Author: Michaelbrent Collings
Paperback: 246 pages
Publisher: CreateSpace Independent Publishing
Release Date: August 16, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Who doesn’t love zombies right now? With the success of films like “World War Z” and TV shows like “The Walking Dead”, they have never been hotter. Michaelbrent Collings is bringing us his latest novel, “The Colony: Genesis”, which is a volume one of a new series. I have to admit, I have no idea how this guy releases so many books in one year, all which are extremely different than the next…and all actually good. I read his been “Darkbound” and “Strangers” earlier this year and they are so engaging and entertaining that I literally couldn’t put them down. The exact same thing happened with “The Colony”. In fact, I finished the entire book in less than 24 hours, which is a new record for me personally. I do not think that I have ever been drawn in by a book in the last few years. Michaelbrent taps into the zombie genre but really adds his own style to it that really keeps the genre fresh and exciting.

Ken Strickland is a high school teacher, who is in school on an average day…until something happens that changes everything. It starts with insects filling every inch of his windows on the outside of the building to then planes falling out of the sky to his students turning into monsters attacking everything in sight. And that is only in the first couple of pages. Ken sees the entire world crashing around him and he only has one thing on his mind, which is to find his family, who are across town. He meets up with a few other sole survivors along the way as they try to stay alive, while trying to figure out what is happening around them. But do they have what it takes to survive in a world that is crashing around them?

Normally when a book starts, it gives you time to meet the characters and get settled in before the madness starts, but that isn’t that case here. Michaelbrent literally jams on the gas and hits a 100mph before the second chapter…and doesn’t let up until the end. “The Colony: Genesis” is fast, intense and in-your-face. If you think you know everything about zombies, think again because Michaelbrent changes the rules. Shoot them in the head? Nope just pisses them off. So definitely not your typical zombie book. What I love about Michaelbrent’s writing is that it is tight and very sharp. His chapters are short and literally each one packs a punch. I am not sure how he does it but he does not allow you to put the book down after each chapter, you need to keep reading to find out what happens next.

What also thrilled me was the fact that it is the first volume in the series. Michaelbrent was very smart in splitting this book into volumes because it ends leaves himself plenty of time to slowly to develop the story and its characters without having to rush through it. There are tons of questions in the book that will leave you screaming for answers. But he sets it up so well that you will literally have your finger ready to turn the page and at the edge of your seat waiting to find out what happens. Like I said, I finished this book in practically one sitting since I couldn’t put it down. I cannot wait to see what he planned for volume II, “The Colony: Renegades”. Keep them coming man, I will be anxiously waiting.

If you’re a fan of movies you’re probably already familiar with the work of Phil Hall. A contributing editor to the on-line magazine, “Film Threat,” Hall is also a well respected author of such film books as “The Encyclopedia of Underground Movies: Films From the Fringes of Cinema” and “The History of Independent Cinema.” His latest book, recently released, is entitled “The Greatest Bad Movies of All Time.” Mr. Hall recently took the time to answer some questions for Media Mikes:

Mike Smith: What makes a movie “Bad?”
Phil Hall: We need to clarify what “bad” means. I am not writing about the mediocrities that you forget about after the closing credits have rolled. My book celebrates what I call the “anti-classics.” These are the films that inspire wonder – they are so profoundly misguided and egregiously off-target that you have to wonder how they ever got made. These bad films are the cinematic equivalent of narcotics – you get hooked by their toxicity and you become a happy prisoner to their crashing awfulness. It is a wonderful addiction, for sure.

MS: What inspired you to write the book?
PH: A few years ago, I was an actor in a film called “Rudyard Kipling’s Mark of the Beast,” and while on the set a number of people were talking endlessly and enthusiastically about the Tommy Wiseau film “The Room.” I recognized that people tend to become animated and involved when talking about the so-bad-they’re-good films, going to the point of quoting the screenplays verbatim, and I thought that I would bring together my choices for 100 of the best of these anti-classics.

MS: You have some critically popular films, “Mystic River” among them, on your list. Any reservations on labeling films like this “bad” when they were well received?
PH: My book is not a be-all/end-all text book. My book is an expression of my opinion as a film critic and film scholar. Remember, the appreciation of films (or any art form) is strictly subjective. I know people who loathe “Citizen Kane” and “Gone with the Wind” – that is their opinion. And remember, opinions are like a certain lower body cavity – everyone has one and most of them stink! Whether you agree or disagree with me is strictly your call. This book is my vehicle to share my opinions.

MS: Have you received any feedback from any of the filmmakers?
PH: The book covers the full spectrum of the cinematic experience, from the silent era to the present day. Thus, many of the filmmakers cited in the book are no longer with us. As for those that are still active, I don’t know if they are aware of their inclusion in the book.

MS: Do you have a favorite “bad” movie?
PH: That’s sort of like asking if you have a favorite child, isn’t it? Some of the films cited in the book — the musical version of “Lost Horizon,” “Chariots of the Gods,” “Airport 1975” – have a special emotional tug because I saw them in the theater when I was a little kid. Others hold a special meaning because I shared the viewing experience with friends and/or family. And I am always discovering new films, so today’s favorite could easily become yesterday’s corny memory.

MS: Are you planning another book?
PH: This is my sixth book that has been published since 2004. I think I am overdue a long rest!

Related Content

• Ian Doescher talks about his book “William Shakespeare’s Star Wars”
• Blu-ray Review “Atlantis: The Lost Empire / Atlantis: Milo’s Return”
• Book Review “Star Wars: The Force Inside”

Author: Phil Hall
Paperback: 258 pages
Publisher: BearManor Media
Release date: July 4, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Think you know what makes a bad movie? So did I until I read the latest from Film Threat scribe Phil Hall whose latest book, “The Greatest Bad Movies of All Time,” set me straight.

Hall has assembled an impressive list of 100 films that he isn’t very impressed with. Of course, the list contains some well known “bad” titles, like Ed Wood’s “Plan 9 From Outer Space” and the awful “Battlefield Earth.” But it’s not just bad directors making bad films that are taken to the woodshed here. The great John Huston, with fifteen Oscar nominations (and two wins) in his career, has placed two films on the list: “Beat the Devil” and “The Bible: In the Beginning.” Stanley Kubrick teamed up with Howard Sackler (creator of the Broadway show “The Great White Hope”) for the film “Fear and Desire.” It’s here as well. Other directors taken to task include George Cukor, Bob Rafelson and Michelangelo Antonioni. And, just so you don’t think Hall is picking on the early films of now renowned filmmakers, he also includes Clint Eastwoods’ Oscar winning “Mystic River,” calling the film “so incredibly off-kilter that it demands attention for its sheer awfulness.” Wow! I’m guessing that didn’t make Clint’s day.

Of course, “bad” is in the eyes of the beholder. There are actually a few films on the list that I enjoy watching when I catch them on cable, among them “Head,” starring the Monkees, “The Adventures of Ford Fairlaine” and the Neil Diamond version of “The Jazz Singer.” I know they’re not classic cinema fare, but something about seeing Sir Laurence Olivier weep and rip his clothes while Diamond intones, “Pop…pop,” in his deep voice makes films like this a guilty pleasure. I’m also sorry to see the Robert Altman- directed film “Health” on the list. Not because it’s a good movie but because a couple of friends and I staked out the hotel in St. Petersburg where it was filmed (the Don Cesar) in the hopes of meeting Lauren Bacall. How many teenagers in the 1970s even knew WHO Lauren Bacall was?

Like his Film Threat work, Hall packs his prose with humorous observations. One of my favorite comes from his review of “The Babe Ruth Story,” noting that though some of the Babe’s secrets were ignored “their absence was compensated by a surplus of jolly anachronisms, most notably with the presence of a beer advertisement on a billboard positioned in a stadium game that occurred during the Prohibition years.”

An enjoyable read from A (“Abbot and Costello Go to Mars” to Z (“Zabriskie Point), “The Greatest Bad Movies of All Time” is a must have for anyone that enjoys the movies…good or bad.

Author: Richard Castle
Hardcover: 304 pages
Publisher: Hyperion
Release Date: September 17, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

Who loves ABC’s “Castle”, raise your hand! It is easily one of my favorite shows of all-time. It is also one of those shows that you are simply not able to turn off even repeat. This show has expanded well beyond just being a high-rated critically successful TV series to a New York Times Bestseller book series as well. “Richard Castle”, who is played by Nathan Fillion (“Firefly”) in the show, has created this continuing universe with the character Nikki Heat, which was spun off from the show itself. “Deadly Heat” is the fifth novel in series which focuses on NYPD homicide detective Nikki Heat and journalist Jameson Rook, based on the characters Castle and Beckett. You might wonder how long can they keep this going before it gets old but this series has never been hotter. I thought that “Frozen Heat” was a great title but it just seems to get better and better.

Official Premise: Determined to find justice for her mother, top NYPD Homicide Detective Nikki Heat continues to pursue the elusive former CIA station chief who ordered her execution more than a decade ago. For the hunt, Nikki teams once again with her romantic partner, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist Jameson Rook, and their quest for the old spy and the motive behind the past murder unearths an alarming terror plot, which is anything but ancient history. It is lethal. It is now. And it has already entered its countdown phase. Complicating Heat’s mission to bring the rogue spy to justice and thwart the looming terror event, a serial killer begins menacing the Twentieth Precinct, and her homicide squad is under pressure to stop him, and soon. Known for his chilling stealth, the diabolical murderer not only singles out Nikki as the exclusive recipient of his taunting messages, he names her as his next victim.

The book is such an easy read and if you are a fan of the show you will feel like you are playing out an episode in your head. The book is action-packed, thrilling, sexy and just plain fun. One thing I like about this series is that it does have continuity from the past books but you are still able to pick it up and read without having read the prior four books and can still enjoy. So get ready to laugh yet at the same time bite those nails as you race to turn the pages on this book.  I would also be surprised if you are even able to put this book down, as I literally finished it in one sitting.  It is just one of those that nothing could get my attention away from it while I was reading.  I can’t wait to see what “Richard Castle” comes up with next in this Nikki Heat series and also I would hope to see more novels in the Derrick Storm series as well. The future seems very plentiful for this series.

Related Content

• Book Review “Digger, Dozer, Dumper”
• Book Review “The Making of Hitchcock’s The Birds”
• Book Review “Rush: The Illustrated History”
• Book Review “Who’s Hiding?”
• Book Review “I Dare You Not to Yawn”

Author: L. Maria Child
Illustrator: Matt Tavares
Age Range: 3 – 7 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 2
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Candlewick
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

L. Maria Child’s verse about Thanksgiving Day has been given new life in this Matt Tavares-illustrated new book. Matt Tavares’ illustrations have given new life to this classic poem. His beautiful take on a family’s trip to Grandfather’s house through a blustery cold and snow-filled Massachusetts of yore, is reminiscent of any antique Christmas card.

There have been so many ways in which Child’s verse has been put to use throughout the past, but with this beautifully illustrated book, it speaks to a new generation who will benefit from seeing what it was like to have to travel to Grandfather’s house in a horse drawn sleigh. This is something that can bridge the gap and bring families together each year to read the poem and enjoy these beautiful illustrations on a cold, Thanksgiving night. It helps bring back tradition and really would be a fantastic addition to any holiday season.

Matt Tavares outdoes himself with this particularly detailed book. Each page creates a sense of nostalgia and warmth. Whether you are in the mood for the holidays or not, you will be in full-on holiday mode after immersing yourself in this delightfully engaging holiday classic. There is also a very nice nod to L. Maria Child at the end of the book and it allows the reader to understand where this holiday classic came from and more about the incredibly talented author who penned it.

Author, Illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Age Range: 2 – 5 years
Series: Maisy
Board book: 14 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Brdbk edition
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Board book+ Maisy+ rhyming text+colors= a perfect combination for any preschool class!! For fans of Lucy Cousins’ Maisy books, it should come to no surprise that this book will make a wonderful addition to your classroom library! Cousins does it again and makes learning about colors fun.

“Charley’s picked bananas, a big yellow bunch! Green pears for Cyril,munch, munch, munch! Maisy and her friends all have their favorite foods, from Tallulah’s oranges to Eddie’s blue lollipop to Maisy’s juicy red apples. When they all join together for a picnic, they make a tasty rainbow — yum!” The mixture of Maisy and her friends and very easy to recognize colors and foods, makes for a wonderfully inviting read.

Our fifteen month-old happens to love Maisy books and she is really enjoying the latest installment. She’s drawn in by the characters and then kept there by the fun illustrations and is able to point to the colors with ease. Maisy’s First Colors includes rhyming text that can help introduce poetry and rhyme to younger readers. This book is perfect for children ages 6 months and higher.

Related Content

• Book Reviews “Mickey Mouse Clubhouse/Sofia the First: Board Book Box Sets”
• Book Review “Bubble Guppies Guess Who’s Fin-tastic!”
• Book Review “Whose Toes Are Those?”
• Book Review “Huggy Kissy”
• Book Review “A Kiss Like This”

Author, Illustrator: Lucy Cousins
Age Range: 2 – 5 years
Series: Maisy
Board book: 14 pages
Publisher: Candlewick; Brdbk edition
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Our Score: 4.5 out of 5 stars

Another wonderful Maisy concept book by the beloved creator of the Maisy series, Lucy Cousins. Maisy’s First Numbers is a colorful treat that creates a welcoming, easily accessible world of numbers. The illustrations are fun and the text is rhyming which makes learning to count even more enjoyable.

Maisy’s First Numbers is perfect for ages 6 months and up. The book has bright colorful illustrations. Younger readers will find it easy to hold and manipulate as it is a board book. This would be a great help when introducing number concepts to preschool-age children.

Our fifteen month old daughter, loves the Maisy series and enjoys this book because of how bright and colorful the illustrations are. She also loves to point to the three butterflies and the slow slow turtles. Learning to count to 5 just got a lot more enjoyable with Maisy’s First Numbers.

Author: Hope Vestergaard
Illustrator: David Slonim
Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Grade Level: Preschool – 3
Hardcover: 32 pages
Publisher: Candlewick
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Digger, Dozer, Dumper brings to life every truck your child (or you) may have ever played with. Going into great detail, the book includes sixteen rhyming poems that highlight the job and personality of each vehicle. From a cement mixer who can’t sit still to a very helpful tow truck, youngsters are invited to find out which vehicle they can identify with. Children will learn more about there favorite vehicles while getting to know some new ones.

Hope Vestergaard masterfully writes poems that will interest children ages 4 and older, as David Slonim creatively brings each truck to life in his illustrations and could easily entice any child age 2 and up into following along. The amusing pictures make this book easily accessible to many ages.

Digger, Dozer, Dumper could easily be brought into any preschool classroom to get kids excited about all sorts of vehicles. The words used in this book are higher level and therefore could open up a plethora of new vocabulary for younger children. This could be a great starting off point on all new vehicles never really taught about in school. in my experiences in the classroom, I can’t remember ever seeing a quiet and determined street sweeper toy or character in a book; or a lifting and drilling skid-steer loader. As embarrassing as it is to admit, I myself learned a thing or two about the names and jobs of these various vehicles and I have Hope Vestergaard to thank! If your students enjoy playing with planes, train and automobiles, add this wonderful book to your classroom library.

Related Content

• • Book Review “Over the River and Through the Wood”
  • Book Review “See What a Seal Can Do” by Chris Butterworth
  • Book Review “The Art of Walt Disney: From Mickey Mouse to the Magic Kingdoms and Beyond”
  • Book Review “Disneynature’s Chimpanzee: The Making of the Film”

Author: Jeffrey Brown
Age Range: 8 and up
Grade Level: 3 – 7
Hardcover: 160 pages
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.
Release Date: August 27, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

I first heard about author/illustrator Jeffrey Brown when he released his bestselling book “Darth Vader and Son”. At the time, my wife was a few months away from having our daughter and I wondered where the female version of that book was. Well a few months later, “Vader’s Little Princess” was released. Read our interview with Jeffrey, here. When I spoke with him, he gave us a sneak peak at “Star Wars: Jedi Academy” and I know I just had to have it. Sure the age range is 8 and up but key word being up. I finished this book in literally one sitting and loved every minute of it. If you are a “Star Wars” fan young or old, this is a must have in your collection!.

The story is really cute and fun. It follows a young boy Roan and his journeys through middle school as he attempt to complete his dream of leaving home and becoming a Pilot Academy like his older brother, father, and grandfather. When he is denied entry into Pilot School, he fears that he will end up having to go to farming school instead.  But instead he receives an invitation out of the blue to attend Jedi Academy from Master Yoda and decides to give it a try. He find that he possesses more strength and potential than he could have ever dreamed and that his destiny leads him to a new path.

The illustrations in the book are extremely fun and each page is a new journey into this world. They are black and white and have a real fun comic book feel. There is tons of great humor all mixed within the common issues and stresses of attending middle school. Since we either you are going through it or have been through it, the story and its situations are very relatable no matter what age you are. It is told through various formats including Ronan’s comics, journal entries, letters, doodles, and newspaper clippings. So at first you will be reading his report card and then a letter from his brother.  It moves the story along so well and makes it very entertaining and fresh. I do not think that I have ever sat down just to check out a book and ended up reading the entire book within a few hours.

Author: Al Jourgensen
Hardcover: 336 pages
Publisher: Da Capo Press

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen” is the first book from off the wall front man Al Jourgensen. Throughout the books 336 pages Al and company take you on a roller coaster ride of sex, drugs, drugs and even more drugs mixed with a sprinkling of rock and roll. Jourgensen the front man for the legendary industrial act Ministry delves into the most intimate crevices of his mind to recount everything from his life growing up in Chicago to the trials and tribulation of the music business.

Casual readers take warning as this is not your typical tell all memoir as Al Jourgensen gives you that and then some. From drugged out nights with band members past and present to near death experiences “Ministry: The Lost Gospels According to Al Jourgensen” was a book that I couldn’t put down. The book consisted of stories that were so far out there that they had to be true due to the fact that it would be hard for someone to make up some of these experiences and, be able tell them with the in-depth conviction Jourgensen does. The book keeps you on the edge of your seat and makes you want more.

As you read through the pages you never know who you’re going to run into as it seems as though Al has worked with or been associated with just about everyone. From Rick Neilson of Cheap Trick who collaborated with Al on his Buck Satan album to hanging out and steeling drugs with the late Kurt Cobain there all here. Though I wasn’t a big fan of some of the segues which included stories about Al from the stand point of others the book was still an interesting read packed with great photos and amusing antidotes that at several points made me take a step back and just say “WOW”.

Author: Discovery Channel
Format: Paperback
Publisher: Time Home Entertainment
Number of Pages: 192 Pages
Release Date: June 11, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

Sharks, why are we so fascinated with them? We just recently completed another amazing year of Shark Week, one of the best in my opinion! Great job, Discovery Channel. They are also behind this great new book, “Sharkopedia: The Complete Guide to Everything Shark”, teaming up with Time Home Entertainment, Inc. If you are a shark finatic like myself then you are going to love this book. This is a 192 page full-color book that includes over 400 vivid photos and tons of great information about nearly 500 species of sharks. I am very excited more importantly to show this book to my daughter as she gets older to have her learn about these amazing marvels. “Sharkopedia” is for all ages and really delivers an ultimate comprehensive book for shark fans.

Some of the chapters included “Shark Anatomy and Senses”, which explore shark parts, skin, muscles, fins, gills, hearing, taste and touch. “Feeding Habits” discuss different types of whats that sharks eat. “Record Breakers” show which shark can live over 200 years. “Shark Behavior” discuss if sharks sleep. “Shark Conservation” talks about what we can do to understand sharks better and how we can help them. There is tons of great information about Great White, Bull and Tiger sharks. I pride myself on being a big fan of sharks and there was still tons of great details that I have never known, thanks to this book. Highly recommend this and it is a great way to ease of having to wait another year before the next Shark Week.

Author: Mark Salisbury
Hardcover: 176 pages
Publisher: Titan Books
Release Date: August 6, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When I first saw “District 9”, I was blown away at how original and unique this film was. It was from a then unknown director named Neill Blomkamp.  “Elysium” is his latest film and really delivers another original sci-fi story with a great cast including Matt Damon and Jodie Foster. The film also look visually amazing, which is why I was very excited to break into this latest “Art of the Film” book. Then I realized who it was authored by, Mark Salisbury, and got even more excited. Last year Mark did two of my favorite books including “Prometheus: The Art of the Film” and “Dark Shadow: The Visual Companion”. He has quickly become one of my favorites and delivers yet another strike out with this book. I was excited to see “Elysium” but now I am mega-excited to see it.

In “Elysium: The Art of the Film”, we get a very encouraging foreword by Neill Blomkamp.  This guy is amazing and I can see him directing the hell out of a future “Star Wars” movie or something along those lines.  He really has a passion for film. Like I said earlier, when I see Mark Salisbury’s name you know you are going to get quality behind-the-scenes look. This book has a ton of amazing production art and photos.  There is also input from the legendary designer Syd Mead (“Blade Runner”, “TRON”). You can tell that this film is very elaborate and took a lot to create this futuristic world. Like always Titan Books comes through with another very impressive release. The book is larger than most “art of the film” books with dimensions 12.1 x 10.9 x 0.8 inches. The pages come with some fine stock paper and the images are super high quality.  There even is pull out pages in various sections. There was a lot of work that went into this movie and the book really captures all of it.

Age Range: 8 and up
Hardcover: 200 pages
Publisher: DK CHILDREN
Release Date: July 29, 2013

Our Score: 5 out of 5 stars

DK Books is literally the best when it comes to fun and in-depth book for “Star Wars” fans.  They endless keep coming up with new and exciting books for this franchise.  The latest is “Complete Vehicles”, which sets out to explore the inner workings of the spaceships and vehicles of all six “Star Wars” movies. From the moment I opened this book till my wife dragged it out of my hands, I was completely zoned out.  What “Star Wars” fan wouldn’t do a back flip for a book like this!? If you think that book look familiar that is because it is in fact an expanded edition of the fan favorite book, “Star Wars: Complete Cross-Sections”.  This new amped up edition is jam-packed with new cross-section artworks and a ton of amazing new photos. A must for any true “Star Wars” fan.

Official Premise: “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” is packed with visual explorations of more than fifty essential Star Wars spacecraft and landcraft, including the TIE bomber, Imperial shuttle, A-wing, B-wing, and more. Full-color cross-section artwork presents in-depth examinations of each craft’s weapon systems, engines, hyperdrives, cockpits, and construction secrets, providing a never-before-seen glimpse at the vehicles that drive the Star Wars universe. “Star Wars: Complete Vehicles” now features new and never-before-seen cross-sections!

DK really gets deep into detail with this book and even though this new edition is more kid-friendly than the original, I still found learning new things.  The images are extremely in-depth and very crisp.  There is a great foreword by John Knoll, the Visual Effects Supervisor at Lucasfilm’s Industrial Light & Magic. He really knows these vehicles inside out and gives a nice insight. Now if you own “Complete Cross-Sections”, the question is do you really need to buy “Complete Vehicles”? Well, I should probably still say yes since it does have the four new cross-sections but again I am a die-hard “Star Wars” fan. Can’t wait to see what they have planned next for this never-ending franchise but whatever it is I will be first in line!

Author: Stephen King
Illustrated: Glenn Chadbourne
Hardcover: 88 pages
Publisher: Cemetery Dance Publications
Release Date: July 30, 2013

Our Score: 4 out of 5 stars

“The Dark Man” is not a new release for Stephen King. He wrote this poem back when he was in college and it was published in Ubris in 1969. This release is King’s poem, “The Dark Man”, re-released over 40 years with a new life than to the amazing illustrations of Glenn Chadbourne. There are over 70 beautiful full-page illustrations from Chadbourne (“The Secretary of Dreams”). Let me tell you one thing, this book is creepy as hell and if you let yourself go into its world it will linger within you and haunt your dreams. It is not the first time that I have read this poem but with the new illustrations, I felt like it was an entirely new experience. Highly recommended!

Official Premise: Stephen King first wrote about the Dark Man in college after he envisioned a faceless man in cowboy boots and jeans and a denim jacket forever walking the roads. Later this dark man would come to be known around the world as one of King’s greatest villains, Randall Flagg, but at the time King only had simple questions on his mind: Where was this man going? What had he seen and done? What terrible things…?

Cemetery Dance Publications is the publisher behind this new hardcover release. They really scored for sure, as Stephen King’s fans should go crazy over this updated release to his poem. Glenn Chadbourne images really works well with King’s words and blend together. The actual black and white illustrations are very unique and the color factor adds a lot of extra terror. Within King’s story there are twists and turns and within the illustrations there are added hidden details every page. There are many layers to this book and even though it is just 88 pages, it is jam-packed and very entertaining.

Author: Tony Lee Moral
Paperback: 224 pages
Publisher: Oldcastle Books
Release Date: September 1, 2013

Our Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars

When you think of great suspense horror films, you can’t help but immediately think of Alfred Hitchcock. The guy has such an eye for making films.  He was meticulous about his shots and has inspired a countless number people since with this style. “The Birds” was Hitchcock’s next film after “Psycho” and I am sure that the anticipation surrounding it was very high.  I saw this film first when I was a child and it scared the living daylights out of me.  Watching it as an adult, it is still very effective as it was then.  This new behind-the-scenes book is planning perfectly to coincide with the film’s 50th anniversary this year and it is also the first book-length look into the making of this production.  I had the privilege of speaking with the film’s star Tippi Hedren earlier this year, read here, and she reflected on this film and it’s reign over popular culture. The recent HBO film, “This Girl”, read our review here, also focused on the topic of the making of “The Birds” as well. Highly recommend. This book is a must for any fast of Hitchcock’s work and a very in depth look into the making of this amazing and rather timeless film.

Official Premise: Featuring new interviews with stars Rod Taylor, Tippi Hedren, and Veronica Cartwright, as well as sketches and storyboards from Hitchcock’s A-list technical team, Robert Boyle, Albert Whitlock, and Harold Michelson, the book charts every aspect of the film’s production all set against the tumultuous backdrop of the 1962 Cuban missile crisis and JFK’s presidency. Using unpublished material from the Alfred Hitchcock Collection, Evan Hunter’s files, Peggy Robertson’s papers, and Robert Boyle’s artwork, this is the ultimate guide to Hitchcock’s most ambitious film. This book analyzes the film’s modernist underpinnings, from art director Robert Boyle’s initial sketches influenced by Munch’s The Scream, to the groundbreaking electronic score by pioneering German composers Remi Gassmann and Oskar Sala. There is also a time line detailing the film’s production to its release at MOMA in New York, and the 1963 Cannes Film Festival.

The book is authored by Tony Lee Moral, who is a documentary filmmaker, a writer, and the author of “Alfred Hitchcock’s Movie Making Masterclass” and “Hitchcock and the Making of Marnie”. So I think that he is the right person for this job.  He has a vast understanding of Hitchcock and a real passion in his words. You can tell when you are reading this book that there is a certain admiration behind the words.  The only thing that I would have wanted more from this book would have been more photos.  I am sure that there are tons of great behind-the-scenes photos from this production. Don’t get me wrong there is a nice middle section with some very crispy color and black and white shots. I am just a visual guy and a big fan of the art of books.  I would have like to have seen the photos spread out throughout book and posted in areas where they were relative to the book’s narrative. Overall though, I enjoy this quite a bit and look forward to passing it to a friend to enjoy as well. Now if you excuse me, I have to go watch “The Birds” again on Blu-ray. I have a sudden urge to enjoy this masterpiece of cinema for some strange reason.

Related Content

• Book Review “27: A History of the 27 Club through the Lives of Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, Kurt Cobain and Amy Winehouse”
• Book Review “The Sun’s Coming Up… Like A Big Bald Head” by Norman Reedus
• Book Review “Star Trek: The Art of Juan Ortiz”
• Book Review “The Nightmare Before Christmas: 20th Anniversary Edition”
• Book Review “Exploring the Deep: The Titanic Expeditions”