Dance Books

This book was everything that we wanted it to be! My daughter is almost 6 and loves it. I bought it because she is interested in ballet and loves to dance, but we knew little about the stories of the famous ballets. This book was perfect for teaching her about five of the most famous ballets. I highly recommend this book & CD to others.

I bought the book to share with my younger ballet students. My 5-6 year olds loved sitting down for a short story time during ballet class. The story of The Nutcracker was divided into four logical sections, so for their last four classes before winter break I read one section each class.

The first time I introduced a little background of the ballet before reading. Each subsequent day we reviewed the characters, action and setting from the week prior before reading the next section. After reading about the Land of Sweets and the Sugar Plum Fairy (the last two sections) I had my students try to dance like their favorite candies of today, then we danced to the actual Sugar Plum Fairy music.

I was able to incorporate the story into my class easily, because it was divided so well already. One part of the story was on each two page spread, and my students loved looking at the illustrations and the photographs of actual dancers in costume.

I have listened to the CD component, but it only seems to have one track for each story, so it would have been difficult to use in my lesson plan. It does have the music for each section of the ballet in the background as Ms. Bussell is reading. The CD would be an excellent accompaniment for reading the book with a child at home, or listening to at home or in the car.

I will probably use the same format to share another of the five total ballet stories in the book with my students, and I will definitely repeat the Nutcracker lesson plan next Fall.

This is a perfect introduction for the young, serious balletstudent to THE classic ballets: The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker. It tells the story(s) AS DANCED, an important difference for a student of dance. Ms. Bussell's personal comments and pictures ignite a young dancer's dreams of a professional career. My daughter just turned ten and the detail was appropriate for her reading and interest level. Although the read-along-feature makes it look like it's for younger readers, I think ten is the youngest age I'd recommend unless you have an EXCEPTIONAL reader who also LOVES ballet. This review is based on the book. I haven't had a chance to listen to the audio yet; it's available on cassette or CD. Amazon's price was the best...

I bought this for my 5yr old daughter who is taking ballet lessons. It is a charming informative book with wonderful photos and drawings. I think children older than 4-8(amazon's recommendation) would also enjoy this item.

This is a lovely little book with great pictures which has really helped my daughter learn moves and draw them. The stories are well written and it's great that a currently popular ballet dancer helped with it, not one retiring and probably never heard from again. I reccomend this book for people who like ballet and the stories, it a great book to read to children!

This book is a great resource for the first series of new Doctor Who starring Christopher Ecclestone. It includes the shooting scripts for all 13 episodes so some scenes aired are in a different order or are shorter than in the script book but the scripts are essentially what was aired on screen. Each script is accompanied by a short editorial by the scriptwriter and excellent selection of photos from the aired episode. If you want to explore television script format or follow the script while watching your DVDs, this is the book for you. A must for Doctor Who fans!

Dr. Who is Forty (actually he's 900, but like the Doctor, the show had been around in one form or another since 1964). During March and through June the BBC celebrated by bringing the show back to television for its 27th season (or as it is more consistently called: SEASON ONE)in a glossy, fast-paced enough to satisfy contemporary audiences, while still conscious of its roots. This hardback book contains all 13 season one scripts for the 2005 rebirth of the longest running sci-fi series in TV history. Seven of these scripts are by Russell T. Davies, with the remaining 6 by Steven Moffat, Robert Shearman, Paul Cornell and Mark Gatiss. Each provides an insightful intro for their scripts revealing their inspirations and changes they had to make to bringing the stories to screen. These writers clearly have a respect and understanding of the UK icon, which evident in Davies' final remarks:

"There are some people in the TV industry who have asked archly, why I'm now writing genre, instead of drama. Obviously, they've never watch a single episode of Doctor Who. It's the best drama in the world."

Doctor Who has always has a voice defined by the decade each in tune with its era and this holds true to the new Doctor Who. This Doctor is almost child-like in his enthusiasm and wonder. Featuring the Doctor as played by Christopher Eccleston, infusing the character with great humanity, while remaining mysterious and alien, along with his companion Rose played by Billie Piper, growing from an awed slacker to a seasoned space adventurer. However, the format of the show has changed to 45 min. parts, some ending with cliffhangers, some without. It contains explanatory notes on the scriptwriting process, giving a unique insight into how the writers visualized their stories and OVER a THOUSAND PHOTOS from the 2005 season. This book has an attractive cover and interior graphics are nice. But MORE importantly the collection gives fans an insider's look at how the show works. But. EVEN more importantly, with the absence of the old Target Books episode by episode TV-tie-ins, this is the one of the few ways for AMERICAN fans see the NEW SERIES before the region 1 DVD release (watch AMAZON.CO.CA in February

The First story: "ROSE" introduces Rose Tyler who is attacked by mannequins (or AUTONS) in the department store where she works. She meets the Doctor and the pair end up fighting to save the world.

DOCTOR: Hello Rose Tyler, RUN FOR YOUR LIFE!

Next in "THE END of the WORLD" The Doctor offers Rose a chance to go anyplace, anytime, they end up in the 5 Billion years in the future above the Earth just before it ends. But someone has sabotaged observation satellite they're on. . . .Rose finds the aliens on board, so alien, she then asks the Doctor who he is...

DOCTOR: This is who I am, right here, RIGHT NOW! All that
counts is here and now and this is me!


In "THE UNQUIET DEAD" The DOCTOR and ROSE Travel back to see Charles Dickens, a ghostly apparition and an investigation leading to a undertaker's office where the dead keep getting out of their coffins. Once Dickens becomes involved and the Doctor gushes...

DOCTOR: Charles Dickens! You're Brilliant, you are!
Completely 100% brilliant! I've read'em all!....I'M YOUR
NUMBER ONE FAN, that's me!


In the "ALIENS of LONDON" The Doctor takes Rose home (mistakenly) 12 months later. We learn what happens back home when a companion up and leaves with the Doctor. The pair deal with Rose's Mum, who thought she was dead, and the ex-boyfriend who has been the main suspect. But when a spaceship crashes in the Thames, the whole world goes on Red Alert.
In "WORLD WAR III" the "Aliens of London" continues...

DOCTOR: This is why I travel, ... to see history happening, right in front of us.

In "DALEK" Beneath the Salt Plains of Utah, the billionaire collector Henry Van Statten holds the last relic of an alien race and the one living exhibit in the museum is a....you know what.

DOCTOR: An, Old enemy. The stuff of nightmares reduced to an exhibit. I'm getting old.


In "THE LONG GAME" the Doctor takes another new compainon to the far future...

DOCTOR: Thing is...time travel, it's like visiting Paris. You can't just read the guidebook, you've got to throw yourself into it, eat the food, use the wrong verbs, get charged double and end up kissing complete strangers, ... stop asking questions and do it!

In episode 8, FATHER'S DAY, The Doctor takes Rose back in time to meet her long-dead Father, but the Tylers finds themselves battling the Reapers.

DOCTOR: Your wish is my command. But be careful what you wish for...


In the 9th episode, THE EMPTY CHILD. Its London, 1941, the Blitz. A mysterious child terroises Homeless children in this 2 part storyline.The Empty Child story continues in The DOCTOR DANCES. The Child's plague is spreading throughout wartime London, and so is its zombie army. Spin-off character Capt. Jack Harkness is introduced...

ROSE: You used to be a Time Agent, now you're some kind
of freelancer.

JACK: That's a little harsh- I prefer to think of myself
as a criminal.

In episode 11, BOOM TOWN a plan to build a nuclear power station in Cardiff City disguises an alien plot to rip the world apart and a returning villain...

MARGARET: What did I ever do to you?

DOCTOR: You tried to kill me and destroy this entire planet.

MARGARET: Apart from that?


In the 12th episode, BAD WOLF, the Doctor, Rose and Captain Jack have to fight for their lives on board the Game Station, in the season finale, THE PARTING of the WAYS, Rose Tyler has seen danger and wonders alongside the Doctor, but now their friendship is put to the test and the Doctor says goodbye...sort of...
DOCTOR: ROSE...you were FANTASTIC. ABSOLUTELY FANTASTIC...and'd you know what? SO WAS I.

Shooting scripts, plus nice pictures plus episode commentary.

Very well put together.

Doctor Who is back! Unfortunately, we will have to wait for the video version to be shown on our American television screens (or even released on Region 1 DVDs). But in the meantime we have this WONDERFUL book to see us through. All thirteen adventures of the Ninth Doctor Who are represented here in script form from "ROSE" to "THE PARTING OF THE WAYS" and each script is peppered with a generous serving of excellent photographs from the show to help the reader visualize what is going on.
The book is easy to read and well worth the price. If you are a Doctor Who fan, you can't afford to pass this little gem up.

A nicely presented book, but at the end of the day it's essentially just what you've already seen on the tv screen. However if you want to dip in and learn how to structure a script i'm sure it gives good information. It's interesting though to see how everything is put together.

A very heartwarming story about a hardworking and talented Irish-Catholic family. The travels and travails of the Burkes as they rehearse and perform across the country during the turbulant decade of the sixties against a background of racism and Vietnam, is a nonstop adventure for the reader also. The book brought back many memories for me personally as my family also traveled in the sixties in a 64 Chevy Belair wagon-but we only needed one! The story just goes to show how much has changed since that era. Or has it? An outstanding story-Highly recommended.

The Burke family brought many childhood memories of my own past. This family represented everything good in America at a time when our country was experiencing issues of racial hatred, turmoil and unrest. I was fortunate to attend the same Catholic school and parish as this wonderful family and remember the Christmas shows on local televison. I recommend this book be read by all families to show the love, devotion and moral values instilled in this family as an inspiration to all!!!

The Burke singers lived my fantasy. I too am from a large Catholic family who grew up in the fifties and sixties and the relationships of the siblings in the book and the antics of the little brothers brought back so many childhood memories for me. My elderly mother has been mute for several years due to a stroke, but she was able to communicate her pleasure in reading the book and seemed to like it better than any others she has read. This book could be read and shared by children, parents and grandparents in a family. The story is told with humor and affection and it was just too bad the trip had to end. Don't think it hasn't been fun... Because it HAS!

This book shows that truth is easily as fascinating as fiction. The Burke family's exploits would be beyond belief if there weren't so much proof they actually happened. This book made us laugh and cry while we returned to a decade when America's innocence was unpeeled in the face of racial oppression, assassinations, and the agony of going to war on foreign soil. Seen through the eyes of a child innocently traveling the country singing with her family, and laced with the family dynamics of ten children on the road, Burke's book left us stunned, warmed, and thinking deeply about our country today. If you're looking for a book that leaves you filled up, read this.

When my grandmother was alive she made fudge. It was so rich, you couldn't eat it. You had to sort of scrape little bits off with your teeth - if you took a full bite you'd probably die, it was so rich and sweet and wonderful.

I've been reading this book rather like eating Nana's fudge. I don't want it to end, so I'm doing little bits at a time. When I first started I read something like the first five chapters without taking a breath. Now I'm rationing.

Wonderful. Just wonderful. I'm 57 years old, so this is my time, the shows they appeared on, I watched. When I get back to NY I am going to go the Museum of Broadcasting and watch tapes.

The only thing that could make reading this book better would be playing the tape of the Burke Family SIngers doing Christmas carols in the background.

Now if I only had some fudge....

Of all the reference books for writers, I find the Dramatists Sourcebook to be the most complete. It doesn't have EVERYTHING, but it can tell you where to FIND everything.

Sources for production, contests, funding are updated each year (a couple of quibbles...I found one deadline date that was off last year), as well as useful service organizations for playwrights, and for those who haven't realized that a play is not a screnplay, always a lesson on formatting.

The Theater Communications Group puts out a lot of useful publications, but this one is at the top of my list.

Of all the reference books for writers, I find the Dramatists Sourcebook to be the most complete. It doesn't have EVERYTHING, but it can tell you where to FIND everything.

Sources for production, contests, funding are updated each year (a couple of quibbles...I found one deadline date that was off last year), as well as useful service organizations for playwrights, and for those who haven't realized that a play is not a screnplay, always a lesson on formatting.

The Theater Communications Group puts out a lot of useful publications, but this one is at the top of my list.

The title of this book is completely appropriate, though Dramtists Bible would also work. Every contest, every writers colony, every major theater company in America is to be found within these pages. It is perfectly mapped out and the details are wonderfully woven. I recommend this to the beginner playwright as well as the Tony winner. Bravo.

The Dramatists' Sourcebook is truly an invaluable resourse for anyone who writes for theatre. Hundreds and hundreds of entries for production, development, awards, and much more make this one of the most important books in my library. I highly recommend it for all playwrights, lyricists, and librettists.

This book is simply a must-have for anyone seeking the life of the working playwright. It's succinct, informative, and offers a wealth of information on grants, theatres, contests, and other opportunities.

My one minor complaint would be that the Sourcebook lacks almost any real information on proper play submission formatting (despite the fact that the book touts this assistance heavily on its covers).

As most theatres routinely point writers in the direction of the Sourcebook to answer such questions, it's a disappointment to find that the Sourcebook's _entire_ section on formatting consists of: one line of sample dialogue, followed by a somewhat confusing short paragraph which verbally describes formatting in vague terms as being essentially the same as those for screenplays -- and that's it. As I've been misled before on preferred formats for play (versus screenplay) submissions, a single sample page would have been an invaluable help.

But that's just one small complaint. And as a reference and information source, the Sourcebook is still a must-buy.

I heard about this book from a friend and thought it sounded pretty awesome. My friend was right! I don't usually god stuff, or poetry, but this was fun reading from the start. Makes me think and I like that. It's especially appropriate for the season, too. You won't regret reading it. Promise!

Those who consider religion/spirituality an important part of their lives would be well advised to read this book. It's short, but it says a lot, and is quite thought-provoking.

if you are searching for god, this is a great place to start, with many of the same questions you may have. Wonderful thoughts.

Though I am not a very religious person, I really enjoyed this bok for its fresh new perspective I would recommend this book to religious, non religios and people of non christian religions for a refreshing new look at GOD a.k.a. the boss

Eden In Limbo is a spiritual fantasy novel combining poetry with storytelling. God has taken a male human form; his female partner in the spirit world being silent to all but him. Like most men, he wants to learn to communicate better. As a God of the new century, he wants open communication with every person. In pursuit of this goal we are introduced an American Indian, a questioning Christian, a devout Christian and her wheelchair-bound friend, a Hindi couple, a homosexual couple, a French model, and a group of outspoken black women -- all seeking to better understand themselves in relation to God. Eden In Limbo is a recommended work of quixotic imagination and an engaging "what if" speculative fiction.,

The edition of Edward II I read was the New Mermaid Series one, which had a very good and informative introduction, and has the spelling modernized. The spelling modernization extends to place names as well as general terms. I am not sure how I feel about spelling modernization, as it is nice to see how the work was originally spelled, but it made the work very easy to read. The play itself is amazing, very engaging even though it is a history, and is mostly based on things that actually happened. The language is not as flowery as Shakespeare, but is lovely nonetheless. Some of the characters of the play are very fickle, and seem to suddenly change as you read the text of the play. (Queen Isabella goes from devoted and self-sacrificing wife to cunning adulteress.) It makes more sense on stage, and after seeing this play, it was easier to see how good it is.

Marlowe's final play is also his masterpiece. To be sure, the dramatic events in this play really did happen, but Marlowe shows himself at his best when he paints the picture. At first, Marlowe masterfully allows us to detest Edward for undoing all the fine work of his father Edward Longshanks. We also are able to feel sorry for Mortimer and Isabella. (the eventual villains). Isabella feels neglected and Mortimer can not stand to see the fine work of Edward Longshanks undone. Later, we come to have some respect for Edward II when he shows himself to have some of his father's fine qualities and he crushes the first rebellion against him with courage and intelligence. When the second uprising successful, we no longer are lead into any feelings of admiration for Mortimer and Isabella. Once they have power they are more vile and disgusting than Edward II ever was. By Act 5.1, Marlowe gives Edward II moving soliloquies and does not allow our new won pity to slack for a moment. The final scene of this play when Edward II's 17 year old son Edward III flips the tables, crushes his corrupt mother, has Mortimer put to death, and offers prayers to his murdered father is a scene that is almost unsurpassed in literature. To be sure, this did actually happen, but Marlowe not only tells us what happened, but colors it with his superb mastery of the language.

Edward the second, or to give it its full title, 'The troublesome reign and Lamentable death of Edward, the second king of England, with the tragical fall of proud Mortimer', is famous for being an Elizabethan 'Gay play', but this is only one of the subjects contained within the play. Politics, cruelty and the Feudal System are all important themes in this, one of the great masterstrokes of Elizabethan literature. The play itself is a history play, set in the 14th century featuring Edward and his previously basished lover, Gaveston, who returns after the death of Edward's father. This return enrages the barons, who were sworn to Edward's father that Gaveston would never return. This is the catalyst for a plot that races around like a cheetah on speed, culminating in one of the most excruciating deaths ever portrayed on stage. "Shakespeare? Who? Marlowe was far better!"

Christopher "Kit" Marlowe (1564¯1593) has faded into the background over the centuries, little remembered by the common man, unlike his contemporary William Shakespeare. But, in his own time, Marlowe was known as one of the greatest of playwrights.

This play tells the story of King Edward II, who ruled England from 1307 to 1327. Edward shocked medieval England with his openly bi-sexual relationship with Piers Gaveston, and his barons rose up against him in a series of wars, finally culminating in Edward's death. (Rumor having it that he was horribly murdered by having a red-hot iron thrust up through his rectum!)

Now, this play is not entirely historically accurate. The theatre of the day did not specialize in accurate historical portrayal, but strove to entertain. However, that said, this play does do an excellent job of telling the story of Edward and his reign, in an entertaining and informative manner in a mere 25 scenes.

Overall, I found this to be a very interesting read, and I couldn't help but wonder why I have not heard of it being played today. It is still very entertaining, and you would think that modern play producers would want to put it on. This is an interesting play, one that I do not hesitate to recommend.

(By the way, just in case you didn't realize, this Edward was the effeminate son of Edward I, Longshanks, in Mel Gibson's movie Braveheart. That portrayal of Edward was well done by actor Peter Hanly, but was even less accurate than this play. I suspect that the character Phillip was based on Piers Gaveston. Longshanks did indeed hate Gaveston, but certainly never threw him out of a window!)

+++++

(Note that this review is for Dover Classics "Edward II" published by Theatre Communications Group in 1999.)

This play in five acts or twenty-five scenes, written by Christopher Marlowe (1564 to 1593, born the same year as Shakespeare) is a history play that chronicles the reign of Edward the Second. The actual name that Marlowe gave his play was "The troublesome reign and lamentable death of Edward, the second King of England, with the tragical fall of Mortimer." (Mortimer is Edward's nemesis in the play.)

The precise date of this play is not accurately known, but it is generally thought to have been written circa 1590.

Marlowe condenses, omits, elaborates, and rearranges actual historical events in order to gain dramatic effectiveness, and to bring out Edward's character and the results of his weakness. So the action in the play covers a historical period of just over twenty years (near the end of the fourteenth century) even though such a period of time is not suggested by the play itself.

Marlowe effectively succeeds in giving a true, as well as a powerful picture of the character and fate of Edward the Second. This play masterfully shows the delineation of character, the construction of plot, and the freedom and variety of the mostly blank verse.

Readers of Shakespeare's plays (especially "Henry the Eighth" and "Richard the Second") should find it quite easy to read this relatively succinct play. Even those not familiar with Shakespeare's plays or even Elizabethan drama should have little difficulty with this play. Footnotes are minimal.

Unfortunately, this play has been labeled a "Gay Play." This is not quite accurate. Edward was bisexual because he had a queen who he had a son with (the future Edward the Third) and, as well, had a male partner (named Piers Gaveston). Gaveston too was bisexual since he was not only attracted to Edward but also to Edward's niece! Edward's queen is heterosexual because she is later attracted to Mortimer after Edward starts ignoring her.

Sexual orientation is actually a small part of this play. The play is about a king who loses control of his kingdom. Edward's brother says this early on to Edward: "My Lord, I see your love to Gaveston / Will be the ruin of the realm and you."

Finally, the last scene of the play is truly magnificent as Edward's son, now King, gets revenge for his father's murder.

In conclusion, this is a great play that can be enjoyed by those who are heterosexual (like myself), bisexual, or homosexual. Also, in my opinion, this history play closely rivals Shakespeare's history plays.

(this book first published 1999; play written circa 1590; 95 pages)

+++++

A magical story with great illustrations. One of my daughter's favorites!

If you believe in fairies, you'll want this book! If you don't believe, you will. The Fairies Dance of Light will make nighttime a time of wonder and anticipation when your child hears of the magic that happens when darkness falls and the "stars begin to twinkle".

This book is very special! The story lends itself to a wonderful "good-night" read and the illustrations are incredible.

Its a little like Dr. Seuss for girls - illustration, rhyme and story. We loved it!

We have 4 children and 8 grandchildren. We are going to order copies for everyone for Christmas. The cadence and imagery of the words and the colorful illustrations combine to make this a delight to read to the youngest, and fun for the older kids to read to themselves. They all especially like to look for the hidden fairies!

This a beautifully written book, and while I could go on, there are some very nice reviews already at Amazon under the Ashes of Roses title. I just wanted to alert people who saw movie Falling for a Dancer who might look for the book that it has a different title in the US.

From beginning to end, I found this book truly enthralling. I absolutely adored it. I could not at all put it down. The story is in depth and right at the heart of conflicts of emotions. The characters are lovable and realistic. It is full of heart ache, joy, love, romance, modern dilemas and sex. What else does one need from a book?

My advice to any hopeless romantic is to read this book, and maybe even then, buy the video. Even if you have already seen the video, it is worth reading the book. The plot is a lot thicker and more enjoyable!

Falling for a Dancer is the first Deidre Purcell novel I had read. I bought it after having seen the movie; which by the way is also very good. I was immediately taken with the very difficult living conditions in post WWII Ireland. I hadn't realized hard the Irish worked just to have enough food for the many mouths at the table. The leading character Elizabeth is a credit to her heritage. I admired her sense of commitment, yet she wrestles with her strong, youthful sensuality. This book tells as much about life as it does about living. Gals, if you want a well developed story line with well-written sexuality and romance, this is your book. I now have a complete library of Purcell's works. As the previous reviewer said, this book is known by two titles, Ashes of Roses, and in the US, Falling for a Dancer. It is a novel I will read again & again. Even with its pathos and often heart wrenching tragedy, it is definitely a book you will not want to pass by.

Have you ever wondered what life would have been like if a certain event in your life had never occured?To read this novel is to read about the life of some one like that. If the bus had never broken down Elizabeth(Beth) would never have met George and her life wouldn't have been changed for the worse. It is the 1930's and Beth is living in Cork with her parents. She is after arriving home from a trip to Dublin with her friend Ida, but she has a deep secret that no one must know - she is pregnent and has only two choices- leave home and move into a home run by the nuns for unwed mothers or to marry... After a horrifying visit to the nun-run home Beth solomly decides to marry. The match is made for her, she is to wed a resently bereaved man named Neeley Scollard. After a quiet ceremony Beth is brought home- not to Cork but to her new home in Beara on the west most tip of Dingle where she is met by her new daughters.Beth has a son whom she calls Francey. Straight away it is obvious that Neeley is a strict man- all of his family fear him. Neeley's cousin Mossie is a decent type of person but Neeley maintains that Mossie is a land-grabber and that he and his family are to have nothing to do with him. After a dance Neeley losses his temper and hurts Francey, that night while Beth is in Cork hospital with Francey, Neeley dies. Everyone suspects that young Danny Mc Carthy has murdered him- noboby knows. After many years of heart ache and turmoil Beth wants to leave Beara but finds it too hard to leave. Mossie trys to win her heart but ............. You don't think that I'm going to tell you the whole story? If I did where's the point in reading the book? Deirdre Purcell is the best in a new type of writer. She is able to pull you into the story and into the lives the characters. I really enjoyed this book- I've read it God knows how many times. I have found that I hate to put this book down when I'm reading it. If you want to read more about the Scollard family, the continuation book is called Francey and it lets us know what happened the only boy and the rset of his clann (family for those of you that don't speak Irish). Happy reading- let me know if you read the book and enjoyed it or even if you hated it- I might be able to suggest more books for you. Slan o mise !! (Good bye from me !!

I saw the movie and fell for Liam Cunningham and am now looking for my Mossie Sheehan. I am not much for the romantical farce normally, but this one caught my eye and heart. I am also looking for a copy of the movie.

I've got to hand it to the author, this book did exactly what it said it would do. I needed to learn Premiere fast and now, although I'm no expert, I'm pretty comfortable. I was surprised it was in color too, especially since it was less than $15.

The Focal Easy Guide to Premiere Pro by Tim Kolb is just that - easy. As a longtime Premiere (and now Premiere Pro) user, I found it very easy (there's that word again) to search through the book and find references to tools or procedures that needed "refreshing" in my mind. Even if you use Premiere Pro everyday, you don't use every tool or technique on every project, so the help file and good reference books like this are essential when deadlines are looming or you are just experimenting with new ways to jazz up your videos. The descriptions are easier to follow and are better organized than the online help included with the program. They often go well beyond the information that Adobe includes in the help files.

Aiding me in my searches (and for new users, making Premiere Pro easier to understand) are the book's graphics. The graphics used for the screenshots in this book are, in a word, spectacular. They are crisp, clear and large enough so that even a casual viewing conveys lots of information immediately. They are what sets this book apart from so many other "getting started" books.

I really wish that I had had this book available when I was first learning Premiere; it would have saved me lots of time and lots of bumps from banging my head against the wall.

Jeff Bellune
Owner
Bellune Digital Video Services

A great find! This little book helped me get up to speed with Premiere Pro quickly. It is not a watered down "for dummies" book, but is not an 800-page bible either (which I don't need!!). Instead it gets right down to business and shows you how to get through your first couple projects with ease. The full color, price and ease of use make this a great package.

This book is certainly a great way to get your chops, being taught by someone who uses the application for real world work - on a daily basis.

I've followed Tim around the web for years, on different forums and as a respected expert editor and Adobe guru. You can find him online and pick from his reviews, articles and posts that all clearly demonstrate his qualifications and insights before you buy the book... But no need, it's cheap! Very easy to get way more than 15.00 of value from this book. You really can't go wrong.

It's far better than trudging through a boring black and white book (typical software manual) that covers everything but what you really want to know! The book is laid out very well, lots of color. It offers a very visual method of learning the app and why the different parts of the app are there..what they do.

I've used Premiere for 4 or 5 years now. Premiere Pro is quite different. This book is a great primer and companion for learning the ins and outs of this newly revamped Non-Linear Editor.

I am really of two minds about this book. My impression is that it would be almost useless to teach someone how to use Premiere Pro. I still liked it.

I am no great video editor but I do have some, small familiarity and have learned some things from other books. Based on that experience, I doubt this book would have done much good at all in learning to operate the program. Where I found it useful is in its overview and presentation. It does a great job of explaining broad concepts and giving a feel for the capabilities of the program. It also give some of the very basics of the mechanics of how to edit. I suspect I will find this book useful as a continuing reference not to explain the particulars of how to do something but to explain conceptually what can be done. I will use it as a jumping off point to investigate specific topics in other books.

The illustrations in this volume are luxurious. They are full color screen shots and are big enough, barely, to see what is happening on the screen. How I wish other training aids had as nice visuals!

This book includes even more "forgotten gems" from
the original "Twilight Zone" - from the fourth and fifth
seasons of the show. "The Incredible World of Horace Ford",
"What's In the Box", "The Encounter", "Number 12 Looks Just Like You", and "Come Wander With Me" - not all of which were
good episodes but the scripts read way better than the episodes on TV actually are. There are two versions of "Horace Ford" and "Number 12", so this book is about twice the size of Volume 1. And, a bonus item is included, "Dreamflight" by William F. Nolan and George Clayton Johnson (which was never produced on TV). The commentaries by Ramage are, once again, superb,
and they include anecdotes from some of the actors who are still living.

I loved reading this book. I've been a big fan of TZ since I was about six years old and these Zone Scripts books just keep coming out...Hamner, Matheson, George Clayton Johnson, Beaumont, Serling, and now this one. I LOVE the stories when I watch them on TV, but reading them is even more of a thrill. They are really great as literary pieces, just like the intro of the book says. The commentaries are really insightful too. I have been reading the COMPANION guide by Marc Scott Zicree for many years and I am sick of reading his comments. He's way too critical, whereas Ramage wields a strong pen and gives them exactly the kind of comments they deserve. I kind of wish there had been some production shots in this book like there are in the Serling Scripts book, but that's a minor point. A great book for any Zone fan.

Andrew Ramage has done it again - as in Vol. 1, all the dust is blown away from these gems - one gets an appreciation for how the written word gets translated, transfigured - molded into action. The glorious Trouble With Templeton is worth the price of admission alone - and Ramage's reviews of each entry are spot on
This is a great read and certainly a great addition to the TZ line of books

Kudos to Andrew Ramage for assembling this collection (the first of two parts), which turns the spotlight on a few of Twilight Zone's neglected writers and scripts.

In fine fashion, this book rounds out the line-up of Twilight Zone script books currently available. Releases from the distant and recent past have provided collections of the TZ work of Rod Serling, Charles Beaumont, Richard Matheson, Earl Hamner, George Clayton Johnson and Jerry Sohl. FORGOTTEN GEMS FROM THE TWILIGHT ZONE fills in the gaps by providing a look at the work of several non-core writers who contributed to the show.

These scripts may not be the most memorable of the TZ series, but they all hold a certain charm for fans of the show and classic television, and certainly stand on their own as entertaining entries. "Long Distance Call" and "The Trouble with Templeton" are particularly interesting scripts, and it's nice to have them in published form for easy reference. This book also presents a welcome treat by printing Charles Beaumont's story concept for the unproduced story "Pattern for Doomsday."

Revisit the lost art of television writing and enjoy FORGOTTEN GEMS FROM THE TWILIGHT ZONE.

Any true Twilight Zone Fan can tell you Rod Serling was a great writer , but although he was the main contributing writer to one of the greatest series in television history , he didn't do it alone, There were many that were responsible for bulk of great scripts that Mr Serling did not create.Richard Matheson,George Clayton Johnson , Jerry Sohl and Earl Hamner were all great writers that contributed more than a few scripts to the series,and all have had there works published in one form or another for fans to read and enjoy.But What about those other few "Forgotten Gems" that have fallen thru the cracks? I was more than excited to purchase this book , full of information about each script , the production process and actor/directer info, Andrew Ramage pays tribute to those writers of the series,that are some times over looked for thier great contributions to "The Twilight Zone" legacy .Episodes include " The Chaser", "Long Distance Call", "The Trouble With Templeton","Dead Man's Shoe's"and"I Dream Of Genie" . An unproduced concept script called "Pattern For Doomsday"(which was a great addition for me)is also included.Overall the collection is a great display of classic ideas from the begining of the television era,presented with great respect from Ramage, these scripts can now be enjoyed by sci fi fan's ," Twilight Zone Fan's or anyone that enjoy's a great story.