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Cover and Book Discussion - Server and The Metamorphosis #Art #Kafka

1/17/2017

2 Comments

 
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SERVER, THE METAMORPHOSIS, AND ART

A core influence on me and especially my story collection, The Terrorist of Providence Street, are the writings of Franz Kafka. I don't know if calling this story collection Kafkaesque would be appropriate, but there is a heavy flavor of Kafka's shorter works in the pages of this book. 

When it came time to depicting the book through cover art - I wanted somehow to capture the feel of the original cover of Kafka's Metamorphosis. The sense of dread, horror, and a character on the border of madness spoke to me and I wanted those feelings represented in my own cover.
The painting for the original version of the book was done by Marielle (also the artist of the Ella painting). I  enjoy this painting and thought it fit the book well. From the start I intended to release a special edition of this book with a different name. The meta fiction aspects of the book and the influence of Kafka informed the inspiration for this painting and the cover for The Terrorist of Providence Street. 
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For the special edition, which will be named Server, I wanted a cover that more closely captured the feeling of a servant losing his mind. Originally I wanted a single Monkey on the cover, a sinister look upon the face and perhaps holding a book, a bomb, or a server notebook to take orders. This is the current version of the cover. 

I ask - does this cover speak to you? If you didn't know anything about the book, what would you think? I must admit to being 'stuck' here and something feels not quite right to me, but I can't put my finger on what this illustration for the book is missing. Hopefully feedback from readers and friends can help me make the jump and figure it out.

Now that you see the original cover with the image of Kafka's Metamorphosis I was trying to capture, what do you think of this new illustration?

Thank you in advance for any input you can give.
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2 Comments
Frances Hennessey link
1/17/2017 09:14:23 am

Your ideas sound good and are plausible, considering your guiding influence. In lieu of the server monkeys, perhaps something abstract would better work, showing change thru metamorphosis or growth in general that fits your Kafka ideas. Hope that helps. Fran

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G H Neale link
1/18/2017 03:19:30 am

Having only read The Terrorist of Providence Street I am unable to comment on this new re-release, its accompanying stories, and thereby the new title of 'Server'. Of this I would contend there is more in common with Gogol's Diary of a Madman than Kafka's Metamorphosis. I am not certain the humorous picture of the monkey works as well with its somber theme. An extended review, my own, of Terrorist is here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Terrorist-Providence-Street-Stephen-Moran-ebook/dp/B01HJ3L5RC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1484738279&sr=8-1&keywords=the+terrorist+of+providence+street

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    THE TERRORIST OF PROVIDENCE STREET

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    REVIEWS OF THE TERRORIST OF PROVIDENCE STREET
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    SERVER

    EXCERPT FROM SERVER
    ​DAY ADVENTURE WITH MONKEY

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    EXCERPT FROM SERVER
    KARL MARX: A REFUTATION

    EXCERPT FROM ELLA
    ROUTINE

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    EXCERPT FROM ELLA
    ​THE INTERROGATION

    REVIEW OF ELLA

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    Stephen Moran lives in Las Vegas with his beautiful wife, baby Kiana, and two dogs. 

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