Thursday 24 February 2022

The Book And The Cover

The cover image in the previous post is appropriate because it shows a spaceship (Kith) and a sea (relevant to the Maurai but also the second Kith story). The cover of my copy (New York, 1982) (see this post and here) proclaims "The People of the Sea and The People of the Stars..." An accurate blurb. However, the back cover claims:

"After Armageddon the People of the Sea created a new kind of civilization, one based on the integrity of Life and the moral as well as pragmatic necessity of conservation. But the Sky People live by a different vision, and they have come to enforce it...."

This blurb, like the title, wrongly suggests that the Maurai and the Kith coexist and interact. In fact, the first Maurai story is entitled "The Sky People" and this title refers not to the Kith but to a group of sky pirates who will find common cause with the Maurai.

Titles and blurbs can mislead. In HG Wells's works, The War Of The Worlds and The War In The Air might have been two installments of a future wars series whereas, in fact, they are distinct and discrete narratives.

 

3 comments:

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Paul!

But first the Maurai had to help defeat "The Sky People," to make it too costly for them to remain raiders, looters, and bandits.

Ad astra! Sean

S.M. Stirling said...

THE SKY PEOPLE is a dynamite title. 'tis why I stole it... though actually, I asked Poul's permission first.

As the saying goes, mediocre writers have influences. Great writers steal.

Sean M. Brooks said...

Kaor, Mr. Stirling!

Ha! Anderson's "The Sky People" always reminds me of your novel of the same name, and vice versa!

Ad astra! Sean