in case any one would like the characters for this rod here they are: マトリシクス
and i also got matorishikusu and nothing comes out no matter how you split the word apart. unless it just means "demon repellent" lol :)

I like it, but I wonder if casual readers who are browsing the bookstores will think they've already read it, since the cover is so similar. I'm not good with the titles, so would think I already owned this one if I wasn't watching for a new hardcover.

Hey Steve...

Thank you for responding to my comment but i have to say i am a little disappointed that the explanation was such a simple one. I was hoping that there was some sort of cryptic message for readers to figure out but oh well. Maybe Jim will announce something concerning this in the future... Thanks again though for getting back to me about this matter.

Nate ...

If I recall the explanation correctly that Jim offered way back when, it started as a function of the cover format. Storm Front was originally titled Semiautomagic. During the editing process, it changed to Storm Front.

The cover format Roc set up at the time had the title letters boxed, forcing Jim to keep to two words and the same number of letters.

I guess he could have changed with Blood Rites, which was the first cover that broke the original mold. As to why they haven't, that's probably a question Jim should answer. Perhaps expectations?

I love the dresden files i wish i could marry him

It's really dark, but I like it. The hat is beginning to remind me of Van Helsing a little bit. : ) I can't wait for May!

I am STOKED about the new book. I have been waiting and waiting and waiting and now...it's almost upon us all and I don't know how much longer I can hold it together. I have been an avid Harry fan since I first picked up Storm Front. Addicted since the first word hardly begins to describe it for me. Jim, in my opinion, is the best author...EVER! When I read his books, I can picture what's going on in my head, and it takes a brilliant person to be able to do that.

I personally like the cover, I like the fact that Harry is actually on the cover. Not saying I didn't like the past covers, but for some reason seeing Harry makes it more personal and I enjoy the books more. I can finally put a face to the character.

Who is the model BTW? Ok I've gone on long enough, can't wait to read the book Jim. I'll tell you now, I'm gonna love it!! Keep up the awesome job!

Has anyone else noticed that Harry is holding his staff in the "wrong" hand? His left hand always has his shielding bracelet on and his right hand is always holding his staff! I believe the cover art has been flipped from its original orientation. (Just a mirror image.) So it's not "authentic "anymore. Don't get me wrong, it's beautiful, but for the underlying flaws that you wouldn't know about if you hadn't read the books. This also obvious by the fact that the "runes" are also flipped. They are Japanese characters, katakana to be exact. From what I can tell it's "matorishikusu". But, I'm not an expert on Japanese. I did a search on google and I was suprised what I found. I'll let you do that on your own. As for Harry's burned hand, it's probably held down to his side on the Proven Guilty cover. I really wish they wouldn't do this kind of stuff. *sigh* But I am really excited to get my hands on the new book. I just finished Dead Beat. I loved it. I think it was the best one yet. :) Thanks, Mr. Butcher!

Regarding the third chapter. If Michael and Shiro could forgive Sanya (who said he'd given up his coin), surely Michael will forgive Harry. It's been three years, it'll only get worse. Harry should go see Michael, or meet him somewhere. Perhaps Father Forthill's Church (St. Mary of the Angels?)

Wa! Can't wait for next book. Though I am wondering what it says on his staff? It reads Matorikkusu in Japanese (atleast on Dead Beat, the picture is switched on this cover) if I am translating right. Any clue?

COULD SOMEONE PLEASE GET BACK TO ME CONCERNING THIS >>> I was just wondering if there is any significant meaning behind each books title... for example each title contains two words and each word has the same amount of letters in them. "Storm Front" 5 letters in storm and 5 in front and it is the same for every book title all the way up to book eight "Proven Guilty." (6 letters in proven and 6 letters in guilty) I don't know if this means anything at all but I just caught it and wanted to know... if anyone knows anything about this that would be great!

Ooooh! Neat!
One of my fave parts of Dead Beat (besides being my favorite Dresden account ever....) was the cover!
EXCEPT...his hand was fine, no glove! Glad they fixed that, here. And I loved how the sigils glowed faintly then. This looks even better, if possible.

One question - I'm so curious - who's the model?

CAN'T WAIT FOR THE BOOK!

Nate makes a valid point,
"I was just wondering if there is any significant meaning behind each books title... for example each title contains two words and each word has the same amount of letters in them. "Storm Front" 5 letters in storm and 5 in front and it is the same for every book title all the way up to book eight "Proven Guilty." (6 letters in proven and 6 letters in guilty) I don't know if this means anything at all but I just caught it and wanted to know... if anyone could get back to me concerning this that would be great!

Posted by: Nate at January 20, 2006 12:45 AM "

Is there some reason for them all to have this in common? It seems kind of to well planned to be a coincidence.

What I love about this art and the Dead Beat cover art are the menacing figures in the distance. In DB the figure is under a street lamp, and in PG you can just make out a wand-like (flash of a gun?) glow and a mysterious figure behind the garbage bags. There's a real feel of danger and suspense radiating from both covers that make me want to pick up the books - which I'd do anyway in half a hummingbird's heartbeat!

Green--very cool. I love it!

Its very cool

It's very cool.

And from the side Harry kinda looks like Christian Bale

I was just wondering if there is any significant meaning behind each books title... for example each title contains two words and each word has the same amount of letters in them. "Storm Front" 5 letters in storm and 5 in front and it is the same for every book title all the way up to book eight "Proven Guilty." (6 letters in proven and 6 letters in guilty) I don't know if this means anything at all but I just caught it and wanted to know... if anyone could get back to me concerning this that would be great!

At first glance I too thought I was looking Dead Beat again but then I started noticing it wasn't quite the same so I pulled out my copy of Dead Beat. They really do compliment each other quite well. And the runes on Harry's staff are glowing on both books.

But I agree, book now please!! I've re-read them all so many times I'm going to have to get new ones!!

Sorry guys, I don't really care what image is on the book.. I just want the book.. Yeah I notice the red glow also.. all i got to say about it is 'about time too'

Love it, all that is needed to say!

Yes it is very similar but I personally like that, it gives a much greater feel of continuation instead of "And this week on Harry's Latest Adventure!" that I always got from the random art covers before

In Dead Beat he had his back to the wall and was hiding/waiting for something, it gave a vibe of him having to strike out at secret at something. Now he has stepped out into the street, into the open, he is facing something down without the desire/option to hide.

It reminds me of the Anita Blake novels in that each one had a very similar art style, same model in each, but each one had a single dominant colour that made each novel easily recognizable at first glance just by colour alone, without even needing to see what the picture is.

Another excellent cover it will look really nice with my set. Green is an excellent choice, to often pulishers use lot of red but I think the gives it the erie bump in the night feel.

I love this style of covers, and green is my favorite color anyway, so yay to Jim's designers! I might actually break down and buy Dead Beat in hardcover soon, if I have to wait until May to get my Dresden fix...

I like it. Very gloomy and serious. Can't wait for the book!

Awesome!! I can hardly wait for the book to come out. I'm have Dresden withdrawls!!

guys, guys!...

Some people seem to think it's too similar to Dead Beat. Personally, I think that's the point. I love the compare/contrast approach the art department has taken on this one. And I LOVE cover art that actually looks like the artist has read the manuscript.

The pure beauty of this cover is the subtleties - particularly the ways in which it relates to it's immediate predecessor and to the things that are ongoing in Harry's life: his stance is different - his shoulders just slightly more bowed under an unseen weight; he's in what looks like an even more dangerous part of town - the very air itself looks as though it's pulsing with menace; there is a glove on Harry's hand and - oh yeah - as opposed to the cover of Dead Beat, the runes on his staff are GLOWING RED!!! I dunno. I think that might be kinda, ya know, SIGNIFICANT? *grin*

I'd also very much like to read the book NOW please. ;-D

NOW.

c.

I like it, but....what's with the hat? I don't remember Harry a hat often enough to be on two covers >.>

I think its a great depiction of Harry, totally sets the mood. Dead Beat is slightly sim..but this has a feel all its own. I like having Harry on the cover, I like being able to take a look at a Butcher approved photo of the world he created.

I like it, even though it is similar to dead beat. If you look at them next to each other they actually look opposite, and that adds a weird efect.

I like it, even if it is similar to Dead Beat. The green really made me think of noxious gases, adding to the freaky factor of the slummy neighbourhood. Good cover!

First thing I thought was Deadbeat with a green background... I mean I like green better than purple... but Dresdan could have at least been at a different angle...

I like it. I loved the older covers too, but it's cool to actually see the main character again. Actually, it's rather appropriate.

In the early books, the evils are decidely *external*. Following Death Masks, Harry's stuggles with darkness have become increasingly *internal*. At present I would say that his harshest battlefield is his own mind, and the cover art reflects that.

PS: Anyone else getting a bit of a Hugo Weaving-"V is for Vendetta" vibe? (Maybe it's the hat...*wink*)

I like it! I'd also love a wallpaper version.

I don't like it- It is alomst a duplicate of of deadbeat before this all the covers hav ebeen different and unique. i'll still read it but this disapoints me.

I still like the old covers better. They were different. This one is. . .too much like Dead Beat. Enough so that when I saw it I thought, 'Why am I looking at Dead Beat again?'

It's awesome. I can just FEEL the atmosphere. It makes my fingers itch to hold the book. I'm in the middle of re-reading BLOOD RITES right now, and I'm dying to get ahold of the next book! I just wish that DEAD BEAT would come out in paperback so I could have a uniform set...

Shiny! :D

That is pretty cool. Do you think we could get a wall paper version like we did for dead beat?

that is pretty cool. Think we can get a wall paper format like we did for dead beat?

I love this cover! Of course, Dead Beat was my favorite of the previous covers, so that's to be expected :) Actually, I think this one is the best yet!

looks great! love the work on this one and Dead Beat.

kicks ass. very neat!

Very cool.

At least this one does not say "Fashion Chimp" in the background...

it looks awesome! I love how they're portraying Harry in all the nastier bits of Chicago. They did it for Dead Beat, and now Proven Guilty as well. It's great.

That's lovely! And it makes a nice connection to Dead Beat!