Marc is a fucking god, seriously. In Brazil, all the greatest fantasy books had a cover made by him … Thanks for sharing this. Guy does amazing work! … After traveling through Europe as an english speaker, I found Hungarian to be by far the hardest language to pronounce.
Ah, the joys of international publishing! There’s nothing quite like the thrill of picking up a book, only to find that the cover design has not only strayed from the original but also decided to have a little identity crisis. Take, for example, the Hungarian edition of Stephen King’s time-travel thriller, 11/22/63. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to be mildly infuriated, just look at the cover of this particular edition. Spoiler alert: it’s a head-scratcher.
Now, if you’re not familiar with 11/22/63, let me give you the rundown. The story revolves around a high school teacher who discovers a time portal that allows him to travel back to 1958 with the mission to prevent the assassination of JFK. It’s a gripping tale of fate, love, and all the things that can go hilariously wrong when you meddle with time. So, you can imagine the excitement of picking up a copy, only to be met with a cover that has two parts labeled ‘Part One’ and ‘Part Two’—but wait, there’s only one book!
This is where the plot thickens. The Hungarian edition has somehow decided to break this masterpiece into two parts on the cover, which is not only misleading but also a tad confusing. It’s like going to a restaurant and ordering a sandwich, only to have the waiter bring you a single slice of bread with a note saying, “Your other half will arrive shortly!” Thanks, but no thanks. I’d prefer my literary sandwiches whole, thank you very much.
Now, one could argue that this is a harmless mistake, a mere oversight in the grand scheme of things. But let’s be honest, in the age of social media where we can share our grievances faster than we can say ‘publish and perish’, this kind of blunder is bound to get noticed. Reddit, the land of shared frustrations, is always ready to pounce on such topics. A user named /u/schomogyi brought this issue to light, and the internet responded with a collective sigh of disbelief.
What’s particularly amusing is how this situation highlights the quirks of translating and publishing books across different cultures. Perhaps the Hungarian publishers thought readers needed a dramatic buildup, like a movie with a cliffhanger. “Stay tuned for Part Two, coming never!” It’s the literary equivalent of a season finale that never gets renewed.
In a world where we can binge-watch entire seasons of shows in one night, it seems a bit archaic to label a standalone book in parts. Maybe they thought it would boost sales—who doesn’t want to buy a sequel to a book they haven’t finished yet? But let’s not kid ourselves; anyone who picks up 11/22/63 is in it for the long haul.
So, what’s the takeaway from this mildly infuriating saga? Perhaps it’s a gentle reminder that even the best-laid plans of authors and publishers can go awry. Or maybe it’s just an opportunity for a good laugh at the expense of someone’s poor decision-making skills. Either way, we can all agree that when it comes to book covers, clarity is key. And if you’re going to label something as ‘Part One’ and ‘Part Two,’ at least make sure there’s a sequel to back it up!
In conclusion, the Hungarian edition of Stephen King’s 11/22/63 might not be the most accurate representation of the book, but it certainly provides us with a chuckle and a reminder that sometimes, things don’t quite go as planned in the world of literature. So, let’s raise a toast to all the misprints, the awkward translations, and the perplexing cover designs that keep us entertained and mildly infuriated. Cheers!
Inspired by: “Hungarian edition of Stephen King’s 11/22/63. Should change part one and part two on the cover” (r/mildlyinfuriating)