Beyond: Visions Of The Interplanetary Probes [Hardcover]

Michael Benson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0810945312 | ISBN-13: 978-0810945319 | Publication Date: October 1, 2003

Michael Benson has spent years compiling images collected by the unmanned probes that NASA has been sending into space to explore the solar system since the 1960s. The resulting book consists of two parts: the first is a visual tour of the solar system; and the second is a series of essays that explain the how and why of these photographs - the history of the journeys of the probes, how they work and why they were built. The volume has a foreword by Sir Arthur C. Clarke and an afterword by Lawrence Weschler.

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

*Starred Review* Space-age prophet Arthur C. Clarke, one of three eloquent, forward-looking contributors to this pioneering and magnificent collection of pictures generated by the robotic space probes Galileo, Voyager, Pathfinder, Magellan, Viking, and other less commonly known mechanical explorers, describes these breathtaking images as "some of the greatest landscape pictures ever taken." The recognition that these miraculous images (supremely reproduced) are nothing less than works of art is the impetus for this resplendent volume, and discerning writer and documentary filmmaker Benson did, in fact, serve as the book's curator, searching through tens of thousands of digital images to find the most striking and beautiful scenes of the solar system, many never published before. Each sequence of finely detailed portraits of Earth, the Sun, the Moon, and our sister planets is sublimely exhilarating, particularly those of the volatile Jovian system, blue and serene Neptune, and elegant Saturn, which Benson describes as "cosmic perfection." Not only do Clarke, Benson, and Lawrence Weschler celebrate the ingenious technology of robotic space probes and their, as Weschler writes, "unparalleled ability to convey the sheer beauty and mystery" of the solar system, they also ponder, with great acumen, the metaphysical questions raised by these awesome new visions of the glorious cosmos. Donna Seaman
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

Michael Benson is a filmmaker and journalist. He has written, directed, and/or produced several documentary films. Predictions of Fire (1995) won the Best Documentary Feature Award from the National Film Board of Canada, First Prize at the St. Petersburg International Film Festival, and was an official selection of the Sundance and Berlin film festivals. He has published numerous essays in The New York Times, Rolling Stone, The International Herald Tribune, Interview, The Nation, The Village Voice, Sight and Sound, and other European media outlets. Sir Arthur C. Clarke is the greatest living prophet of the space age. Best known for his science fiction novels (2001: A Space Odyssey, Childhood's End), he was awarded a knighthood for "services to literature." Lawrence Weschler is one the leading writers of non-fiction prose in the United States. He was a staff writer at the New Yorker for twenty years, covering the arts and politics. His most recent book was the popular Mr. Wilson's Cabinet of Wonders.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (October 1, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0810945312
• ISBN-13: 978-0810945319
• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 11.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #377,937 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #24 in Books > Professional & Technical > Professional Science > Astronomy & Space Science > Solar System

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 34 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Planets become worlds, November 18, 2003

By 

Ross Sackett (Memphis, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond: Visions Of The Interplanetary Probes (Hardcover)

We are used to big glossy books of pretty pictures of celestial objects. This book is more than that, though. Sure, the book is beautifully produced and the pictures are pretty (and yes, they are of celestial objects) but when you look through the pages each planet (major and minor) becomes a world--a real place you could visit. The dunefields and erosional badlands of Mars are especially compelling, along with the odd and unfamiliar grooved terrain of the moons of the outer planets.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beyond your usual book, November 14, 2003

By 

fatbslim "fatbslim" (Houston, TX USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Beyond: Visions Of The Interplanetary Probes (Hardcover)

Before I opened up my amazon package yesterday and laid my eyes upon this book, it had been a while since I had held such a well made and beauftifully put together piece. Not having looked at its dimensions before purchasing, I was impressed by the book's size. There are images on almost every page, and they are extremely detailed and vivid. In my experience, this is one of the nicest astrophotography books on the market. A true treasure.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning., February 20, 2004

By 

J. S. Radford (Woodside, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Beyond: Visions Of The Interplanetary Probes (Hardcover)

Mostly, the best images you've ever seen of our solar system companions. I love astronomy books but I've never seen 95% of these large-format images. The detail is astounding. Some would make wonderful artwork if printed for wall display. I never knew what most of the planets looked like at such exquisite detail. Though there aren't too many Earth images, the ones included are just breathtakingly sharp, detailed and, true to life like you never saw before.

In a word, in a class by itself. The best of the best.