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 Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
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Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
Wonderfully Written, 31 May 2003
This book has enchanced my appreciation for Poetry. It is both precise and detailed and never really boring, all the information is relevant and none of it seems out of place or confusing. Apart from the wonderful writing it is divided into well chosen sections that follow the questions that one would ask. An introduction followed by section 1. Verse Form, II. Meter, III. Shaping Forms and IV.Open Forms. For each of these there are ample examples (types of Poems such as Senstina, Villanelle, Pantoum, Heroic Couplet, Elegy, Ode, etc.). Eor each of those examples there is and overview and history text which allows the reader to become more familar and envolved with the poems and helps to better the understanding and the poet's intentions. The first line of the book's Introductory Statement says it all really: "This book looks squarely at some of the headaches and mysteries of poetic form." A must have for all Poetry fans and Language teachers/professors of simply lovers of language.
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Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
Wonderfully Written, 31 May 2003
This book has enchanced my appreciation for Poetry. It is both precise and detailed and never really boring, all the information is relevant and none of it seems out of place or confusing. Apart from the wonderful writing it is divided into well chosen sections that follow the questions that one would ask. An introduction followed by section 1. Verse Form, II. Meter, III. Shaping Forms and IV.Open Forms. For each of these there are ample examples (types of Poems such as Senstina, Villanelle, Pantoum, Heroic Couplet, Elegy, Ode, etc.). Eor each of those examples there is and overview and history text which allows the reader to become more familar and envolved with the poems and helps to better the understanding and the poet's intentions. The first line of the book's Introductory Statement says it all really: "This book looks squarely at some of the headaches and mysteries of poetic form." A must have for all Poetry fans and Language teachers/professors of simply lovers of language.
Useful, Entertaining, Insightful... need I go on?, 05 Jul 2008
Given this as a Christmas present, I was not immediately inspired, however I did dip into it and found myself rather hooked!
As a reference book it is wonderful- all those little things that you weren't sure about... all those things you were wondering...
How does that work?
Who was he?
How did he do that?
Which episode did that happen?
What does a Compact Laser Deluxe do? Who had one, and, you know... Where?!
Get all your questions answered and more in this neat, beautifully illustrated guide to the world that is uniquely Doctor Who!
The entire book it dedicated to every useful, and er, not so useful fact that is Doctor who. Who knows what happened in 1336 with the doctor, Rose and Captain Jack? What was the doctor planning for the year 5006 on a Tuesday in October at 6pm? What are the co-ordinates 761390 for?
It's all in this marvelous book! *****
FILLS IN THOSE MISSING BITS, 15 May 2008
A well produced hardback with excellent photographs, visually arresting layout and eminently readable text, THE DOCTOR WHO ENCYLOPEDIA is a worthy addition to any fan's collection. GARY RUSSELL has clearly done his research and the finished result is perfect for the Target Audience which, in theory, must reach into the millions.
Pretty much everything to do with the last three seasons is covered from major characters to major events with direct and indirect references and links, but there's still no avoiding the plot holes, contradictions and contrivances found in most DOCTOR WHO episodes - that sort of thing simply goes with the territory, especially shaky science, which has been elevated to almost art-form status since the show's rebirth. What this encyclopedia attempts to do, however, is fill in some of the more "Eh...?" gaps with solidly thought-out explanations which weren't always made clear in the original broadcasts, the result of (presumably) lazy or fuzzy scriptwriting. As you no doubt already know, Exec Producer RUSSELL T DAVIS is no stranger to this particular phenomenon.
But, hey, now we can all understand the Master's plan for the Toclafane in UTOPIA or the effects of The Paradox Machine from THE LAST OF THE TIME LORDS; the method by which the Weeping Angels steal people's futures from BLINK or how The Beast came to be held captive and the engineering of his subsequent destruction from THE SATAN PIT. Presented in paragraph or short caption form it all appears to make perfect sense now (within some seriously barmy parameters, that is). The introduction even manages to include names or words that might feature in a future revised edition, including Adipose, Rattigan, Mrs (!!), Vespiform...and so on. A neat bit of fingers-crossed foreshadowing there, Gary.
Whatever the case, when the time comes, let's ensure this Doctor Who product enjoys a full and happy regeneration.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
So good I bought it twice!, 11 Dec 2007
I bought this for my son for Xmas, but with a last minute birthday party invitation I had to give it away to his friend. When my son saw it he was absolutely rapt and said "I wish I'd put that on my list for Santa". Little does he know that Santa already knew he'd like it and is about to order a replacement for him. ;o) The book itself is nice and big and full of in depth detail which will keep Doctor Who fans engaged for hours. There's lots of full colour illustrations and, as the title suggests, it is laid out like an encyclopedia, so it's easy to look up those facts that may have slipped your mind. Well worth the money (and absolutely essential at £3.99!!).
I'm Sorry!, 04 Dec 2007
I'm sorry, I really am. I'm about to insult a hell of a lot of people. But I have to say it. This book is just...unnecesarry! And the fact that I can't spell makes the insult even worse!
I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't. I'm talking about the writer from The Inside Story, who I've just given a 5 Star Rating.
This book is so detailed, so well written, packed with facts, and yet I don't know anyone who's spend higher thann ten pounds on a book, that's useless, contributes nothing to the DW world, and has information that isn't going to benefit anybody. There, I've said it. Now, here come the insults...
FANTASIC, 17 Nov 2007
This book is packed with information and definetly worth the price. A must-have for only £14.99!!! You can get it for £3.99 delivered...somewhere...
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Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
Wonderfully Written, 31 May 2003
This book has enchanced my appreciation for Poetry. It is both precise and detailed and never really boring, all the information is relevant and none of it seems out of place or confusing. Apart from the wonderful writing it is divided into well chosen sections that follow the questions that one would ask. An introduction followed by section 1. Verse Form, II. Meter, III. Shaping Forms and IV.Open Forms. For each of these there are ample examples (types of Poems such as Senstina, Villanelle, Pantoum, Heroic Couplet, Elegy, Ode, etc.). Eor each of those examples there is and overview and history text which allows the reader to become more familar and envolved with the poems and helps to better the understanding and the poet's intentions. The first line of the book's Introductory Statement says it all really: "This book looks squarely at some of the headaches and mysteries of poetic form." A must have for all Poetry fans and Language teachers/professors of simply lovers of language.
Useful, Entertaining, Insightful... need I go on?, 05 Jul 2008
Given this as a Christmas present, I was not immediately inspired, however I did dip into it and found myself rather hooked!
As a reference book it is wonderful- all those little things that you weren't sure about... all those things you were wondering...
How does that work?
Who was he?
How did he do that?
Which episode did that happen?
What does a Compact Laser Deluxe do? Who had one, and, you know... Where?!
Get all your questions answered and more in this neat, beautifully illustrated guide to the world that is uniquely Doctor Who!
The entire book it dedicated to every useful, and er, not so useful fact that is Doctor who. Who knows what happened in 1336 with the doctor, Rose and Captain Jack? What was the doctor planning for the year 5006 on a Tuesday in October at 6pm? What are the co-ordinates 761390 for?
It's all in this marvelous book! *****
FILLS IN THOSE MISSING BITS, 15 May 2008
A well produced hardback with excellent photographs, visually arresting layout and eminently readable text, THE DOCTOR WHO ENCYLOPEDIA is a worthy addition to any fan's collection. GARY RUSSELL has clearly done his research and the finished result is perfect for the Target Audience which, in theory, must reach into the millions.
Pretty much everything to do with the last three seasons is covered from major characters to major events with direct and indirect references and links, but there's still no avoiding the plot holes, contradictions and contrivances found in most DOCTOR WHO episodes - that sort of thing simply goes with the territory, especially shaky science, which has been elevated to almost art-form status since the show's rebirth. What this encyclopedia attempts to do, however, is fill in some of the more "Eh...?" gaps with solidly thought-out explanations which weren't always made clear in the original broadcasts, the result of (presumably) lazy or fuzzy scriptwriting. As you no doubt already know, Exec Producer RUSSELL T DAVIS is no stranger to this particular phenomenon.
But, hey, now we can all understand the Master's plan for the Toclafane in UTOPIA or the effects of The Paradox Machine from THE LAST OF THE TIME LORDS; the method by which the Weeping Angels steal people's futures from BLINK or how The Beast came to be held captive and the engineering of his subsequent destruction from THE SATAN PIT. Presented in paragraph or short caption form it all appears to make perfect sense now (within some seriously barmy parameters, that is). The introduction even manages to include names or words that might feature in a future revised edition, including Adipose, Rattigan, Mrs (!!), Vespiform...and so on. A neat bit of fingers-crossed foreshadowing there, Gary.
Whatever the case, when the time comes, let's ensure this Doctor Who product enjoys a full and happy regeneration.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
So good I bought it twice!, 11 Dec 2007
I bought this for my son for Xmas, but with a last minute birthday party invitation I had to give it away to his friend. When my son saw it he was absolutely rapt and said "I wish I'd put that on my list for Santa". Little does he know that Santa already knew he'd like it and is about to order a replacement for him. ;o) The book itself is nice and big and full of in depth detail which will keep Doctor Who fans engaged for hours. There's lots of full colour illustrations and, as the title suggests, it is laid out like an encyclopedia, so it's easy to look up those facts that may have slipped your mind. Well worth the money (and absolutely essential at £3.99!!).
I'm Sorry!, 04 Dec 2007
I'm sorry, I really am. I'm about to insult a hell of a lot of people. But I have to say it. This book is just...unnecesarry! And the fact that I can't spell makes the insult even worse!
I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't. I'm talking about the writer from The Inside Story, who I've just given a 5 Star Rating.
This book is so detailed, so well written, packed with facts, and yet I don't know anyone who's spend higher thann ten pounds on a book, that's useless, contributes nothing to the DW world, and has information that isn't going to benefit anybody. There, I've said it. Now, here come the insults...
FANTASIC, 17 Nov 2007
This book is packed with information and definetly worth the price. A must-have for only £14.99!!! You can get it for £3.99 delivered...somewhere...
Good Linguistics A-Level Book, 25 Jan 2005
David Crystal's encyclopedia is probably one of the biggest references in A-Level English Studies and it will prove to be a good companion to anyone doing Linguistics or English Language. It's always a good book to start looking for something - just in case it's in the book, but the book's companionship will, however, dilute as years will pass by. No final-year bacholar or post-graduate student will find it very helpful anymore. The is very good for A-Level students and it does convey the 'magic' and 'fascination' of linguistics and languages, but it will become too easy and shallow to help students with academic research.
fascinating, 27 Jul 2004
The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language is a fascinating read. I have been dipping into it for several months as part of a Linguistics course but keep find myself becoming distracted by anecdotes and interesting asides. I feel that this Encyclopaedia could be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers from primary school through to university.
This book is addictive!, 29 Jan 2002
This book was recommended to me as part of my Linguistics course at university. It has proved very useful for my course (not boring like other Linguistics books can be!), is extremely interesting and contains lots of pictures! My only complaint is that my studies take me AGES because I can't stop looking through it.
a mammoth work (in a good way!), 21 Jan 2002
The overwhelming effect this book leaves the reader is amazement of the scholarship of its single author, who manages to cover everything you could possibly include under the heading 'language' in a single volume. To give you some idea, the indexes and glossary of the 65 chapters information take up nearly 40 pages. Although the depth he can cover everything in is therefore limited, even in 450-odd large pages, a good proportion of what is there is absolutely fascinating and of interest to anyone who uses language (i.e. everyone). The book makes excellent use of boxes of information and visuals in full colour such as maps, graphs and photos. Like any good encyclopaedia, it can be dipped into almost randomly with the guarantee that some interesting titbit will stick in your head. More unusually, the fact that it doesn't use an A to Z format means that it can quite easily be read through as a general introduction to linguistics. In a sense it could be just as usefully called an encyclopedia of linguistics, as it provides as much information on research and theories of language as it does on the language itself. This shouldn't be taken to mean any of this would only be of interest to the professionally interested, though. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in what is going on around them, and even more so to any teacher or student of language or linguistics.
Good for more than just Language Students, 03 Oct 2000
This book is a great refernce guide for students of Language, Sociology, Psycology and probably other subjects too. It's fresh approach and easy to use page format makes it interesting to read as a whole. From Latin and Greek to Bush Negro and Yoda this has to be the most comprehensive guide I've encountered. It explians word order and grammar using examples which will engage most students .
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Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
Wonderfully Written, 31 May 2003
This book has enchanced my appreciation for Poetry. It is both precise and detailed and never really boring, all the information is relevant and none of it seems out of place or confusing. Apart from the wonderful writing it is divided into well chosen sections that follow the questions that one would ask. An introduction followed by section 1. Verse Form, II. Meter, III. Shaping Forms and IV.Open Forms. For each of these there are ample examples (types of Poems such as Senstina, Villanelle, Pantoum, Heroic Couplet, Elegy, Ode, etc.). Eor each of those examples there is and overview and history text which allows the reader to become more familar and envolved with the poems and helps to better the understanding and the poet's intentions. The first line of the book's Introductory Statement says it all really: "This book looks squarely at some of the headaches and mysteries of poetic form." A must have for all Poetry fans and Language teachers/professors of simply lovers of language.
Useful, Entertaining, Insightful... need I go on?, 05 Jul 2008
Given this as a Christmas present, I was not immediately inspired, however I did dip into it and found myself rather hooked!
As a reference book it is wonderful- all those little things that you weren't sure about... all those things you were wondering...
How does that work?
Who was he?
How did he do that?
Which episode did that happen?
What does a Compact Laser Deluxe do? Who had one, and, you know... Where?!
Get all your questions answered and more in this neat, beautifully illustrated guide to the world that is uniquely Doctor Who!
The entire book it dedicated to every useful, and er, not so useful fact that is Doctor who. Who knows what happened in 1336 with the doctor, Rose and Captain Jack? What was the doctor planning for the year 5006 on a Tuesday in October at 6pm? What are the co-ordinates 761390 for?
It's all in this marvelous book! *****
FILLS IN THOSE MISSING BITS, 15 May 2008
A well produced hardback with excellent photographs, visually arresting layout and eminently readable text, THE DOCTOR WHO ENCYLOPEDIA is a worthy addition to any fan's collection. GARY RUSSELL has clearly done his research and the finished result is perfect for the Target Audience which, in theory, must reach into the millions.
Pretty much everything to do with the last three seasons is covered from major characters to major events with direct and indirect references and links, but there's still no avoiding the plot holes, contradictions and contrivances found in most DOCTOR WHO episodes - that sort of thing simply goes with the territory, especially shaky science, which has been elevated to almost art-form status since the show's rebirth. What this encyclopedia attempts to do, however, is fill in some of the more "Eh...?" gaps with solidly thought-out explanations which weren't always made clear in the original broadcasts, the result of (presumably) lazy or fuzzy scriptwriting. As you no doubt already know, Exec Producer RUSSELL T DAVIS is no stranger to this particular phenomenon.
But, hey, now we can all understand the Master's plan for the Toclafane in UTOPIA or the effects of The Paradox Machine from THE LAST OF THE TIME LORDS; the method by which the Weeping Angels steal people's futures from BLINK or how The Beast came to be held captive and the engineering of his subsequent destruction from THE SATAN PIT. Presented in paragraph or short caption form it all appears to make perfect sense now (within some seriously barmy parameters, that is). The introduction even manages to include names or words that might feature in a future revised edition, including Adipose, Rattigan, Mrs (!!), Vespiform...and so on. A neat bit of fingers-crossed foreshadowing there, Gary.
Whatever the case, when the time comes, let's ensure this Doctor Who product enjoys a full and happy regeneration.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
So good I bought it twice!, 11 Dec 2007
I bought this for my son for Xmas, but with a last minute birthday party invitation I had to give it away to his friend. When my son saw it he was absolutely rapt and said "I wish I'd put that on my list for Santa". Little does he know that Santa already knew he'd like it and is about to order a replacement for him. ;o) The book itself is nice and big and full of in depth detail which will keep Doctor Who fans engaged for hours. There's lots of full colour illustrations and, as the title suggests, it is laid out like an encyclopedia, so it's easy to look up those facts that may have slipped your mind. Well worth the money (and absolutely essential at £3.99!!).
I'm Sorry!, 04 Dec 2007
I'm sorry, I really am. I'm about to insult a hell of a lot of people. But I have to say it. This book is just...unnecesarry! And the fact that I can't spell makes the insult even worse!
I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't. I'm talking about the writer from The Inside Story, who I've just given a 5 Star Rating.
This book is so detailed, so well written, packed with facts, and yet I don't know anyone who's spend higher thann ten pounds on a book, that's useless, contributes nothing to the DW world, and has information that isn't going to benefit anybody. There, I've said it. Now, here come the insults...
FANTASIC, 17 Nov 2007
This book is packed with information and definetly worth the price. A must-have for only £14.99!!! You can get it for £3.99 delivered...somewhere...
Good Linguistics A-Level Book, 25 Jan 2005
David Crystal's encyclopedia is probably one of the biggest references in A-Level English Studies and it will prove to be a good companion to anyone doing Linguistics or English Language. It's always a good book to start looking for something - just in case it's in the book, but the book's companionship will, however, dilute as years will pass by. No final-year bacholar or post-graduate student will find it very helpful anymore. The is very good for A-Level students and it does convey the 'magic' and 'fascination' of linguistics and languages, but it will become too easy and shallow to help students with academic research.
fascinating, 27 Jul 2004
The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language is a fascinating read. I have been dipping into it for several months as part of a Linguistics course but keep find myself becoming distracted by anecdotes and interesting asides. I feel that this Encyclopaedia could be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers from primary school through to university.
This book is addictive!, 29 Jan 2002
This book was recommended to me as part of my Linguistics course at university. It has proved very useful for my course (not boring like other Linguistics books can be!), is extremely interesting and contains lots of pictures! My only complaint is that my studies take me AGES because I can't stop looking through it.
a mammoth work (in a good way!), 21 Jan 2002
The overwhelming effect this book leaves the reader is amazement of the scholarship of its single author, who manages to cover everything you could possibly include under the heading 'language' in a single volume. To give you some idea, the indexes and glossary of the 65 chapters information take up nearly 40 pages. Although the depth he can cover everything in is therefore limited, even in 450-odd large pages, a good proportion of what is there is absolutely fascinating and of interest to anyone who uses language (i.e. everyone). The book makes excellent use of boxes of information and visuals in full colour such as maps, graphs and photos. Like any good encyclopaedia, it can be dipped into almost randomly with the guarantee that some interesting titbit will stick in your head. More unusually, the fact that it doesn't use an A to Z format means that it can quite easily be read through as a general introduction to linguistics. In a sense it could be just as usefully called an encyclopedia of linguistics, as it provides as much information on research and theories of language as it does on the language itself. This shouldn't be taken to mean any of this would only be of interest to the professionally interested, though. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in what is going on around them, and even more so to any teacher or student of language or linguistics.
Good for more than just Language Students, 03 Oct 2000
This book is a great refernce guide for students of Language, Sociology, Psycology and probably other subjects too. It's fresh approach and easy to use page format makes it interesting to read as a whole. From Latin and Greek to Bush Negro and Yoda this has to be the most comprehensive guide I've encountered. It explians word order and grammar using examples which will engage most students .
good book but doesn't feel like it was written for the purpose, 20 May 2008
This book is good and the illustrations and photos are great but it really seems as if the book was written as a generic guide to the Royal navy and then they added on the Jack Aubrey stuff later on. There is no real understanding of Aubrey and Maturin and the books in the series - it's a bit generic. Pity
Hazard warning!, 06 Dec 2006
This is a very useful book to read as background for the Aubrey series, BUT it should come with a warning - if you read it before you finish the series (as indeed you would want to) it will spill the beans on some of the story lines...
Marvelous! Even better than I'd hoped!, 16 Jan 2004
I really must say I loved this book. It's quite beautiful, with many stunning paintings and illustrations. Plus, it is full of helpful and interesting information the time period of the M & C books. I had primarily been looking for some maps, more detail about the ships and perhaps a more detailed explanation of naval ranks and uniforms, and I found all of this and so very much more. Books like this one add so very much to one's enjoyment of the novels. I heartily recommend it.
The Real Life of Jack Aubrey, 21 Nov 2003
Fans of Patrick O'Brian will love it and so should anyone who loves the sea, sailing ships and our fascinating maritime history.
At first glance this seems like a 'coffee table' book - to be admired, but not necessarily read. Closer examination reveals an impressively well-researched book, packed full of excellent illustrations. There is a wide range of well-reproduced paintings of famous ships and battles. There are maps, sketches, cartoons, engravings, diagrams, portraits and water-colours. Every aspect of a 19th century sailor's life is described clearly, accurately and in an interesting manner. Links to Jack Aubrey are scattered through the book, with a welcome 'Cast of Characters' on 4 pages, as well as a glossary of nautical terms found in the Patrick O'Brian books. You might want to buy two of these books - one for your coffee table and one to read and re-read.
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Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
Wonderfully Written, 31 May 2003
This book has enchanced my appreciation for Poetry. It is both precise and detailed and never really boring, all the information is relevant and none of it seems out of place or confusing. Apart from the wonderful writing it is divided into well chosen sections that follow the questions that one would ask. An introduction followed by section 1. Verse Form, II. Meter, III. Shaping Forms and IV.Open Forms. For each of these there are ample examples (types of Poems such as Senstina, Villanelle, Pantoum, Heroic Couplet, Elegy, Ode, etc.). Eor each of those examples there is and overview and history text which allows the reader to become more familar and envolved with the poems and helps to better the understanding and the poet's intentions. The first line of the book's Introductory Statement says it all really: "This book looks squarely at some of the headaches and mysteries of poetic form." A must have for all Poetry fans and Language teachers/professors of simply lovers of language.
Useful, Entertaining, Insightful... need I go on?, 05 Jul 2008
Given this as a Christmas present, I was not immediately inspired, however I did dip into it and found myself rather hooked!
As a reference book it is wonderful- all those little things that you weren't sure about... all those things you were wondering...
How does that work?
Who was he?
How did he do that?
Which episode did that happen?
What does a Compact Laser Deluxe do? Who had one, and, you know... Where?!
Get all your questions answered and more in this neat, beautifully illustrated guide to the world that is uniquely Doctor Who!
The entire book it dedicated to every useful, and er, not so useful fact that is Doctor who. Who knows what happened in 1336 with the doctor, Rose and Captain Jack? What was the doctor planning for the year 5006 on a Tuesday in October at 6pm? What are the co-ordinates 761390 for?
It's all in this marvelous book! *****
FILLS IN THOSE MISSING BITS, 15 May 2008
A well produced hardback with excellent photographs, visually arresting layout and eminently readable text, THE DOCTOR WHO ENCYLOPEDIA is a worthy addition to any fan's collection. GARY RUSSELL has clearly done his research and the finished result is perfect for the Target Audience which, in theory, must reach into the millions.
Pretty much everything to do with the last three seasons is covered from major characters to major events with direct and indirect references and links, but there's still no avoiding the plot holes, contradictions and contrivances found in most DOCTOR WHO episodes - that sort of thing simply goes with the territory, especially shaky science, which has been elevated to almost art-form status since the show's rebirth. What this encyclopedia attempts to do, however, is fill in some of the more "Eh...?" gaps with solidly thought-out explanations which weren't always made clear in the original broadcasts, the result of (presumably) lazy or fuzzy scriptwriting. As you no doubt already know, Exec Producer RUSSELL T DAVIS is no stranger to this particular phenomenon.
But, hey, now we can all understand the Master's plan for the Toclafane in UTOPIA or the effects of The Paradox Machine from THE LAST OF THE TIME LORDS; the method by which the Weeping Angels steal people's futures from BLINK or how The Beast came to be held captive and the engineering of his subsequent destruction from THE SATAN PIT. Presented in paragraph or short caption form it all appears to make perfect sense now (within some seriously barmy parameters, that is). The introduction even manages to include names or words that might feature in a future revised edition, including Adipose, Rattigan, Mrs (!!), Vespiform...and so on. A neat bit of fingers-crossed foreshadowing there, Gary.
Whatever the case, when the time comes, let's ensure this Doctor Who product enjoys a full and happy regeneration.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
So good I bought it twice!, 11 Dec 2007
I bought this for my son for Xmas, but with a last minute birthday party invitation I had to give it away to his friend. When my son saw it he was absolutely rapt and said "I wish I'd put that on my list for Santa". Little does he know that Santa already knew he'd like it and is about to order a replacement for him. ;o) The book itself is nice and big and full of in depth detail which will keep Doctor Who fans engaged for hours. There's lots of full colour illustrations and, as the title suggests, it is laid out like an encyclopedia, so it's easy to look up those facts that may have slipped your mind. Well worth the money (and absolutely essential at £3.99!!).
I'm Sorry!, 04 Dec 2007
I'm sorry, I really am. I'm about to insult a hell of a lot of people. But I have to say it. This book is just...unnecesarry! And the fact that I can't spell makes the insult even worse!
I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't. I'm talking about the writer from The Inside Story, who I've just given a 5 Star Rating.
This book is so detailed, so well written, packed with facts, and yet I don't know anyone who's spend higher thann ten pounds on a book, that's useless, contributes nothing to the DW world, and has information that isn't going to benefit anybody. There, I've said it. Now, here come the insults...
FANTASIC, 17 Nov 2007
This book is packed with information and definetly worth the price. A must-have for only £14.99!!! You can get it for £3.99 delivered...somewhere...
Good Linguistics A-Level Book, 25 Jan 2005
David Crystal's encyclopedia is probably one of the biggest references in A-Level English Studies and it will prove to be a good companion to anyone doing Linguistics or English Language. It's always a good book to start looking for something - just in case it's in the book, but the book's companionship will, however, dilute as years will pass by. No final-year bacholar or post-graduate student will find it very helpful anymore. The is very good for A-Level students and it does convey the 'magic' and 'fascination' of linguistics and languages, but it will become too easy and shallow to help students with academic research.
fascinating, 27 Jul 2004
The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language is a fascinating read. I have been dipping into it for several months as part of a Linguistics course but keep find myself becoming distracted by anecdotes and interesting asides. I feel that this Encyclopaedia could be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers from primary school through to university.
This book is addictive!, 29 Jan 2002
This book was recommended to me as part of my Linguistics course at university. It has proved very useful for my course (not boring like other Linguistics books can be!), is extremely interesting and contains lots of pictures! My only complaint is that my studies take me AGES because I can't stop looking through it.
a mammoth work (in a good way!), 21 Jan 2002
The overwhelming effect this book leaves the reader is amazement of the scholarship of its single author, who manages to cover everything you could possibly include under the heading 'language' in a single volume. To give you some idea, the indexes and glossary of the 65 chapters information take up nearly 40 pages. Although the depth he can cover everything in is therefore limited, even in 450-odd large pages, a good proportion of what is there is absolutely fascinating and of interest to anyone who uses language (i.e. everyone). The book makes excellent use of boxes of information and visuals in full colour such as maps, graphs and photos. Like any good encyclopaedia, it can be dipped into almost randomly with the guarantee that some interesting titbit will stick in your head. More unusually, the fact that it doesn't use an A to Z format means that it can quite easily be read through as a general introduction to linguistics. In a sense it could be just as usefully called an encyclopedia of linguistics, as it provides as much information on research and theories of language as it does on the language itself. This shouldn't be taken to mean any of this would only be of interest to the professionally interested, though. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in what is going on around them, and even more so to any teacher or student of language or linguistics.
Good for more than just Language Students, 03 Oct 2000
This book is a great refernce guide for students of Language, Sociology, Psycology and probably other subjects too. It's fresh approach and easy to use page format makes it interesting to read as a whole. From Latin and Greek to Bush Negro and Yoda this has to be the most comprehensive guide I've encountered. It explians word order and grammar using examples which will engage most students .
good book but doesn't feel like it was written for the purpose, 20 May 2008
This book is good and the illustrations and photos are great but it really seems as if the book was written as a generic guide to the Royal navy and then they added on the Jack Aubrey stuff later on. There is no real understanding of Aubrey and Maturin and the books in the series - it's a bit generic. Pity
Hazard warning!, 06 Dec 2006
This is a very useful book to read as background for the Aubrey series, BUT it should come with a warning - if you read it before you finish the series (as indeed you would want to) it will spill the beans on some of the story lines...
Marvelous! Even better than I'd hoped!, 16 Jan 2004
I really must say I loved this book. It's quite beautiful, with many stunning paintings and illustrations. Plus, it is full of helpful and interesting information the time period of the M & C books. I had primarily been looking for some maps, more detail about the ships and perhaps a more detailed explanation of naval ranks and uniforms, and I found all of this and so very much more. Books like this one add so very much to one's enjoyment of the novels. I heartily recommend it.
The Real Life of Jack Aubrey, 21 Nov 2003
Fans of Patrick O'Brian will love it and so should anyone who loves the sea, sailing ships and our fascinating maritime history.
At first glance this seems like a 'coffee table' book - to be admired, but not necessarily read. Closer examination reveals an impressively well-researched book, packed full of excellent illustrations. There is a wide range of well-reproduced paintings of famous ships and battles. There are maps, sketches, cartoons, engravings, diagrams, portraits and water-colours. Every aspect of a 19th century sailor's life is described clearly, accurately and in an interesting manner. Links to Jack Aubrey are scattered through the book, with a welcome 'Cast of Characters' on 4 pages, as well as a glossary of nautical terms found in the Patrick O'Brian books. You might want to buy two of these books - one for your coffee table and one to read and re-read.
This book helped me acheive my English Lit GCSE, 25 Apr 2005
what more can i say? although this cannot be a substitute for the actual book it certainly goes a long way when trying to understand the main themes and the characters. of course you cannot just learn the book by heart and expect to acheive the highest grade - your own opinions are vital and this book is just an aid in forming your own ideas.
the book has improved a lot from its last edition and now has many new features including examiners tips, "did you know?" and useful insights into the authors life and how this would have affected her writings.
5 out of 5 for me - fantastic aid for all students studying the text!
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Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
Wonderfully Written, 31 May 2003
This book has enchanced my appreciation for Poetry. It is both precise and detailed and never really boring, all the information is relevant and none of it seems out of place or confusing. Apart from the wonderful writing it is divided into well chosen sections that follow the questions that one would ask. An introduction followed by section 1. Verse Form, II. Meter, III. Shaping Forms and IV.Open Forms. For each of these there are ample examples (types of Poems such as Senstina, Villanelle, Pantoum, Heroic Couplet, Elegy, Ode, etc.). Eor each of those examples there is and overview and history text which allows the reader to become more familar and envolved with the poems and helps to better the understanding and the poet's intentions. The first line of the book's Introductory Statement says it all really: "This book looks squarely at some of the headaches and mysteries of poetic form." A must have for all Poetry fans and Language teachers/professors of simply lovers of language.
Useful, Entertaining, Insightful... need I go on?, 05 Jul 2008
Given this as a Christmas present, I was not immediately inspired, however I did dip into it and found myself rather hooked!
As a reference book it is wonderful- all those little things that you weren't sure about... all those things you were wondering...
How does that work?
Who was he?
How did he do that?
Which episode did that happen?
What does a Compact Laser Deluxe do? Who had one, and, you know... Where?!
Get all your questions answered and more in this neat, beautifully illustrated guide to the world that is uniquely Doctor Who!
The entire book it dedicated to every useful, and er, not so useful fact that is Doctor who. Who knows what happened in 1336 with the doctor, Rose and Captain Jack? What was the doctor planning for the year 5006 on a Tuesday in October at 6pm? What are the co-ordinates 761390 for?
It's all in this marvelous book! *****
FILLS IN THOSE MISSING BITS, 15 May 2008
A well produced hardback with excellent photographs, visually arresting layout and eminently readable text, THE DOCTOR WHO ENCYLOPEDIA is a worthy addition to any fan's collection. GARY RUSSELL has clearly done his research and the finished result is perfect for the Target Audience which, in theory, must reach into the millions.
Pretty much everything to do with the last three seasons is covered from major characters to major events with direct and indirect references and links, but there's still no avoiding the plot holes, contradictions and contrivances found in most DOCTOR WHO episodes - that sort of thing simply goes with the territory, especially shaky science, which has been elevated to almost art-form status since the show's rebirth. What this encyclopedia attempts to do, however, is fill in some of the more "Eh...?" gaps with solidly thought-out explanations which weren't always made clear in the original broadcasts, the result of (presumably) lazy or fuzzy scriptwriting. As you no doubt already know, Exec Producer RUSSELL T DAVIS is no stranger to this particular phenomenon.
But, hey, now we can all understand the Master's plan for the Toclafane in UTOPIA or the effects of The Paradox Machine from THE LAST OF THE TIME LORDS; the method by which the Weeping Angels steal people's futures from BLINK or how The Beast came to be held captive and the engineering of his subsequent destruction from THE SATAN PIT. Presented in paragraph or short caption form it all appears to make perfect sense now (within some seriously barmy parameters, that is). The introduction even manages to include names or words that might feature in a future revised edition, including Adipose, Rattigan, Mrs (!!), Vespiform...and so on. A neat bit of fingers-crossed foreshadowing there, Gary.
Whatever the case, when the time comes, let's ensure this Doctor Who product enjoys a full and happy regeneration.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
So good I bought it twice!, 11 Dec 2007
I bought this for my son for Xmas, but with a last minute birthday party invitation I had to give it away to his friend. When my son saw it he was absolutely rapt and said "I wish I'd put that on my list for Santa". Little does he know that Santa already knew he'd like it and is about to order a replacement for him. ;o) The book itself is nice and big and full of in depth detail which will keep Doctor Who fans engaged for hours. There's lots of full colour illustrations and, as the title suggests, it is laid out like an encyclopedia, so it's easy to look up those facts that may have slipped your mind. Well worth the money (and absolutely essential at £3.99!!).
I'm Sorry!, 04 Dec 2007
I'm sorry, I really am. I'm about to insult a hell of a lot of people. But I have to say it. This book is just...unnecesarry! And the fact that I can't spell makes the insult even worse!
I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't. I'm talking about the writer from The Inside Story, who I've just given a 5 Star Rating.
This book is so detailed, so well written, packed with facts, and yet I don't know anyone who's spend higher thann ten pounds on a book, that's useless, contributes nothing to the DW world, and has information that isn't going to benefit anybody. There, I've said it. Now, here come the insults...
FANTASIC, 17 Nov 2007
This book is packed with information and definetly worth the price. A must-have for only £14.99!!! You can get it for £3.99 delivered...somewhere...
Good Linguistics A-Level Book, 25 Jan 2005
David Crystal's encyclopedia is probably one of the biggest references in A-Level English Studies and it will prove to be a good companion to anyone doing Linguistics or English Language. It's always a good book to start looking for something - just in case it's in the book, but the book's companionship will, however, dilute as years will pass by. No final-year bacholar or post-graduate student will find it very helpful anymore. The is very good for A-Level students and it does convey the 'magic' and 'fascination' of linguistics and languages, but it will become too easy and shallow to help students with academic research.
fascinating, 27 Jul 2004
The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language is a fascinating read. I have been dipping into it for several months as part of a Linguistics course but keep find myself becoming distracted by anecdotes and interesting asides. I feel that this Encyclopaedia could be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers from primary school through to university.
This book is addictive!, 29 Jan 2002
This book was recommended to me as part of my Linguistics course at university. It has proved very useful for my course (not boring like other Linguistics books can be!), is extremely interesting and contains lots of pictures! My only complaint is that my studies take me AGES because I can't stop looking through it.
a mammoth work (in a good way!), 21 Jan 2002
The overwhelming effect this book leaves the reader is amazement of the scholarship of its single author, who manages to cover everything you could possibly include under the heading 'language' in a single volume. To give you some idea, the indexes and glossary of the 65 chapters information take up nearly 40 pages. Although the depth he can cover everything in is therefore limited, even in 450-odd large pages, a good proportion of what is there is absolutely fascinating and of interest to anyone who uses language (i.e. everyone). The book makes excellent use of boxes of information and visuals in full colour such as maps, graphs and photos. Like any good encyclopaedia, it can be dipped into almost randomly with the guarantee that some interesting titbit will stick in your head. More unusually, the fact that it doesn't use an A to Z format means that it can quite easily be read through as a general introduction to linguistics. In a sense it could be just as usefully called an encyclopedia of linguistics, as it provides as much information on research and theories of language as it does on the language itself. This shouldn't be taken to mean any of this would only be of interest to the professionally interested, though. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in what is going on around them, and even more so to any teacher or student of language or linguistics.
Good for more than just Language Students, 03 Oct 2000
This book is a great refernce guide for students of Language, Sociology, Psycology and probably other subjects too. It's fresh approach and easy to use page format makes it interesting to read as a whole. From Latin and Greek to Bush Negro and Yoda this has to be the most comprehensive guide I've encountered. It explians word order and grammar using examples which will engage most students .
good book but doesn't feel like it was written for the purpose, 20 May 2008
This book is good and the illustrations and photos are great but it really seems as if the book was written as a generic guide to the Royal navy and then they added on the Jack Aubrey stuff later on. There is no real understanding of Aubrey and Maturin and the books in the series - it's a bit generic. Pity
Hazard warning!, 06 Dec 2006
This is a very useful book to read as background for the Aubrey series, BUT it should come with a warning - if you read it before you finish the series (as indeed you would want to) it will spill the beans on some of the story lines...
Marvelous! Even better than I'd hoped!, 16 Jan 2004
I really must say I loved this book. It's quite beautiful, with many stunning paintings and illustrations. Plus, it is full of helpful and interesting information the time period of the M & C books. I had primarily been looking for some maps, more detail about the ships and perhaps a more detailed explanation of naval ranks and uniforms, and I found all of this and so very much more. Books like this one add so very much to one's enjoyment of the novels. I heartily recommend it.
The Real Life of Jack Aubrey, 21 Nov 2003
Fans of Patrick O'Brian will love it and so should anyone who loves the sea, sailing ships and our fascinating maritime history.
At first glance this seems like a 'coffee table' book - to be admired, but not necessarily read. Closer examination reveals an impressively well-researched book, packed full of excellent illustrations. There is a wide range of well-reproduced paintings of famous ships and battles. There are maps, sketches, cartoons, engravings, diagrams, portraits and water-colours. Every aspect of a 19th century sailor's life is described clearly, accurately and in an interesting manner. Links to Jack Aubrey are scattered through the book, with a welcome 'Cast of Characters' on 4 pages, as well as a glossary of nautical terms found in the Patrick O'Brian books. You might want to buy two of these books - one for your coffee table and one to read and re-read.
This book helped me acheive my English Lit GCSE, 25 Apr 2005
what more can i say? although this cannot be a substitute for the actual book it certainly goes a long way when trying to understand the main themes and the characters. of course you cannot just learn the book by heart and expect to acheive the highest grade - your own opinions are vital and this book is just an aid in forming your own ideas.
the book has improved a lot from its last edition and now has many new features including examiners tips, "did you know?" and useful insights into the authors life and how this would have affected her writings.
5 out of 5 for me - fantastic aid for all students studying the text!
Good background information, 12 Oct 2008
My kids (8 and 5 year old) enjoy playing with Bionicles and have seen a couple of the films on DVD. It was difficult to follow how all the various characters were connected, that is until we got the encyclopedia. Now the whole Bionicle world makes a lot more sense and the kids enjoy playing with Bionicles even more, and creating their own stories around the "Mask of Life".
Find the Power, Live the Legend!, 12 Nov 2005
Ever wondered what a 'Mio' is? Ever wanted to know what Bionicles use as currency? If there is anything you don't know about Bionicle, this is the book for you!
This detailed encyclopaedia includes everything you need to know about the mechanical world of Bionicle, from 'the Rahi' which inhabit the City of Legends, to the legendary Toa Metru.
Inside you will find out what the Rahagas' past was like, and go face to face with the monstrous Zivon.
The book also includes charts stating what the different Rahkshi can do as well as plenty more.
Large format, 128 good quality pages, clearly laid out in alphabetical order interspersed with pictures, and includes 30 colourful stickers.
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Customer Reviews
Missing key areas, 12 Nov 2006
The book is detailed in places; however there are some key terms and definitions missing. After reading the reviews I was disappointed and it's certainly not a definitive book for undergraduate level. Although it is useful at times, it's not always going to be there for you. I would recommend looking elsewhere Wide-ranging overview, 14 May 2006
A good dictionary of literary terms, but by no means an introduction to theory. The scope is so vast that no one field is covered in encyclopedic depth: you'll find rhetorical figures such as "antiphora" (but not its synonyms "antipophora" or "hypophora") and the oft-overlooked "asteismus" (useful, but no examples), but not "diacope"; meanwhile, as another reviewer complained, contemporary literary theory is not given much space. The choice of entries sometimes seems idiosyncratic in its desire to be all-encompassing, particularly in dealing with literatures outside the English or Classical traditions (few readers will probably come to this book looking for "loa", "p'ing hua" or "rannaigheacht bheag"), but as concise explanations of the "generacion de 1898" are not so easy to come by, there's no reason to regret their presence here. On the whole, you can find more depth in a library, but it's a very convenient book to have on your shelf. (Refers to the 4th edition, 1998.) Review, 25 Nov 2004
I had to buy this for Uni, it's useful for getting to grips with technical terms but if you want something that's very simple to use you may want to try a different one, this book is useful but can get a little too technical sometimes. Good dictionary of traditional critical vocabulary, 12 Sep 2001
This well-regarded book is best viewed solely as a dictionary of literary terms. It was originally published in 1977, immediately prior to the theoretical revolution in English studies, and subsequent attempts to extend its original remit to cover theory lack conviction. One notes immediately the absence of individual entries for major theorists (Derrida, Foucault, Barthes, Habermas, Gadamer, , Lacan, Saussure etc.) who have to be pursued under subject headings (Deconstruction, Structuralism, Linguistics), where their treatment is, to say the least, concise. Arguably the dictionary format is particularly ill-suited to the explication of theory, but even familar terms such as episteme are not granted an entry. The effect is to confirm the extent to which Anglo-American literary criticism had become disconnected from the wider philosophical context before 1980. As a traditional dictionary of literary critical terminology, however, it is useful, wide-ranging,and is reasonably priced.
A Must for Every Student of Literature, 18 Feb 2001
This book offers entries on the language of literature, literary criticsm and literary theory. For a very reasonable price, it offers a wealth of information and is simply a must for every student of literature.
Wonderfully Written, 31 May 2003
This book has enchanced my appreciation for Poetry. It is both precise and detailed and never really boring, all the information is relevant and none of it seems out of place or confusing. Apart from the wonderful writing it is divided into well chosen sections that follow the questions that one would ask. An introduction followed by section 1. Verse Form, II. Meter, III. Shaping Forms and IV.Open Forms. For each of these there are ample examples (types of Poems such as Senstina, Villanelle, Pantoum, Heroic Couplet, Elegy, Ode, etc.). Eor each of those examples there is and overview and history text which allows the reader to become more familar and envolved with the poems and helps to better the understanding and the poet's intentions. The first line of the book's Introductory Statement says it all really: "This book looks squarely at some of the headaches and mysteries of poetic form." A must have for all Poetry fans and Language teachers/professors of simply lovers of language.
Useful, Entertaining, Insightful... need I go on?, 05 Jul 2008
Given this as a Christmas present, I was not immediately inspired, however I did dip into it and found myself rather hooked!
As a reference book it is wonderful- all those little things that you weren't sure about... all those things you were wondering...
How does that work?
Who was he?
How did he do that?
Which episode did that happen?
What does a Compact Laser Deluxe do? Who had one, and, you know... Where?!
Get all your questions answered and more in this neat, beautifully illustrated guide to the world that is uniquely Doctor Who!
The entire book it dedicated to every useful, and er, not so useful fact that is Doctor who. Who knows what happened in 1336 with the doctor, Rose and Captain Jack? What was the doctor planning for the year 5006 on a Tuesday in October at 6pm? What are the co-ordinates 761390 for?
It's all in this marvelous book! *****
FILLS IN THOSE MISSING BITS, 15 May 2008
A well produced hardback with excellent photographs, visually arresting layout and eminently readable text, THE DOCTOR WHO ENCYLOPEDIA is a worthy addition to any fan's collection. GARY RUSSELL has clearly done his research and the finished result is perfect for the Target Audience which, in theory, must reach into the millions.
Pretty much everything to do with the last three seasons is covered from major characters to major events with direct and indirect references and links, but there's still no avoiding the plot holes, contradictions and contrivances found in most DOCTOR WHO episodes - that sort of thing simply goes with the territory, especially shaky science, which has been elevated to almost art-form status since the show's rebirth. What this encyclopedia attempts to do, however, is fill in some of the more "Eh...?" gaps with solidly thought-out explanations which weren't always made clear in the original broadcasts, the result of (presumably) lazy or fuzzy scriptwriting. As you no doubt already know, Exec Producer RUSSELL T DAVIS is no stranger to this particular phenomenon.
But, hey, now we can all understand the Master's plan for the Toclafane in UTOPIA or the effects of The Paradox Machine from THE LAST OF THE TIME LORDS; the method by which the Weeping Angels steal people's futures from BLINK or how The Beast came to be held captive and the engineering of his subsequent destruction from THE SATAN PIT. Presented in paragraph or short caption form it all appears to make perfect sense now (within some seriously barmy parameters, that is). The introduction even manages to include names or words that might feature in a future revised edition, including Adipose, Rattigan, Mrs (!!), Vespiform...and so on. A neat bit of fingers-crossed foreshadowing there, Gary.
Whatever the case, when the time comes, let's ensure this Doctor Who product enjoys a full and happy regeneration.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED
So good I bought it twice!, 11 Dec 2007
I bought this for my son for Xmas, but with a last minute birthday party invitation I had to give it away to his friend. When my son saw it he was absolutely rapt and said "I wish I'd put that on my list for Santa". Little does he know that Santa already knew he'd like it and is about to order a replacement for him. ;o) The book itself is nice and big and full of in depth detail which will keep Doctor Who fans engaged for hours. There's lots of full colour illustrations and, as the title suggests, it is laid out like an encyclopedia, so it's easy to look up those facts that may have slipped your mind. Well worth the money (and absolutely essential at £3.99!!).
I'm Sorry!, 04 Dec 2007
I'm sorry, I really am. I'm about to insult a hell of a lot of people. But I have to say it. This book is just...unnecesarry! And the fact that I can't spell makes the insult even worse!
I can't believe I'm saying this, I really can't. I'm talking about the writer from The Inside Story, who I've just given a 5 Star Rating.
This book is so detailed, so well written, packed with facts, and yet I don't know anyone who's spend higher thann ten pounds on a book, that's useless, contributes nothing to the DW world, and has information that isn't going to benefit anybody. There, I've said it. Now, here come the insults...
FANTASIC, 17 Nov 2007
This book is packed with information and definetly worth the price. A must-have for only £14.99!!! You can get it for £3.99 delivered...somewhere...
Good Linguistics A-Level Book, 25 Jan 2005
David Crystal's encyclopedia is probably one of the biggest references in A-Level English Studies and it will prove to be a good companion to anyone doing Linguistics or English Language. It's always a good book to start looking for something - just in case it's in the book, but the book's companionship will, however, dilute as years will pass by. No final-year bacholar or post-graduate student will find it very helpful anymore. The is very good for A-Level students and it does convey the 'magic' and 'fascination' of linguistics and languages, but it will become too easy and shallow to help students with academic research.
fascinating, 27 Jul 2004
The Cambridge Encyclopaedia of Language is a fascinating read. I have been dipping into it for several months as part of a Linguistics course but keep find myself becoming distracted by anecdotes and interesting asides. I feel that this Encyclopaedia could be enjoyed by a wide variety of readers from primary school through to university.
This book is addictive!, 29 Jan 2002
This book was recommended to me as part of my Linguistics course at university. It has proved very useful for my course (not boring like other Linguistics books can be!), is extremely interesting and contains lots of pictures! My only complaint is that my studies take me AGES because I can't stop looking through it.
a mammoth work (in a good way!), 21 Jan 2002
The overwhelming effect this book leaves the reader is amazement of the scholarship of its single author, who manages to cover everything you could possibly include under the heading 'language' in a single volume. To give you some idea, the indexes and glossary of the 65 chapters information take up nearly 40 pages. Although the depth he can cover everything in is therefore limited, even in 450-odd large pages, a good proportion of what is there is absolutely fascinating and of interest to anyone who uses language (i.e. everyone). The book makes excellent use of boxes of information and visuals in full colour such as maps, graphs and photos. Like any good encyclopaedia, it can be dipped into almost randomly with the guarantee that some interesting titbit will stick in your head. More unusually, the fact that it doesn't use an A to Z format means that it can quite easily be read through as a general introduction to linguistics. In a sense it could be just as usefully called an encyclopedia of linguistics, as it provides as much information on research and theories of language as it does on the language itself. This shouldn't be taken to mean any of this would only be of interest to the professionally interested, though. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone interested in what is going on around them, and even more so to any teacher or student of language or linguistics.
Good for more than just Language Students, 03 Oct 2000
This book is a great refernce guide for students of Language, Sociology, Psycology and probably other subjects too. It's fresh approach and easy to use page format makes it interesting to read as a whole. From Latin and Greek to Bush Negro and Yoda this has to be the most comprehensive guide I've encountered. It explians word order and grammar using examples which will engage most students .
good book but doesn't feel like it was written for the purpose, 20 May 2008
This book is good and the illustrations and photos are great but it really seems as if the book was written as a generic guide to the Royal navy and then they added on the Jack Aubrey stuff later on. There is no real understanding of Aubrey and Maturin and the books in the series - it's a bit generic. Pity
Hazard warning!, 06 Dec 2006
This is a very useful book to read as background for the Aubrey series, BUT it should come with a warning - if you read it before you finish the series (as indeed you would want to) it will spill the beans on some of the story lines...
Marvelous! Even better than I'd hoped!, 16 Jan 2004
I really must say I loved this book. It's quite beautiful, with many stunning paintings and illustrations. Plus, it is full of helpful and interesting information the time period of the M & C books. I had primarily been looking for some maps, more detail about the ships and perhaps a more detailed explanation of naval ranks and uniforms, and I found all of this and so very much more. Books like this one add so very much to one's enjoyment of the novels. I heartily recommend it.
The Real Life of Jack Aubrey, 21 Nov 2003
Fans of Patrick O'Brian will love it and so should anyone who loves the sea, sailing ships and our fascinating maritime history.
At first glance this seems like a 'coffee table' book - to be admired, but not necessarily read. Closer examination reveals an impressively well-researched book, packed full of excellent illustrations. There is a wide range of well-reproduced paintings of famous ships and battles. There are maps, sketches, cartoons, engravings, diagrams, portraits and water-colours. Every aspect of a 19th century sailor's life is described clearly, accurately and in an interesting manner. Links to Jack Aubrey are scattered through the book, with a welcome 'Cast of Characters' on 4 pages, as well as a glossary of nautical terms found in the Patrick O'Brian books. You might want to buy two of these books - one for your coffee table and one to read and re-read.
This book helped me acheive my English Lit GCSE, 25 Apr 2005
what more can i say? although this cannot be a substitute for the actual book it certainly goes a long way when trying to understand the main themes and the characters. of course you cannot just learn the book by heart and expect to acheive the highest grade - your own opinions are vital and this book is just an aid in forming your own ideas.
the book has improved a lot from its last edition and now has many new features including examiners tips, "did you know?" and useful insights into the authors life and how this would have affected her writings.
5 out of 5 for me - fantastic aid for all students studying the text!
Good background information, 12 Oct 2008
My kids (8 and 5 year old) enjoy playing with Bionicles and have seen a couple of the films on DVD. It was difficult to follow how all the various characters were connected, that is until we got the encyclopedia. Now the whole Bionicle world makes a lot more sense and the kids enjoy playing with Bionicles even more, and creating their own stories around the "Mask of Life".
Find the Power, Live the Legend!, 12 Nov 2005
Ever wondered what a 'Mio' is? Ever wanted to know what Bionicles use as currency? If there is anything you don't know about Bionicle, this is the book for you!
This detailed encyclopaedia includes everything you need to know about the mechanical world of Bionicle, from 'the Rahi' which inhabit the City of Legends, to the legendary Toa Metru.
Inside you will find out what the Rahagas' past was like, and go face to face with the monstrous Zivon.
The book also includes charts stating what the different Rahkshi can do as well as plenty more.
Large format, 128 good quality pages, clearly laid out in alphabetical order interspersed with pictures, and includes 30 colourful stickers.
Good notes. , 09 Sep 2008
This makes an excellent study guide, with a good overview of the novel and its themes, symbols and characters. It's very useful if you're studying Gatsby, but only if you read it as well as the book, it's no substitute!
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