Movies Books

I have read almost all of Hugo's novels and I feel he was a master beyond most as far as story telling goes. This particular books is ingenious with the various characters and the twists and turns and the tragedies and political statements. It broke my heart, while exciting me to cheer on the lead character in his efforts to right the wrongs of the parliament. I loved the characters of this books and the story line and I would strongly recommend it to any who are fans of "Hunchback" or "Les Miz" (forgive me). While I really loved Les Miz (and again, it broke my heart, as did the musical,which I thought was brilliant), this is the one that stayed with me. I read it many years ago and have a number of copies (some very old). When I bought this movie, I had no expectations, and I was amazed to see how much of the story was included. It was brilliantly produced, directed and acted. Even though it is a silent movie, it speaks volumes. I highly recommend the book and then the film. I also urge everyone to see the musical "Les Miserables" because it is all so wonderful. Hugo was a true master!

I come to the conclussion that The Man Who Laughs is the most descriptive, saddest, romantic and most beautifully written book that Victor Hugo has written. It is unfortunate that this book doesn't have the standing that Les Miserables or Our Lady of Notre Dame occupies. Also, it is a very hard to find book, specially in Spanish, which is my first language. The traduction is done extremely well (I have verified it with a Russian version I have). It is highly recommended.

This is a difficult and demanding read, but entirely worth it for those who want more from a novel. The story is of a confrontation of moral opposites set in England in the late 17th and early 18th centuries, as a deliberately disfigured outcast named Gwynplaine faces a powerful conflict between the simple life of a mountebank, with the love of a pure-hearted blind girl, and the power, glamor, and corruption of nobility, with the love of a depraved, self-loathing noblewoman. Gwynplaine's disfigurement hides his true identity from all, including himself; and out of the eventual revelation of this truth, Hugo constructs a magnificent and heart-wrenching symbolic drama that is as filled with meaning as anything you'll find in literature. Again, this is not light reading, and it is not made for those who prefer to breeze through an action thriller in an afternoon.

Hugo has much to say about the destructive nature of political power, as well as the envy and injustice that conspire to keep the high and low in their respective places. The Mohawk Club of the nobility exemplifies these themes through their vicious and destructive pranks, victimizing the helpless in the name of "fun."

Hugo's contempt for the period's institutions of power is evident throughout the novel; on the wicked Barkilphedro's rise to prominence, he writes: "He had crawled where he wanted. Flat beasts can get in everywhere. Louis XIV had bugs in his bed and Jesuits in his policy. The incompatibility is nil." Clearly this is a novel of ideas, written by one who had a great deal to say and knew how to express it. Even so, I must acknowledge that Hugo's expository passages, although witty, impassioned, and eloquent, occasionally become a distraction from the story.

Hugo's style is astonishingly lofty, in a way that just doesn't happen in the present day. It is an ambitious and demanding discipline, now so far gone that we scarcely even know to miss it. As such, it may strike today's readers as unnatural and overdone; or so it did to me, at first. But by the finish, I was fully seduced into Hugo's stylistic world, and left unable to choose what to read next -- for what is there today that is even conscious of this standard of craftsmanship? I can only imagine how much of the effect of this high language is lost in translation from the original French.

If you are interested in this book, I strongly recommend the Paper Tiger edition, with its afterword by Shoshana Milgram. This afterword was of great use in understanding the book's ending, which to me was difficult; it clarified how the ending was necessitated by the novel's overall theme -- and it made the extent of Hugo's achievement that much more evident.

I read this book as a teenager, along with "Toilers of the Sea," Ninety Three" and "Hunchback of Notre Dame."
I have re-read only "Toilers of the Sea" and found it as riveting now as were all of Hugo's book then. I can't imagine a library system not containing these timeless classics or their being out of print.

This is extremely well written and the story is easy to follow. The story had me smile and cry. The method that Victor Hugo collected the sections of this book is similiar to the style Ayn Rand used in writing Atlas Shrugged-my favorite book. The Man Who Laughs is one I think every Victor Hugo fan would want to read and read again--I loved it!

A wonderful book that sends you on a mystery filled christmas wish. The book will keep you reading for hours. I read this book every Christmas to remind me of virtues such as love, forgiving, and living a Christ-like life. I also love the movie by Debbie Reynolds and Neal Patick Harris on DVD.

This was surely one of the best Christmas family oriented book I've ever read! It had morals and values to each and every page. This story tells of a young man around his early 30's who gave up his Wall Street life to help take over the family real estate business due to his grandfather's sudden death. His sense of determination to find out who the mysterious "Lillian" is keeps the reader itching to turn the page. You will find that the ending will surprise you! I highly recommend this book to anyone who needs a little uplifting to their holiday spirit.

I recommend this book, it kept me curious to find out what would happen at the end and the end was I would want it to be.

This is a wonderful book. A very touching story. I highly recommend it.

A heartwarming story about a busy Manhattan executive who ventures back to his small hometown to revamp his deceased grandfather's real estate business. He is swayed by his grandmother to locate a mysterious woman who is believed to have had a special relationship with his grandfather when he was alive. A truly beautiful story about romance, tradition and unfailing loyalty that takes place in a Currier and Ives-like location. The ending will knock your socks off and stay with you long after the book is finished.

FYI: The sequel is entitled _The Christmas Quest_.

Cris Cunningham

This is a must own for anyone who has ever needed to know why something works the way it does in Star Trek. This covers almost everything you can imagine in how Deep Space Nine and space craft work. If it isn't covered in this book it is covered in the TNG Tech Manual. If you write Fan Fiction, play a character in a Trek RPG, or operate a Trek Website You will treat the Tech Manuals as your gospal in Trek technology. Other good books are out there, but they don't compete with this book.

The tech isn't much different in manner from the TNG Tech Manual, but the images in this, the DS9, manual are far superior. All Trek Geeks (come on, fess up) need this book.

I never picked up a copy of this wonderous guide when it was published. There were a few mistakes I made last decade, not buying this book was one of them.

There is not much storyline given away here. Mostly background info regarding the Cardassians, Bajorans and the Federation. Deep Space Nine was the best "Star Trek" series, in my humble opinion. This guide is useful to those who wish to write about the series of the future, as well as daydreamers like myself. The thrill of walking down every corridor, knowing the details of Quark's bar and Ops...

It is all like dream, now that it is over. I never watched the original broadcast in the 1990s. What a loss on my behalf. Now in the age of hopelessly dull reality T.V., what a better way to pass the time than watching the epic unfold on DVD. Though a little overpriced, to an avid fan like myself, worth every penny! Make sure you have a copy of this manual sitting close by!

This book is amazing. I read it from cover to cover and ended up satisfied with all the details the authors placed in them. The book carries details ranging from the subspace communications system to the weapons and even the environmental system of the station. The information on it is not contained only to details about the station but everything connected to it including the Runabouts, and the Defiant. It gives off an effect that there is really a station named Deep Space Nine. The paper used was high quality glossy paper which doesn't crumple easily and the numerous images in them were in color. Although it could have been better with a hard cover, it's excellent the way it is.

First off, this book is anything but a disappointment. It is a packed with information on the series and its fictional technology from the station's basic layout to things like tricorders and sensor probes. It has great illustrations, mostly rendered in 3D by Doug Drexler and all in color. This is a quite obvious advancement since the STTNG Technical Manual.

One reason why I like the DS9 Technical Manual less than its "sister manual" is that its reliability is lacking. This is in part not the fault of the authors, considering that technical specs and especially the size of the station and of the Defiant were always subject to change throughout DS9. Nevertheless, it is dissatisfactory that none of the size figures given in the book correspond with the schematic diagrams in the same book, the latter of which consistently show a smaller 120m Defiant and a station diameter of at most 1000m. The section on starships is even much worse, since ship types and specs are arbitrarily and hastily made up, sizes of well-known ships are wrong and the Saber and Norway class even have exactly the same specs. Considering that many fans who took the specs for their websites didn't even notice the latter error, I may be overly critical, but from an officical manual I would expact much more carefulness than that.

The other point of criticism is that the Deep Space Nine Technical Manual isn't very technical and it isn't useful as a manual. It is rather like prose that has been supplemented with a certain limited amount of Technobabble, a couple of size figures and many nice images. It doesn't care about the technology in such detail as the STTNG Technical Manual, and if it is only shown how to operate it. Summarizing, as a novel the book is rather boring, while it is just not complete enough for a technical manual. Anyway, at least the drawings are great, especially the fold-outs, and most of the book with the exception of the starship section is pleasant reading, so I recommend to buy it.

While I am a long time Star Trek fan, I tend to stay away from books such as this one because I just see it as another way for Paramount to get into our pocket books. I just lightly browsed this book one day in a book store and next thing I knew almost an hour had gone by!

This has to be one of the most engrossing works of fictional tech I have ever seen. There are times where you almost wonder if some form of prototype exists for the items they discuss.

Both richly written and illustrated this book is a absolute must buy for the die hard Star Trek fan! And if your favorite Star Trek is DS9 (like myself), I am not sure how you have lived without this book!

Most of the time, I read nonfiction because I can't find a novel interesting enough to buy and read all the way through, but this book is definitely an exception. I took it with me on vacation with my husband and my mother, and I couldn't stop reading it. I took it to dinner with me and totally ignored my companions. I know it was rude to read at the dinner table, but I just couldn't help myself. The book is funny, fast-paced, and very engaging. There was not one part of the book that I found tedious or boring. I won't spoil the surprise, but I will say that I had to read that part three times because I was so shocked. I thought maybe I had dozed off and missed something, or perhaps I dozed off and dreamed it, but, no, it was on the page. Never has an author so surprised me with a plot twist. I later rented the movie which was a total waste of time and money. I read that the author didn't like the way the movie turned out either. Just make sure that you read the book first because I can't imagine watching that dreadful movie first and being the slightest bit interested in reading the book. In my life time, I have read thousands of books, but this is one of those books that I will never forget.

I have read this book once a year for 10 years, and each time I find myself laughing out loud at Byrd's witty language and characterization. This version of the book has a guide to book groups, which contains some interesting background on how Sarah Byrd developed the novel. I have also given this book to several friends, all of whom have found it delightful. I would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a funny frolic with a lot of heart.

Sarah Bird is a Texas novelist who humorously celebrates all the stages in a woman's life in her witty and zany books. I have chuckled my way through them all and loved them, but her second book THE BOYFRIEND SCHOOL, remains my favorite. It recounts the amorous escapades of photojournalist (for the Austin GRACKLE) Gretchen Griner as she is faced with the dilemma of choosing between three love prospects: fuzzy-haired brother of best friend romance novelist, suave foreign-accented bad boy, or Grackle editor/master manipulator. Delightful escapism with mad-cap plot twists and ultimately, a big sigh at the end.

I was a little different. I saw the MOVIE first back when it first came out and it quickly became a favorite of mine. I FINALLY found the movie on DVD recently (I didn't know that the name had been changed from "Don't Tell Her It's Me" to "The Boyfriend School") and saw that it was based on a book by Sarah Bird. The book and the movie were quite a bit different, but since Sarah Bird wrote both the book and the screenplay that made it OK. I love books that make you feel that you are going to miss the the characters when you get through reading. This is one of those books. A credit to Sarah Birds writing ability. It's a funny, feel good book. Her sense/style of humor in this book remind me of the comedian Dennis Miller's style of delivery. I just can't say enough good things about this book! A must read! (and re-read!!!!)

This is only my second Sarah Bird novel and I am hooked beyond belief. Her dialogue and characters put you inside the book. You're there watching the whole novel unfold around you.

Gretchen is a talented photojournalist stuck at a two bit publication that has entwined itself thouroughly into her life. From the sordid past of the newsroom to the flim flam ways of her occasional boyfriend and hokey boss who is as unreliable as her salary, she's come to the conclusion that it was all a lost cause. The writing is on the wall as far as Gretchen is concerned when she's assigned to cover the Luvboree. Little does she know that entering the Pink Ghetto will be her ticket to leaving the Grackle behind and gaining her new life.

Reading Gretchen's trials and tribulations over starting her own Romance novel are hilarious. And you definitely feel for her as she goes through her 'dry spell'. Well that is until the handsome stranger comes along. From there on, buckle your seatbelts and make sure you can read until the end - you won't be disappointed.

I really enjoyed the character antics in this book. Dyanmics ruled for all of those involved. All of the elements of a good novel come together as the plot and development go hand in hand with the set up and characters. Also this particular edition of the book has an afterword by Bird as well as a reader's guide for afficionados or book clubs which I enjoy reading as a way to bring closure to the novel experience.

This was a fantastic book and one that I am going to enjoy reading many times to come. Sarah Bird is a terrific writer and her novels should be known far and wide for their witty and humorous entertainment.

Amazing historical account of an amazing era. This book changed the way I look at life, it has that kind of effect. I discovered an admiration of the Shawnees and Tecumseh that I share with many. I have recommended this books to dozens of people and they all thank me when they are done.

a shooting star in the sky heralded a Shawnee baby with greatness..this baby would grow up to be Tecumseh. The Shawnee leader who had visions of his race being wiped out by the coming of the white man, he knew that survival depended upon all the Indian tribes pulling their resources together and he also knew that their survival depended upon moving beyond their savagery if they were to be accepted. Tecumseh was able to do the first but not the second and that would be their downfall as the savagery so inflamed the 'newcomers' their extinction was the only response that could be accepted. This was one of the most memorable characters and books that I've ever read.

A great read!! Really will hold your attention. I read it in a weekend.

This novel is about the life and works of Tecumseh, the Shawnee chief who was at the center of Indian resistance to American expansion from the 1790s until the War of 1812.

Like other great Indian leaders before him (Pontiac, Joseph Brandt) and after (Crazy Horse), Tecumseh dreamed of uniting the Indian tribes and throwing back the white encroachment, carving out the space for the Indians to continue to practice their traditional way of life. He had many obstacles to overcome, not all of which were caused by the whites. In general, Indian societies were plagued by short-term thinking and an inability to grasp the big picture of what was really happening to their world. A number of Indian leaders were great tacticians, scoring big victories and then scattering while the whites regrouped and came relentlessly on. Only a few leaders were able to think strategically enough to actually slow the white advance. Tecumseh was one of these military geniuses.

The novel works as history, but it also works as a great story. Thom creates a sense of grief and regret about the loss of the Indians' world, but he doesn't whitewash the Indians. Tecumseh's brother, The Prophet, is depicted as a charlatan, and there are some brutal scenes of the torture that the Indians inflicted on their white captives. This low and cowardly behavior is a source of great despair for Tecumseh, who wants to elevate his people to a higher spiritual plane.

In a few spots in the book, Tecumseh appears too good to be true. I had a hard time believing that his goodness would have caused his arch-enemy, William Henry Harrison, to question the righteousness of his own cause. But overall the character of Tecumseh comes off as admirable but very human as he wrestles with spiritual questions, doubts, and vulnerabilites.

I liked the book. I did not find it as 'gripping' as some of the other Thom works, but it was still a good read. A little long and sometimes slow and repetitive, but worth reading.

After reading and being fascinated by Bengston's Chaplin book (Silent Traces), I really want a brand new copy of the Keaton book. I hope it gets published again. I don't want a used copy for $50. I heard him speak at the Academy last week and he is really interesting.

This book is a necessity for any Buster Keaton fan or any fan of Hollywood history. It is well researched and absolutely fascinating.

This is a great book. I love to watch Keaton's movies with this to hand, it gives a whole new insight to the films. It is easy to read and it is interesting to see the sights of LA from the 20's. Sometimes it is sad to see that some of these locations are gone, where the building of freeways have necessitated the removal of whole city blocks. If I ever get to visit LA I know that this book will be going with me.

Years ago I purchased Civil War historian William A. Frassanito's excellent books "Gettysburg: A Journey in Time" and "Antietam: The Photographic Legacy of America's Bloodiest Day," which examine and compare historic and modern photographs of these famous battle sites. John Bengtson has done essentially the same thing for Hollywood using Keaton's films, and the result is nothing short of miraculous. Here are scenes of what used to be but are no more, resurrected with the benefit of Bengtson's keen eye, detective-like mind, and obsessive attention to detail. This is one heck of a fun book, and you'll spend many hours going over the photographs.

Amazingly, many of the scenic backdrops that Keaton used in his films still exist, and they serve today as nostalgic reminders of a relatively primitive and innocent time that has all but disappeared.

This is a truly different kind of book. We get to see the locations that Buster made his films, and how they have changed through time. We also get to see how the author went about finding these places, a kind of historical research that takes a tremendous amount of time and effort.

This book is one that I automatically pick up when I'm not sure what I want to read, but want something interesting.

If there was a complaint, it would be that many of the pictures and some of the text is really too small. I have great eyesight, some of this is too hard for even me to see, and I know many people have a harder time with small text and pictures. Lay off of our eyesight, eh?


Still, a totally fascinating book. I can't get enough.

This is a very good book, but not great. Matthiessen's writing is engrossing and it is difficult to put it down. However, the vileness of some of the subject matter is a bit hard to swallow. This is, no doubt, a realistic tale, written after Matthiessen had traveled throughout the continent. The movie does have an influence, as one keeps thinking of Ms. Hannah. The plight and evolution of the natives and their values is intriguing. The disaster that results from outsiders forcing culture and religion down the throats of the "savages" is thought provoking and relates to many situations one sees. The characters aren't all that likable, but certainly very real. Hazel is a sad case. The jaguar shaman-to-be is a character about which it would be nice to learn more. Matthiessen says that he rewrote the last journey many times. This is the toughest part of the book to follow; is it real or a dream? I actually did reread parts of the end. There's no escaping the depression that comes from dwelling on the conflict in the jungle. I still feel that, despite the author's beliefs, his nonfiction work is better. But this is an enjoyable novel, regardless.

An excellent adventure story that is both fast paced and well developed. I've read a number of books by Matthiessen. This is the best I've read yet by him. His fiction is far better than his non fiction in my opinion.

I see there are many 5 star reviews here on Amazon. I 2nd these reviews. Recommended.

I am reading this book as a book on tape which is a good way to "read" it. This is a "good read" and worth your time. Recommended. Email Boland7214@aol.co

Why do I never hear Matthissen's name come up when there is speculation about who will win future Nobel Literature prizes?
AT PLAY is surely one of the great novels of the last half-century, and the reviewers hit on all of the reasons why. But add to that FAR TORTUGA, and the Watson Florida trilogy; and then add to THAT his brilliant and important non-fiction, from The Tree Where Man Was Born to The Snow Leopard, to In the Spirit of Crazy Horse; then, for good measure add in Matthiessen's involvement in The Paris Review, and you have a resume that is Nobel-quality.
Hey, I love Roth, too (admittedly not everything), but get serious!

This case study of culture clash is the story of Protestant missionaries trying to bring the Word of God to jungle savages. They think themselves heroes of The Lord, but there are no heroes here save, perhaps, Louis Moon a reservation half-breed who lost his faith. Moon is now an aimless mercenary staggering through life, bouncing off one obstacle after another. When it becomes his job to massacre the indigenous people, he is revisited by drug-induced dreams of his youth and instead joins them as their rain god fallen from the sky (and a failing airplane).

Self-righteous missionary Martin Quarier, becomes less certain of his beliefs as the novel progresses, but seems incapable of moving beyond them. He sees the absurdity of the doctrinal feud between Catholics and Protestants, yet cannot think of priests as anything but the Enemy, in league with Satin. And Satin seems to be working on him, as well, churning up lust for the wife of another missionary.

The religious beliefs of the natives give a glimpse of how faith gets started. Their minor gods clearly provide more for them on a day-to-day basis than the major one Quarier tries to serve. He creates a "rice convert" or two, but is ultimately a miserable failure.
At Play in the Fields of the Lord is a classic tragedy of misunderstanding and miscommunication. If you haven't read it, it's worth that first read. If you have, it was probably long enough ago that it deserves a second look.

This book, and the complete version as well, are one of the most beautiful books i have ever read.
Please, get it! is the real thing!!!!
i do recomend to get both versions, this one is great for travelling, but you want to have the complete version at home.

I'm reading the book for the third time--and I'm sure it won't be my last reading of this living document. Anyone who loves God or wants to love God must read this transmission of Ramakrishna's unification with the creator.

As a rationalist, I read this book as a historical document. I was quite impressed. Mahendra Nath Gupta is quite amazing. It is an excellent primary source of description of life in Bengal during the ninteenth century.

This book is highly recommended to those who are ready to renounce the world and live a life filled with God-consciousness. It encourages the reader to be steadfast in his spiritual quest and gives the reader hope and guidance in the spiritual path.

This book is based on a journal maintained by one of Ramakrishna's close disciple, M. The clarity of explanations and the allegory used by this great master to teach simple spiritual truths is indeed outstanding, to say the least. It gives the uninitiated reader a simple understanding of complex spiritual philosophy. The parables told by Ramakrishna in this book can also be compared to the usage of parables by Jesus as well.

Finally, I wish to state that this book is highly recommended to all sincere seekers of Truth, whether he/she is a Hindu, Muslim, Christian or belonging to any different sects or religious groups. This book unites ALL faiths!

This is truly the best spiritual book I have ever read. There is nothing that can be found in another spiritual book that is not contained in this Gospel of Ramakrishna. What a spiritual teacher he was! The insights! The clarity of explanation! I wished everyone on earth has a chance to be exposed to Ramakrishna's words. He makes the spiritual path understandable and brings it down to earth. I could go on and on saying the praises of this great being.
C.K.

I first read this book when I was in college. At the time, this beautiful, tear-jerking story became one of my favorites. Almost 18 years later, I feel the same way. This story of grief, loss, love, and healing holds even deeper meaning for me now. This is a book I will keep in my collection -- to read over and over.

I loved this book it is a great book to help with the lose of the loved one.

I really enjoyed this book. Terry Kay has a smooth, fresh writing style, and his story of Sam Peek and his White Dog is truly moving. I have just begun Valley of Light and I am already loving this one too. I recommend them both!

This is one of my favorite books of all time. It at first seems like a simple story of a man growing older. It mixes the touching and often amusing story of his frustration with the constant worrying of his adult children, about whether his mind is slipping, with one of the sweetest love stories I've ever read. When you think that you have finished, the author then tells the origin of the story and you are utterly amazed. It quite literally took my breath away. I immediately went out and bought copies of the book to share with family and friends who were equally touched. It is definitely a classic.

This was a nice book to read. Not my all time favorite but very enjoyable. It was easy to read and just told a man's journey with becoming old and alone. Sam Peek seemed like a "real" old man. I now see Sam Peek in every old man I pass on the street, in the store or at church. Made me want to reach out and be their friend. If someone you love is growing old you need to read this book.

This book is an indispensable companion for huge fans of the ALIEN series, especially those who, like me, think that ALIENS is the pinnacle of the franchise. But even if you're just a casual fan of the series but a major lover of science fiction, this is a great book to have.

The most amazing part of the book is the long essay on combat between capital ships in space. The essay is a very hard-science fiction oriented piece that addresses a lot of the issues with ship to ship combat that are taken for granted in works like Star Trek and Star Wars. It addresses issues like combat between two ships in orbit around a planet, cloaking against a starfield, space mine arrays, directed energy weapons, railguns, and the use of decoys in space combat.

The rest of the book is equally believable in its portrayal of futuristic warfare, and it does an excellent job of giving background information on the world of ALIEN without holding the reader's hand or revealing everything. The pictures, drawings, and schematics are nothing short of amazing.

The book delivered exactly what it was supposed to. The equipment described were mostly from the second movie, which was expected since the colonial marines only made an appearance in that one. I was expecting a few more vehicles and weapons that were not shown in the movie. The arsenal of the marines appeared to be very limited. Whatever the case, this is a good book for fans of the movies and sci-fi fans who like big weapons. The section on the aliens themselves was kind of brief, being mostly accounts from Ripley.

I loved the quotes between the sections. The ones where other Marines are "telling what they heard". You get bits and pieces and everything gets exaggerated and blamed on the Company. It's funny "because we know better." And the descriptions of the APC and dropship are great. Too bad we don't get to see them more in the movie.

Not much more I can add that others haven't other than to push the point home. This book is a technical sci-fi fan's dream come true. The level of detail and realism put into this book rivals that of the Star Trek technical books, and even surpasses them on some levels. This book is painstakingly researched and is an official and authorized explanation of the weapons, ships, tech and much more are covered in this book.

Just about everything you could want to know about the technical aspects of the Alien and Aliens universe are here. You can know exactly how a pulse rifle or a power loader works. You can see the inner workings of a dropship. You can see the full capabilities of the Sulaco. You name it, and it's there. You even get entries for military equipment that was not in the movie, but still part of the Alien universe.

Did I mention Alien? Yeah you get a ton of information on the Nostromo as well as details on the escape shuttle and equipment they used. You also get extensive details on androids as well (from both movies). They even go so far as to explain how faster than light travel works. Not only do you get all this, but you get some awesome information regarding the alien itself.

The book itself is very well made considering it's labelled as a paperback. The cover is a thicker card stock and glossy on the front while the pages are made from a quality paper as well. The book quality is like what you would find on the Star Wars technical books or better. Definitely bigger than those books.

I wish all sci-fi technical books would go into this much detail with their subject matter. This book is pretty much the standard I look for in other technical manuals. If you ever get a chance to find this one and are either a big Alien fan or just a big fan on these types of books I recommend getting it. For some of you even with the high prices (I think the original list price was around $20) you see in auctions and here you might still find this book worth it.

this book provides a great deal of information on the Colonial Marines from "Aliens". all of you potential Aliens video game modders out there must get this book. it has served as an excellent reference book for all my "Aliens versus Predator" modifications. with several illustrations, it also provides the artist with valuable "Aliens" info. even the curious Sci-Fi geek will find this book thoroughly interesting.