Book Description
Why can none of us hear our own recorded voice without wincing? Why is the telephone still full of such spookiness and erotic possibility? Why does the metaphor of ventriloquism, the art of 'seeming to speak where one is not', speak so resonantly to our contemporary technological condition? These are the kind of questions which impel Steven Connor's wide-ranging, restlessly inquisitive history of ventriloquism and the disembodied voice. He tracks his subject from its first recorded beginnings in ancient Israel and Greece, through the fulminations of early Christian writers against the unholy (and, they believed, obscenely produced) practices of pagan divination, the aberrations of the voice in mysticism, witchcraft and possession, and the strange obsession with the vagrant figure of the ventriloquist, newly conceived as male rather than female, during the Enlightenment. He retrieves the stories of some of the most popular and versatile ventriloquists and polyphonists of the nineteenth century, and investigates the survival of ventriloquial delusions and desires in spiritualism and the 'vocalic uncanny' of technologies like telephone, radio, film, and internet. Learned but lucid, brimming with anecdote and insight, this is much more than an archaeology of one of the most regularly derided but tenaciously enduring of popular arts. It is also a series of virtuoso philosophical and psychological reflections on the problems and astonishments, the raptures and absurdities of the unhoused voice.
Customer Reviews:
How can this volume possibly sell for $96.00?.......2006-07-10
Does it come with a ventriloquist dummy... AND a ventriloquist?
HUH?.......2005-07-07
This book is an example of psuedo-intellectual overthinking of the highest order. It's dense, wordy and unreadable in every way. Why would any writer spend what appears to be LOTS of time and energy on this of all subjects: Ventriloquism's effect on CULTURE?!
The resultant product amounts to little more than an uninteresting mess.
Skip it.
cultural ventriloquism suddenly verrrry interesting.......2004-10-11
I enjoyed this text, recommended by a colleague, for other reasons, but thought of it immediately when the possibility of George W. Bush's use of a wire and "ear" during the first debate with John Kerry began to surface on the internet in the last day or so. Talk about the "vocalic uncanny"! Is "wiregate" merely(!) a part of the trend of increasing technological possibilities for problematizing the relation between voice and body?
Are you talking to me?
Is this thing on?
Steven Connor should write the next chapter. Meanwhile, read his deft connections and analysis of diverse phenomena associated with "cultural ventriloquism" and think about the (allleged) voice in our president's ear, and what that does to the (alleged) significance of his speech as he (allegedly) addresses the citizenry.
Is ventriloquism more acceptable if we are in on the trick?
Are we in on this (alleged) trick, anyway? I mean, we all know how packaged and predicted and rehearsed the responses to the questions posed in the debates are anyway--but a line has been (allegedly) crossed here, and that's the line Connor's book charts. Good stuff, and timely.
Book Description
An exclusive first look behind the scenes of the popular Broadway musical.With its cast of furry puppets, its shockingly politically incorrect lyrics, and its hilarious upending of children's television,Avenue Q took Broadway by storm. The New York Times declared it "a breakthrough musical," and after a two-year run, the Golden Theater is still selling out eight shows a week. Its success is not limited to the Great White Way, however: This summer, the cast will be swearing, drinking, and ennui-ing their way across the country.As smart, risqu+, and downright entertaining as the show itself, Avenue Q is a must-have companion book. In addition to the complete Tony Award-winning book and songs (perfect for those who can't get enough of the lyrics to "It Sucks to Be Me"), Avenue Q is packed with exclusive interviews with the cast and creatures, and features puzzles, connect-the-dots, and other "educational" activities to prepare readers for life after college. With a distinctive cover and chock-full of gorgeous photography and original illustrations, Avenue Q is a jam-packed thrill ride of a book.
Book Description
In Puppet Mania!, a master of the art brings kids thirteen original projects they can make on their own, primarily using everyday household materials. Many of the projects the author includes here are for puppets he himself designed and created as a kid. There's Sock Puppy, Banana Buddy, Running Rabbit and a gaggle of other endearing creatures. Aside from explicit directions, Kennedy provides construction tips and troubleshooting advice.
Puppet Mania! is more than just a project book: It also gives kids the know-how they need to turn their creations into characters--lip synching, body movements, eye contact and movement, and, most important, imagination. To that end, Kennedy kick-starts readers' creativity with a character worksheet that has room to enter the character's name, favorite phrase, hobbies, and physical characteristics.
With directions for customizing their puppets and tips for maneuvering them believably, kids will want to get started in no time!
Customer Reviews:
My students love the book!.......2007-08-09
I am an Elementary Art Teacher and the ideas in this book are perfectly suited for my students and class. I have, also, used the ideas at home with my own children. It's a colorful, well organized, easy to read guide ranging from easy to more challenging puppet making ideas for kids.
The Amazon book description clearly indicates that the book is geared toward children. I don't understand why the other reviewers didn't read what they were buying. If you don't know what you're buying, then there is a great chance that you won't get what you want. It was frustrating reading those reviews and it almost caused me not to purchase the book.
Anyway, my students and I love the book and have enjoyed making the puppets! I'd love to see more books and perhaps some demonstration CDs that my class could watch before beginning a project. Just a idea.
A nice starter for children........2007-06-10
I was alittle disappointed when I receieved this book. God knows the title is a bit of an exageration. If you're buying for a child who needs craft projects for a rainy day then this is the book for you.
As an adult with a career in puppet building I found it a waste of money. Unless you're making a show that revolves around paper plate puppets.
a good start for begginers, great for elementary classrooms.......2006-11-05
If you are just into puppet making for fun and not really into the art of making them, this book is for you. The puppets built inside are very basic and developed sot hat anybody can make them. It's a fun book, but personaly I felt it was a little childish and didn't really touch base on some of other techniques. If you are looking to make a more muppet style puppet this book does not cover it. however his second book Puppet Planet is an excelent book that goes into more detail and more profetional style puppet making.
great book for children.......2006-08-08
the book is not for professional puppet makers.
most of the puppets are hand puppets made of simple materials that can be find or improvise at home - it's great project book for children.
great ideas.......2006-03-28
lots of different puppet ideas. They are not too difficult, great to make with kids.
Book Description
A complete guide to the design, construction, and control of string puppets.
Customer Reviews:
Good reference on the subject.......2006-02-26
Very interesting book on creating and using marionettes. It touches on making a variety of different types, including making 4-legged animal marionettes, and using an assortment of materials. Well worth having on hand.
Gorgeous state-of-the-art book.......2005-04-07
This is a gorgeously printed state-of-the-art book on marionette making. I have so many books from the past on this, but it is so delightful to see something current, and this is it. This is bound to become a collectible book. Be sure and get this one before it is out of print - I doubt many were made. Great stuff on trick marionettes, as well.
Book Description
While Carlo Collodi's internationally revered Pinocchio may not have been the single source of the modernist fascination with puppets and marionettes, the book's appearance on the threshold of the modernist movement heralded a new artistic interest in the making of human likenesses. And the puppets, marionettes, and other forms that figure so vividly and provocatively in modernist and avant-garde drama can, according to Harold Segel, be regarded as Pinocchio's progeny.
Segel argues that the philosophical, social, and artistic proclivities of the modernist movement converged in the discovery of an exciting new relevance in the puppet and marionette. Previously viewed as entertainment for children and fairground audiences, puppets emerged as an integral component of the modernist vision. They became metaphors for human helplessness in the face of powerful forces -- from Eros and the supernatural to history, industrial society, and national myth. Dramatists used them to satirize the tyranny of bourgeois custom and convention, to deflate the arrogance of the powerful, and to breathe new life into a theater that had become tradition-bound and commercialized.
Pinocchio's Progeny offers a broad overview of the uses of these figures in European drama from 1890 to 1935. It considers developments in France, Spain, Italy, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Russia, Poland and Czechoslovakia. In his introduction, Segel reviews the premodernist literary and dramatic treatment of the puppet and marionette from Cervantes' Don Quixote to the turn-of-the- century European cabaret. His epilogue considers the appearance of puppets and marionettes in postmodern European and American drama by examining works by such dramatists as Jean-Claude Van Itallie, Heiner Müller, and Tadeusz Kantor.
Customer Reviews:
Best Book Ever.......2002-04-26
This is an amazing book, not to be taken lightly as the cover suggests. The writing displays a certain amount of eloquence that only a brilliant writer like Harold Segal could pull off successfully. Thank you, Harold, for this essential piece of literature.
Best Book Ever.......2002-04-26
This book is amazing. It covers every aspect of avant-garde puppetry with a certain amount of eloquence only a brilliant writer could display.
Book Description
Stop-motion puppet animation is one of the most unusual and demanding art forms in the world. It uses a variety of skills, including design, sculpting, metal work, mold making and casting, taxidermy, filmmaking, storytelling and acting, and can be seen in the simplest commercial spots on television to more complex animated shorts and science fiction and fantasy feature films.
This work, with over 200 photographs and illustrations, demonstrates the construction of armatures for film industry stop-motion puppets and the technical aspects of how to machine metal into the desired shape. It describes in detail the milling machine and the metal lathe, the two main tools used in constructing the armature, other cutting tools, and how the anatomical makeup of the puppet determines the armature design.
The book then examines the six main types of joints used in armature construction: the sandwich plate ball-and-socket joint, the ball-and-socket collet joint, the step-block ball-and-socket joint, the swivel joint, the hinge joint, and the universal joint. Also described are the different types of metals used in armature construction.
Customer Reviews:
hmmmmm.......2007-10-04
This book is not bad. If you are into old school animation. It is a profesionally leveled book with lots of insight into building armetures and machining. For me it is a bit to precise to the subject area but a perfect one for anyone in stop motion .
Buy used, not new!.......2004-09-24
First I'll state that as a shop manual the information contained within this book is great and indispenable. The author cleary describes the processes and tools needed to build stop motion armatures. What is disappointing is the quality of the book itself. I have a few books for which I have paid fifty dollars for (The Illusion of Life: Disney Animation, Ray Harryhausen: An Animated Life, Industrial Light and Magic: The Art of Special Effects) and I have never had buyers remorse. The same cannot be said here. The cover belies the interior quality. This book is approximately one quarter inch thick with poor quality paper stock which I can only describe as better than a childs coloring book. All of the photographs are black and white. Many are extremely grainy with contrast that is too high and resolution so poor that it is hard to see what is being described accurately (See figures 2-10, 3-4, 3-5, 3-10, 4-9, 4-10, 4-13 as examples). Not what I expected at this price point. The same information also applies to Stop-Motion Puppet Sculpting. I strongly suggest you either buy used or take what I have written into consideration before purchasing new. (Should be three stars not two)
Essential book for any stopmo animator or enthusiast!.......2003-08-28
This one-of-a-kind text is a wonderful primer on machining your own armatures. It clearly details the various joints and explains their construction. I highly recommend this book for all stop-motion animators, even if you don't plan on building armatures yourself.
Book Description
Stop-motion puppet animation is one of the most unusual and demanding art forms in the world. It uses a variety of skills, including design, sculpting, metal work, mold making and casting, taxidermy, filmmaking, storytelling and acting, and can be seen in the simplest commercial spots on television to more complex animated shorts and science fiction and fantasy feature films.
This work explains research and design of puppets, and details the fabrication of stop-motion puppets around a metal armature skeleton using the build up and foam injection processes. The former technique uses pre-cut blocks of foam formed with a pair of scissors or other instrument into the shape desired and attaching them to the armature. In the latter technique, the character is sculpted in clay over the armature. This clay sculpture is then replaced with foam by using a plaster mold and injection gun techniques. Finishing techniques described include the making of hair, eyes, eyelids, teeth, horns, nails, and chitinous (insect-shell-like) surfaces. The manual also covers the process of creating replacement heads using rubber molds (such as RTV) and urethane castings. A glossary and bibliography complete the extensively illustrated work.
Customer Reviews:
For completists only!.......2006-09-28
I am not sorry I purchased this book but I must agree with several other reviewers that the information contained in this book is rather shallow and the poor quality (printed on cheap paper, muddy b/w photos, etc...) only underscore the problem. The same info can be had in a number of superior quality books that also feature sections on other aspects of stopmotion filmmaking (storyboarding, lighting, camera work, etc...) for a lesser price. Also I must say aside from the poor photo reproductions featured the actual work on display is less than inspiring. The majority of books available on the subject feature cartoony characters this book attempts to present a more balanced example by demonstrating the construction of a fantasy monster creature unfortunately the results reveal a distinct lack of artistic ability in reproducing lifelike dynamic anatomy and detail.Also the chapter on sculpting employs a TERRIBLE and bizzare nude female character that seems inapropriate for the purposes of casting a workable model, this assessment is borne out by the fact that no model derived from this poorly done sculpture is demonstrated.Buy this only if you wish to fill out your book collection on the subject.
Great book.......2006-07-03
Book came very quickly and in great shape. That's all I ask. Thanks so much.
Adequate description of stop-motion puppets but overpriced.......2005-01-09
As the title of the manual suggests, the book is a primer of learning the fundamentals of foam injection and build-up techniques, material which is (especially the unique process of build-up technique) difficult to find when wishing to create realistic Ray Harryhausen/Willis O'Brien-type animation puppets (as outlined in the build-up chapter of the manual).
The book is called "A Manual of Foam Injection, Build-Up, and Finishing Techniques", not "The Manual...", and therefore one would assume before purchasing it that is yet another text on creating stop-motion puppets, and would be a viable addition to one's stop-motion library. The copy at the back the manual (as well as in web advertisements) indicates that this manual also covers the creation of replacement models for animation. This topic was discontinued by the author for a later manual that he is writing on stop-motion animation, lighting and cinematography. Prior to going to press, the author contacted the published to edit the replacement models topic out of the advertisements, but they did not do so.
If would behoove web/book advertisers of this manual (or any book/manual) to include the page count of a given manuscript, so that consumers can know the size of the book in question.
The cost of this manual is, in my opinion, overpriced, but the pricing was the decision of the publisher, not the author. The manual is also printed on substandard paper stock.
Other stop-motion books currently on the market do not cover build-up technique as detailed as this manual, especially as it pertains to a machined armature. Virtually all stop-motion books on the market cover sculpted puppets using only wire armatures.
The manual adequately explains what it set out to do, namely to explain the process of foam injection and foam buildup techniques. A chapter is devoted to basic sculpting techniques to initiate a beginner in the amenities of muscle structure and its importance to the creation of more realistic stop-motion models. This was, however, not the crux of the manual per se, which is why only one chapter was devoted to sculpting.
The primarily complaints seem to be in its cost and the quality of the paper stock and images, as well as absence of more material to make the book more "saleable". However, further detail explanations of other types of anatomies (i.e. quadrupeds, fantasy creatures, etc.), would have driven the cost of the manual up exponentially. The manual is overpriced as it is.
An entire chapter is devoted to the foam injection technique, and is explained in a simple and concise easy-to-follow explanation. As such, the manual has been geared to people interested in the art form, but who do not have advanced skill levels in sculpting, mold making, and foam injection.
Regrettably, the publisher chose to use black and white photographs, and at low resolution. As such, the images suffer. It would have been preferable to use higher resolution images, and in color.
If a kitchen oven cannot be used for foam injection in one's home, one might try to be resourceful enough to not give up and think of an alternative solution; namely, to use a kiln oven in a garage or other room that is out of harms way. It is common knowledge in the visual effects/stop-motion community that hot foam can be difficult and toxic to work with. The manual only confirms this.
Given the subject matter and material covered within the manual, it should be less expensive, given what one gets for their investment. One should consider contacting the publisher if they feel that the manual is overpriced, or at the very least return the item if they are not satisfied.
Overpriced - Not Comprehensive.......2005-01-06
I would probably be more forgiving if this book were less than half the price it is, but since this is nearly a $50 investment I have slightly higher expectations.
As an earlier reviewer noted, this book is 74 pages in length (including an index and glossary). If it weren't bound, this book could have been stapled together. I don't have a problem with a short book if it is packed with unique, focused insight into a topic, but unfortunately in my opinion this book only achieves this on a shallow level.
This is a book focusing on a specialized technique by an industry professional. I would expect it to contain a wealth of insight reinforced by a number of examples outlining different levels of complexity and various challenges facing foam puppet builders. Instead this book offers one simplistic example of sculpting a figure on a wire armature. It then takes the reader through a single example of the steps to create a foam injection puppet and an example of the foam build up technique. In about 25 pages the author covers sculpting, mold making, foam mixing, injecting, baking, removing the cast and painting. It feels more like an instruction pamphlet than a resource on the topic. I would have liked to see multiple examples illustrating varying levels of complexity. How would the author have dealt with a 4-legged puppet?
After reading this book (in about an evening) I'm left with many basic questions, such as materials appropriate or to be avoided in armatures for foam injection, issues surrounding undercuts in puppet sculptures, poses puppet sculptures need to be in for an injection mold, and there's practically nothing on feet anchors, a topic I believe there must be enough information out there to fill a few pages. I also completely agree with a complaint from a previous reviewer. Most of the illustrative photos in the book are low resolution, pixilated and muddy. Nowhere near the quality of the beautiful colour photo on the cover. In my opinion there is no excuse for this in a published book, especially at this price.
For the price of this book you could get a number of books focused on various aspects touched on in this book. For mold making I recommend The Prop Builder's Molding & Casting Handbook, by Thurston James ($13.59). I also recommend Stop Motion: Craft Skills for Model Animation (Focal Press Visual Effects and Animation) by Susannah Shaw ($23.07 )which looks at foam injection puppets (in almost as much depth) plus other puppet building techniques along with information on lighting, animation and set building, for less than half of this book's price.
Also, a word of warning for those of us who thought we could create foam injection puppets at home. The author states that standard ovens in our kitchen don't generate a consistent enough heat and special curing ovens that have fans to circulate heat are required to bake foam. He also notes that curing foam releases toxic fumes, something you probably don't want in your kitchen. So homemade foam injection puppets seem to be out of the question.
Stop-Motion Puppet Fabrication.......2004-12-27
This book details the processes of foam injection and build-up technique for stop-motion animation; techniques that are very difficult to find in other publications. Because of the advanced technical nature of the two processes, one should assume that puppets fabricated using these techniques are beyond the interest and scope of most children. More easy to understand publications for pre-teen children (as well as adults) on how to build more simple "cartoony" characters would be Craft Skills for Stop-Motion, by Susannah Shaw, and Creating 3D Animation, By Peter Lord. Both of these publications are outstanding sources of stop-motion material.
A consumer might find some of the manual's material "inappropriate". Chapter 2 of Stop-Motion Puppet Fabrication is devoted to anatomical sculpting, which details the clay rendering of a female nude in a dance pose. I suggest that before anyone criticizes such art through prejudicial censorship, they should well note that such innocuous anatomical nude figure studies can be found in centuries-old masterpieces: (Michelangelo's David, and the genius of Auguste Rodin [Lovers, etc.]. The general public (including children) are exposed to such masterful works of art on a daily basis, either in books or at museums. I champion the ideal that the human form is a natural sculpture of beauty and should be regarded as such. The best source of studying human anatomy for the pursuit and study of fine art is to go to the source; the human form. There is nothing distasteful or inappropriate about it, unless it becomes [...], which I do not personally advocate in my own work.
Chapter 5 outlines the rather difficult process of foam build-up. This technique enables the modeler/animator the ability to create very realistic models in the vein of the models of Ray Harryhausen, Willis O'Brien, Ladislaw Starevitch, et. al, if that is their aim. As very few, if any, publications have been devoted to realistic buildup technique, the aim of Stop-Motion Puppet Fabrication was to do just that. The puppet study detailed in Chapter 5 is of the minotaur, from classical Greek mythology. The sculpture is realistic, but in a classical stylized fashion.
The book is printed on low-quality paper, which I found rather disappointing, but this was the choice of the publisher. For the rarity of the subject matter (foam injection and build-up techniques), the manual is, in my opinion, appropriately the length it needs to be, though it may be a bit overpriced for such length.
Book Description
Puppets and Puppet Theatre contains everything one needs to know to progress from a beginner's level to a high standard of artistry. Puppeteer David Currell concentrates on designing, making, and performing with the main types of puppets, offering detailed information on: the nature and heritage of puppet theater; the anatomy of a puppet and its design and structure; materials and methods for sculpting, modeling, and casting puppet parts; step-by-step instructions for constructing marionettes as well as glove, hand, rod, and shadow puppets; and the control and manipulation of all these types of puppets. The author then covers: staging principles, stage and scenery design, and construction methods; principles of lighting and sound as well as their equipment and techniques; and the basics of producing a show. Lavishly illustrated and filled with expert tips and insights, this is a must-have book for anyone drawn to the magical world of puppets and puppet theater.
Customer Reviews:
The Best Book on Puppetry Ever!!!!!!!! from a 15 year old.......2004-01-16
This book tells you everything you need to know about how to do a puppet show. If you are interested in puppetry, even just a little bit, get this book right away. Hint: if you want to use latex to make a hand puppet, sculpt the head with a open mouth.
Exceptional puppet making book.......2002-03-09
This book is good for beginner puppeteers as well as for professional puppet makers. It is full of photographs and ideas, from puppet construction to theater and performance. Is one of those rare books that contains a great amount of useful information.
A high quality book.......2002-01-08
This is a book for professional and seriuous amateurs who want to improve their technical skills about puppet design, stages, and perfomances. Sharing the experience of excelent puppetters, with excelent photos and diagrams. Also is a very well design book, hardcover and sharp quality book. We strongly recommend it, it is one of the most complete and easy to read book we had seen.
Book Description
Between 1916 and 1925 Paul Klee (1879-1940) made some 50 hand puppets for his son, Felix, of which 30 are still in existence. For the heads, he used materials from his own household: beef bones and electrical outlets, bristle brushes, leftover bits of fur and nutshells. Soon he began to sew costumes. These characters and small works, do not pretend to be great art, but at the same time, they are superbly imaginative, sweetly reminiscent of Klee's relationships with his family, and beautifully illustrative of the artistic and social developments of the time. Readers will see the chronological proximity of Dada and Kurt Schwitters's collages in Klee's Matchbox Ghost; the German National caricatures one of the era's more ominous political types. An introductory essay tracks the work's links to other avant-garde puppetry and to Klee's sculptural works, and notes his connections to the theater. For their part, Klee's son Felix and his grandson Alexander tell the story of how the figures were created.
Customer Reviews:
Paul Klee: Hand Puppets.......2007-01-12
This is a great book for more "out there" puppeteers, artists and lovers of Paul Klee's art. His son, Felix, reminisces about his childhood with his artistic Papa, who built whimsical, sometimes scary and political, puppets for his young son's enjoyment. There are many photos of the restored puppets and Felix's stories about them and his father are charming.
Totally amazing unseen puppet photos and info!.......2006-10-14
I just got this newly published book and it is simply wonderful. I have a huge puppet book library and having just skimmed through it, I am thrilled to see all photos/puppets are ones I've never seen anywhere else. The puppets of Klee are an absolute inspiration, and I am so glad there is a new book that introduces them to a new generation. The only other book about these puppets is in the range of $500.00 if you can even find one, so this is an absolute steal, and probably will become collectible as well. This is put out by the new Paul Klee museum and text and photos are all fascinating. You must have this for your puppet library!
Average customer rating:
- Don't trust anyone wearing a shirt!
- Great even for the NON Science Fiction Reader.
- Just amazing how well it holds up
- An outstanding novel . . .
- delightful early science fiction..
|
Puppet Masters
Robert A. Heinlein
Manufacturer: Del Rey
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback
 Movie Tie-Ins
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
General
| Heinlein, Robert A.
| ( H )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Paperback
| Heinlein, Robert A.
| ( H )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| Subjects
| Books
Movie Tie-Ins
| Genre Fiction
| Literature & Fiction
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
( H )
| Authors, A-Z
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
General
| Science Fiction
| Science Fiction & Fantasy
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
All 4-for-3 Deals
| 4-for-3 Books Store
| Stores
| Books
Similar Items:
-
Double Star
-
The Door into Summer
-
The Moon Is a Harsh Mistress
-
The Green Hills Of Earth
-
Rocket Ship Galileo
ASIN: 0345330145
Release Date: 1986-10-12 |
Book Description
Earth was being invaded by aliens and the top security agencies were helpless: the aliens were controlling the mind of every person they encountered. So it was up to Sam Cavanaugh, secret agent for a powerful and deadly spy network, to find a way to stop them--which meant he had to be invaded himself!
Download Description
Tale of space aliens who attach themselves to human beings in the Midwest
Customer Reviews:
Don't trust anyone wearing a shirt!.......2007-08-11
This is not only one of the best alien invasion yarns since H. G. Wells, it's one of the best horror stories of the last fifty years. Sam (not his real name) is an agent for a very, very secret department of the U.S. government -- so much so that not even the government's other secret agencies know about his outfit. The Old Man (his boss) calls him in one day to go and investigate a purported flying saucer landing in Iowa, together with another agent, a stunning redhead named Mary (not her real name, either). Needless to say, the landing ain't a hoax -- though the invaders try to make it look that way. But the aliens are parasites the size of a dinner plate who attach themselves between a human being's shoulder blades and hook into the spinal cord, thereby putting themselves in complete control of the host. It's going to be a very nasty, very paranoid war. And Heinlein is in top form telling it, especially the section in which Sam himself becomes a victim. This novel, though now more than half a century old, reads better than most of the author's other books from that period, and I was puzzled for years why it was never made into a film. Well, that happened in 1994, but the result was pretty bad -- almost as bad as the film version of STARSHIP TROOPERS. Let's have a *good* film based on this book!
Great even for the NON Science Fiction Reader. .......2007-06-27
I am not a Science Fiction fan at all. I have only seen the original Star Wars movie, for example. It's just not my thing.
Then my friend told me about this book, The Puppet Masters by Robert Heinlein, and how people were overtaken by alien slugs and he was curious about how people "are overtaken by slugs of belief, of thought, of ego, of... of... of..."... well, he didn't say exactly that, but I understood.. even more, I think which is...
What might happen if we purposefully infected the world with forces of light?
Intriguing. So I read.
I loved, loved, loved Heilein's writing voice. It was almost like film noir. What was not to love about Sam? I swear I had heard his voice many times in films from the 40's. I could hear him using words like "dame" and say she was something like "a tall glass of water..." you know the kind of guy!
Anyway, I loved that immediately and the short, punchy, fast paced chapters draw in even those of us who aren't into science fiction really easily.
What impressed me... more than anything else... was how Heilein was able to wave some significant themes into the book itself. My favorite quote from the book is this one:
"Luck is a tag given by the mediocre to account for the accomplishments of a genius."
I agree with it wholeheartedly.
I also appreciate Heinlein's treatment of the lead woman in this book. Yes, ofcourse she is beautiful, but as significant as her beauty is her confidence, her intellect, her insights and her partnership with the men in her life.
It is intriguing to read about today (the book starts in July, 2007) from a "What will it be like then?" from 1951. We aren't flying around in rockets... (what a disappointment!) but there IS no more "Iron Curtain"... I bet that would have surprised Mr. Heinlein!
This one is worth reading, even if you don't think you like Science Fiction.
Just amazing how well it holds up.......2007-05-01
Copyrighted in 1951, The Puppet Masters showcases early Heinlein, already showing the style and content that would lead to him receiving the first Grand Master Award for science fiction. The book is entertaining not because of its fantastic vision of the future, but for the reason novels are usually entertaining - plot and character.
The story unfolds as a mysterious crash occurs in rural Iowa. Government agents are sent to investigate but do not return. The main protagonist, also an agent, a female agent, and the agency leader are dispatched. They realize something is out of the ordinary, eventually uncovering an invasion of aliens with the ability to enslave th eminds of humans, creating virtually indistinguishable puppets that then further their cause of global dominion. The story follows the three's struggles to first convince humanity of the threat, then ultimately find a way to fight back..
Set in a world that would put it near the present day, the book often misses the mark in terms of predicting the future. Information technology today is beyond anything Heinlein imagined, and transportation and military technology today still lag behind his vision. These are minor quibbles, though, as anyone who can't suspend disbelief enough to accept this as an alternate reality really has no business reading alien invasion stories in the first place.
Heinlein's characters are entertaining, incredibly skilled, and for want of a better term, "old school" in their approach to the various competencies the different genders bring to the business of protecting humanity. Heinlein has been accused of misogyny, but to me that rings hollow, as the female lead here is (typically for Heinlein) the most competent and mentally tough of the main characters. If believing that men have a duty to protect women from harm is misogynistic, then I guess you'll have to send me to re-education camp as well.
I went into the book more or less expecting the above from Heinlein. The Puppet Masters was one of the few of his books I had not read. I've enjoyed his other works, and this one did not disappoint. The one unexpected treat was seeing his early views on Soviet Russia. Apparently the aliens invaded in the territory of "the Commissars" as well, but it was much more difficult to detect. In Heinlein's mind, there appears to have been little difference between a soul-destroying collective administered by an alien hive mind and the same thing administered by a Politburo. As some have suggested, this allegory may have been Heinlein's purpose in writing the book..
So, for a timelessly entertaining early work by Heinlein with the bonus of seeing his incredible prescience regarding the USSR, The Puppet Masters is certainly worth your time.
5 stars.
An outstanding novel . . . .......2007-03-15
. . . from one of the greatest Sci-Fi authors of all time.
"The Puppet Masters" is a novel concerning an alien infestation of the Earth -- and how that invasion is dealt with. No plot spoilers -- just a few thoughts:
1) This novel was written in the 1950's -- a time in which Heinlein was moving away from the Sci-Fi juveniles at which he had excelled, and was moving into adult fiction. What would become his "future history" was developing -- but was not fully developed.
2) A super-secret spy agency is a device that Heinlein would use again (notably in "Friday") but in the mind of this reviewer, "Puppet Masters" is the better book by far.
3) As other reviewers have noted, this is a book written in the 50's, but narrated from the early 21st century. It is most interesting to see some of Heinlein's predictions about how 21st century life might look.
4) As in many of his other novels, Heinlein's female lead is red-haired.
5) Although this novel was written many years prior to "Starship Troopers", one can easily see similarities in Heinlein's attitude about honor, devotion, service, and military strength. Could "Starship Troopers" have been written, had not "Puppet Masters" preceded it?
All in all, this is a novel which I can recommend without any reservation whatsoever.
Five Stars.
delightful early science fiction.........2007-02-02
'The Puppet Masters' is a fun read that works off familiar territory: aliens invade Earth and inhabit the bodies and minds of humans. Robert Heinlein has a very smooth writing style which enables the reader to get into the story and not get weighed down by excessive details, as is often the case with science fiction novels. The author does a good job with characterizations and building suspense; at times 'The Puppet Masters' is a real page-turner.
Unfortunately the book runs out of steam in the last hundred pages or so; it's as if Heinlein didn't know how to exactly pull the story together and build a satisfactory conclusion. While the end itself is good the author comes close to ruining it by added elements which seem totally contrived.
Bottom line: overall a most worthy read, .. enough so for me to seek out other works by Heinlein.
Books:
- Early Georgian Interiors (Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in Britis)
- Effective Project Management: Traditional, Adaptive, Extreme, Third Edition
- Embroidery Machine Essentials: How to Stabilize, Hoop and Stitch Decorative Designs
- Fabled Flowers: Innovative Quilt Patterns Inspired by Japanese Sashiko and Origami Traditions
- Flowers: Creative Design
- Gee's Bend: The Architecture of the Quilt
- Glamorous Beaded Jewelry: Bracelets, Necklaces, Earrings, and Rings
- Great Kitchens: Design Ideas from America's Top Chefs
- Handmade Paper Jewelry: 40 Beautiful Projects to Make & Wear
- History: Fiction or Science? (Chronology, No. 1)
Books Index
Books Home
Recommended Books
- Secrets of Power Negotiating for Salespeople: Inside Secrets from a Master Negotiator
- History: Fiction or Science
- Editing Techniques with Final Cut Pro, Second Edition
- 2004 NGA List of Lights 112: Radio Aids and Fog Signals--Western Pacific and Indian Oceans, Includin
- Bobby Fischer Goes to War: How A Lone American Star Defeated the Soviet Chess Machine
- Fallen Angel: The Premiere Collection
- Chemical Ecology of Phytophagous Insects
- The Ultimate Trading Guide
- Wild Goose Marina, Inc. CD-ROM Package, Student Version
- The Far Side of Nowhere
A Voice and Nothing More (Short Circuits)
Village Bells
For More than One Voice: Toward a Philosophy of Vocal Expression
The Auditory Culture Reader (Sensory Formations)
Dummy Days: America's Favorite Ventriloquists from Radio and Early TV
