And
Don't take the sky from me!
js
Need to know.......2007-09-04
There are so many things in this book that you should know if you liked the Serenity Movie. It makes you see all the little things that you didn't notice.
A MUST for any Firefly/Serenity Fan.......2007-05-26
Great book, visually beautiful book, just wish I could have gotten it in hardback. Joss Whedon fell a bit short on the opening, but made up for it on all the extra's added to the book. For those that loved the movie, the script covers a few short seens that had to be cut, and covers the English translations of all the Chinese inserts. Well put together. A must for any fan of the series or the movie. Unfortunately, I could only give this 5 stars.
Excellent!.......2007-02-13
Excellent! More thorough than you can imagine... if you have any interest in the universe of Firefly/Serenity, this book is the only place you'll find in depth explanations of the history and workings of the 'Verse.
Book Description
The Maya Embedded Language, or MEL, is the very foundation of the Maya application: it's what makes it so powerful. And, if you know MEL, you can make Maya work more efficiently for your own projects. Whether customizing the workspace, modifying the tools that already exist, or creating new tools, an artist versed in MEL is ready to exploit the true power of Maya. The problem is that MEL can be very intimidating to artists and other non-programmers. To an artist, MEL represents a whole other world filled with words like variable, conditional statements, and vector cross-product. Like any other programming language, MEL has its own vocabulary and rules of grammar. To master it, you simply need to learn the rules: you don't have to become a programmer. The MEL Companion helps artists do this. In the first part of the book, you'll learn about the syntax, vocabulary, and structure of MEL - its grammar. You'll learn some basic math concepts, such as types of numbers and simple math equations, and at the end of part one you'll explore concepts for building and constructing programs. The second part covers the construction of scripts that detail some of the ways you can use MEL. You'll learn about expressions, primitive objects, lighting and rendering, tool creation, interface customization, and reading and writing files in and out of Maya. The MEL Companion was written by an artist for artists. To get the most out of this book, you should have a fundamental knowledge of working in 3D and the Maya program. In addition, although you might not have an extensive knowledge and understanding of mathematics, you should have some willingness to learn the basics of working with numbers. Other than that, everything else is explained in language that is hopefully as clear as it is entertaining
Customer Reviews:
Full of errors.......2007-04-29
It's ironic in a sad way that a programming book be filled with syntactical errors and painfully obvious the author didn't bother to proof read, let alone run, his code. I am a newcomer to MEL, but have been programming in other languages (C, C++, Python, Java) for ten years; I feel I've taken a step backwards insofar as my MEL progress is concerned. No one involved with this book has put forth the required effort and as such has done the MEL community a disservice
If the code weren't rampant with errors, this would be the best MEL book out there. As it stands, it's the worst. At the very least, the publisher could have released the errata on their website as others have done.
I recommend David Gould's "Complete Maya Programming" series as an excellent replacement. There's a reason this book is so inexpensive when purchased used. Don't waste your time.
a great mel book...........2007-01-22
an excellent advanceded resource......does the best job explaining UI layouts and their required nesting I have read yet. Very clear and concise. Has full file write and read chapter...file format...even outputing an html page. It is not just in the programs, but the text is very clear and to the point. Includes flow charts, ui layouts...just the whole process to make a student into a professional. Probably the most advanced tutorial is the save weights tool....it reads and writes the vertex skin weights for all influences to a file based not on id but world space locations to compensate for changes in topology.
How did the editor of this book keep his job?.......2005-02-09
While this book was VERY hard to follow ( I'm a pretty technical guy when it comes to 3D) i WAS able to follow it most of the time. What really pisses me off is that it is a programming book and just about every page has a syntax error of some kind or another. Really mad about the fact that just as you think you're getting it there's a not always so obvious syntax error that the author and the editor and the publisher all missed!I spent more time troubleshooting the authors oversights then i did learning anything - WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? nobody buy this book until they fix all their little screw ups.
Its very Good .......2004-10-05
I am shocked at the bad reviews this book has received. Make no mistake -> THIS ONE IS A REALLY GOOD ONE . This book is not for rank beginners in mel . Its more for someone who understands the Mel Language adequately.
Definetely the most advanced of books available on Mel. Beginners can take a look at Marks Book. Once you know mel reasonably well this is the book to go for. Yes few printing mistakes are there but that cant take away much from what is a nice book with some thought provoking examples. 5 stars.
An excellent place to go for intermediate MEL scripting..........2003-11-24
This book is not for beginners. However, if you've learned the basics of MEL scripting and are looking for a good place to learn about more complex scripting techniques, this is a great place to start. I feel that this book is complementary to "MEL Scripting for Maya Animators" (which, in the interest of full disclosure, I helped write) in that it's a great book to jump into once you have a strong command of the basics.
Book Description
The official, fully authorized full-color guide to the characters, places, and landscapes of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth as depicted in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
Fully illustrated with almost 300 color photographs, including stunning new images from the extended director's versions of The Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers, and exclusive "first-look" shots from The Return of the King, this Complete Visual Companion now tells the whole tale of The Lord of the Rings in sumptuous detail.
The many characters, creatures, and strange lands of Middle-earth encountered by the Fellowship of the Ring in their epic journey are here brought to life: from the magical Elven realms of Rivendell and Lothlorien to the abandoned Dwarven kingdom of Moria; from the wizard Saruman's stronghold at Isengard to the land of the Horse-lords, Rohan; from their last-ditch fortress at Helm's Deep to Minas Tirith, the city-kingdom of the proud Men of Gondor; from the haunted Paths of the Dead to the battlefields of Pelennor and the overrun city of Osgiliath; from Cirith Ungol and the Nazgul's tower of sorcery at Minas Morgul into the very heart of Mordor. Along the way our heroes will encounter Elves and Ents, Uruk-hai and Orcs, Trolls, and Haradrim on their towering war-elephants, the mumakil. The Companion introduces readers to the monstrous Shelob the spider, to the Corsairs of Umbar, and to that pitiful but deadly creature Gollum.
This omnibus edition also includes brand-new sections appearing in print for the first time, which take the story of the quest of the Fellowship beyond Mount Doom, all the way to the hearbreaking finale at the Grey Havens.
Customer Reviews:
Excellent Companion for LOTR fans........2007-03-19
I purchased this item for my 8-year old nephew who discovered it at his school library and could not get enough time with it. It is very popular at his school. Even though he has the other three individual visual companions he still wanted this one as it has pictures that are not in the other books. If you or your child are a LOTR fan you will want to add this book to your ccollection.
A good LOTR book but..........2005-06-17
While Jude Fisher's writing is even and sometimes evocative, this compilation of all three visual companions feels a bit superfluous. I mean, Lord of the Rings is great, and I'm happy to see that it hasn't been merchandised to death like the Star Wars prequels. But this isn't one of my favorite LOTR books for three reasons:
1. Not enough images from Return of the King and too Fellowship heavy 2. An unsubstantial feel to the Isengard and Gondor chapters 3.Certain characters don't get wrapped up (Saruman and Denethor) But it's still a good read and a nice addition to anyone's LORD OF THE RINGS collection. Personally though, I prefer the 'ART OF' books.
A Nice Compilation.......2005-01-26
I purchased this book because I had been told that it contained all the photos from Jude Fisher's three previous visual companions: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Two Towers and The Return of the King, which I had seen, but not purchased. While it does have some of the photos, it doesn't have all of them. Photos in certain sections have been replaced by others, and in my opinion, in some cases, the replacements aren't better pictures. Two things would have made this book worthy of five stars. First, if it had been done as an oversize hardcover like its predecessors, and second, if the three individual visual companions had been entirely reprinted in this one volume, and then additional photos added. Now that I have this trilogy compilation, I won't be buying the other three individual companions, but I am sorry not to have those missing photos.
Great Picture Book.......2005-01-18
The official, fully authorized full-color guide to the characters, places, and landscapes of J.R.R.Tolkien's Middle-earth as depicted in The Lord of the Rings movie trilogy.
Fully illustrated with almost 300 color photographs, including stunning new images from the extended director's versions of the Fellowship of the Ring and The Two Towers and more.
The many characters, creatures, and strange lands of Middle-earth encountered by the Fellowship of the Ring in their epic journey are here brought to life: from the magical Elven realms of Rivendell and Lothlorien to the abandoned Dwarven kingdom of Moria; from the wizard Saruman's stronghold at Isengard to the land of the Horse-lords, Rohan; from their last-ditch fortress at Helm's Deep to Minas Tirith, the city-kingdom of the proud Men of Gondor.
This omnibus edition also includes brand-new sections appearing in print for the first time, which take the story of the quest of the Fellowship beyond Mount Doom, all the way to the heartbreaking finale at the Grey Havens.
good wrap up.......2005-01-06
This is a good summary of the three movies as well as the three other visual companions. As the owner of all three previous companions, I found some of this information old, but still interesting. The pictures as well as the end of this companion, which gives good details, is a comprehensive look at the movies with a couple book tie-ins. Overall, I would say it's a great buy if you don't own the other three, and still interesting if you do.
Book Description
From the New York Times best-selling author of The Two Towers Visual Companion comes a lavishly illustrated keepsake guide to The Return of the King. As Frodo, Sam, and Gollum slowly make their way into the depths of the Dark Lord's realm of Mordor in their desperate quest to destroy the One Ring, the scattered members of the fellowship, now scarred and battered from the Battle of Helm's Deep, must journey to the Gondorian stronghold of Minas Tirith for a last stand against the might of Sauron and his evil minions.
Customer Reviews:
A Great Addition to any Lord of the Rings Collection.......2006-12-16
We have all the Lord of the Rings books and movies. This, along with the other visual companions is a great piece. Very nicely laid out and full of information.
think twice.......2004-06-24
if you already bought the visual companion to fellowship and two towers then this book is a disappointment. too many photos from the previous two films. Not enough images from return of the king. especially missing when they shouldn't be are photos of grond, shelob the spider, the king of the oathbreakers and orc general gothmog. the photo guide is better value.
The Return of the King Visual Companion.......2004-06-23
More interesting and informative than the younger reader movie novelisations, THE RETURN OF THE KING is a great book for LOTR fans and helpful companion to the film. With both in-depth character exposition and battle updates incorporated throughout the relating story points, the writing itself is imaginative and enthralling. The main focus is on Rohan and Gondor, with other areas left to previous exposition (Fellowship Of The Ring). The movie photos are numerous and impressive, unlike the standard pre-production movie book shipped out before the movie is released with subsequent limitations (No completed CGI shots and the storyline is compromised for 'easy reading'). Another great LOTR book from HarperCollins and a must-have for the film enthusiasts.
A great book to go along side that of Colin Duriez.......2004-04-21
I agree with the previous reviewer. This is by far the best of the illustrated books on Tolkien - Jude Fisher is the pen name of one of the top experts on Tolkien, Lewis and other such great authors - and if you want pictures, this is it. But if you want intellectual depth and insight, you should also buy the brilliant books by Colin Duriez, who has by now written several on the Inklings, including his new great book on the friendship of Lewis and Tolkien. Go for a Fisher/Duriez combination! Christopher Catherwood, author of CHRISTIANS MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan 2003) and CHURCHILL'S FOLLY (Carroll & Graf 2004)
Almost as good as the books by Colin Duriez on Tolkien.......2004-03-16
If you want depth, get Colin Duriez's exciting new book on the friendship with CS Lewis. If you want a delightful picture book, this one is by far the best.
Book Description
The official, fully authorized companion to the second part of Peter Jackson's award-winning trilogy, The Lord of the Rings.
The Two Towers Visual Companion is a full-color guide to the characters, places and landscapes of J.R.R. Tolkien's Middle-earth as depicted in the second film in The Lord of the Rings Trilogy, and features a special introduction by Viggo Mortensen, who plays Aragorn.
Lavishly illustrated with more than 100 full-color photographs, including exclusive images of Gollum, Treebeard and the battle of Helm's Deep, The Two Towers Visual Companion offers a privileged tour through the principal events of the second film. It begins with a recounting of The Fellowship of the Ring, and then takes the reader on the separate journeys undertaken by the Fellowship in The Two Towers.
The Ring Quest: in which Frodo and Sam journey alone towards Mordor, alone that is, except for the sneaking figure of Gollum, who has been dogging their footsteps since Moria.
The Captives' Journey: in which Merry and Pippin are carried by the fearsome Uruk-hai towards a fateful encounter with the wizard, Saruman, at the stronghold of Isengard.
The Companions' Journey: in which Aragorn, Legolas and Gimli pursue the abducted hobbits across the Plains of Rohan and into the eaves of Fangorn Forest.
Also included are a brand new map of Rohan and Gondor and a specially commissioned battle plan of the climactic events at Helm's Deep, where a brave stand will be made by the Free Peoples of Middle-earth against Saruman's horde.
The companion offers an unforgettable tour of the haunted swamp of the Dead Marshes and the lovely but dangerous land of Ithilien which borders Mordor, the breathtaking kingdom of Rohan, home of the Horse-lords, its seat of power, Edoras, and the ancient stronghold of Helm's Deep, and provides an invaluable introduction to Peter Jackson's The Two Towers.
Customer Reviews:
Lots of photos and good information.......2006-12-16
A great companion book to go along with our set of movies and hard cover Lord of the Rings items. Very well laid out and full of interesting information.
Reccomended!!!.......2006-08-27
Great book, beautiful images and a very special foreword by Viggo Mortensen. In my opinion, satisfaction 100% Guaranteed!
Artists (and others) beware........2004-04-25
I'm an amateur artist and bought this book for some good reference pics--particulary of the actors--for doing some LOTR drawings. The problem is that the pics are rather small much of the time (a lot of fluffy text takes up much of the pages), and the shots usually aren't that interesting, anyway. There are few headshots of the main characters, and Gollum isn't featured at all, outside of the back of his head.
Of course, you can find tons of beautiful LOTR images online, such as at the official movie site, but for drawing, I find it more convenient to have a photo reference on the table in front of me. If you're just a fan and don't care about creating portraits, I'd still recommend just looking around online. The photos in this book are surprisingly mediocre given the absolutely stunning source material.
Read this and Colin Duriez's helpful guide.......2004-03-16
Read this and the superb guide books on Tolkien by Colin Duries and you will have all you want to know about the Two Towers.
A Great Visual Epic.......2004-01-02
What an amazing book! When I first bought it, I thought it would have more information in it. As it is, it basically narrates the tale of the Two Towers along with the pictures; but it is a VISUAL companion. These pictures are absolutely incredible--several of them not in the film itself. A must buy!
Amazon.com
Jude Fisher's Lord of the Rings Visual Companion is a real treat for Tolkien fans and brings readers up close to some of the amazing detail they will find in the big-screen version of this fantasy classic. Not just a straightforward movie guide, this is more of a Middle-earth encyclopedia with information on the people and places to which moviegoers will be introduced. The text is informative and never presumes any level of knowledge, making this book more than accessible for Tolkien fans or those who have yet to discover his work. The pictures are full color and quite simply superb, showcasing the movie's epic scope and exciting special effects. There is even a foldout map of Middle-earth in the center pages using shots from the movie to illustrate key locations, giving it a more realistic feel. Not an average movie tie-in book, Fisher's wonderful guide has been as lovingly put together as the movie itself and has "quality" stamped all over it. This is definitely one to add to your collection. --Jonathan Weir, Amazon.co.uk
Book Description
Houghton Mifflin is proud to present a full-color, large-format, guide to the characters, cultures, and locations of J.R.R. Tolkien's extraordinary creation Middle-earth, as depicted in the movie The Fellowship of the Ring - the first of three blockbuster films from New Line Cinema.
Filled with stunning imagery and with a thorough, informative narrative text, The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion will provide the reader with a rich feast of detail and information. Featuring exclusive photos of Frodo, Gandalf, the Ringwraiths, elves, and all the other main characters and creatures of the first film, the book also includes breathtaking pictures of Hobbiton, Rivendell, and Moria.
The first of a projected three-book series that no Tolkien fan, from novice to expert, should be without, The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion contains a special eight-page gatefold of large-format images unique to this book.
Customer Reviews:
A great book to cuddle up with.......2005-02-18
This book was literally my companion while I waited for the DVD to be available for purchase, allowing me to get my "LOTR fix" whenever I needed it. The pictures are wonderful, as are the descriptions of the characters.
There were several references and pictures to scenes that weren't in the theatrical version (but were in the extended version). This may have been confusing or irritating to some, but I found it exciting as it gave a hint of what I had to look forward to in the extended version.
I prefer it to the "making of...." books, because it portrays the characters instead of the actors. You can really become immersed in the story, and in Middle Earth, by cuddling up with this book.
An exceptional book.......2004-01-08
I have loved Lord of the Rings forever so when I saw this book, I HAD to have it. My impulses were right, this book was fantastic! It had incredible pictures, wonderful character analysis, and cool, interesting movie tidbits. For a movie as unforgettable as the Lord of the Rings, The Fellowship of the Ring visual companion is the only book that could possibly do it justice is The Fellowship of the Ring Visual Companion. This book is a must for any Lord of the Rings Fan!
A great visual foundation.......2003-04-01
I actually purchased this book after having received the visual companion to the Two Towers for Christmas last year. As with the second book, the LoTR book provides an excellent overview with pictures of all of the major characters from the first film, giving you a little more insight into the nature of each of the different creatures.
A fun book for the whole family, and a great edition for any collector.
No Balrog. Only four stars. Give us the BALROG.......2002-12-27
Despite the excellent visual imagery and quality of this book and the companion to the first movie both books lacked one extremely important and somewhat pivotal villain from the first movie, The Balrog. The Balrog also makes an appearance in the second movie and should have been given more detailed treatment. Jude Fisher are you listening. Hey why not add the Balrog in the third book.
Exactly what I wanted.......2002-12-15
This companion was what I expected of it. It had many thrilling pictures of the cast and beside that their descriptions. The pictures were in full color and they were very enjoyable. They described the forging of the one ring and the Last Alliance of Men and Elves all the way to the Uruk-Hai's and Nazguls. If you were just beginning to read the books, this would be great for you to have to show you who the characters were and to tell you a little background information about them, like a dictionary. I would definitely say to buy this. It was a brilliant tie in and I just can't wait until I get the next book.
Book Description
Neil Gaiman’s critically-acclaimed adult fairy tale makes the leap from novel to screen in this spectacular new movie starring Claire Danes, Michelle Pfeiffer, Robert De Niro, Rupert Everett, Peter O’Toole, Sienna Miller and Ricky Gervais.
Young Tristan Thorne vows to retrieve a fallen star and deliver it to his beloved. It is an oath that sends him over an ancient wall and into a magical realm that is dangerous and strange beyond imagining…
This stunning volume follows the storyline of the movie, with commentary and interviews with the starry cast and the crew, enchanting color photos, and beautiful, fully painted production art, plus the full magical screenplay and an exclusive introduction by Neil Gaiman.
Customer Reviews:
Stardust VS Stardust Visual Companion.......2007-07-22
I have been a fan of Stardust Stardust since 1999. Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess created a Faery Tale which I will cherish. And with the coming Movie by Matthew Vaughn, I was pleasantly surprised to pick up the Stardust Visual Companion Stardust: The Visual Companion (Stardust) by Stephen Jones. The production design sketches and notes as well as the production photos are a treasure. Charles Vess also contributes a painting or two. It gives a good idea of the differences of the book and the film as well as Neil Gaiman and Charles Vess opinion on it. The 'Gem' in the visual companion is the inclusion of the working script made by Vaughn and Goldman. I found out that it is not 100% sure that every line of the script will be on the film but it is great to see it... specially the part of Captain Shakespeare and the relationship of him and his crew. This is a must for the Stardust Movie Fan!!!!
Average customer rating:
- A great source for understanding the art world.
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The Visual Arts Companion
Larry Smolucha
Manufacturer: Prentice Hall College Div
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
 General
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
| Books
Criticism
| History & Criticism
| Arts & Photography
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General
| Arts & Photography
| Subjects
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General
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ASIN: 0130429872 |
Customer Reviews:
A great source for understanding the art world........1999-05-19
I have been reading this book to strengthen my art apreciation. It is well written and easy to follow. It also enlightens the reader to the many aspects of art that the casual observer may not percieve. This book is ready made for one of those TLC documentaries for television. I recommend this for anyone working in museums.
Average customer rating:
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Companion to Sound, Film, Visual
Manufacturer: Continuum International Publishing Group
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
Popular Culture
| Social Sciences
| Nonfiction
| Subjects
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General
| Sociology
| Social Sciences
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Media Studies
| Social Sciences
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General
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ASIN: 0826458246 |
Book Description
Sound and Music in Film and Visual Media: A Critical Overview is a comprehensive work defining and encapsulating concepts, issues and applications in and around the use of sound in film and the cinema, media/broadcast and new media. Over thirty definitive full-length essays, which are linked by highlighted text and reference material, bring together original research by many of the world's top scholars in this emerging field. Complete with an extensive bibliography, Sound and Music in Film and Visual Media provides the most comprehensive and wide-ranging consideration of this subject yet produced.
Average customer rating:
- H-I-S-T-O-R-Y
- A must-have book for serious A-V users
- More than a primer.
- Highly recommended
- Home Theater Companion review
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The Home Theater Companion: Buying, Installing, and Using Today's Audio-Visual Equipment
Howard Ferstler
Manufacturer: Schirmer Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
Technical
| Video
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| Entertainment
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General
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| Entertainment
| Subjects
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How-to & Home Improvements
| Home & Garden
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| Carpentry
| Cleaning, Caretaking & Relocating
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Stereo & Audio Equipment
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Stereo & Audio Equipment
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ASIN: 0825672368 |
Customer Reviews:
H-I-S-T-O-R-Y.......2002-04-16
H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. This book is sooo outdated, it's ridiculous. Granted, that the field of home entertainment is changing very rapidly, but this book was dated the day it hit the shelves back in 1997. The only reason it even got one star was because Ferstler does indeed have a simple way of explaining some complicated issues, but beyond that, there is almost no useful information presented here, especially 5 years past publication. Betamax! Please. Much of the information is also contrary to present ideology regarding home theater equipment (ie- Go ahead and use [less costly]speaker cable, it's okay, and Don't waste your money on power contitioning). This book is totally geared toward low-end users and I found nothing beyond the ordinary information available on dozens of web sites, for FREE. Don't even think about wasting your money.
A must-have book for serious A-V users.......2002-03-11
Ferstler's latest book, The Home Theater Companion, is a practical and insigtful guide to Audio-Visual systems. It is easy reading because Ferstler has a knack for reducing complicated subject matter into easy-to-understand language for the lay user. One particular advantage to this book is the author's extensive knowledge of audio; from this, he has been able to clearly differentiate the good from the not-so-good in the sound portion of any A-V setup. There have been some insincere criticisms of Howard's book (likely by those who have not actually read it); however, once you have absorbed it and realize the scope of his work, you will be very pleased with what you learn about this complicated subject. One suggestion, however, is the need for a follow-on update of the subject matter. The concept and technology of today's A-V systems are very dynamic; a revision to this book should be written to assure up-to-date subject matter.
More than a primer........2002-03-11
There are simplistic books on the subject; there are books obviously slanted towards off-the-wall gazillion-dollar weird systems -- and then there is this one. If you want to really understand what home theaters are all about, what is important and what isn't, take the time to read it through and absorb what the author is telling you. You will be rewarded.
Highly recommended.......2002-03-11
Howard Ferstler's Home Theater Companion is informative, well-illustrated, and fun to read. I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in setting up a home theater system or high-quality audio equipment. The emphasis is on a bargain-oriented approach - how to get maximum quality for your dollar.
This is the book for you if you are trying to figure out the answers to questions like: Should I get 2-way or 3-way speakers? Would a subwoofer improve my sound and how would I set one up? Which room should my home theater system go in? Where should I place my speakers? How powerful should my amp or receiver be? Which noise-reduction system should I use on my cassette deck? How can I add hi-fi VCR to my TV? How do I set up surround-sound? Should I get a widescreen TV? What CDs and DVDs can I use to test my system? What is an equalizer used for? Can I get speaker cable at a reasonable price? (Ferstler does a very good job of debunking very expensive speaker cables.) Should I biwire my speakers?
There are excellent discussions of room acoustics, narrow vs wide dispersion speakers, and the Allison Effect (suckout in the midbass), useful tables comparing cassette/VCR/DCC/Minidisc/DAT formats for recording and VHS/LV/DVD formats for home theater, plus glossary, appendices, and bibliography. My only criticism is that the discussion of headphones could have been a little longer.
All in all I thoroughly recommend this book. My copy is already worn through.
Home Theater Companion review.......2002-03-10
Ferstler's 1997 book now suffers somewhat from the relatively early publishing date, as the technologies of home theater have been evolving quickly.
The book's greatest strength lies in explaining the basics which underlie the flash. I believe Fersler assumes that the reader has a basic technical knowledge, and that the reader wants to learn some of the nuts and bolts before going out shopping. Therefore, folks just looking for a simple-minded buyer's and hook-up guide will be disappointed.
If, on the other hand, you want to understand some of the compromises which go into, say, speaker design, and want a discussion of the practicalities of home theater, this is a good investment.
I found that it providied me with a good grounding so that I can evaluate the cacaphony of on-line opinions.
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Those Left Behind (Serenity)
Firefly: The Official Companion: Volume One
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Serenity [HD DVD]
Firefly (Original Television Soundtrack)
