Review Category: Books

The story of how Albert R. Broccoli’s Eon Productions started the James Bond film franchise and how it has coped with the economics and stresses of the film industry, critical reactions, box office hits and misses, competition from rival action movies, and changes in society, is told through 120 primary interviews with cast and crew that spans the 1960s to the present day.

For good measure, Ford and Chowdhury, themselves two self-confessed Bond film fans, also refer to published interviews and information from magazines, newspapers, radio, television and websites.

The foreword is by George Lazenby, who starred as Bond in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. At the time this former male model got a roasting for not living up to the standard of Sean Connery’s Bond, yet over the years fans have warmed to the film and his take on Bond.

Through chapters on Bond creator Ian Fleming and producers Albert Broccoli and Harry Saltzman we find there was a web of film and television ideas pitched and rejected before Dr No hit our screens in 1962. The authors quote Connery’s approach to the character as “James Bond is very much for breaking the rules. He enjoys freedom that the normal person doesn’t get. He likes to eat. He likes to drink. He likes his girls. He is rather cruel, sadistic.”

At times critics have expected Bond to die due to his out-dated misogyny and his relationship with women. Roger Moore in particular shamelessly undermined the Bond mystique, which at times brought it down to the level and humour of Carry On films. Nonetheless Moore was able to keep Bond alive during the 1970s and 1980s. During this period, the ‘Bond Girl’ formula gave way to more assertive women, and with the arrival of Timothy Dalton in The Living Daylights (1987) and Licence to Kill (1989) there was the introduction of the ‘Bond Woman’ who can challenge and equal Bond. It is noteworthy that in the publicity for Spectre, a ‘Bond Girl’ is underlined as being equal to Bond, though we have yet to get an ugly, older or overweight Bond girl!

Over the decades, styles and expectations have changed and this book is a worthy chronicle of how Bond has continued to bring action and glamour to our screens.

SOME KIND OF HERO: THE REMARKABLE STORY OF THE JAMES BOND FILMS / AUTHOR: MATTHEW FIELD, AJAY CHOWDHURY / PUBLISHER: THE HISTORY PRESS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 5TH

 

BBC Books’ latest timely coffee table Doctor Who publication – seriously, stick legs on this one and you’ve got an actual coffee table – is a long overdue, stunningly-illustrated and lovingly-detailed tribute to the often unsung heroes who design the monsters, alien landscapes, gadgets, gimmicks and bits and pieces which populate every episode of the Time Lord’s never-ending adventures.

From the string and sealing-wax days of its 1960s origins to the sophisticated 3D modelling techniques and CGI options available to today’s programme-makers, Doctor Who has always excelled in the ingenuity and sheer genius of its production designers in creating brilliantly-imaginative alien creatures, costumes and props. This magnificent and weighty tome – by the show’s contemporary Supervising Art Director Stephen Nicholas  and Visual Effects Designer Mike Tucker (responsible for many of the miniature sequences which still, happily, pop up in the show now and again) explores in absorbing detail the history of the show’s design culture from its very beginnings. No stone is left unturned with lengthy sections devoted to the famous interior TARDIS control room, its ever-evolving modern designs very much inspired by the work of Peter Brachaki who created the striking original control console in 1963, the Daleks and Cybermen as they’ve been modified and upgraded across the decades (the ill-advised 2010 Dalek ‘paradigm’ is swiftly skirted over) and fans of the Sontarans, the Silurians and even K9 won’t be disappointed by the copious colourful design illustrations which all demonstrate just how much care and attention goes into every aspect of realising Doctor Who’s unique Universe.

The Design department cabinets have clearly been turned upside-down because the breadth of material presented here is really quite astonishing. Much of it focuses on the ‘new’ series, of course, but the ‘classic’ series gets plenty of coverage too, memorable stories selected as examples of how the show’s design ethos frequently broke new grounds and set new standards despite the often-primitive facilities available to them to get the job done. Some of the pre-production design work for the current series is feature-film quality; the concept art created for Time Lord planet Gallifrey and Dalek homeworld Skaro and various other alien locations is really quite beautiful.

Impossible Worlds is a book to savour. You’ll glory at the sheer volume of rare and never-before-seen design imagery and possibly drool over quite a lot of it. The not-insubstantial supporting text treads familiar ground for the hardcore Who fan but Nicholas and Tucker know their stuff and stride confidently through the show’s long history. Aimed squarely at the more seasoned and specialist fan – this isn’t one for your sonic-screwdriver wielding six year-old – it’s hard to fault for its enthusiasm and its completism. We could perhaps have done with a few less pages devoted to gun and rifle designs and maybe some images of the likes of the Ice Warriors and the Judoon who are referenced but never pictured but otherwise this is a book which needs to be on the shelf of anyone who takes Doctor Who seriously and is interested in what goes on behind-the-scenes to get the show on screen. It’s impossibly good.

DOCTOR WHO – IMPOSSIBLE WORLDS / AUTHOR: STEPHEN NICHOLAS, MIKE TUCKER / PUBLISHER: BBC BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 29TH

 

Octobriana first came to light in 1971, when she stepped out from behind the Iron Curtain as the subject of a book by Petr Sadecky. The author claimed that Octobriana was the first free-thinking Communist superhero, created by an anti-establishment, covert organisation. It’s an origin story worthy of any crimefighter, yet you’d be forgiven if you hadn’t heard of this Russian ‘devil-woman’.

Writer John A. Short seeks to remedy this and, with publishers Kult Creations, has released Octobriana – The Underground History. Short starts with the controversy behind Sadecky’s original book, then continues to chart Octobriana’s appearances through the decades; not just in comic books from around the world but in films, audio dramas and even as a tattoo on a rock star’s arm. As a public domain property she’s had many incarnations, from Amazon-style warrior to exotic dancer, and Short takes us through all of them without being judgemental or overbearing in his opinions.

It’s an intriguing read, and Short’s passion for his subject is infectious; his writing style that of a conversation rather than a factual textbook. He’s clearly enjoyed working on this book, something which comes across not only in his text but in the comic strip at the end. It’s an amusing and irreverent romp – certainly not for the easily offended – that captures the essence of the character that Short has spent the previous seventy pages telling us about. The artwork assembled ranges from the sublime to the sketchy, yet all have their place in the history of this character who, once seen, is never forgotten.

The book does, however, have its flaws. Early on, there are some spelling and grammatical errors that stick out like sore thumbs, and the layout on some of the pages appears haphazard at first glance. That said, it does give the book a certain look, making it reminiscent of the underground publications that are its topic and inspiration.

At the time of writing, there isn’t a distribution deal for this book, which is a shame as it’s  both entertaining and fascinating from start to finish, whether the subject is the character herself or the real people involved in her creation. Signed and numbered limited editions suggest an initially small release, which may see Short’s Underground History destined to become a cult classic in its own right, appreciated later rather than sooner.

OCTOBRIANA: THE UNDERGROUND HISTORY / AUTHOR: JOHN A. SHORT / PUBLISHER: KULT CREATIONS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

Released in December 1985, Back to the Future was one of those films people enjoyed, talked about, and over time have realised just how good a film it is on many levels. With Back to the Future: The Ultimate Visual History, Michael Klastorin and Randal Atamanuik provide a gloriously illustrated story of the film and the franchise. Not only is it just in time for the film’s thirtieth anniversary, but 2015 is also the farthest point in the future Marty McFly visited in the movies.

Rightly the book focusses on the original movie, casting decisions and getting Hollywood to realise the potential of the original scripts. In its fabulously visual 224 pages it covers everything – the three movies, the ride and even the animated series. It allows many of those involved to tell their stories, and while wholeheartedly selling the many good points it never appears forced. Whatever your interests, there is something here to read or look at, be it production artwork, behind-the-scenes photos or just production notes. Everything is here.

Not only is this packed full of content, both text and photographic, it also holds numerous detachable extras. This is where the book scores; it is not just an homage to the film and a chance to mark the anniversary, but also something for the fans. You can hold your own copy of the poster for Jaws 19, have your own cover of a George McFly sci-fi novel, and best of all the photo Marty held during the first film, complete with fading images of his family.

This is a book far exceeding the minimum standards most franchise books meet; this is a book fans will get a lot out of and can only be highly recommended. It may be pricey, but is one of the rare examples of something actually worth investment.

BACK TO THE FUTURE: THE ULTIMATE VISUAL HISTORY / AUTHOR: MICHAEL KLASTORIN, RANDAL ATAMANUIK / PUBLISHER: TITAN BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 20TH

The first book of the Widdowshins series quickly lets us know what we’ve got ourselves in for. A demonic sea monster has been accidentally summoned through the mystical gateway that lies beneath the toilet of a village church, and unless a mismatched assortment of locals can rise to the occasion, all hell will break loose. Literally.

The surreal unreality of the setup is most closely comparable to the Far Fetched Fiction™ of Robert Rankin, where Lovecraftian forces have a habit of manifesting in the unremarkable London suburb of Brentford, much to the irritation of its jaded populace. While a hamlet in the north of England might seem like an odd place for confrontations between good and evil to take place, there’s really no less reason why demonic forces shouldn’t make themselves known in a parochial backwater than the chaos-magnet metropolises they typically do.

There’s a quintessentially English feel to the story, as though the town of Widdowshins is a manifestation of what much of the world believes the whole country to consist of: the kind of rural village where the church is the most dominant landmark and the locals are an assortment of eccentrics subsisting on tea and biscuits.

Ainsworth clearly prides himself in presenting an authentic view of magic as practiced by modern day wiccans, and it’s only during passages imparting knowledge of the craft and the recitation of spells that his writing truly comes alive. The rich detail reveals a true passion for the subject, although mystical incantations conveniently taking the form of rhyming couplets may make some a little sceptical. Elderly witch Ruby clearly acts as a mouthpiece for his own beliefs, and her infallibility and comprehensive knowledge make the plot development rather brisk and its resolution somewhat matter of fact. She is also the only character with any real presence, as most of the myriad of oddballs have little depth to them and are merely along for the ride. As for the antagonist, the demon Rahab comes across like a stroppy teenager acting out because he’s bored. His lack of imagination prevents him from actually doing anything particularly serious and thus he barely convinces as any kind of realistic threat.

The Hand Over the Candle is a very short book, and the story feels like it’s only just got going before it’s all over. However, it serves as a swift introduction to the world of Widdowshins, and hopefully subsequent instalments will take us deeper into it.

THE HAND OVER THE CANDLE (WIDDOWSHINS BOOK ONE) / AUTHOR: RICHARD AINSWORTH / PUBLISHER: GREEN RAVEN MEDIA / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

In his last book on the subject, Lord Hugh Dowding (1882 – 1970) put forward the reasons for believing in life after death. He explains that communicating with discarnate spirits is important for our personal lives because they tell us we will go on to survive and prosper in the hereafter, and we need not fear death.

Furthermore, we can help the souls of the newly departed to fully go to the afterlife, and if on a large scale we have faith and peace we can avoid ‘national deliverances and disasters’. Dowding notes that Black Magic is a major danger to humanity, stating “I say in all seriousness that the rise to temporary power and subsequent downfall of Germany in the recent war was due to her deliberate and conscious alliance with the powers of darkness.”

As the commanding officer of RAF Fighter Command, Dowding helped implement a coastal chain of radar stations that was so important in repelling the German Luftwaffe during the Battle of Britain. He was no starry-eyed mystic, but his belief in Spiritualism can be interpreted as being a coping mechanism to deal with the painful impact of World War II and the many fatalities it generated. It is touching that he recounts several communications with RAF boys who do not realise they have been killed in combat.

Part of his mission was to help these spirits accept their new status and help them cast off their astral body, which is the last remnant of their earthly body, so that their soul can enter the astral sphere where it finds its own vibrational level. The frustrating thing is that the messages from the otherside are vague. For example, the names and details of the ‘RAF boys’ who died in action are not specific enough to match with real events. This opens the field to unscrupulous mediums who are all too happy to tell people what they want to hear. Dowding himself admits that this is a problem made more complicated by the fact that the spirits (if they do exist) tell lies or  pass on misinformation.

As Dowding admits this is not an exact science and ‘Absolute mental integrity and honesty is essential in these matters.’ There is no doubting Dowding’s integrity and unwavering belief in Spiritualism, and even if we remain sceptical against all his arguments we have to admire his feeling and concern for humanity.

BOOK REVIEW: GOD’S MAGIC / AUTHOR: LORD DOWDING / PUBLISHER: WHITE CROW BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

Life was very simple for Marinda Peake. That is until her father bestowed her with a copy of a rather unique book that would change her life in more adventurous ways than she could ever have imagined.

Clockwork Lives sees the continuation of the fantastical steampunk world brought to life in Kevin J. Anderson and Rush drummer Neil Peart’s Clockwork Angels, as they return to the Watchmaker’s world to tell the story of Marinda Peake and a rather unique alchemical book.

Marinda lived an organized and peaceful life in the quiet village of Lugtown, but all that was to soon change as she inherits a rather unusual gift from her dear departed father that comes with a very specific set of instructions. Not every daughter dreams of inheriting their very own alchemical book that must be filled with other people’s stories, but Marinda suddenly finds herself thrown into a life changing task as part of her father’s mysterious inheritance, that would take her far from her comfortable life in Lugtown.

Taking her across the skies and beyond – from airships, to carnivals and travelling bookshops – to collect stories fit for this rather unusual book. From the interwoven tales around the mysterious Watchmaker who has brought order to the people, to the astonishing strongman, Golson, and his journey with the Carnival Extraganza, each story is brought together to fill her book of unique stories as Marinda finds herself on a journey of her own that she could never have dreamt of.

Clockwork Lives brings each story together along the way, as we follow not just Marinda’s journey but the paths of each individual that she meets along the way, making for a rather steampunk-styled Canterbury Tales of stories, all interwoven together in ways that Marinda herself could never have imagined.

A rollercoaster of a tale that makes for a wonderfully entertaining read, whether you enjoy the whimsical steam-powered world of steampunk or not you’ll certainly find it an intriguing and wonderful story.

CLOCKWORK LIVES / AUTHOR: NEIL PEART, KEVIN J. ANDERSON / PUBLISHER: ECW PRESS / RELEASE DATE: OCTOBER 15TH