Best TV References
It was only a matter of time before Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander saga made the leap from book to hit TV series, and the millions of readers captivated by the epic romance of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser have eagerly followed. As an author, or co-author, she's written more than 20 official movieand TV companion books including Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector's Edition , Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show. , The Official Making of Big Trouble in Little China, Fringe: September's Notebook (an Amazon best book of 2014), Lost Encyclopedia, The Art of Ice Age. , and many more. .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I watch the shows, I have now read the books, I listen to the podcasts and I follow the FB pages. And I know a LOT, but this book still told me things I didn't know and was filled with great color photos and quotes from the actors and others involved in the production of the show."
"I was waiting to see if this book would actually be a companion book or a re-hash of everything social media savvy Outlander fans have seen and heard for a few years now."
"I'm now on book 5."
"The information provided about each member of the main cast of characters gives an in depth take on how the role came about and some of their thoughts about the series."
"A well researched book, giving fantastic insight in the filming, producing and making of the Outlander books."
"I have started my second reading of the books and have seen all the dvd's."
"I originally purchased this book for the images, but the content is also high quality — well written and keeps me interested."
"Got this for my wife for Christmas."
A cult favorite around the world, Doctor Who is the longest-running science fiction television show of all time. "For a splashy look at the entire list of the Doctor's adversaries (and friends), check out the new Doctor Who Character Encyclopedia ."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"As a fan of the new series I enjoyed reading about the characters and companions from the "old" show, (Doctors 1-8), it's actually why I got the book. There are some characters that are not in this book, mostly because their parts were too small to merit a full page entry, but it would have been nice to have at least a short explanation/definition of who they were."
"He didn't get it for Christmas Day but it arrived a few days later which is ok cuz it was a nice after Christmas surprise."
"I am a new fan of Dr. Who, and have to admit, I read a lot of the book before I gave it to my grandson."
"I thought this might be a bit “young”, but the recipient seemed to really enjoy the book."
"This was a gift for my husband he LOVED it!"
"great book for Dr Who fans."
"The full color pictures are fabulous and helps identify those aliens you just cannot quite remember the name."
Steven Universe: Art & Origins is the first book to take fans behind the scenes of the groundbreaking and boundlessly creative Cartoon Network animated series Steven Universe. He creates animation for television programs that have included Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I got it for a friend who is obsessed with SU, she is also a great artist and I thought this book would just be a "how-to" for the characters and backgrounds of the show."
"This book has much more behind-the-scenes artwork than what the show's creators have posted online."
"A very interesting and detailed book describing the process of creating the show along with beautifully designed concept sketches, and interview input."
"It's a beautiful book full of insight on how Steven Universe became what we know and love."
"Obviously just about everything is "notable" with a book of this magnitude, so this may get long, but I'll try to include anecdotes that have some unique insight or perspective on the main source material--with as little of "OMG this was the original idea for this!" Rebecca mentions having wanted to bury her femininity for a while, but coming back to draw female forms and include dancing after she learned to sort through her issues using art. Some really slick promo art is shared--posters, sketches, great concepts that were designed to bring in new viewers and make them curious about the show. Rebecca and some of the other crew, in interview format, talk about getting the team together and allowing for both nailed-down character essentials and flexibility for the writers to explore and collaborate. Developing the setting was also a big part of the to-do list; coming up with Beach City itself, its businesses, its residents, and also the creatures the Gems would fight. Some cute stories are shared about the early Crewniverse hanging out at a cabin and talking about the show all the time, hashing it out. They discuss how the pilot got released and fans grew attached to what they initially looked like, only to be "outraged" by the changes, making tons of assumptions about who was controlling the process. Main, palette, and distance models are discussed, with some technical details of what different artists do on the team and how they handle props or special poses. More Crewniverse interviews provide insight into the process, including how much is revised from the early days and how collaborative everything is. Some specific episodes, like "Ocean Gem," "Monster Buddies," and "Island Adventure" are put into perspective with how they were written by the group. There's some good continued discussion of concepts in Part 4, especially about fusion and relationships and the larger message the show is sending. There are many answers to that, and sometimes it's about fun and sometimes it's about a message and sometimes it's about wanting to make an episode about something you've never seen a cartoon do before--something specific to you that other people can suddenly see represented. One of my favorite parts of it is when they discuss Steven discovering the Gems' weaknesses over time and having that NOT make him think less of them--more like he admires them for being strong enough to shoulder the burdens he didn't know they were carrying before. His focus on detail is really fascinating to read about--it's really him who nails down the locations in Beach City and where an outlet is in a house on the wall. The directors and other Crewniverse folks discuss the use of color and background items in the show, and how they use it to create mood or feel changeable enough to be real. The intention of the section is unclear at first based on the title of the chapter, but you can quickly see they're discussing the forward-thinking message the show has--how its representation of its creators' experiences has also struck a chord with people who wanted and NEEDED its diversity. Kat Morris acknowledges that there are more important things than making a feelsy and entertaining piece of media, but as she says, the point is to let people see themselves in something and be challenged. I was relieved to see Rebecca state it plainly in the foreword: the items you see from the development phases of this show are not to be taken as canon or as "real" insights into how you should interpret it now. We all become different from what we were even though we grew from it and may have roots in it still, but that doesn't mean you can point at the seed and say its flower is meant to be understood surrounded by dirt. Themes were given to them initially (like Amethyst being "flora and fauna," which you can sort of see in her pilot intro with her lying on big cats). This is particularly interesting because non-creatives commonly think creative people simply receive inspiration and birth their creations into the world wholesale. Initial notes for Garnet say she should have the coolest shoes of the three, that she's commanding and outer-spacey and also weird, and that she's inspired by Grace Jones, boy Michael Jackson, and Estelle in "I Can Be a Freak." Initial notes for Amethyst insist on the "fanny pack" pouch and suggest her clothes are cut, her hair is in chunks, and she should have an animal theme with a wild texture. There's a note in the early character design section that says "the girls can all turn into Steven" with an accompanying illustration of Garnet, Amethyst, and Pearl shapeshifted as him. Rebecca Sugar shares an anecdote about thinking there was a "best" way to draw that was objectively correct (influenced by some art-school stuff), and through that she arrived at the idea that Pearl was a cone, Amethyst was a sphere, and Garnet was a cube, because all of those things say something about who they are (pointedness, fluidness, stability). It's kind of adorable to see common drawing errors or misconceptions or inconsistent details discussed in a how-to format for the people who actually work there. Some ideas for a story which was later used in "Future Boy Zoltron," covering Mr. Smiley's romance/comedy partnership with an old flame, were shared with more emphasis on the characters being lovers. People were apparently worried that Garnet would be replaced by her component Gems in the story if she were to unfuse, but obviously since Ruby and Sapphire want to be together, that doesn't happen. Kat Morris's "rules" as discussed in Part 4 are "Garnet never asks questions" and "the story has to stay in Steven's perspective." It's a fine line between defining something so that people are aware it exists, which is so important, but also letting it breathe, so it's not forever contained in a box labeled 'queer media.'". Tom Scharpling and Charlyne Yi were voice actors that Rebecca specifically had in mind for her characters (Greg and Ruby respectively). Rose's Fountain is in Spain or Portugal; the Sky Spire and Strawberry Battlefield are in Norway; the Shooting Star Shrine is in the middle of the drastically different Asian continent; the Galaxy Warp is in the Tunguska Sea; the Lunar Sea Spire is off the coast of Canada; Mask Island is in the Atlantic near Beach City; the Comm Relay is in the Western United States. It was known from interviews that Shelby Rabara (voice of Peridot) is a dancer and provided the foot sounds and coaching to create the short tap number in the episode "Mr. There's a really cute story in the last section about Amber Cragg ascending from fan to Crewniverse member through posting Pearl art in response to the pilot and eventually getting contacted to take a board test."
"My book was full of spiders."
"This is a beautiful quality book, perfect for any Steven Universe fan."
"My daughter is going to LOVE this book!"
Best TV Guides & Reviews
It was only a matter of time before Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander saga made the leap from book to hit TV series, and the millions of readers captivated by the epic romance of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser have eagerly followed. As an author, or co-author, she's written more than 20 official movieand TV companion books including Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector's Edition , Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show. , The Official Making of Big Trouble in Little China, Fringe: September's Notebook (an Amazon best book of 2014), Lost Encyclopedia, The Art of Ice Age. , and many more. .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I watch the shows, I have now read the books, I listen to the podcasts and I follow the FB pages. And I know a LOT, but this book still told me things I didn't know and was filled with great color photos and quotes from the actors and others involved in the production of the show."
"I was waiting to see if this book would actually be a companion book or a re-hash of everything social media savvy Outlander fans have seen and heard for a few years now."
"I'm now on book 5."
"The information provided about each member of the main cast of characters gives an in depth take on how the role came about and some of their thoughts about the series."
"A well researched book, giving fantastic insight in the filming, producing and making of the Outlander books."
"I have started my second reading of the books and have seen all the dvd's."
"I originally purchased this book for the images, but the content is also high quality — well written and keeps me interested."
"Got this for my wife for Christmas."
Best Animation Graphic Design
The Avatar’s adventures continue right where the TV series left off, in this beautiful oversized hardcover of The Promise, from Airbender creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko and Eisner and Harvey Award winner Gene Luen Yang!
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"We find out Toph went on to start a metalbending school (and we meet a few characters--her students, whom she calls "lily livers"), and we see that Aang and Katara have officially cemented their relationship."
"I cried when I got to the end of this book because I know I will have to wait till they write a new one."
"The Firelord is cooling his heels in prison and his son, Zuko, is doing his best to work with the other kingdoms and restore order and balance to the world. But trying to undo a hundred years of occupation of the other kingdoms has unexpected consequences."
"It is not in whatever way predictable, in my opinion, and the complicated relationships in the Royal FIre Nation family are more fleshed out than ever before. As for the artwork, the artistic team continues to produce illustration that shows great attention to detail, including the very obvious physical and mental changes that the characters experience as they go through adolescence."
"It continues the life of Aang, Katara, Zuko, Sokka, Toph, Mai, Suki, Iroh and Ozai. This trilogy is named the promise because of the relationship that Zuko and Aang have after the war. The books revolves around this Promise. I suspect this comes from Sokka repeatedly calling Aang and Katara's PDA, Oogie."
Best TV Shows
Finally, learn what happens in the test kitchen before the cameras start rolling, what's really involved in our recipe development process, and what lengths we'll go to in order to produce a "best" recipe. And assembled just for this collection, The America's Test Kitchen Guide to Recommended Ingredients and Equipment unites all our important tastings and testings into an easy-to-navigate buyer's guide so you can be a savvy consumer whether you're investing in a new gas grill or picking up a can of tomatoes. Cheesy Nachos with Guacamole and Salsa. Chocolate Cookies --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"bought one for my brother and he loves it and I ended up buying one for my husband for Christmas and we both enjoy it, especially the "Why this works" at the beginning of some of the recipes."
"I purchased this cookbook for my daughter and she loves it."
"I gave this as a cookbook and my daughter loves it, considering getting one for y daughter in law."
"Any recipe in this book that I have tried has always come out amazingly."
"Could not be more thrilled with this recipe book."
"The package arrived very quickly and in good condition."
"Every recipe from every show."
"excellent reference and cookbook."
Best Television Genres
It was only a matter of time before Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling Outlander saga made the leap from book to hit TV series, and the millions of readers captivated by the epic romance of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser have eagerly followed. As an author, or co-author, she's written more than 20 official movieand TV companion books including Sons of Anarchy: The Official Collector's Edition , Showrunners: The Art of Running a TV Show. , The Official Making of Big Trouble in Little China, Fringe: September's Notebook (an Amazon best book of 2014), Lost Encyclopedia, The Art of Ice Age. , and many more. .
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"I watch the shows, I have now read the books, I listen to the podcasts and I follow the FB pages. And I know a LOT, but this book still told me things I didn't know and was filled with great color photos and quotes from the actors and others involved in the production of the show."
"I was waiting to see if this book would actually be a companion book or a re-hash of everything social media savvy Outlander fans have seen and heard for a few years now."
"I'm now on book 5."
"The information provided about each member of the main cast of characters gives an in depth take on how the role came about and some of their thoughts about the series."
"This is a MUST HAVE for any OUTLANDER FAN."
"Some of the directors comments were a little melodramatic but that might be what it's like in film making."
"Not really a 'story'...just a fantastic 'the making of' for my favorite TV adaptations of my favorite books."
"I love all things Outlander❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️."
Best TV History & Criticism
They were the Golden Girls, and for seven seasons, this hilarious quartet enchanted millions of viewers with their witty banter, verve, sass, and love, and reaffirmed the power of friendship and family. Drawing on interviews with the show’s creators, actors, guest stars, producers, writers, and crew members, Jim Colucci paints a comprehensive portrait of the Girls both in front of the cameras and behind the scenes. Thanks to Colucci’s Golden Girls Forever, I now have the perfect companion for my nightly binge. “Jim Colucci has given the die-hard Golden Girls fan an absolute, in-depth look into one of the most iconic shows on television. “It’s wonderful to see Blanche, Rose, Sophia and Dorothy honored by a true pal and confidant like Jim Colucci.
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"The pictures are beautiful, never before seen photos and interviews, behind the scenes look at EVERYTHING from costume to set design.... and you can tell a lot of love went into making this."
"This book is very entertaining and informative."
"Bea, Rue, Estelle if alive they would be proud to exist on this cover."
"So many fan books are poorly produced, both in terms of material selected for inclusion and physical production – but that isn't the case here."
"Great book for any Golden Girls fan."
"Don't let the "Unauthorized" in the title scare you off: this is an excellent oral history of The Golden Girls with tons of behind-the-scenes insight from writers, cast, and crew."
Best TV Direction & Production
This huge, 544 page full colour volume is simply one of the most lavish books ever produced for a TV show, and is presented in a foil-stamped leather-effect binding. " Firefly: A Celebration is a 550-page book dedicated to one of the best sci-fi shows ever developed. "If you’re a hardcore fan this book is Firefly porn."
Reviews
Find Best Price at Amazon"Despite lasting only thirteen episodes and one movie, the name Firefly has become synonymous with beautiful things struck down before their time, with an enduring love, and most of all, with a want to live life simply, unfettered by unjust authority. This book is proof that we have done the impossible, and continue to do so, even almost a decade after the airwaves have forgotten Serenity and her crew, and the pitter pater of tiny feet in huge combat boots has since faded into the black; After all, you can never stop the signal."
"In conclusion, this is a must for any Firefly fan who doesn't already own the three titles that this book packs into one very huge binding."
"Collection of all the old stuff in a great package."
"The network execs sure screwed up on this one - they had a gold mine with Firefly and, for whatever reason, didn't have the intelligence or foresight to keep it going."
"If you hate Firefly: buy this now...and take it to a thrift store to show your contempt."
"Great book on a great show."
"Also, for the price of two softcover books you get all three in a bound hardcover that looks great on any bookshelf or coffee table."
"I expected big things, but this book is stunning."