Book Description
Before the smash hit movie Serenity came Firefly, the cult TV series which started it all and became a DVD phenomenon, selling almost half a million copies.
Set 500 years in the future, Firefly centres around Mal Reynolds, captain of the ship-for-hire Serenity and its eclectic crew of galactic misfits. When he takes on two passengers, a young doctor and his mysterious, telepathic sister, he gets much more than he bargained for…
This official companion is just what the show’s fervent fans, the ‘Browncoats’, have been waiting for, with unseen photos, scripts, behind the scenes secrets, and exclusive input from the cast and crew, including of course creator Joss Whedon.
Contains the second part of an extended interview with Joss Whedon, as well as exclusive new interviews with the cast, executive producer Tim Minear and many other writers and crewmembers; the full, uncut shooting scripts for ‘Jaynestown’, ‘Out of Gas’, ‘Ariel’, ‘War Stories’ ‘Trash’, ‘The Message’, ‘Heart of Gold’ and ‘Objects in Space’, annotated with memories from the cast and crew; extended behind-the-scenes interviews with the crew behind Firefly, including sections on the production design and visual effects, illustrated with unseen imagery; in addition a section on the Firefly fans and of course Vera...
Customer Reviews:
Basically just the scripts -- not what I expected........2007-09-19
Just to let future buyers be aware....this book (and Vol. 1) are basically just the scripts to the (REALLY FUN) shows. As my husband put it, "It's just the lines, without the wonderful delivery the actors achieved in the shows." I thought it would be more like the various other "about" books that exist about popular movies/TV shows - full of pictures and other fun "about" stuff. In my opinion, these two books were not that.
What a hoot! Get this if you just "liked" Firefly.......2007-09-09
I missed Firefly, the first time around, and didn't discover the series until after I'd rented Serenity. I can't call myself a confirmed browncoat, though I really *really* liked everything about the show.
But when I saw this book on the library's New Books stack, I grabbed it. I think you should grab a copy, too, even if you're no die-hard fan. Because this book is _fun_.
Most of the book is episode scripts (half of them; the other half are in Volume One). That's worth the price alone, because the scripts are immensely readable. Like other intelligent shows, the dialogue is both fast and thoughtful, and you might not have caught everything when you heard it the first or second time around. In particular, the scripts include the translations from the Chinese expletives, and most of them are _very_ funny.
And the "stage direction" is not the dispassionate descriptive sort ("Man enters, wearing a hat"). It reflects the entire mood of the show:
INARA walks towards them, heading for the stairs up to the shuttle catwalk. She's dressed with stunning elegance.
KAYLEE: Hey there, 'Nara. Heading off for some glamorous romance?
Simon turns, momentarily stunned by her elegance.
If you're a screenwriter, this is absolutely a must-have.
The book is also peppered with cast interviews, stories about the creation of Firefly's theme song, production explanations on how, for example, they created Niska's Skyplex. In this book, you can spend an enjoyable few hours investigating how a show can be done *right*...even if the network screwed it up.
Shiny!.......2007-08-23
This is the follow-up and completion of companion books to the cancelled-but-still-growing-its-fanbase Firefly television series. It provides the shooting scripts ans photo stills from the remaining episodes, as well as numerous sidebars featuring backstories and insights into the actors, crew, props, and the inner thoughts of series' creator, Joss Whedon. This glossy volume is heavily laden with color photographs, costume concept designs for the various characters, and pre-production sketches. If you have a love for the series and the Big Damn Movie ("Serenity"), you will feel compelled to buy this book.
A Great Companion.......2007-08-14
For anyone charmed by the short-lived Firefly series, this book is simply great. Besides having the screenplays of the programs in the second half of the series, it is full of pictures, interviews, storyboards, and various tidbits relating to the series. If there is a school for Browncoats, this should be required reading.
Shiny........2007-08-13
Please, what's not to like here? Just the fact that it needs more seasons of episodes to include...
Book Description
Before the smash hit movie Serenity came Firefly, the cult TV series which started it all and became a DVD phenomenon, selling almost half a million copies.
Set 500 years in the future, Firefly centres around Mal Reynolds, captain of the ship-for-hire Serenity and its eclectic crew of galactic misfits. When he takes on two passengers, a young doctor and his mysterious, telepathic sister, he gets much more than he bargained for…
This official companion is just what the show's fervent fans, the `Browncoats', have been waiting for, with unseen photos, scripts, behind the scenes secrets, and exclusive input from the cast and crew, including of course creator Joss Whedon.
Customer Reviews:
Basically just the scripts -- not what I expected........2007-09-19
Just to let future buyers be aware....this book (and Vol. 2) are basically just the scripts to the (REALLY FUN) shows. As my husband put it, "It's just the lines, without the wonderful delivery the actors achieved in the shows." I thought it would be more like the various other "about" books that exist about popular movies/TV shows - full of pictures and other fun "about" stuff. In my opinion, these two books were not that.
Browncoats Unite!!.......2007-08-11
A must-have for fans (Browncoats) of the Firefly TV series or Serenity movie. Very high quality, glossy publication with lots of great photos, behind the scenes info, interviews, and word-for-word dialog of each episode. Both volume one and volume two are excellent values. They are well designed and made, great graphics.
Firefly Companion.......2007-07-22
Great, filled with glossy pictures, interviews and comments from the cast and crew. I didn't think I'd find reading the scripts interesting, but I enjoyed them all. The only omission is a cast and crew listing for each episode.
I ended up wanting more, so I guess I'll have to buy volume 2, and Jane Espenson's book and...
Worth triple every penny.......2007-07-03
Wow.
You might think that you're set with just the Serenity Visual Companion - but you're not. This is a necessary read for any true Browncoat. Visuals on weapons, script excerpts, pictures of Alliance money (which are different from the ones in the Serenity RPG book or the Serenity Visual Companion). The costume designs for Inara are explored, too!
If you enjoyed the show, you'll love this book.
Awesome Companion.......2007-06-18
If you want scripts, inside trivia, and sneak peeks at what went on behind the scenes of Firefly, then this is a must have. Well organized, full of beautiful pictures and descriptions.
Book Description
Jessica Darling’s in college!
Things are looking up for Jessica Darling. She has finally left her New Jersey hometown/hellhole for Columbia University in New York City; she’s more into her boyfriend, Marcus Flutie, than ever (so what if he’s at a Buddhist college in California?); and she’s making new friends who just might qualify as stand-ins for her beloved best friend, Hope.
But Jessica soon realizes that her bliss might not last. She lands an internship at a snarky Brooklyn-based magazine, but will she fit in with the überhip staff (and will she even want to)? As she and Marcus hit the rocks, will she end up falling for her GOPunk, neoconservative RA . . . or the hot (and married!) Spanish grad student she’s assisting on a summer project . . . or the oh-so-sensitive emo boy down the hall? Will she even make it through college now that her parents have cut her off financially? And what do the cryptic one-word postcards from Marcus really mean?
With hilarious insight, the hyperobservant Jessica Darling struggles through her college years—and the summers in between—while maintaining her usual mix of wit, cynicism, and candor.
Download Description
Megan McCafferty is the author of the hit novels Sloppy Firsts and Second Helpings, and the editor of the short story collection Sixteen. A graduate of Columbia University, she lives in New Jersey with her husband and young son. Megan is currently working on her next book in the Jessica Darling series. To find out more go to MeganMcCafferty.com.
From the Hardcover edition.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing.......2007-10-09
Charmed Thirds is yet another amazing book by Megan Mccafferty. Even though many people think that it wasn't as good as the first two i thought it was really good. It's hard for authors to keep a series going when you only have one main charactor and i feel that Megan Mccafferty has done a good job with it. i am exited to read the next one.
Not as Charmed Thirds.......2007-07-29
At this point in the Jessica Darling series, I think that most readers are highly interested in the Jessica - Marcus relationship. I know that is what I was looking forward to, in "Charmed Thirds". Unfortunately, Marcus rarely makes an appearance in this novel - mainly due to the fact that he is away at a very liberal college in California. All we get are strange post cards containing only one word, for the majority of the novel.
We see Jessica Darling struggling with a new group of people, trying to find her place. We see her dealing with the struggles of having a long distance relationship, and the temptation of having interest in a wide variety of other boys.
As McCafferty's novels progress, so do the time spans that they cover. This novel encompasses three years of Jessica's college experience at Columbia. That is part of the reason why I felt this novel was not as enticing as the previous two. Is started off well, and ended well - but struggled in the middle. I think it was unrealistic that Jessica and Marcus stayed together, when they had an extraordinarily small amount of contact. BUT, Marcus and Jessica are definitely not your average couple, so in a way it does, kind of, make sense.
Overall, as a big believer in finishing what you start, I would encourage any fans of the Jessica Darling series to read this novel. While it was not my favorite, it did leave me looking forward to finding out what happens next in the life of Jessica Darling.
Not as Good as the First 2!.......2007-05-30
This addition was not even close to the stellar writing of the first two in the series. I bought this in advance and was sorely dissappointed when I got into this book. It seems like Megan (the author) was just trying TOO hard. I would reccommend getting this from the library instead of buying it! Hopefully the next one is better!
Charming and GREAT!.......2007-05-16
The college life of Jessica Darling... is fun and lively. This books shows that she has grown up, yet still learning and making mistakes. Her relationship with her longtime guy Marcus is very different in this book as he begins to mature as well. She also runs into old friends and not-so friends, while this book also passes through time a lot quicker than the others. The end is seems fitting and the series could have ended just fine here, but i can't wait for the next one!!!
i'm experiencing withdraw.......2007-03-16
All i can say is: PLEASE WIRTE ANOTHER ONE!!! I need to know what happens between Marcus & Jessica! I loved the first one, I was obsessed with the second one, and I can not get anough of the third. I can only hope Meghan Mccafferty is in the midst of continuing Jessica Darling's journey with Marcus.
Amazon.com
Space is the final frontier--and its mysteries have fascinated Homer H. Hickam since childhood. In 1957, at age 14, he built his first rocket--and so began his space-age career, which eventually led to an engineering job at NASA. But in 1998, his calling blasted off in a new, unexpected way with the release of a bestselling memoir, Rocket Boys, (made into the mesmerizing movie, October Sky). Now, with Back to the Moon, the man-of-science-turned-memoirist dabbles in the world of fiction.
Despite its high-tech premise and lunar locale--Back to the Moon is no science fiction saga. It is, instead, a fast-paced technological thriller--filled with exceptional scientific know-how. (The author describes how spices are essential for astronauts because the normal aroma of food does not "drift into the sinuses or caress the palate in a microgravity environment.")
The space shuttle Columbia has been hijacked by an ex-astronaut and former employee of NASA, Jack Medaris. But Jack is by no means the bad guy--he has simply grown disillusioned with NASA, with its "timid" bureaucracy that no longer works for the good of mankind. Earth's supply of fuel is in jeopardy, and Jack believes that the moon holds the secrets of an alternative source of power. But a shady organization called the Millennium group is determined to stop the space shuttle from reaching the moon. As the shuttle hurtles through the galaxy, the renegade astronaut battles to steer the ship towards its destination. He also fights to keep himself from falling in love with one of the ship's crew members--a feisty female astronaut named Penny High Eagle.
Even if the plot complexities seems to defy gravity at times, Back to the Moon still dares to tread where few thrillers have gone before--into space. --Naomi Gesinger
Book Description
A renegade rocket man haunted by his past. A beautiful daredevil who thinks she can do it all--until she finds herself on the adventure of her life. A death-defying mission so risky, so audacious that no one would try it...unless the fate of the world depended on its success.
Thirty years after man's first lunar landing, retired NASA engineer Homer Hickam, Jr., offers a brilliantly imagined, endlessly entertaining return to space adventure in his spectacular first novel,
Back to the Moon. In his bestselling memoir,
Rocket Boys, Hickam memorably evoked our captivation with our nation's first halting ventures into space. Now he reminds us of the long-lost wonder with which we once watched America's conquest of the moon--and celebrated the triumph of mind, soul, and spirit that got us there--in this page-turning tale of the first moon shot of the new millennium.
Jack Medaris doesn't "borrow" the space shuttle Columbia to be a hero or a villain. A man of science driven by the memory of the woman who once inspired him, Jack risks his life, his name, and everything he has, to sidetrack the shuttle crew and take her on an unscheduled detour to the moon, where the secrets of his past--and the future of the world--await him. But when the meticulously plotted launch goes fatally wrong, and payload specialist Penny High Eagle further complicates Jack's plan, he must confront unforeseen challenges both in space and on the ground, where deadly forces are amassing to prevent the Columbia from reaching the moon.
Writing with the detail and intelligence that only an insider could have, Hickam takes us to places few have ever seen, strapping us into the cockpit of the shuttle and hurtling us into orbit and beyond. From the crackling tension of mission control to the savage emptiness of deep space, from the massive rocket engines capable of generating millions of pounds of thrust to the tiny killing machines awaiting a bygone era's orders to unleash their high-tech fury, here are the sights and science of space as you've never seen them before. Here, too, are the men and women of unfailing invention and intelligence who are soon caught up in the story: astronauts and attorneys, physicists and politicians, unsung heroes behind the scenes and shadowy agents of darkness behind the veil of history. And at the spiraling tale's isolated center are Jack and Penny, locked in a battle of wit and wills, rocketing weightless through space as their fates grow inextricably intertwined.
A no-holds-barred joyride of a thriller,
Back to the Moon confirms that Homer Hickam is a master storyteller like no other, spinning a tale of high-flying adventure while expertly navigating the vast expanses of both the far-flung universe and the human heart.
Download Description
In the year 2002, America's space program is a faded shadow of its former self. Before becoming a permanent display at the Smithsonian, the space shuttle Columbia is scheduled for one final, routine flight. Hijacked on the launch pad by a renegade group of former NASA insiders, Columbia is soon headed for the moon instead of a museum.
At the helm of the rogue spacecraft is Jack Medaris, a brilliant, troubled scientist whose covert refitting of the shuttle for a moon mission has been funded by a mysterious, deep-pocketed consortium. Once in space, Medaris learns that there's more to the story than he has been told. Defending the shuttle against a series of attacks, the fate of his mission, and the future of Earth, depends on his ability to decide who he can trust to bring Columbia back safely.
Customer Reviews:
Laura S........2006-01-04
Back to the Moon by Homer H. Hickam Jr. is an interesting story about a group of people who travel into space to the Shorty crater to solve the age old question of how the crater was originally formed. Gene Cernan and Harrison "Jack" Schmitt were the first men to go on the mission to the moon, aboard the Challenger, to solve the mystery. They collect "fire beads" and soil from the surface of the crater for evidence. Years later, Jack plans another mission, aboard a new shuttle, to the moon for more research. Destroying his plans, someone ruins the facility and the shuttle. Meanwhile, another crew, including Jack Medaris, Virgil, Katrina "Kate" Suttner, and Penney High Eagle, prepare to take off aboard the Columbia. Jack Medaris is in love with Kate, but towards the end, he falls for Penney as well. The crew on Columbia faces many obstacles while in space. They were attacked by defense satellites and bombs. Jack is on his own shuttle, and lands on the moon, recovering pieces from the Challenger, including a love note from Kate to her future husband. While there, he falls into the Short crater and pulls in the Lunar Rover in an attempt to get out, also burying the note from Katrina. The crew heads back to the shuttle and eventually return back to earth. Yet another obstacle comes their way. The shuttle began to fall apart and landed in the ocean. A few of the members escaped by parachutes and the others were safely rescued.
I did not particularly enjoy this novel as much I would have liked to. It was very confusing at times, and I had trouble understanding it. I would recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a detailed story about travels into space, with a bit of a love story addded.
Mr. Hickam for national pundit!.......2003-12-01
I found this a really good read, filled with interesting characters and a great plot.
It starts out with a highjacking of the space shuttle. Hickam has enough inside knowledge to make that perfectly plausible. There is a lot of work in space suits involved, something Hickam apparently was involved in a lot at NASA. Penny High Eagle, the payload specialist, is a great and sympathetic characture. Paco the cat who's aboard is a funny touch. There's a lot of fun to this novel. I think a lot of it is tongue in cheek that some reviewers can't figure out. It definitely is not boring and is a real page-turner.
It is very thought-provoking about the "Star Wars" killer satellites around the moon, plausible, too.
In a lot of ways, this novel is a love story. Jack wants most of all to go to find a message on the moon from his late wife. Yet, his wife never went to the moon so how could it be there? I teared up when I read what Jack actually finds there.
I noticed a note on a review about a pistol being fired in space. Gun powder does not require air to burn. It contains all the ingredients in it to work in a vacuum. A form of gun powder, after all, is what is used in solid fuel rockets! As for a space-suited astronaut getting his finger on the trigger, a .45 caliber pistol has plenty of room in its trigger guard. Recoil is a problem but Hickam has his astronaut well wedged in.
I enjoyed rummaging around the old Apollo 17 site with Medaris. Some really good writing here.
All in all, much recommended. Let there be no doubt that Homer Hickam knows how to write a novel. I love all his books. Remember, even his memoirs are written as novels
Keep it up, Mister Hickam! Can't wait for the Back to the Moon movie!
A novel written while Hickam was developing his skills.......2003-11-21
First off, this was written before Hickam's Rocket Boys according to his web site even though it came out afterwards. Clearly, when he wrote this novel, Hickam was just developing his skills as a writer. Still, even though it's dated (he uses the ill-fated shuttle Columbia for this trip to the moon) this is a very good book and I thoroughly enjoyed it. Hickam's inside knowledge of NASA makes it a unique book. I think his tongue was very much in cheek most of the time while he was writing this but I still get the idea that the characters are based on real people he knew while working for the agency. After reading the novel, I felt as if I actually knew each and every one of the people in this book from old gruff Sam the head of mission control to Cecil the lawyer. I especially liked Cecil. He's a great character and is a good example of Hickam's development while writing this book into the great novelist he's become. Like his latest novel, The Keeper's Son, this is a novel filled with action and adventure but it is also a love story, too, and a good one. Not only is there love between the hero Jack Medaris and the beautiful Amerindian science reporter Penny High Eagle aboard the shuttle but there is also the memory of love still with Jack's dead wife who was also a rocket scientist. The scenes on the moon were especially well done. Hickam makes you feel as if you really are there. And the idea of having Jack walking around the old Apollo 17 site was pure genius. How lonely it must be there in reality. Hickam gave me that sense but also wrote it with wonder and hope. Then when Penny joins him and Jack reads the letter (I won't tell you who it's from), I got goose bumps! Even then, Hickam's talent was very impressive in his ability to make you feel for his characters. I read this novel in one long reading and was very impressed, especially since I've read Hickam's most recent work. He is a much better writer now and it's interesting to see his early work as he learned his trade. I look forward to reading all of his work from here on and I certainly don't hold this early effort against him. Read it for what it is and simply enjoy the ride.
I really enjoyed it.......2003-09-05
I am 14 years old. This novel is fun to read. I couldn't pt it down because I wanted to know what was going to happen to Jack and Penny and Paco (who is a cat). I've really enjoyed all of Mr. Hickam's books, especially his books about Coalwood and growing up there. I and my parents are going to visit Coalwood this October 4 to meet Mr. Hickam and the other rocket boys. It should be a lot of fun. But on this novel, I really think it's a great book. My mom and dad both read it before me and said so. I just like the idea of us going back to the moon but I also really got into Jack and Penny's love story. I also loved when he wrote about Paco. A cat in space is a very funny and interesting idea. I think a cat in space would be just like Paco is described. I felt really bad for Jack when he found the message on the moon. I cried over that. I am getting all my friends to read this book.
One of the best space novels I have ever read.......2003-08-25
It is remarkable to me that a space engineer/reviewer would not like this book. I am such, have worked in the industry for decades, and believe that Homer Hickam has written a delightful techno-thriller that not only is a compelling page turner but gives the reader, space insider or not, much to think about. I guess you'd have to say Hickam is nor has ever been much of a "in the box" kind of thinker. If he was, he wouldn't have written Rocket Boys/October Sky which has sold ten times more copies than any astronaut biography.
The plot of this novel is centered around the Apollo 13 type of "can do" engineering whereby what is available is modified to do the impossible. But this is more than a book of engineering. It is a deeply philosophical look at the American space program and the very real people who are in it. Hickam has created characters that I deeply cared about as I read their adventures although he, as evinced in all his books, has his tongue firmly in his cheek much of the time. Homer, by the way, no longer works for NASA and from what I can tell rarely devotes any time to it these days. Most of his writing has centered around the town of Coalwood, West Virginia and I notice that his new novel is set on the Outer Banks and is a seafaring novel. Much can be learned about Hickam the writer on his site... In any case, this is a great novel for everybody. Don't miss it.
Book Description
Supernatural is the cult CW show from the producers of The O.C. and The X-FiIes, starring Jared Padalecki (Gilmore Girls) and Jensen Ackles (Smallville). Prepare for a spooky roadtrip through the dark heart of America!
Brothers Sam and Dean Winchester cruise America’s back roads in their 1967 Chevy Impala, searching for their father. Raised to fight paranormal evil, along the way they confront creatures most people believe exist only in folklore and nightmares, including wendigos, ghosts, pagan gods and demons.
This official companion is packed with exclusive interviews, photos, behind the scenes secrets, a complete episode guide, plus a color portrait gallery of the stars.
Customer Reviews:
Fantastic!!.......2007-10-08
I received this book in the mail today (8/10/07) and two and a half hours later I finished it. The companion was fantastic! The book contains everything a fan needs; color photos, background information on the `supernatural', production notes and quotes and interviews from the cast and crew. The last few pages even contain an amusing list from Sam's point of view; 22 reasons not to go on a trip with my brother. And the most important thing is that is stays true to the shows legends. It is a fantastic companion based on a fantastic show. Thanks Nicholas Knight.
Book Description
By following this 16-step writing program, any writer can fulfill the dream of completing a novel that is ready to submit to agents and editors. No matter what type of novel the reader wants to write--western to romance to literary to fantasy--this program will work.
It breaks down the novel-writing process into small, manageable tasks that even the most inexperienced writers can achieve. Readers will learn how to find a hook, create a conflict, develop a protagonist and set her into motion.
Formerly an editor and now a successful literary agent, Marshall knows the marketplace. His expertise illuminates every subject, from insightful advice about choosing the right story to strategies for building that story with an eye toward publication. He includes plenty of diagrams, charts and section sheets to make following the program easier, and there's even a section with proven advice and information for writing effective query letters and submitting manuscripts for publication.
Customer Reviews:
Nice, structured system -great for long term projects.......2007-08-25
The methodology presented in this book is great for creating interweaving plot and sub-plots, with depth to more than just the lead protagonist and antagonist. By following the steps, you end up with a good story line that has peaks and valleys.
A key part of this process that lets it work with the weekend or part-time novelist is how it has you create detailed sections from various character's view point, listing the action and subsequent reactions to those scenes. This can be done over a period of time, and then when those are finished, you go back and write out the scenes in detail as your first draft. Again, something that can be done over a period of time as you have it, without losing track of the story because you have already outlined it.
Definitely recommended for genre fiction in particular.
X + Y Does Not Equal a Good Novel.......2007-02-09
I haven't read many books about how to write a novel, but I can tell that this one has problems. If you want to write formulaic fiction, this book is for you. If your book may falls into a rigid predetermined word count that can be divided into 175,236 words and 113 sections, you're off to a good start. Marshal relies on the "section" system. He calls sections what most writers call scenes: the bits and pieces of your book where your characters act and talk. Marshal says you should have a preset number of words and then create a certain number of sections to fit with this word count. However, this adds up to working a formula if you're not careful.
What is lacking is how to develop good characters. Marshal provides a character fact sheet, but it's just a wrapsheet of what your character looks like, characteristic phrases he or she uses, and whether or not the character smokes. That's as about in depth as it gets.
I just keep envisioning Marshal typing, "a tablespoon of villain, a cup of subplot, a dash of the Point of Hopelessness, and there you have your novel." All in all it's not a terrible book, but you must take it with a grain of salt. On the surface the Marshal Plan looks rigid. But you don't have to follow it rigidly. It provides guidelines that you as a creative writer can follow or not follow as they fit into your writing.
WRITING MODES STAND THE TEST OF TIME.......2006-11-08
The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing includes plenty of practical and thought-provoking material, but there are two chapters that set this book apart from the competition.
One of the many concepts that confused me as a novice writer was the terminology used to describe different types of writing. Different books described narrative, summary, scene, exposition, dialogue, introspection, flashbacks, and recollections, but none provided a satisfactory explanation of each and how they relate to one another, especially for use by a novelist.
In chapters 10 and 11, Evan Marshall describes five writing modes: action, summary, dialogue, feelings/thoughts, and background. He defines each and outlines their uses. As soon as I read about the writing modes, I began incorporating them into my writing and into my study of writing. Years later, I still find writing modes to be insightful in concept and helpful in practical use.
Marshall's writing modes offer a superior model for understanding and explaining the different types of writing used to construct fiction. For me, the writing modes have stood the test of time. I continue to be amazed that more articles and books about fiction-writing don't incorporate them.
The chapters addressing writing modes are well worth the cost of purchasing The Marshall Plan for Novel Writing.
THE ONE I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR!.......2006-07-19
Marshal's book does not tell you what to write, but instead gives one a great guideline on how to organize your thoughts, chapters, events, and keep things moving. The advice inspired me, organized me, and gave me a sign ahead to keep swimming toward. Excellent book that is exactly what I've always been waiting for, it delivers all it promises, and more. Stuck? This is definately the book you need, for it is the ideal method for those who find outlines work best for them.
Less than and I expected, and more..........2006-05-17
I'll be honest: when I bought this book, I was suspicious already. The promise of the book was too kitschy, too close to those "write a novel in 10 days" things. Well, I bought it nevertheless, and read it all. And although it did not deliver the magic formula that ir promised, it did deliver a structured plan to put the ideas in order and to achieve some balance in any long story. The dullness or keenness of your story will depend on things that are actually not in the Marshall Plan, but if you follow the plan at least you can monitor the balance and be sure you don't get too dispersed. Nowadays, I don't follow the Marshall Plan, but I do follow a plan. For me, the best thing in the book was to teach me that you can have a plan, and how you can create your own plan. And here, it was helpful.
One comment on context: it seems to me (although I think it's never explicitly said) that Mr. Marshall follows Jack Bickham ("Writing and Selling your Novel", "Scene and Structure"), who follows Dwight Swain ("Techniques for the Selling Writer"). To take more profit from the Marshall Plan, I suggest reading Swain first, who's the mastermind of the M-R stimulus and Scene/Sequel structuring, and it's incredibly clear and crisp. Then read Bickham, who adds some more insights and is clear in a very different way ("Writing and Selling..." is enough; "Scene and Structure" is a rehash). Then read Marshall, and you'll see where is he coming from, for he's not as fathomable as Swain.
One more thing: apart from the Plan, Mr. Marshall gives some tips on writing in general. These are very few, but good. I was really surprised.
Book Description
Battlestar Galactica is back! The brand new, `re-imagined' version of the cult 1970s series has quickly become the most critically acclaimed SF show on TV, with massive viewing figures to match.
With a classy ensemble cast, including Edward James Olmos (Miami Vice) and Mary McDonnell (Independence Day), cutting edge special effects, superb production design and adult-oriented scripts, the new Battlestar Galactica is both a worthy successor to a classic original, and a stunning piece of television in its own right.
This official companion to the second season is packed with exclusive interviews, photos, behind-the-scenes secrets, and a complete episode guide.
Customer Reviews:
A nice overview in case you reminisce about TV shows (like me)........2007-01-04
Companion books on the shelf are a key indicator of "nerd-hood". I think BSG (nerd) is one of the best shows on TV. It's more than Sci-Fi, it's a drama that happens in space. This book is a useful reference tool should you develop an interest in what goes on beyond the screen.
Book Review.......2007-01-02
my short and sweet opinion of this book is a great have for the Battlestar Galactica Fan. A lot of Sci-Fi and Tech information with great information and wonderful pictures. If You are thinking of a low-cost gift for a BSG Fan, this book along with the Season One Book is a great buy.
So Say We All
An excellent companion to BSG's magnificent second season.......2006-11-11
Compared to official guides for other shows, the companions to BATTLESTAR GALACTICA simply cannot be beat for enhancing the enjoyment of the episodes. Most official guides tend to do two things. First, they provide a critically neutral description of the episodes individually and the season as a whole. Second, they tend to repackage pretty much whatever one as a viewer can pick up on their own.
If you look at the official guides to BUFFY or FARSCAPE you'll see what I'm talking about. The best route with BUFFY is to get the unofficial guides. These unofficial guides are written without much contribution by the creators, producers, writers, or cast, but they at least have an independent point of view. The BSG official companions, however, while not critical from the author's viewpoint, are remarkably frank in providing critical assessments by the producers and directors and actors and writers as to what did and did not work in an episode. Any fan of BSG will recognize upon watching that "Black Market" and "Sacrifice" are not highlights of the show, but it is incredibly refreshing to read statements by Ron Moore and David Eick and Jamie Bamber that indicate that they, too, believe "Black Market" was not a successful episode. Take the official guide to BUFFY and read what it says about "Beer Bad" or "Some Assembly Required." You'll get no hint that these are considered among the worst BUFFY episodes ever. But in the BSG companions you'll not only see the creative team agreeing with you on the weaker episodes, but they will provide additional insight into why they don't work. So on the first of the two points mentioned above, the BSG guides are head and shoulders above other official guides.
On the second point, i.e., the regurgitation of stuff you can get yourself on an alert viewing, the BSG companions also shine. Probably 80% of the contents of the books are not directly accessible to a fan of the show. For instance, in reading about the casting of Admiral Cain, I was unaware that they first approached Sigourney Weaver, Jessica Lange, and Angelica Houston before asking Michelle Forbes if she was interested in the role (though I have to add that it is inconceivable to me that any of those fine actresses could have been more effective than Forbes, who was simply outstanding). As with the first companion, there are substantial interviews with all the concerned parties about how an episode came together.
My lone disappointment with this volume is that it possibly contained less information not directly concerned with specific episodes. The reason for this is obvious. Whereas the Season Two companion was restricted to the same length as the Season One companion, the second season featured 20 episodes as opposed to the first seasons 13, along with the miniseries. This volume thus had more episodes to discuss.
Still, I think many fans will find this as enjoyable as I have. I'm aware that there are some who prefer the kind of guide that I abhor, one that gives a glossily regurgitated summation of what happens in each episode. I generally find these kinds of guides worthless. Give me one like BSG any day! I want behind the scenes scoop, not a repetition of what I can easily see for myself.
Book Description
Carnivale's Daniel Knauf and Cable & Deadpool's Patrick Zircher take the armored Avenger in an unexpected new direction! Having exposed himself to the Extremis enhancile, Tony Stark is a new man - literally! But that's what has his New Avengers allies worried! And who is the mysterious figure working his way down a list of politically sensitive targets? Collects Iron Man #7-12.
Customer Reviews:
Interesting but LAME ending.......2007-09-06
I was a huge fan of Ellis' prequel to this volume - he has a voice that is unmatched in intensity, perfectly suited to a new, hardcore Iron Man. This follow-on wasn't bad, decent enough mystery going on, and it had a few interesting things to contribute to the Extremis concept.
However, all that went out the window with the inexplicable climax and last-page ending. I won't give it away, but suffice it to say that it didn't feel to me like it logically flowed from anything we'd seen up to that point. Instead, it felt more like the author realized he only had a few pages to wrap up the broad storyline he'd created - and the last scene was a pure bolt-on, just serving to provide a bridge to the Civil Wars storyline (though I don't buy that Stark would've come to such an arresting conclusion out of the blue).
Grrr, bring back Ellis!
Iron Man - on the run!.......2007-02-26
Strictly speaking, Iron Man: Execute Program is the follow-up to Iron Man: The Inevitable. In reality, the Execute Program trade paperback, which collects issues 7-12 of the current Iron Man series, is the logical follow up to Iron Man Vol. 1: Extremis. While the Inevitable storyline that ran in Iron Man issues 1-6 came immediately after Extremis, it all but ignored those important events in favor of a more retro Iron Man tale. The Execute Program storyline is focused on the events that occurred during Extremis, and the consequences of those events.
In this storyline, someone is executing Tony Stark's enemies, and that someone looks disturbingly like Iron Man. Now that the Iron Man armor is inextricably linked to Tony Stark, Stark falls under suspicion of his Avengers teammates as well as Nick Fury of SHIELD. Iron Man hasn't been this hated since the Armor Wars.
Writers Daniel and Charlie Knauf deliver an Iron Man tale that is packed with action and intrigue, and one that successfully builds upon Warren Ellis's groundbreaking Extremis saga (go check it out if you haven't already). Their take on Tony Stark is what you always thought the character should act like. The billionaire playboy shtick has been replaced by the manic, obsessive, super genius inventor persona, which seems so much more appropriate to the man that created so many technological marvels. The Knaufs also set up tensions between Captain America and Iron Man that, combined with Stark's revelation at the end of the story, make a nice transition into Marvel's epic Civil War (Marvel Comics) saga.
While Adi Granov's brilliant painted artwork on Extremis has probably ruined Iron Man for all other artists, Patrick Zircher does an admirable job here. His style has progressed considerably since his last Iron Man project (Iron Man: the Iron Age), and is reminiscent of Steve McNiven and Trevor Hairsine's styles. I think his pencils could have benefited from a more prominent inker, but overall the book looks good. Plus, the painted covers by Granov are flat-out awesome.
Overall, Execute Program is another fine Iron Man adventure, and one that bridges the gap between two important Marvel events (Iron Man: Extremis and Civil War).
Great Story With Relevance to Civil War.......2007-02-24
In the first Iron Man arc by the Knauf brothers, Tony Stark's decision from the Extremis storyline is coming back to haunt him. His teammates on the Avengers are losing their trust in him due to his decision to inject himself with the Extremis serum to make Iron Man even more powerful. However, the trust issue becomes the least of Stark's worries when people connected to origin of Iron Man begin to die, and the prime suspect is Iron Man. Even worse, now that Stark used Extremis, he is the only person who can pilot the Iron Man armor, so he cannot claim that someone else stole his armor.
The Execute Program story is great, but the story serves as a great lead-in to Civil War, giving Stark an epiphany about the position he will come to head in the upcoming war...
Average customer rating:
- good for fans
- batman guide
- Good for kids
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Batman: The Animated Series Guide
Scott Beatty
Manufacturer: DK CHILDREN
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
 Cartooning | Art | Arts & Music | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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Batman | Favorite Characters | Series | Children's Books | Subjects | Books
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General | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
General | Graphic Novels | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Characters | Comics & Graphic Novels | Subjects | Books
Batman | Media | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books
General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books
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Justice League: The Animated Series Guide
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Superman: The Animated Series Guide
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Batman Beyond: The Animated Series Guide
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Batman: The Ultimate Guide to the Dark Knight
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Batman Animated
ASIN: 0789495805 |
Book Description
Batman: The Animated Series Guide is chockfull of batfacts about the characters and storylines in this Emmy Award winning television show, based on the original DC comic book series. This rebirth of the Batman story brought new characteristics to the Caped Crusader; the beautifully stylized series introduces a darker and more complex superhero to the screen, and there's plenty of detail in this wonderful new world that fans will love to explore on the page.
Kids who like Batman: The Animated Series will love this unique guide to Gotham City and the creative criminals and humanistic heroes who find their way there.
Customer Reviews:
good for fans.......2006-06-10
I love Batman the Animated Series. When I heard of this book, I immeadietly bought it. You'll data on every character from the series and what episodes they first appeared in. Some of the pictures are photo shots from the series. Great for Batman fans.
batman guide.......2006-03-19
my three year old son loves this book he wants to know who all the characters are and he loves to tell them back to you. this book has been wonderful!!
Good for kids.......2004-07-13
I grew up watching this series, and fell in love with Batman because of it. The moment I saw a preview of the pages for Nightwing and Harley Quinn (my favorite characters) I rushed to order this. However, I was a bit disappointed. I'm used to the "Ultimate Guide to ---" Books and was expecting this book to be just as detailed. It is very thin, and not very specific. This book is great for people and kids who know very little about the series and want to get acquainted. For true fans, its not even necessary. Only major characters are covered. I would have been more impressed if a character like Rupert Thorne's accomplice Candace would have gotten a page. I don't see why not, she appeared in multiple episodes. However, in this book, Rupert himself only get a paragraph on the "Other Villians" page. An episode guide would have also been nice. The most you get here is a list of where each major character first appeared. I hope a more detailed book will appear in the future.
Average customer rating:
- a big disappointment!
- "Secrets" by Danielle Steel
- Predictable but still a Page Turner
- Unforgetable.
- Oh my gosh, go get this book!!!!
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Secrets
Danielle Steel
Manufacturer: Delacorte Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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General | Steel, Danielle | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
Hardcover | Steel, Danielle | ( S ) | Authors, A-Z | Romance | Subjects | Books
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A Perfect Stranger
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ASIN: 0385294182
Release Date: 1985-10-01 |
Customer Reviews:
a big disappointment!.......2005-10-28
i love danielle steel! i`ve read ALL of her books so far.but secrets was a big disappointment to me.as far as i am concerned,ms.steel tried to change her style of writing in this book more to the kind of judith krantz or jackie collins (some explicit "parts" i didn`t like at all).simply NOT the danielle steel we like. the story itselfs is ok(gives the readers some "insights" behind the scenes of hollywood)but....
some of her books i`ve read over and over again. i am not going to touch secrets for a second time,however.
"Secrets" by Danielle Steel.......2004-06-20
Danielle Steel's "Secrets" is a story that focusses on several people who all want to succeed in the Hollywood movie industry. These people are all very different but they have this same ambition in common and also the fact that they are all involved in a new TV series that everyone is convinced will take the world by storm.
"Secrets" is a story about what people will sacrifice for Hollywood and the lies that they will tell to further their own careers in the movie industry.
The good things about this book is how the characters develop throughout it and that they all have such different personalities. I also enjoyed the romance element of the book as well.
My main criticism of this book is that the plot was fairly predictable in places. Other than that though, I enjoyed reading this book.
All in all, I found this book a enjoyable book to read.
Predictable but still a Page Turner.......2004-03-18
Danielle Steel is my favorite author and I have read a lot of her books. Although, it was predictable, is still was a page turner. If you like romantic hollywood novels this book is for you. You will read about, Jane, a woman who realizes she is married to a horny drunk, Zachory, who hasn't been with a woman in years; Bill, who is secretly married to a former actress who is now a drug addict; Gabrielle, who is not what she seems; and Sabina, the famous movie actor who seems like perfection to everyone around her but in the end she like everyone else is hiding her own secret.
Unforgetable........2003-06-05
I was looking at some books by Steel and ran across this one and remember I've read this one in my 10th grade year in high school. I don't remember exactly what it's about...I remember that the main charcter gets blamed for murdering his wife...they were going through some rough times at that point and he found it hard to deal with. He goes to trial and while all this is going on he is in soap opera bussiness. Obiously if I rememberd this story from 3 years ago it must have been pretty good. And it is.
Oh my gosh, go get this book!!!!.......2002-04-25
This is such a great read! Can't pass it up. Reminds me a lot of jackie collins. This story is so much fun. It has so many surprises...I think you'll be shocked, not predictable.
Books:
- Flesh and Bone: A Body Farm Novel (Body Farm Novels)
- For a Few Demons More (Rachel Morgan, Book 5)
- Green This! Volume 1: Greening Your Cleaning (Green This!)
- Grey's Anatomy: Notes from the Nurse's Station and Overheard at the Emerald City Bar
- Hamlet (Shakespeare Made Easy)
- High Noon
- High Profile
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
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Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume One
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