SF reference books: opinions???

[Warped9]

I've come across two SF reference books that I'm keenly interested in and I'd appreciate feedback from anyone who has or is familiar with these books.

They are the The Spaceship Handbook and The Saucer Fleet by Jack Hagerty and Jon Rogers from Apogee Books.

Anyone?

 

[Harvey]

I haven't read either of these, unfortunately. What kind of information are you hoping to find in these (or other) reference books on the genre?

And, since I've been using it for a variety of school-related things this quarter, Screening Space is a good introductory work of critical analysis about the American science fiction film (those made between 1950-1985, anyway). But it's not a reference book, really.

 

[Warped9]

These particular books give a lot of information as well as apparently quite accurate and faithful diagrams of many fiction spacecraft through several decades of SF films. Put another way apparently they're the kind of book the Haynes Enterprise Owner's Manual failed to be.

 

[Harvey]

Well, I'm afraid that's outside my area of expertise. But best of luck to you.

 

[Warped9]

I just received my copy of The Spaceship Handbook today. Just browsing through at first and this looks like one sweet book.

 

[the skullcowboy]

I just recently came across " the saucer fleet " and picked it up, I have not had time to read through it though yet.

 

[Lookingglassman]

I was never too happy with the Star Trek Reference books so I stay away from them.

 

[Warped9]

I just recently came across " the saucer fleet " and picked it up, I have not had time to read through it though yet.

Being as impressed as I am with The Spaceship Handbook, and them being being written by the same authors, I'm inclined to pick up The Saucer Fleet as well.

And although they're different kinds of books I can't help but look at The Spaceship Handbook and see how superior it is to something like the recent Haynes manual on the Trek ships. The Spaceship Handbook is much more expensive and yet it impresses as worth every cent.

 

[RAMA]

Don't know about those 2 sorry. Two of my favorite SF non-fiction books are:

Frank Robinson's:

http://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-20th-Century-Illustrated/dp/1888054298
http://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-20th-Century-Illustrated/dp/1888054298#reader_1888054298

John Clute's:

http://www.amazon.com/Science-Fiction-Encyclopedia-John-Clute/dp/0789401851/ref=pd_sim_b_2

 

[Crystalline Entity]

This is a great one: Barlowe's Guide to Extraterrestrials Among the aliens depicted are the Masters from The Tripods, Larry Niven's Puppeteers, and the Overlords from Childhood's End.

 

[diankra]

Apogee usually do real world aerospace and spaceflight books, so I'm surprised to hear they're covering SF, but unsurprised if they're doing it seriously and well.

 

[RAMA]

Wow this one looks excellent, I don't own this.

http://www.amazon.com/Dream-Machine...=UTF8&qid=1290577030&sr=1-3#reader_0894640399

 

[Warped9]

I just finished going through the bulk of my new copy of The Spaceship Handbook. This really is an awesome book and well worth it if you're into the subject matter. It's not really a book to read cover-to-cover although I almost did just that. It's more for skimming from section-to-section of subjects that interest you.

I like the way it lays the groundwork for how the fictional idea of the spaceship got started and evolved. It should also be noted that it focuses on fictional spaceships that at least gave a passing nod to the realities of spaceflight and what is/was considered technologically possible. For that reason you won't find anything on any of the popular SF vehicles from the '60s onward. Too bad because I suspect the authors and artists could probably do the TOS Enterprise more justice than the recent Haynes book.

Even so I really enjoyed learning in more detail the spaceship's evolution. And reading the section dealing with Heinlein's novel Rocket Ship Galileo I really do wonder if naming the TOS shuttlecraft Galileo could have been a tip-of-the hat to Heinlein's book and fictional spaceship.

If you're a 2001: A Space Odyssey fan then this book has solid material for you with excellent illustrations and details on the film's miniatures...assuming you can call a 54ft. model of the Discovery a miniature!

All around a superb book I highly recommend.

 

[Warped9]

After thoroughly enjoying The Spaceship Handbook I'm rather excited this evening because I've just received my copy of it's companion book The Saucer Fleet. I've just quickly browsed through it before dinner, but I'm eager to dive into it.

 

[Warped9]

This is another excellent reference book for ships like the C57D from Forbidden Planet, Klaatu's ship from The Day The Earth Stood Still, The Martian war machines from War Of The Worlds, The Jupiter II from Lost In Space, The Invaders flying saucer and others.

Not as big (fewer subjects) than the previous Spaceship Handbook, but still very good and well worth it.

Again makes the Haynes Trek book look like crap.

 

[Forbin]

I have both, and love both being a big tech nerd and diagram fan. My only complaint is that the Saucer Fleet is so much smaller than the first book.

 

[Warped9]

^^ Agreed, but then there are fewer well known subjects to cover. That said I suppose one could argue that the Enterprise was an elaboration off a saucer. I can't help but feel they could have done it service if they'd covered it in the book.