2008 TITLES

The Science of Michael Crichton

Psychology of Superheroes

Batman Unauthorized

The Science of Dune

2007 TITLES

Jack Bauer for President

The Psychology of Joss Whedon

House Unauthorized

Serenity Found

This is My Funniest 2 (SF)

The Psychology of Survivor

Grey's Anatomy 101

Perfectly Plum

Coffee at Luke's

Neptune Noir

The Psychology of Harry Potter

Halo Effect

Webslinger

2006 TITLES

Don't Chew Jesus!

This is My Funniest (SF)

So Say We All (Battlestar Galactica)

Investigating CSI

"My Ox is Broken!"

James Bond in the 21st Century

This is Chick-Lit

Getting Lost

Boarding the Enterprise

This Is Burning Man

The Battle for Azeroth

Star Wars on Trial

Welcome to Wisteria Lane

The Man from Krypton

The Da Vinci Mole

The Unauthorized X-Men

Psychology of the Simpsons

Mapping the World of Harry Potter

2005 TITLES

Totally Charmed

King Kong Is Back!

Two-Faced

Revisiting Narnia

Wonder's Child

Flirting with Pride and Prejudice

Farscape Forever!

Science in Science Fiction

Navigating the Golden Compass

Alias Assumed

The War of the Worlds

The Anthology at the End of the Universe

Finding Serenity

What Would Sipowicz Do?

2003/2004

The Crazy Years

Stepping Through the Stargate

Five Seasons of Angel

Diana Rigg

Backstreet Mom

Seven Seasons of Buffy

Joss Whedon

Taking the Red Pill

Edited by Robin Rosenberg, PhD

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People love superheroes—they love to read about them, and they love to watch them.  Superheroes have survived in comics for more than 70 years, and the recent slew of superhero films (Spiderman, Batman, Superman, the X-Men . . . ) have almost all been box-office successes. But what is it that makes superheroes tick?

In The Psychology of Superheroes, almost two dozen psychologists get into the heads of today’s most popular and intriguing superheroes. Why do superheroes choose to be superheroes? Where does Spider-Man’s altruism come from, and what does it mean?Why is there so much prejudice against the X-Men, and how could they have responded to it, other than the way they did? Why are super-villains so aggressive?

From psychoanalyzation of specific superheroes to shrewd interrogations of why superheroes strike such a chord in us, The Psychology of Superheroes exposes the inner workings our heroes usually only share with their therapists. 

Contributors Include:

Robin Rosenberg, PhD, is a clinical psychologist and coauthor of Abnormal Psychology, Fundamentals of Psychology, and Psychology in Context. She lives in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Edited by Dennis O'Neil

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Edited by sixteen-year Batman writer and Batman Begins novelization writer Dennis O’Neil, Batman Unauthorized explores Batman, one of the most recognized superheroes ever created. The iconic superhero, one of DC Comics’s “Big Three,” Batman has survived through campy TV shows and dark reinventions, through Adam West, Michael Keaton, and Christian Bale.

Batman Unauthorized: Vigilantes, Jokers, and Heroes in Gotham City explores Batman’s motivations and actions, and those of his foes covering the entire Batman spectrum, from silly to solemn. Why is the Joker so good at pushing Batman’s buttons? What does Batman’s technology say about the times? Why are Batman’s villains crazier than average? And why is Batman the perfect iconic American hero?

This collection of essays and unique perspectives on Batman, creature of the night, more about vengeance than justice, more plagued with doubts than full of self-assurance, and more darkness than light is a must-read for fans. Devoid of superpowers, but armed with skill, drive and a really well-made suit, Batman is no Superman. Fans can be grateful for that. 

Contributors Include:

Serenity Found: More Unauthorized Essays on Joss Whedon's Firefly Universe

October 2007

Edited by "Mutant Enemy" screenwriter Jane Espenson

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A lot has happened since Finding Serenity. We learned River’s secret; Mal took on the Alliance.  Our favorite crew became Big Damn Heroes. And the Browncoats proved that hard work, passion, and a little fan coordination can do the impossible.

Serenity Found takes the contents of Finding Serenity even further, exploring not just the show but the events of the film as well, to create an anthology that’s even more thought-provoking, fascinating, and far-thinking than its predecessor.

• Acclaimed science fiction author Orson Scott Card lauds Serenity as film sci-fi finally done right
• Writer and comedian Natalie Haynes reveals the real feminist savvy of the Firefly universe: the girls get the guns and the gags
• Pop culture critic Michael Marano connects damaged, ass-kicking River to the other weaponized women of the Whedonverse
• Multiverse executive producer Corey Bridges explains why the world of Firefly is the perfect setting for an MMORPG
• Mutant Enemy’s visual effects wizard Loni Peristere relates what he’s learned from Joss about telling stories, and tells a story of his own about Serenity’s design
• Television Without Pity recapper Jacob Clifton frames Serenity as a parable about media: how it controls us, how we can control it, and how to separate the signal from the noise
• And Nathan Fillion, Firefly and Serenity’s Captain Malcolm Reynolds, shares his affinity for Mal and his love of Mal’s ship and crew.
   

Other contributors include:

Jane Espenson has been a television writer for the last 15 years. She has written episodes of shows including Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Ellen, Gilmore Girls, The O.C., and many others. She is especially proud of her work on Joss Whedon’s Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and, of course, Firefly. She is currently co-executive producer of Battlestar Galactica and has a development deal with NBC/Universal Television.

So Say We All: Collected Thoughts and Opinions on Battlestar Galactica

October 2006

Edited by Richard Hatch, Battlestar Galactica's Apollo and Tom Zarek

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In 2003 the Sci Fi Channel released its original miniseries based on the classic 70’s science fiction show Battlestar Galactica. This re-imagination of the original series provided 180 minutes of incredible television that kept the audience’s rapt attention. It was obvious that they had a winner on their hands; the next year eager fans got an entire season. The show has been approved for a third season and there is currently serious talk of NBC picking it up. Science fiction is known for raising difficult questions; Battlestar Galactica is no exception. At times shocking and intense, the show tackles such topics as martial law, power and corruption, torture and interrogation tactics, artificial intelligence, and ultimately what it is to be human. How do you maintain faith in the gods when you’re enmeshed in an Armageddon of your own making? Is Zarek a terrorist or a freedom fighter? What are the identity politics of a Cylon who looks human? Is torturing a Cylon any worse than putting one out the air lock? What ethical complexities crop up when one misstep could mean the annihilation of the human race? SO SAY WE ALL provides an in-depth, intelligent exploration of the questions that make Battlestar Galactica such an engaging, thought-provoking show.

Born in Santa Monica, California, Richard Hatch is best known for his portrayal of Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica and Tom Zarek on the revised Battlestar Galactica. Hatch was studying classical piano at the age of eight, and knew he wanted to carve out a career as a performer before he reached his teens. After attending Harbor College in San Pedro, he joined a Los Angeles repertory company with which he traveled to New York City in 1967. He performed in the plays “Song of Walt Whitman,” “Young Rebels” and a production called “Exercise,” which Hatch directed. Hatch was cast as the original Philip Brent on All My Children in 1970 and later played Inspector Dan Robbins on the television series The Streets of San Francisco.

James Bond in the 21st Century: Why We Still Need 007
September 2006

Edited by Glenn Yeffeth

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“James Bond. Women want him, men want to be him.”

On November 17, 2006, Casino Royale, the 21st official James Bond film, will be released. Much has changed since the first Bond film, Dr. No, premiered in 1962. We’ve experienced the civil rights movement, feminism, the fall of the Soviet empire and 9/11, not to mention more than a few James Bonds and countless numbers of scantily clad and increasingly capable Bond girls. The world has changed, yet James Bond endures. Or does he? JAMES BOND IN THE 21ST CENTURY takes a fun, irreverent look at everyone’s favorite spy. From letters of advice to Blofeld (“construct your next secret lair WITHOUT a self-destruct button”) to debates on the sexiest Bond girl, from the real reason we watch the films to why we still want to be James Bond at all, JAMES BOND IN THE 21ST CENTURY examines the James Bond phenomenon with affection, nostalgia and tongue firmly planted in cheek.

Contributors include:

Edited by David Gerrold and Robert J. Sawyer

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Forty years and a few generations later,
Star Trek is still stunning fans and breaking ground

The Star Trek series continues to boldly go where no other science fiction property has dared to tread. It has influenced a legion of fans and brought science fiction into the homes of millions, through television shows and movies.

In Boarding the Enterprise, Star Trek writers themselves and the writers and scientists they inspired remember and celebrate Star Trek’s influence on our society with a mix of humor and nostalgia.

Star Trek has shaped our image of television and continues to mold our view of the real-world. And now Boarding the Enterprise takes a look at all that and more...

Topics Include:

• Communications and media theorist Paul Levinson shows how the unprecedented success of the “seventy-nine jewels” in syndication changed the way we look at television forever

• Star Trek writer D. C. Fontana remembers Gene Roddenberry, and her days on the set behind-the-scenes.

• Science fiction novelist Allen Steele praises the series’ writers, and the strong science fiction tradition that made Star Trek so great

• Cultural theorist Eric Greene details the Star Trek’s complex dialogue regarding the Vietnam War, highlighting the show’s evolving stances on interventionist politics and the relevancy of American cultural myths

• Fan-fiction author Melissa Dickinson explains why we feel compelled to write our own stories about Kirk, Spock and the rest, almost forty years after the original series ended

Contributors Include:

David Gerrold is the author of the Hugo and Nebula Award-nominated The Man Who Folded Himself, When Harlie Was One and the Chtorr, Dingillian and Star Wolf series. He also wrote "The Trouble with Tribbles" episode of Star Trek, which was voted the most popular Star Trek episode of all time.

Robert J. Sawyer is the author of several science fiction novels, including the Nebula Award-winning The Terminal Experiment and the Hugo Award-nominated Calculating God.
 

Star Wars on Trial: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Debate the Most Popular Science Fiction Films of All Time
June 2006

Edited by David Brin and Matthew Woodring Stover

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Star Wars is Under Fire!

The most profitable and arguably the most popular science fiction series of all time finally stands trial!

The release of Star Wars in 1977 redefined science fiction cinema forever. With revenues of more than four billion dollars for the films alone, Star Wars mainstreamed science fiction in the minds of both corporate executives and the general public. Star Wars redefined science fiction publishing as well. The incredible success of Star Wars, its impact on science fiction publishing and its strengths and its flaws, have aroused strong opinions and powerful emotions within the science fiction community.

Star Wars on Trial finally settles the arguments that have been raging for nearly 30 years. Leading science fiction writers will debate every aspect of the Star Wars epics, from politics to religion, from the impact on bookstore shelf space to the overall logic of the saga. Is George Lucas a hero for finally bringing science fiction’s message to a mass audience, or is he a villain who doesn’t truly understand the genre he claims to be working in?

With Hugo Award winner and New York Times bestselling author David Brin heading up the prosecution and Matthew Woodring Stover, New York Times bestselling author, leading the defense, this debate promises to be intense, illuminating and great fun for both fans and detractors of what is considered by many to be the most important science fiction property of our time.

Is Star Wars guilty or innocent of the following eight charges?

• The politics of Star Wars are anti-democratic and elitist

• While claiming mythic significance, Star Wars portrays no admirable religious or ethical beliefs

• Star Wars novels are poor substitutes for real science fiction and are driving real SF off the shelves

• Science fiction filmmaking has been reduced by Star Wars to poorly written special effects extravaganzas

• Star Wars has dumbed down the perception of science fiction in the popular imagination

• Star Wars pretends to be science fiction, but is really fantasy

• Women in Star Wars are portrayed as fundamentally weak

• The plot holes and logical gaps in Star Wars make it ill-suited for an intelligent viewer

Contributors Include:

David Brin is the bestselling Hugo and Nebula Award winning author of such books as Kiln People, Earth and the Campbell Award winning The Postman.

Matthew Woodring Stover is best known for his critically acclaimed dark fantasies Heroes Die and Blade of Tyshalle and is also the controversial author of Star Wars: The New Jedi Order: Traitor and Star Wars: Shatterpoint. He was selected to pen the novelization of the 3^rd Episode in the saga, Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith.

Edited by Glenn Yeffeth

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Boys want to grow up to be him and girls adore him.

He’s the ultimate superhero, the ultimate man and the ultimate American icon. He’s as representative of America as baseball and apple pie and he has entered the lives of millions for more than six decades through comic books, the small screen and feature films. Yet, there is much about Superman that has never been examined.

Until now.

In The Man From Krypton, leading writers discuss, debate and celebrate the legend of Superman. Is Superman too violent? Is Lex Luthor the world’s greatest villain? What has The WB done for the Superman property? And is Superman even human? All these questions and more are answered in this in-depth look at all things related to the Man of Steel.

Funny, philosophical, insightful and personal, The Man From Krypton explores every aspect of the Superman legend and is perfect for fans, young and old, of America’s greatest superhero.

Topics Include:

• Lawrence Watt-Evans explores Superman’s many issues, ranging from cleanliness to loneliness 

• He’s the Man of Steel, but just why can’t Superman find a girlfriend? Larry Niven suggests some theories on Superman’s constant trouble with women 

• There have been many men to tackle the role of Superman over the years, but who was the best one? Keith R.A. Candido offers his opinion 

• Lou Anders compares the Man of Steel to the Caped Crusader. What does Superman have in common with Batman and why has their relationship been strained over the years?

• What could Superman be without the nagging presence of his alter-ego, Clark Kent? John G. Hemry explains

• Is it possible for Clark and Lois to live happily ever after? Or will a happy ending kill the adventure? Evelyn Vaughn finally gives an answer

• Peter B. Lloyd shows how Superman has morally evolved in a constantly changing world

Contributors Include:

Dr. Ian Browne (presumably) Visit Dr. Browne's MySpace

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“The…Da Vinci…mole [is] …superb…much…better [than]…my…book.”
- Dan Brown

“Mission accomplished!”
- President George W. Bush

What is Dan Brown afraid of?

Uh, probably nothing. But he should be. Because the book you hold in your hands not only reveals the terrible flaws in The Da Vinci Code, it reveals deeper secrets far too daring for that timid volume.

The Da Vinci Mole finally reveals the secret meaning of Jackson Pollock’s paintings, how Intelligent Design is actually correct, definitive proof of the existence of God, the secret plan of the Scientologists (including why they seem so crazy) and what Karl Rove does in his spare time. Plus George Bush’s secret agenda, why modern art sucks, the secret codes on the dollar bill and why The Da Vinci Code got so popular despite making no sense once you think about it.

Embedded in The Da Vinci Mole are three fiendishly clever puzzles with $5000 in prizes for readers who correctly solve them. The first of these puzzles is “Who is Dr. Ian Browne?”

Is The Da Vinci Mole a deeply philosophical thriller, a hysterical parody, a clever brainteaser or a critical exposé of long-hidden truths? The answer is yes, and the The Da Vinci Mole takes the readers through a thrill-ride that will delight The Da Vinci Code fans, conspiracy buffs and puzzle enthusiasts alike.

Dr. Ian Browne is the pseudonym for a well-known figure who, for reasons of security, must remain anonymous. A dashing, passionate figure, Dr. Browne has had a diverse career, including time as a fighter jet pilot, professional pool hustler and paid assassin. He spent many years in Japan mastering the ancient art of Bushido and has been rumored to have worked for a clandestine intelligence organization. Dr. Browne has been married to two, and soon three, of the world’s most beautiful women. A polymath, Dr. Browne is an expert in many fields, including the history of psychiatry. He divides his time between London and Los Angeles.

Edited by Len Wein, Co-Creator of Wolverine

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From the beginning, X-Men's creators set out to offer not just a fantastical comic book, but a social revolution with characters whose core is stronger than their strength. At the heart of X-Men is the metaphor of difference: how do ordinary humans cope with what sets them apart from one another?

The Unauthorized X-Men looks within the heart of the X-Men series and also at the external, and sometimes controversial, topics the series tackles. Not only popular, the X-Men series is important to its audience, as it addresses racism, relationships, science and more.
From a letter to Magneto to gender in the X-Men series, from what the writers did wrong to nostalgia over all that has been dead on, from essays focused on the stars of X-Men to the X-Men series possibly being Semitist, nothing is off limits in The Unauthorized X-Men. After four decades the X-Men are still astonishing, shocking and entertaining fans, and it's time to find out why!

Topics Include:

• Comic book and former X-Men writer Joe Casey describes how his X-Men writing attempt and subsequent failure led to the discovery of his own mutant kinship
• Science of the X-Men co-author Karen Haber pleads for less explanation and more mystery, and identifies the real difference between Dr. Xavier and his old friend Magneto
• Science fiction writer Adam Roberts explains what X-Men is really all about and what the series has to do with a Roman poet named Ovid
• Literature and film scholar Charlie W. Starr describes how Wolverine's appeal is so great it's actually mythic
• Cultural critic Carol Cooper traces the evolutions of Jean Grey, Storm and Kitty Pryde

CONTRIBUTORS INCLUDE:

Len Wein is the co-creator of the New X-Men. In his work for Marvel, Wein had a hand in the creation of such classic X-Men characters as Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus and Storm, as well as writing for Amazing Spider-Man, Fantastic Four and The Incredible Hulk. In addition, he has worked as Editor-in-Chief of Marvel Comics, Disney Comics and Top Cow Comics, as well as Senior Editor at DC Comics.