This is a gorgeous book, packed full of photographs of highly detailed anatomical wax models. The artistry on display is nearly unbelievable in the atThis is a gorgeous book, packed full of photographs of highly detailed anatomical wax models. The artistry on display is nearly unbelievable in the attention to fine detail, and some of the pieces are so realistic looking it difficult to comprehend that they are wax. I do wish there had been more information identifying the actual parts, which could have made it more educational. Not a book for the squeamish, but for those who have a lay-person's fascination with anatomy, this book fits the bill....more
This book is unbelievable beautiful from every perspective. From the rich, tragic, hopeful, twisting narrative to the mind-bending ethereal artwork, tThis book is unbelievable beautiful from every perspective. From the rich, tragic, hopeful, twisting narrative to the mind-bending ethereal artwork, this is everything I could have hoped for and expected from Gaiman's return to the world of the Endless. I read this one as slowly as I could stand, lingering over the melting frames, attempting to absorbing the essence of each panel as they swirled over the pages. It is a rare author that can convey the feeling of dream-state in such a convincing manner, rarer still the combination of artists that can then simultaneously render those fleeting, amorphous feelings into exquisite architectures of lines and color that blend so perfectly with the story. Further words fail me....more
A gift from a friend. So many of these covers I instantly recognized, having read the books decades ago. I would have liked a bit more background and A gift from a friend. So many of these covers I instantly recognized, having read the books decades ago. I would have liked a bit more background and information on the various paintings but then this is primarily an art book, and it is a very nice one....more
This is a gorgeous giant of a book, with absolutely stunning pictures printed on heavy, high-quality paper. This is the kind of thing I can stare at fThis is a gorgeous giant of a book, with absolutely stunning pictures printed on heavy, high-quality paper. This is the kind of thing I can stare at for extended periods of time. It works it's way through the solar system, in exquisite detail, and then works through the cosmos taking an ever broader view until it covers time from the big bang to the variety of possible endings. It covers the types of galaxies, star formation and death, the large-scale structure of galactic clusters, and dark matter and dark energy. The science seems pretty solid, and is written in an easy to understand manner. Any fan of astronomy would appreciate this massive tome....more
This is a pretty book with lots of nice shots from the film, and sections on each of the major characters and plot points. Nice to look at. I think I This is a pretty book with lots of nice shots from the film, and sections on each of the major characters and plot points. Nice to look at. I think I got this from the great book give-away at work a couple years back....more
So when does it count for me to have read a book like this, which is nothing but a collection of art from comics that I've previously read. When have So when does it count for me to have read a book like this, which is nothing but a collection of art from comics that I've previously read. When have I sufficiently looked at the pages long enough for it to qualify? The art in this book is lovely, and I'm a fan of Mignola, and the Hellboy universe. So why only 3 stars? Because there is nothing to read. It's just a whole bunch of the art, with no explanation, except a forward which essentially says "here's some art. It's good." I really would have liked some descriptions around each of the pieces presented; a little background around how the piece was developed, why certain design decisions were made, something about the creative process, anything at all. But no. So plus stars for the art, and minus stars for the lazy....more
This is a very pretty book, and as long as the author just discusses symbology, it seems pretty decent. So why the low rating? Because it is so packedThis is a very pretty book, and as long as the author just discusses symbology, it seems pretty decent. So why the low rating? Because it is so packed full is misinformation and mystical rubbish. I gave up making notes of everything that was wrong, because I was filling up my paper too quickly. Some of the most egregious are the medical claims. For example on page 185 she claims "Homeopathy relies on the power of water to be able to dilute and yet strengthen the essence of the remedy" - This is of course complete bullshit. Homeopathy has been tested repeatedly. It does not work, there is no essence, and nothing to strengthen. Other "alternative" medicine claims accepted uncritically include cancer fighting properties of mistletoe (pg 304) and copper bracelets aid pain relief (pg 345), and this isn't a book about alt med. This shit is dropped like stinking turds in the middle of what could otherwise be a useful reference book. page 191: She claims that squaring the circle is a fundamental part of secular geometry, which is not really correct at all. In fact it has been proven to be mathematically impossible, because pi is a transcendental number, which has nothing to do with flighty new-age notions of transcendence. page 210: Apparently accepts the actual existence of fairies, pixies, elves and spirits as really existing in twilight. page 214: Claims that there are enough sightings of Sasquatch and big cats to satisfy all but "the most hardened realists", simultaneously equating a mythical creature for which we have no verifiable physical evidence, with a class of creatures for which we have incontrovertible evidence, and subtly implying that anecdotal evidence is all we need to accept the reality of something.
I thought long and hard about whether or not I would list this book on my goodreads. I have a lot of feminist friends, and in fact consider myself to I thought long and hard about whether or not I would list this book on my goodreads. I have a lot of feminist friends, and in fact consider myself to be on their side, and I worried about whether I would cause some rifts, and indeed, whether my having read this book is detrimental to the cause of equal rights. Also I considered whether anyone in my family would stumble across this information eventually, for there would certainly be disapproval, and perhaps some difficult questioning. I even thought about just quietly listing the book, and not writing a review, blaming laziness or being too busy rather than acknowledging trepidation as the cause of the absence of a few words. But then I thought about the fact that I have lived my entire life under the heavy hand of shame and guilt, especially when it comes to matters of sex. And despite the fact that I actually read this book, and I did not just look at the pictures, it is unavoidable that sex is one of the primary concerns in the book. And despite the fact that I'm alone in my life right now, and probably will be for the rest of my life, I am still a straight male, and still enjoy seeing pictures of naked women. I suppose I could deny myself this pleasure, and pretend that I am entering some kind of spiritually pure state. But that is bullshit, and I can't abide it. So anyway, the history of Playboy as presented in this book is pretty damn interesting. The magazine has a long history of being on the forefront of a lot social issues, including sexual freedom for all people, not just men, not just whites. The interviews gave public airing to an amazing array of disparate voices, allowing people from all kinds of opposing viewpoints to present their arguments, feelings, politics and more in their own words. Bizarrely enough, Playboy has actually been a strong advocate for women's rights. So, enough with the guilt. I read this book and enjoyed it, and I looked at the pictures too. ...more
This is one of my favorite single artist collections. Barlowe's visions of hell are unique and beautiful, and his intent to make them timeless and croThis is one of my favorite single artist collections. Barlowe's visions of hell are unique and beautiful, and his intent to make them timeless and cross-cultural is fully successful. I would love to have one of these pictures on my wall.
Addendum 2023: I have a print of one of these paintings on my living room wall, as of a few years back. The Wargate from page 21. I love it, but I do wish that I had bought a larger print....more
I've loved Roger Dean's artwork from the various Yes albums, and this book provides beautiful reproductions of his artwork from that period, along witI've loved Roger Dean's artwork from the various Yes albums, and this book provides beautiful reproductions of his artwork from that period, along with insight into his ideas and work techniques....more
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