Get comfortable and get a bookmark ready. These are the many books that we recommend this holiday season!
Alright, Alright, Alright: The Oral History of Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused
Dazed and Confused not only heralded the arrival of filmmaker Richard Linklater, it introduced a cast of unknowns who would become the next generation of movie stars. Embraced as a cultural touchstone, the 1993 film would also make Matthew McConaughey’s famous phrase—alright, alright, alright—ubiquitous. But it started with a simple idea: Linklater thought people might like to watch a movie about high school kids just hanging out and listening to music on the last day of school in 1976.
To some, that might not even sound like a movie. But to a few studio executives, it sounded enough like the next American Graffiti to justify the risk. Dazed and Confused underperformed at the box office and seemed destined to disappear. Then something weird happened: Linklater turned out to be right. This wasn’t the kind of movie everybody liked, but it was the kind of movie certain people loved, with an intensity that felt personal. No matter what their high school experience was like, they thought Dazed and Confused was about them.
Alright, Alright, Alright is the story of how this iconic film came together and why it worked. Combining behind-the-scenes photos and insights from nearly the entire cast, including Matthew McConaughey, Parker Posey, Ben Affleck, Joey Lauren Adams, and many others, and with full access to Linklater’s Dazed archives, it offers an inside look at how a budding filmmaker and a cast of newcomers made a period piece that would feel timeless for decades to come.
From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back
Celebrate the legacy of The Empire Strikes Back with this exciting reimagining of the timeless film featuring new perspectives from forty acclaimed authors.
On May 21, 1980, Star Wars became a true saga with the release of The Empire Strikes Back. In honor of the fortieth anniversary, forty storytellers re-create an iconic scene from The Empire Strikes Back through the eyes of a supporting character, from heroes and villains, to droids and creatures. From a Certain Point of View features contributions by bestselling authors and trendsetting artists:
- Austin Walker explores the unlikely partnership of bounty hunters Dengar and IG-88 as they pursue Han Solo.
- Hank Green chronicles the life of a naturalist caring for tauntauns on the frozen world of Hoth.
- Tracy Deonn delves into the dark heart of the Dagobah cave where Luke confronts a terrifying vision.
- Martha Wells reveals the world of the Ugnaught clans who dwell in the depths of Cloud City.
- Mark Oshiro recounts the wampa’s tragic tale of loss and survival.
- Seth Dickinson interrogates the cost of serving a ruthless empire aboard the bridge of a doomed Imperial starship.
Plus more hilarious, heartbreaking, and astonishing tales from Tom Angleberger, Sarwat Chadda, S.A. Chakraborty, Mike Chen, Adam Christopher, Katie Cook, Zoraida Córdova, Delilah S. Dawson, Alexander Freed, Jason Fry, Christie Golden, Rob Hart, Lydia Kang, Michael Kogge, R. F. Kuang, C. B. Lee, Mackenzi Lee, John Jackson Miller, Michael Moreci, Daniel José Older, Amy Ratcliffe, Beth Revis, Lilliam Rivera, Cavan Scott, Emily Skrutskie, Karen Strong, Anne Toole, Catherynne M. Valente, Django Wexler, Kiersten White, Gary Whitta, Brittany N. Williams, Charles Yu, and Jim Zub
Jurassic Park: The Folio Society Edition
The book that launched a phenomenal global franchise, Michael Crichton’s Jurassic Park is a rip-roaring, fact-filled, rollercoaster read and this illustrated Folio Society edition is the T-Rex of them all.
An instant bestseller on publication in 1990, Michael Crichton’s novel about geneticists bringing dinosaurs back from extinction was, and remains, irresistible. The film rights were snapped up before the ink on the manuscript had dried, and the Steven Spielberg-directed movie broke box office records and paved the way for four successful sequels – with a fifth due for release in 2022. Marking the 30th anniversary of its publication, this illustrated edition of Crichton’s electrifying novel enhances the action-packed narrative with illustrations by artist Vector That Fox, and featuring retro recreations of period computer graphics. A scaly ‘dinosaur skin’ slipcase ensures that young adult and older readers alike are fully immersed in this hair-raising adventure.
When investors in John Hammond’s top-secret theme park insist on a pre-opening test run, a select group of scientists and observers is invited to tour the facility and discover the true identity of its inhabitants. But this isn’t a zoo populated with compliant animals; no one can predict the behaviour of long-extinct creatures in a recreated environment. Michael Crichton struck literary gold when he imagined Jurassic Park. Since the earliest dinosaur fossils were discovered in the 19th century, humans have been gripped with the desire to find out what these prehistoric creatures looked like and how they lived. Crichton took our dinosaur obsession to the next level and his novel is a combination of meticulous scientific research, adrenaline-fuelled escapades and burning ethical questions: this is where it all began.
The Encyclopedia of New York
The must-have guide to pop culture, history, and world-changing ideas that started in New York City, from the magazine at the center of it all.
Since its founding in 1624, New York City has been a place that creates things. What began as a trading post for beaver pelts soon transformed into a hub of technological, social, and cultural innovation—but beyond fostering literal inventions like the elevator (inside Cooper Union in 1853), Q-tips (by Polish immigrant Leo Gerstenzang in 1923), General Tso’s chicken (reimagined for American tastes in the 1970s by one of its Hunanese creators), the singles bar (1965 on the Upper East Side), and Scrabble (1931 in Jackson Heights), the city has given birth to or perfected idioms, forms, and ways of thinking that have changed the world, from Abstract Expressionism to Broadway, baseball to hip-hop, news blogs to neoconservatism to the concept of “downtown.”
Those creations and more are all collected in The Encyclopedia of New York, an A-to-Z compendium of unexpected origin stories, hidden histories, and useful guides to the greatest city in the world, compiled by the editors of New York Magazine (a city invention itself, since 1968) and featuring contributions from Rebecca Traister, Jerry Saltz, Frank Rich, Jonathan Chait, Rhonda Garelick, Kathryn VanArendonk, Christopher Bonanos, and more. Here you will find something fascinating and uniquely New York on every page: a history of the city’s skyline, accompanied by a tour guide’s list of the best things about every observation deck; the development of positive thinking and punk music; appreciations of seltzer and alternate-side-of-the-street parking; the oddest object to be found at Ripley’s Believe It or Not!; musical theater next to muckracking and mugging; and the unbelievable revelation that English muffins were created on…West Twentieth Street. Whether you are a lifelong resident, a curious newcomer, or an armchair traveler, this is the guidebook you’ll need, straight from the people who know New York best.
XX
The battle for your mind has already begun.
At Jodrell Band in England Observatory in England, a radio telescope has detected a mysterious signal of extraterrestrial origin—a message that may be the first communication from an interstellar civilization. Has humanity made first contact? Is the signal itself a form of alien life? Could it be a threat? If so, how will the people of Earth respond?
Jack Fenwick, artificial intelligence expert, believes that he and his associates at tech startup Intelligencia can interpret the message a find a way to step into the realm the signal encodes. What they find is a complex alien network beyond anything mankind has imagined.
Drawing on Dada, punk and the modernist movements of the twentieth century, XX is assembled from redacted NASA reports, artwork, magazine articles, secret transcripts and a novel within a novel. Deconstructing layout and language in order to explore how idea propagate, acclaimed designer and artist Rian Hughes’s debut novel presents a compelling vision of humanity’s unique place in the universe, and a realistic depiction of what might happen in the wake of the biggest scientific discovery in human history.
Propulsive and boldly designed, XX is a gripping, wildly imaginative, utterly original work.
Black & White & Weird All Over: The Lost Photographs of “Weird Al” Yankovic ’83 – ’86
“Weird Al” Yankovic is one of music’s most beloved figures. A skilled accordion player and songwriter, the California native is known for his meticulous parodies of popular songs, hilarious originals, and, of course, for upbeat polkas!
For much of Al’s career, one man has been by his side, photographing and documenting the fun and weirdness: longtime drummer Jon “Bermuda” Schwartz. Since meeting Al in 1980, Jon has taken more than 20,000 images of Al in his element: on tour, in the studio, and on video sets.
Black & White & Weird All Over presents hundreds of images of Al, culled from Jon’s personal collection of black-and-white photography. These photos only existed on contact sheets – out of mind and out of sight – until now! From behind-the-scenes shots taken on the sets of Al’s iconic videos for “Ricky,” “I Love Rocky Road,” “Eat It,” and “Living With A Hernia,” to studio sessions for Al’s IN 3-D and Polka Party! LPs, Black & White & Weird All Over is the ultimate photographic essay of Weird Al’s undisputed comedic genius.
Dbury@50: The Complete Digital Doonesbury
Doonesbury has managed to be articulate, abrasive, political, compassionate, misunderstood, misprinted, and outrageous – but one thing it’s never been is complacent. Garry Trudeau’s creation has chronicled American history and culture in a parallel universe. And through it all, Doonesbury has always been honest, entertaining, and way, way cool.
Dbury@50 is the ultimate Doonesbury package celebrating a half-century of G.B. Trudeau’s celebrated comic strip. This limited-edition deluxe set includes:
- A USB flash drive with all 50 years of Doonesbury comics, including 26 years of Sunday comics available for the first time in digital format. Includes a searchable calendar archive, character biographies, and a week-by-week description of the strip’s contents.
- The Dbury@50 User’s Guide, a 224-page wire-bound book taking readers through each year of the strip’s storied history, with historical trivia, milestone strips, featured storylines and characters, and much more.
- A commemorative 16″ x 20″ poster featuring a grid with new sketches of all the strip’s characters.
The Godfather: The Folio Society Edition
Mario Puzo’s brilliant and brutal story of Mafia feuds and retribution in post-war New York is published in a sensational new illustrated Folio Society edition, introduced by Jonathan Freedland.
One of the best-selling books of all time, it is almost impossible to exaggerate the influence that Mario Puzo’s genre-defining novel has had on popular culture since its publication in 1969. From Francis Ford Coppola’s phenomenally successful film trilogy and a slew of deferential movies and television series, to gangland parlance and schoolyard banter, its legacy is multiple and global. This glorious new edition is packed with carefully considered design details that pay homage to Puzo’s epic story and its era. From the bleeding upside-down New York skyline on the binding to the series of dramatic tableaux and portraits by award-winning illustrator Robert Carter, and Jonathan Freedland’s new introduction, this is the edition that every Godfather aficionado has been waiting for.
Vito Corleone is top dog among the notorious New York Mafia families: he is the Godfather. Operating behind the facade of an olive oil importing business, he rules his extortion and racketeering empire with an iron fist and absolute bonds of allegiance. But Vito’s reign is precarious and his unbending respect of tradition sees the usurpers circling like vultures. Is there time to induct his favourite son Michael as heir before his throne is toppled? Or will the Corleone family be crushed in the stampede for wealth and dominance by a new generation of mafiosi? A page-turning portrait of family loyalty, power and treachery, this gangster saga became every wannabe hoodlum’s manual, and it remains one of the best-loved and most successful novels of the 20th century.
Alien Invasions! The History of Aliens in Pop Culture
Aliens are coming for you! For the first time ever, read how aliens have invaded pop culture in all its guises and forms in this definitive history spanning over 100 years. See how depictions of aliens have evolved over the years in popular and pulp magazines, comics, on TV, and in movies!
Readers will meet aliens with eyes on stalks, robot aliens (as in H.G. Wells’ The War of the Worlds), barrel chested aliens (as per Frank R. Paul’s Martian of the 1930s), blob-like B-movie aliens of the 1950s, “realistic” aliens as featured in the 1977 movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind (supposedly based on the real alien found at Roswell), monstrous aliens such as H.R. Giger’s creature in Ridley Scott’s 1979 movie Alien, the friendly alien (a thin creature with hands and a tortoise-like head) that’s the “hero” of Spielberg’s 1982 movie, E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial, aerial predator aliens with giant wings (as created by Wayne Barlow for his book Expedition, in 1990)–and many more.
Whether friendly visitor or fearsome invader, we learn that both the motive for, and method of, invasion has often been influenced by the social mood and politics of the era in which the magazine, comic, or movie was published or released. As for aliens’ chosen method of invasion… not all aliens use ray guns to invade. Instead they employ “seed pods,” mind control, and body transference–just a few of the alternative methods used by aliens to invade the minds and bodies of humans, thus bending them to their submission.
Visualized through the prism of pop culture in this thoroughly engaging 176-page book, which features more than 200 full-color illustrations, all of which are accompanied by extensive captions. Beginning with an overview of the Alien Invasion genre and continuing through nine chapters filled with the most insightful nuggets of information and eye-popping graphics this side of the Van Allen radiation belt.
Ready Player Two: A Novel
AN UNEXPECTED QUEST. TWO WORLDS AT STAKE. ARE YOU READY?
Days after winning OASIS founder James Halliday’s contest, Wade Watts makes a discovery that changes everything.
Hidden within Halliday’s vaults, waiting for his heir to find, lies a technological advancement that will once again change the world and make the OASIS a thousand times more wondrous—and addictive—than even Wade dreamed possible.
With it comes a new riddle, and a new quest—a last Easter egg from Halliday, hinting at a mysterious prize.
And an unexpected, impossibly powerful, and dangerous new rival awaits, one who’ll kill millions to get what he wants.
Wade’s life and the future of the OASIS are again at stake, but this time the fate of humanity also hangs in the balance.
Lovingly nostalgic and wildly original as only Ernest Cline could conceive it, Ready Player Two takes us on another imaginative, fun, action-packed adventure through his beloved virtual universe, and jolts us thrillingly into the future once again.
Planet Wax: Sci-Fi/Fantasy Soundtracks on Vinyl
Do you crank up your stereo and conduct air symphonies to John Williams’ Star Wars? Know all of the lyrics to “The NeverEnding Story” or “Xanadu?” Have a burgeoning collection of space disco albums? Well, pluck those Ceti Alpha eels out of your ears and open this book – we’ve got you covered.
From the orchestral bombast of Jerry Goldsmith’s Star Trek: The Motion Picture score, to the muscle-flexing might of Basil Poledouris’ Conan the Barbarian, to the dreamy electronic soundscapes of Vangelis’ Blade Runner and the pop styling of the Flash Gordon soundtrack, science fiction and fantasy films have inspired some of the most beloved and memorable soundtracks in film history.
Planet Wax covers the best, as well as the most unique and underrated scores the sci-fi and fantasy genres have to offer, while showcasing their original vinyl LP artwork over 240 pages. Franchises like Mad Max, The Terminator, and even the Indiana Jones films are spotlighted, along with television classics such as Doctor Who and Star Trek, making Planet Wax the definitive discography of soundtracks from the films and shows of the ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s that shaped multiple generations.
Featuring over twenty interviews, including composers Stu Phillips (Battlestar Galactica), Laurence Rosenthal (Clash of the Titans), and directors Richard Donner (Superman) and Nicholas Meyer (Star Trek II), Planet Wax chronicles an era in film and music when the sounds were given as much prominence as the interstellar imagery.
Aaron Lupton and Jeff Szpirglas, co-authors of Blood on Black Wax: Horror Soundtracks on Vinyl, will take you on the ultimate trip to the far reaches of both the cosmos and their record collections.
Stuff You Should Know An Incomplete Compendium of Mostly Interesting Things
Josh Clark and Chuck Bryant started the podcast Stuff You Should Know back in 2008 because they were curious―curious about the world around them, curious about what they might have missed in their formal educations, and curious to dig deeper on stuff they thought they understood.
As it turns out, they aren’t the only curious ones. They’ve since amassed a rabid fan base, making Stuff You Should Know one of the most popular podcasts in the world. Armed with their inquisitive natures and a passion for sharing, they uncover the weird, fascinating, delightful, or unexpected elements of a wide variety of topics.
The pair have now taken their near-boundless “whys” and “hows” from your earbuds to the pages of a book for the first time―featuring a completely new array of subjects that they’ve long wondered about and wanted to explore. Each chapter is further embellished with snappy visual material to allow for rabbit-hole tangents and digressions―including charts, illustrations, sidebars, and footnotes. Follow along as the two dig into the underlying stories of everything from the origin of Murphy beds, to the history of facial hair, to the psychology of being lost.
Have you ever wondered about the world around you, and wished to see the magic in everyday things? Come get curious with Stuff You Should Know. With Josh and Chuck as your guide, there’s something interesting about everything (…except maybe jackhammers).
What to Watch When
Answering the eternal question… WHAT TO WATCH NEXT?
Looking for a box set to get your adrenaline racing or to escape to a different era? In need of a good laugh to lift your spirits? Hunting for a TV show that the whole family can watch together?
If you’re feeling indecisive about your next binge-watching session, we’ve done the hard work for you. Featuring 1,000 carefully curated reviews written by a panel of TV connoisseurs, What To Watch When offers up the best show suggestions for every mood and moment.
A Kind of Magic: Making the Original Highlander
The story of an immortal Scottish warrior battling evil down through the centuries, Highlander fused a high-concept idea with the kinetic energy of a pop promo pioneer and Queen’s explosive soundtrack to become a cult classic.
When two American producers took a chance on a college student’s script, they set in motion a chain of events involving an imploding British film studio, an experimental music video director still finding his filmmaking feet, a former James Bond with a spiralling salary, and the unexpected arrival of low-budget production company, Cannon Films.
Author Jonathan Melville looks back at the creation of Highlander with the help of more than 60 cast and crew, including stars Christopher Lambert and Clancy Brown, as they talk candidly about the gruelling shoot that took them from the back alleys of London, to the far reaches of the Scottish Highlands, and onto the mean streets of 1980s New York City.
With insights from Queen’s Brian May and Roger Taylor on the film’s iconic music, exclusive screenwriter commentary on unmade scripts, never-before-seen photos from private collections, and a glimpse into the promotional campaign that never was, if there can be only one book on Highlander then this is it!
High Gloss: The Art of Vijat Mohindra
The first monograph showcasing the pop and glossy universe of young Hollywood’s favorite photographer
Considered young Hollywood’s favorite photographer, Vijat Mohindra has created a unique and colorful style that he’s brought to the covers of the world’s hippest magazines. His ultra-modernist and hyper-synthetic aesthetic appeals to millennials, and the dazzling anti-vérité style of his work has attracted celebrity clientele such as Miley Cyrus, Paris Hilton, Nicki Minaj, Gwen Stefani, and Kim Kardashian West. With them, he has created iconic covers for publications such as Paper magazine, Gay Times, Attitude, and Plastik.
Fascinated by all those who defy norms, genders, and boundaries, this former assistant of David La Chapelle never ceases to celebrate our differences in fantasy worlds where Paris Hilton, Amanda Lepore, Tyra Banks, and A$AP Rocky could all live together. This is his first monograph ever published and includes all the images that made him famous, as well as new photos shot exclusively for this book. A must-have for anyone interested in fashion and photography.
Tonight, On A Very Special Episode When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 1: 1957-1985
Tonight, On A Very Special Episode When TV Sitcoms Sometimes Got Serious Volume 2: 1986-1998
Remember when Edith Bunker was sexually assaulted on All in the Family? Or when abortion was the hot topic on Maude? Did you know that Leave it to Beaver dealt with alcoholism and that “The Bicycle Man” double episode from Diff’rent Strokes is one of the most remembered sitcom entries in the annals of American television history?
What about when Dorothy Zbornak found out she was suffering from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome on The Golden Girls? Or when Alex P. Keaton dealt with the death of a friend on Family Ties? Did you know that the dangers of cults featured in episodes of both Charles in Charge and Boy Meets World and that homelessness was the subject for ground breaking episodes of Kate & Allie and Saved by the Bell?
The role of the Very Special Episode was to take a departure from the regular comic stylings of the American TV sitcom and offer a standalone “serious in nature” gesture in addressing subject matter not normally found in such a medium
From racial equality on Bewitched and Happy Days to suicide on One Day At A Time and The Facts of Life to amphetamines and molestation on Mr. Belvedere, to AIDS awareness on Designing Women and A Different World and beyond, take an in depth look at a number of Very Special Episodes
This two volume set take an in depth look at a number of Very Special Episodes – from early examples to the heyday of the phenomena come the 70s and into it’s peak in the 80s, and 90s with insight from varied historians, critics and individuals who worked on some of the shows along with additional pieces discussing landmark shows, creators as well as non-sitcoms that left a Very Special impression.
Zorro’s Shadow: How a Mexican Legend Became America’s First Superhero
Zorro’s Shadow explores the masked character’s Latinx origins and his impact on pop culture—the inspiration for the most iconic superheroes we know today.
Long before Superman or Batman made their first appearances, there was Zorro. Born on the pages of the pulps in 1919, Zorro fenced his way through the American popular imagination, carving his signature letter Z into the flesh of evildoers in Old Spanish California.
Zorro is the original caped crusader, the first masked avenger, and the character who laid the blueprint for the modern American superhero.
Historian and Latin American studies expert Stephen J. C. Andes unmasks the legends behind Zorro, showing that the origins of America’s first superhero lie in Latinx history and experience.
Revealing the length of Zorro’s shadow over the superhero genre is a reclamation of the legend of Zorro for a multiethnic and multicultural America.
Tarot del Toro: A Tarot Deck and Guidebook Inspired by the World of Guillermo del Toro
Let the fantastic vision of Guillermo del Toro guide your tarot practice with this sumptuously illustrated deck inspired by the haunting world of the award-winning filmmaker.
From the macabre world of Guillermo del Toro comes a deliciously twisted take on a traditional seventy-eight-card tarot deck. Designed and illustrated by Tomás Hijo, this deck features sumptuous original artwork inspired by the themes, imagery, and characters of some of del Toro’s most popular films, including Pan’s Labyrinth, Crimson Peak, and The Shape of Water. Featuring both major and minor arcana, the set also comes with a helpful guidebook explaining each card’s meaning, as well as a simple introduction to creating and reading spreads. Packaged in a collectible gift box, this imaginative set is the perfect gift for del Toro collectors and tarot enthusiasts alike.
Rolling Stone: The Illustrated Portraits
From iconic portraits to political cartoons, Rolling Stone magazine has cultivated an unrivaled archive of illustrated work by some of the greatest artists of recent times, from Ralph Steadman to Mark Ryden.
For more than fifty years, Rolling Stone magazine has been the defining voice in musical journalism. Alongside its timeless cover images and groundbreaking criticism, the magazine’s illustrations have given popular culture a new iconography.
Drawing on five decades of the magazine’s archives and with a focus on more contemporary artists and issues, this stunning book collects more than 200 of the most iconic illustrations to have graced its pages–from portraits of major cultural figures (from Bob Dylan to Barack Obama to Madonna) to depictions of key moments in recent history (from Woodstock to Trump’s election). Some of the greatest names in art and design have defined the magazine’s illustrated lexicon, from modern heroes like Milton Glaser and Ralph Steadman to subversive contemporary artists such as Christoph Niemann and Mark Ryden.
Organized creatively by thematic connection–juxtaposing a legend of one world alongside another and collecting portfolios on specific subjects–and with anecdotes from some of the artists and subjects alongside the images themselves, the book presents a whimsical illustrated history of contemporary culture filtered through the Rolling Stone lens.
Weegee’s Naked City
Weegee’s noir classic on the secret life of New York, now in a beautifully printed new edition
Weegee wandered the streets of 1940s New York at night looking for lovers, corpses and criminals to shoot for tabloid readers who “had to have their daily blood bath and sex potion to go with their breakfast” (as Weegee put it with characteristic flair). His images crackle with visual puns, blinding flashes and complex compositions; they display the bawdy sensationalism of the tabloids they were shot for and the stylishness of the film noir cinema that took inspiration from them.
With Naked City, his first publication, Weegee gave his images the photobook treatment. Weegee’s eye for surprising juxtapositions and the minutiae of city life is in full force in the images chosen and their inventive, playful sequencing, all narrated in the photographer’s own distinctive voice. Naked City is Weegee at his wisecracking best, and it is here republished in a beautifully printed new edition. Including texts by New York Magazine City Editor Christopher Bonanos and International Center of Photography Weegee specialist Christopher George, Naked City refreshes a photo classic.
Parasite: A Graphic Novel in Storyboards
Discover the illustrations that inspired the historic, Oscar-winning film’s every shot in this graphic novel drawn by Director Bong Joon Ho himself.
So metaphorical: With hundreds of mesmerizing illustrations, Parasite: A Graphic Novel in Storyboards is a behind-the-scenes glimpse at the making of one of the best films in years and a brand-new way to experience a global phenomenon.
As part of his unique creative process, Director Bong Joon Ho storyboarded each shot of Parasite prior to the filming of every scene. Accompanied by the film’s dialogue, the storyboards he drew capture the story in its entirety and inspired the composition of the film’s every frame and scene. Director Bong has also written a foreword and provided early concept drawings and photos from the set, which take the reader even deeper into the vision that gave rise to this stunning cinematic achievement.
Director Bong’s illustrations share the illuminating power of his writing and directing. The result is a gorgeous, riveting read and a fresh look at the vertiginous delights and surprises of Bong Joon Ho’s deeply affecting, genre-defying story.
Fright Favorites: 31 Movies to Haunt Your Halloween and Beyond
Turner Classic Movies presents a collection of monster greats, modern and classic horror, and family-friendly cinematic treats that capture the spirit of Halloween, complete with reviews, behind-the-scenes stories, and iconic images.
From author David J. Skal, Fright Favorites spotlights 31 essential Halloween-time films, their associated sequels and remakes, and recommendations to expand your seasonal repertoire based on your favorites. Featured titles include Nosferatu (1922), Dracula (1931), Cat People (1942), Them (1953), House on Haunted Hill (1959), Black Sunday (1960), Rosemary’s Baby (1968), Young Frankenstein (1976), Beetlejuice (1988), Get Out (2017), and many more.
The Hollow Ones (Blackwood Tapes Book 1)
A horrific crime that defies explanation, a rookie FBI agent in uncharted territory, and an extraordinary hero for the ages: an investigation spirals out of control in this heart-pounding thriller.
From the authors who brought you The Strain Trilogy comes a strange, terrifying, and darkly wondrous world of suspense, mystery, and literary horror. The Hollow Ones is a chilling, spell-binding tale, a hauntingly original new fable from Academy Award-winning director Guillermo del Toro and bestselling author Chuck Hogan featuring their most fascinating character yet.
Mine’s Bigger Than Yours: The 100 Wackiest Action Movies
A celebration of the wildest and weirdest that action cinema has to offer, the hosts of the Really Awful Movies podcast take you on a fun-filled pilgrimage through the nuttiest movies in the genre. Traversing both decades and continents, these 100 titles reach beyond the typical patron saints of action, giving unsung genre heroes like Vic Diaz, Reb Brown, and Godfrey Ho their due. Our intrepid hosts have highlighted action gems with all of the necessary components for greatness: Heroes! Villains! Henchmen! But something’s typically missing. Usually, it’s a budget. Often, it’s talent. But that doesn’t mean these films aren’t as entertaining as any mainstream fare. Divided into nine chapters by subgenre, featuring stills and posters, and with a foreword by genre icon Brian Trenchard-Smith, Mine’s Bigger Than Yours is a romp through the world of fisticuffs, jailbreaks, pit fighting, mercenaries, and really big explosions—all the stuff that makes action movies great.
I Pity the Dolls
This book features the largest collection of Mr. T memorabilia in the world, including over 150 homemade soft sculpture dolls collected and documented over the past 25 years. The dolls were made from a pattern book by Miss Martha Originals from Gadsden, Alabama, that in 1983 could be bought at thousands of craft stores in the country, including Walmart. Inspired by the Cabbage Patch Kid craze of the 1980s, the dolls were made in an unknown amount but probably exist in the thousands. Each doll is a labor of love and represents the skill level of each artisan. As modern-day folk art they have been recognized as such by the American Folk Art Museum in NYC, and they have toured the world in art exhibitions, including in NYC, San Francisco, Toronto, and Paris, France.
X-Files: The Official Archives: Cryptids, Biological Anomalies, and Parapsychic Phenomena
A fully authorized, richly illustrated inside look into 50 of Mulder and Scully’s most memorable monster cases
When an X-Files fan opens up The X-Files: The Official Archives, they are gaining access—for the first time—to Agents Mulder and Scully’s notes, records, and visual evidence from actual X-File reports. Designed to mimic a collection of FBI case files and packed with such items as autopsy reports, mug shots, lab results, handwritten notes, newspaper clippings, pages ripped from antique books on the occult, and security camera printouts, this fully authorized book is the only one of its kind. Detailing the agents’ investigations into 50 cases of cryptids, biological anomalies, and parapsychic phenomena—from the Flukeman to The Great Mutato to Pusher—The X-Files: The Official Archives showcases some of the show’s greatest villains (some dastardly, some just misunderstood), and instructs future agents on how to successfully investigate the paranormal.
The Art of NASA The Illustrations That Sold the Missions
Formed in 1958, NASA has long maintained a department of visual artists to depict the concepts and technologies created in humankind’s quest to explore the final frontier. Culled from a carefully chosen reserve of approximately 3,000 files deep in the NASA archives, the 200 artworks presented in this large-format edition provide a glimpse of NASA history like no other.
From space suits to capsules, from landing modules to the Space Shuttle, the International Space Station, and more recent concepts for space planes, The Art of NASA presents 60 years of American space exploration in an unprecedented fashion. All the landmark early missions are represented in detail—Gemini, Mercury, Apollo—as are post-Space Race accomplishments, like the mission to Mars and other deep-space explorations.
The insightful text relates the wonderful stories associated with the art. For instance, the incredibly rare early Apollo illustrations show how Apollo might have looked if the landing module had never been developed. Black-and-white Gemini drawings illustrate how the massive NASA art department did its stuff with ink pen and rubdown Letraset textures. Cross-sections of the Apollo–Soyuz Test Project docking adapter reveal Russian sensitivity about US “male” probes “penetrating” their spacecraft, thus the androgynous “adapter” now used universally in space. International Space Station cutaways show how huge the original plan was, but also what was retained.
Every picture in The Art of NASA tells a special story. This collection of the rarest of the rare is not only a unique view of NASA history—it’s a fascinating look at the art of illustration, the development of now-familiar technologies, and a glimpse of what the space program might have looked like.
Too Fast to Live Too Young to Die: Punk & Post Punk Graphics 1976-1986
An astonishing collection of over 700 original scans of printed ephemera and memorabilia from the prime years of the punk and post-punk movements.
Since finding punk in the summer of 1976, Andrew Krivine has amassed one of the world’s largest collections of punk graphic design and memorabilia, with part of his collection exhibiting at the Cranbrook Art Museum in Michigan, before moving to the New York Museum of Arts and Design, and many other such spaces around the world in 2020 and 2021. This book represents the cream of that collection–over 700 original scans of posters, flyers, covers, and ads from the prime years of the movement, which changed the world of graphic design forever.
Too Fast to Live tells of one man’s obsession with creating an unparalleled collection of punk memorabilia. The illustrative content of the book is verified, critically assessed, and given provenance by an array of graphic design experts, academics, and commentators, among them Steven Heller (former art director at the New York Times), Russ Bestley, Professor Rick Poynor, Malcolm Garrett, and Pulitzer and National Book Award-winning editor Michael Wilde. The unique mix of imagery and text makes this arguably the most essential and definitive work on the graphic design revolution within the punk and post-punk movements of America and the U.K.
DK Visual Encyclopedia
An elegant new take on the classic family encyclopedia, filled with beautiful images and clear, accessible text.
Packed with facts and illustrations, this landmark book offers a reliable, visually stunning, and family-friendly alternative to online information sources.
This fully illustrated encyclopedia is the antidote to the internet. It’s expertly written and beautifully presented reference for a world overloaded with unreliable information. From quantum physics to the square of the hypotenuse, Ancient Rome to the depths of the oceans, this is your one-stop knowledge shop for the digital age – clear, simple, accurate and unbiased.
This book is a comprehensive guide to a huge range of human knowledge, and includes over 4,000 images to bring information vividly to life. Its format is accessible to a wide range of readers, so it’s ideal for a variety of ages, for home study – or simply for browsing for fun. Parents and teachers can be confident that children won’t see any unwanted content.
The Visual Encyclopedia is the ultimate easy-to-read family guide to science, nature, space, history, art, technology, leisure, culture, and more. The information is organized thematically for simple navigation, and clear signposting makes it easy to follow connections between subjects. For family, for study, for the simple pleasure of discovery, here is a trustworthy source of knowledge and enjoyment.
The Last Book on the Left
An equal parts haunting and hilarious deep-dive review of history’s most notorious and cold-blooded serial killers, from the creators of the award-winning Last Podcast on the Left
Since its first show in 2010, The Last Podcast on the Left has barreled headlong into all things horror, as hosts Henry Zebrowski, Ben Kissel, and Marcus Parks cover subjects spanning Jeffrey Dahmer, werewolves, Jonestown, and supernatural phenomena. Deeply researched but with a morbidly humorous bent, the podcast has earned a dedicated and aptly cultlike following for its unique take on all things macabre.
In their first book, the guys take a deep dive into history’s most infamous serial killers, from Ted Bundy to John Wayne Gacy, exploring their origin stories, haunting habits, and perverse predilections. Featuring newly developed content alongside updated fan favorites, each profile is an exhaustive examination of the darker side of human existence. With appropriately creepy four-color illustrations throughout and a gift-worthy paper over board format, The Last Book on the Left will satisfy the bloodlust of readers everywhere.
The Press Gang: Writings on Cinema from New York Press, 1991-2011
A dialogue about cinema’s legacy and best directors through essays by three of the best long-form critics out there, collected from the legendary NYPress for the first time.
Comprising of the kind of long-form criticism that is all too rare these days, the weekly film columns in the NYPress included polemics, reviews, interviews, festival reports and features. A far cry from what is often derisively termed the “consumer report” mode of criticism, Cheshire, Seitz and White were passionately engaged with the film culture of both their own time, and what had come before. They constituted three distinctly different voices: equally accomplished, yet notably individual, perspectives on cinema. Their distinctive tastes and approaches were often positioned in direct dialogue with each other, a constant critical conversation that frequently saw each writer directly challenging his colleagues. Dialogue is important in criticism, and here you can find a healthy example of it existing under one proverbial roof. This three-way dialogue between Cheshire, Seitz and White assesses the 1990s in cinema, along with pieces on New York’s vibrant repertory scene that allow us to read the authors’ takes on directors such as Hitchcock, Lean, Kubrick, Welles, Fassbinder and Bresson; as well as topics such as the legacy of Star Wars, film noir, early film projection in New York City, the New York Film Critics Circle, Sundance, the terrorist attacks of 9/11 and the emerging cinema of Iran and Taiwan.
Ridley Scott: A Retrospective
Illustrated with images as iconic as they are stunning and including the author’s first-hand experiences on set and interviewing the great director, this magnificent book charts the extraordinary journey of Britain’s greatest living director. Telling the stories behind Alien and Blade Runner, Gladiator and Black Hawk Down, and many more, it also goes in search of the themes and motifs that unite such different films, and the methods and madness of Scott’s approach to his medium. This is the story of a director who has never been less than stubbornly, brilliantly, unforgettably his own man.
Holly Jolly: Celebrating Christmas Past in Pop Culture
Break out the candy canes! Holly Jolly is a colorful sleigh ride through the history of Christmas, from its religious origins to its emergence as a multimedia phenomenon. This full-color Hardcover explores movies (Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life), music (White Christmas, Little St. Nick), TV (How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer), books (Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol), decor (1950s silver aluminum trees), comics (super-heroes meet Santa), and more! Featuring interviews with Charles M. Schulz (A Charlie Brown Christmas), Andy Williams (TV’s “Mr. Christmas”) and others, the story behind Darlene Love’s perrennial hit song Christmas (Baby Please Come Home), and still more holiday memories! Written and designed by Mark Voger (author of the TwoMorrows’ books Monster Mash and Groovy), the profusely illustrated Holly Jolly takes readers on a time-trip to Christmases past that you will cherish all year long!
The Star Wars Book
This is the Star Wars book you’re looking for.
If you want to comprehend the epic and intricate Star Wars saga, this is the book for you. It is a unique and insightful examination of this beloved franchise, including Star Wars: The Mandalorian, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, and Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.
Written by Star Wars experts, including fan-favorite Pablo Hidalgo, this book is packed with stunning film and TV stills, illuminating infographics and curated essays that reveal the mysteries of the Star Wars galaxy. From legendary heroes like Luke Skywalker and Leia Organa to fascinating species like the Wookiees and Tusken Raiders, this book explores the central characters, technology, governments, and events that have shaped the epic saga.
The book is divided into key subject areas – the galaxy, science and technology, the Force, the Skywalkers, galactic governments and their dissidents, and galactic denizens. Whether you are a devoted Star Wars fan or a casual reader curious to learn more, The Star Wars Book is an invaluable roadmap to this galaxy, far far away….
The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design
A beautifully designed guidebook to the unnoticed yet essential elements of our cities, from the creators of the wildly popular 99% Invisible podcast
Have you ever wondered what those bright, squiggly graffiti marks on the sidewalk mean?
Or stopped to consider why you don’t see metal fire escapes on new buildings?
Or pondered the story behind those dancing inflatable figures in car dealerships?
99% Invisible is a big-ideas podcast about small-seeming things, revealing stories baked into the buildings we inhabit, the streets we drive, and the sidewalks we traverse. The show celebrates design and architecture in all of its functional glory and accidental absurdity, with intriguing tales of both designers and the people impacted by their designs.
Now, in The 99% Invisible City: A Field Guide to Hidden World of Everyday Design, host Roman Mars and coauthor Kurt Kohlstedt zoom in on the various elements that make our cities work, exploring the origins and other fascinating stories behind everything from power grids and fire escapes to drinking fountains and street signs. With deeply researched entries and beautiful line drawings throughout, The 99% Invisible City will captivate devoted fans of the show and anyone curious about design, urban environments, and the unsung marvels of the world around them.
The Art of Star Trek Discovery
Star Trek: Discovery, the newest chapter in the Star Trek Universe, follows the exploits of Vulcan-raised science officer Michael Burnham and the crew of the U.S.S. Discovery as they boldly go where no one has gone before.
The Art of Star Trek Discovery explores behind the scenes of CBS’s hit show, with cast and crew interviews, set photography, concept art and storyboards. With exclusive content from the first two seasons, this book is a must-have for every Star Trek fan.
The Art of Ramona Quimby
The Art of Ramona Quimby celebrates the artists behind Beverly Cleary’s inimitable Ramona Quimby series.
The adventures of her iconic heroine have been brought to life by five different artists: Louis Darling, Alan Tiegreen, Joanne Scribner, Tracy Dockray, and Jacqueline Rogers.
Readers can compare multiple interpretations of iconic scenes (remember the infamous egg-cracking incident?), read letters exchanged between Cleary and the first illustrator, and learn the stories behind the illustrations.
- Celebrates the timeless work by these five artists since Beverly Cleary published the first Ramona Quimby book in 1955
- Includes excerpts from the books
- Two essays illuminate the series’s narrative and artistic impact
The Art of Ramona Quimby explores the evolution of an iconic character, and how each artist has ultimately made her timeless.
For fans of illustration and design, and for those who grew up alongside Ramona, this richly nostalgic volume reminds us why we fell in love with these books.
Mainstream Maverick: John Hughes and New Hollywood Cinema
In the 1980s and 1990s, John Hughes was one of Hollywood’s most reliable hitmakers, churning out beloved teen comedies and family films such as The Breakfast Club and Home Alone, respectively. But was he an artist? Hughes, an adamantly commercial filmmaker who was dismissed by critics, might have laughed at the question. Since his death in 2009, though, he has been memorialized on Oscar night as a key voice of his time. Now the critics lionize him as a stylistic original.
Holly Chard traces Hughes’s evolution from entertainer to auteur. Studios recognized Hughes’s distinctiveness and responded by nurturing his brand. He is therefore a case study in Hollywood’s production not only of movies but also of genre and of authorship itself. The films of John Hughes, Chard shows, also owed their success to the marketers who sold them and the audiences who watched. Careful readings of Hughes’s cinema reveal both the sources of his iconic status and the imprint on his films of the social, political, economic, and media contexts in which he operated.
The first serious treatment of Hughes, Mainstream Maverick elucidates the priorities of the American movie industry in the New Hollywood era and explores how artists not only create but are themselves created.
The Story of Film (Revised Edition)
A fully revised, updated and expanded edition of the seminal text on film.
A new edition of the most accessible and compelling history of the cinema yet published, which is now updated with extra chapters. The Story of Film explores cinema from around the world and shows how cinematic ideas and techniques cross national boundaries. Divided into three main epochs–Silent (1885-1928), Sound (1928-1990), and Digital (1990-Present)–the movies are discussed within chapters reflecting both the stylistic concerns of the moviemakers and the political and social themes of the time. This edition includes new text that encompasses the further-reaching scope of world cinema today, and the huge leaps in technology that have changed cinema screens forever. Clearly written, and illustrated with over 400 stills, including numerous sequences explaining how scenes work, The Story of Film is essential reading for both film students and the general moviegoer.
Mirages: the Art of Laurent Durieux
Laurent Durieux is a famous Belgian illustrator who is well known by pop culture fans and collectors for his cult movie poster reinterpretations. Every one of his American exhibitions was sold out on opening night and attended by thousands of enthusiastic fans. This book will be his first monograph and will cover his entire career, with particular focus on his most iconic alternative movie posters (including Jaws, The Birds, Vertigo, and The Master).
The book includes a 6-page section of rejected and unpublished poster art and a foreword by filmmaker and Durieux collector Francis Ford Coppola.
Star Wars Complete Vehicles New Edition
Explore the epic Star Wars saga through incredible cross-sections. More than 100 magnificent cross-section artworks bring the vehicles of Star Wars to life. New cross-sections, amazing detail, and comprehensive text make this the ultimate reference to the craft of a galaxy far, far away….
Star Wars Complete Vehicles New Edition is packed with visual explorations of essential Star Wars spacecraft and landcraft, including the Death Star, the Millennium Falcon, Poe Dameron’s X-wing, Rey’s speeder, and more. Full-color cross-section artwork presents in-depth examinations of each craft’s weapon systems, engines, hyperdrives, cockpits, and construction secrets, providing a never-before-seen glimpse at the vehicles that drive the Star Wars universe.
Ralph Steadman: A Life in Ink
This comprehensive monograph on the life and work of Ralph Steadman collects work from his dozens of books from his 50-plus year career.
Satirist, artist, cartoonist, illustrator, writer–Steadman’s prolific and influential career continues to resonate and inspire.
Ralph Steadman: A Life in Ink is the definitive career retrospective of this revered and provocative UK artist. Renowned for his collaborations with iconic American writer Hunter S. Thompson, he formed an unlikely duo that created “Gonzo” journalism.
This lifelong collaboration included the now-legendary Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, originally published in Rolling Stone magazine, which has since become a cult classic. The book explores Steadman’s signature ink-splattered style and showcases a diverse body of work that includes satirical political illustrations and art from award-winning children’s books such as Alice in Wonderland.
Ralph Steadman: A Life in Ink is a must-have celebration of the artist’s important and influential career.
The Book of Horror: The Anatomy of Fear in Film
The Book of Horror introduces you to the scariest movies ever made and examines the factors that make them so frightening.
Horror movies have never been more critically or commercially successful, but there’s only one metric that matters: are they scary? Back in the silent era, viewers thrilled at Frankenstein and Dracula. Today, the monsters may have changed, but the instinct remains the same: to seek out the unspeakable, ride the adrenaline rush and play out our fears in the safety of the cinema.
The Book of Horror focuses on the most frightening films of the post-war era – from Psycho (1960) to It Chapter Two (2019) – examining exactly how they scare us across a series of key categories. Each chapter explores a seminal horror film in depth, charting its scariest moments with infographics and identifying the related works you need to see.
Including references to more than 100 classic and contemporary horror films from around the globe, and striking illustrations from Barney Bodoano, this is a rich and compelling guide to the scariest films ever made.
The Cannon Film Guide: Volume I, 1980–1984
The Cannon Film Guide Volume I explores forty films and franchises produced by The Cannon Group, the most prolific b-movie studio of the 1980s, during the company’s first five years under the command of cult film legends Menahem Golan and Yoram Globus.
Through in-depth studies and behind-the-scenes stories from the people who made them, this volume examines such beloved, VHS-era classics as the Breakin’, Missing in Action, Hercules, and Death Wish movies, Revenge of the Ninja, Ninja III: The Domination, The Apple, Bolero, Exterminator 2, The Last American Virgin, and many more.
Wes Anderson: Film Maker Extraordinaire
A maverick of the modern-day film industry, Wes Anderson has made a name for himself in recent years as both a screenwriter and a director. His films celebrate the gloriously eccentric, transcending the norm of a Hollywood blockbuster, and focusing on the aesthetically wonderful as well as the poignantly sad. Anderson breaks away from the cliched as he combines the tragic with the intermittently funny. All of his scenes are executed in the most meticulous manner, each detail adding another dimension to his superbly multi-layered films.
This highly in-depth book will look at the work of Wes Anderson, exploring in detail his unique style, from the scrupulously arranged sets to the emotive yet deadpan dialogue. Wes Anderson is a director who has fearlessly made his own path in the film industry, creating his unique style that has made him one of the most influential and noteworthy directors of today.
A Very Special 90210 Book
The 90210 superfan’s companion to the lives and loves of West Beverly’s in-crowd
From the creators of the hit podcast Again With This comes a hilarious and substantive 90210 book that is perfect for celebrating the 30th anniversary of the show’s first episode. Join Tara Ariano and Sarah D. Bunting as they journey through the top 100 episodes of the series, covering everything from episode rankings to season overviews, character spotlights, and listicles. You’ll rediscover what you’ve forgotten and perhaps learn what you never knew. A Very Special 90210 Book is the perfect keepsake for every former teen fan (we know you’re out there) who wants to relive the good ol’ days at West Beverly.
The Secrets of Tenet: Inside Christopher Nolan’s Quantum Cold War
From director Christopher Nolan comes a mind-blowing espionage thriller so unique that audiences will puzzle over its intricacies for years to come.
The Secrets of Tenet takes readers on an exclusive journey into Nolan’s time-bending masterpiece, offering rare insights into all aspects of its creation. Learn from Christopher Nolan himself, as he and a range of other key collaborators—including producer Emma Thomas and production designer Nathan Crowley—give you an essential masterclass that lays bare the director’s process and his singular creative vision.
Plus, discover exclusive art and never-before-seen photos. Illustrated with candid behind-the-scenes imagery and compelling conceptual art, this is the ultimate exploration of a film guaranteed to linger in the imagination long into the future…and perhaps the past.
John David Washington and Kenneth Branagh share their personal perspectives on working with Christopher Nolan in the book’s foreword and backword.
Wrappers Delight
The sweetest memories of all: vintage candy-wrapper design
Compiled by famed nostalgia enthusiast Jonny Trunk (owner of record label Trunk Records, and author of The Music Library, Own Label and Wobbly Sounds), and with a foreword by Pulp frontman Jarvis Cocker, Wrappers Delight is crammed with more than 500 examples of British candy-wrapper designs from the 1960s to the 1980s―the first and only overview of Britain’s drinks and confectionery industry during this period.
The book catalogs the amazing collection of a man named John Townsend, who collected candy cigarette boxes, wax gum papers, potato-chip bags, soda cans, rock labels, stamps, transfers, coupons, recipe cards, tickets, odd boxes, badges, cards, stickers and much more. All these items have been carefully documented, presented in alphabetical order by manufacturer and reproduced here in the highest quality. Among the confections and manufacturers to be found here are Cider Barrel, Cresta, Tip Top, Pacemakers, Lollygobblechocbomb, Kung Fueys, Fizz Bang, UFO sweet cigarettes and other TV tie-ins, Furry Friends and Fingammies.
This book will come as a delightful revelation (or a happy reminder) for graphic designers and nostalgia aficionados everywhere.
On Nostalgia
From movies to politics, social media posts to the targeted ads between them, nostalgia is one of the most potent forces of our era. On Nostalgia is a panoramic cultural history of nostalgia, exploring how a force that started as a psychological diagnosis of soldiers fighting far from home has come become a quintessentially modern condition. Drawing on everything from the modern science of memory to the romantic ideals of advertising, and traversing cultural movements from futurism to fascism to Facebook, cultural critic David Berry examines how the relentless search for self and overwhelming presence of mass media stokes the fires of nostalgia, making it as inescapable as it is hard to pin down. Holding fast against the pull of the past while trying to understand what makes the fundamental impossibility of return so appealing, On Nostalgia explores what it means to remember, how the universal yearning is used by us and against us, and it considers a future where the past is more readily available and easier to lose track of than ever before.
The Look of the Book: Jackets, Covers, and Art at the Edges of Literature
Why do some book covers instantly grab your attention, while others never get a second glance? Fusing word and image, as well as design thinking and literary criticism, this captivating investigation goes behind the scenes of the cover design process to answer this question and more.
As the outward face of the text, the book cover makes an all-important first impression. The Look of the Book examines art at the edges of literature through notable covers and the stories behind them, galleries of the many different jackets of bestselling books, an overview of book cover trends throughout history, and insights from dozens of literary and design luminaries. Co-authored by celebrated designer and creative director Peter Mendelsund and scholar David Alworth, this fascinating collaboration, featuring hundreds of covers, challenges our notions of what a book cover can and should be.
Cyber Attack Survival Manual
As we live more of our lives online and entrust personal information to the cloud, we need to be much more aware and proactive about protecting ourselves. Are you safe from hackers? Not without taking precautions. Your identity can be stolen, your company’s intellectual property can be copied and sold, and even hacks that just a few years ago sounded like science fiction will soon be possible: vehicle systems can already be hacked, and our power grid can be manipulated or sabotaged by terrorists.
But knowledge is power. In this easy-to-read, fascinating and fully illustrated book, you learn how hackers make money, and what they target – along with concrete, hands-on hints for fighting back, whether you’re a concerned parent or a top executive.
Packaged in a durable, wipe-clean flexicover with metallic corner-guards, this practical manual withstands heavy-duty use indoors and out.
With all the surrounding threats, what better person to prepare the public, than a team of internationally known cybersecurity experts? Nick Selby is a police detective specializing in sharing intelligence and busting cybercriminals. He knows how these crimes happen, who does them, and how to make your life safer. In The Cyber Attack Survival Manual he and a veritable brain trust of experts from the world of intelligence, digital currency, vehicle-hacking, and sophisticated crimeware, share the best techniques for everyone.
Crucial to surviving the worst the Internet can throw at you, The Cyber Attack Survival Manual is the must-have book of the 21st century. Think you don’t need this book because, “I have nothing to hide”? Selby and Vescent, along with Eric Olson, Moeed Siddiui, and John Bear, show you why you’re wrong (everyone now has something to hide) – and how lack of security can endanger your finances, your safety, and your reputation.
Total Geek-Art
Geek art is the new pop art
Characters from comics, movies, TV shows, and video games are a part of the collective imagination forever, so it’s only natural that artists would begin integrating them into their work, giving birth to a new artistic movement: Geek-Art.
In Total Geek Art, the work of 80 painters, illustrators, and sculptors is collected to offer an international panorama of the geek-art genre of artistic expression. It presents profiles of geek-art’s greatest founders as well as insights on the latest trends, such as the return of enamel pins, the development of toy photography, and the recognition of video game art.
Featuring stunning artwork and exclusive interviews and essays, this deluxe collection is a must-have for every pop culture enthusiast.
Ghostbusters: The Inside Story
This exhaustive guide to the 1984 classic and its much-loved 1989 sequel tells the story of how Ghostbusters evolved from a dark tale about interdimensional spook exterminators to one of the great film franchises of all time. Exploring everything from the pioneering special effects to the set design and the unforgettable soundtrack. This authorized book tells the exhaustive behind-the-scenes story of how Dan Aykroyd’s original concept evolved into a movie phenomenon.
The guide is packed with hundreds of fascinating production photos, concept art and rare behind-the-scenes images, while new interviews with the cast and crew, including Dan Aykroyd, Ivan Reitman, Ernie Hudson, Annie Potts, and William Atherton, look back on the thrills and challenges of working on the movies, while the talented team of effects artists at Boss Film Studios and ILM reveal how ghosts and ghouls, such as Slimer, the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man, and the Scoleri brothers, were realized. The book also includes dazzling concept art from Thom Enriquez, Henry Mayo, Ron Croci, and others, which reveals early iterations of some of Ghostbusters’ famous designs.
These Are the Voyages: Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek in the 1970s, Volume 2 (1975-77)
These Are the Voyages: Gene Roddenberry and Star Trek in the 1970s, Volume 3 (1978-1980)
With Volume 2 (1975-77) and Volume 3 (1978-1980), author Marc Cushman’s groundbreaking research covering the history of Star Trek continues. Using memos and letters from Star Trek creator Gene Roddenberry, his colleagues, the studios, and the networks, you will witness pop-culture history being made. Included are production reports, TV ratings, vintage press coverage, and interviews, as Cushman documents the Trek events from 1975 through 1977, including Gene Roddenberry’s 1977 TV pilot film Spectre, and Roddenberry’s other sci-fi projects from this period, such as The Nine and Battleground: Earth.
Also covered in definitive detail, the efforts throughout 1975 and ’76 by Paramount Pictures and Roddenberry to make a Star Trek movie, which gave way to the development of a new television series in 1977, the aborted Star Trek Phase II. While the series never became a reality, this book covers how it’s the script for its two-hour premiere episode became the template for 1979’s Star Trek – The Motion Picture. This is your boarding pass to go behind the scenes as a TV series and its creator become a worldwide phenomenon and achieve legendary status. Volume 3 focuses on the making: the writing, production, and release of 1979’s Star Trek – The Motion Picture. This is your boarding pass to go behind the scenes – as a TV series and its creator become a worldwide phenomenon and achieve legendary status.
The Disney Monorail: Imagineering a Highway in the Sky
Walt Disney is renowned as a cartoonist, filmmaker, showman, and entertainment icon. But he was also a farsighted futurist, a transportation buff with practical roots in the past, and visionary sights set on the future. In imagining Disneyland, Walt saw it not only as a destination for diversion and entertainment, but also as a means of presenting practical demonstrations of new ideas and new technology with real-world applications.
Back to the Future Revised and Expanded Edition: The Ultimate Visual History
Featuring a Foreword by Michael J. Fox and a Preface by Christopher Lloyd.
Few films have made an impact on popular culture like the Back to the Future trilogy. This revised and expanded edition with officially licensed content goes behind the scenes to tell the complete story of the making of these hugely popular movies and how the adventures of Marty McFly and Doc Brown became an international phenomenon.
Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History Revised and Expanded Edition is a stunning journey into the creation of this beloved time-traveling saga and features hundreds of never-before-seen images from all three movies, along with rare concept art, storyboards, and other visual treasures.
The revised and expanded 35th anniversary edition includes incredible new features including 16 additional pages of new behind-the-scenes content and USA Today front page insert from the original movie
The book also features exclusive interviews with key cast and crew members—including Michael J. Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson, Robert Zemeckis, Bob Gale, Steven Spielberg, Frank Marshall, Kathleen Kennedy, and more—and tells the complete story of the production of the movies, from the initial concept to the staging of iconic scenes such as the “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance and the hoverboard sequence. The book also delves into the wider Back to the Future universe, exploring the animated television show and Back to the Future: The Ride.
Written by Michael Klastorin—the production publicist on the second and third movies—with Back to the Future expert Randal Atamaniuk, this book delivers a range of surprises from the Universal Pictures archives and also includes a wealth of special removable items. Removable items include Hill Valley High School Tardy Slip, Back to the Future: The Ride security pass, Save the Clocktower leaflet, Sepia photograph of Marty and Doc from Part III, Marty’s note to Doc from the first film with the envelope, George McFly’s book, Jaws 19 movie poster, George and Lorraine’s prom photo, Doc’s flux capacitor sketch from the first film, Doc’s note to Marty from 1885, Biff one dollar bill from Part II, Blast from the Past receipt from Part II and a lenticular version of the iconic McFly family photo from the first film
Comprehensive, compelling, and definitive, Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History Revised and Expanded Edition is the book that die-hard fans have been waiting for.
My Little Occult Book Club
Whether you’re looking for a health guide for your changing werewolf body or a simple introduction to alien abduction, this silly and twisted read features a wide selection of books for any occult need.
The Complete John Lennon Songs
This unique book recounts John Lennon’s life after The Beatles with a fascinating and revealing track by track analysis of the stories behind each song that he wrote.
There are many books about John Lennon’s life and about the music of the Beatles. What is often overlooked is the extraordinary solo work that John produced in the final decade of his life, 1970 to 1980, between the end of the Beatles and his murder in New York in December.
Lennon’s life in these years was eventful and fascinating, as was the development of the music he wrote during this period. For the first time, we will be able to showcase the stories behind every one of his solo songs, alongside the lyrics, which have only been printed in song books until now.
100 Posters That Changed the World
A collection of the world’s most memorable, provocative, best-selling and groundbreaking posters from Johannes Gutenberg to Barack Obama.
This collection charts the history of poster design, from the time when paper was first affordable in the 18th century, through developments in print technology, to the more subtle visual communication of the 21st century. Along the way, it showcases the most impactful designs of the last 300 years. It tells the story of how the artform took off in the late 19th century with the introduction of litho printing and the influence of Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec and Alphonse Mucha. There are posters for events, auctions, public meetings, political rallies, sports games, lectures, and theatrical performances. Some convey political messages, such as the iconic Keep Calm and Carry On poster produced at the dawn of the Second World War. Others advertise the latest must-see movies, including classic designs for ET and Jaws.
She’s a Wildcat!: The Art of Candy
Born of color and light in Long Beach, a protégé of legendary lowbrow icon The PIZZ, Candy has struck a fever in the landscape of pop surrealism. Her damsels of the West, exotic tiki vixens, sultry hot-rod gals, and weirdo monsters have graced galleries, books, and magazines as far out as France, Italy, Germany, Japan, and Australia. Now, for the first time, Candy Weil’s wild and wondrous works are collected and served up as the sexy, funny cartoon cocktail your eyes so desperately need. Over 200 color and black-and-white pieces, as well as sketches from various stages of her creative process, showcase Candy’s unforgettable, eye-popping style and her growing fame in the lowbrow scene. Featuring a foreword by BigToe, this collection is a must-have for all lowbrow, vintage, and pop surrealism art lovers.
Star Trek Cocktails: A Stellar Compendium
Set your taste-buds to stunned! These Cosmic recipes will take you where no one has gone before. They’re cocktails, Jim, but not as you know them….
The perfect holiday gift for the Star Trek fan in your life!
Have you ever longed for a taste of Romulan Ale? Or pined for the mellowing effect of Dr McCoy’s Mint Julep? Perhaps a Fuzzy Tribble would get you purring? Or a soothing sip of Captain Picard’s Earl Grey Martini? This voyage into the future of stylish drinking is a must for all Star Trek – and cocktail – fans. With a galaxy of illustrations, and a witty garnish of quotations, this book will help you celebrate your favorite show.
Mix the classic cocktails served on Starfleet starships throughout the Federation! Picard, Kirk, McCoy, Scotty, Quark, and more – try out each crew member’s favorite!
Musings on Monsters: Observations on the World of Classic Horror
As children, we fall in love with monsters, and age often fails to dim that freakish fascination. As adults, we examine our youthful passions with a cold eye, but the awful truth remains: we are eternally “Monster Kids.” Musings on Monsters, from the editors of Somewhere Beyond the Heavens: Exploring Battlestar Galactica and From Bayou to Abyss: Examining John Constantine, Hellblazer, gathers together a murderer’s row of writers to open the crypt of our childhoods and shine a ray of moonlight on all the creatures, creeps, and crazies of those bygone days of classic horror.
So beware, for such fiends as Dracula, Frankenstein’s monster, the Mummy, Godzilla, the Cat People, Barnabas Collins, zombies, and even the Devil himself lurk within these pages, scrutinized by experts in the field of monsterism and laid out on the slab for thorough reflections on their supernatural powers to mesmerize children and adults alike. Join us, won’t you? Don’t be afraid – your ghoulish guides through this nightmarish landscape are at your side… unless, of course, you step off the path. Edited by Rich Handley and Lou Tambone; foreword by Jim Beard.
The Secrets of Spies
Packed with dastardly details and top-secret stories, this book recounts thrilling tales of spies from the ancient world of Sun Tzu to the latest cyber threats.
From James Bond to Mata Hari, in scores of books and movies, and on the front pages of newspapers, spies have always captured our imagination. But what’s the truth behind the fiction? The Secrets of Spies sheds light on the mysterious life of the spy, explaining the real-life origins of spying, examining some of history’s most notorious spies and spycatchers, and revealing the role espionage plays today in business, politics, and everyday life.
Filled with lavish illustrations and hundreds of full-color photographs, this book provides hours of fun and entertainment for any reader. Narrated in an engaging, compelling style, The Secrets of Spies is a thrilling, in-depth global investigation of the hidden history of espionage. From ninja assassins to computer hackers, the book uncovers the tools, tricks, and techniques that make up the daring art of the spy.
Swords, Starships and Superheroes: From Star Trek to Xena to Hercules
Besides writing for hit series such as Crazy Like a Fox and Jake and the Fatman, Paul Coyle was a writer for Xena: The Warrior Princess; a writer/producer for Hercules: The Legendary Journeys; and a writer for three Star Trek shows The Animated Series; Voyager; and Deep Space Nine. Paul also wrote for other genre series, such as Superboy, The Dead Zone, and Space Precinct.
Now, in his engrossing book revealing the ups and downs of a life writing and producing for TV, Paul takes the reader behind the scenes of these popular series. Paul shares inside information and candid recollections, bringing the reader deep into the worlds of Xena, Hercules, Trek, and others, to discover the secrets behind creating the characters and stories of iconic series dealing with Swords, Starships and Superheroes.
The Legend of Bigfoot: Leaving His Mark on the World
Bigfoot. Sasquatch. Skunk Ape. He’s everywhere. The most well-known cryptid in American history, Bigfoot is as feared as he is loved. The subject of thousands of stories, this creature has been pegged as a monster terrorizing the woods, a supernatural entity stealthily living among us with an otherworldly agenda, or simply an animal trying to live a life of seclusion. With various theories and beliefs abounding, research and discussion have become a hobby for many, and even an occupation for some. In The Legend of Bigfoot: Leaving His Mark on the World, T. S. Mart and Mel Cabre reveal the myths, personal stories, and pop culture surrounding the legendary icon. Featuring more than 80 images recreating the Bigfoot’s appearance from firsthand accounts and folktales, The Legend of Bigfoot showcases the many faces of the creature. Included are the Boston Bahumagosh, which is said to weigh up to 400 pounds, stand up to 10 feet tall, and terrorize the Boston area; the Honey Island Swamp Monster―also known as the Louisiana Wookie―who roams the Louisiana swamps with yellow or red eyes; and the Wendigo, placed between 7 and 15 feet tall with long, yellow fangs and yellow-tinted skin. Half phantom, half beast, the Wendigo lives in the forest and dates back to the earliest Native American legends. Featuring legends, culture, and history from across the globe, The Legend of Bigfoot brings the famed cryptid to life in this entertaining and accessible guide.
The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian (Season One)
This official behind-the-scenes companion to the Disney+ Star Wars series The Mandalorian features exclusive concept art, character and costume sketches, and vehicle and creature designs.
The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian takes fans behind the scenes of the first ever live-action Star Wars television series. Filled with concept art, sketches, and interviews with key cast, crew, and creatives, including executive producer/showrunner/writer Jon Favreau and executive producer/director Dave Filoni, The Art of Star Wars: The Mandalorian will provide readers with an exclusive look at a whole new universe of Star Wars characters, locations, and vehicles.
Premiering in November 2019 as a key launch title for Disney+, The Mandalorian follows the adventures of galactic gunslinger Din Djarin and the Child as they traverse the outer systems of the galaxy and evade remnants of the Empire. Readers will encounter early visual and conceptual ideas for these new characters and unexplored frontiers, filled with crime syndicates, bounty hunters, and smugglers. The gritty, lived-in cantinas and spaceports are populated by a talented cast that includes Pedro Pascal (Game of Thrones), Werner Herzog (Fitzcarraldo, Grizzly Man), Nick Nolte (48 Hours), Gina Carano (Haywire, Deadpool), Giancarlo Esposito (Breaking Bad), and Carl Weathers (Rocky).
The Folio Society: Killing Floor
Folio presents the first illustrated edition of Lee Child’s phenomenally popular thriller, Killing Floor – thanks to artist Oliver Barrett, action hero Jack Reacher has never looked more formidable.
Jack Reacher, ex-military police, is in a wandering frame of mind. The town of Margrave is an impulsive stop, a place to stretch his legs, yet within hours he has the local police shoving shotguns in his face. Someone in Margrave has chosen the wrong stranger to be the fall guy, and it won’t be long before the body count starts to rise. Because Reacher will have justice, whichever side of the law he has to be on. Just like his famous protagonist, there’s much more to Lee Child’s thrillers than can be revealed at first glance. With bare, stripped down prose that matches the calm psychology of Reacher himself, and exquisitely composed plots that peel back the layers of rural America, these are books that embrace a rugged vision of a dangerous world.
This, the first ever illustrated edition of Lee Child’s debut novel, introduces his celebrated action hero; it is the first adventure in a series that would go on to sell over 100 million copies. Lee Child’s killer prose and relentless pace have won him legions of fans the world over, and it’s not hard to see why: once you’re onboard this juggernaut of a story, there’s no getting off. Illustrator Oliver Barrett has created a series of images that deliver every ounce of blistering action, while Malcolm Gladwell, one of TIME’s 100 Most Influential People, has produced a passionate new introduction exploring exactly why Jack Reacher is a cut above your average avenging outlaw.
Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection
Star Wars: The Lightsaber Collection is a comprehensive visual guide exploring the iconic and legendary lightsabers found within the Star Wars galaxy, featuring fan-favorite hilts from the Skywalker saga, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Star Wars Rebels, comics, novels, and video games.
This book features the hilts of characters such as Darth Vader, Darth Maul, Yoda, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Mace Windu, Luke Skywalker, Leia Organa, Kylo Ren, Rey, Ahsoka Tano, and more. Learn about the creation and history of lightsabers from all of Star Wars, including Darth Maul’s double-bladed saber and the Darksaber.
Featuring photo-realistic renders of lightsabers from Star Wars animation and comics, including Ezra Bridger’s blaster-saber hybrid, the Grand Inquisitor’s spinning blades, and a new lightsaber from The High Republic, this book is a must-have for Star Wars fans.
Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks
An illustrated mid-career monograph exploring the 30-year creative journey of the 8-time Academy Award–nominated writer and director
Paul Thomas Anderson has been described as “one of American film’s modern masters” and “the foremost filmmaking talent of his generation.” Anderson’s films have received 25 Academy Award nominations, and he has worked closely with many of the most accomplished actors of our time, including Lesley Ann Manville, Julianne Moore, Daniel Day-Lewis, Joaquin Phoenix, and Philip Seymour Hoffman. In Paul Thomas Anderson: Masterworks, Anderson’s entire career—from Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Punch Drunk Love (2002), There Will Be Blood (2007), The Master (2012), Inherent Vice (2014), and Phantom Thread (2017) to his music videos for Radiohead to his early short films—is examined in illustrated detail for the first time.
Anderson’s influences, his style, and the recurring themes of alienation, reinvention, ambition, and destiny that course through his movies are analyzed and supplemented by firsthand interviews with Anderson’s closest collaborators—including producer JoAnne Sellar, actor Vicky Krieps, and composer Jonny Greenwood—and illuminated by film stills, archival photos, original illustrations, and an appropriately psychedelic design aesthetic. Masterworks is a tribute to the dreamers, drifters, and evil dentists who populate his world.
50 Greatest James Bond Cars
50 legendary cars from 25 movies! Includes the cars from the newest No Time to Die movie starring Daniel Craig and Rami Malek.
The perfect holiday gift for the James Bond fan in your life!
The vehicles featured in this book were driven by – or pursued – the world’s most celebrated spy. Stylish, fast, and specially equipped with state-of-the art gadgets, each is rendered in full color showing the key features that set them among the world’s greatest cars. Includes such iconic cars as the Bentley 3.5 Litre, the Aston Martin DB5 and the Lotus Esprit S1
With facts and figures plus their key scenes and stunts, these are the cars that made Bond movie history.
Sideshow: Fine Art Prints
Explore the robust library of Sideshow Collectibles’ exclusive, one-of-a-kind art prints with this deluxe collection.
Sideshow Collectibles’ limitless passion for creativity and entertainment has led them to become a leading source of premium, highly sought after pop-culture collectibles—and their collection of art prints is no exception. Working with top artists such as Alex Ross, Adi Granov, Stanley “Artgerm” Lau, Jon Foster, and more, Sideshow has developed a series of beautifully crafted prints based on films, comics, TV, and animation. These officially licensed illustrations are inspired by countless fan-favorite properties, including everything from Marvel, DC, and Star Wars, to iconic classics like Terminator, Alien, Transformers, and more. , Collecting the very best of Sideshow prints in one extraordinary volume, this book is a must have for art enthusiasts and pop-culture fans everywhere.
Star Trek: Voyager – A Celebration
Celebrating the 25th anniversary of the TV series in 2020! Everything you want to know about Captain Kathryn Janeway’s Starship Voyager and crew.
Go behind the scenes of the making of a television classic, with the cast and crew who brought the adventures of the intrepid U.S.S. Voyager to life. Packed with in-depth features on each creative department, from visual effects and art to costume and makeup, this volume celebrates STAR TREK‘s epic adventure in the Delta Quadrant. Alongside production and concept art, the cast – including Kate Mulgrew and Jeri Ryan – share their personal highlights from seven seasons and 172 episodes of Star Trek: Voyager.
Star Trek: Voyager was groundbreaking. It was the first Star Trek show with a female captain and had the franchise’s most diverse cast. It pushed the boundaries of visual effects and makeup further than ever before, and literally took the show into new territory when Voyager was stranded in the Delta Quadrant, home of the Borg Collective.
Star Trek: Voyager – A Celebration tells the behind-the-scenes story of Voyager‘s epic journey, from its earliest origins and pivotal episodes to in- depth features on writing, directing, visual effects, production art and more.
The ultimate guide to the making of a television classic, based on more than 30 new interviews, featuring the nine principal cast members, including Kate Mulgrew, Jeri Ryan, and Robert Picardo, and key behind-the-scenes personnel who reveal the stories and secrets behind the show. Star Trek: Voyager first appeared on TV on 16 January 1995, running for 172 episodes over seven seasons.
Back to the Future: The Official Hill Valley Cookbook
Travel through time and experience the gastronomic history of Hill Valley with this colorful cookbook inspired by the Back to the Future trilogy.
Hill Valley may have changed a lot over the years, but the idyllic town of the beloved Back to the Future movies is a treat to visit in any time period. Divided into five chapters, this quirky cookbook explores the complicated history of Hill Valley through the best possible medium: food.
Start your culinary journey in good ol’ 1985 with some delicious American comfort food, then travel back to 1955 for some classic diner cuisine. Jump to the far future of 2015 and nosh on some dehydrated pizza. Things might get a little greasy in Biff’s alternative, dystopian 1985, but the hardy frontier food of 1885 will keep you going through shoot-outs, train robberies, and whatever else the Wild West has to throw at you.
Featuring full-color photography, alternative ingredient suggestions, and helpful notes from some of your favorite characters (Hi, Doc!), this time-hopping, genre-defying cookbook is the perfect gift for foodies, home cooks, and Back to the Future fans of all ages!
Flash Gordon: The Official Story of the Film
The official story behind the cult sci-fi hit Flash Gordon.
In 1980, the film Flash Gordon was released, becoming an instant cult favourite. One of the most quotable and beloved sci-fi films ever, it is legendary for its unique look, tone and iconic soundtrack. This beautiful, first-of-its-kind coffee table book will delve into the making of the movie and celebrate its legacy.
Featuring brand new interviews with cast and creative, including stars Sam Jones and Brian Blessed and director Mike Hodges, this stunning book features never-been-seen-before concept artwork and behind-the-scenes photography that makes it a must-have for any classic sci-fi fan.
Mr. Spock’s Little Book of Mindfulness
Who better to teach us mindfulness and wisdom than Mr. Spock, that beacon of calm, rational thought. With quotes from Star Trek and timely insights about modern life this book will be your guide. In a universe that seems to have gone mad, we turn to mindfulness to restore sanity. When humanity has lost its way, it takes a Vulcan to raise an eyebrow at our folly and lead us towards the truth.
After all, it’s only logical …
Essays on focus, computers, social media, love, family, self-acceptance and more. Filled with actual quotes from Mr. Spock and Star Trek characters, along with black & white illustrations. Includes source listing from TV episodes.
