Book Description
The Star Wars universe is expanding faster than ever before, and Star Wars: The Essential Guide to Characters has received an exciting new face-lift–with completely updated text and more than a hundred brand new, full-color illustrations by extraordinary new artist Michael Sutfin.
This all-new Essential Guide features detailed profiles of more than one hundred and thirty characters from across the Star Wars galaxy, including all of your favorites–such as Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, and Mara Jade–as well as, from Episode II:
• Jango Fett • Count Dooku • Anakin Skywalker • Zam Wesell
And the key players from Star Wars: Episode I The Phantom Menace:
• Queen Amidala • Qui-Gon Jinn • Mace Windu • Darth Maul
Here is complete, updated coverage of the novels from the incredible New Jedi Order and all of the classic movies, books, comics, TV specials, games, and the rest of the Star Wars universe.
This must-have book describes the essential history and personal data for each character–with vital statistics, homeworlds, and political affiliations.
More characters, more information, brilliant artwork–the Essential Guides are hotter than ever!
Customer Reviews:
Not comprehensive enough.......2007-01-26
The most obvious flaw of this book is that it doesn't include Revenge of the Sith material. So critical things like Anakin's fall to the Dark Side, Padme and Count Dooku's deaths, General Greivous entirely, are all casually left out.
The more annoying flaw though, is the lack of coverage. A good amount of characters are covered, but too many are just left out entirely. Nearly all the members of Rogue Squadron simply aren't mentioned, just as one example. It's hard to expect them to fit in every character ever, but there are far too many missing for this resource to be able to be considered comprehensive.
Their main mistake was restricting themselves by format. Every character received at least one whole page of information, plus a full, detailed, color illustration. At the end, a few dozen other characters got a short blurb, and some got a facial portrait. They should have gone for a more encyclopedic approach, allotting as much space as was necessary for each character, and not restricting themselves to a page by page format. Then they could have included a lot more people and amde the book a lot more satisfying.
This book does very nicely in what it has done, I'll certainly give it that.
But as it stands, a few years after it's release, it is in need of a serious update and a total revamp of included characters.
A Great Book To Have!.......2006-01-16
I really like this book. Seldom do you get the opportunity to read about Star Wars characters, all compiled into a single volume. Every page in this book is fun to read. Character illustrations are pretty good and the descriptions on each characters are quite detailed and well-constructed.
However, there are some typo errors in the book and I was left wondering why did the publisher (Del Rey) decide to revise this book before Episode 3 was released. Some of the key characters missing from this book include General Grevious and many other important figures in Episode 3. In my opinion, this book should have been revised after Episode 3.
Nevertheless, its still a great book to read. I recommend it book to both fans of Star Wars and RPG gamers. A job well done to the author of this book - Mr. Daniel Wallace.
The New Essential Guide to Characters (Star Wars).......2005-08-18
The book has a lot of good information and is up to date.
Star Wars fan? If so, this book is a must-own!.......2005-07-31
Star Wars: The New Essential Guide To Characters (2002.)
INTRODUCTION:
Star Wars is the ultimate science fiction series. It's not likely that when George Lucas released the classic first film in 1977 just how big the franchise would go onto be. In addition to two trilogies of films, the Lucas series spawned video games, comic books, novels, and an assortment of other Expanded Universe material. With all these different sources of Star Wars, it was high time that guides to everyone's favorite galaxy far, far away were released. And in the mid-late nineties, that happened. Guides were released for characters, vehicles, weapons/technology, alien species, droids, planets, and characters However, many of the guides were outdated with the arrival of the prequel films. And thus, several got a much needed revamp. The character guide was amongst them. Read on for my review of The NEW Essential Guide To Characters.
OVERVIEW:
This book is exactly what it says it is - a guide to the many characters of the Star Wars galaxy. For pretty much every character, whether he or her is from a movie, novel, comic, or video game, you get a standard profile of info like height, species, and birth planet, as well as a biography of the character. You also get a full color illustration - and since many of these characters come from novels, this is the first time official art of them has ever been published. From the better known players in the Star Wars universe like Luke Skywalker and Han Solo right down to considerably lesser-known characters like Exar Kun and Vergere, this book explores characters from every corner of the Star Wars galaxy.
REVIEW:
I really can't begin to say how satisfied I am with the book. I was satisfied with the older version of it, but this newer version kills the old one dead. With color illustrations and ultra-detailed info on every character that goes well beyond what you'd expect, this book is the definitive character guide. I only have two complaints. First and foremost, the book does NOT cover Episode III. This is because this version of the book was released prior to Episode III, and therefore, General Grievous does not appear in this guide. Likewise, characters who first appeared in Episodes I and II (and didn't appear outside the prequel trilogy) only have their history listed up to the end of Episode II. This means that the deaths of Count Dooku and Nute Gunray get no explanation in this book. The other flaw about the book I want to bring up is the omission of some characters. Most of the character get a page or two devoted to them, but the more minor characters just have a brief paragraph in the back of the book. And some characters, mysteriously enough, don't get ANY representation in this book outside of other characters' summaries. Among the characters who fail to get a summary are Guri, Xizor's humanoid replica droid from Shadows Of The Empire, practically all characters featured in The Truce At Bakura, as well as a good deal of the pilots introduced in the X-Wing series. Still, their being forgotten is a minor flaw next to everything this book does well. Accordingly, I recommend it to any fan of the Star Wars universe.
EDITION NOTES:
A few different editions of this book have been released over the years. Needless to say, the latest edition, which features numerous updates and new characters, is the superior version. If you're gonna buy it, be sure to get the latest version!
OVERALL:
In the end, this book satisfies me. No Star Wars fan, no matter how big or small, should be without this book. If you're eager to learn more about a certain character, or maybe you just want to know a thing or two about someone from the Star Wars universe, this is the book for you. I strongly recommend it to any fan.
Needs to be updated and expanded.......2005-06-10
I don't own this book, I just read through it at a local bookstore. I didn't buy it because there was just too much missing. Some major characters from the films and EU are omitted or receive only short (one paragraph) descriptions, while other minor characters get full 1-2 page entries.
For example, mad clone Joruus C'Baoth gets one paragraph (nothing on the original Jorus), whereas Boss Nass and Sebulba from Ep I have full entries. Most of the Jedi Council from Eps I and II get one paragraph each in a collective entry, with a few omitted completely. The podrace competitors get about the same coverage as the Jedi Council, if not more. And a personal quibble, I would have liked to have seen an entry on Captain Tarpals. He's at least as important as Sebulba.
Surely this will be revised to accommodate Ep III and Tartakovsky Clone Wars updates. Hopefully it will also include many expansions on older characters as well.
Amazon.com
You can find countless guides to the many gadgets and gizmos in the Star Wars universe--Bill Smith's Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology, which covers everything from ship-mounted turbo-lasers to combat remotes, is just one example. But what about all the characters in Star Wars? Look, a good book about remotes is one thing. A good book about the living? That's something else.
Lucky for us, Andy Mangels has pored over all the movies and the collateral novels, comics, and computer games to put together this illustrated guide to the major and minor characters of the Star Wars universe. As would be expected, many pages are lavished on the likes of Vader and Solo, but bit players like Salacious Crumb (Jabba's cackling monkey-lizard pet) and Lobot (Cloud City's cyborg majordomo) aren't forgotten. An impressive survey in both depth and breadth, this guide fills in the gaps on some of Star Wars' most well-known personalities (who knew Luke's nickname was "Wormy"?) while revealing characters you may have never heard of (like Han and Leia's twin kids!). --Paul Hughes
Book Description
KEEP YOUR EYE ON THE EMPIRE! RESEARCH THE REBELS!
*Features detailed profiles of all the most important characters in the Star Wars universe
*Covers the movies, the books--classic and new--the comics, the TV specials, the games, and the rest of the expanding universe of Star Wars
*Describes the history and personality of each character, with vital statistics, weapons of choice, and vehicles used
*Includes photographs and original line drawings--with multiple illustrations of most characters for better visual reference
*Brings you up-to-date on recent characters and events if you've been away from the Star Wars universe for a while.
THE UNIVERSE OF STAR WARS IS EXPANDING FASTER THAN EVER BEFORE...
WITH THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE TO CHARACTERS IN HAND, YOU'LL NEVER LOSE YOUR WAY.
Customer Reviews:
obsolete, but still a great list.......2005-12-18
This book is still an exccellent guide despite being outdated (came out in 1995). It includes several characters that were very enjoyable to read about, despite their incredibly minor if not non-existant role in the Star Wars storyline. Some are Imperial Royal Guards, Tessek, IG-88, etc. Reading it, I felt that it included too many of the Dark Empire 1 and 2 characters, when it could have had other more iteresting ones. Overall, this book isn't the most up-to-date thing out there, but will likely explain all the characters you need to know.
Essential Guide is good for its time.......2003-10-18
The Essential Guide is a very good guide to the characters of the Star Wars universe. Unfortunately, this book was written before the release of the new Star Wars prequels, so you won't find any info on those movies in this book. If you're an avid fan though, I highly recommend you buy this book anyway, since it has in-depth descriptions of key players in Episodes 4-6. Good buy!
I also agree with obselete........2003-05-29
This book has some useful references but for the most part it is in dire need of some updating. With the release of the new movies this just doesnt cut it as a reference guide anymore. This is the worst of the essential star wars guides.
A great resource.......2003-03-17
The Essential Guide to Characters is a great guide of all the characters from the original trilogy and the expanded universe. It's a greate resource for anyone who wants to know about specific characters, and for fanfiction authors who are interested in getting to know the history of a character they want to include in their fanfiction. It's definately great, and would be a great addition to the collection of someone who considers themselves a know-it-all, or someone who enjoys writing in the Star Wars universe. The only thing that takes away from the rating is the fact that all the images are black and white.
I agree with the obselete guy.......2002-11-24
With the release of episode 2 this books information is rendered pretty much obselete. There is alot of incorrect information here. For example Owen Lars is noted as being Obi wan's brother.
I'm sure that the author worked with what he had but the bottom line is its just not reliable reference material.
Book Description
In a success-driven culture, measuring one's worth is too often dependent upon what one has attained. And just as often this exercise leads to despair. Tommy Nelson believes the Bible is not silent on the subject of success and successful living, but God does use a different yardstick. Godly success measures how well you are living. Success, according to the Bible, is about who you are rather than what you attain. Tommy Nelson will show you the areas in life where you must be successful. Mastering life is about finding God's hand upon you. You can be successful and be an utter failure if you are successful in the wrong things. The 12 Essentials of Godly Success will show you the nonnegotiable areas where you must succeed.
Customer Reviews:
a Must Have for Godly successful husbands/fathers .......2007-08-17
I recently purchased this book for my husband (father of 2, and very hard worker...@ work, @ home & for the Lord) and he just loves it! He doesn'tr like to read books much but has stayed with this one! He has found many practical applications for a Godly life and deems it very valuable in his Christian walk. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! *****
Great Christain Business Book - Easy to read and apply.......2007-05-13
Tommy Nelson's style makes this a practical book for any spiritual person looking to be successful. Tommy has a good sense and humor and what seems to be an endless supply of stories for application of the lessons he is teaching us. It was an enjoyable read and can help you align your purpose with God's purpose.
Book Description
Whether at a business meeting, church gathering, or social function, most of us will be called upon at some time to speak publicly. As Christians, we are called to speak not only with effectiveness but also in a way that honors God and embodies Christian virtue. In An Essential Guide to Public Speaking, communications expert Quentin J. Schultze encourages readers to become servant speakers who faithfully serve their audiences as neighbors. Besides providing a biblical perspective on public speaking, this accessible book also covers such practical topics as overcoming common challenges, the importance of listening, and the art of preparing and delivering well-crafted speeches. Filled with helpful sidebars, checklists, and tips, this is a book for any person who wishes to improve his or her public speaking skills.
Customer Reviews:
A practical tool.......2006-09-02
"It's short. I like it," reviewed the Muppet critics following Mr. Fezziwig's Christmas speech in the movie, The Muppet Christmas Carol. Likewise, author Quentin Schultze has penned a 112-page guide for those launching or improving their speaking abilities.
An Essential Guide to Public Speaking: Serving Your Audience with Faith, Skill, and Virtue is written with grace and humility. A college professor at the University of Illinois, Schultze has spent three decades speaking to his classroom, at conferences, businesses, and on broadcast programs as a news source and commentator. Far from an instruction manual according to Schultze, the author peppered the manuscript with the insights of notable speakers from Augustine to Elie Wiesel to Mike Yaconelli. Speaking tips are highlighted in colorful boxes.
To the reluctant, Schultze writes, "Public speaking is inevitable. We may need to give eulogies, lead group discussions, pray publicly, present awards, participate in civic meetings, and much more." Biblically, speech is "a gift and a responsibility for the service of our neighbors." To quote from another speaker, "Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have," (1 Peter 3:15).
Chapters in this handbook include "Addressing Challenges," "Listening Well," "Crafting Artfully," "Speaking Truthfully," and "Being Virtuous." The author addresses the destructive fear most people face regarding public speaking. Statistics reveal that the majority would rather die than speak before a group. Moses was the visual aid, "Lord, send Aaron."
"On the flip side of destructive fear is excessive ego evident in self-righteous and self-centered speech," observes Schultze. "Ego is heady stuff, especially for skilled presenters." Should we be tempted, Schultze steers readers away from boring audiences with an inflated ego.
A practical tool, An Essential Guide to Public Speaking includes five appendixes. By using these checklists and the sample speech outline, anyone can craft a worthy presentation.
Over the years, I've read a number of books on public speaking. In this category, An Essential Guide to Public Speaking is my top pick. And it's short. - PeggySue Wells, Christian Book Previews.com
Amazon.com
Young girls obsessed with Cinderella, Ariel the mermaid, or Jasmine from Aladdin will revel in DK's 48-page "essential guide" to Disney princesses. Much like DK's usual approach to marine life or history, the creators briefly describe the characteristics and habitat of each princess in a highly visual format. For example, Snow White facts include what everyone knows (lips as red as roses, cheerful, hated by the queen, etc.), but readers will also find colorful, full-page illustrations of Snow White's world, complete with Dark Forest, the cottage where the Seven Dwarfs live, etc. All of the princess characters, including that of Belle and Aurora, are similarly examined. Parents whose children have seen the Disney princess movies 8,000 times each may be happy to direct their kids' attention to a book that summarizes the plots of the various stories and brings the characters to life. Scenes from Disney films and cutout Disney artwork will surely please fans. (Ages 6 and older) --Karin Snelson
Book Description
Disney Princess Essential Guide takes a unique look at Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Belle, Jasmine, and Ariel: six of Disney's all-time favorite princesses. With exclusively commissioned cross-sections, detailed maps drawn by the best Disney artists, and fascinating background information on each character, this is sure to become a classic.
Customer Reviews:
Cute, Short Book.......2005-03-13
This is a cute book for a younger Disney princess lover. It is not very long and is not set-up as stories to read (other than a short synopsis introducing each princess)but rather random facts about each character. For $10, it isn't so much for a large hardcover book your toddler will love to flip through on occasion. If you are looking for princess stories to read together, try another book.
The perfect gift for your Disney Princess lover.......2004-12-01
My 3yr old daughter found this book at the library and loved it! She hadn't been too exposed to the whole Disney Princess thing until then and this book caused her to become obessed with them! We bought her the book and in the last 6 months that she has had it she looks at it almost everyday. I would definately recommend this book to any little girl. It covers 6 different Disney Princesses and devotes at least 4 pages to each. It is easy to read out loud and you can pick and choose what parts to read. I am giving one to our 2 yr old niece for Christmas!
A MUST HAVE FOR LITTLE LADIES!.......2003-12-31
I bought this book as a last minute gift for my 9 year old niece, but, I when I realized how cute of a book it was, I wish I had gotten 2- ONE FOR ME, TOO!
Book Description
Calligraphy enthusiasts can expand their horizons and augment their repertory of scripts with this detailed excursion into the method of creating beautifully inscribed Chinese characters. Organized into sections, this book presents Chinese characters that embrace a diversity of themes, including peace, happiness, love, long life, and many others. Each of 300 characters is presented with an explanation of its meaning and a note on how it is pronounced. Clear, step-by-step directions show beginning students exactly how to render the series of strokes which, when combined, create each elegant Chinese character. The author lists all necessary tools and materials, which include different kinds of paper, brushes and brush stands, paperweights, ink sticks, and ink stones. A chapter titled “Gallery of Chinese Calligraphy” presents many examples of traditional and contemporary Chinese calligraphic art from a variety of renowned artists. A glossary defines all items and terms that are cited in the book.
Customer Reviews:
Gets you going in the right direction.......2007-09-28
This is a beautiful book for beginning and intermediate Chinese calligraphy practice. Each character is given stroke by stroke, and there are many helpful hints about the best execution of the strokes. The information is quite good on materials (brushes, papers, inks, inkstones, etc), their proper use, and suppliers. There is even a section at the end about how to paint bamboo and some flowers. The spiral binding is covered by the book's spine, which is nice, because on the bookshelf the spine shows a title, unlike many other spiral-bound books. And the spiral binding allows the book to lay open flat as you practice your characters. I had no idea, though, that it would take so much practice time for one simple stroke to look like it's supposed to. You will definitely develop patience and discipline if you are a Westerner serious about wanting to learn Chinese calligraphy. I haven't seen a better book to get you started, and many of the characters you can learn here are inspirational, like the characters for "Love," "Peace," "Friendship," and so on. When you get good at them, you can make beautiful things to hang on your walls or give to friends. The book shows you the proper method of mounting your work for display. Later, when your brushwork is more refined and you know the order of the strokes, you can look for a more comprehensive book of Chinese characters if you want to write longer, more complex thoughts.
Misleading title.......2007-07-23
The most interesting part of this book is Chapter one: Getting started, which gives information on supplies.
The characters themselves are written in the author's semi-cursive and highly personal style. They are not always legible, at least for the beginner who buys this book. I can't say I find her style very attractive. A printed version of the characters should have been included.
A clearer, much more legible and informative list of characters can be found in "Reading and writing Chinese", by William McNaughton and Li Ying. Stroke order is also included.
I don't recommend this book.
So, you want to be a doofus..........2007-03-18
So, you want to be a doofus...? Well, this book is for you. I do not know how goofs have asked me for Chinese characters that could be tattooed all over their body, guaranteeing them minimum wage jobs without benefits for their entire lives. Never mind that it is nearly impossible for anyone not fluent in the written language to put together a meaningful phrase that is not total gibberish...or worse! Luckily most folks who are fluent in Chinese are too polite to laugh in their face. So, you don't want a tattoo? This is also a good reference book for calligraphers who merely wish to brighten up an invitation or thank you or for a student to add a bit of dash to a Chinese culture poster. Also, a good acquisition for public libraries. Folks who enjoy abusing their skin may also enjoy "Gothic and Old English Alphabets: 100 Complete Fonts" by Dan X. Solo.
Book Description
From Captain Hook to Cruela De Vil, Disney Villains: The Essential Guide offers an insider's look at the most wicked villains in Disney history. Reflecting on the themes of adventure and suspense in both classic and new Disney films, this unique reference is packed with colorful illustrations, annotated drawings, and lively text about the villains everyone loves to hate.
Customer Reviews:
disney book of villlains.. blaming randall.......2005-09-02
i definetly agree with rosa, waternoose not randall is the true villain of monster inc. and i wish they'd put oogie boogie and more of gaston in
Yes, Essential, But Lacking Coverage on a Couple Favorites.......2005-01-22
"Disney Villains: The Essential Guide" is just that, a well-illustrated, detailed guide to most of your favorite Disney villains. From Captain Hook to Maleficent, they're here, including even some info on Disney-Pixar villains. Each of the featured villains gets a detailed description, blurbs all around them for description and information in three important areas: Meanest Moment, Achille's Heel and Pet Peeve. Each also gets a couple of pages devoted to things such as their lair and their dastardly deeds, and you'll even get detailed looks at locations such as Never Land and Pride Rock. This is a feast of information that parents can enjoy reading and looking over with their kids, or can just read on their own.
The main problem with this guide is that it only gives limited coverage on a couple of pages to certain villains, including two of the very best Disney villains: Jafar from "Aladdin" and Hades from "Hercules." Perhaps someday we'll see a Volume II with more info, but until then, these villainous greats are relegated to small, portion-of-a-page blurbs.
If you're a fan of Disney movies, or just wanna learn more about these dastardly villains, definitely get this! I've seen most of the Disney movies, watched the DVDs and read a lot on the Internet (and another unofficial book about the Disney villains) and I still learned a lot from this.
Book Description
The Bond name is synonymous with high-tech gadgets, beautiful women, deadly spies and action-packed, death defying adventure. There's no one else like James Bond around. There have been nearly twenty films about him, there are more than sixty websites dedicated to him, andit's estimated that more than a quarter of the planet has seen at least one Bond film.
Now, fans can enter the world of 007 like never before, with this meticulously researched guide that examines all the top-secret details of the cinematic Bond missions. Officially endorsed by the Bond film producers, it features fascinating facts and behind-the-scenes stories as well as more than 250 rare production photos, cinema posters and product advertisements.
It's all here: the missions, the gadgets, the vehicles, the legendary villains, the exotic locales and the even more exotic Bond women. You can meet the directors, writers, stuntmen and technicians who have contributed to the success of the series and have stories of their own to tell. Additionally, there is a unique chapter devoted to the legacy of James Bond, with an overview of the thrillers and spoofs inspired by 007 over the years, as well as a fitting tribute to Mr. Bond's literary father, Ian Fleming.
Customer Reviews:
A Cursory Look at the Bond Films.......2006-12-01
This book, though attractive looking is substantially lacking in substance. It is very subjective in its approach. The inside photos and cover are good but the text should have been more informative from a filmmaking perspective.
Not THAT bad...but could have been better.......2006-09-17
I did want to get this book, simply because it does contain the BASICS to all the Bond movies up to THE WORLD IS NOT ENOUGH. It covers plots, characters, women, gadgets, etc.
It's rather rote with the facts, and there are a few inconsistencies (Fleming himself was a tad guilty in that respect), so it's not a real big deal...the genre and the "legend" does (and will) live on.
I found the movie "tie-ins" products the most intriguing, as I remember buying some of those when they first came out (wish I still had them too). Heck, I practically grew up with James Bond.
While you might not agree with the author's point of view in some cases, you will still find this volume a good study in not only the basic facts & figures of each movie, but production tidbits, revenue returned on each movie, and the like.
ALthough I wouldn't pay the full retail price for this, when it's at a SALE price...it's a darn good bargain!
Excellent albeit incomplete.......2004-01-05
Everyone knows that there have been 5 actors to play Bond in the movies (Sean, George, Roger, Timothy, and Pierce), but quick!
1) How many different actors have played Ernst Blofeld?
2) In how many movies does the evil organization SPECTRE appear?
3) Which is the only Bond film in which the character of M does not appear?
4) Who was the oldest Bond girl?
5) And who was the only actress to play a Bond girl in two different Bond movies?
If Bond trivia like this interests you, then this book is for you. If not, you might be interested in it anyways just for the overview of cultural history it provides. I bought this book in order to brush up on my Bond history, and while I was impressed with the breadth of knowledge represented therein, I was also dissappointed by the fact that some Bond movies are glossed over in setences (Never Say Never Again) or ignored completely (Die Another Day). Granted the former was "merely" a remake of 1965's Thunderball, and the latter presumably too recent, but it would be nice to have a complete Bond reference that was up to date. That said, here's what I liked: all the Bond films (excepting only the above) are discussed methodically and in chronological order. After a short introduction to each film and how it fits into Bond history (years between each film, searches for new Bonds, etc), the plot for each film is summarized, which is followed by character summaries for each of Bond's women, allies, villians, vehicles, and gadgets. The 6-10 pages on each movice (complete with great photos) then concludes in each case with comments on the music, marketing and merchandising, and box office sucess (or lack thereof). Multiply that formula by 19 movies (exempting the two above, of course), and throw in an introduction, dedication to Cubby (Albert Broccoli, who produced every Bond movie until the Pierce Brosnan era - he died in 1996) and a conclusion that pays homage to Ian Fleming (finally!), those who have worked behind the scenes on several Bond movies (from directors to stunt men) and various spoofs, and presto, instant book! The reviews for each movie are succinct, sometimes a bit too much so, but at least the book does include mentioning many of Bond's infamous one-liners, and the authors are candid in their assesments of the various characters and actors who played them, never afraid to lambast one or the other (or sometimes saying that while the part was well acted, no one could do justice to this pathetic role, for example). Handy as a ready resource for trivia fans, this book also provides an excellent (albeit incomplete) overview of Bond movie history.
Answers to the opening questions:
1) 4, in 5 different movies: Anthony Dawson in From Russia With Love and Thunderball, Donald Pleasance in You Only Live Twice, Telly Savalas in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Charles Gray in Diamonds Are Forever
2) 6 - the five mentioned in #1 plus Dr. No.
3) For Your Eyes Only
4) Honor Blackman filmed Pussy Galore in Goldfinger at the age of 37
5) Maud Adams played the title role in Octopussy and Andrea Anders in The Man With the Golden Gun - no wonder those Bond girls all look the same!
Excellent albeit incomplete.......2004-01-05
Everyone knows that there have been 5 actors to play Bond in the movies (Sean, George, Roger, Timothy, and Pierce), but quick!
1) How many different actors have played Ernst Blofeld?
2) In how many movies does the evil organization SPECTRE appear?
3) Which is the only Bond film in which the character of M does not appear?
4) Who was the oldest Bond girl?
5) And who was the only actress to play a Bond girl in two different Bond movies?
If Bond trivia like this interests you, then this book is for you. If not, you might be interested in it anyways just for the overview of cultural history it provides. I bought this book in order to brush up on my Bond history, and while I was impressed with the breadth of knowledge represented therein, I was also dissappointed by the fact that some Bond movies are glossed over in setences (Never Say Never Again) or ignored completely (Die Another Day). Granted the former was "merely" a remake of 1965's Thunderball, and the latter presumably too recent, but it would be nice to have a complete Bond reference that was up to date. That said, here's what I liked: all the Bond films (excepting only the above) are discussed methodically and in chronological order. After a short introduction to each film and how it fits into Bond history (years between each film, searches for new Bonds, etc), the plot for each film is summarized, which is followed by character summaries for each of Bond's women, allies, villians, vehicles, and gadgets. The 6-10 pages on each movice (complete with great photos) then concludes in each case with comments on the music, marketing and merchandising, and box office sucess (or lack thereof). Multiply that formula by 19 movies (exempting the two above, of course), and throw in an introduction, dedication to Cubby (Albert Broccoli, who produced every Bond movie until the Pierce Brosnan era - he died in 1996) and a conclusion that pays homage to Ian Fleming (finally!), those who have worked behind the scenes on several Bond movies (from directors to stunt men) and various spoofs, and presto, instant book! The reviews for each movie are succinct, sometimes a bit too much so, but at least the book does include mentioning many of Bond's infamous one-liners, and the authors are candid in their assesments of the various characters and actors who played them, never afraid to lambast one or the other (or sometimes saying that while the part was well acted, no one could do justice to this pathetic role, for example). Handy as a ready resource for trivia fans, this book also provides an excellent (albeit incomplete) overview of Bond movie history.
Answers to the opening questions:
1) 4, in 5 different movies: Anthony Dawson in From Russia With Love and Thunderball, Donald Pleasance in You Only Live Twice, Telly Savalas in On Her Majesty's Secret Service, and Charles Gray in Diamonds Are Forever
2) 6 - the five mentioned in #1 plus Dr. No.
3) For Your Eyes Only
4) Honor Blackman filmed Pussy Galore in Goldfinger at the age of 37
5) Maud Adams played the title role in Octopussy and Andrea Anders in The Man With the Golden Gun - no wonder those Bond girls all look the same!
Essential for who?.......2003-04-29
This book is the "official authorized guide" to the world of 007. It's just a pity that the authors are obviously not real Bond fans. The book casually glides past Fleming;s novels and the Bonds themselves and instead does a film-by-film recap. This would be nice were it not for the fact that you often get the sense that the authors were trying to divide Bond fans into 2 distinct camps rather than prasing the series as a whole. My personal tastes were also insulted as brilliant movies like "man With The Golden Gun" and "A View To A Kill" are slammed, mocked, and scorned, while later on they gush and sing the praises of the dull villain Carver from "Tomorrow Never Dies", and stop just short of calling George Lazenby the best Bond ever. I couldn't help getting a sense that this book was written to be deliberatley provocative and irritating, and really that's not what you want in a book called "The Essential Bond".
Book Description
This book answers some of the basic questions we have as parents for our children. How can we help our children to develop the skills and character they need? What should our role be? How can we know when to act and how to act when we see that character is at issue? Of course, there are no hard and fast answers to these questions. This book will share with you that in our daily interactions with our children, we influence them and affect the development of their character, sometime positively, sometimes negatively.
Customer Reviews:
This is wonderful!.......2003-02-21
This book is a practical and empowering approach to raising children to be their personal best. I want my children to be happy and find personal fulfillment, to have strength of character and moral integrity, and to be kind and considerate of others. Madelyn's book addresses these issues from all angles. She discusses accountability, overindulgence, values and courage. It has helped me tremendously in defining what is truly important, and in understanding how to guide my children toward a productive and fulfilling life.
Books:
- The Nymph King (Atlantis, Book 3)
- The Pack: Touch Of The Wolf (Book 5) (Silhouette Nocturne)
- The Poison Master
- The Precipice (The Grand Tour; also Asteroid Wars)
- The Silent Cinema Reader
- The Spiral Dance: A Rebirth of the Ancient Religion of the Goddess: 20th Anniversary Edition
- The Spirit Stone: The Silver Wyrm, Book Two (The Silver Wyrm)
- The Trouble With Physics: The Rise of String Theory, the Fall of a Science, and What Comes Next
- The Universe in a Single Atom: The Convergence of Science and Spirituality
- The World of the Dark Crystal: The Collector's Edition
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- The Osama bin Laden I Know: An Oral History of al Qaeda's Leader
- Sign Babies ASL Flash Cards, Set Three: Animals
- For Kings and Planets: A Novel
- Encyclopedia of United States Stamps and Stamp Collecting
- History: Fiction or Science
- Inferring Phylogenies
- Introduction to Igneous and Metamorphic Petrology, An
- Favorite Dogs Coloring Book
- Enterprising Women: 250 Years of American Business
- How To Create Your Own Super Second Life; What Are You Going To Do With Your Extra 30 Years
Guides & Reviews
| Movies
| Entertainment
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| Books
The New Essential Guide to Vehicles and Vessels (Star Wars)
The New Essential Chronology to Star Wars
The New Essential Guide to Weapons and Technology, Revised Edition (Star Wars)
The New Essential Guide to Alien Species (Star Wars)
The New Essential Guide to Droids (Star Wars)
