Monster Island News: Books

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Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters: Defending the Earth with Ultraman, Godzilla, and Friends in the Golden Age of Japanese Science Fiction Film

Now in paperback!

$82.63 - Shop Now

Behind-the-scenes hero to anyone who's thrilled by giant monsters duking it out over Tokyo, Eiji Tsuburaya was the visual effects mastermind behind Godzilla, Ultraman, and numerous Japanese science fiction movies and TV shows beloved around the world. The first book on this legendary film figure in English, this highly visual biography surveys his fascinating life and career, featuring hundreds of film stills, posters, concept art, and delightful on-set photos of Tsuburaya prompting monsters to crush landmark buildings. A must-have for fans, this towering tribute also profiles Tsuburaya's film collaborators, details his key films and shows, and spotlights the enduring popularity of the characters he helped create.

Reviews:

"[A] loving, well-researched tribute to the greatest of all Japanese Monster Makers!!"
-Guillermo del Toro
Director of Pacific Rim and Pan's Labyrinth

"Eiji Tsuburaya was a very reserved man on the set. Most of the direction he gave me for the performances was, 'I trust you to do it. Do what you feel is best, I'll leave it up to you.' And that's the way he was for most of the films we worked on together after Godzilla. After the wires broke on the Rodan suit, causing me to fall several meters onto the miniature set, he chided, 'It's good that you didn't die; because I need you to finish the film.' And I replied, 'That's easy for you to say; I'm the one inside the costume.' But, these things would sometimes happen. It's been forty-three years since Tsuburaya has left us, but what a happy feeling to have a book published about him after all this time. And that it came not from Japan, but from the U.S.! I'm sure the Old Man would be as happy as I am. August did a wonderful job. Thanks to all for not forgetting him."
-Haruo Nakajima
original Godzilla suit actor (1954-1972) and the Man of a Thousand Monsters

"When I moved to America to start filming Godzilla, this was one of the few books I brought with me. Eiji is a true inspiration, and a one of a kind innovator of special effects, the likes of which we'll probably never see again in cinema."
-Gareth Edwards, director of Monsters and Godzilla (2014).

'The difference between this book and other coffee table volumes that have covered daikaiju before, though, is the staggeringly researched detail that Ragone has put into the text itself. This is not just a picture book to flip through, nod approvingly at and stick on the shelf; this is a record easily in scale with the monsters Tsuburaya created a critical and historical look at the creation and output of an industry that spanned (and has continued to span) the decades.
-Tooth and Dagger, October 2007

Doctor Who: Countdown (Role-playing Gamebook) FASA Corporation 1985

This is a hard to find item so act fast!

$29.99 - Order Here

"The sudden appearance of a dangerous gravity bubble causes the TARDIS to dematerialise [sic] aboard a ship of the Earth Empire on an emergency mission to deliver vital serum to a plague-ridden world. Before the adventure is over, the Doctor and his Companions must contend not only with the death-dealing gravity bubble, but with the ship's paranoid computer, space pirates, and an attack by androids as well." (1985 - FASA 9203 - ISBN 0-931787-95-5)

Written by Ray Winninger. This adventure featured the Cybermen, but this was intended to be a surprise to the players, as they would initially only encounter androids of unknown origin, as in TV: Earthshock. The surprise, however, would be ruined if the players saw the cover of the publication, as it prominently featured a Cyberman. A likeness of the Fourth Doctor appeared on the cover. 48 pages B/W