Wood Books

Paying the Piper is a first rate thriller with a superbly developed back story. Wood creates a frightening antagonist in the character of the serial kidnapper, the Piper, and a sympathetic protagonist in Scott Fleetwood. The first chapter opens at high speed as Scott is rushing to the scene of his own child's kidnapping, setting the pace for the rest of the novel. If they have a preview of the first chapter, check it out and you will see what I mean. This pace continues through the work, keeping the reader on edge. Wood's writing directs your imagination to really feel for Scott and experience the desperation of someone whose child is missing. As I became more and more immersed in the unfolding drama, I had to ask myself, what would I do to see that a loved one was safe?

The author thanks a member of the FBI for his consultation in the forward of the novel. This consultation contributed to the realism of the story as the author is able to describe authentic investigative procedures and strategies that the Bureau would employ.
Paying the Piper is the second novel that I have read from Simon Wood. It is a highly entertaining thriller and a recommended read.
Gregory Solis

I read half the book while I was getting my hair done. The ladies at the salon thought I was wierd when I kept reading the book during my shapooing! I really enjoyed the book and would love to see it made into a movie. It is not your typical kidnapping story and you'll be shocked at the all the twists. This is a must read.

The tension starts on page 1 of Simon Wood's wonderful new novel. Scott Fleetwood, a crime reporter with the San Francisco Independent, has been told by his frantic wife that one of his twin sons has been kidnapped. When the next call he gets is from the kidnapper, Scott's horror only increases: The Piper, as he calls himself, has a history with Scott. As we soon learn in the first of several flashback scenes, eight years back it appeared that a serial kidnapper had called Scott at his desk and began a series of communications with him. Spurred on by the thought of saving the latest victim as well as by the attendant fame surely ahead of him, Scott ultimately is horrified when he learns he has been `played' by a phony, the whole thing a hoax, and the kidnapped boy is killed when the real kidnapper fails to receive his demanded ransom. Scott receives the blame for the boy's death from the public, his wife, the FBI and, not least of all, himself. This time, the kidnapping of Scott's son appears to be personal: The Piper also holds Scott to blame, for his lost ransom and forced `retirement.' And Scott doesn't yet know the full extent of what will be expected from him in order to gain his son's freedom.

As difficult as it would seem for the author to keep up the suspense generated from the first pages, he has accomplished this in skillful fashion, maintaining and amping up the tension as the tale unfolds. The complex characters and intricate plotting make this much more than just a page-turner - it'll keep you right on the edge of your seat till the final page.

It is 5:05 am - Obviously I could not put the book down.

It is a roller coaster. You want to get to the end but the thrill of the ride is exhilarating. The twist and turns shake you every step of the way.

Simon Wood has written one to rival the greats Koontz, Brown, et al.

I can't wait for the next ride!

KM

This book is so well crafted and yet haunting. I was terrified at times, but couldn't put it down. You come to identify with the crime reporter, Scott Fleetwood, and his kids in a way it seems only Simon Wood can do.

Paying the Piper (Leisure Fiction)

This is a lovely book about the Pre-Raphaelites. The pictures in the book are beautiful, & I like the way the Pre-Raphaelite movement is broken up into sections showing how it progressed & changed through the years. A very informative book.

This is a must have book! I had bought The PreRaphaelites: Inspiration From the Past but this book is much better! The first book did not have the breadth of illustrations and seemed to focus a lot on the sex lives of the artists. Many of them were promiscuous, but their artwork is still awesome. The illustrations in this book are very inclusive and none of the large illustrations is split between two pages, which is true of the other book I got. The illustrations are gorgeous here and plentiful and the text is intelligent and informative without being too "heavy." I can't recommend this book highly enough for someone who enjoys the PreRaphaelites (and perhaps like me, wishes artists today had the same color sense, high ideals and delight in nature).

This is a stunningly beautiful book filled with incredibly beautiful art. The narrative text is well written.

This book is the most amazing introduction to the Pre-Raphaelites! The pictures are absolutely amazing, especially since this is an over-sized book and therefore the details in the photos are amazing!

I highly recommend this book to anyone wanting to know more about the Pre-Raphaeilite Artists (in general) and also to anyone that loves the Pre-Raphaelite works of Art & needs a good introduction!

I am a learning hobbyist artist interested mostly in portraits. An artist friend told me that I might be interested in the pictures of the Pre-Raphaelites. "Pre-Ra...What?"

When I bought this book I had not intended to read much of the text. I was primarily attracted to the beautiful pictures in the book, which I hope to learn from. It turns out that Christopher Wood's rendition of the biographies of these remarkable group of mid- to late 19th century English artists was exceptionally well weaved and readable. I got a very good education on the history of the Pre-Rephaelite art with fascinating details of the lives of the key players and, of course, beautiful, large-format reproduction of their best work.

I came across a number of books on this subject. Some have better and more detail prose, but none comes close to this one in terms selection and the quality of reproduction of the pictures.

It is a great book. I used it for building a covered porch and found it indispensable.

Well when i got the book i was amazed on the amount of diffrent Roof Framing situations that are in it . Stuff in this book not to many people know how to do. Even if i just use the book once to refer to the 20 i spent on it was worth it ... If you are Into cutting rafters and find the Common Gables and Hips fun to do then you would love this ....

This is the best book currently available on roof cutting. It is enhanced through the authors extensive experience and inspirational passion for his craft. It is written for those who already have an understanding of framing and would like to grow in their knowledge. The layout makes it an easy to use quick reference guide for the particular aspects one might wish to inform themselves about on any given day.
I was impressed and encouraged by Will Holladay after purchasing his book. He showed me the joy, the satisfaction, and the excellence that can be achieved by doing what one was created to do.

Very detailed with corresponding illustrations. My favorite construction book out of 10. Covers all variations of complex rafter roofs. Also check out Roof Framer's bible for tables and corresponding math if u hate those construction calculators.

This book really helped me work through some issues I was having with cutting
a complex roof. I don't know if I could have done it otherwise. Beginning framers would also benefit from the book as it offers some advice in that area as well. Be sure you get the Journal of Light Construction edition NOT the edition published by Craftsman Book Company. I don't think there is a better book for advanced roof cutters.

A book about a group of kids who stumble upon some high-tech equipment. Green amazement turns to fear as the kids discover a hairy hacker(see what I did there? Double H! I'm so clever!) plotting to take down the internet. The kids will love it, but I'm fourteen and adore the books for their humor.
-The Doctor

Enjoyed this a LOT! Kids, it's funny and not dumb. Parents, it's funny, encourages fun play, educational, and not dumb ;-) Characters are awesome, can't wait for the next one!

I loved this book! Given I'm very into the whole SPY THING, but honestly who isn't?! I thouroughly enjoyed the way the author entered in, AND that there was a GIRL on the team! Yesssss!

The beginning of a promising series of children's books, The Secret of Stoneship Woods is both funny and hair-raising, the interactive style of narration is fun and easy to read, and the characters are likable and well-developed. Enough mystery is left at the end to make the reader want to head straight to the second book. I look forward to seeing what else this author has in store!

My 11 year old son, a reluctant but good reader, just loves this series and rated it 5 stars. Four friends: Jake, Cyril, Lucas and Lexi find an abandoned warehouse full of spy equipment and computers in a local wooded area called Stoneship Woods. This book is the first in the Spy Gear Adventures series. Something strange is going on in the local "haunted house" and the friends use the warehouse full of great gadgets to investigate the mystery. The action is fast paced but clearly written and easy to follow. The author talks directly to the reader at times making whacky jokes and observations while relating the story. Lexi is a very strong female character, Cyril is the athletically challenged gadget whiz and the Bixby brothers have very strong positive family interactions. I won't spoil the mystery but I will say major questions about the origins of the warehouse remain open for future stories. Fun reading for tweens.

SEX KITTENS AND HORN DAWGS FALL IN LOVE is a gossipy love story sure to please the tween and teen chick-lit crowd. Maryrose Wood takes the reader into the world of the New York City teen with her story about a group of students who attend the Manhattan Free Children's School.

Felicia narrates the story about her crush on a boy named Matthew, and her attempt to lure him in her direction. With the school's science fair as a backdrop, the two agree to join forces to discover the mysterious X-factor in what makes love work. Felicia actually confesses her crush to Matthew, hoping his scientific curiosity will force him to help her prove their relationship is meant to be. Can they use experiments and observation to scientifically prove what makes love happen?

Other parallel plots in the book help entertain the reader. There is Felicia's liberal-minded, bookstore-owning mother who is divorced from Felicia's now remarried father. Then there's Kat, a blossoming violinist who has a Russian accompanist who seems to forget her tender young age and develops a disturbing crush on her. If that's not enough, there's Randall, a closet martial arts student, who tries to fight his romantic feelings for Felicia. All these intertwined stories are told in Felicia's unique conversational style.

Although the title might disturb some adults, Wood's novel, written about young love, is humorous and harmless fun for teen readers.

Reviewed by: Sally Kruger, aka "Readingjunky"

Maryrose has a way of writing which made me feel as if I were sitting in her living room by the fireplace listening to her tell stories about the mysterious quest for love. Anyone who has been a teen (or has yet to be) will enjoy the humor of the mishaps and mayham bestowed upon her likeable characters. It was a fantastic fast page turner, with entertaining twists - quite similar to love itself.

The first thing that I have to say about Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love, by Maryrose Wood, is that, despite the title, it's NOT about sex. It's about relatively innocent high school freshmen exploring the world of love and dating. If anything, it's almost too cute for words. But not quite. Instead, it's simply adorable.

The Sex Kittens of the title are three fourteen-year-old best friends who attend the Manhattan Free Children's School. They've christened themselves the Sex Kittens in response to a karmic incident with a kitten-themed deck of Tarot cards. (You'll have to read the book for details.) Naturally, once they call themselves Sex Kittens, it's a logical extension that they refer to the boys at their school as Horn Dawgs (or just Dawgs for short), and to the school as "The Pound."

The narrator is Felicia, a young poet who lives in a tiny apartment with her bohemian mother. Felicia's defining attribute (besides being a poet) is her hopeless and consuming crush on Matthew, a classmate who is fixated on science experiments. In a moment of mind-boggling bravery, Felicia confesses her crush to Matthew, and proposed that they do an experiment for the upcoming science fair. Specifically, Felicia wants to explore X, that mysterious something that makes her fall for Matthew, while he remains largely indifferent to her. Matthew, in the interest of science, agrees to the project, and they unlikely duo is off!

Matthew and Felicia interview people, they devise and watch various experiments, they collect data, and they do learn a few things along the way. Meanwhile, their collection of friends, Jess and Kat, Randall and Trip and Jacob, and eventually Deej, all have their own experiences with love, too. These are very PG experiences of love, by the way, with some hand-holding and kissing, but nothing at all for the book banners to grab hold of (beyond the title itself). There's a great deal about the feeling of being in love, the pains in the pit of your stomach, the wardrobe indecision, the rapid heartbeats... But overall, these are nice, believable kids who are easy to get attached to.

What I like best about this book is the use of language. Felicia is a poet, and she is constantly making up or modifying words. The one that sticks with me that most is "insert sound of the Chinese gong, reverbeverbeverberating!" Isn't that great? The word reverberating is reverberating itself. There are also a lot of words in all caps, followed by exclamation points. This took me a bit of getting used to, but I have to say that it accurately reflects the moods and expressiveness of Felicia and her friends. These are high school freshmen, excited about first love and the freedom offered by their new school. They should speak with exaggerated emphasis, shouldn't they? If I had access to notes from my own 9th grade self, I'm sure that they would be filled with exclamation points, underlinings, and made up words. All that's missing in the text of the book are little doodles of hearts and rainbows and champagne glasses (though there is some of that on the cover).

There are plenty of other nice things about the book. The girls are, for the most part, self-confident, and the kids all have talents and interests that they're passionate about. Felicia has a wonderfully close relationship with her Mom, and a believably strained relationship with her suburban father (and his new family). There's a great scene in which the kids from The Pound stand up to some "unhip" racist idiots, in defense of their new friend Deej and her schoolmates. But really, the reason to read this book is that the Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs are realistic portrayals of nice kids having their first look at love. Who wouldn't want to spend time with them?

This book review was originally published on my blog, Jen Robinson's Book Page, on July 16th, 2006.

A racy title may suggest a racy story normally, but Sex Kittens and Horn Dawgs Fall in Love is anything but. Felicia, Jess, and Kat are fourteen-year-olds at the Manhattan Free Children's School, an alternative environment for the story that allows them midday chais at diners and virtually no bothersome studies. The three call themselves the Sex Kittens, so the boys are dubbed Dawgs. In the science competition of the century, Felicia decide to enlist the aide of science guru Matthew--her crush--who breeds genius bunnies, to find the secret of love. While no easy task for a group of girls, their adventures and experiments while searching for "X" create a knot of boyfriends, pretend boyfriends, secret crushes, unrequited love, and a really good story.
Opinion: If you can manage it past the SOMEWHAT EXCESSIVE capitalization and LOTS of puns on kittens, this book is REALLY good. Although the Kittens are all a little crazy--I personally don't know any teens who would volunteer their deepest emotions for a science fair project--the Dawgs, who are more grounded, tie the book together. The end, definitely a happy ending of the usual sort, was not at all what I had expected, due to the many twists romances. While not for the Gossip Girl set, this is a fun read for preteens and younger teens looking for romance and adventure without the more mature issues dealt with in other novels of this sort.

Reviewed by a student reviewer for Flamingnet Book Reviews
www.flamingnet.com
Preteen, teen, and young adult book reviews and recommendations

A great, clean book for teenagers who are just looking for something fun to read. This book would be wonderful as a girly summer beach read! If you liked books such as "Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants", you will love "Sex Kittens". The characters are all unique and interesting, and I had so much fun reading it. I will definatly recommend this book to all my girlfriends!

Well written and interesting. The reader is drawn in and taken on a fantastic roller coaster ride through a number of paranormal encounters.

I have every Nick Redfern book available, and there's not a clinker in the bunch; as usual this one is very entertaining, and HIGHLY recommended. My favorite fearless cryptozoologist has done it again!

He's extraordinarily cute, too. Doesn't affect his writing one way or the other; I'm just saying..

Three men Seeking monsters part three with out the other two men. This is a good book but it lacks the color of the first one but still a good read with good monster stories. It's just like a movie series the first is always best but this one is still good.

An interesting and informative collection of things most strange. Would recommend this book for anyone who has an interest in cryptozoology or the paranormal. A lot of information with just the correct amount of humor to make this a very good read.

Nick Redfern has a solid reputation as a leading researcher and author of all things paranormal, especially the field of cryptozoology. He can present the facts, write the books, and speak across the globe with the best of them. But there is one thing he does better than all the rest, and that is get out there in the field, get his hands dirty, and actually look for the very things he writes about.

Not afraid to boldly go where no other researcher dares to, or even risk his neck, Redfern accumulates a book-full of new adventures (anyone who's read his past books knows he doesn't sit still for long) seeking monsters and things that go bump in the day and the night. This time, he focuses his transcontinental road trip on the United States and his home country, England, and trust me, there are more than enough creatures to chase to fill ten books.

Redfern, who lives in Dallas, Texas, picks up where his gonzo thrill-ride "Three Men Seeking Monsters" left off and bounces back and forth between strange and creepy locales on both continents. We follow Nick into the woods of the deeply historical region of Staffordshire, England where his monster quest begins in the Cannock Chase, searching out the "Cannock Nessie," a local legend of a beast, and ends up chasing werewolves, giant cats and Bigfoot-like man beasts, all while his poor wife looks on begging him to not mess with unseen forces he knows little about. Not that anything like that would ever stop Redfern, who plows forth on the trail of Devil-Monkeys, cryptic crop circles, potential UFO sightings and a host of other mysteries from the borderlands that exist in merry Old England.

Then it's soon off to the States where we get a first-hand account of the hunt for oversized winged insects, giant black cats, ghost lights, creepy "dark men" and a plethora of other local and regional legends that few Americans may be aware exist right in their own backyard...ok, well, in the WOODS behind their own backyard.

Much of Redfern's research focuses on cryptozoology, with giant black dogs and werewolf-type entities taking front and center, and the author never fails to both entertain and educate as he presents his own hands-on views as well as some cutting edge theories behind these entities, including the possibility that we are dealing with inter-dimensional creatures and not just flesh-and-blood beasties. As always, Redfern's book is peppered with humor, personal insight and plenty of pictures courtesy of the author's own well-traveled camera.

I consider Nick Redfern both a colleague and a friend, and anxiously await anything he does. He excels as a writer to be sure, but again, his forte is getting out on the road and in search of, to borrow from the TV series I grew up on, the stuff that others only talk and write about. He may seem a bit crazy in his approach, but who would expect anything less of a guy who once kissed a baby Chupa on the lips (I have proof in my book "PSIence"!!!). Rest assured, if there is something in the woods, Nick Redfern is no doubt the guy to find it.
Marie D. Jones - ParaExplorers.com

I wish people knew what God's love is really all about. It's so simple, unconditional, & freeing. Fran Wood conveys this love in her book in ways that most people can understand & relate to in their daily walk. The Lord wants us to love Him & accept His love. He is our devoted master, & He knows what is best for each of us. Thank you Fran.

I have read this book with an open spirit, and then read it again with a critical eye, then just read it again in bits and pieces. Each time it has touched me in a different way. Most times with tears involved. There is truly something for every heart! I have had loss and joy in my life and also have a great doggie companion who is at the last stages of his life. This book resonates in my heart and gives me hope. I know that it will be a KEEPER in my library.

This is an enjoyable read with lots of easily understood references to our interactions with and relationship to God. Analogies from daily living with her dog are very thoughtful and often paralleled my walk with the Lord. Whether or not you are a pet owner, you will be able to relate to Fran's direct confronation with her trials and find comfort in God's love for us. It was refreshingly frank. I loved it!

As I read this book, my heart was filled with joy and with love, and my eyes at times with tears. Thank you, Fran, for sharing much of your life with us, and for sharing how much God has loved you and taught you through Bandit. May God bless you as He has blessed me and others through the memories of your journey through life and your life now with Bandit.

This is one of the best and most helpful books I have read in a long time.
Fran wrote from the heart.
I have purchased 4 already and will probably buy a few more. One for me and 3 for family.
You don't have to be a "pet" lover to enjoy this book.. I laughed, cried and felt so good while reading it.. In fact I read it all one evening and night. I could not put it down until I finished it..
Thanks Fran can't wait till your next book comes out.

As a first year teacher, I have made it my obligation to get my hands on as many resources as possible to learn my "craft." I am amazed at how much this book has changed my concept of teaching writing. I now understand what it is to "describe" a good piece of work rather than "prescribe" a good piece of work.

When I received this book after having attended a workshop, I did not know what to do with it-how to read it, understand it, but after having a year of experience and assessing my weaknesses (how to teach writing), I now understand.

I thank Katie Wood Ray for sharing herself and her findings with us.

I've taught for 21 years, but I always felt like there must be a better way to teach writing to children. This book tells how. Katie Wood Ray gives specific techniques for teaching structure, ways with words, and teaches you to teach your students to read like writers. For all of this, she uses the most marvelous children's books, most picture books but some young adult novels. I have worked on increasing my library under her direction, and I'm having a ball watching my students learn to love to write.

Katie Wood Ray has made a very readable, very usable book to help teachers teach students to 'read like writers'. I use the ideas when I am reading and reviewing new children's literature and each time I begin writing instruction with my elementary remedial students. Truly shows how to integrate student writing and good children's literature.

I have enjoyed everyword of this book. I am an aspiring English teacher who is fortunate enough to have Katie Ray's guidance as a professor and mentor. This book is one of the few that I will not sell back. This unique way of teaching writing writing is creative, relaxing, and enjoyable for both the teacher and the student. No matter what grade you teach you need this book! Katie has an amazing gift as a teacher and a writer which she expresses wonderfully in this book.

As a writer of children's books and a second grade teacher, I refer to this book often - for support, guidance, affirmation, ideas, writing help, and more. It is perfect!

I hope to have the opportunity to cross paths with the author one day...I'd love to see her speak!

I recommend it all the time to teaching colleagues, friends, writers, and editors.

I have collected many books about the Doctor Who series. Books about the plots, books on the history, books on the Daleks and so on. These series of books, About Time, are the final word. If you just became a fan don't bother with the other books. Buy these books. And if you are already a fan dump all the other books into a Black Hole, or sell them on Amazon.com, and buy up these books.
The first book deals with Seasons 1 to 3, the First Doctor, and really gets into the details about EVERYTHING. The characters, the actors, the plot, the writers, the social and historical events that shaped each episode. Not just the origins of the show but the origins of each and every episode. Plots, merits, flaws, sets are dissected, broken down, and debated about. 288 pages of Doctor Who. Get it used or new.

For those of us not able to watch every episode, this is a good way to understand what has gone on.

They said complete and they mean complete. This is not a book for the novice. This is a highly comprehensive look at each episode, from the Unearthly Child and onwards. Each episode is examined for it's own issues, then looked at in how it fits the series, and how it fits the culture of the day. It's so detailed, this book only makes it through the first three seasons and there are a total of seven books covering the orignial series and I'm guessing we'll get the new series soon (he does mention the 2005 season).

If you are a detail junky, this is the book for you. The cross referencing of the culture of the day, BBC politics, actors issues, development of the story and so forth are facinating. It's kept me turning pages and running to order the next installment. It's a definite must for the hard core fan.

not only of the start of a great show, but also details British television history and pop culture to put it into a larger context. Sometimes academic, sometimes fanwankish, but never tiresomely pedantic or boring. Can't wait to pick up the next volumes.

It's so great to see Doctor Who making a resurgence. I've been avidly acquiring the DVDs as they come out to replace the four drawers full of rapidly decaying VHS tapes on which, as a high school student, I recorded every episode that aired on PBS. So, though I don't think I've ever reached the heights of rabidity of some, I guess you could say I'm a big fan of the series. And now I've been able to read a priceless manual for the fan--About Time. In it, Wood and Lawrence fulfill every desire of those of us who have spent much of our lives mulling over the series.

Compared to some of the other volumes in this series, I would expect that this one would be somewhat less popular. There are good reasons for this, of course. Primarily, this is because it covers the first three years of the series. These years of black & white transmission where many of the episodes have been lost struggle in popularity with some of the later Doctors. Which is too bad because, as the authors point out, the series was very experimental during this time as it set the tone for what would be common ideas as the series wore on.

For those of us who have a love and respect for Hartnell's tetchy Doctor, however, this book is fantastic. I, for one, was very interested in getting the background of stories about which I knew very little because the episodes were lost. Additionally, the authors simply offer a wealth of information. Not only do they provide facts about plot, cast and characters, but they also offer their point of view through analysis of continuity and "things that don't make sense" as well as critique of the stories. There is also a series of essays that look at some "big picture" questions like what makes the TARDIS work? can you rewrite history? what's the dalek timeline? did the BBC actually like Doctor Who? and many more.

If there's a problem in reading this book for me, it's that I am, unfortunately, rather young and certainly American. I never got to see these shows in their first run as they were designed to be seen. Nor do I understand some of the references about British TV, movies, and actors, which I'm sure are quite familiar to some readers. Still, I wouldn't have passed up reading this book for anything. I'm already working my way through volume 2.

There is no doubt this is a nice book, but the material is abundant elsewehere and a LOT less expensive. If you are a completist or money comes easy to you, by all means get this. If five hundred dollars seems ridiculously expensive even for a limited run, you can buy Wallace Wood books in bookstores, comic stores, and online very easily.

I recently purchased this volume, along with Starger & Spurlock's "Wally's World," and this is by far the superior of the two books. Rather than attempting to write a biography, as S&S do, Bhob Stewart has assembled some 35 essays about Wood, including four by Stewart himself. These range from one page to 46 pages in length, and from breezy to scholarly in tone. Some are more interesting and better-written than others, but collectively they add up to a fascinating portrait of a uniquely talented artist whose life ended far too soon.

As you'd expect with any book about Wood, there are copious illustrations, including 16 pages of full-color reproductions on glossy stock in the hardcover edition. (The paperback omits these.) The quality of the reproductions is generally good, although there is just the tiniest bit of bleed-through in the black-and-white pages. I wish they'd used a better grade of paper!

If you are a hardcore Wood fan, you should probably get both this book and "Wally's World." If you have to choose, this is the one to go with, assuming you can find a copy at an affordable price.

I came upon this book while browsing a comic shop in Cambridge, and soon realised it was the long promised comprehensive survey of Wood's art and career. I applaud Bhob Stewart for his perseverance and obvious passion in bringing this book to publication. Any fan of Wood's will want to read this book. It contains tons of great art ; some of it obscure and previously unseen, and the biographical information it presents is thorough, and illustrated with great photos. A blurb on the back of the book proclaims, "Hooray for Wally Wood" and sure enough the vivid and imaginitive genius of Wood is on full display between its covers. This is the triumph part of his story, and it makes it a must have art book. But this book bravely explores the person of Wood as well,including the negatives, and the price he paid for his obsessive genius. It's a tragedy that anyone who knows Wood's story is familiar with, and it speaks loudly to the American culture at large, and how we have in the past, sometimes treated our heroes like throwaway commodities. After seeing some of the gorgeous art in the book, it seems incongrous to imagine the same Wood staying up for 3 days on Dexdrine to ink a Wonder Woman comic, but it happened, and frequently. A giant like Wood routinely worked on mediocre jobs just to scrape by. This warts and all approach is as honest as it is heatbreaking, and in my opinion transforms the book into a work of art of another variety, in its portrayal of a gifted but tortured individual. Attention, Hollywood!
Assistants Paul Kirshner, Nick Cuti and others contribute amazing , written tributes to Wood that say just how much they loved the guy, all the while dealing with his difficult personality. For these heartfelt rememberances alone, this book is a welcome, if sobering addition to the legacy of the great Wallace Wood.
I don't know if the author's intent was to produce anything more than a beautiful art book and tribute to his friend, but the fact that this book also functions as a cautionary tale that provides insight into the creative process and inner workings of such an American icon as Wood, is a facinating by product that should be of interest to any general reader.

"Against the Grain" is an excellent collection of artwork by the late comic book artist Wally Wood, accompanied with essays by his friends and associates.

If you've never heard of Wood, you are in for a major treat here: Martians, robots, other-world landscapes, elves and dinosaurs have never looked better before or since Wood's time. Wood's crisp handling of pen-and-ink, his superb attention to detail (which fans called "beautiful clutter") and his extraordinary use of shadow and light are here for the reader to behold. The illustrations cover the entire range of his career, including his work from the 1950s with EC comics, his illustrations for Galaxy and other sci-fi magazines and his final masterwork, "The Wizard King".

Whether it was a grotesque monster from an unknown planet or a parody of Superman, a complicated machine from the 24th century or a fighter jet battle, a lush female in a tight-fitting spacesuit or a caricature of a contemporary politician, Wood could draw it. He could have you reeling in terror from space aliens or laughing out loud with "Batboy and Ruben." His influence on future generations of cartoonists was extensive, and some of them pay tribute to him in this book.

He had both friends and fans, some of them aspiring artists who probably would have paid him just to work in his studio. He could play guitar and entertain a group with his conversation, which tripped from art to politics to science.

Thomas Edison once said that invention is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration, and Wally Wood must have understood that perfectly. His creations were the result not just of skill but of hours of labor. This is obvious from the fine details of such pieces as the spaceship interiors of "There'll Be Some Changes Made," his use of high contrast lighting in "Atom Bomb", the precisely-falling raindrops and slanted spears of "Joan of Arc," the exact movements of a medieval duel in "Trial by Arms"...

Phew! It's hard to know where to stop.

As a teenager and amateur cartoonist, I would imagine Wood as living in a Manhattan penthouse (for surely someone that talented would be rich) overlooking the New York skyline, working at his drawing board and surrounded by futuristic machines, while gorgeous women lounged about his bizarre-looking furniture. (He depicts himself in that manner in "My World", a tribute to science-fiction artists.)

Nothing could have been further from the truth. Despite his talent and his fans, Wood became a life-long alcoholic who worked in dank basements, spending weeks at his drawing board, half-wishing he could enter the fantastic environments he was creating and flee all his problems with publishers, bills and imperfect women. It was as if all his emotions had been bottle-necked and could only come out on the drawing board. (One of his three wives was a psychiatrist who concluded that he just had to control everything or else.) In the end, he just walked away from it all, putting himself to sleep with a handgun in 1979.

Still, his fans and associates have assembled this superb collection and hopefully there will be more of them.

Although it had been promised to be a "definitive biography" by the publisher, Against the Grain: Mad Artist Wallace Wood continues the piecemeal format of everything that has been available about Wood and his contemporaries (Severin, Elder, Ingels, Crandall, Williamson, Craig, Davis, et al) for the last 40 years. -Which is to say it's a rambling book of personal essays/reminiscences, panel discussion excerpts and brief, fan-flavored interviews. The books one undeniable saving grace is that it is very generously embellished with samples of the artist's work. But overall, it feels like a blow-out issue of Squa Tront.

This will scratch the itch of the diehard and casual fan who wanted a coffee table browser on the subject. For those, like me, who hoped, finally, to see the subject's life drawn in one cohesive portrait by an insightful Boswell, it's a letdown, or "more of same."

I hope the book does well. It is, perhaps, an urgently needed Wood intro for newer generations who lack a sense of history. It is a welcome public reminder/declaration of Wood's place in The Comic Pantheon, where he clearly stands shoulder to shoulder with the likes of Roy Crane, Milt Caniff, Walt Kelly, Al Capp, Chester Gould and, dare one utter it, the Great Charles Schulz. Honest, it's not a bad little read. But I wish it had offered something new on the subject, or at least somehow extended the genre of fan appreciation/criticism established by Squa Tront during the 60s and 70s. As it is, this book has an odd way of making me feel that an entire generation, my generation, never really grew up.