Worlds: A Mission of Discovery [Hardcover]

Alec Gillis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 1, 2005

"...a visual masterpiece...."

Worlds is more than just an absorbing and, ultimately, heart-wrenching work of fiction, it is a visual masterpiece. Not since Wayne Barlowe's Expedition has an artist conceived an alien biosphere in such baroque detail, while remaining true to nature's fundamental principles of adaptation, selection and ecological interdependence. These worlds are intricately conceived, their biomes scientifically plausible, while possessing a sufficient sense of the quirky and outrageous to mirror nature's own outlandish inventiveness.

Worlds is a visual depiction of humankind's first exploration of life-supporting planets, shown in a dynamic vérité photographic style and told in a firstperson narrative. Created by Academy Award-nominated visual effects artist Alec Gillis, Worlds leads the reader on a journey to undiscovered landscapes, populated by unknown life forms. Worlds is a mission of discovery that becomes a struggle for survival, and in the process celebrates humanity's spirit of exploration.

- writer/director James Cameron

Product Details

• Hardcover: 125 pages
• Publisher: Design Studio Press (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972667695
• ISBN-13: 978-0972667692
• Product Dimensions: 10.8 x 14.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #995,561 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Barlowe's is better..., November 10, 2007

By 

A. Burton "Dork" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Worlds: A Mission of Discovery (Hardcover)

I'd suggest grabbing Wayne Barlowe's "Expedition" over this book. Or at least grab that one as well.

My problem with "Worlds" is that, while it does have the backing of some obviously talented film and CG artists, it doesn't really give you much bang for your buck. The author took a different track than Barlowe and chose only to show his creations through the camera lens of one man. This personalizes the experience of exploring alien environments and encountering alien creatures, but it also leaves a little too much to the imagination.

Several creatures are so big that they don't fit into the "photographer's" lens, so all you get is a giant mouth or a giant fin. They're weird looking mouths and fins, surely, but that's all you get. I wanted some accompanying sketches (surely the artists did some before modelling these beasts), and maybe some follow-up text on what the scientists on Earth though these things might be. The best bits of text are in an epilogue that I didn't bother reading for months because this was primarily a picture book.

Even though it's all science-fiction, I wanted more data. More photos. More sketches. I wanted these Worlds to be real, and in the end they don't come off any more important or memorable than any of the unnameable planets from the last few Star Wars movies. And like those films, the book here is beautiful but lacks substance.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Out of this world, December 23, 2008

By 

Parka (Singapore) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: Worlds: A Mission of Discovery (Hardcover)

Length:: 0:19 Mins

This is essentially a movie style picture book. This book is huge. The width is just shorter than my keyboard.

The story premise is on space exploration. It is told in a photo essay way with captions and quotes. The write up is pretty interesting.

Here's an excerpt:

Toxicity analysis showed that a large portion of the creature's body was incompatible with my digestive system, so I carefully avoided those areas. Even so, after eating I became violently ill, suffering nausea and hallucinations for two days. I discovered the only edible tissue is the facia between the skin and muscle. Even that tastes like a shoe marinated in battery acid.

-- End excerpt

The pictures included in the book are amazing, and big. They look as if taken from a real camera, with details like depth of field. The creatures created are very realistic. I've absolutely no idea how they create those creatures. A quick look at the credits on the back suggest a combination of 3D and sculptures.

This is an interesting book that can be read as fast as a comic book.

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

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars What a Book!, July 13, 2006

By 

Mark Evans "Cloudmover" (Jamaica, NY USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Worlds: A Mission of Discovery (Hardcover)

I don't even know where to begin with this...

Imagine that you went to see a multimillion dollar film chronicling man's first exploration of life supporting planets. Imagine that the filmakers of this movie spared no expense and achieved a photo-real, seemless FX that would be spoken of as the visual equal to the best award winning FX movies of the past twenty-five years.

If you take that imaginary film and make a photobook out of it you have an idea of just how fantastic this book is.

My one gripe is that the book gives ABSOLUTLEY NO HINT as to how these wonderful images were made. Note to Design Studio Press - make a book on the MAKING of this Book.