Pop Culture Books

James Bond Encyclopedia

John Cork, Collin Stutz

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A COOL BLAST OF BOND 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 7 people found this review helpful.

If I may wax nostalgic for a moment, I can still recall the very first James Bond movie that I sever saw...actually the first three Bond movies...it was sometime in the late 60's or early 70's and my mom took me and my brothers to the drive-in theater to see a triple feature of Goldfinger, Dr. No, and From Russia with Love...in that order. I know I never made it past the credits of From Russia with Love but man...I loved those first two films! I had never seen anything like Bond before with his cool gadgets and those nasty villains like Odd Job and that began a lifelong passion for James Bond. With Christmas approaching, I cannot think of a better gift for the Bond fan on your list than the James Bond Encyclopedia from DK Books.

I've read a lot of books from DK on popular films and while they are always very well done, they sometimes can be a bit light on material. No so with this book. This book contains over 300 pages filled with information that will test even the most knowledgeable of Bond fans. It is bountifully illustrated with over 2000 photographs and images and traces the Bond history right up to the most recent film, Casino Royale.

As the title suggests it is an encyclopedia but rather than just list its hundreds of entries in alphabetical order it lists them alphabetically by subject. The subjects include: The Bond Style, The Role of Bond, Bond Villains, Bond Women, Supporting Cast, Vehicles, Weapons & Equipment, and the Movies. A comprehensive index finishes things off.

The role of Bond covers the six actors who have portrayed Bond with two pages of biographical information on each actor and a list of the Bond films they starred in. Next up is the section on Bond Villains. This section covers Bond villains from the criminal masterminds Blofeld, Hugo Drax, and Goldfinger; crime lords like Frank Sanchez; muscled thugs Jaws, Odd Job, Mr. Kil, and Tee Hee; and dangerous females May Day, Elekta King, and Bambi & Thumper. The encyclopedia gives the film(s) they appeared in, their current status, characteristics, the actor who portrayed them, and a synopsis of their roles in the films.

No book on Bond would be complete without looking at the dozens of Bond Women played by some of the most beautiful actresses in the world: Terri Hatcher, Ursula Andress, Lana Wood, Eva Green, and Halle Berry. The section on supporting cast members covers all the other major and minor characters in the Bond films from Q to Miss Moneypenny. Each Aston Martin that Bond drove is featured in the section on vehicles along with some of the more extraordinary vehicles like the Bath-O-Sub from Diamonds are Forever and the Dragon Tank from Dr. No. And of course all of Bonds secret weapons and gadgets are detailed in the Weapons section.

The last fifty pages or so of the book covers each bond film in chronological order with a listing of cast and crew credits but rather than provide a synopsis of films you've probably seen numerous times the book instead provides anecdotes on the making of the films with all manner of interesting production notes.

This is a book that is perfect for the die-hard or casual James Bond fan.

Editorial Review:

Created in full collaboration with Eon Productions, producers of the Bond movies, this illustrated celebration of the world's most famous super-spy examines every aspect of 007's world, with information on his history, style, and tastes, along with A-Z guides to his adversaries, allies, gadgets, cars, and, of course, the ever-glamorous Bond girls. AUTHOR BIO: John Cork and Colin Stutz authorities on every aspect of the James Bond story, wrote the acclaimed book on the James Bond phenomenon, James Bond: The Legacy, have produced, written and directed 30 special feature documentaries for MGM's DVD releases of James Bond films, and contributed to The Ultimate James Bond: An Interactive Dossier CD-Rom for MGM Interactive.

The Star Trek Encyclopedia

Michael Okuda, Denise Okuda, Debbie Mirek

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 94 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

This new version of the Star Trek Encyclopedia is a reissue of the 1997 edition, plus a 128-page supplement of additional material that updates Deep Space Nine to the end of its run and Voyager to midway through season five. It also covers the movie Star Trek: Insurrection. The supplement is as meticulously detailed as the rest of the volume, listing such fascinating trivia as chadre kab (Seven of Nine's first meal), 'Kahless and Lukara' (a Klingon opera), and voraxna (a Cardassian poison), as well as all the new characters and species. Appendices include illustrations of starships, cast and crew listings, a historical timeline, and a bibliography. All photographs and illustrations (except for a few historical shots) are in color. The encyclopedia was devised in part to help production staff on the various Star Trek TV series to keep up with the ever-increasing level of detail generated by over 30 years of creative effort. It is an excellent reference volume and, whether you want to settle an argument or write a novel, this book will answer your questions. But beware: the extensive cross-referencing leads to curious time-distortion effects, in which the unwary reader, dipping in to settle a single query, encounters an irresistible urge to browse further, during which hours of normal time can pass in the wink of an eye. --Elizabeth Sourbut

Disney A to Z: The Official Encyclopedia (Third Edition)

Dave Smith

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Subjects -> Children's Books -> Reference & Nonfiction -> General AAS

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great source of infomation! 4 out of 5 stars.
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.

This book is a great resource for all Disney fans. All the characters, all the movies (unfortunately, the Mephisto movie made in collaboration with Salvador Dali is not in the book) and all the attractions, parks, properties and influentials employees are mentioned. Maybe just not as exhaustive as I would like it; it is, however, a great resource.

Great Gift 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

This is a great gift for any Disney fan. Many listing bring back great memories and coll trivia.

A Book that Disney Fans should not live without! 5 out of 5 stars.
0 of 0 people found this review helpful.

"Disney A to Z" is an awesome book that a true Disney fan cannot live without. It is a great book that will help you find out about old Disney movies, that you might have not seen. "Disney A to Z" encyclopedia is also an essential source for those that love to play the "Disney Seen it" board game. It gives a short description of ALL Disney movies including the short ones that came out after the World War II. I LOVE IT!!!

Editorial Review:

More than 6,500 entries and hundreds of photographs combine to provide a comprehensive reference on the world of Disney, providing authoritative coverage of the history of Disney, park attractions, television shows, songs, animated features and shorts, films, and much more.

The Anime Encyclopedia: A Guide to Japanese Animation Since 1917, Revised and Expanded Edition

Jonathan Clements, Helen McCarthy

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 51 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

In this important book, Jonathan Clements and Helen McCarthy present an enormous amount of information about 2,000 series and features, detailing their plots and relationships to other anime properties. In these areas, the book is definitive, and readers can only wish a comparable volume existed for American animation. The authors are less sure about non-Japanese influences (Cowboy Bebop owes more to noir detective films than to Route 66), and they focus more on storylines and the business of anime than on visuals. They don't discuss the influence of American Saturday morning TV on early anime designs (Speed Racer, the component series of Robotech) or the art nouveau styling in Revolutionary Girl Utena. The editorial evaluations are much harsher than McCarthy's The Anime Movie Guide: some of the most popular anime series in America--Tenchi, Evangelion, Ranma 1/2--receive sharp criticism. The result is a book that anime fans will either love or love to argue with. --Charles Solomon

The Official Three Stooges Encyclopedia: The Ultimate Knucklehead's Guide to Stoogedom--from Amalgamated Association of Morons to Ziller...

Robert Kurson

Amazon Price: $12.89 List Price: $18.95 In stock soon. Order now to get in line. First come, first served. By: McGraw-Hill Amazon Marketplace: 16 new & used starting at $5.85

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 32 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

A STOOGES FAN DREAM COME TRUE 5 out of 5 stars.
7 of 10 people found this review helpful.

This book has everything you need to know about The Stooges.
It is well organized and easy to navigate. The detail of the classic episodes is worth the price alone. I highly recommend this book.

A Rehash of Lines and Names. Not Much Here. 2 out of 5 stars.
6 of 14 people found this review helpful.

I completely agree with other reviewers: that all one had to do is watch the Stooges shorts and write down the funny lines and names and voila you have Three Stooges Encyclopedia.

I give it two stars just because the section on supporting actors is interesting. Otherwise the rest is just a rehash of lines and names. The bios are even disappointing, it has stuff like, "We all want to be Curly."

I would advise to look elsewhere if you want a book on THE THREE STOOGES.

Editorial Review:

The Three Stooges are undoubtedly the most famous comedy team in all history, and today Stoogemania is everywhere. Here is a treasure trove of the timeless humor and slapstick comedy that has made the Stooges such comic legends. Filled with more than 1,400 entries, jokes, and key gags, this deluxe collector's volume showcases the Stooges in all their zany, absurd glory.

On the Air: The Encyclopedia of Old-Time Radio

John Dunning

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 29 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

Now long out of print, John Dunning's Tune in Yesterday was the definitive one-volume reference on old-time radio broadcasting. Now, in On the Air, Dunning has completely rethought this classic work, reorganizing the material and doubling its coverage, to provide a richer and more informative account of radio's golden age.
Here are some 1,500 radio shows presented in alphabetical order. The great programs of the '30s, '40s, and '50s are all here--Amos 'n' Andy, Fibber McGee and Molly, The Lone Ranger, Major Bowes' Original Amateur Hour, and The March of Time, to name only a few. For each, Dunning provides a complete broadcast history, with the timeslot, the network, and the name of the show's advertisers. He also lists major cast members, announcers, producers, directors, writers, and sound effects people--even the show's theme song. There are also umbrella entries, such as "News Broadcasts," which features an engaging essay on radio news, with capsule biographies of major broadcasters, such as Lowell Thomas and Edward R. Murrow. Equally important, Dunning provides a fascinating account of each program, taking us behind the scenes to capture the feel of the performance, such as the ghastly sounds of Lights Out (a horror drama where heads rolled and bones crunched), and providing engrossing biographies of the main people involved in the show.
A wonderful read for everyone who loves old-time radio, On the Air is a must purchase for all radio hobbyists and anyone interested in 20th-century American history. It is an essential reference work for libraries and radio stations.

Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia: The A-to-Z Guide to Finding Your Favorite Actresses Naked

Mr. Skin

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 20 Average rating: 4.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

After turning his lifelong obsession with famous girls on film into the Internet phenomenon known as MrSkin.com, the Skinmeister General has now compiled his expert knowledge and skinsationally witty way with a phrase into an authoritative, uproarious book that you'll never tire of flipping through---single-handedly, of course!

Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia compiles exhaustive information on more than two-thousand starlets and the films in which you can witness them free of clothing. Every actress bio contains a complete list of movies in which she's appeared naked, as well as the specific body parts that are exposed. In addition, Mr. Skin picks each star's Skinfining Moment--- the single skinematic high point that defines her carnal career.

The Skincyclopedia also comes packed with top-ten lists, revealing quotes from the bare beauties themselves, and a host of rare, eye-popping photos---all delivered in Mr. Skin's signature puntastic style.

Spanning nearly a century of cinematic history, the Skincyclopedia unveils the silver screen's naked truth from the silent era to the blockbuster to the straight-to-DVD age of today, along the way revealing the answers to questions such as:

- Did Marcia from The Brady Bunch ever bust out her Brady bumps?

- Can you name the 1990 flick that features Jennifer Connelly sunbathing nude?

- Is it Farrah's right or left Fawcett that takes flight in Saturn 3?

- What are the Top Ten Most Leztastic Girl-Girl Scenes of all time?

- Which twentysomething Hollywood honey once declared, "My boobs are fine---they go with my body"?

- How many Academy Award--winning actresses have displayed their Golden Globes on film?

- Got "furburgerage"?

These and countless other fleshly film facts get laid bare in Mr. Skin's Skincyclopedia0, the definitive guidebook for the "movie buff" in all of us!

Film Noir: An Encyclopedic Reference to the American Style, Third Edition

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 11 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Takes the definition of Film Noir way too far 1 out of 5 stars.
12 of 30 people found this review helpful.

If I could give this book ZERO stars, I would. I ordered this book, looked inside for about 2 minutes and promptly returned it. It excluded my 2 favorite film noir movies, The Sweet Smell of Success and ...what I deem, next to the Maltese Falcon and Sunset Blvd., as the absolute epitome of film noir....The Third Man. Not even a mention, even though it is #2 on the all time favorite film noir movie list at the IMDB website.

I thumbed through the book for a sec or two and noticed MANY full technicolor movies, some of which, because of the content of the movie, I thought had absolutely no place in a film noir book, technicolor or not. The genre is not as wide open as this author believes it is. C'mon....Dirty Harry? Sorry, but that is NOT a film noir. I did not read the book, but whatever definition of film noir he is using, it CERTAINLY comes nowhere near MY definition of film noir. And according to Wikepedia.org, my definition is correct...color films have no place whatsoever according to the "purist" view. But I'm openminded, you know, it can be in color and it can be made after 1970....I don't have a huge list of criteria. I only asked that it include a few of my favorites, but when it didn't even meet my needs with the very first glance at the index, I pretty much discounted it as hogwash. Yeah, it has loads of obscure gumshoe B movies and if that's what you're interested it, go for it. But if you think all film noir movies should be in black & white and contain the Third Man, et al, pass it by.

From Abba to Zoom: A Pop Culture Encyclopedia of the Late 20th Century

David Mansour

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 5 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

Take a walk . . . down memory lane, you Boomers and Gen Xers! From ABBA to Zoom is sure to grab anyone born in the 1950s, '60s, '70s, or '80s. Whether you grew up watching The Huckleberry Hound Show, Johnny Quest, or Sesame Street, this cultural encyclopedia is sure to draw you into a nostalgic and fun-filled read that you just can't put down.

American pop culture aficionado David Mansour spent 18 years accumulating an extensive collection of dolls, lunch boxes, board games, TV memorabilia, and other items from the 1960s through the '90s. That fascination, along with his lifelong lists-from "best toys" to "all-time coolest singers"-were the genesis for this wide-ranging volume of Boomer and Generation X treasures.

Readers will relish the mere mention of some of their greatest childhood and adolescent connections, then rush to learn the well-researched details behind those icons. Farrah Fawcett's feathered hair, James Bond movies, Lost in Space, Woodstock-it's all here! In page after page, more than 3,000 references arranged alphabetically make this a true trip through the Boom Times. Totally groovy!

Lucy A to Z: The Lucille Ball Encyclopedia

Michael Karol

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Subjects -> Biographies & Memoirs -> People, A-Z -> ( B ) -> Ball, Lucille

Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 4 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

I Loved This Encyclopedia About Lucy! 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

I was a fairly big Lucy fan but hadn't bought many books about her, mostly those about her show, I Love Lucy. But when I found this book, the idea of an encyclopedia intrigued me, and I figured there'd be lots of stuff about I Love Lucy, in any case. There sure is, and there's a lot more, on every aspect of Lucy's career, arranged alphabetically. The pictures are great and everything is super easy to find. The writing is both breezy and insightful; the author's obviously a big fan, but he knows his stuff. A lot of research must have gone into this. As someone else on the page says, if you need any `splainin' about anything in Lucy's life or career, it's here.

Editorial Review:

Praise for Lucy A to Z: The Lucille Ball Encyclopedia

“Very important. Fresh insights. The most detailed—and most enjoyable—book available on Lucille Ball. A must-have.”
—Laura Wagner, Classic Images

“As we are producing the I Love Lucy 50th Anniversary Special, [Lucy A to Z] has been a godsend.”
—Lucie Arnaz, 2001 letter to author

“[Lucy A to Z is a] compound of insight, fact, and trivia.”
—Stefan Kanfer, author, Ball of Fire

“This new Fourth Edition of Lucy A to Z is a wonderful read and I’m very pleased to recommend it to everyone.”
—Wanda Clark, Lucille Ball’s personal secretary

“If you need any ‘splainin’ about Lucy’ life and career, you’ll find it here!”
—Craig Hamrick, author, The TV Tidbits Classic Television Trivia Quiz Book