Customer Reviews

Deadwood: Stories of the Black Hills

5 star:		(25)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Was anyone ever described to you as "nice"? Scary isn't it. I am an ardent fan of Deadwood and a fan of David Milch. This book is a `nice' coffee-table addition that succeeds as a way of fondly recollecting the characters and singular moments of Deadwood. I was hoping for an extension and an amplification of Deadwood - more great Black Hill's tales from Milch's magic pen. In that respect, the book is disappointing.

It does add some insight to the Deadwood stories, that is, the Deadwood teleplay and the process of making it. Milch eloquently adds some detail and color to the Deadwood story. Since the "Deadwood story" is his interpreted and interpolated history, the story is only really complete in Milch's imagination. Those of us who would love more will buy this book and savor the bits we can get. It is not enough though, but then, it could never be enough.

The Deadwood actors also add detail and perspective in their own words. Milch's ability to blend the real actor's traits and skills with his visions of Deadwood is constantly recounted. The actors all seem to share their respect for Milch's stunning ability to shape the character to the actor and the actor from the character. Their introspections are interesting, but here again, too little and perhaps too hastily put together.

In the end, I recommend the book as a memento of Deadwood, three seasons of good television. However, if you are searching for more Deadwood stories, this is not the place. I suspect the huckster in Milch couldn't resist one more retail opportunity; I certainly do not begrudge him a dime for all the great entertainment he has afforded me. Still, I'd love to see "Deadwood, the novel by David Milch", alas, I can only hope.

First, let me say that we LOVE the "Deadwood" series (can't wait for series 3 to be available on DVD). This book is a great "companion" for the series, but if you are looking for a detailed historical reference on the town of Deadwood, this book is NOT for you.

However, if your interest lies in the area of "what is behind" the stories and characters of Deadwood, or "what makes David Milch tick", then I highly recommend this book. There is SOME historical information, mostly specifically related to individual characters. Most of the text, however, is made up of David Milch's "musings" on what made him write Deadwood, how the characters came to be, and what their motivations are - and it is fascinating! The book also contains character profiles dictated by the actors themselves, which give a real insight into each of them as individuals and their approach to acting - this was wonderful for people like us who are interested in actors and how they work.

Overall, I believe that the book is a fabulous example of a "merchandising" item that actually adds value to fans by supplying really interesting background information, rather than a lot of "glossy photos". If you like/love "Deadwood", if you want to know more about "why" it was made, "who" is involved, and "where" it's going, then I highly recommend this book.

As a faithful observer of the characters in Deadwood, I picked up a copy of this book as soon as it was released and read it from cover to cover in one, long, sitting.

I think "Deadwood" renders great insights into the characters through interviews the actors who portray them and their interpretations of Milch's vision.

And while I'm on Milch's vision, I found his narrative fascinating, not only for his explanation of that vision, but also his take on life. This lends a very personal element to the book that is uncommon and very welcome.

Finally, I particularly enjoyed the actual stories of the real Deadwood about which I knew very little. I certainly knew that Wild Bill Hickock was real and met his demise in Deadwood, but I was unaware of how many of the characters actually lived and breathed there in real life.

So I thought the book satisfied my at several levels: details about the show and its characters; the creative force behind the show; and the history lessons as well. This is a must read for fans of "Deadwood".

In lieu of the real thing I have to settle for this beautifully put together book about the brilliant HBO series, Deadwood. And yes, this book is primarily about the show, characters and by extension the historical era. It was surprising how many of the characters and their stories were historically accurate.
I still mourn this perfectly wonderful series and miss all the beautifully drawn characters. Seth Bullock, Charlie Utter, Sol Starr, Calamity Jane, Cy Tolliver, Stephenson, E.B., Alma, etc.
HBO and David Milch promised us two 2 hour shows to complete this series. I hope they don't renege on their promise!

I just got this book and Amazon shipped it quickly and had the cheapest price for it when I shopped around. It is a nice thick hardcover book with a feel of the old west to the cover. There is an episode guide in the back, colored pictures through out, background information on the real players of Deadwood, plus information on the cast and characters that helped build the HBO hit. The real history of Deadwood is included through out the book also. I know it will take me some time to read this book and it is a great reference source to both the show and the history of the Wild West.

For fans of the HBO television Deadwood series, this book is fantastic! It is a "must have" as it gives detailed information about the characters and town of Deadwood at the time of the gold rush. You find out which characters were real and which characters are composites of other historic figures, or the actors creativity. It's also fascinating to see how the mind of the creator, David Milch, works.

If you love the HBO series and all of Deadwood characters you'll enjoy this book. I love reading all the extra information about how it was filmed and all the commentaries by each actor.
There is a lot of information about David Milch which I found fascinating.
As I watched Deadwood I wanted more information about the characters and this book really satisfied that yearning.

What a great book. The pictures are awesome. As a fan of the tv series. this book was everything I expected and more.

When I watched the first episode of the Deadwood series;I was convinced that we were seeing a monumental change in how life was being presented during those important days in the development of the Old West.From the beginning,the series was excellent and if anything it kept getting better with each episide. I have to admit ,though,that I did have one great disappointment with the series,that being that it ended.
And what a wonderful surprise when I saw this book on the bookshelf.I had no idea it was published or even planned.As much as I enjoyed the series ,week by week as it unfolded;I was not even aware what a great piece of work it really was until I read this book.
There was so much more to the series than I realized.
This book brings out the depth of the series and in the words of the writers,producers,directors and actors themselves who made it all happen.
My immediate thought as I started going through the book was that I wish I had had it when I watched the series.I must admit though,I really don't know if it would have made any difference.I really don't know ,and that thought must remain only a thought.Be that as it may,this book is enlightning in every way and having read about the series ,and understood it through the eyes and thinking of the creators;adds a great deal to its understanding,and I will certainly be looking at it completely differently as I watch it again in the future;as I certainly plan to do.
The book is excently constructed with top quality cover,binding,and top of the line printing,color rendition and paper.The book does not simply just throw out a bunch of photographs;but each photograph is spellbinding in the way it portrays the characters and situations involved.All the characters in the series are memorable and the photographs could not have been more perfectly chosen.
Many things about the series will came to light and were a great surprise to me as I read the book.Most of the characters were a portrayal of real characters;and we are given photographs of the real people throughout the book.Yes,there are some fictional characters included;but almost all of the important characters are from real life.
As I watched the series unfold;I had no idea of how much was created as it progressed and how much the actors studied their characters and how much of themselves they put into their roles. At the back of the book we are given a short review of each and every episode and what surprised me ,most of all,was the number of directors and writers involved.
David Milch has set a whole new standard in this series by really portraying the Old West and showing that the development of society is much more complicated than most believe.Yes,history has always been filled with extreme violence but it has always been so,and change has never come easy for the human species and the Old West was no different that Roman times,the Middle Ages,or even the 20th Century and is certainly no less violent today.
If you enjoyed the series;you really owe it to yourself to get this book.

This book was everything I'd hoped for in a companion volume to a television show. Essays by creator David Milch on his thought processes behind the show, great photos - both of the show and of the real Deadwood and its inhabitants, and these great little sections where the actors take a couple pages to talk about what makes their characters tick. All of Deadwood's characters are complex people, so these glimpses of the actors' approach to how they played them was really interesting to me.

I found this show to be one of the most captivating and compelling television programs I've ever seen, and this book was a great way to revisit it.