Category Archives: Science Fiction

Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan’s Hope – DK Publishing

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Oscar-nominated filmmaker Morgan Spurlock teams up with Joss Whedon and comic book legend Stan Lee to provide an insider look at the unique experience that is the San Diego Comic-Con. An annual four-day event that originally showcased comic books and science fiction, the convention has expanded over the years to include film, horror, anime, manga, animation and video games. The largest event of its kind in the world, Comic-Con is the quintessential center of pop culture today. From what Comic-Con is, what goes on, and how it became what it is today, this illustrated companion to the film offers an unprecedented look at this annual event.

  • Includes interviews with Frank Miller, Matt Groening,Kenneth Branagh, Ellen Page and Seth Rogan

Morgan Spurlock was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Documentary for Super Size Me. He followed up with the well received Where in the World is Osama Bin Laden(2008), and produced three seasons of his acclaimed television series 30 Days. Spurlock also conceived, wrote, and directed The Simpsons’ 20th Anniversary Special in 3-D. His feature-length adaptation of the New York Times Bestseller Freakonomics was released in Fall 2010. He is also the author of Don’t Eat This Book!, based on his documentary Super Size Me.- Publishers Website

I have never been to one of these festivals, but by the looks of it from inside these pages, it would have to be one of those most fantastical places, albeit, for a week or two.

The fans, the costumes, the panels, and of course the sneak peeks into movies or anything else you wanted to know about is all there.  It would be one of those one moments in time, where you would experience everything at once.  What a whirlwind!

I really loved the enthusiasm that the fans have for their most loved comic, movies, graphic novels and so much more.  What would you want to do there ? I think I would want to experience a little of everything.  That is if I had time to do so! Below, check out some of the costumes, fans, celebrities, and more inside the book.

Comic-Con Site – Comic-Con Twitter – Facebook – YouTube

#19 & #20 – Double Post – DK Star Wars – The Secret Life of Drones and Star Wars – Year By Year – A Visual Chronicle – DK Books

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Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be C-3PO or what R2-D2′s function is?

Well now you can find out in Star Wars: The Secret Life of Droids from DK’s newest Star Wars series. Learn about the many types of droids from large and fearsome droidekas, to the smart and helpful astromech droids.

The Secret Life of Droids looks at the classic Star Wars galaxy from a fresh, new perspective, and features a timeline giving the reader a quick-reference overview of the events and information featured. Interactive and dynamic pages presenting events thematically rather than chronologically will allow young readers to uncover droid technology and discover each of its individual functions! – Publishers Website

 

AND…

 

 

 

 

 

From the first release of Star Wars: A New Hope in 1977 to the 2009 second season of The Clone Wars, Star Wars Year By Year: A Visual Chronicle is an unparalleled chronological journey through the making of the most epic science fiction series ever! Featuring incredible illustrations and stills, the book chronologically details the history and development of the Star Wars movies; the events, press, and logistics surrounding the making of each movie; and exclusive interviews with people who worked behind the scenes. The year-by-year format includes images from the movies, TV series, comic books, video games, and novels as well as movie posters, memorabilia, book covers, and more. – Publishers Website

I cannot say enough about DK’s Books !! I love each and every one of them !!!  Since it is May 4th, and it is May the 4th Be With You, this is an extra special day for Star Wars and DK !!  I have many of their books, but the specific topics they publish about are I have to say the absolute best of any of the books out there !!  They add imagination, full colour photography, interesting ways of actually giving you the information so you are engaged and informed at that really boring office party or wherever you are, just to make that awkward situation just a little better.  And who doesn’t know about star wars right?!?

Everything you wanted to know about droids but where afraid to ask?  The secret life of droids is the book for you.  Has your child who is obviously old enough to have watched one or all the movies wondered this question, have no fear; all their questions and then some are incorporated into this small book for any age, young or old.

In the Year by Year compilation, if you are one of those “fans” that go to the conventions, have been a fan of the movies and or the Star Wars movement since the start, and don’t have this book, this is the time to get it!

Inside the cover is an envelope that has 2 high quality pictures that are special to the book.  It does have a thick cover to enclose the book so that you can display it with pride along all of your other Star Wars books, figurines, movie posters.  Yes, I know you do, just nod your head and agree, I know you want to!

The Year by Year book is something! It is the ultimate pop culture collection, from George Lucas’ initial career of a movie maker, to what inspired him to everything in between; this is the greatest Star Wars Lovers Paradise !!

And from today until May 6th, if you live in Canada and buy any of the DK Star Wars Books at any of the Chapters/Indigo/Coles family of stores, DK Canada will make a donation to the Indigo Love of Reading Foundation.  For more information, click on this link and get to buying some of the books you don’t have already in your collection!!  Or just joining in on the celebrations that are going on today throughout Canada !!!

Here is a sneak peek inside The Secret Life of Drones and Star Wars Year by Year – A Visual Chronicle to see what I am talking about !

StarWars 2012

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#45 – Star Wars – The ULTIMATE Visual Guide Special Edition 30th Anniversary – Ryder Windham, Daniel Wallace

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The definitive companion to the entire Star Wars phenomenon, in a special updated edition: Star Wars: The Ultimate Visual Guide uncovers the full story of the amazing Star Wars saga, with more than 1,000 images from the movies, cartoons, comics, and novels, along with merchandise, behind-the-scenes photography, and much more!

This Special Edition features brand-new overviews of the latest comic books, new information on merchandise, as well as a special feature on fan celebrations.

The History of the Star Wars galaxy, Key Characters, technology, droids, aliens, and locations.  Behind the scenes information on the making of the movies.  Collectibles and merchandise, Full colour illustrations from the Star Wars Expanded Universe, Comics, Novels, and Video Games. Publishers Website and Back of Hardcover

Seriously, who hasn’t already seen all of the movies at least once?  Either you were a die-hard fan when the first one came out way back in 1976.  Yes, it has been that long.  But in the world of Star Wars, it is just a moment away in one of the extravagant space ships on some far, far away galaxy that we have all come to know and love.

Who was your favorite character?  Luke Skywalker? Darth Vader? Yoda ? Princess Leia? Chewbacca?  Obi Wan Kenobi? Well they are all here and all of the many new characters that have evolved along the years with new and exciting worlds as well.

This book was originally published in 2005, but it was again updated and republished with new content for the 30th Anniversary in 2007.  Since the series came out there have been novelizations, new series, movies, readers, and comics that keep the universe alive even today.

As my son and I looked through the book, we loved the full colour illustrations and the not so new facts that we never knew about.  A few years ago, we entered a contest from DK in the United States for a Star Wars contest, and he happened to win!  I think the blog was asking what his favorite character was, as DK was releasing one of their now best-selling books Lego Star Wars Visual Dictionary.

Another reason he was so into Star Wars, was that he was about to compete in a Lego League competition where the kids built their own robots and competed on a course doing different things with their somewhat homemade robots.  When they did compete, they WON the spirit award for their participation at the event!

So, as May the 4th Be With You Day begins or ends where ever you may be in our own universe, come and take a look inside this book and the many others that DK Worldwide have published in honor of STAR WARS and May the Force Be With You !!

Above this post is an extra special post about May the 4th Be with You and what DK Canada is doing this year in honor of this humble occasion around the world, so it is so exciting that I can hardly contain myself it WILL be so fun, that is if you choose to participate!! For details go click here

Since this book was republished back in 2007 and it was the 30th anniversary,  since it is 2011 that means an even more special anniversary – the 35th one !! Long live the FORCE !

Star Wars Site – DK Canada – DK USA

This is the trailer for Star Wars trailer from 1997 Special Edition ENJOY !!

Do Not Open – An Encyclopedia of The World’s Best Kept Secrets – DK Publishing

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Does the cover dare you not to open this book?

But, really, you know you want to, don’t you, yes, I am talking to you, I know you do, so why not open and take a quick peek? No one will know…

All of the secret stuff you have ever wanted to know such as -

  • weird history
  • strange science
  • mysterious places
  • strange happenings
  • how to even join a secret society
  • can it really rain frogs ?

Just one page now…

Right…

Yep, I knew it as soon as I got your attention, you would be hooked!

Shhh, don’t tell anyone else now, ok?!? That’s what my son said, it was sitting on the coffee table  literally begging him not to open the book.  He was dying to know what was inside of it, now aren’t you as well??

My job here is done… GOTCHA !!

DK Publishing

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The Passage – Justin Cronin

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Absolutely Spectacular !!

Don’t be daunted in the least at the size of the book.  At a hefty 784 pages, this book will have you reading long into the night while flying through the book so much you won’t be able to put it down.  I know I had a really hard time doing that… putting it down.

It wouldn’t hurt either that Stephen King calls you in the middle of a nationwide interview on Good Morning America to gush about how good it is right?

A unique book that brings together some old and new concepts that are effortlessly welded together.

The Government is doing an experiment that intends to lengthen soldiers lives while in battle becomes the Andromeda Strain meets The Stand.

In this futuristic tale, a young girl is in the middle of a virus that has infected 12 men no one else would have paid attention to, given their circumstances.  But once the experiment goes terribly and horribly wrong, the American population starts to become infected by these “Vitals”, and it seems that the country is doomed forever.

The Vitals feed on human blood, they use it to survive, but then those people come back to life as these blood hunting, evil, daunting “Vitals” that only hunt at night.

As time goes on, civilization is crumbling, there are fewer and fewer humans to be found.  Amy, the young child travels across the country having these visions of where she needs to be at a certain time.  Along the way, in a different place, there are some humans that have fought against the Vitals for years, slowly becoming less and less.  Then comes the time that they have to leave their security zone to forage for more supplies.

All in all there are maybe 13 in the group.  Becoming smarter than the Vitals can pose to be a challenge, but as they find their way, they find there are actually more out there.

Amy needs to be at a certain place at a certain time, will she be able to get there? will the others still be alive? Is this the end of the world as everyone knows it to be?  Can Amy complete what she needs to do, before becoming one of “them”?

Now, I came across something interesting, this is not the only book.  There will be TWO MORE BOOKS ! One is being published sometime in 2012 – entitled The Twelve, and the third book entitled The City of Mirrors  in 2014.

Random House / Doubleday

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Find Subject Zero

The Passage Website

American Gods – Neil Gaiman

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This book was chosen by a group on twitter (1book1twitter – #1b1t).

Shadow has been waiting for this moment for the last three years.

He is being released from prison in a few days.  Little does he know that he will be released in a few hours following the deaths of his wife and his best friend, amid compromising circumstances.

As he is on his way home, he comes across a man who is named Mr. Wednesday.  He is propositioning him a job, one that will require little, but in the end may require more than the average job entails.  Shadow at first refuses, but, as the trip ensues, he accepts, which brings him into this fantastical world – hallucinations at first he thinks, but as Shadow goes deeper and deeper into the work, the people he meets it is more than he ever imagined that it would be.

The travelling across America and beyond, Shadow becomes aware of what his presence is really there for, what the meaning of life is for him, what it means to others.

“It’s just easier to just do the time.”  He paused.  Then, “You got to understand the god thing.  It’s not magic.  It’s about being you, but the you that people believe in.  It’s about becoming the concentrated, magnified, essence of you.  It’s about becoming the thunder, or the power of a running horse, or wisdom.  You take all the belief and become bigger, cooler, more than human.  You crystallize.”  He Paused.  “And then one day they forget about you, and they don’t believe in you, and they don’t sacrifice, and they don’t care, and the next thing you know you’re running a three-card monte game on the corner of Broadway and Forty-third.”

Futuristic, yet goes to the heart of a man’s sense of who he is, how he is changing, and what he will become.

One Book One Twitter or stop on by Crowd Sourcing

Neil Gaiman is on twitter @neilhimself – he may even answer you back

HarperCollins

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Fragile Things – A Short Story Collection by Neil Gaiman

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fragile thingsIn this collection of short stories and fictions, some have been published previously, as well as some haven’t been published at all.  I have to say these are just great if you are a fan of speculative fiction, or are new to the genre.  Even with the cover art, and the imagination that Neil possesses, is something that is nothing short of fantastic.

The stories that are in this collection,  just plain right out there with his concoctions which he weaves together that makes you want to read more to see what comes next, whether it is a story itself or the poetry, of one of his full length novels.

Combining the real and the imaginary, Neil accomplishes this in more ways then one, regardless of the word count. There are approximately 50 stories in this collection, so it is a great way to get a feel for his work, to be able to graduate to one of his longer pieces of work.

Expertly written to keep you guessing even after the story is finished, it will or at least it did me want to read more.  At times it was deeply dark, thought provoking, and strangely philosophical at the same time will leave you thinking what if, or could it actually happen?.

I will definitely have to check out more of his work, it is sure these stories will have you looking around the corner before you actually turn the corner while walking down the street late at night,  difficult to see in the dim light being cast from the streetlights.  All of these thoughts going through your mind, or if you are drifting off to sleep, when you hear a noise in the background…..

This is the THIRD book I have read for the HarperCollins Summer is Short, Read A Story Challenge

Listen to an audio excerpt

Neil Gaiman’s Website

HarperCollins

BUY the Book – Amazon / chapters.indigo.ca / Borders / Books A Million


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Dreaming Again – Jack Dann (Editor)

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Wow, what a blend of imaginary and weird. Some of the stories were just a bit dull in my opinion, but some were laugh out loud funny, and some wanted me to want to read more, and find out more in the story. It is amazing that these authors can get a premise for a story, and totally turn it around into something totally different, and sometimes make it more interesting then what it actually was.

My favorites were in no particular order – Old Friends, This is My Blood, Neverland Blues (laugh out loud funny and quite real), Lure, Manannan’s Children, The Last Great House of Isla Tortuga, and Perchance to Dream.

I wasn’t sure as to what I would find inside the book when asking for it to review. This book is labelled as Science Fiction / Speculative Fiction. I had read Anathem and wasn’t a fan. This book however, gives you a bit of everything in speculative fiction by some great Australian writers. I will be sure to be on the lookout for some of their more longer stories in the library or in a bookstore.


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Science Fiction

Anathem – Neal Stephenson

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If you are a die hard fan of Science Fiction and have a brain for mathematics, this book is for you.Anathem is set in a monastery on a planet that we have never heard of before. At 935 pages, the author takes you on his minute detailed story, that is more over my head then what I thought. If the storyline did not drop off in between the detailed descriptions and the storyline, I think I would have enjoyed it more. The dips in and out made me feel as though I was on a slow moving roller coaster, the descriptions slowed the roller coaster right down, but the actual storyline, made the coaster speed up a bit.

Some parts of the book I had to re read to get my bearings back to the main storyline, I think if the author had a more fluid running novel, incorporating all of the intricate descriptions into it, it would have been a much easier read.

The characters intriguing, as was everything else, the math bits, and the way they go about things in the sects was interesting.

The CD that accompanied this ARC, was a nice add on, but certinally not something I would listen to on a daily basis. I had to turn it off after about a minute of listening to it.


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