Ships of the Line (Star Trek)

Book Description

They dared to risk it all in a skiff of reeds or leather, on a ship of wood or steel, knowing the only thing between them and certain death was their ship. To explore, to seek out what lay beyond the close and comfortable, every explorer had to embrace danger. And as they did so, what arose was a mystical bond, a passion for the ships that carried them. From the very first time humans dared to warp the fabric of space, escaping from the ashes of the third World War, they also created ships. These vessels have become the icons of mankind's desire to rise above the everyday, to seek out and make the unknown known. And these ships that travel the stellar seas have stirred the same passions as the ones that floated in the oceans.

While every captain has wished that their starship could be outfitted in the same manner as the sailing ship H.M.S. Beagle -- without weapons -- that proved

untenable. From the start, Starfleet realized that each vessel, due to the limited range of the early warp engines, must be able to stand alone against any

attack. Thus arose the idea, taken from the days of wooden sailing ships, that every Starfleet vessel must stand as a ship of the line. Through the actions of their captains and crews, countless starships have taken on that role. Here we remember some of those ships and their heroic crews.

In celebration of the fortieth anniversary of Star Trek, here for the very first time collected together are the spectacular images from the highly successful and acclaimed Star Trek: Ships of the Line calendars. Gloriously rendered, each of these illustrations was created exclusively for Pocket Books. With text by Michael Okuda (The Star Trek Encyclopedia), the story of each of these valiant starships comes to life.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent book for those who love Star Trek ships..........2007-09-22

I've been a fan of the "Ships of the Line" calendars for many years. This book is essentially a compilation of those stunning images, with some explanatory captions added. As such, it's a wonderful volume for any Star Trek fan who enjoys "beauty shots" of the various ships shown in the series. It should be noted, however, that these are pieces of original digital artwork. They are not screen captures of the various series or movies, but unique images created for the calendar series (and now, for this book). It was a great value and an excellent addition to my Star Trek book collection.

Ships of the Line (Star Trek) .......2007-09-21

Ships of the Line (Star Trek)was not what I was expecting. I was hoping for a more techincal review of the fleet.

With that said, the artwork was great, although I would have liked more on the ships other than that bad 'Enterprise' series!

The Romulan Warbird was the best pic, in my opinion!

Ian Johnson. Perth, Australia

Beautiful book--but know what you're getting........2007-09-19

This is a beautiful, imagination-stimulating, sometimes breathtaking book. But potential buyers should know three things: 1. This book is about half the size of the average coffee table book (FYI, in case you don't read the fine print or easily "get" measurements in the Product Description), so they are not big pictures. 2. This is an *art* book; these are "illustrations," not photographic reproductions from the Star Trek T.V. series(s) or movies. I wasn't familiar with the "Ships of the Line" calendars, so was expecting "real" photos of the Star Trek ships, not paintings. However, some of the pictures are computer-design artwork that very effectively look like photographs. I know it's a matter of taste, by I find these more enjoyable, more evocative.
3. While ships from all five of the T.V. shows are included (not the animated ST), there is of course a favored emphasis on the Enterprise in its various/successive generations. There are only 37 illustrations, so that doesn't leave room for a whole lot else. (Opposing/even-numbered pages are blank, except for a short paragraph of text by official Star Trek history guru Michael Ocuda, which offers interesting commentary, though more impressionistic thatn encyclopedic.) Also, the book's cover illustration is not repeated in the book, so if you get a torn or badly smudged copy, you're out of luck. I was also disappointed that a book called "Ships of the Line" didn't have a single schematic drawing or even a comparative illustration to scale of the various ships (like is sort of done on the cover picture).
Even given all these qualifications, there are at least 10 pictures in this book that really inspire me and excite my imagination; and any two of them, for me, are worth the price of the book.

Disappointed.......2007-09-04

Great art work, but I was expecting the entire book to give us a complete look at rarely or never before seen star fleet ships in various situations. There was a limited look, but mostly that of the series ships we're already quite familiar with. I wasn't too thrilled about the blank left pages as well. Lots of potential for a great coffee table top book. Hopefully we'll get more in a Volume 2.

Another Great Star Trek Photo Book.......2007-08-12

Margaret Clark & Doug Drexler have out done themselfs. This book is packed full of some of the best CGI graphics yet to be published. It's a must for any trekie as it will keep you spell bound just looking at page after page. The book covers all era's of trekdom with graphics of all the major ships we've come to love. It even has a few hints of things to come. The book is graphic intense with very little story, but that ok because some of the graphic will have you beliving that these ship are real. The only short side to this book is it's lack of alein ships as it's cover suggests. There are some aliens ship but none are the focal point of any of the graphics. All in all I would highly recommend this book for anyones library.

Average customer rating:

Best one yet
Better than the movie
Bummer
Spidey is back but................
We need more books on the universe established in the film!!!

Spider-Man 3
Peter David
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416527214

Book Description

How long can any man fight the darkness before he finds it in himself?

Peter Parker has finally managed to strike a balance between his devotion to M.J. and his duties as a Super Hero™. But there is a storm brewing on the horizon. When his suit suddenly changes, turning jet-black and enhancing his powers, it transforms Peter as well, bringing out the dark, vengeful side of his personality that he is struggling to control. Under the influence of the suit, Peter becomes overconfident and starts to neglect the people who care about him most. Forced to choose between the seductive power of the new suit and the compassionate hero he used to be, Peter must overcome his personal demons as two of the most feared villains yet -- Sandman and Venom -- gather unparalleled power and a thirst for retribution to threaten Peter and everyone he loves.

Customer Reviews:

Best one yet.......2007-06-11

Great adventure story which should make for another good movie. As for comic book continuity, it is missing the mark on a couple of points, but ALL the comic movies seem to be doing the same. Doesn't detract from a good storyline or action packed movie.

Better than the movie.......2007-06-02

As a Spider-man fan, the movies have always disappointed me because they are not accurate enough to the characters. Enter Peter David, He gratefully takes a so-so Spider-man story and injects it with the "Spideyness" the movies were lacking. (and yes I just used the word "Spideyness" but I'm a Spider-man fan, so I can do that) This Novel is no exception. He fills in the gaps the movie left behind and even manages to make the movie's depressing ending feel more triumphant. A must read for any Spider-man fan who felt the movie was not up to par. AKA: almost everyone. So after that stirring review you may wonder why not five stars? Until he gets the black costume the story is too close a retelling for me and just like in the movie theater I found myself slightly bored. It's too bad he didn't have more to work with, because it could have been...well...Amazing.

Bummer.......2007-05-05

Ummm...I'll start with the positive. The action was good.

Now...the negative. And there's a lot.

I LOVED the first two movies. Especially the 2nd one. The 2nd was perfect in my eyes. I left the theatre thinking "OMG that was amazing!"

This one I left a little crushed. Actually, I felt crushed towards the beginning. As soon as Sandman enters the picture it begins to go downhill. Why in the hell did they bring this guy in it? The movie is jam packed as is. And how he becomes the Sandman is not really explained. He gets caught in some kind of experiment that is never talked about. The whole character really doesn't have much of a story except here's this guy who is made of sand and he goes around robbing banks. At the end, you find out why he needs the money but it's really lame.

He also killed Peter's uncle which is very lame. They should have left that alone. But then the character would have been even more pointless.

On to Venom, the whole reason why Spider-Man 3 needed to be made. He was barely in it. The CGI for him wasn't that great and you really didn't learn that much about him.

There was just way too much going on in this movie. You got Sandman, Venom, Green Goblin, M.J.'s acting career, Peter getting ready to pop the question, Eddie trying to get a job, even the neighbor girl.

And the dialogue was SO BAD at times. This movie really reminded me of the Batman movies and how they started out so cool and then ended up in the cheese factory. The acting was a little iffy too.

I'd give this movie 3 out of 5 stars. A bummer. I thought X-Men 3 was better.

Spidey is back but.......................2007-04-29

Im torn....really torn.....I love Spidey...always have. This story really deserves about another 300 pages to flesh out all of the hundreds of characters Raimi decided to cram into this one. Youve all these storylines converging in every which way throughout and youre going...."How is this thing going to come together right in all of this mishmash?" In the end I think the film will be successful, and it is a good story. It just seems rather chaotic; struggling to find a cohesive whole. The whole venom thing was a tack on and pointless to the story. Absolutely pointless. I could go on and on. Anyway, it will make its cash and it will be a great summer film. I just wish Raimi would have split this thing up into 2 films; thats all.

We need more books on the universe established in the film!!!.......2007-04-06

I hope the movie is as good as this novel. If so, Spidey 3 will be a winner at the box office. With Peter David at the helm, he mixes the universe of the comics with those in the film. He does this with great ease. Any book that is written by this author a sure bet that it will be something compelling.

All the characters: Gwen Stacy, her father Capt. Stacy, M.J. and all the supporting cast ring true to their illustrated counterparts. The only downer is the new Green Goblin costume. If that's the only bad thing in this film, I won't notice. I only hope that there is a book sequel that will tie the loose ends in this film or at least give us a glimpse of what Spider-Man 4 will be...

The Sundering (Warcraft: War of the Ancients Trilogy, Book 3)

Average customer rating:

Last Part
So compelling, such a wonderfull story!!
Enough said... 5 stars.
Great ending
A terrific end of a terrific trilogy

The Sundering (Warcraft: War of the Ancients Trilogy, Book 3)
Richard A. Knaak
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743471210

Book Description

The hour of wrath draws near...

The valiant night elves have been shattered by the loss of their beloved general. The black dragon, Neltharion, has claimed the Demon Soul and scattered the mighty dragonflights to the winds. Above all, the demonlord, Archimonde, has led the Burning Legion to the very brink of victory over Kalimdor. As the land and its denizens reel from this unstoppable evil, a terror beyond all reckoning draws ever nearer from the Well of Eternity's depths...

WARCRAFT

In the final, apocalyptic chapter of this epic trilogy, the dragon-mage Krasus and the young druid Malfurion must risk everything to save Azeroth from utter destruction. Banding together the dwarves, tauren and furbolg races, the heroes hope to spark an alliance to stand against the might of the Burning Legion. For if the Demon Soul should fall into the Legion's hands, all hope for the world will be lost. This then, is the hour...where past and future collide!

THE SUNDERING

An original trilogy of magic, warfare, and heroism based on the bestselling, award-winning electronic game series from Blizzard Entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

Last Part.......2007-08-09

This is the third part of the trilogy and wraps things up nicely, while leeting you know what is to come. It explains a lot about the game and the relationship of the characters.

So compelling, such a wonderfull story!!.......2007-06-08

This is what can only be described as a fantastic final chapter in the war of the ancients series. This book was so fantastic i was immersed into the warcraft universe so much everything else meant nothing. The characters are so well portrayed and the events that take place are spectacular. Richard knakk really sets the pace and the scene with his writing in this book.

The end was sudden and tragic however like every good fairy tale we are left with hope and purpose.

Brilliant

5/5

Enough said... 5 stars........2006-06-27

Definetly get books 1 and 2 before geting this one. If you are new to warcraft universe the triology does a good job of explaining who and what things are ... for the ppl allready into warcraft lore let me tell you, you will not get enough sleep until you are done with all 3 books (and you will want more).

Great ending.......2006-03-04

This trilogy has captivated me from beginning to end. The battles were especially heart pounding. Excellent work. The first two were good, but this one blew me away. Lost too much sleep because of it.

**A book I would also recommend is The Unsuspecting Mage by Brian S. Pratt. This, the first installment of The Morcyth Saga is a great beginning for a new author. Battles, magic, gods, secret passages and intrigue, all the elements of a classic epic fantasy! Any fantasy reader will enjoy it

A terrific end of a terrific trilogy.......2006-02-05

This book just goes to show you that the third book in a series written based on a Blizzard franchise is always the best one. A maxim I have found to be true. I digress. The Sundering takes place a short time after the events of The Demon Soul. The night elves find themselves in constant battle against the Burning Legion. One of the night elves' most relied upon sorcerers has defected to the side of the Legion and their situation looks grim. The book is packed tight with all sorts of depictions of grisly combat and quite remarkable detail. Richard A. Knaak definitely shows himself as one of the masters of writing massive battles (especially the final battles). This was one of the few books I actually sacrificed sleep for just to find out what was going to happen next. That is how addictive Knaak's writing style is. I also like the way he killed off several of his characters, the way he did it was neat. If you are a fan of the Warcraft series of games, you definitely need to read this book, if not the entire trilogy. This book is tied with Empire of Blood as the best final book in a trilogy.

The Demon Soul (Warcraft: War of the Ancients, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

History continued
Interesting 2nd book continuing a great story
The second act of a play is always slow
A Must.
Illustrates Various Aspects of the Genre

The Demon Soul (Warcraft: War of the Ancients, Book 2)
Richard A. Knaak
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743471202

Book Description

THE BURNING LEGION HAS COME.

Led by the mighty Archimonde, scores of demonic soldiers now march across the lands of Kalimdor, leaving a trail of death and devastation in their wake. At the heart of the fiery invasion stands the mystic Well of Eternity -- once the source of the night elves' arcane power. But now the Well's energies have been defiled and twisted, for Queen Azshara and her Highborne will stop at nothing to commune with their newfound god: the fiery Lord of the Burning Legion...Sargeras.

The night elf defenders, led by the young druid, Malfurion Stormrage, and the wizard, Krasus, fight a desperate battle to hold back the Legion's terrible onslaught. Though only embers of hope remain, an ancient power has risen to aid the world in its darkest hour. The dragons -- led by the powerful Aspect, Neltharion -- have forged a weapon of incalculable power: the Dragon Soul, an artifact capable of driving the Legion from the world forever. But its use may cost far more than any could have foreseen.

The second novel in an original trilogy of magic, warfare, and heroism based on the bestselling, award-winning electronic game series from Blizzard Entertainment.

Customer Reviews:

History continued.......2007-08-09

As the second volume of the trilogy, it is an excellent continuation of the history of Warcraft and explains a lot about why things are the way they are in the game. Highly recommended

Interesting 2nd book continuing a great story.......2007-06-08

This book continues on from the earlier book, The well of eternity, i was so wrapped up in the story of the first book this was not a let down at all. I weas turning page after page so unravel the story. i can admit some sections began to repeat themselves slightly but i did indeed finsh this book within a week.

A fantastic read and continuation of the war of the ancients series.

4/5

The second act of a play is always slow.......2006-12-19

This book is a little slower than the rest. It has a lot to offer on the mythos and back story of warcraft, but it is very slow for this genre of book.

I almost didn't read the third book after reading this one. But you have to remember that this is the "second act" of a play. This is setting up the final conclusion you get in the third book.

The third book brings a lot of closure to the story, and a lot more of the lore of warcraft. I enjoyed the three as a set. If you like the warcraft books, grind your way through this to get to the third book. Afterall, not all of the lvl 1-60 is fun either is it? You do have to grind from time to time. :)

A Must........2006-06-27

Loved the whole triology... even my girlfriend who hates WOW, read these and liked them, that is a rating by itself. A must if you like the genre.

Illustrates Various Aspects of the Genre.......2006-06-08

I enjoyed this book and couldn't put it down. I loved how one can learn about how various powers work (druidic powers interaction with nature or sorcerers powers that fetch magic directly from the well) and also about powerful natural spirit forces like Cenarius or Aviana and also the Aspects (powerful dragons embodying some cosmic force like time or the earth). There are hints about how the Old Gods (H.P. Lovecraft's cuthulu like entities) somehow corrupted the Well of Eternity and also corrupted Nefarion in a complex endeavor to engineer their release.

I've found that these details can really give on a feel of the Warcraft's universe that one cannot easily get through MMORPG or pen-n-paper Warcraft d20 game.

Warcraft: World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (World of Warcraft)

Average customer rating:

Rise of the Horde
Excellent sequel
Easy and fun read
Good History
Rise of the Horde; a legion of betrayal

Warcraft: World of Warcraft: Rise of the Horde (World of Warcraft)
Christie Golden
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Epic | Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Mystery & Thriller Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

General | Mystery & Thrillers | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743471385

Book Description

Though the young Warchief Thrall ended the demon curse that had plagued his people for generations, the orcs still wrestle with the sins of their bloody past. As the rampaging Horde, they waged a number of devastating wars against their perennial enemy -- the Alliance. Yet the rage and bloodlust that drove the orcs to destroy everything in their path nearly consumed them as well.

Long ago, on the idyllic world of Draenor, the noble orc clans lived in relative peace with their enigmatic neighbors, the draenei. But the nefarious agents of the Burning Legion had other plans for both of the unsuspecting races. The demon-lord Kil'jaeden set in motion a dark chain of events that would succeed not only in eradicating the draenei, but forging the orc clans into an single, unstoppable juggernaut of hatred and destruction.

Customer Reviews:

Rise of the Horde.......2007-09-17

My feelings were somewhat mixed on this book. What I liked about it was that the author really knew his WoW background. The story presented the history of the Horde and their conflict with the Draenei in a very concise and understandable way. It was an "easy read", and there was little to no confusion about what was happening.
What I didn't care for was how particularly violent this book was. The author vividly presented the blood and guts of conflict. I'm sure that is what the author intended, but the unintentional consequence was not feeling sorry for the Orcs at all.
If you are a hard core WoW fan, this book is a must read. Just be prepared for a "D-day" like story.

Excellent sequel.......2007-09-17

This is a follow-up to Christie Golden's Lord of the Clans, also contained in Warcraft: Archive.

This tale chronicles Thrall's recording of the rise of the first Horde on the world of Draenor, otherwise known as Outlands.

I learned a lot about the dynamics of the Draenei and thigns related to WoW:TBC that I would have otherwise not know since I play Horde exclusively.

A great read that I highly reccommend.

Easy and fun read .......2007-08-13

Tells the tragic story we have all wanted to know for years and does its best to blend the Warcraft 1,2 and 3 storylines not so easy.

This book is all the more tragic because ultimatly the reader knows the ending. I thought it was great because it showed what true friends Doomhammer and Doritan were.

Everything I have come to expect froma Bilzard book.

Good History.......2007-08-09

Excellent History of how the Horde came to be the Horde. A must for all Warcraft enthusiasts

Rise of the Horde; a legion of betrayal .......2007-05-10

By; Anthony Michael Tuzzolo.
First of all, If you have no idea what Warcraft is then go home! This story is set in a place called Hellfire peninsula in the shattered world of Draenor. The story starts out with a young orc named Duratan, who is heir to the Frostwolf clan, befriending another orc named Orgim Doomhammer. One day, the two friends are saved by an alien race,named Draeni who befriend them and allow them to stay in their marvelous city. When they grow up a very influintial shaman named Ner'Zhul had a vision from his deceased mate who told him that the ancestors were all with an omniescent being and that he would soon get a vision from it. Ner'Zhul gets a vision from a maelevolent being named Kil' Jaedan who tells him that the Draeni are no friends, but are instead enemies. Ner'Zhul then calls a meeting between with all the clans and send them out to attack the Draeni. The only clan that is not fighting is Duratan and his Frostwolf clan.Eventualy, Ner'Zhul gets another vision from his Mate who tells him that he was listening to the wrong being and that the ancestors will no longer answer to him. Guldan, Ner'Zhuls apprentice, betrays him and tells Kil' Jaedan about how Ner'Zhul tried to reach the ancestors. Ner'Zhul, now a demoralized husk of his former self, no longer is a threat to Kil'Jaedan and Guldan is now incharge. uldan then sends an all out attack on the Draeni fortress along with some demons brought by Kil'Jaedan. Although, some of the Draeni, including their leader, Velen, escape. The Orcs homeworld is dying so they open a portal to another world were the land is greater.

Serenity - The Future is Worth Fighting For (Pocket Star Books Media Tie-In)

Average customer rating:

Not much insight beyond the movie
Fantastic companion
Mediocre novelization of disappointing movie
Can't Help Myself
The "original" vision of the movie.

Serenity - The Future is Worth Fighting For (Pocket Star Books Media Tie-In)
Keith R.A. DeCandido
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Adventure | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416507558

Book Description

Five hundred years in the future, Captain Mal Reynolds, a hardened war veteran (on the losing side), ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family -- squabbling, insubordinate, and undyingly loyal.

When Mal takes on two new passengers -- a young doctor named Simon and his unstable, telepathic sister, River -- he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from a coalition that dominates the universe with unlimited wealth and power -- and that will stop at nothing to control River and her abilities. The crew of mercenaries, used to skimming the outskirts of the galaxy unnoticed, soon find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Caught up in the fight to stay alive, they don't yet realize that their greatest danger may be on board Serenity herself....

Download Description

"Five hundred years in the future, Captain Mal Reynolds, a hardened war veteran (on the losing side), ekes out a living pulling off small crimes and transport-for-hire aboard his ship, Serenity. He leads a small, eclectic crew who are the closest thing he has left to family -- squabbling, insubordinate, and undyingly loyal. When Mal takes on two new passengers -- a young doctor named Simon and his unstable, telepathic sister, River -- he gets much more than he bargained for. The pair are fugitives from a coalition that dominates the universe with unlimited wealth and power -- and that will stop at nothing to control River and her abilities. The crew of mercenaries, used to skimming the outskirts of the galaxy unnoticed, soon find themselves caught between the unstoppable military force of the Universal Alliance and the cannibalistic fury of the Reavers, savages who roam the very edge of space. Caught up in the fight to stay alive, they don't yet realize that their greatest danger may be on board Serenity herself.... "

Customer Reviews:

Not much insight beyond the movie.......2007-05-12

I bought this book hoping to get more than just a quick retelling of the script but more insight into the characters and plot. There are a few of these moments, but not really much beyond what you see in the movie (and the Firefly series - which is awesome by the way).Firefly - The Complete Series

Fantastic companion.......2007-04-29

Joss Whedon has called 'Serenity' Mal's story as told by River. In the novelization of the fantastic movie, DeCandido manages to capture that idea perfectly. As we, the readers, are presented with events almost exactly as they occur on screen, we are also given the opportunity to look inside the heads of the characters we love so much. DeCandido does a stunning job of showing us not only what is happening, but also how the characters react. This is specifically well done in the case of River who not only has her own thoughts, but knows those of the others even when they aren't so sure.

I bought the book so that I would have the story even on trips when I didn't have the movie or a TV available. It's everything I wanted and more.

Mediocre novelization of disappointing movie.......2007-04-13

My name is YT and I'm a Firefly fan. Most of what disappointed me about the movie was audio-visual so, I expected to like the novelization better. I did not. The best part about the story (indeed, the best part about most of the stories in the original series) is the characters. And apparently, the best part about the characters is the way the actors bring them alive, make them real, make us care.

Movie tie-in novelizations tend to be written in a hurry, to a hard deadline, so it is perhaps not reasonable to expect great language. But the addition of narration and visual description only served to slow down this story, without enrichening it in the slightest.

Not recommended.

Can't Help Myself.......2007-03-27

I love the whole Serenity phenomenon: the series, the movie, and now the book. Well written without being too well written, if you know what I mean; the gritty ambience of the characters was maintained perfectly. The best quotes were written without ado and the character insights stayed in character.

The "original" vision of the movie. .......2007-02-06

I call it that since the book is based off an earlier script of the movie before cuts had to be made due to budget restraints or special effects not working out just right (ie. the operatives "computer glasses"). You get deleted scenes, additional scenes from the Firefly TV show (proof that Keith is a fan), but other than that, doesn't really explore the movie any futher other than explaing what people are thinking in a tad more detail.

I feel movie novelizations are more statisfying to read after you see the movie so you have a clearer idea what things look like and you're not disappointed that things in the movie didn't turn out like the way you imagined had you read the book first. This is definitely a product for the Firefly/Serenity completist.

Average customer rating:

Compelling, cerebral science fiction
Way better than the movies. But very very strange.
CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE THIRD KIND...
Good, idea-driven sci-fi
The translation isn't bad: a sci-fi classic

Solaris
Stanislaw Lem
Manufacturer: Harvest Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Literary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0156027607

Book Description

Who's testing whom? When Kris Kelvin arrives at the planet Solaris to study the ocean that covers its surface, he is forced to confront a painful, hitherto unconscious memory embodied in the living physical likeness of a long-dead lover. Others examining the planet, Kelvin learns, are plagued with their own repressed and newly corporeal memories. Scientists speculate that the Solaris ocean may be a massive brain that creates these incarnate memories, its purpose in doing so unknown.
The first of Lem's novels to be published in America and now considered a classic, SOLARIS raises a question: Can we truly understand the universe around us without first understanding what lies within?

Customer Reviews:

Compelling, cerebral science fiction .......2007-04-20

Kris Kelvin goes to a space station where strange things have been happening. The planet the station orbits - Solaris - seems to be having a strange influence on the inhabitants of the space station and begins to have an effect of Kelvin.

Solaris explores what it means to be human. This is cerebral sci-fi. Fairly heavy going but worth the effort. The central idea of the novel, which I wont give away here, is awfully compelling and Lem conjures up a wonderful character in Kelvin's lover Rhea.

Solaris has inspired two very different films - Tarkovsky's early 70's effort, which will test your patience, and Soderbergh's recent effort, which is actually very good and retains the spirit of the book.

Way better than the movies. But very very strange........2006-12-10

I tried to watch Solaris twice (old Russian version, new Clooney version) and fell asleep both times because the going was so slow. Yeah, sorry if you think that brands me as an action-movie-dimwit, but I just didn't like them. Anyway, I had read some Lem before ("Return from the Stars", I think), so I figured I'd give Solaris a try in book form.

The good news is that the book is actually pretty short and mostly moves along briskly. More significant is that Lem does such a great job describing contact, or rather the lack thereof, between humans and... whatever the ocean is.

However, Solaris is also very open ended and leaves you to your own interpretations as to its meaning. Nothing is made clear and you have to be prepared to take the book either at its inconclusive face value, or analyze its philosophical meanings in depth. There is no nice elegant plot and conclusion included in the package. If you tend to ask yourself big questions about the meaning of life and the universe, this is by far one of the best SF books to read. If not (like me), this is still a classic, but may leave you a bit frustrated at the end.

The only question I got out of it is how the ocean, supposedly so alien and unaware of us, can animate its mental projections. Does making a perfect simulacra, complete with memories and speech not imply that the ocean understands us pretty well? Or are the simulacra involuntary and autonomous items that it is not aware of having created? Certainly, Kris's wife doesn't understand what she is, though she gradually becomes aware she isn't human. Neither does she seem particularly interested in gathering useful information out of Kris (but what information would be left unknown at that point anyway?). Maybe she is more of a projection by Kris, in which the ocean is only an accidental facilitator, rather than an interested party?

Also, with this edition, what's with translating Lem from Polish to French to English??? Ever heard of Polish to English translators? It's not that the double translation is that bad, but you do occasionally feel its effect in some weird turn of phrases.

CLOSE ENCOUNTER OF THE THIRD KIND..........2006-11-26

Having seen the film that starred George Clooney and was based upon this book, and having found it wanting, I decided to go to the source. I am glad that I did, as it is certainly better as a book than it is as a film. It is also far more profound than the film, which concentrated on the love story.

This book is much more than that, covering many themes. It is, first and foremost, about contact with an alien entity and communication of a type beyond our comprehension. Is it friend or foe? Who can say, as the source of the communication makes its pitch based upon an individual's memories, some good, and some bad? What it is communicating remains unfathomable. Still, the book provides much food for thought.

Good, idea-driven sci-fi.......2006-09-10

In Stanislaw Lem's classic sci-fi novel, Kris Kelvin, a psychologist, is sent to visit a station positioned over Solaris, a planet with unique attributes which has been explored by generations of scientists in the vague hope of establishing some form of `contact'. Kelvin's mission is to determine whether the entire Solarist project should be abandoned, once and for all. Solaris, as it turns out, is a colossal brain. The planet is almost entirely covered by ocean, though it also entertains a variety of spontaneously arising structures: whether the planet's processes represent intelligent cogitations or primitive, vegetative outputs remains a mystery. After being explored by human scientists Solaris begins to develop its own `investigations' of the crew, performing `psychic vivisections' - while the station's inhabitants sleep the planet is able to scan their memory structures and project physical representations of the most assimilated and stable memory traces. Soon, each of the station's inhabitants begins to receive their own `visitors'. These recreations are accurate to an extraordinary level of detail, their bodies deviating from human ones only at the sub-atomic level. Kris Kelvin's visitor is his late wife, whose suicide has weighed on Kris' conscience for years. Lem's book explores issues surrounding memory, regret and the nature of personhood, but perhaps more fundamentally it is concerned with problems of epistemology. Is our knowledge of the world, of the cosmos and even of our own selves, necessarily limited? In the course of trying to understand Solaris the scientists become guilty of anthropomorphizing - attributing human motives and characteristics to the planet. Are even the most abstract branches of knowledge anthropomorphic, in the sense that there are "correspondences with the human body...in the equations of the theory of relativity, the theorem of magnetic fields and the various unified field theories"? Is `true' understanding (an objective epistemology) impossible? Lem had worked for a time as a reviewer of scientific articles - his familiarity with scientific jargon is obvious in the passages where he describes (and pokes fun, tongue-in-cheek) the intellectual history of Solaris and the elaborate technical nomenclature that was developed to describe it. Parts of the novel offer intriguing insights into the sociology of science.

One of the problems with the English version of Solaris is that the prose is a bit choppy and at times, difficult to get through. Quite possibly this is because of a shoddy translation - from Polish to French and finally to English. Despite this, the book remains enjoyable to read, mostly for the ideas that it explores and its wonderful imagination. The novel, of course, has been adapted to the screen twice: first by the Russian filmmaker Andrei Tarkovsky and more recently by Steven Soderbergh. Both of these films focused on the love story between Kris Kelvin and his wife, something that Lem insisted was not the book's main point. This book is especially recommended to those who have seen the films without having read the source material.

The translation isn't bad: a sci-fi classic.......2006-05-31

When an incompletion especially over a permanent loss haunts you, it can drive you crazy with illusion and delusion. The classic Solaris is a philiosophical bent on just how bad ungrieved loss and regret can be. But also offers a message of hope on how we can complete with a great love when we do have the chance.

Average customer rating:

Avatar is cool!
The Lost Scrolls: Air
Obtainable paraphenilia for Avatar fans

The Lost Scrolls: Air (Avatar: the Last Airbender)
Tom Mason , and Dan Danko
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Action & Adventure | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

General | Arts & Photography | Subjects | Books

Ages 9-12 | Children's Books | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416918795

Book Description

IF YOU ARE READING THIS, you have uncovered one of the four hidden scrolls I have compiled about the world of Avatar. This scroll contains all of the knowledge that I have gathered so far about the Air Nomads -- their history and culture and the great tales of their past.

Aang revisits his former monastery, Katara learns the truth about Aang's mysterious past, and Sokka reveals how he saved the Northern Air Temple from the Fire Nation. The scroll also contains information about Airbending moves, Air temples and monks, the Avatar Cycle, and much more.

Keep this scroll safe, and share it only with those you trust. Beware, for there are many who wish to expose it's secrets....

Customer Reviews:

Avatar is cool!.......2007-06-16

For fans that are always seeking to always learn more about the world of Avatar, I definitely recommend these Lost Scrolls; not only do they contain resumed chapters, but also information that is not mentioned nor in the series. One really learns a lot.

The Lost Scrolls: Air.......2007-04-13

My son is an avid "Avitar" fan! He has learned a lot that is not covered on the tv show. He actually keeps the books in a "safe place" and has shared them with friends. I highly recommend them.

Obtainable paraphenilia for Avatar fans.......2007-04-04

Hey, this is a fun little purchase if you're big into Avatar. There's a few juicy details regarding the life and styles of the different nations. There's some fun art and illustrations included, but it's largely fluff, and written descriptions of episodes we've already seen. They are well written, but there is only a little fresh information present. Still, that said, it's alot of fun, and nice to own.

Average customer rating:

The Charmed Bible
Charmed Rocks!!
we love charmed
Great if you're a big fan!!
The Book of Three Volume 2 (Charmed)

The Book of Three, Volume 2 (Charmed)
Diana G. Gallagher , Paul Ruditis , and Phyllis Ungerleider
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

Popular Culture | Literature | Children's Books | Subjects | Books

Fantasy | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Teens | Subjects | Books

General | Literature & Fiction | Teens | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Children's Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Teen Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 1416925309

Book Description

Three sister witches. Two magical sons. One evil ex-husband. Countless demons, baddies, and all-around evildoers vanquished. It all adds up to eight seasons of Charmed, the witchy, wonderful hit television show from Aaron Spelling.

This, the second volume of the only authorized companion guide to Charmed, contains everything you need to know about the sexiest supernatural show of all time. Covering seasons six, seven, and eight, the final season, VOLUME 2 lets you inside the enchanted world of Phoebe, Paige, and Piper!

• EXCLUSIVE IN-DEPTH INTERVIEWS WITH THE CAST AND CREW

• A PROLOGUE BY AARON SPELLING

• AN INTRODUCTION BY EXECUTIVE PRODUCER BRAD KERN

• EPISODE GUIDES

• CHARACTER PROFILES

• NOTABLE QUOTES

• COLOR PHOTO INSERT

Customer Reviews:

The Charmed Bible.......2007-08-28

This book is a fabulous reference guide to the last half of the Charmed series! I had the first one, and when this one came out, I HAD to have it! I didn't watch the last few years' worth of episodes over and over as I did the first five. This book was incredibly useful in answering the things I forgot about! If you are a Charmed fan, this book is a MUST!

Charmed Rocks!!.......2007-08-06

This book was great. I think that the 1st book had a better design and layout. But if your into charmed and I know I am, This book will help you in knowing whats going on in every show.

we love charmed.......2007-05-13

My daughter and I loved Charmed and are sad to see it gone so anything we can find that will give us more information about the series we are going to love

Great if you're a big fan!!.......2007-03-15

Awesome synopsis of the last few seasons and if you miss the show!!

The Book of Three Volume 2 (Charmed).......2007-02-02

It is Great!! I just love the book and the pictures.

Scales of the Serpent (Diablo: The Sin War, Book 2)

Average customer rating:

Ok, but Knaak's previous books were much better
Great book.

Scales of the Serpent (Diablo: The Sin War, Book 2)
Blizzard Entertainment
Manufacturer: Pocket Star
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

Video & Electronic Games | Puzzles & Games | Entertainment | Subjects | Books

Movie Tie-Ins | Genre Fiction | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

Contemporary | General | Literature & Fiction | Subjects | Books

General | Science Fiction | Science Fiction & Fantasy | Subjects | Books

Look Inside Entertainment Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Horror Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Fiction Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

Look Inside Science Fiction & Fantasy Books | Trip | Specialty Stores | Books

All 4-for-3 Deals | 4-for-3 Books Store | Stores | Books
Similar Items:

ASIN: 0743471237

Book Description

Since the beginning of time, the angelic forces of the High Heavens and the demonic hordes of the Burning Hells have been locked in the Eternal Conflict for the fate of all Creation. That struggle has now spilled over into Sanctuary -- the world of men. Determined to win mankind over to their respective causes, the forces of good and evil wage a secret war for mortal souls. This is the tale of the Sin War -- the conflict that would forever change the destiny of man.

Bent on destroying the evil cult of the Triune, Uldyssian does not yet suspect that Inarius -- secret Prophet of the Cathedral of Light -- has been subtly aiding his quest. Obsessed with restoring Sanctuary to its former glory, Inarius has been playing Uldyssian against the two great religions in a reckless attempt to topple them both. But another player has slipped back into the equation. The demon Lilith, once Inarius's lover, seeks to use Uldyssian as her own pawn in a scheme to turn humans into an army of naphalem -- godlike beings, more powerful than any angel or demon, who could overturn all Creation and elevate Lilith to supreme being.

An original tale of swords, sorcery, and timeless struggle based on the bestselling, award-winning M-rated computer game from

Blizzard Entertainment. Intended for mature readers.

Customer Reviews:

Ok, but Knaak's previous books were much better.......2007-07-16

I found out that the sin war series could have been finished in two books. The 2nd book is nothing more than an extention of the first. The plot just continues, there are no new surprises along the way. Essentially the heroes do more of their stuff in the 2nd one like destroying temples etc.
I would say this book is a lot weaker than the first one. Lets hope the pace picks up in the 3rd book though.
Frankly I really liked Knaak's other Diablo books especially Moon of the Spider and the Kingdom of Shadow. The sin war series seems less than a equal to the previous titles.
Get it if you like me love Diablo.

Great book........2007-05-16

This book was awesome, I waited so long to find out what happened to my dear friend Uldyssian....now I have to wait again for the third book xD

Books:

Books Index

Books Home

Recommended Books