s post comes along and I will include it there.