Television Books

I purchased this novel after hearing that the BET cable station plans to adapt it to a made-for-tv movie. Money well spent! Excellent suspenseful story, strong unforgettable characters. I like Ms Ray's style and plan to go out and buy the rest of her novels.

First of all let me compliment Francis on a job well done. This book was a masterpiece. The storyline has shown that true love between two stubborn minded persons can develop into a beautiful, fun-filled relationship. Jake, better known as Hunter was willing to not let his feelings or his anatomy *wink* get in the way of his work. He was determined to solve the case without falling victim to the strong attraction between himself and Erin. Erin, determined not to let her pride be destroyed by Hunter's touch soon realised that it was no use hiding from the affectionate feelings towards Hunter growing inside of her heart. I also love the way the story ended, what Hunter was avoiding was exactly what happened...i.e the woman who cared for him was willing to risk her life to save his. I'm also glad that Hunter was able to react quick with Scanlon. Great story and i can't wait to watch in on film.

I am presently a member of the arabesque book club, I have several books written by Francis Ray, I loved them all. Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to read Incognito, but I did get to see the Movie version on BET, and I enjoyed it just as much...Please continue to bring to life more of the wonderful arabesque love stories to your readers. "Keep up the good work". And please "Continue" writing those wonderful Novels.

WE ALL HAVE OUR DIFFERENT WAYS OF ATTAINING/ GETTING THERE, BUT MS. RAY HAS DEMONSTRATED A WAY IN WHICH YOU CAN REACH THE MOUNTAIN TOPS OF JOY BY JUST PICKING UP ANY BOOK SHE HAS WRITTEN.

WHEN YOU READ ABOUT HUNTER AND ERIN'S STORY OF LOVE YOU WILL EXPERIENCE THAT WORD CALLED ECTASY.

I'LL ADMIT THAT WHEN I FIRST STARTED THIS BOOK, I GOT ANGRY AT THE WAY HE CHOSE TO SHOW HIS ATTRACTION TO HER. I SAID THIS "_____" HAS GOT TO BE CRAZY.

THIS LOVE STORY IS ONE FOR THE "ARCHIVES OF LOVE." MS RAY SURE KNOWS HOW TO KEEP YOU BUYING HER BOOKS. HER LOVE SCENCES ARE INCREDIBLE AND SHE DOESN'T SPARE THE ASSAULT ON YOUR EMOTIONS. SHE IS A DIVA OF SUSPENSE/ROMANCE WRITING. HURRY HURRY PICK THIS ONE UP AND ASCEND TO THE MOUNTAIN OF E C T A S S S S S S Y!! YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

WE ALL MAY HAVE OUR ADDICTIONS WHICH WE USE TO GET TO A HIGHER LEVEL OF ECTASY. WE ROMANCE READERS USE THE WRITINGS THAT COME FROM THE PEN OF MS FRANCIS RAY. GIRLFRIEND HAS ONCE AGAIN THRILLED US TO THE BOTTOM OF OUR TOES WITH "INCOGNITO." SHE'S GOT ME LOOKING FOR "HUNTER" WHEREVER I GO!! MS. RAY HAS ONCE AGAIN DELIVERED US TO THE "MOUNTAIN OF JOY," WITH THE STORY OF JAKE HUNTER (AKA "HUNTER") AND ERIN CORTLAND, THIS NOVEL SHOULD EASILY CLIMB THE LADDER AND HOLD THE #1 SPOT ON BLACKBOARD'S LIST OF NOVELS. MS. RAY, MS. RAY, MS. RAY, HOW CAN I TELL MY HEART "BE STILL" WHEN YOU CONTINUALLY KEEP IT PUMPING BEYOND ENDURANCE WITH THE BOOKS YOU KEEP PUTTING OUT? THIS BOOK WAS TOO GOOD TO PUT DOWN. THE EMOTIONAL UPHEAVALS I EXPERIENCED WERE WELL WORTH IT.

I ENJOYED THIS BOOK SO MUCH THAT I POSTPONED READING THE LAST 20 PAGES UNTIL THE FOLLOWING MORNING, IN ORDER TO PROLONG THE JOY!!. AND THEN AFTER READING IT IN ITS ENTIRETY, I REREAD IT AGAIN.

I THEN PICKED UP "SILKEN BETRAYAL" AND STARTED AGAIN ON AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER. EVERYTIME I SAY, "GIRLFRIEND CAN'T OUTDO THIS BOOK," SHE MAKES A LIER OUT OF ME.

NOW, I'M LOST IN THE PAGES OF "SILKEN BETRAYAL" WITH LAUREN BENNETT AND JORDAN HAMILTON AND BELIEVE ME READERS, RUN RUN RUN AND RUN GET THIS ONE ALSO. IF YOU'VE NEVER EXPERIENCED MS RAY, YOU'LL HAVE TO BEGIN IN SMALL DOSES AND WORK YOURSELF UP OR YOU WILL LOSE YOUR MIND. THANKS AGAIN FOR SUCH A GREAT BOOK, I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO AUGUST 1999 TO GET "UNTIL THERE WAS YOU."

MAY GOD CONTINUE TO BLESS YOUR PEN.

AGAIN, TO YOU ROMANCE READERS, TRY TO GET ANYTHING SHE'S PUT PEN TO PAPER ON, YOU TOO WILL BECOME A BELIEVER. SEE YA!

If you were born in the 1950's this book is for you! All the great shows are here (U.N.C.L.E., Wild, Wild West, Mission Impossible, etc) The book is nicely illustrated and features the author's incredible collection of props from many different shows. Much of the author's prose illustrates his considerable knowledge and love of the subject. I wonder if the former Soviet Union has books like this one? It is my theory that the Soviet Blok collapsed because it simply wasn't very fun. This book is fun. Buy it, or you will be shot with a sleep dart (while you are sleeping, of course, so you will never know that you have been shot with a sleep dart)

Danny Biederman is the actual author--the forward was by Robert W. Wallace. Biederman's collection of fictional spy artifacts is interesting to both movie buffs and to those involved in real-world espionage. I hadn't heard of most of the movies in "the Incredible World of Spy Fi," so I'll be looking them up on DVD. The spy gadgets and props are almost as important as the actor--the gimmicks are characters, too! Who can forget John Steed's steel-lined bowler, Maxwell Smart's shoe phone, the U.N.C.L.E. Special, James Bond's PPK and tricked-out sports cars, or Jim Phelp's self-destructing tape recorders? I enjoyed reading this book and it will be a valuable reference in my personal library.

Christmas present, birthday present, valentine's present, no-special-occasion present: this book makes me HAPPY! I can't imagine anyone not falling in love with it. It brought back floods of ecstatic memories -- and of course, I had to read it while drinking a shaken/not/stirred martini! BRAVO! MORE BOOKS from Mr. Biederman's archives -- and WOW, can he write! Wry, witty, charming, impeccably researched -- 10 STARS!

Danny Biederman's THE INCREDIBLE WORLD OF SPY-FI is not only the perfect coffee table book for those of us who grew up wanting to be James Bond (and maybe still DO want to be James Bond), it's also a brilliant and deeply enjoyable work of scholarship and pop-culture history. Biederman's personal collection of props, costumes, and other arcana from the Bond films, TV shows like THE MAN FROM UNCLE, and even spoofs like AUSTIN POWERS, has been justifiably legendary for years; now he's given us the gift of an intense look at just a fraction of that collection. One word of warning: Don't just get lost in the incredible photos, because Biederman's insightful, humorous, and intelligent prose (which accompanies the pics) is every bit as pleasurable as the visuals. My only complaint? I just wished this book was six times longer. Can we hope for a SPY-FI 2 sometime in the future, Mr. Biederman? Sure hope so.

This book should be in the library, or, more likely, on the coffee table of every aficionado of espionage. Most of us of a certain generation were weaned, so to speak, on the exploits of the imaginative and edgy TV spy series of the 1960s, so there's much here to bring one back to one's formative years. Danny Biederman gives it all his intelligent, informed, and indulgent commentary. There is simply no book like this.

Just what I wanted. Delivered quickly as always. Enjoyed the cookbook almost as much as I enjoy watching the show. Worth the price and the short wait to receive it. You came through again, Amazon. 5 Gold Stars for you!

It's difficult to go wrong with America's Test Kitchen. I love their recipes--and the equipment ratings are extremely helpful.

I've only made about six items from this book--but all have turned out extremely well.

I highly recommend this book.

The scrappy, fun America's Test Kitchen books, companions to the top-rated TV series of the same name, tend to compare to the more staid Best Recipe series the way classes at the local adult education center compare to college courses -- not necessarily as deep or down to earth, but a lot more varied and just as informative. This, the third Cooks Illustrated book devoted solely to the TV series, carries on the fun of last year's party-and-comfort-food oriented book and the original ATK Cookbook with an emphasis on things that might fall into the category of diner and cafe food.

Organized by episode like its predecessors, Inside America's Test Kitchen goes down home with pan-roasted chicken and a quickie ragu bolognese, revisits Chinatown with beef and broccoli (a followup to last year's Kung Pao shrimp), and has fun with ethnic home cooking like cassoulet (trimmed down for weeknight use) and pollo fra diavolo. Trips to your local luncheonette include blueberry pancakes, Denver (i.e western) omelettes, the German Apple Pancake (i.e. the Baby Apple to New Englanders), corn muffins, and lemon cheesecake; even the espresso bar makes an appearance with chocolate chip cookies (including reviews of prepared cookie doughs) and a full frontal assault on the often-sawdusty oatmeal scone (flour choice is critical).

In my review of last year's book, Here in America's Test Kitchen, I pointed out that it was a keg party; if that's so, this is the hangover cure for the next morning. It's perhaps a bit difficult to top the fun factor of a cookbook that starts you off with the best buffalo wings ever, but with yet another cool factor that's off the charts, the ATK crew have at least equaled it.

I've bought a number of books published by Boston Common Press, and all of them, including this one, are superb cookbooks for the home cook. They explain exactly what to do and why to do it that way. In my experience, cookbooks of any sort (especially restaurant cookbooks by celebrity chefs) tend to suffer from poor writing and give uneven results. This one does not. To my palate, perhaps one out of every fifteen recipies falls flat, producing merely good rather than excellent results. Virtually everything is a crowd-pleaser.

The only caveat I have to add is that there is a certain amount of overlap between different Boston Common Press books and Cook's Illustrated magazine. If you own lots of their books or subscribe to Cook's, find a copy of this book at your bookstore and thumb through it to see how many recipies are redundant. Still, an great buy.

I liked the fact it didn't just tell me how to do something it told me why.

While there aren't many recipes (around 30)
all have turned out very well.

I read this book in one go. Once I started, I just could not put it down. Besides giving the reader a great inside look behind the scene of the 1972 tour madness of the Rolling Stones, the author also provieds us with an excellent snapshot of the political and social situation in the USA during the early seventies. Of course, you get all the juicy details of groupies, drugs and playboy bunnies - but you also get a feel for how depressing at times the isolation of a major tour can be. You should definitely buy this book, if you love Rock'n'Roll, no matter if you are a Rolling Stones fan or not !

I think I know this book by heart. I can still recite the tour cities and dates. And... ahem, ahem, I really believe the reason they got Keith out of jail in Warwick, RI was not because of "the show must go on" (please!), but because Keith would've started heroin withdrawl. Get it?

This could easily be subtitled "Fear and Loathing on the Concert Trail." A fantastic book that features intelligent writing and an unsentimental look at the cast of characters that accompanied the Rolling Stones on their tour of America in '72. I just finished re-reading it and I still think its the best look at life on the road. Highly recommended even if you're not a stones fan.

I purchased and read this book when it was first published in the 1970s. It is a no-holds barred account of a rock band at its creative and decadent zenith during the legendary 1972 tour of America. Greenfield intersperses his blow-by-blow description of life on the road with vignettes of the interesting and off-beat fans and groupies that swirl around the vortex of the world's greatest rock and roll band. Particularly interesting is the drama surrounding the arrest of Keith Richards at a Boston airport prior to a concert, the scramble to get him out of jail thanks to the intervention of the mayor of Boston, and Keith's triumphant return to the stage. This is a Stones legend and this book tells it like you are there. Well-written and informative, I think I may just re-read this classic for the Nth time. A must for any Stones fan's bookshelf.

Full of casual sex and violence, this is a salacious account of life on the road with the Rolling Stones. Greenfield excels at nailing personalities and describing the fishbowl the band lived in. The Stones begin the tour in a vulnerable state of mind, scared that their glory days are behind them. Their braggadocio picks up considerably as the tour progresses. Near the end we have 16 year old girls doing "favors", beatings are given to anyone who steps out of line, groupies being filmed "in action" (despite Bill Wyman's 10 yr old kid hanging around!) for that infamous tour movie who's title I can't even mention here. Plenty of cruel nihilism. Oh well, I didn't read this expecting a nursery rhyme! This book delivers, warts and all.

If you are discovering or reliving the music of the master composer, the epitome of tango, Astor Piazzolla , than you have to have this book. I cannot over emphasize the clarity it lends to the music La Camorra as you listen Tango: Zero Hour and read simultaneously about one of the great 20th century musical figures. This book is fantastic. It is a journey that begins in Mar del Plata, south of Buenos Aries and traverses the globe, highlighting the life of Astor Piazzolla as he spread and expanded his musical vision of the tango worldwide. The authors present a book that begins somewhat dense and challenging at first but than draws you into the magical world of Astor's humble beginnings, continues as he he spreads his tango vigor with evangelical zeal and an untiring work ethic that resulted in over 3,000 compositions; all the while as he rubs elbows with all the major dignitaries and artists of his time and goes through several mariages and many bands with different musicians from different genres.. The authors who colloborated on this great book, about an even greater man, Maria Susana Azzi and Simon Collier, give us a glimpse into Astor Piazzolla that is both intimate and scholary at once; the balance lends itself to the character of the subject. They both have extensive credentials when it comes to tango and Latin America. The portrait of the man revealed is not sugar coated, as the various first hand accounts of dealing with the sometimes troublesome and difficult genius indicates. This is a complete book and a great compliment to Natalio Gorin's Astor Piazzolla: A Memoir that is even more detailed. The book is divided neatly into three parts, Part I Struggle, Part II Man and musician and Part III Fame. the first part deals with his early life up to the mid-seventies and fame takes it from the mid-seventies until his death in 1992. As you can see, from the years indicated, that most of his life was a struggle. As there are many different versions of his compositions recorded, the book serves as a good reference point to distinguish the players or different groups that made the recordings. This is one of the interesting , strong points of the book that helps you understand the music of Astor Piazzolla. The classical-jazz-avant garde-traditional sound of maestro Piazzolla's tango is brought to the forefront with explanations as to the goings on in his life that resulted in such wonderful compositions and the varied interpretations. The book also has several "extras" like a foreward by Yo-Yo Ma Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla, a family tree, a glossary of South American terms, sources and notes and some great photographs that include some from the family archives. Essentially, this is about as a complete a book as you can find on Maestro Piazzolla and not to be be missed. If you are fan of the tango and the man who furthered the evolution of the soul of the music of Argentina than you need this book. Recommennded for people who want to know more about the controversies and music associated with Maestro Astor Piazzolla's tango.

Piazzola means tango for many people. The first tango music I ever purchased was Piazzola's music. His music dominated Sally Porter's movie, "Tango Lesson." This is a man that you must know about if you like tango, the dance and the music. Even if your interest is 20th century music, you will be fascinated. The story of Piazzola's life is a story of how cultures, music, and people are interrelated. As a person who was born in Argentina, his music was tango; as a kid named "Lefty" who grew up in Manhattan, he felt the influence of jazz. As a musician known as "El Gato," he built on the tango traditions of Troilo, Sarli, and Pugliese.

He began his musical career as a musician who could not read music. Anibal Troilo hired Piazzola because he had memorized the band's repertoire. He studied music and composition while playing in tango groups, and went on for more formal training in Paris. Piazzola loved everything from the classical music of Rubenstein to the jazz of Gershwin. Although we think of Piazzola in terms of tango, many of his contemporary tango aficionados hated his music because it was nontraditional, evolutionary, and avant gard.

This book was of value to me because it increased my understanding not just of Piazzola, but also of the major twentieth century tango musicians and composers. It may not make me a better dancer, but the increase of knowledge added to my appreciation of the music not just of Piazzola, but also of Pablo Ziegler, Romulo Larrea, and Felix Leclerc. It was a fitting complement to "Tango!" a collaborative book by Simon Collier, Artemis Cooper, Maria Susana Azzi, and Richard Martin. You don't have to be a serious student of music to enjoy either book. It will add to your appreciation of tango.

This is the best and most complete document about the life and work of Astor Piazzolla. The authors inter-link Piazzolla's work with the major events of his life and the artistic and political context of the time. If you are really interested in learning about Piazzolla, you should go ahead and buy this book.

Piazzola means tango for many people. The first tango music I ever purchased was Piazzola's music. His music dominated Sally Porter's movie, "Tango Lesson." This is a man that you must know about if you like tango, the dance and the music. Even if your interest is 20th century music, you will be fascinated. The story of Piazzola's life is a story of how cultures, music, and people are interrelated. As a person who was born in Argentina, his music was tango; as a kid named "Lefty" who grew up in Manhattan, he felt the influence of jazz. As a musician known as "El Gato," he built on the tango traditions of Troilo, Sarli, and Pugliese.

He began his musical career as a musician who could not read music. Anibal Troilo hired Piazzola because he had memorized the band's repertoire. He studied music and composition while playing in tango groups, and went on for more formal training in Paris. Piazzola loved everything from the classical music of Rubenstein to the jazz of Gershwin. Although we think of Piazzola in terms of tango, many of his contemporary tango aficionados hated his music because it was nontraditional, evolutionary, and avant gard.

This book was of value to me because it increased my understanding not just of Piazzola, but also of the major twentieth century tango musicians and composers. It may not make me a better dancer, but the increase of knowledge added to my appreciation of the music not just of Piazzola, but also of Pablo Ziegler, Romulo Larrea, and Felix Leclerc. It was a fitting complement to "Tango!" a collaborative book by Simon Collier, Artemis Cooper, Maria Susana Azzi, and Richard Martin. You don't have to be a serious student of music to enjoy either book. It will add to your appreciation of tango.

Nearly ten years after Astor Piazzolla's death, the debate still rages about whether or not his music is "tango". Well, some of it is, and some of it isn't. But the roots of all his music lie deep in the tango tradition and whether or not a particular piece is or isn't tango is of no real importance. The fact is that Astor Piazzolla composed some of the finest music in any genre and all Argentines can take pride in that. I have been a fan of Astor Piazzolla for nearly 30 years but only knew the music. After having read Le Grand Tango, I now feel as though I know the man. Having "met" him, my understanding and admiration of both the music and the man has increased exponentially. Azzi and Collier have authored an easy to follow, entertaining and informative book about El Maestro. One learns not only about his music but about his forceful personality and the forces which shaped Piazzolla and drove him to be the most dazzling musician of the 20th century. His life, his loves, his triumphs and his failures all spring to life here. Though most readers will likely be hardcore fans of Piazzolla, its flowing style makes it an engaging hagiographical read for anyone who has even a mild interest in music history or in the forces and personalities which have shaped and regenerated tango throughout second half of the 20th century.

Mary-Kate wants to throw a surprise party for Michelle but Ashley is having one for Jennifer the same day. Mary-Kate invites all of her friends and the same wiht AShley but then something bad happens for the both of them and they need help fast.

Mary-Kate and Ashley are in big trouble. Mary-Kate planned a surprise party for her friend which is great, but unfortunately Ashley planned a surprise party for her best friend the same night at their house. They came for the biggest surprise. A great book!

Ashley is throwing a party for her friend, Jennifer Dilber but Mary Kate wanted to throw a party for her best friend, Amanda Bennet. Her friend, Amanda got mad at her for not calling her back when Mary Kate's supposed to. In the ending, they both got a surprise party for their friends and everyone felt happy!

Another pretty cool Two of a Kind novelette.Mary-Kate and Ashley are planning a party each,for the same night.Now the competition is on as to who will recieve the most guests!

Mary-Kate plans a suprise party for her best friend Amanda on the same night Ashley plans a suprise party for her best friend Jennifer. Even though Mary-Kate and Ashley are twin sisters, they have totally different personalities so major arguments arise, not only with each other but with their best friends. I'd have to say this is the best book in the whole series that I've read so far because these kinds of problems are what everyday kids would probably have.

Linkin Park is my favorite , I just adore them. I ordered there book and I'm waiting for it to arrive , but I have to tell you , if LP rules so much there book MUST be cool , I mean it features my favorite 6 guys. LP fans , based on previous reviews this is the book for you AND me. :)

With more than fifty pages of in-depth text,this book tells you the history of Linki Park.Many pictures I have never seen before are also in this book.Highly recommend this to all LP fans.

if you want to know it, this book has it. This book tells the history of the band, even a little about Chester's old band! It's got awesome information and great pictures. Every LP fan should own this

All in all, this book was 5/5, but the problem was, when I was starting the hang of it, i thought it had more pages to be read, but its only less information, oh well.. this explains the forming of the band, where they met, how they started, the Hybrid Theory days..... Chester's band called _xero_ was also mentioned on the book, i really recommend this!!!

This book is awesome. I was up all night readin this. Linkin park die hards this is the book for u. Keep it, tresure it, do whatever u have to. I know i will.

A nice book with the screenplay of the movie, some photos from the backstage and a very small interview to most of the main characters. For all the people (like me) who have loved this movie and its marvellous all-star cast.

WHAT IT IS
This is one of the best presentations of a script I've purchased in recent months. There's loads of extras in this paperback including some queries with the principle actors, bascstories on characters, cut scenes and storylines, great photos (behind the scenes as well as infront of the camera) and of course, the full screenplay.

WHY I PURCHASED IT
In general this is one of my favorite movies, but I am also an aspiring screenwriter and am currently using this screenplay to assist me with formatting my own intersecting lives in my screen play. It's a relief to see a screenplay with such depth be easily read and translated by enve a novie like me. Love Actually is proof positive that the best screenplays are rewritten, not written. Thank you Richard Curtis!

amazing movie, soundtrack AND book. i love love love it. when i got it i basically flipped out and sat down and read the whole thing through. this is a must have for anyone who loved the movie!

This is a film for people, like myself, who like movies that make them think, but occassionly need a feel-good flick with just enough complication to keep it interesting. I laughed, I cried, I got up on my feet and danced, I clapped my hands and I'm telling everyone I know that Love Actually is, actually, a must see movie!!!! And, so the screenplay is, also, a must read!

Richard Curtis is a genius! Although I haven't seen the movie version yet, Love Actually the screenplay heightened my excitement for the movie. The screenplay will leave readers giddy with excitement, eagerly anticipating the turnout of every character's story.

All characters are very human and everyone is looking for love in different forms, which anyone can easily relate to. Readers will find themselves rooting for all characters. The book is also complemented with photos of the movie and budding scriptwriters can pick up points on how to make a screenplay.

The book is masterfully written and it is a great read for those who are looking for love because, as Hugh Grant's character says in the opening scene, "I've got a sneaking suspicion you'll find that love actually is all around."

Back when there was little else written about Star Trek, before David Gerrold's great "World of Star Trek" analysis or Franz Joseph's blueprints, "The Making of Star Trek" was the ultimate. I devoured it as a boy in the early '70s. To this day I don't think anyone can consider themselves a true original series die-hard without having read this book. It really does take you inside the making of the show, but keeps it on a professional level, without salaciousness. That's because the book wasn't written as something for the few Star Trek fans that were known of then, but as a book about how to write for TV, as older printings stated on the cover. That does leave some things out, but those details have been covered since by other books and memoirs.

Since this was written while the series was in production, it's a good view into how people felt then, even refreshing because Trek had yet to become a pop culture colossus, so the book doesn't have any of that built-in reverence. They were making a good TV show that aspired to be something better than most everything else on then, but in the end it was considered just another TV job, certainly not anything that would become legendary.

For instance, "The Defenders," one of the highest praised, most thoughtful and well-written dramas of the '60s, is scarecely remembered by anyone not old enough to have seen it. Part of the issue with that series had to do with rerun-rights issues, but another part had to do with the times then, when TV was still rather young, and shows were thought of as rather disposable, coming and going without much of an afterlife except for "Lucy" and "Honeymooners" reruns. When you think of it in that context, it's easy to see why Gene Roddenberry bailed on Star Trek after it became clear NBC was out to kill it, even though the letter campaign forced them to bring it back for a third year.

The pics and blueprints within the book are cool but may not be as impressive today. At least the blueprints, while not "accurate" by today's standards, were drawn by Matt Jefferies himself. Remember, though, for a long time this was all the reference stuff available. However, if you want what is still a good insider's look into the making of the show, plus Gene Roddenberry's take before even he got sucked into the myth, this is a must-read.

hey Spouk

the capitalization of quotes from Roddenberry (aka the Great Bird of the Galazy) give one "the bizarre impression that he is a god" because for the series, he was :-)

i have a copy of the original publication, read it then and howled, still think it is a great read.

BTW Terry Pratchett uses the same literary device of all caps for Death, in the Discworld series.

Harlan Ellison's memories of the show are fascinating reading as well. As are David Gerrold's.

I read this in the Seventies and thoroughly enjoyed it. Now I've bought it again and enjoyed it all over again. Fascinating behind-the-scenes look at TOS. You have to read this book to understand what a groundbreaking series Star Trek was. You also learn how grueling a TV series is to work on. This book is fascinating, and sometimes hilarious!

This is a classic. It is the first book of its kind, and probably the first book about Star Trek at all. But The Making of Star Trek is much more than any of the later books with similar names. This book doesn't idealize or simplify the making of the series. It doesn't enthusiastically praise everything and everyone involved in its production. It is an authentic and meticulous report on how TOS in particular and a TV series in general comes to life. It shows that it is a process of try and error, that aspects have to be taken into account the viewers wouldn't think of, and that the responsible persons don't always know exactly what they want ("I need some device that does something...").

The story how Stephen E. Whitfield (aka Stephen E. Poe) asked Gene Roddenberry if he could write a book about the series sounds like a fairy tale, but is true. The Great Bird was very forthcoming, and Whitfield was granted access to everything behind the scenes of the still running show, seemingly without any restriction. The book shows production schedules, budgets, private notes, script drafts, production sketches, all things that are usually kept secret or simplified for a larger public. I don't think that something like this would be still possible today. Compared to The Making of Star Trek, Whitfield's last book (he passed away in 2000) on Voyager seems rather superficial.

The Making of Star Trek may be over 30 years old, but it is of more than only historical value. It demonstrates that TV is a business that sometimes doesn't allow technical or artistic perfection. It also shows how many things we may take for granted and that are essential parts of the Star Trek Universe today have taken a rather surprising course change. Who would like Vulcans with names like "Spook, Spork, Splak, ..." as frequently suggested in the early days, or who would think that one race was originally described with the words, "Honor is a despicable trait.", namely the Klingons?

There are probably loads of 'Making of Star Trek' books out there, but this is particularly interesting as it was written in 1968, between the second and third series, before the show had become a phenomenon. Which is odd at first - everything is in the present tense, and there's nothing about the cultural impact of the show because that was all in the future. Doubly odd is the fact that all of the many quotes from Gene Roddenberry are reported IN BLOCK CAPITALS, giving the bizarre impression that he is not a television producer, but God Himself.

It's extremely detailed, and is as much about the making of any TV late-60s series as it is 'Star Trek'. There are bits from shooting scripts, set plans, photographs of noted theatre actor William Shatner in old-age makeup (looking nothing like he looks in genuine old age), profiles of production staff, and programme budgets which, translated dollar-for-dollar, would just about cover the catering bill on 'Star Trek : The Next Generation'. It's worth it for the stream of memos about Vulcan names alone.

Mark Kistler's books are wonderful, entertaining books that canteach anyone (of any age) how to draw! I bought his books for my sons,and I quickly became a devoted fan and an avid drawing maniac myself! The book is packed with pages of fun drawings, as well as 'story starters' in which kids are asked to complete the story. Mark's enthusiasm for drawing and story-telling just bubbles up out of the pages of this book. As a mom, I appreciate his encouragement for kids to watch less tv, say NO to violent video games and drugs, and to expand their brain power by getting involved in art. This book is a 'must have' for all teachers and parents who would like to see their kids motivated to express their creativity and feel good about their drawing ability.

While aimed at kids, this is a great place to start at any age. If you have been looking at other drawing books, and the books you have seen before only make it harder, your search is over. Mark makes it easy for anyone at any age to get basic drawing skills, the building blocks you need to get started. He teaches the skills that other books make seem complex, without the stress or making it go over your head. His way of teaching is simply the easiest method a person can have to start drawing. And if the books are good, his old show on PBS and his videos are even better. Mark makes drawing so fun kids beg to use the book again and again. He does not start by intimidating you with the completed project, in fact you don't always know what you are drawing until you are done. He takes you one line, circle, or square at a time and before you know it you have a fun drawing. I also reccommend you try the books from Ed Emberly, or check my lists on Amazon for kids that want to learn to draw, or be a cartoonist or animator.

If you think you stink at drawing, think again! Mark Kistler shows you how, step by step, to draw pictures that really look like something and tell a story besides!

I bought this book to relearn how to draw properly. While the book is directed at a young audience, adults-at-heart like me will benefit from the drawing principles such as foreshortening, placement, size, overlapping, shading and shadowing, contour and horizon (plus 1 and 2 point perspectives). My disappointments were that a few later lessons repeat previous lessons and that it uses blank pages after each lesson for you to practice on. I suggest you use a separate sheet of paper to do this so you can pass this book to your kids and their kids and so on and so forth. Despite these, I still rate it 5 stars.

I can now draw simple everyday objects both as cartoons and as realistically as I can. They're not professional quality yet, the book recommends daily practice until they are and that's exactly what I'm doing.

This isn't the only book you should buy though if you want to draw artistically. In my case, I'd like to draw comics-style characters and objects so I can move on to animating them later. I got Tom Alvarez's "How to Create Action, Fantasy and Adventure Comics" (separately reviewed) which is also an excellent how-to book.

Mark Kistler's books are EXCELLENT for anyone who want to learn to draw. The layout of the book is fun easy to follow. Although it is geared toward children it is appropriate for a beginner adult. It starts with simple concepts and gradually builds on what you've already learned. Anyone at any age will be impressed by what you will be drawing in a short amount of time. I bought this book for my children and was so impressed , I started drawing myself. My children love this book and so do I.