Dance Books

this book is actually one of the best of its kind. It documents quite well the music of the New Wave era and is a nicely done update of the previous edition.

I got hooked on the TP Record Guides in the mid 80s by luck browsing a cool bookstore. Love at first sight. Ira A. and crew approached a gigantic task with a process and a great sense of humor. Their reviews are amazingly complete for some amazingly obscure bands. [I actually feel honored to know music of obscure underground bands that were somehow unbelievably, under their radar. I wonder what ever became of the "Cache Valley Drifters"? I sure hope Pete and Lou Berryman are still out there too.] They treat most bands with respect, excepting bands of the "Frankie Goes to Hollywood" ilk, heck I trash them too even if I don't know any better! How's that for loyal?

A couple examples of the wonders that drift among the pages. One of my favorite reviews is Simple Minds. The reviewer carefully goes over the bands' brilliant first releases and then lashes out at an apparent total sell out after they got sucked into big production movies.

This book, plus the 1990s edition following it up, will give you an enduring look at the rise and fall of underground music.
Try this at your local library, open this book to Nirvana...read the terse review of the band printed shortly after "Nevermind"s release. Now thumb to Nirvana in the New TP Guide to 90s Music, written many years later, but right next to it in the stacks (dream on). It says things like "every generation has events like hula hoops and Nirvana, they explode out of nowhere" The book is a look at what is important to young people at an important time when their brains desire to look beyond the mirror, even farther outward than the next meal, and they turn to music. It's all-together mindbending and probably important.

This book is a quest giver. Ever hear of the Morels? Me neither, but from what Ira says in his review in this book, I've been on a quest to find some of their musical legacy and so far I've failed. But I'm persistent, they're out there somewhere on some dusty shelf. I'm zealous about this book because in this world you've got to edit.

I love this book. I have to say that I didn't always agree with Robbin's et al views of the music on display. One reviewer mentions their treatment of Simple Minds, and I could make a case for the Silencers. a great Scottish band of the mid to late 80's.

What makes this book great isn't the reviewing they do (concise and well written, always), but rather the fact that Trouser Press provides histories for each band before jumping into their material, and traces the progression of bands through their careers (read the Sonic Youth entry if you don't believe me).

This book leaves all others I've ever read far behind for that simple fact. If you want little info on the bands and sketchy histories and lineups, then by all means, run to Rolling Stone and Dave McKean. But if you want to understand the individual formations of bands, their original vision, how and why they changed, and a full critical accounting thereof, buy the Trouser Press guides.

Magic, I tell you. Magic.

Before there was such a thing as P2P music downloads and other ways of getting ear candy for free (hopefully just to listen before you buy the real CD from the artist you like) you had to rely on word of mouth or radio. Since radio did not play most of the great music listed here, take it from a Suicidal Tendencies/Thin Lizzy fan, this was the one way I KNEW the music I risked my money on was worth it. As far as guides go, this one surpasses them all.

I got hooked on the TP Record Guides in the mid 80s by luck browsing a cool bookstore. Love at first sight. Ira A. and crew approached a gigantic task with a process and a great sense of humor. Their reviews are amazingly complete for some amazingly obscure bands. I actually feel honored to own music of obscure underground bands that were somehow unbelievably, under their radar. They treat most bands with respect, excepting bands of the "Frankie Goes to Hollywood" ilk, heck I trash them too even if I don't know any better! How's that for loyal?

A couple examples of the wonders that drift among the pages. One of my favorite reviews is Simple Minds. The reviewer carefully goes over the bands' brilliant first releases and then lashes out at an apparent total sell out after they got sucked into big production movies. And this book, plus the 1990s edition following it up, will give you an enduring look at the rise and fall of underground music.

Try this at your local library, open this book to Nirvana...read the terse review of the band. Now thumb to Nirvana in the New TP Guide to 90s Music, written many years later, but right next to it in the stacks (dream on). It says things like "every generation has events like hula hoops and Nirvana, they explode out of nowhere" These books are a look at what is important to young people at an important time when their brains look beyond the mirror, even farther outward than the next meal, and they turn to music. It's all-together mindbending and probably important.

This book is a quest giver. Ever hear of the Morels? Me neither, but from what Ira says in his review in this book, I've been on a quest to find some of their musical legacy and so far I've failed. But I'm persistent, they're out there somewhere on some dusty shelf. I'm zealous about this book because in this world you've got to edit.

This is a 100% recommended novel! Especially if the movie is not available in your area, this is to die for!

I devoured this in under two hours! Not only do you get a wonderful read, and stunning photographs...you get a terrific interview with Mr. Haynes. Real insight into the world of glam! If you loved this film half as much as I did, you must have this. It is fantastic!

I read the screenplay in one sitting, it's just as engrossing as the movie! What I really loved was seeing some of the parts that were edited in the movie version and seeing some of the written words. The screenplay also helped to answer some questions and made things more clear; everytime I watch the movie or read the screenplay I see something new - it's amazing. The screenplay also includes quite a few black and white stills as well as a few color stills.

The interview with Todd that is included in this book provides tremendous insight into the creative process that took place when he was writing this film. I loved the movie before I read this......now I'm awestruck.

The screenplay leaves you almost more empty and desperate than the movie.

I love it.

This screenplay illuminates many details in the movie that are sometimes missed by the bright glittering images. It is busy, no doubt. In reading the screenplay, it is much easier to slow down and read through pieces overlooked in the movie, no matter how many times you watch it. Somehow reading it, not just hearing it, will completely shatter your heart. This was definitely done beautifully. Vision can be distracting when played against such poetry. Watch The Velvet Goldmine, read this screenplay, and watch the movie again. You will be completely sucked in, and transformed for that period of time. The movie was fun; the screenplay will break your heart.

I highly, definitely, suggest this piece of art to you.

This is a great reference movie/DVD book for all those far out films of the Psychedelic Era. From GET SMART to AUSTIN POWERS. A little flare for the 50's and 60's, CASINO ROYALE, Peter Sellers, VALLEY OF THE DOLLS and BEYOND...If you collect films from the likes of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S or IN LIKE FLINT, you'll need this reference book to see what you're missing.

Fantastic! Haven't been able to put it down.

I keep this book near. Its a great read front to back, or to just randomly flip through. Lots of insight into the wonderfully weird world of film. A must for all cinephiles.

I was attracted to this book after recognizing the author from his movie reviews on the radio. It is the perfect beach companion. I was amazed at the movies Mr. Slifkin included, many obvious selections with new insight. Others were obsure titles that I had all but forgotten seeing. Perhaps best are the movies that I have never seen, but feel compelled to do so after reading this book. Any fan of this era will love this book. In addition it introduces the unique charm of these groovy pics to a whole new audience who weren't even around the first time they hit the screen.

This book is so Groovy! If you lived through the Psychedelic era or would have loved to, this is THE GUIDE to those movies that were the center of it all. From Bond to Shaft to 2001, from Fearless Vamipre Killers to Top Secret it has it all. This book not only has those movies from the 60's and 70's but those that spoofed that Far-out time. 5 Stars

Ever so often I find something that is relative to my life and my struggles that lifts me up. An understanding that others have gone through the pain of divorce and heart-wrenching decisions that need to be made regarding your children future...possibly without you. I applaude Ms.Benjamin for writing this book and thank her for sharing her life so that we all may acheive a little better understanding of how one's life can be improved by searching for happiness through hope. I will share this with all my friends!!!!

I recommend this book to every woman...because we all are, or know someone who is, struggling to overcome all that life throws at us. Amy Benjamin writes with honesty and humor and with a voice that touches your heart. The Waking Dance is Amy's story of how one woman faces the difficulties of a bad marriage and cancer and emerges stronger and wiser. She is an inspiration to all women everywhere. Read 'The Waking Dance' and be inspired. You won't be disappointed.

I just finished the book The Waking Dance this weekend and I came here to give a review because I fell in love with this book and the author. All the previous reviews (that I've just read) are correct ... right on track. This book moved me. It completely engrossed me ... I can't wait to see how Amy Benjamin's life is going after this. Please continue with your story...

Amy Benjamin draws you into her world immediately, and makes you feel like she is speaking directly to you. Anyone who has struggled through a difficult relationship, a life-threatening illness, or intense personal introspection will have no trouble relating to her. She manages to eliquently depict feelings every woman has experienced, but may not be able to verbalize! I hope this is the first of many writings by this author. I loved it! I want more! Debs-Boulder Colorado

Amy Benjamin writes with a thoughtful precision that captivates your heart, motivates your spirit and inspires your soul.....I could not put The Waking Dance down.....she guides you through a personal and practical journey of self discovery, survival and satisfaction with humor, blatant reality and her eloquent writing style. RUN, do not walk, to the nearest bookstore and start reading now....this is welcome additon to anyone's library.....

I have not had the pleasure of seeing Howard's follow-up work, "Pool Light," but if it is anything like this it is absolutely remarkable! "Water Dance" has several pages of written introduction followed by a stunning array of hundreds of full-page, sharply contrasted and brightly colored photos of nude dancers/models exhibiting many traditional ballet style moves under water. There are other kinds of poses as well, some showing full frontal nudity of male and female figures, most with long veils and ribbons that further enhance the fluidity and grace of the poses. Howard Schatz has truly charted new territory here. This work should serve as inspiration to all aspiring artists of the nude figure as well as photographers and students of dance. I bought a new paperback copy in 1998 but would gladly pay the (much) higher used prices people are selling it for (as I do intend to buy a used copy "Pool Light" for it's even higher asking price). This is a positively magnificent work!

And, to Amazon's credit, I also recommend the following: David Hamilton's "Age of Inncocence," Jock Sturges' "Radiant Identities," also (for some more abstract and hard-hitting photography, demanding personal interpretation) Jan Saudek's, "Saudek," and Boris Vallejo's, "Bodies," Christian Voght's "In-Camera: Eighty-Two Images by Fifty-Two Women" and, of course, Howard Schatz' "Pool Light."

Howard Schatz is a master at creating amazing photographic images of the human body. "Water Dance," his fourth book (1995), is a collection of over a hundred stunning color photos taken of ballet dancers underwater in what started out as an experiment and ended up as new and alluring choreography.

The introduction to this book talks about man's quest over time to conquer gravity, and how dance is created to give the illusion of weightlessness. This discussion is a perfect foreword to Mr. Schatz's work, in that having dancers "perform" underwater essentially solves the gravity problem. What you see in "Water Dance" is a collaboration between photographer, dancer, choreographer and even costume designers to produce a sort of ballet that is weightless . . . underwater. Virtually all of the subjects are dancers from the San Francisco Ballet and other companies, recruited by Mr. Schatz to perform in this project that uses a pool as a stage. Each image is entitled "Underwater Study #..." and features usually one, but occasionally two or more dancers, captured in the midst of an expressive movement or pose, but suspended in a way that the fluidity is still present. An interesting attribute to these photos is the use of the surface of the pool as a mirror, or as a plane through which a portion of the body can penetrate to become hidden. Note also the use of special chiffon fabrics which were created for the underwater studies to take a shape which complements the dancers.

You don't have to be a fan of dance or photography to appreciate this book. The images are truly amazing, and I believe anyone will find fascination with these photos.

I first saw this book over a year ago, and I have been captivated by it ever since. The high contrast cover says it all: Red and yellow fabric, and a redheaded dancer with cream coloured skin. I like drawing the human form, and especially dancers, but the positions that are achieved by the dancers in this work are floating and effortless. The use of primary coloured fabrics alongside the fair skin of the bodies is superb. The physicality of the movements and the bodies is breathtaking. This book belongs on every artist's and dancer's coffee table for all to see.

Review Summary: This book deserves more than five stars.

Take the most talented dancers from the San Francisco ballet, give them special gossamer costumes for underwater, and see how their poses and moves soar in the relatively weightless space beneath the surface. The resulting color photographs capture exquisite forms, bubbles, reflections, and stressless arabesques. The photographs are done with a Nikonos RS camera and a Hasselblad underwater camera, lit by Balcar strobes.

Viewer Caution: These images contain many nude photographs of men and women that would earn this material an R rating if it were found in a motion picture. All of the images evoke freeflowing, tasteful versions of classical poses for dancers and nudes.

Review: Water Dance is one of the most original photography books I have ever seen. Most underwater images are of fairly still poses, while these are often dynamic in their movement. Mr. Schatz has also found many special effects that mimic mirror images, reflections on the surface of water, and bubbles caught in solid transparent objects. Flowing hair and costumes also serve to capture the undulations and movement in the water in ways that will remind you of the most delicate kites flying in the most gentle, steady breezes.

The dancers themselves are in marvelous shape and seem to have adapted well to making leaps and pas de deux that would be impossible above the water. Those images are the most ethereal. The images are greatly enhanced by the special costumes designed to work well in the undulating world of underwater.

Ms. Katita Waldo is clearly the dancer who has taken most naturally to this new medium, and you will be intrigued by her freedom of expression in these images. But many other dancers were able to achieve remarkable poses that were well photographed and reproduced in this wonderful book.

Here are some of my favorites:

Underwater Study #49 (Shannon Lilly); U.S. #229C (floating costume); U.S. #189 (Heather Nahser); U.S. #117 (Tiffany Heft and Nikolai Kabaniaev); U.S. #179 (Jessica Schatz and Heather Vaughn); U.S. #152 (Katita Waldo); U.S. #107 (Anastasia); U.S. #215 (Julian Montaner and Nicole Panone); U.S. #183 (Wendy Van Dyck); U.S. #130 (Katita Waldo); and U.S. #41 (Katita Waldo).

I hope that someone will take this concept the next step and choreograph a whole underwater video featuring such beautiful dance sequences.

After you finish marveling over these astonishing scenes, I suggest that you think about how your own work could be transformed by being moved into a medium in which it could operate with fewer constraints. What would glass blowing look like in outer space? How would writing change if it were dictated while roller blading?

Extend the joy of life in as many ways as possible!

Having gotten acquainted with several of Howard Schatz' books, and owning more than one, I vouch for the opinions of other reviewers that this collection of photographs of dancers, fabrics, bodily configurations and arresting visual phenomena underwater is just beautiful, and astounding! An earlier reviewer said, "The photos in this book are a bit rawer than those in 'Pool Light' - and by that I don't mean tawdry." Unfortunate use of the word; since true appreciators of dance and the human form don't consider the uncovered body as "raw", but exquisitely natural. Mr. Schatz is very discrete in his exposure of both male and female bodies in this fine collection. To my taste, this book is superior to the later one, "Pool Light" (which I also own and thumb through).

One of the arresting visual phenomena is the reflections of forms from the "mirror" meeting of water and air (mediums of different density) at the pool"s surface.

To me (dance buff) this is much more than a "coffe table" book.

I used to think Shakespeare's plays were difficult to read and really challenging to act. It turns out that Shakespeare gave his actors the tools they needed to act his words right there in his text (stage directions, etc.) After reading WILL POWER I have a greater appreciation for Shakespeare's writing and I have the tools I need to interpret and perform his works.
John Basil knows his stuff. I've seen actors perform Shakespeare scenes before applying Basil's concepts and after and it's like seeing 2 different works performed. I've also used them to work on scenes from Chekhov and Ibsen.
Shakespeare is a lot more fun with Basil's approach (for actor and audience alike). I recommend this book to anyone studying Shakespeare whether in an English class or an acting class. In my opinion this is required reading for ALL teachers of Shakespeare and Shakespearian actors!!

WILL POWER: HOW TO ACT SHAKESPEARE IN 21 DAYS guides actors through the three-week rehearsal process which leads to an understanding of performance options of Shakespeare's plays, and comes from a teacher of the First Folio approach to Shakespearean directing and acting. His techniques have been developed for all kinds of performances: any high school to adult Shakespearean drama group must have this: it teaches the many opportunities and avenues available for exploring Shakespeare's plays, relating these opportunities to acting development as a hwole.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

I am a Sophomore at Montclair State University, and I am currently enrolled in John Basil's Acting Class. The book is the required reading, and I am not in the least bit displeased! I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and it helped me a lot with my Shakespeare scene in class. John Basil is an amazing professor, and I only hope I get to work with him again in the future! I would recommend this book to anyone who is entering the world of theatre or acting!

John Basil is a fantastic acting teacher and I am thrilled with his book Will Power. This is a wonderful articulation of his style, focus, and gift for teaching Shakespeare. The lessons in this book will help actors discover the layers of meaning in Shakespeare's language, and then use that knowledge to put bold character choices into action. These skills work wonderfully with Shakespeare and can also be applied to other plays written in heightened language. Sophocles, Sheridan, and Shaw, as well as Shakespeare, will feel invigorating rather than intimidating for the actor equipped with Basil's techniques. I use many of these same techniques when auditioning for or acting in commercials. After working through Shakespeare, making sense of medical jargon is easy. Whether you're a seasoned professional or a student, if you work through this book and apply these techniques consistently and courageously, you will learn to act Shakespeare in a realized and compelling way. This book would also be an excellent text for a university acting course focusing on Shakespeare. Over the years I have introduced my college students to Basil's techniques. Now that Basil's written this book, I can't wait to guide them through Will Power.

It doesn't matter if you are a high school student trying to get the hang of the language or a professional actor trying to improve on your knowlege this book will help. Straightforward, logical and lots and lots of fun.

A must-have for a baby's library, this book is one of the best on our bookshelf! Like another reviewer, I too have it memorized! I bought this book for my daughter when she was 2 months old (it was one that she'd actually sit through when she became mobile!). We have read it on a regular basis since and love it! She is now 2 yrs old and still loves it as much now as she did then. The text is a fun rhyme, allowing interaction w/ counting and hand motions without being "teachy". It's just plain fun~ I wonder who likes this book better, my daughter or I!

My 12-month-old daughter is obsessed with this book. We have to hide it between reading times because otherwise she constantly brings it to us to read it to her. The words have a catchy rhythm that gets both my younger and my 3-year-old daughters dancing when I read it to them. They just can't sit still! The illustrations are bright and appealing, and even though I've read it a million times so far (I think I know it by heart at this point), it's always fun to read it again.

and so do my toddlers. It has a snappy text, bright colors, and best of all, I don't have to "MOO"! Even if you don't think you're a good story reader, this one reads itself: "Crinkle it, wrinkle it, wear it for a crown. Listen to the paper snap, flap it up and down!" (Sorry, I have it memorized...)

Every adult who I have shown this book to, has laughed out loud. Every parent or grandparent who has watched a toddler "fling" the gift on the floor to obtain the light, colorful, deliciously crinkly tissue paper, will enjoy this romp.

My 2-year-old loves the illustrations and rhymes. Great toddler book! Highly recommended.

My newly discovered hobby is tucking this book under my arm, stuffed with an array of bookmarks, old business cards and straw wrappers -- to help seek out these cinematic gems when I enter my video store. Author DiLeo has unearthed a wealth of fantastic performances in films that I never would've thought to view or even knew existed! I actually called in sick to work one day after viewing three of his recommended classics back-to-back till the wee hours. What a glorious night! Mr. DiLeo... you're gonna cost me my job! BUY THIS BOOK!

John DiLeo's opinions and quips are quick, tart, and fun. But this book wouldn't be as fascinating if that was all that was going on. The depth of his film knowledge, his obvious love of movies, and the acuteness of his recommendations make this a wonderful book for anyone--from cinemaniac to cultural reader.

My newly discovered hobby is tucking this book under my arm, stuffed with an array of bookmarks, old business cards and straw wrappers -- to help seek out these cinematic gems when I enter my video store. Author DiLeo has unearthed a wealth of fantastic performances in films that I never would've thought to view or even knew existed! I actually called in sick to work one day after viewing three of his recommended classics back-to-back till the wee hours. What a glorious night! Mr. DiLeo... you're gonna cost me my job! BUY THIS BOOK!

Anyone who loves watching classic movies should buy this book! The author gives thorough reviews of all one hundred movies. He doesn't focus on just one genre and there is a good mix of comedic, dramatic, and musical performances. Some of my favorite performances are here including Jeanette MacDonald in Naught Marietta, Vivien Leigh in Waterloo Bridge, and William Powell in Libeled Lady. After reading this book there are many more films I want to see.

Overlooked performances from the movie stars of old or the present crop, take your pick. Whichever you prefer make sure you read John DiLeo's book. He captures the performances in such a way that you feel you are watching the film while reading his eloquent, captivating description. It is an absolute joy for any movie buff.

a great book to review past Academy Award winners and nominees
i really enjoyed the notes from previous award winners and their thoughts on receiving the award
i have given this as a gift to fellow movie lovers and it is a big hit
has also helped me in a few movie trivia contests too!!

This is a must-have of any film buff and is the most comprehen-
sive book of its kind that I have seen.

This book is not a history in the since of most history books. It does not detail how the academy began, or how it changed over the years, or give you any kind of insider view of its workings. Instead, it is a complete listing of every nominee and every winner in every category since the award ceremony's inception in 1927. There are plenty of photographs of the nominees and images of scenes from the nominated films for each year, so it is not dry in the way many reference books are. In fact, Mr. Osborne's love of film and its history really shine through in the book. It is interesting to look through this book and see what we consider to be films that have withstood the test of time versus which ones were rewarded by the academy at the time. For example, in 1939, the Academy did recognize that "Gone with the Wind" was the best picture of the year, which people were lining up to watch in movie theaters until its television broadcast premiere in 1976. However, in 1941, "How Green was My Valley" won best picture, which is a film that hardly anyone watches anymore, while "Citizen Kane" was completely ignored. It's also interesting to see how the Academy compensated for past oversights by awarding performances that were less than stellar in subsequent years. For instance, in 1934 Bette Davis was overlooked in her performance in "Of Human Bondage". This caused a huge public outcry. The following year the Academy gave her the best actress award for her performance in "Dangerous"- a move that has largely been seen over the years as a consolation prize for what happened the year before.
This book is full of little insights such as these, and it is a fun book that gives hours of entertainment for film history buffs. I bought my first copy of this history by Mr. Osborne back in 1987 when he was then detailing the 60 years of the Oscar, and I enjoyed it so much I have been updating my copy every time he releases a new edition. Highly recommended.

Over the years, I have picked up a few books about the Academy Awards. I did so primarily to get a list of winners but I have also been interested in knowing the nominees. In the early days of the award it wasn't unusual to have eight or nine nominees for a particular award. However, the inference was still that there was something special about this particular movie in regards to this particular awards. I like that "75 Years of the Oscar" lists not only each award winner but each award nominee as well. I espcially appreciate the listing of all nominees for the Best Foreign Language award. I hadn't come across that before in any of the books I'd found.

"75 Years of the Oscar" makes for a large tome and I did have to send back the first edition of the book that I received due to weak binding for a book this size. The book provides an overview of each individual year as well as each decade of the award. Over the years the Academy Awards have over-rated some turkeys and ignored some movies now considered classics. The Academy has had a tendency, over the years, to focus on five to eight movies a year for 95% of all nominees. It certainly seems that it is a popularity contest more than an artistic examination. However, it's still a fairly reliable source for finding good movies of the past and that's what I use it for.

This book is chock full of facts about everything to do with the Academy and it's evolving from nothing to what it is today. It tells how and who started it, and how the different categories for Oscars were added as the years went by. The first 2 chapters or so overwhelm you with dry details which make it tedious reading; at least that is how I felt about it.
The rest of the book's chapters go year by year telling you all the nominations and winners of Oscars in all the different categories, and show you dozens of good pictures of the stars. You can also read the acceptance speeches given in the book by the stars that won Academy Awards.
There also is a section that lists the names of all the stars that have won 2 or more Academy Awards. This is what I really liked. This is what I bought the book for.
It is a huge book to read, so just take your time and read a little bit at a time.
I'm glad I bought it because I am a movie fan and have learned from it; and can always refer back to it when I want to find something out.

I recently bought all the box sets of X-Files DVD's and have been watching them in order when I came across this book on Amazon. It was a valuable source of information and trivia for all the episodes for that season. I only wish I had gotten the earlier volumes of this series and that it had continued for seasons 8 and 9.

After a much anticipated wait, I was glad to have this book appear in my mailbox shortly after it delayed in publishing. Happy as a clam I thumbed through the pages, seeing each episode written in a "short story" style with dialougue taken from the scripts. I am also glad to see that they kept the title "all things" in lower case, as Gillian Anderson had when naming the episode she had written and directed. I have all season guides and I must say this is one of the best ones put out.

This Book would have to be my all time favorite that only adds to my collection of vol.3-6 now. If you want more x-files, and want to learn more about Season 7, I suggest buying this book. Of course, like the other volumes it has in-depth details of each episode as well as black & white pictures to accommodate them. There are eight pages of color pictures: X-Cops, Je Souhaite, Fight Club, FPS, and, Hollywood A.D.. Very Cool! I enjoy this book very much, despite the delay in publishing, but beleive me, it was worth the wait. There's also the back story of why the ending of Requiem was kept a secret, why Chris waited until the last day of shooting Requiem to write the finale, and why only 2 people knew of it's true ending. . . . All in All, an Excellent Book to add to your X-Files Paraphernalia!

This book has great photo, dialogue each show, the cast, interviews, and intersting facts about the show. This is a must have in any one x-files colection.:) :) :) :) :)

I had some apprehensions about this book before it even came out. First, the release date for this volume was pushed back, which is not typically a very good sign. And second, this volume was being drafted by Marc Shapiro and not Andy Meisler (who did such a wonderful job with the previous two volumes). But after having read through it, I can happily allay any apprehensions about this book not living up to its predecessors. Volume 6 in this series is just as good, if not better, than those volumes that came out before it.

Marc Shapiro does a great job in delivering the goods behind every episode. I was very impressed with this from Andy Meisler, and Marc Shapiro doesn't disappoint. There is interesting background information on all the episodes - things like the time-crunch in making "Requiem" and the fact that Gillian Anderson had to wear a wig in a car scene in "The Goldberg Variation" because it was shot after her hair stylist had sheared off her lovely locks.

Included in this book are eight full-color pages of images from the seventh season. Those images selected are fine enough, but they only focus on about four or five episodes, which doesn't do such a great season justice. It would have been nice to see more of a mix - some mythology episodes ("The Sixth Extinction" and "Sein Und Zeit") and stand-alone episodes ("En Ami" and "All Things"). But this is a minor detraction from an overall sharp-looking book.

Any fans of the series should have this volume sitting on their bookshelves. This is a must-have, and it is an enjoyable read. Well worth the wait in the time it took to get it published.