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Godzilla: A Novelization
Manufacturer: Scholastic Inc
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
ASIN: 0590047310 |
Book Description
Is it Thunder-or Footsteps?
A devastating, blinding flash lights up the sky above a Polynesian atoll. The island is no more. All that is left is a towering mushroom cloud that slowly drifts away.
The Pacific Ocean boils and churns though there is no storm in sight. A fish-processing ship goes down, leaving only a single survivor: a catatonic sailor, too terrified to speak.
Gigantic footprints plow an ominous path through the Panamanian rain forest, crossing the isthmus from west to east and disappearing into the Atlantic Ocean.
Off the North Carolina coast, a ship suddenly capsizes and is dragged under the sea.
An inexorable wave of destruction, incessant and mysterious, is heading north, toward a tiny, densely populated island called Manhattan!
In the motion picture event of the decade, the blockbuster filmmaker Dean Devlin adn Roland Emmerich bring the biggest monster of all time to the screen: Godzilla! As the towering terror methodically dismantles Manhattan, nuclear scientist Nick Tatopolous is called in to do what the combined forces of the U.S. Army and Air Force can't
Stop him!
Nick's only hopeand New York's last chanceis to join forces with Phillipe Roache, an enigmatic insurance investigator leading a team of odd characters who are assessing the damages even as they occur. Neither team leader trusts the other, but they must bury their differences fast, before the marauding monster buries Manhattan under its own rubble. For like a genie from the bottle, Godzilla came to life with three wishes and all three are coming true: Destroy! Destroy! Destroy!
Capturing all the terror and grandeur of the spectacular film from the creators of the smash hit Independence Day, this exciting novelization straight from the screenplay brings to life the most awesome movie monster ever. Godzilla is here in all his gruesome glory. He's about to reach out and touch someone.
Pray it isn't you.
Customer Reviews:
Godzilla.......2006-06-09
Because Amazon has this weird tendency to lump things together, I am reviewing the Godzilla version from Scholastic, for kids, ISBN 0590572121. I mention that because my review, followed by L. Borman's review below, might confuse a few people!
This book, labelled for ages 5-8 on the back cover, is really not suited to 5 year olds. There's too much text, and too many large words. If, however, the 5 year old in question was seen the movie (the 1998 remake), then maybe. Otherwise, despite it's size, it seems more appropriate for the 9 and up group.
As a result of atomic bomb tests by the French government, all life on the islands of French Polynesia has been destroyed - except one egg. This egg grew, and changed, transformed by radiation. When it hatched, a new creature was born.
Scientific research into the effects of radiation is Dr. Nick Tatopoulos' great love, and he has a theory. Radiation can cause some animals to grow to enormous proportions. Whisked away from his studies, Nick and the military begin to hunt down the creature from the islands. They have to stop it, before it's too late.
Filled with pictures from the movie, young fans may find it enjoyable. For older readers, it's just another telling of Jurassic Park, right down to the "something survived" ending. Still, in the end, if it will get a kid to read a book, it can't possibly be all that bad.
Funny - but not in the good way.......2006-01-30
This book is either the best book ever or the worst. The writing is so over-the-top bad that it is hard to put down. My copy now has some of the "best" lines underlined:
"Think of a three story factory building that takes up a city block... these ships are ten times larger." Gee, Stephen, than why didn't you tell me to think of a 30 story building?
"She souded like she had the hiccups, but they were sexy hiccups"
My eyes bled when I read this gem about the Protagonists' discovery of earthworms in chapter two.
"I watched their segmented bodies squirming like so many hermaphroditic Gene Kellys - minus raincoats and umbrellas - and felt compelled to sing."
Or how about this classic: "My first thought was that she looked like a sexy jungle librarian."
I think a better title of this book would have been taken straight from the text of Godzilla in Chapter 5: "The Ebola Virus and You: Ten Easy Steps to Prevention"
This one will be a classic on my shelf for decades, an example of what not to do in terms of writing, or rather a step-by-step guide on how to write unintentional humor.
It has now become my private contest to find the worst line in modern fiction and I have some serious contenders here. Luckily, I got this book for free out of a swap box on base here in Iraq, but it is now invaluable to my library.
godzilla was da bomb.......2000-04-10
it was so exciting yhay i could not put down the book.i liked the part when they were in the tunnel & they turned on the bright lights & honked the horn and scared godzilla. then these f-18's killed godzilla!
Godzilla was da Bomb!.......1999-11-10
I liked this book because it has a lot of action and you never know what will happen next. It makes you jumpy and sometimes gets scary. I really would recommend this book to someone else. (Trust me, You'll love it!)
Godzilla is one of the best books i ever,ever read!.......1998-10-26
It's really interesting book.It's much better than a movie,although the movie is not bad, either.This book is going to be interesting to everybody,who loves to read science fiction.I like this book very much.
Average customer rating:
- Quirky!
- Great gift book
- the eccentrics are alive and well in this book
- A fascinating glimpse into other people's minds
- The most unusual book I have ever seen!
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Weird Rooms
Mal Sharpe , and
Sandra Sharpe
Manufacturer: Pomegranate Communications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover
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ASIN: 0764900102 |
Amazon.com
For most people, home is not only a personal sanctuary, it is a personal statement. This book features some of the most completely bizarre rooms in houses across the United States. The authors sought out people whose personal obsessions and fetishes have led them to transform their domestic environments into quite unusual places. Some rooms are designed solely to enshrine pop icons, like a Kennedy Room or an Elvis Room. One man transformed his entire apartment into a spaceship with rolls of duct tape, tin foil, and a few dozen computers and television sets; another turned his bedroom into a Lego City, complete with an airport, cathedral, and city hall. Most of these rooms were originally created out of necessity for collections run amok, or as a fantastic refuge from the outside world. Packed from cover to cover with curiosities, you can be sure to pick up some unorthodox decorating ideas.
Customer Reviews:
Quirky!.......2007-06-26
Love this book--wish it were available in pb & yes, should be a sequel! I keep telling people about this one...
Great gift book.......2002-08-21
The rooms featured in this book are amusing to look at, but more interesting are the essays written by the people behind the rooms. One man painted the walls of a guest room to appear as if you're inside a bird cage with an enormous malevolent cat staring down at you. If you find this intriguing, buy the book! Makes a great gift.
the eccentrics are alive and well in this book.......2000-04-13
this book captures the wonderfully creative people in the u.s.. it's fun to look at or even get ideas from. I would definately buy a sequal!
A fascinating glimpse into other people's minds.......1999-05-18
I loved this book! There is a part of me (the flamingo and fishing frog part) that understands the urge to surround yourself with interesting things that other people find slightly (or completely) weird, but some of these people are beyond even my ability to grasp. The pictures are fascinating -- kind of like looking at a car crash. Buy this book!! You won't be sorry.
The most unusual book I have ever seen!.......1999-05-11
This is a book for everyone! Adults and children will adore it! It ignites your own imagination! A must have!
Customer Reviews:
NOT good for experienced DMs in a 3e campaign!!.......2003-06-05
Just so you know, if you're buying this book to use in a d20 city campaign, you might as well save your money.
First, there's absolutely no statistics for any NPCs save their race, class, and level (ooh, thanks for all the help!).
Second, there's not hooks, twists, story lines, miniadventures or anything! What the . . . what player wants to sit and listen to a 3-page history of Foreign District?!
Where's the building maps?! Don't expect any here!
One good thing, though, it did have a nice walkthrough of the entire city included on the large, full-color map that comes with it.
To summarize, do NOT get this book thinking you're getting something that you can simply piece together with your own ideas. In order to make a worthwhile campaign, you're going to have to devote a lot of time and energy to maps, NPCs, and twists that, in my opinion, should have been included in an accessory such as this.
If you have time to do this, that's great! If you're studying for the Bar Exam in July like I am and don't have 5 hours a day to devote to making a decent adventure, don't get it!
NOT good for experienced DMs in a 3e campaign!!.......2003-06-05
Just so you know, if you're buying this book to use in a d20 city campaign, you might as well save your money.
First, there's absolutely no statistics for any NPCs save their race, class, and level (ooh, thanks for all the help!).
Second, there's not hooks, twists, story lines, miniadventures or anything! What the . . . what player wants to sit and listen to a 3-page history of Foreign District?!
Where's the building maps?! Don't expect any here!
One good thing, though, it did have a nice walkthrough of the entire city included on the large, full-color map that comes with it.
To summarize, do NOT get this book thinking you're getting something that you can simply piece together with your own ideas. In order to make a worthwhile campaign, you're going to have to devote a lot of time and energy to maps, NPCs, and twists that, in my opinion, should have been included in an accessory such as this.
If you have time to do this, that's great! If you're studying for the Bar Exam in July like I am and don't have 5 hours a day to devote to making a decent adventure, don't get it!
Exhaustive overview, without limiting possibilities.......2000-06-09
At last - the authoritative text on the irresistibly alluring City of Ravens Bluff! Drawing on the famous LC modules, and the best creative writings of the players and DMs who have participated in the RPGA over the past decade, Ed Greenwood creates an unbelievably detailed and fascinating look at the best-developed city in the Forgotten Realms. Even Waterdeep pales in the shadow of this intricate work! This huge compendium is 160 pages, in microscopic print - you'll literally need a magnifier if you plan on reading much of this in one sitting. In the back is a glorious full-color poster, unveiling an entire world of adventure. If you've been looking for an exciting new setting from which to base your next adventuring campaign, look no further - this city is as detailed and fascinating as Greyhawk itself, which makes it one of the best urban settings of all time, for any game!
Raven's Bluff - Splendid AD&D Setting!.......2000-02-16
Okay, so I actually like a recent TSR publication, and why not? It is a well written tome filled with skads of detail of a place that has until recently been the purview of the RPGA. Greenwood does an excellent job in detailing the city-and most importantly, the families of note complete with histories! Wow! Best of all, it isn't overly replete with characters who made pacts with every god and major demon lord to get where they are. Aside from Greenwood's obsession with mages and the fact that there are just too darn many of them to be found anywhere in the Realms, Raven's Bluff is an ideal book to base a series of adventures, but I wouldn't run a campaign in it. It could have done with a better thieves guild, but other than that, this is well written book, and it's layout and maps are extremely well done. Well worth the money.
cool book.......1999-07-15
never having played on toril this book was a real pleaser. it opened up a different part of faerun that has, in the past, been limited to those belonging to rpga. lots of info, history and cool stuff. is it obvious yet that i like the book?
Product Description
9282 Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd Edition
"Continue your tour of the Ravens Bluff campaign setting, the brightest spot on the Dragon Reach. Meet Jack Mooney, propritor, manager, and ringmaster of the Realms' largest traveling circus. Lucky visitors receive invitations to our 'Party on Embassy Row,' where intrigue and high society collide. Visit Lord Mayor Charles Oliver O'Kane's study for a quick peek at Elminster's nesses, personalities, and officials- including the Vulture, the city's infamous tax collector. All stops on your tour will add adventure to your travels in the FORGOTTEN REALMS campaign setting"
64 pages
Customer Reviews:
brilliant roleplaying opportunities.......2002-09-01
Just got hold of this in pdf format. It's an excellent introductory-level adventure for levels 1-3. The scenario is that the PC's are roped in to work as probationary nightwatch in Raven's Bluff. They have to keep the peace for the night and make sure no-one is killed and no crimes are committed. Full of brilliant role-playing opportunities, this is definitely one for the thinking group.
The game is split up into a number of keyed scenarios that can link up to others later on. There are some hilarious NPCs to meet including an old vampire-slayer, a deranged druid who lives in the sewer with rats and a crazed fisherman trying to dice up his neighbour into burley.
There are not a lot of opportunities to hack & slash on the PC's part but it is a really nice alternative to most of the introductory modules out there. Look for it on the net or pick up an old hardcopy somewhere. Highly recommended.
Book Description
"The best character animation book available."
--Ian Cairns, Editor, MAYA Association
This second edition of the popular Maya Character Animation is an in-depth, step-by-step guide to perfecting your modeling and animation skills. Abundantly illustrated tutorials teach you how to build life-like characters from the ground up, with detailed coverage of effective subdivision surface and polygon modeling techniques. You'll master the intricacies of rigid and smooth character binding, discover the art of convincing facial expressions, and conquer post-modeling challenges ranging from character setup to non-linear animation editing to mapping and rendering. Benefit from this edition's coverage of inverse and forward kinematics, 3D character animation for character modeling and character setup, and valuable info on rigging your characters.
Put your new skills to the test by completing a realistic project in which you plan, create, and refine your own short-piece animation. Throughout, you'll find hundreds of full-color images that demonstrate what you can--and will--accomplish. You also get bonus coverage of Deep Paint 3D, the premier texture-painting program.
Customer Reviews:
Does not cover character animation to any significant degree.......2006-03-13
I bought this book because I wanted to learn how to animate a character, as the title suggests. However, the book is more of a general reference of how to model, rig, skin, and create a character rather than animate a character.
For example, it covers nothing about making a character move in a believable way, how to use the character controls effectively, or any suggestions on a good animation workflow (such as blocking in, then converting to spline keys).
At the end of reading it you will have a fully created and rigged character but still not know how to animate it. The book should have been entitled Maya Character Creation and Rigging instead.
That said, the material is very in-depth and nicely presented for what it does cover. The title's a bit misleading, that's all.
This is about reference more then techniques..........2005-08-08
Although a certain ammount of techniques are involved throughout this book, this book is one of the more complete overall references of the software. I teach various Maya courses and I recommend this book to the beginner as a solid encyclopedia type reference to use as an alternative to the sometime annoying Help which contains very good but confusing and unclear definitions and explanations. As always you will get more out of the book the more you practice with the software. I DO recommend this for beginners as there are no topics in my opinion which require more than a beginner level of skill. I think saying this book is not for beginners is total crap! If you were to sit and read an encyclopedia from cover to cover ofcourse you would be confused if you just rely on it and not practical practice with the knowledge within. I do agree that the wording gets confusing but for some of the techniques I use other ways not how he does it, because technique is 10% reason for this book I think.
Excellent, but not for beginners.......2005-06-07
I have found this to be a remarkable book which has helped me take my skills to another level. That said, if you're starting out, you will probably be overwhelmed and frustrated for awhile. It's less of a how-to book and more of a "looking over the shoulder of an expert" book. He illustrates how he does things and it's pretty much up to you to experiment with the concepts/techniques and adopt them as you see fit. Thousands of pictures and full color - very beautiful book. It also extensively covers areas like rigging and deep paint, which are difficult subjects to find books about, as well as modeling and animation. But, if you're just starting out in 3D, hold off until you have a solid foundation and good basic skills.
Full of Must Know Techniques.......2005-05-09
Though this book is quite thick it doesnt have a lot of jargon. It is easy to go through and everything it tells you is of use. Its a very good choice for anyone who is interested in the 3D animation field.
Ok. but non-native english a real minus.......2005-02-22
Look, I'm a fair-handed guy, so let me give this book an honest review.
The good to excellent:
First, the presentation is top notch. Over 850 pages of beautiful full color pages makes this book very easy on the eyes.
It comes with a CD that contains most tutorial items, which is also a plus.
And with that, the not so good.
I'm one of those aspiring MAYA guys who sits around all weekend learning this great program--I love it. So when I first tore into this book I was rife with hope. Honestly though, it's sort of a let down. For one, this book was authored by an incredibly talented person who simply doesn't speak English as a first language. The result is many passages that are just plain confusing.
Let me give an example. In one section Mr. Chio explains how to make a Reverse Foot. He adequately describes how to make the IK handles, but then this wonderfully confusing passages drops:
"Now make a new support joint and parent it to the support joints with the IK Handles. First of all, make the support joint in Side View as shown in Figure 7-6"
Huh? Anyone who has done this before knows this statement is like saying: "Lets make a peanut butter sandwich by getting some bread. Now lets make a peanut butter sandwich".
Examples of that caliber abound. There are also tons of spelling and usage errors, and coming from me, that's really saying something.
Hey, it's ok to be rough with your English, but when it comes in the form of an instructional book for one of the toughest programs around...well, you get the idea.
I also have a problem with the tutorial materials. For a book about character animation this book covers it all, but one problem is the supplied models seem to be way more complex than they have to be. For example, one model is of a man warning clothes. Not a huge deal, but when you see his mesh patterns because of the clothes and how you have to edit them to do things like painting weights and binding, it seems like overkill. Why not just a simple smooth mesh?
Lastly, I find some of the topics are covered too quickly. For example, creating and using an IK Spline Handle is covered in less than 3 pages-and that's including 4 huge illustrations (and the fact that most of the text is just step-by-step instruction stuff). As mentioned in another review, this makes understanding this books target audience really tough. If you already know how to make IK Spline's the section won't do you any good. If, however, your like me and never have, your left wondering what the heck you just did.
Perhaps the best way to say it is this book is like a professor who talks really fast and covers lots of stuff, but always leaves before you get to ask any questions. In the end I feel like a `knower of lots and a master of nothing'.
No matter, one cannot deny this books ambition or scope. Yet in the end it just seems that instead of learning anything, you simply see how to do stuff, leaving you to fill in the gaps.
Average customer rating:
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Maya Character Creation (2nd Edition)
Chris Maraffi
Manufacturer: New Riders Press
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback
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ASIN: 0321383532 |
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