Customer Reviews

Avatar: A Confidential Report on the Biological and Social History of Pandora (James Cameron's Avatar)

5 star:		(38)
4 star:		(12)
3 star:		(8)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Length:: 0:17 Mins

Someone from the Resources Development Administration (RDA) labs has leaked this confidential report. Not only that, he/she has successfully sold this online (where I bought mine) and at major bookstores! That's one smart, profiteering, mole.

This is the fact book on Pandora, the kind of book issued to soldiers who are about to invade that planet for its precious resources. It has all the information on the ecosystem, resources, flora, fauna and the native population called Na'vi, complete with all their culture and behaviour. There are classified information on the weapon systems used by RDA, including the Avatar project. And everything is accompanied by CG images.

I had some hesitation before buying this survival guide and it's not because I'm afraid that James Cameron might send Avatars to get me. I like art books and books on movie production, this book is neither of those. This is really a visual companion to all the stuff that's shown in the movie. It's for the ultimate fans, those who need to know every little detail, from the ferns on the ground to the mating habits of the Na'vi.

It's an interesting book but recommended more to the hard core fans of the movie.

(More pictures are available on my blog. Just visit my Amazon profile for the link.)

If you have seen the movie and had and/or developed lots of questions about Pandora, the Navi, Earth's current state (in regards to the film),etc or if you just want everything fleshed out for you, then this book is for you.

It's VERY comprehensive. It's almost as if one has a textbook of everything and anything about Pandora. I love it. To see how much detail has been given to everything (and I literally mean everything) just makes me sit in aw of what James Cameron has created and the world that he (with the help of others) has developed. Everything just comes to life and so much detail is put into everything that Pandora could easily exist.

If you are looking for a book that has some sort of "making of" material in it, then you won't find it here. There is nothing related to making of the movie in the book.

From now on when I watch the movie, I am going to enjoy it a lot more knowing all the specific little details behind the story and Pandora. It just helps me enjoy the masterpiece that is Avatar even more.

Don't hesitate to buy it. There is a narrative to the book at the beginning but then it divides itself up like a textbook (although there is commentary by a specific individual within each section). I think it's great for all ages.

A very content rich book on the background, history and "survival guide" to the world of Pandora (James Cameron's movie setting for his latest block buster hit, AVATAR)
This book describes Pandora in great detail, from botany to history to anthropology. Included is a glossary of translated terms or words used in the fictitious language of the "Na'vi". Screen shots of this book can be found at the publisher's site: [...]
Avatar: A Confidential Report on the Biological and Social History of Pandora (James Cameron's Avatar)
I suspect that there will be a sub-culture following of the theme of AVATAR's Pandora. I recommend this for enthusiasts, as well as for the lay person wanting to skim over insight to the character development process of the "fantastic" society of the "Na'vi".

Wow. This book was as mind blowing as the movie. Heck, it even has a section on on Na'vi baby carriers. While the movie was heavy on effects and short on depth, this book makes up for that perfectly. With sections on pretty much every plant and animal on Pandora, this book shows just how much thought Cameron and crew put into creating their universe. The book is written in an in-universe style, which adds the enjoyment. Yeah, it is kinda preachy, but who cares? For its length and content, its a great price at eleven dollars, especially if you have any interest in the background of Avatar.

I have to say that I am very pleased with this book! From the layout to its written style (has sort of a viral campaign touch) which immerses the reader. At times I forget I am reading a fictional book, partly based on the fact that a lot of the info is based on real science or inspired by it. James Cameron has done a spectacular job in bringing this universe to life.

Can't wait to December 18th, until then this book will keep me up to speed!

I admit it - I'm completely hooked on this movie. Yes, James Cameron, I'm a tree hugger too and you made me deliriously happy when the Na'vi won the battle.

This book is really a geeks guide to all things AVATAR - RDA, AMP suits, munitions, Pandoran flora and fauna, and a basic guide to the Na'vi language. I've been reading my way through this since I bought it (between return trips to the movie) and I'm not disappointed.

Probably too much info for someone one not really captured by the movie.

Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide, by Maria Wilhelm and Dirk Mathison

Written as a survival guide for Pandora, this book provides in-depth information on the flora, fauna, and Na'vi people on the moon, as well as details on the human weaponry and military vehicles imported from Earth. The plant and animal descriptions include classifications, Latin names, ecology, pictures, and their use on Pandora, as well as possible uses on Earth. The information on the Na'vi people tells about their customs, culture, and how they live. There's also some pseudo-scientific explanations for the formation of Pandora and its inhabitants.

"Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide" is full of beautiful glossy photos and is a good companion for the movie. While I haven't seen Avatar yet, I'm more eager to after reading this book, as there are things I'll probably look for in the movie now. This seems like the perfect book for anyone who is really into Pandora and the Na'vi, or maybe someone curious about something specific, such as Na'vi mating habits.

One of my few complaints for this book is the design of the pages. While the pages are designed to look like crumpled paper, going with the survival guide/smuggled information theme, it does make it difficult to read the text. If the gray of the pages were a little lighter I think the text would be easier to read. Otherwise, it feels as if a lot of time and thought went into the appearance of the book, and the visuals are very nice.

3/5.

This book is an amateur anthropologist's dream: so much fun information, lots of embedded details that are modeled after anthropological and ecological knowledge. Very fun to read and enjoyable pictures for those of us who could not see this film ENOUGH because it was so visually and imaginatively compelling in its capture of an alternate ecological system. My one small quibble is that the Navi vocabulary list did not come with a pronunciation guide.

It is so lovely to engage a universe of possibility and understand why it is that we want to go there so much. And then, figure out how to apply this vision in the space we inhabit now. Dream on, dreamers of planet Earth. You have to dream it first before you figure out how to realize the dream. Bravo, Cameron and your collaborators!

This was an awesome purchase. Definitely satisfies the hardcore Avatar nerd. :) It goes into detail about the mecha, fauna, flora, the Na'vi lifestyle such as their shelters, and some of their diet, and incorporates information that was never mentioned in the movie such as what the Na'vi tip their poisoned arrows with. I refer to this field guide as my "Bible" now, and I'm continously astounded at the work that went into the guide such as the Na'vi mathematical system! The words are not difficult to read; it is black typing on a light gray background that has the appearance of crinkled paper, and it is very easy to read every single word. I only wish more personal artwork went into it, rather than rendered images from computers. Other than that, awesome purchase!

When I first looked at this book I was surprised to open it and find a treasure trove of cool facts about Pandora, it's animals and other life forms. It also talks about the human technogly on Pandora and about the Na'vi. It's great and I suggest getting this for any Avatar fan or even if you don't like the movie you still might enjoy this book.
The contents include; Astronmy and geology, na'vi physiology and culture, fauna(animals)of Pandora, flora(plant life)of Pndora, human technology on Pandora, RDA weapons guide, RDA documents, glossary, Na'vi to English dictionarry. Sometimes I'm flipping through the pages and I find little notes "scratched" into the page. In the begging of the book there a few pages titled Warning. In the warning part you read about how messed up Earth is in the future. Those little notes talk about Earth and how Pandoran plants are being introduced on Earth and other stuff.
I think this is a great book and I think anyone who wonders about space and alein life should get this book. Its very interasting and I suggest that you get it for yourself and find out how cool Randora is.