30 Covers, 30 Days 2011: Day 22

Happy Tuesday of the last full week to write your novel! Today's cover was created in 24 hours by the well-traveled, deeply-talented Jennifer Heuer:



The Philosopher Project by Taylor_Clogston

Unknown to the world, a group of individuals set up a long-term experiment to observe human nature. In this experiment, generations of humans live in an enclosed community called Second Eden, separated from the outside world. They are given a code of ethics to live by and then left alone, observed without their knowledge.

For years the humans in the experiment live in blissful naivete, without knowing real pain or fear, and thus, not knowing the real triumph or courage that results from that.

When the experimenters decide the time is right they release several of the experiment's subjects into the real world, which at first glance seems the same as their community.

However, the more the subjects are exposed to the real world the more they realize what it really is to live with emotions like sorrow, joy, and love rather than as a subject in an experiment.

Mankind's greatest wish is to return to Eden. But what happens when history repeats itself?



Jennifer Heuer is a full-time freelance designer out of Brooklyn, NY. She's just returned from a year's adventure in beautiful Portland, OR topped off by an 8,400 mile road trip across the country. Jennifer has recently designed for Simon & Schuster; HarperCollins; Little,Brown; Scribner; W.W. Norton & Co; Egmont; Freepress; Grand Central; Random House; and Faceout Studios. She's happy to be home again!

I think this cover is absolutely gorgeous! I love the way the title appears to have wrapped itself around the book like a snake. The synopsis is very catching, as well. I would definitely head straight to this if I saw it on a shelf. Congrats to the author and the artist!

I like the cover overall. I think making the title vertical while the author's name is horizontal was a stroke of genius, but I think splitting the title was a mistake.

I *love* the splitting of the title - I think it's uber-cool. Good job (synopsis a little like Shyamalan's The Village, though..?)

The cover is fantastic and really fits the synopsis.

The cover is really cool, but I don't like that I have to spend 30 or so seconds just to figure out what the book is called. >_>

Really interesting synopsis, and the cover does have the right feel to it; I just wish that title was arranged differently.

Wow, I can't believe I was chosen ^_^

For the most part I like the cover, all though I'm not completely crazy about the splitting of the title like that... But otherwise it really fits! Thanks a lot!

If anyone wants to read the story, I've posted it on my website: http://alteriaonline.forumotion.com/t148-nanowrimo#2041

Thanks everyone, and especially the cover artist.

Gorgeous cover! I love it! :D

The cover is absolutely awesome! Synopsis sounds a lot like Lois Lowry's The Giver, though...

But I think its different enough that it works!

The cover is beautiful! It was gorgeous!

I'd read the book just for that cover, hehe.

I would read this in an instant! :D

Stunnning cover!

I LOVE the way the title is done! Gorgeous cover, and a really striking synopsis, at that!

@reptile_smile: I suppose it is a TINY bit, judging from the summary given on WIkipedia... I've never heard of it before, though, so I really don't know anything about it.

@Chestergirl28: Actually, it's funny you would say that. I had just finished reading The Giver before going to bed, and had a weird dream that ended up as the basic idea for this book ^_^ I would say my story is most heavily influenced by The Giver, but also by other books and sources as well. However, the story is drawing more and more upon my imagination than upon the other books as I write more of it...

Oh, I love The Giver! The ending was rather rushed/abrupt, but it was an awesome read! Taylor_Clogston, I bet your story is amazing. Maybe the theme is similar to another book's, but every author writes differently, so it's not like that's a bad thing. Can't wait to see it! ^_^

A really intiguing concept!

IMO, this book would kick The Village's arse. XD

As for the cover, it's very eye-catching. I would definitely pick up up in a store or stop to check it out online. The colors and snakeskin are great. But I'm not entirely onboard with the typography. I like the IDEA but combining vertical text AND splitting the words may take it a step too far ... I think titles really have to be instant reads.

The cover is really great. I especially liked the snake print.
The split title makes it a bit hard to read but the idea is cool :)

BEST COVER

Not bad; not great. The background design is subtle but appropriate. The inset design is bland, and could use some sharpening. Seems to be a fear of using strong colours here. The overall impression I get from the design and colours, or lack of colour, is 'middle.' Nothing out of the ordinary to attract someone's eye.

Two most important items on a book cover should be title and author. Title was mangled, so lose big points on that one. People generally spend only a very few seconds looking at a book cover. The title should be readable. Always. Always.

Hm. I love it, a lot. It takes a minute to figure out the title, though. I think the same effect could be used if they started with "The Phillosopher" at the top, vertical, and then put "Project" at the bottom, vertical. Like, if you just pull the first part of the title up from where it is now and push down the second half. Still with the wrap-arround effect, much easier to read.
Love the design though, I would definately check this one out at the store, and I'd buy it based on that excellent synopsis.