Books: Featured Books

I can't say that I'm a very well read fellow but everybody has books that they can recommend so I thought I'd use this site to suggest a few books that I liked or found helpful, from cartoon books to how to books for computer programs and even a few piece of literature....


	One Hundred Years of Science Fiction Illustration(1840-1940) by Anthony Frewin available at Abebooks.com Picture book on old sci-fi illustration from Jules Verne to Pulp Fiction A great reference book on old science fiction illustration. There are great images of old 19th century illustrations,ld pulp magazine covers from the 30's and 40's and some interesting art that really showcases the extravagant imaginations of times past .This book has been a great resource for me with ideas and funky looking aliens. It chronicles the early (real early) sci-fi illustrations from Jules Verne stories to Amazing Stories. It's really interesting to see how the dynamic and theatrical visions of early science fiction materialized into art and design. The pulp magazine covers are both hilarious and impressive. A neat book for studying and exploring fun imaginations. more Cartoon Books >


	Visual Quickstart Guides from PeachPit Press can order through Amazon.com or Peachpit Press Visual Quickstart guides-easy to use program training and reference books from PeachPit Press Peachpit makes outstanding graphic application textbooks. I know this because I worked for a computer textbook place once and this company has it together. I collect their Visual Quickstart Guide series like a kid collects baseball cards. They are definitely invaluable if you are trying to teach yourself programs as well as being well organized and clear in their instruction. The books by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas are first rate. If you plan on doing web design or getting into flash, mastering these books should do the trick. They are not really the best place to go for troubleshooting programs though so pick your computer books according to your need. To learn a program quick, these are good. Here are some Visual Quickstart Guides to try: (at Amazon)-all of these are for both Mac & PCs Photoshop 6 - by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas Macromedia Flash 5.0 - by Katherine Ulrich Adobe Illustator 9.0 - by by Elaine Weinmann and Peter Lourekas Dreamweaver 4.0 - by J. Tarin Tower more Computer Books>


	Moby Dick (by Herman Melville) available at Amazon.com Ah yes, Call me Ismael. Ahab is a beloved character in Dimented Realities and a few other stories as well, like this one from Herman Melville about a bunch of roughhouse guys who work on a whale ship just to make a living, while their cranky boss wants them to help hunt down this "great leviathan" who did him wrong. Ahab's first mate , Starbuck doesn't think its a good idea and creates some workplace problems. He just wants to return home with his profits and help his kids get their coffee business going. Needless to say, like most middle management, Starbuck is not as popular as Ahab so the crew joins Ahab in his quest for the whale. And things happen...This book is fascinating and funny once you start reading it. A great novel. more Literature & Essay books >


	Delacroix's Journals (by the painter Eugene Delacroix) available here at Amazon.com An artist I like a lot. A big regret on my first trip to Paris was that his museum was closed the week I was there. I just stood outside his house grumbling and curious that he lived just a block or two away from the Louvre. I really enjoy the Romantics and the spirit of their times. I suppose Delacroix , Victor Hugo and Rodin are the poster boys of Romanticism. He was a really lot more reserved and bookish then his passionate artist reputation conveys-windswept hair, fiery brush and all. His journal’s covers his mid 20’s and then skips a decade to return to his late thirties through the end of his life. It’s really fascinating. Lots of thoughts about plays, Shakespeare, contemporaries, people judging his work before its done, critics, famous artists, the countryside, the ocean, what’s , what’s bad, and what does it matter .And , of course art. Its really makes you feel more civilized after reading it and did a lot for my spirits and painting. more Art Books >


	Abebooks www.abebooks.com shopping site: for used books (& new) from independent bookstores Found this website on iReview and it had some books that I was really trying hard to find. The best part is that you usually can find the used book you want at a pretty good price. Abebooks its a large network of independent booksellers that combine their inventory online for those looking for books that the big chains don't carry. They do have a partnership with BarnesandNoble.com who's Out of Print section (very good)is another place to try as well as BiblioFind (which is another good independent bookseller site) I use it a lot for finding art books and art catalogs which it's great for. But you can find a lot of books you see in the library or in some small town bookshop and think you have little chance of finding in Michael Crichton/ Stephen King land. Sometimes with prices like $5 -$15 bucks. Try this place out, it's very good and I found the service and shipping to be pretty decent. more Book/Shopping sites >

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