Ian Randal Strock’s Fantastic Books has changed the ISBN on one of its best-selling books. Jar Jar Binks Must Die… and other Observations about Science Fiction Movies, by Daniel M. Kimmel, is still listed at $14.99, but now has the ISBN 978-1-61720-350-3 (ISBN 10: 1-61720-350-5). The old ISBN was 978-1-61720-061-8 (ISBN 10: 1-61720-061-1).
The change in ISBN accompanies a cover redesign, but the contents remain the same: a collection of essays by film critic and fan Kimmel. “In this collection of essays, he covers movies from Metropolis (1927), answering the absurd claim that the restoration of this silent classic negated its status as a science fiction film, to how Star Trek, Avatar, Moon, and District 9 may have made 2009 a ‘miracle year’ for the genre. Along the way he looks at neglected works like Things to Come (1936), explains why remakes aren’t always bad, and how seeing E.T. in an empty screening room changed his mind about Steven Spielberg. Whether to rediscover old favorites or add new titles to your Netflix queue, this is a must-have for lovers of SF movies.”
The books table of contents is:
Introduction—Science Fiction: the Forbidden Genre
Acknowledgments
Part I. Mandatory Viewing
Days of Futures Passed
Future Tense
Science Fiction or Not?
Sleep No More
Real Aliens Don’t Ask Directions
Keeping Watch
Don’t Call Me Shirley
Red Alert
2001: A Space Odyssey in 2001
Nerds in Love
We Come in Pieces: The Alien as Metaphor
…But Somebody’s Got to Do It
Blue Genes
2009: A Miracle Year?
Part II. Camera Obscura
SF, My Parents, and Me
Destination Moon in the 21st Century
Our Batman
Atomic Ants
The Bare Necessities
Being and Nothingness: The Movie
My Bloody Valentine
Love in the Time of Paradox
Ironic, Isn’t It?
The Ultimate Book Movie
The Mystery of The Woman in the Moon
1953
Retro Robo
The Cranky Person’s Guide to the 2009 “Best Dramatic Presentation, Long Form” Hugo Nominees
The Future is Now
We’re Scientists, Trust Us
A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Future
Not Coming to a Theater Near You
Watching Me, Watching You
The Time Traveler’s Movie
Part III. Bargain Bin
Remake Love, Not War
Gilligan’s Island Earth
Guilty Pleasures
Mars Concedes!
E.T. Go Home
Jar Jar Binks Must Die
Post Script—The Modern Classics: A First Draft
Publication History
The book is also getting rave reviews from critics: Recent Hugo-winner The Drink Tank called Kimmel “…the leading film voice in fandom today,” and said the book has “So many great pieces… that I should just say this is the best book of essays about film of any nature that I’ve read in ages.… the best pieces of writing on SF Film you’ll ever see!” Analog Science Fiction and Fact said “[Kimmel’s] writing is intelligent and entertaining.… his knowledge of SF movies is encyclopedic.… This is the guy you want sitting next to you when Channel 45 has a weekend ‘sci-fi’ movie marathon.…” And The Magazine of Fantasy & Science Fiction said “Kimmel’s a terrific guide to classic though underappreciated works such as Things to Come, and is especially sharp on 1950s sf movies, David Cronenberg, and the art (or lack of same) of movie remakes.… his brief essays are addictively readable and yes, a lot more fun than watching Revenge of the Sith.”
For more information, see this Fantastic Books page.