sometimes change *is* for the better

Ursula Le Guin's Powers, and its original ARC cover, are worth seeing over at Read Roger.

Covers that disguise the race of the main characters are a pet peeve of mine, but this may be the worst example I've ever seen. Kudos to Harcourt Children's Books for making the change. (As well as making it a far more powerful and eye-catching cover.)

Does this add some beef to the often made argument against using ARCS because they may be changed?