Movies Books

This book is an awesome book. I remember reading Famous Monsters of Filmland back in the 60s. The quality printing of this book is incredible. I love that they had printed a hard bound version. It's well worth the money. The color of the paintings pop right of the page.

I'm in agreement with another reviewer that mentioned the book could have been better written. That being said, it is well worth the price for all the fantastic paintings and drawings. A must for every fan of horror and sci-fi art.

Even without text, this book would've earned 4 stars, just for the impressiveness of Gogos' work. Within this book are large, crystal-clear repros of his most famous monster cover paintings, as well as samples of his illustration work.
The only setback for this book is its lack of depth in the text. It seems that whoever was sent to interview Basil didn't ask too many questions, didn't want to really know too much about him except for his general acheivements, and didn't ask him for a demonstration of how he works. Among all of the great pics, some candid ones of the artist would've been nice, most notably a pic of his studio.
Still, the images are so rich in color and character. Worth it!

First of all...Like so many reviewers before me have said; almost every boy that grew up in the '50s & '60s anxiously collected our 35 cents every month so we could go to the local candy store & buy the latest issue of Famous Monsters of Filmland. This magazine became our bible & 4E Ackerman became our surrogate father. More than 45 years have passed; but I can still remember those magnificent covers as though it were yesterday. Basil Gogos painted the cover of the Gorgo issue which had a blue background & also the Vincent Price issue which had a white background,etc. This Book displays all of Basil Gogos outstanding cover art which graced the cover of FM for so many years. Don't take my word for it...ask Stephen King, Rick Baker, George Lucas, Stephen Spielberg, John Landis, Rob Zombie & a host of others..This book is an absolute delight for the senses & like fine art is meant to be treasured,

this book is great.Very happy to included this one in my collection.Already have a tattoo planed of bride of frankenstein.

I really like this book, it goes way back to the radio programs...
I love seeing and reading about the people who played the parts years ago and have since passed away or left the show.
It is a great book for Guiding Light fans.
If you don't have it GET IT!

i have the hardback version of this book. This magnificent book came along in 1997 when "Guiding Light" was celebrating it's then 60th Anniversary. This month marks the show's 67th Anniversary {it having began on radio in January 1937 as a 15 minute sermon from various reverends from the Little Church in Five Points}. The radio show expanded to traditional serial melodrama by 1948 with the introduction of the German immigrant Bauer clan, a family that's STILL a part of the show to this very day, plus a host of other families. The book talks in-depth about each and every storyline that had a major impact or is at least memorable to fans. Admittedly, the first generation of fans who recall when the show was on radio are either no longer with us or are in their 80s or 90s by now. And so, this book, as i see it, was also designed to highlight the radio years for the contemporary fans of today who might've started watching in the mid '80s or the early '90s and afterward. The show moved to TV in June 1952 (continuing on radio until 1956). By now the Bauers were the focal point and the storylines were written to revolve around the Bauers and the conflicts they had with each other and the community. Bert was a social climber at first but she out-grew it by the early '60s after she had a pap smear, one of the first storylines in a soap opera to deal with such topics; Bill was a womanizer and an alchoholic; Papa Frederich was the German immigrant patriarch; and as the decade grew, Bill and Bert's son Ed became a doctor and an alcoholic while brother Mike became a womanizing lawyer. The book really gets "juicy" when the '70s section rolls around. 1971 was the debut of Michael Zazlow as Roger Thorpe, the scheming corporate ladder climber who was always being over-shadowed by nemesis Ed Bauer. And so, the '70s were dominated by the quadrangle of Roger Thorpe/Holly Norris/Ed Bauer/Peggy Fletcher. Storylines like that, plus the 1977 arrival of the wealthy yet sinister Spaulding clan would prove to be the show's success, causing ANOTHER very popular triangle of Alan Spaulding/Elizabeth Spaulding/Mike Bauer. The book gets vague in the mid '80s section because i recall things that the book leaves out: like 1986's return of Alan Spaulding. The book says Alan made his return with help from Baron von Halkein...which is true. But the book leaves out Alan's missing years (1984-1986) and never lets the reader know that Alan had been living life as 'Gregory Samuels' in San Rios after having been shot and presumed dead by the FBI, who were hot on his trail in early 1984. Alan had managed to seize control of several emerald mines and use an alias to avoid detection. If fans see this review they'll now know about Alan's missing years. Apart from that bit of history left out of the book, i have no complaints. The back pages of the book give histories of the families that were currently on the show: Bauer, Spaulding, Lewis, Reardon, Chamberlain, and Cooper. There are two tributes to the two most popular characters: Roger Thorpe and Reva Shane. Charita Bauer, the actress who played Bertha "Bert" Bauer from 1949-1984, is also given high praise. All of the awards from the industry to fan-voted are also shown. There's even a section where favorite couples are highlighted: Phillip and Beth; Mike and Elizabeth; Rick and Abigail; etc. Jerry ver Dorn gives the introduction and he holds the record for second longest running cast-member. He's played attorney Ross Marler since 1979. The record holder is Charita Bauer, of course, with 35 years as Bert. The other person with the most consecutive years behind Charita's 35 and Jerry's 25, is Tina Sloan...she's played Nurse Lillian Raines since 1983, this is her 21st year on the show. This book is dated, of course. A lot has happened on the show since late 1996/early 1997. seek out back issues of Soap Opera Digest for re-caps of action post 1996. This book is a must for all fans of the show both young and old. Until someone comes along with a potential 70th Anniversary book in 2007, this 60th Anniversary is an excellant introduction to the show.

Great book! Lots of information about GL. I enjoyed reading what happened in the episodes before I was an avid watcher.

Hopefully, there will be future update editions of this wonderful missive on the history of daytime's oldest soap. Not just for fans, either!

I have been a huge fan of GL for a few yrs now..the only thing that sux about this book is that all the great gl stars have left.. wendy moniz as dinah marler and cynthia watros as annie dutton will greatly be missed..

it is a great show...but the WRITING DESPERATELY NEEDS to improve...but the memories from 1990-1997 were truly spectacular...finally we see THE LIGHT!

This is a great book to snuggle up with your child or grandchild and read about mama fox loving baby fox no matter what! The illustrations are cute and message is a positive reminder about the unconditional love of a parent for a child.

I Love You Because You're You. It's the perfect message of unconditional love that we can share with our little ones. What a wonderful way to express exactly what we want to reinforce with our own little ones. I absolutely adore this book.

I Love You Because You're You shows cute illustrations of a darling little fox and his mother (which becomes grandmother when I read the book). In each picture, the little fox is expressing parts of his personality and different emotions. Sometimes he's loving, curious, and full of energy. Other times, he is sad, scared, or angry. However, no matter what the mood, Mama reiterates that she loves her little one nonetheless.

We received this book as a gift when our baby girl was born. I love this book. The verse is very sweet and simple and describes emotions that will be familiar to a young child. The illustrations depict the emotions with enough detail that a child can start to recognize them. Very few children's books these days have illustration this nice. Highly recommended.

LOVE is an unconditional. This book illustrates the differences between like and LOVE. This is a great book to read to children of all ages. The illustrations are marvelous. Even though the choice of roles may be a little gender biased, the story still depicts and models (for parents or caregivers) the art of teaching love.

Great book, easy to read and really lets your child know they are very loved and very special.

Bob Burns is the foremost collector of sci-fi and horror memorabilia, and it's all kept in his basement. This book is a guided tour through Bob's remarkable collection of props, costumes and other items that Bob has collected for nearly 50 years with anecdotal stories by Bob about how he acquired the items, as well as Bob's life long experiences both in front of and behind the cameras of Hollywood.

There's a pair of Frankenstein's boots worn by Glenn Steele, the Captain America costume worn by Dick Purcell in the Captain America serial, costumes from Flash Gordon...There's models of the rockets from George Pal's "Destination Moon" and a replica of The Time Machine. Latex props from Alien and The Terminator..space helmets and laster blasters from 50's era TV and films. A marvelous collection and the object of envy of baby boomers everywhere.

in addition we'll learn of Bob's background as a makeup artist and the films he worked on as well as his short-lived career as a horror magazine publisher who went head-to-head with Famous Monsters of Filmland. We'll see Bob's long career playing a gorilla in appearances on shows like The Lucy Show as well as the short-lived Saturday morning show Ghostbusters.

From there Bob takes us through the many years of putting on some of the most elaborate Halloween displays and shows to ever show up in suburban America with help from guys who would go onto become some of the most famous special effects gurus in Hollywood like Dennis Muren.

This is a fun and utterly engrossing travel through time as we tour Bob's collection and see items that he saved from the garbage heap. Highly recommended!

This book is a lot of fun. Bob Burns is one of the greatest collectors of movie memorablia. After reading this book, I've decided I want to hang out in his basement.
The anecdotes make this a fun read and the pictures are fantastic.

It Came From Bob's Basement is one of those books that I look at over and over again. Not only are the images terrific, but the writing is exceptional. Apart from Bob Burns' incomparable passion for these icons of science fiction culture, what really emerges for me is a very accurate portrayal of Mr. Burns' big heart and generosity. Bob's intention was never to make money from his collection but rather to be a museum director and caretaker of priceless relics that millions of people have seen in many of the world's greatest films. Now, with the publication of this book, everyone has an opportunity to see these items first hand and I would highly recommend they do so!

This is a man who shows his love of film in every word of this book. Lots of photos ( still I want more shots ) of props that you would never think would have ever been saved. Lots of good stories and things you never knew about many of the films. Great read, I just sat down and didn't stop until the end.

Why doesn't some one with some Big Hollywood bucks open a place where the props and and seen and perserved.

Come on George and Steven... special effects and movies made you millions give something back and perserve the past.

Bob Burns has written a wonderful little book titled, "It Came From Bob's Basement." This book is chronicle of a moment in time that has long since passed from our lives, but we can always take a moment to revisit. Bob grew up in the 1930's when many things, which we now take for granted, were in their infancy. Before video games, and a color television in every home, a child was more innocent; their imaginations were fueled more by a sense of wonder in discovering the world around them.

We seem to lose that innocence much earlier every generation, Bob has never lost it. He chronicles his awe as he discovers movies such as King Kong, which so captured his imagination that it set a path for his life's destiny, and became part of a lifelong fascination with science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Bob has worn many hats in his life, follow him as he changes from Major Mars, a live matinee host for children, to Bob Burns the contributor to many memorable horror movies of the 50's and 60's. Bob's fascination with movies has led him to many strange roads, and contributed to his ever-growing list of friends, some of whom are very well known. Over the years Bob has collected a multitude of movie props, many of which were given to him by his friends in the industry, a lot of these appear as gorgeous photographs in Bob's Book. A movie that I loved as a boy growing up in Southern California, was the Time Machine. This movie was so special to me, that when I see it today, I still see it through the eyes of the child that I was back then. Bob has the fully restored Time Machine prop in his collection, he not only includes photographs, but he tells the fascinating tale of how the studios put it on the auction block, and sold it to the highest bidder. Despondent, Bob told his good friend George Pal, (The man who directed the Time Machine, and many other excellent films.), who assured him that he would one day find it, since he was meant to have it. Many people over the years have had the opportunity to visit Bob's Basement, and view not only the "Time Machine," but all of his other movie props and memorabilia, and listen as he tells the stories behind each one of them. For those of you who have never had this wonderful opportunity, Bob has created this book for you, as he invites you to come in, sit down, and visit with him in his basement.

The Backyardigans singing the jingle bells in their own words to make a great book for kids to enjoy! My daughters (2 and 4) love this book!!
My 4yr old has taken it to preschool twice so the can read it in class and the kids loved it. If you have a little backyardigans fan it's a great addition and a must have!

I really like this book. I got if for my 2 year old to get her familiar with Christmas. Last year she had just turned 1 and had no idea what was going on other than she got to rip a lot paper. It is basically a parody of Jingle Bells and we sing it almost every night as it is one of her top 3 books right now.

This book is absolutely adorable, any child that loves the Backyardigans will absolutely love this book. If you are anything like me you find that you will have a hard time just reading the book. It's written to the rhythm of the song Jingle Bells, so I find it almost impossible to just read it. I have to sing the words to the rhythm of the song. My son gets such a kick out of it. We've spent many nights laughing and enjoying this book. I highly recommend it.

My three-year-old loves to be read to, especially from books that have flaps. This book fits right into her wheelhouse and our reading sessions are more interactive as she lifts the flaps, points out what's underneath, and giggles. This is a must for parents who (like myself) are trying to limit that daily tug-of-war with television.

I bought this for my 2-year-old son who loves the Backyardigans. I love that this book has beautiful illustrations and the foils add something extra too. There are a few flips on each page and keeps my son interested in the book when he gets tired of listening to me reading. (he has ripped a few off, though) The text rhymes and I sing the book's words to my son in the tune of "Jingle Bells" sometimes and he laughs. This is one book he wants to look at and have me read to him. In fact, he got two for Christmas (one from me and grandma) and he loves them both!

Simply put,Harmetz's THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ is as excellent a "making of" motion picture book as OZ is a cinematic masterpiece. The atmosphere created within it's pages places the reader into the 1930's Hollywood machine that was MGM and unfolds layer by layer the work and toil that went into creating what will stand forever as one of the most amazing filmatic achievements of all time. A CLASSIC book about Hollywood!

MGM's movie,based on the book by L. Frank Baum,"The Wizard of Oz,"is nearly 70 years old. But its stars, Judy Garland, Bert Lahr, Frank Morgan, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Billie Burke and Margaret Hamilton, still shine brightly as ever, and the movie continues to be a particular favorite of young and old.

Aljean Harmetz is the daughter of a woman who worked backstage at MGM. Harmetz's mother worked in the Wardrobe Department; she was able to estimate sewing costs on thousands of costumes, from 1937 to 1951 --including the nearly one thousand needed for "The Wizard of Oz,"alone.

So starting from this birds' eye view, Harmetz is well able to explain how "movie magic and studio power in the prime of MGM" resulted in "the miracle of Production #1060." To that end, she did hundreds of interviews, with actors, singers, songwriters, cameramen, screen writers, costumers, directors, and technicians. She succeeded in bringing the great glory days of MGM, under its sentimental czar L.B. Mayer, to technicolor life.

Harmetz explains how the Emerald City was designed and built; how the cyclone was created. She tells us how Judy Garland's immortal "Over the Rainbow" was nearly lost, as envious, nitpicking producers responded after the film's first screening: "Why does she sing in a barnyard? Take it out!"

The author gives us fine portraits of Margaret Hamilton, who played the Wicked Witch of the West--"she enjoyed every moment screaming about those slippers." Binnie Barnes, who played the Good Witch Glinda, retiring to her pink and blue dressing room to await her next call. Bert Lahr creating the endearing cowardly lion-- his costume weighed over 50 pounds. "It was like carrying a mattress around with you," he said. And he could only sip liquids once in full makeup. Ray Bolger, the dancer who created the Scarecrow, " I have no bones. I have nothing inside me. It's just the wind holding me up." And Jack Haley who inherited the Tin Woodman's part after an allergic reaction to the aluminum paste makeup, put Buddy Ebsen, first cast for the part, in hospital.

You should find you read these marvelously detailed pages with great enjoyment, and if you're as sentimental a fool as I can sometimes be, even with emotional involvement. If you love the movie, you might want to try to find this book.

It doesn't matter unduly if you didn't grow up watching MGM's 1939 color movie "The Wizard of Oz" in re-release or on TV. You might think that a "Munchkin" is what used to be called a "doughnut hole." You may think of Judy Garland only as Liza Minnelli's mother, and avoid prewar movies like the plague. Maybe you didn't feel that shock of recognition that "Cora the Coffee Lady" in Maxwell House TV commercials was none other than Margaret Hamilton, the green-faced Wicked Witch of the West.

Of course, if you love "The Wizard of Oz" you've love THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ all the more. I just read this book for the second time (the first upon its initial publication), and was astonished and pleased by how well it has held up. Author Aljean Harmetz has crafted a book relevant not only in terms of one particular "prestige" movie off the Hollywood assembly line; but indeed her insight, research and friendly presentation make the book stand as a metaphor of all Hollywood filmmaking during the height of the Studio Era, ca. 1940. Perhaps the late Irving Thalberg was one of the few Hollywood insiders who could "keep the whole equation of pictures inside his head," but Ms. Harmetz opens up this world for us, and shows us both its realism and its wonder.

We return to an era in which studio moguls were as eccentric and powerful as today's software barons, when studio hands were nonunionized yet intensely loyal to their studios, when no movie studio even thought about a future containing broadcast TV, when movie stars were better known than Presidents or Kings, and when Technicolor would give you any color except the one you wanted. Nonetheless, solving the creative problems inherent in bringing L. Frank Baum's novel "The Wizard of Oz" to the screen was seen as an invigorating set of challenges to be met and conquered.

Back then, MGM had a real "can-do" attitude. So no one had
ever created a moving tornado for a film? After two tries the MGM tech people got it right, and the depiction of that horrendous twister so set the tintype for what a tornado ought to look like that it persists in our collective consciousness today, despite today's ubiquitous video cameras.

There were no tape recorders. How, then, to raise or lower voices artificially for dubbing? This book tells how. What happened when Buddy Ebsen almost died from an allergy to aluminum dust he had worn as the (originally intended) Tin Man? Why was Margaret Hamilton burned severely and ignored, yet Billie Burke turned an ankle and was whisked off the set in a white ambulance? Why did the film need four directors and half a dozen screenwriters, yet was fondly recalled as a labor of love by practically everyone except a prematurely embittered Judy Garland? Was the film the great commercial and critical success you might think it would be? And, by the way, what about those Munchkins' alleged sexual proclivities? Excellent answers provided by excellent research present a fully-formed world view, warts and all.

THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ would be a wonderful companion to the new restored DVD version of the film, which is so crisp you can count the gingham checkers on Dorothy's blue dress (which was actually violet, to fool the Technicolor process). How were the ruby slippers made? What about that poppy field? Read on. Some critics have said that Harmetz's later work is not as excruciatingly well researched as THE MAKING OF THE WIZARD OF OZ, but I don't care. This book and the movie are not only as much fun as ever, but a great education in the good old/bad old days of the Hollywood "Dream Factory." Don't miss it!

The making of the Wizard of Oz is a wonderful book to anyone who has grown to love the Wizard of Oz. You don't even have to be an obsessive fan of the movie like myself to enjoy it. It is extremely well researched. If information is not known the author says it so and does not attempt to recreate history as some nonfiction works do.

Perhaphs what makes the 1939 movie so wonderful is learning all the behind the scenes things that went into making it. This book gives respect and a knew sense of understanding as to what movie making was like in the biggest studio of that time. It is written so that it doesn't need to be read front to back. You can start in the special effects section and finish in the chapter about the script, or the music, or the directors (did you know there were four?).

Did you know that the movie had the work of 10 writers or do you know how the surrender dorothy scene was done? Well, in this book you find out his and thousands more did you know facts to impress friends. I recommend this to anyone who has watched the Wizard of Oz. And if Oz didn't win an academy award for best picture in 1939 than that was because the academy didn't have this book to help choose.

If you're a die hard fan of this classic film then you'll want to read this well-researched "making of" tome. The book is filled with all sorts of wonderful trivia tidbits but most of all it gives an insightful review of those behind the camera in a way I've yet to find in other "OZ" related books. The one and only shortcoming of this book is to be found in the number of pictures, in my opinion there could have been more, otherwise it's a behind the scenes look that most OZ fans won't be disappointed with.

Seriously. This lady apparently never threw away ANYTHING. She didn't even throw away the "Glorious Aryan Motherhood" medal she got from the Nazis in 1938 in an effort to entice her back to the Third Reich, though she was much offended by the "award" and described her displeasure in pithy terms. Conversely, she proudly told her daughter, Maria Riva, that whereas most daughters inherit medals from their fathers, Maria would inherit medals from her mother, and these decorations (including the U.S. Medal of Freedom and two degrees of the French Legion of Honor) are displayed in one of the book's many color photographs.



This splendid book is a Marlene Dietrich museum all by its lonesome. Gorgeous photographs from every stage of her career (including some very sexy and risque ones displaying her famous legs to best advantage!) are coupled with a visual catalogue of the most interesting of her clothing and possessions, including her famous good-luck rag doll, which appeared in several of her movies, and a pair of matched pistols she received from General George Patton (with whom she is rumored to have had an affair) during World War II.



Speaking of which, Marlene's WWII service, one of the great defining experiences of her life, gets full attention in this book, with many very striking photos of herself at the front. My favorite pictures from this period show her watching a training drop by the 82nd Airborne Division, the unit closest to her heart, in Holland in early 1945.



Marlene, of course, is famed as one of the great style-setters of the 20th century, and we see many, many photos of her outfits and accessories, both as display items and when she was wearing them.



Can I use the word "splendid" twice in one review? :) Because that is exactly what this book is. It's a bargain at any price you care to name, and one of the best retrospectives on any great film star I've ever seen.

This is a dream of a book. Full of glorious photos and facts. I highly reccommend this to all Dietrich and film fans. All public figures should be the subject of a book like this.

A delicacy! The best book of photographs I have seen on Dietrich and a compendium of beauty, not only hers but all that was created through and with her. A must have book.

I simply had to have this book when I first heard about it, being the huge Dietrich fan that I am. I couldn't wait for it to arrive, and when it did come in, I ripped the box open. The book was truly worth the wait! Filled with photos of incredible costumes, rare "in-life" moments, private letters from lovers, this book helps create an understanding of "Dietrich", the person. No book, no film, no insight could ever truly capture all the many mysteries that exist in each and every person. In Dietrich, there seemed to be many more than usual. While not going into great depth as to why she had all those lovers, or how she learned to create and control her incredible image, the book does offer an amazing trip down Dietrich Lane, which any Marlene fan will absolutely adore. The book is well worth the price, as it fills 260 pages with 289 photos, many not seen before. A must-have for Dietrich fans!

If you were a fan of Dietrich and were allowed to own only ONE book about this woman, then this should be the book to own. To reiterate another reviewer's thought -- it is EXQUISITE.

I read this trilogy in its first run back in 2000, and was in shock and awe all the way through. The Reeves-Stevens' take on the world of DS9 was absolutely incredible, and they made a menace of the Pah-Wraiths in a way that the series unfortunately never did. I was gripped by every chapter; from the seeming destruction of DS9 and the formation of a new wormhole, to the creation of the subspace shockwave that seemed to destroy the universe, to the journey into the past in search of the red orbs. Just as the characters drove the appeal of the show, so too do they drive the appeal of this trilogy. Now as an omnibus set, I hope many more fans have an opportunity to read this tale, as it may give them new insight into the genius that was Deep Space Nine.

I agree with Omni. When I first started reading I was determined to make it thought although the beginning seemed poorly written and confusing. By the time I got to book III, it was difficult to put the compendium down. The authors did an excellent job of referencing canon works in small ways here and there and they also do a very good job of making sure that the conversation is typical of the characters (for the most part). Aside from the occasional religious tirade by a random cast member and portraying the Captain as a slightly apprehensive leader (as opposed to his all-out persona in the show), it was one of the better Star Trek books I have read.

THIS IS THE BEST BOOK I HAVE READ IN A WHILE. I AM A SOPHOMORE IN HIGH SCHOOL AND THIS WAS ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS I HAD EVER READ. I RECOMMEND IT TO ANY STAR TREK FAN OF ANY OTHER PERSON WHO WANTS TO READ A GOOD BOOK

THIS BOOK IS THE BEST I HAVE READ IN A WHILE. I THINK I LIKE STAR TREK DS9 THE BEST. THE CHARACTERS HAVE BEEN DEVELOPED MORE THAN ANY OTHER STAR TREK SHOW CHARACTERS. THE BOOK HAS A LOT OF GOOD DETAILS SUCH AS THE VARIOUS DESCRIPTIONS OF THE "UNFINISH INTERIOR" OF THE PHOENIX. THE STORY IS ONE OF A KIND. THE CONTINUAL JUMPS BACK AND FORTH BETWEEN DIFFERENT TIMES BEFORE THE CARDASSIAN WITHDRAWL AND THEN JUMPING TO DIFFERENT TIMES IN THE TIME AFTER THE CARDASSIAN WITHDRAWL.

If you are a fan of any Trek series, this book is for you. If you especially like DS9, there is no frinxing (I hated the way Quark used that swear-word) way you should miss this trilogy.

To date, this trilogy combined in one book is my favorite Trek (not just DS9) novel! Time-travel, religion/philosophy/science, alternative timelines, the War of all Wars, the End of the Universe, the destruction of DS9, False and True Emissaries, THE Sisko... there is simply soo much to this book that it is amazing the authors didn't lose focus. In fact, all the plots are handled well and very few plot holes emerge.

The novel starts off investigating a simple murder and quite simply takes off from there. Once the Red Orbs are discovered I found I literally could not put down the books. I read the whole trilogy in just over a week, making this my fastest read trilogy ever (faster than the Lord of the Rings, which admittedly is slightly longer).

The characterizations in this book are spot on perfect. There is subtle foreshawdowing to events that occur in season 7 of DS9 and the last episode of Season 6. The events in this book take place after Sisko et al try to save the dying woman Captain from the planet but before the season 6 finale... which means we get to see Jadzia Dax in action! Some of the subtle hints to her death are quite sad, yet never do they or other allusions become overdone.

Also, Admiral Picard makes an important appearance in this trilogy... Yes, he is finally an admiral, with QUITE an important mission! Other characters, notably Voyager ones, make short appearances. In the alternate timeline we also get to hear what has happened to most of our beloved characters like Riker. And hey why not bring back Thomas Riker for some fun? Vic himself plays quite an important role and his philosophical inquiries are intriguing.

The authors know much about Trekdom and share that knowledge well, though they limit it so as not to make the book ridiculous like some other Trek books. They are also experts in nonlinear time and time travel. Real explanations for why I can or cannot kill my grandfather are given, something I immensely enjoyed.

How can a book that sees the return of Vash and Garak confronting himself (literally two Garaks!) fail to grab a reader's attention? It had mine continuously.

If you'd like to know what I thought about each individual book, please look to my individual reviews for books 1-3. It is best to read every book in this series, although the authors try to make it so one can pick up book 2 or 3 without having read the previous one(s). I strongly recommend reading all 3 because you'll get a more full and rich understanding not only of DS9 and the books, but of your own life.

Trilogy definitely deserves a hardcover release.

we need to learn how to work with them and how to make them work, this is in part what Colleen tells us here. Very nice book indeed and not the usual one. She doen't promise to become wealty by getting published, yet between the lines I think there is a hope for everyone of us becoming richer in the spirit. And this is why many of us write: to live a fuller life by reflecting on it. This book helps us in both ways - to write for the entertinment of others and for the deepening of one's thoughts - and I'm eagerly waiting for a second and third book with more entertaining tips and insight! Thak you Colleen.

This book is great, will really rev up your writing, and I'm not the only one who says so. The February 2001 issue of Wisconsin Bookwatch has the review : With "Movies In The Mind: How To Build A Short Story", Colleen Rae provides the aspiring writer with compendium of sound advice, techniques, and strategies for writing plausible, believable, resonating fiction. Each informative chapter is a gem of sound, practical, illustrative, and occasionally inspiring instruction and includes: Entering The Storymaker's Realm; Fiction's Building Blocks; Participatory Art; Digging The Clay; Whose Story Is It Anyway?; Unlocking Your Story; How To Birth A Story; and There's Always A Critic. Very highly recommended for anyone seeking to improve the quality of their fiction," Movies In The Mind" is further enhanced with a section of Exercise Pages, a Reading List; and a user-friendly index.

Colleen Mariah Rae's book is a unique approach to learning the art of writing fiction. It's strictly an inside job, and Rae helps you find answers to your fiction writing problems within yourself. Her emphasis on imagery and detail is presented in a straight forward manner that sheds new light on the subject. But her advice on developing a trait continuum for your characters is help of the most valuable kind. I look forward to seeing more books from her in this series.

John M. Whalen, Journalist/Freelance Writer

Before I finished the first chapter of this book, I saw a dramatic difference in my writing. If you want to learn how to connect with the mysterious well where all of our stories come from, if you want to understand what really grabs your reader and connects him/her with your story, read this book! It's not just for short story writers. It's for writers. Period. Look through Colleen Mariah Rae's eyes as you devour this book, and you'll see your creative world in a whole new light!

With Movies In The Mind: How To Build A Short Story, Colleen Rae provides the aspiring writer with compendium of sound advice, techniques, and strategies for writing plausible, believable, resonating fiction. Each informative chapter is a gem of sound, practical, illustrative, and occasionally inspiring instruction and includes: Entering The Storymaker's Realm; Fiction's Building Blocks; Participatory Art; Digging The Clay; Whose Story Is It Anyway?; Unlocking Your Story; How To Birth A Story; and There's Always A Critic. Very highly recommended for anyone seeking to improve the quality of their fiction, Movies In The Mind is further enhanced with a section of Exercise Pages, a Reading List; and a user-friendly index.

Sent Murder in the Movies to a friend. Bob Skillen wrote: "I loved Esther Lutrell's book, Thank You !!!!!

This is a well-plotted and skillfully-paced novel from someone who knows the movie business from the inside. Luttrell, a former Hollywood executive, sets her protagonist in the middle of a murder, and then keeps us guessing right to the last few pages. Her protagonist is easy to like, and much more a real person than most mystery heroes or heroines. Katlin Wallace makes mistakes, gets thumped, bleeds, damages her wardrobe, and still manages to find the evildoer in the nick of time. Satisfying and fun, a good book to curl up with on a rainy day. Recommended.

I recognized accurate detail after detail in this pageturner mystery set in the Hollywood, California area. I felt like I was personally there as the storyline carried me through twists and turns of scenery as well as plot lines. I was fooled by the surprise ending -- and can highly recommend this as an entertaining read.

Normally the nose is in some tech manual or writing one. Seldom is there a book that provides an easy read with interest, detail, and colorful characters. Live in Florida travel thru and to LA frequently. With little knowledge of either location the reader can relate to Katlin Wallace as she travels about. The characters are honest people you meet through a life time of living. Enjoyable read for the logical thinker.

Katlin Wallace knows the film business and the highways and delis of the Southern California movie-metroplex. Her story is told with such vibrancy and intimacy that I felt like the author plopped me into the passenger seats of Kate's rental cars to experience with her this blur of action and noshing. I can't wait for Kate's next adventure. This is a solid and witty romp of a book. My ultimate compliment to Ms. Luttrell: I wish I had written it.