Episode Guides Books

If you've stayed up nights wondering about the inner workings of a Naboo N-1 Starfighter, or even occasionally contemplate the unconventional solid-fuel concentrate slugs that the strange society of the Neimoidian traders use to give their droid starfighters such powerful thrust, you'll want to read Star Wars Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections cover-to-cover. This handsome book - deservedly referring to its illustrations as incredible - shows us a vroom with a view; more than fourteen vrooms, in fact.

SW Episode I Incredible Cross-Sections is brought to us by the great people at Dorling Kindersly Publishing -- or DK for short - where just about any topic you might think of has already been turned into a beautifully illustrated right-brained adventure in learning. The illustrators for this masterpiece are Hans Jenssen and Richard Chasemore, arguably the two artists with the best job available in that field this side of Alpha Centauri.

Jenssen, who specializes in technical art, especially machines, lives in England but claims to spend his vacations on Tatooine (no accounting for taste in vacation spots) where he has been known to engage in "moderately disreputable pursuits (he goes all the way to Tatooine for that?)." Chasemore has worked as an illustrator in both the U.S. and Europe on a great variety of projects, one of which was another collaboration with Jenssen: DK's Star Wars: Incredible Cross Sections featuring intergalactic vroom-vrooms previously made famous by the vision makers at Lucasfilms. Chasemore says he enjoys "perilous sports involving boards and high velocities (now, maybe he's the one who should check-out Tatooine).

Rounding out the gifted team taking us on intricate tours of Gungan Subs, Podracers, Coruscant taxis and Republic Cruisers, is Dr. David West Reynolds who earned his PhD in archeology at the University of Michigan. His background as a lecturer, veteran of field expeditions on three continents and as an author of scientific archeological publications should make one thing perfectly clear: you don't have to be a dullard denizen of the local mall scene to be a StarWars fan. If his background doesn't make it perfectly clear, the intellectual acuity of his copy will.

This must-have addition to the shelf of any die-hard StarWars fan is equally enjoyable to tot and teen as to tottering sage. It's a picture-book nonpareil or a detailed account of mid-power repulsorlifts and hydrostatic bubble projector units (if you do more than look at the pictures). It's even a trivia-hunter's true treasure. For instance (be honest now), did you know any of the names of Anakin's co-contenders for the Boonta Eve Podrace? Sure, you say - Sebulba. But anybody knows that! True buffs will want this book so they can win rounds of Star Wars Trivial Pursuit with answers like Ark "Bumpy" Roose, Teemto Pagalies, and the ever-impressive Clegg Holdfast.

If you like schematics (or even the word schematics - it's such a great one, isn't it?) you're going to want to pour over this book like hot fudge on a sundae. Featured is a dual fold-out center page affording a panoramic view of the Trade Federation's Droid Control Ship. The resultant artistry of this and the other detailed drawings was generated when the DK team worked directly with the film production art department at Lucas's Skywalker Ranch, mapping out the anatomy of each craft as it was being created. This book comes from the source, folks: from the source ... of the Force.

My ten-year-old loves taking turns with me reading sections of this book aloud and I can almost see his gray matter expanding (hasn't hurt his imagination too much, either) while we huddle by the lamplight. Only problem I'm left with now is what to do with all these detailed schematics of his own left lying about the house - outlandishly labeled creations from foreign worlds contemplating an invasion of Earth, no doubt. Hmm. Maybe I should call George Lucas.

This edition is devoted to the Spaceships and Craft from The Phantom Menace.

As with Star Wars Cross Sections it is very well detailed and even better with todays print technology. Great for children and first generation Star Wars fans alike.

I wouldn't call this the greatest technical book of all times. I wouldn't be suprised if this book wasn't nominated for any kind of award. But Episode 1: Incredible Cross-sections is captivating enough to stand on its own. I enjoyed it because I got to look through the insides of some of the film's most enigmatic ships and vessels like Darth Maul's Sith Infiltrator and the Gungan Bongo. It's good for those who were still puzzled about the ships after the end of the film.

One of the missing points is the Chancellor ship which appeared in the movie and it was not displayed in this book.

It is more complete than the former book, even considering it is only for one movie and the other is for all three.

Other missing point is the lack of a picture of the ship without the cross-section. It is important to compare.

I recommend.

I always wanted to see more and to be able to look inside of the vehicles more closely, and this book provides that information (and more more) in great detail. I really like the mini illustrations of where in the vehicles that events from the movies took place, it helps to "put a name to a face".

This book is the bomb! The art is amazing and facinates the imagination, the quality of the book is perfect, The cross-sections are the best and are getting bigger... and better than the last book and I can expect the next one to be the best of them all. Excellent job, Curtis J. Saxton. I am most pleased. Star Wars rules and may the force be with you!

P.S. This book is DEFINITLY WORTH The money! Bye!

Ep 2's turn to have it's spaceships and other craft pulled apart and exposed in all their glory. Once again the foldout format is still the best and great for childern and grownups alike.

This Star Wars Cross-sections book is a must-have for Star Wars fans. The detailed renderings of all the main vehicles in AOTC is as impressive as the companion for The Phantom Menace. The writer, Curtis Saxon, has obviously done a great deal of investigation for everything, with so many detailed drawings and fascinating notes. For curios of the inner workings of all the speeders and starships, this is indespensible. Great stuff.

I just recently received this book and all I can say is that it's the bomb! The pages are full of intricate details about both the vehicles and story of Episode II. The foldout of the Republic Dropship is definitely a highlight of the series. If you like Star Wars and want to know more than you can possibly imagine about Star Wars engineering, pick this book up right away.

really ignites a kid's imagination. i got this for my nephew and he loves it!

Even if my dog ate the cover off of the book (he only eats books that I love), this is a great reference for the true Gunsmoke fan. Too many folks don't realize that the first 11 years were the best, and they need some reference to those. This is a great history of all of Gunsmoke, not just the TVLAND "scrubbed" version.

This book is AWESOME. It is filled with the history of Gunsmoke from the radio days through the TWENTY YEARS it was on TV. Also a very interesting history of Dodge City, Kansas.

This was a very good, very well written and very informative book to buy and read.
Janet Nazer

I am a huge gunsmoke fan, since it first was shown in 1955. i thought it was interesting on how they auditioned and chose the main charcters, I enjoyed this more than the 50th year, due to the fact that Miss Kitty, was alive and others that were guest star were also. It was not a boring book and the layout was very good. They also had an interview of Roger Ewing (Thad) Which was informative. I highly recommned paying the price for it to all Gunsmoke fans. )

I never thought I'd ever pay $85 for a book, but this book is worth every penny to anyone who is interested in the Gunsmoke radio and TV show characters and stories. The 836 page book is divided into sections about Gunsmoke history, photos of the cast and supporting crew, episode descriptions, and several appendices. The TV series ran from 1955 to 1975. Reruns are still shown on TVland.

The history tells why they didn't use the radio actors for the TV series and how James Arness was selected to play Matt Dillion. I was surprised to learn that Denver Pyle was a strong candidate for the job.

Among the 126 pictures are Milburn Stone (Doc) when was the bad guy in over 100 B Westerns, Sam the bartender when he played in monster and cowboy movies, photos of guest stars like Charles Bronson, Mariette Hartley, Alex Cord, Loretta Swit, Robert Lansing, Michael Learned, Anne Francis, Ed Asner, George Kennedy, Cloris Leachman, Harry Carey Jr., Katharine Ross, Forrest Tucker, Warren Oates, John Saxon, Bruce Durn, Bette Davis, Gilbert Roland, Lee J. Cobb, Andy Devine, Ralph Bellamy, Jack Elam, Pat Hingle, Gary Busey, Rory Calhoun, and many others. Appendix G lists 14 pages of actors who were on Gunsmoke TV. Appendix A lists 8 pages of famous quotes from Gunsmoke characters. The Gunsmoke history includes 41 pages of interesting reflections by Gunsmoke guest stars and crew.

The TV episode descriptions list the title, date, rerun date, production number, synopsis of plot, and cast members.

There is only a brief mention of a few women in Matt's life besides Kitty. I would have liked to see a brief mention of all the episodes when a woman tried to get herself involved with Matt.

The 44 page index is complete and well done.

This book represents the pinnacle in terms of a blend of behind-the-scenes insights and anecdotes combined with basic reference data. The multitude of interviews that went into the text give the material a depth that the more common coverage of sci-fi shows rarely attains. Like other books by McFarland, it's pricey, but I can think of none that give the reader better value for their dollar.

What makes this guide especially fascinating are the numerous candid in-depth interviews with the producers and writers of these shows, giving much insight into the creative process and the trials and tribulations of creating innovative television shows. There are countless behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have, I am sure, never seen print before. I thought I knew a lot about certain shows, but this book contained info that was new to me; and even reading the articles about shows I never watched (and the entries on each show are long and detailed) I could scarcely put the book down. This book serves as a reference, but it is more than that; it has a wealth of fascinating insights into the television industry itself.

One of the most fascinating 'episode guides ' that has come on the market , a must have for any one associated or fan of the SF genre. An upto date episode guide / summary with an added bonus of interviews , with key actors directors of many favourite sf shows.

From my own column (ex of Mania Magazine), Andy Mangels' Hollywood Heroes:

If you're a fan of science fiction television history, there is one indispensable book you must have in your collection. Science Fiction Television Series is subtitled "Episode Guides, Histories, and Cast and Credits for 62 Prime Time Shows, 1959 through 1989." It's written by Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia, both well-known writers for magazines like Starlog and Cinefantastique. Kenneth Johnson, producer/creator of V, The Incredible Hulk, Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Alien Nation, and more, contributed the introduction.

The hardcover book is a whopping 691 pages (!), and has photos throughout. Each series is given a historical overview, with interviews for the writers, producers, actors, cameramen, and more! Plus, you get an episode guide with correct titles, guest star information, and trivia. I've had this book on my shelf for a few months, and besides using it for research, I'm immensely entertained browsing through its pages.

What are some of the shows covered? Alien Nation, Auto Man, Captain Power, Cliffhangers, Greatest American Hero, Kolchak the Night Stalker, Logan's Run, Man From Atlantis, Misfits Of Science, Planet of the Apes, Quantum Leap, Spiderman, Starman, Star Trek, Superboy, Twilight Zone (all three series), V, Voyager, and Wonder Woman. And that's just to name a few! Plus, appendixes cover unsold SF pilots, and Emmy Award nominees and winners.

It's unlikely you'll find Science Fiction Television Series in your stores, as it's a specialty book largely aimed at researchers and libraries. It's well worth the price!

Once again, this gets my highest recommendation.

It's past time that someone put some thought and effort into a book of this nature. We've had "Science Fiction TV" guides before, and they've uniformly been written by authors whose axes could be heard grinding away throughout as they slagged shows they disliked and drooled over shows they (often unaccountably) were fans of. Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia have done a good job of research and writing here, with few and minor mistakes. The chapter on "Battlestar Galactica," which is accurate and contains a good deal of information, much of it from new interviews done especially for this book, is worth the price of admission alone. If you're a fan of science fiction on TV, this book, in spite of its price, should be on your bookshelf. Very highly recommended.

If you want to know more about the Lizzie McGuire series then this is a must.

The Lizzie McGuire Official Episode Guide rocks! It's so totally awesome, and a must have for any Lizzie McGuire fan. There are cool coloured pics for each of the sixty five episodes. For each episode, it shows the name, writer, cast, episode summary, bloopers, and a "Did You Know?" section. The "Did You Know" section has lots of ultra cool facts. The bloopers are really funny, check the episodes to see if you can spot them. There's also a cool sneak peek of "The Lizzie McGuire Movie". It shows the cast, a summary, and a "Did You Know?" section. There are also biographies of Hilary Duff (Lizzie), Lalaine (Miranda), Adam Lamberg (Gordo), Robert Carradine (Sam McGuire), Hallie Todd (Jo McGuire), and Jake Thomas (Matt). There are also mini bios of Stan Rogow, Susan Estelle Jansen, and Terri Minsky. A must have for every Lizzie fan!

this episode guide is perfect book ever. it the best book out of the series.this episode guide will tell you everything to Know about lizzie mcguire the t.v series.it has the tv episode summmry a " did you know" seletion and it tells you the bloopers they have.Also it has pictures of all 65 episodes and the cast Biograghy in the back. You sould buy this book if you are a Lizzie McGuire FANATIC!!!

this book has a lot of cool information about the show it is sooo coolit has can you spot the bloopers and a all about the show and then an all about the episodes and cool color pictures of all 65 episodes if you are a lizzie mcguire fan this is a must have

Received as Christmas gift and was thrilled. Brings back the memories of the best years of TV. It is a must for any TV Cowboy fan over 50 years old. If I hadn't gotten it as a gift and had the chance to browse through it, I would have bought for myself.

If you are collecting episodes from Western series this book is a must have. I've used it in putting together my collection of Warners series. There is a companion volume of western star credits which is also invaluable. I couldn't do my series fansites without it.

This is an enjoyable book for fans of Cesar Millan. It gives a synopsis of episodes, in some cases including a photo. A sidebar tells how the owners and dogs fared long-term, and sometimes a "Behind the Scenes" paragraph tells about what happened that you don't see in the show, such as a production assistant got bitten during the filming.

I was gratified to learn how some of my favorite pet owners turned out. The woman who was anxious about going outside her home continued to improve dramatically, for instance. Some of the owners did not fare so well, however. They were not able to carry through as firm leaders and a few eventually gave up their dogs to new homes. Many made improvements but did not reach the level of leadership that Cesar showed on the show. Others achieved their goal of having the "perfect dog."

I've watched many episodes of the Dog Whisperer and this book reinforces what Cesar demonstrates onscreen. You need to be clear on how you want the dog to act and remain calm and assertive. You should not reward a dog for being afraid by showering him with affection. Dogs are not human children.

This book is for viewers who want more information about the episodes. If you haven't seen the show and want to learn about training your dog, you probably want to start elsewhere, such as reading Cesar's book "Be the Pack Leader: Use Cesar's Way to Transform Your Dog . . . and Your Life."

Some of you might not be aware of this, and some of you might be: I am a cross-sections addict! If there was a cross-sections book on something as meaningless to me as the insides of a toilet, chances are that I'd be interested in it. That said...after reading Inside the Worlds of Episode 2 I can't help but wonder why no one else has reviewed this. I mean, it's not like it was released a few days ago. This has some sights in it that are, in my opinion, simply incredible. The Clone Army's training center alone was worth buying this book. The book even lays out events like the ending battle in the movie and routes taken during the speeder chase on coruscant. There's stuff in here that was never mentioned in the movie (even in the deleted scenes), and it's stuff that makes the world of Star Wars just come alive in its own way. Now, Mr. Lucas, once you're done with Episode 3, how about making a movie where you give a tour of these locations?

This is a fun read ... especially if you want a summer of free dinners even though all they ever get is a handshake. But seriously, this is the ideal book to read if you are single, never married, no kids, and want to extend your adolescence another decade in the dating arena. Best advice: Have professional pictures taken and post them on your online ads in the online dating world... and catch yourself plenty of fish in the dating sea.

When SCTV hit the airwaves, not everybody was ready for it. As John Candy's Pattoo said to Egene Levy's Ricardo Montalban, "Maybe they had more contemporary comedians in mind, like Cheech and Chong?" But for those of us who loved (and still love) old films and television, this perfect blend of scripted and spontaneous comedy created the most mouth-watering treat a gourmet of parodies and spoofs ever tasted. I can think of no other person on the planet who could've written a better book about SCTV than Jeff Robbins. Reading this book is like sitting down with a new best friend and reminiscing about a show you absolutely adored and have been dying to share with somebody else. I bet most people you come into contact with vaguely remember SCTV, didn't like it (the cretins!), or have never even heard of it. Not so with Jeff Robbins. He'll remind even the most diehard fan of things they may have forgotten or missed about the show. Believe me, it's an unparalleled joy to know that somebody else out there knows what you mean when you say things like, "Look, Pepe, it's a potato," "How ARE ya!?," "The RATS, Billy!," and "Bruno...now take off their blouses!" If you're a fan of SCTV or any of the wonderful stars that appeared on it, buy this book! Chalk full of information, it covers SCTV like no other book or cast recollection audio commentary ever could. I haven't been this thrilled about a book since COME AND KNOCK ON OUR DOOR hit the shelves honoring the great THREE'S COMPANY with the same attention to detail. Don't be a Hoser, buy SECOND CITY TELEVISION: A HISTORY AND EPISODE GUIDE! Take a walk down memory lane with old pals like Guy Caballero, Johnny LaRue, Lin Yee Tang, Harry "The Guy With The Snake On His Face", Edith Prickley, Yosh and Stan Schmenge, Julia Child, Howard Cosell, Bobby Bitman, Ed Grimley, Bob & Doug MacKenzie, and so many more! You'll be glad you did!