Reviews Books

Most coverages of superheroes focus on comic books and illustrators for the comic book world. John Kenneth Muir's Encyclopedia Of Superheroes On Film And Television narrows the focus to film and television superheroes, with entries by show discussing shows ranging from short-run productions like 'Isis' to 'M.A.N.T.I.S', 'Shazam!' and more. Each film and show receives critical quotes, overviews of plot and premise, cast and crew listings, and seasonal episode overviews. An excellent and recommended reference for film and television buffs.

"The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television," by John Kenneth Muir, packs a wealth of information into more than 600 pages. It is illustrated with many black-and-white depictions of both animated and live-action characters. The bulk of the book is an alphabetically organized group of entries on specific superheroes.

A typical entry discusses a superhero and the various film and TV incarnations in which he/she has appeared. Muir discusses many types of superhero portrayals: animated and live-action, black-and-white and color, serious and spoof, and adult- and kid-oriented productions, even including direct-to-video features. The book is amazingly comprehensive, including both solo heroes and teams. There are the expected entries on such "big" names as The Amazing Spider-Man, Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman, X-Men, etc. But Muir does not neglect the curious, cultish, or off-beat.

Among the many heroes covered are the Ambiguously Gay Duo (from a series of animated shorts on "Saturday Night Live"), Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Captain Planet and the Planeteers, Darkman, ElectraWoman and DynaGirl, Isis, M.A.N.T.I.S., the Six Million Dollar Man, the Tick, and many more. I don't doubt that there are omissions or oversights (I would have liked to have seen an entry on the Bibleman character, portrayed by Willie Aames), but overall it's an impressively broad gathering of heroes. The entries feature cast and crew credits from various productions, as well as episode guides to TV series. Excerpts from critics' reviews add further to the entries. Among the fascinating topics covered along the way are the superhero underpinnings of the film "Unbreakable" and the notorious unreleased Fantastic Four film.

The book includes endnotes, a bibliography, and an index, as well as a number of appendices. I found the most interesting appendix to be the one covering the cliches and conventions of superhero media: "The Dogged Reporter," "Gargoyle Pose," "Lost Powers," etc.

This book is well-written and fascinating. Muir takes the genre seriously, and brings insight and intelligence to this project. He is also not afraid to be critical. In his introduction he puts superhero lore into the context of United States culture. He also discusses his rationale for excluding or including certain characters when writing the book. I consider this book an essential reference work for public and academic libraries. But its accessible writing, user-friendly organization, and treasure trove of information also make it a worthy book for any individual with an interest in interest in superheroes.

I totally agree with the previous reviewer; this is a fun book to read with your kids and do the activies together. It's also perfect for those awkward moments when they ask you a question like, "how does a road work?" and you don't exactly know the answer. It spells out everything in an easy-to-understand way.

I have an 8 year old son who is seriously addicted to Lego building blocks and anything else that can be built. I am also a cub scout den leader and that makes me pretty good at understanding what 8 and 9 year old boys like.

They like this book! It answers some basic questions, that very subtley provide some basic engineering principles. What is BEST about this book is that every chapter has several simple projects that your child and you can do together. Again, simple, but it is suprising how educational this kind of fun can be.

My cub scouts like building bridges the best so far. You can bet we will work our way through this book and do many more projects.

Honestly, I wish a book like this existed when I was a kid. I thought engineering was all math and boring! NO SO! This book lights a fire in my imagination as well as that of my son. I love this book!

This is a useful study guide and reference tool for anyone who is starting in epidemiology. It gives a great overview on study designs, statistics, and a great deal of other useful information for creating, implementing and evaluating a study. I have found it extremely useful in both my studies and in the implementation of studies. I would recommend this book as a study tool in any epidemiology course!

Worth its weight in gold. Covers the principles of every subject area required for board certification by the American Board of Preventive Medicine. Includes numerous lists, tables, charts, and a full set of referenced questions and answers. Downright poignant considering the precipitous decline in America's public health and preventive medicine infrastructure since the day George W. Bush assumed office.

Mark Gary Blumenthal, MD, MPH

This is a prestigious classy book and it's handsomely put together. The book will be a great collector's item.

Errol Flynn is Hollywood's greatest legend because he is a nostalgic, handsome, dashing, daring action hero.

Although this large-scale art book focuses on Errol Flynn's movie posters, it manages to be the best book out there on Flynn's career. There is an evocative introduction by Stewart Granger, good essays on Flynn's bio and on the Warner Bros. poster style (which was, sadly, the weakest of the major U.S. studios in the movies' golden age). There are beautiful reproductions of the posters and lobby cards themselves, from an impressively detailed collection (with samples of other swashbuckling movie posters for comparison). And finally, there are essays on each of Flynn's films that are fond, witty, and succinct. Beyond all this, though, it's the best Flynn book because it provides a clear and objective look at the trajectory of a remarkable career. It's amazing to see Flynn's image placed front and center on the poster of his first starring film, "Captain Blood," and it's both hilarious and heartbreaking to see the Dorian Grey-like image on his last, "Cuban Rebel Girls." Bassoff is that rare thing: a committed fan who loves his subject and gives him his due, but is far from star-struck. A great book.

My wife wanted this book badly, even though the movie is over three hours long, isn't it? Evidently there were lots of others mad for it too, since the book was sold out at local bookstores around Christmas. I wonder if there are conventions a la Star Trek and if fans have a name for themselves (e.g., "Wonderfulies," "Zuzus," "Bailey-wiks," "Buffalo Gals/Guys" - or just "Buffalos," etc.).

This book is a quick, easy read for all fans of this great movie. It provides many little bits of information on the cast and story and even points out little gaffes or interesting items within the movie that you may never have noticed yourself. So get out your copy of the movie, grab the book, and revisit the Bailey's!

I am a 4th year medical student and found this book to be an excellent review of preclinical basic science material. It is concise but detailed enough. It can be used as a quick reference when you don't have time to read a larger source. Highly recommended to add to your library. Just wish there was a new edition.

I am a surgeon and found this book lucid and very readable, and at the same time containing more than enough information for principles of surgery examinations for residents. Its critical mode of writing will also serve the surgeon well throughout his/her surgical career and will inculcate a certain critical ability in its reader. My only suggestion for improvement would be a more upto date edition and a slightly better written chapter on biostatistics. Good work Savage et al! Thumbs up all the way!

For anyone who used the AAOS's "Orange Book" for their EMT-B course, this book, under the Brady name, is a good book to have because you get a different perspective on the same things. Of course, the Brady series has always been solid anyway.

For anyone who used the AAOS's "Orange Book" for their EMT-B course, this book is an excellent choice because it gives you a different perspective on the same things. Of course, the Brady series is solid reference material anyway.

This was exactly what I wanted - it has been a tremendous help for me finishing up nursing school.

I purchased this book two weeks ago. I have not taken my NCLEX test yet, but I do think this book has been really helpful in helping me to review two years worth of information! The book covers a lot of information, but is easy to follow. I like the practice tests also. I'm confident I will pass my NCLEX with the help of this book.

Exceptionally well written by Deirdre Reilly, Exhausted Rapunzel: Tales Of Modern Castle Life is a treasure trove of family humor that touches upon everything from daring to see familiar faces at a high school reunion, to coping with the foibles of a pet dog, to how a new baby turns everyone's life upside down. From cover to cover, Exhausted Rapunzel is a delightful, heartwarming, thoroughly entertaining read.

This book is a wonderful collection of humorous essays that touches anyone who has a family or has been in a family (namely everyone!) Deirdre writes in a warm, friendly and clever way about those everyday mishaps which happen in all of our lives. I read about so many things that have happened to me...and it was reassuring to know someone else is in the same boat. I especially like the way she doesn't make fun of her family - but instead simply laughs at herself. I alternated between laughing and crying when I read the essays. My 15-year-old son told me, after looking through it, that he wants one of these books for Christmas. I guess I know what I'm getting my family and friends this year for the holiday - it sure makes the gift giving easy.

It is amazing to see that the events happening around us are predicted in Revelation, even the destruction by fire of the New York high towers were not supposed to be able to burn (see commentary on Rev. 18) It is plain to see after reading this set of incredible research that we are in the time between end of Rev. 14 and the beginning of Rev. 18. The commentary of Rev. 17 is extremely interesting in how the religious/political powers will affect the world with the next 3rd Vatican Counsel. Notice that Pope Benidict XVI is the seventh pope since his namesake, Benedict XV. In Daniel pay special attention to Dan. 11 and 12. The symbolism and depiction of what is NOW going on in heaven is amazing. These volumes will amaze you and open your eyes to the workings of God in prophecy both Past History and Future History, the Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End.

Amazing, but nobody has reviewed this item.
It is not an exegetical nor homiletical commentary.
It is more a commentary of interpretation of apocaliptical books of the Bible.
There are quotations from the works of E. G. White and they are arranged according to verses of Daniel and Revelation. It is a great tool for those who wants to know more about the doctrine of the Seventh-day Adventists from original source. Conclusions of E. G. White may differ from opinion of mainline thought about apocaliptical books, but prophets always were inferior in the sight of mainline stream. History, time and the Bible put everthing in its place.
This book is expensive, but somewhere else it may be for less price.