Customer Reviews

H. R. Giger's Necronomicon

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H.R. Giger's work has, in my opinion, the distinction of being the most disturbing art embraced by the public since that of Hieronymous Bosch. Here is a great introduction (if you don't mind the price tag) to the work of such an artist.

This book is not for the young or the easily disturbed. The world of Giger is quite intentionally the world of nightmares, with Freudian symbolism, decay, and perverse sexuality abounding. But there is also a beauty behind it all, in the metallic shine of his futuristic nymphs or the strange landscapes of endless babies' faces which make us realize the strangeness inherent in the everyday. Instead of using art to try and transcend reality, Giger pulls us down into the darkest parts of what we see around us, and refuses to let us go. In this way he shows us that perhaps that darkness is not so terrifying as it may seem, and he accustoms us to facing that in ourselves. Not only is such confrontation healthy, it may very well be essential, and Giger is a skilled tour guide when it comes to areas of the mind and psyche that not many artists have dared to explore.

The second Necronomicon volume is a worthy companion to this one, but if you must have only one Giger book this is the one I recommend. Use this book to take yourself into hell...and then realize that you can come back out again.

After having seen some of Giger's work in Alien and some other more well know work I decided to buy Biomechanics. It was very good, but the Necronomicon is THE pilot book for all the rest of his works. It contains his most outstanding work as far as weird and the macabe go. A tour de force of his strange mind. A wonderous collection of strange and terrible images masterfully done. It is quite disturbing to look at but wonderfully fascinating at the same time. I guarantee if you buy this book you will not be able to put in down until you have read all the notes and seen every last picture, it's that good.

Here is an excellent foundation of H.R. Giger's work for those sci-fi die-hards who appreciate intense subjects in both text and art. This books shows a wide range of H.R.'s various styles, each one drilling through contemporary notions of form, etiquette, and courtesy. It is a no-nonsense expose' of the nightmare-ish alter-dimensional world of Giger's dreams which taps into the source of human fear. I most strongly recommend this and all the other art books by H.R Giger to all folks who can think for themselves, who can put reality, physics, religion, politics, morals, mathmatics, et. al. in their own separate boxes for a moment, and who seek a startling sidebar from the mundane world. EWH

Giger is an inspired artist of the highest order. His natural ability with the airbrush is simply stunning. There can be little doubt to his being a spiritual incarnation of Bosch, nor the mesmerizing quality of his best pieces.

Yet, I think it also bears to reason that much Giger looks repetitive, and that he has not continued to push the boundaries with his work. He had a phoenominal period in the mid-70s, just preceeding the film Alien -- but how often does one look at his work and see the same motifs repeated over and again, the same carving out of space by the airbrush and competent use of shading. Another head with half-closed eyelids and ribbed intestines sprouting from its edges...

Although Giger does employ perspective in his work, it is often relatively simplistic, as are the general profiles of his byzantine compositions. You can see how the foundation of his technique has evolved from bizarre little drawings. But what if Giger were to explore a larger palette of hues, techniques, and subjects? I think it would elevate him exponentially as an artist. As it is, he has secured himself a very lucrative, infamous career -- maybe there is not too much incentive.

But there can be no denying that to look at Giger's work is to look into a hauntingly beautiful landscape of hell. It is much darker and substantial than pop culture (or perhaps even Giger) would have you believe.

h.r. giger is a master at any medium that he tries. his dark subject matter is also thought provoked. i would recoment this book to anybody that is not main stream. hell, i would recoment this book to anybody that is. expand your horizons.--------------------- louise_iffer

This is the perfect book to view at a time when you want to really stretch the limits of your imagination. A true feast for the eyes and the mind.

If you have ever marveled at the artistry behind the beast from "Alien," then you would love this book. The look and feel of the world comes from this Swiss artist, who has this book to help explain his work.

There is no way to get totally into the mind of the artist. The wealth of elements would require a psychoanalyst. For many of his works, the artist provides some commentary about his background, which gives you some idea of what influenced him. Further, some photos are included of his life, and these will also show the viewer what helped shape the ideas in his work.

Included are some of his more popular works, but you will not find the alien from the movie (although you will find sketches for House Harkonnen from Dune).

If you are a science fiction or horror fan who is thinking of learning more about art and the artist behind the work, then this would make a fine coffee table addition.

H.R. Giger's "Necromicon" is an amazing collection of his work. It contains most of his well known works such as "Li II" and "The Birthmachine." This book really gives you a feel for his work; it contains all of his common themes, "characters," and styles. If you are a fan, this is a must have. I totes a heavy price, but it's well worth it. Be advised, his work is not for the faint of heart; it's dark, it's scary, and if you're religious, it's offensive, but most of all, it's amazing. ... No one will beat Amazon's price, even with shipping included.

This is the train wreck of artwork. Filled with disturbing and graphic images that are so intricately detailed you can spend hours on a single image and not see everything.

This book is based on H.P. Lovecraft's fictional creation the Necromicon, is still a collection of some of the most masterful artwork I have ever seen. Having toured museum's all around the U.S. and Europe, especially the Louvre, Muse de Orsay and Georges Pompidou, I am still impressed with the raw emotions the works in this book draw out of you. The ability of Giger to draw out such base emotional response is emblematic of his success. The ability to revolt and captivate, to revile and entrance the viewer is a sign of a great artist. I find this work to be at a peer level of M.C. Escher, Salvador Dali & Auguste Rodin.

Giger's Necronomicon is a fine way to introduce yourself to this Master's work. In it you will find amazing paintings, drawings, and photographs of the man and his work. It also includes a candid history of his personal life, including the story of his lover's tragic suicide. If you love fantastic works of complex art, HR Giger delivers in abundance.