I'd seen this cover batted about the internets for awhile and I admired it at every encounter. It really is effective, I think, in giving you an accurate and enticing glimpse into the goods inside. The slant of the modern font, the steampunky parasol, the charmingly off kilter stance of the heroine. Put that together with it's killer tagline, "A novel of vampires, werewolves, and parasols." It was pretty much a foregone conclusion I'd be picking Soulless up. Then at BEA I happened to turn a corner and come across a delightful lady sitting at a small table at the Orbit booth. I approached and she smiled and inquired as to whether I would like some tea and shortbread. Oh, and perhaps a signed copy of her book? I nodded, completely charmed, accepted a cookie, and then caught sight of the cover of her book. It was Soulless ! And the lovely lady was Gail Carriger . Miss Alexia Tarrabotti is larger than both the stuffy Victorian social mores and the stiff stays of he...