Something I noticed about book coves. On many of the Dark Elf books Drizzt the dark elf skin is peachy instead of obsidian black. I'm assuming they did this because they didn't think the average white reader would read a book with a black elf on the cover. Then I'm thinking well many of books has Drizzt with the right complex so maybe the artist just made a mistake. However, if that is the case why didn't someone correct the artist before the books went to print.

And another thing. Drizzt sometimes looks old instead of a 20 something or early 30's. Books has him as a youngish looking guy. Why would they make him old on some covers.

Don't know if this is the case here, but it's not unusual for publishers to have a big drawer full of stock art that they use for book covers; particularly for genre novels like sf, fantasy, and horror.

So the covers for these kinds of books aren't necessarily approved by the author, or even created for that particular novel. Most of the time, they'll just stick a generic spaceship or futuristic soldier on the cover of a science fiction book, or a generic barbarian or elf on a fantasy novel.

Salvatore and most authors in general have minimal over the cover art. Have you seen the newer re-released Legend of Drizzt books and the last 2 trilogies? Those covers are MUCH better than the erratic art from the TSR/ pre-WoTC era.

http://www.o-love.net/realms/covers_large/pic_dri1.jpg

http://www.o-love.net/realms/covers_large/pic_hun1.jpg

http://www.o-love.net/realms/covers_large/pic_hun3.jpg

Sometimes they get lucky, sometimes not. Robin Hobb has Tolkien artist John Howe doing her covers in the UK (which are great!) but here in the US Michael Whelan (who also is very good).

That reminds me I haven't read thousands orcs yet.