Game imagery is so pernicious that it is starting to invade science fiction novel cover art. Here, from Jeff Vandermeer’s forthcoming FINCH, which almost certainly contains mushrooms galore, is some architecture that appears to have come straight out of Mario’s Mushroom Kingdom. My kids saw only this much and thought these were Mario mushrooms:
Yes, that cover really is beautiful.
Meanwhile, from Ed Lerner’s forthcoming SMALL MIRACLES, a novel of nanotechnology gone awry, a bookjacket covered with a bunch of iconic Metroids:
Here is a real Metroid for comparison purposes.
And here is a mushroom.
Please do not rely on this guide in the field. Speak to an expert before consuming any wild-caught mushrooms or Metroids.
er, you have the wrong influences. the designer most definitely was not influenced by mario. very odd idea that he would’ve been.
Okay, Jeff. It’s a lark, but I stand by my misapprehension! If I were more skillful, I would try to photoshop Mario’s face into this one, just to “prove” you wrong:
http://www.johncoulthart.com/bibliopoesy/starry.html
In retrospect, I do find it odd that you think my idea odd. Coulthart is so clearly versed in iconography–obscure, pop, and otherwise–that he seems perfectly capable of echoing bits of imagery that already echo a (fungal) theme. The background worlds of the mushroom kingdom, those popsicle domes with blank staring eyes, are surreal and occasionally terrifying. In this case, I think it’s pop-pareidolia…certainly it was in the case of my kids. I was exaggerating to suggest otherwise, mainly for comic effect. But I wouldn’t go so far as to say he was “most definitely not influenced by Mario.” He’s got to be highly attuned to the images we all swim in, and Mario is pervasive. Anyway, it’s a beautiful cover. Looks even better on the book itself.
http://www.sandia.gov/news-center/news-releases/2006/images/z-machine.jpg
mr laidlaw, i am an avid fan of your work, this picture looks like HL3 to me, just thought i would be facetious and drop it here
I’ve seen that photo, Sean. Pretty cool. Thanks.
Naaah, these are not metroids. They’re just cuttlefish. Or maybe ticks.
Argh. Ticks.
I won’t believe in the influence of Mario and Metroid in these covers, unless you find a Kart somewhere else
I say nanotech. You say mushrooms. Interesting
Haha, I find similarities in things all the time, like how a lot of designers use triforces in their designs. Video games have also hit the medical field as well. There’s a protein called Pikachurin and another called Sonic Hedgehog. It’s pretty funny how video games slip up into places you least expect them.