Xena: Warrior Princess (Paperback)

by Rob Weisbrot (Author) "Executive producer Rob Tapert, who (with Raimi absorbed in other projects) chiefly gave Hercules its vision and vitality, had every reason to relish the show's..." (more)
Key Phrases: casting coup, warrior princess, legendary journeys, New Zealand, Rob Tapert, Lucy Lawless (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Where guilty pleasures live, armed to the teeth and sporting battle armor, there strides Xena. As TV art, the syndicated Xena is more like Baywatch than Upstairs Downstairs, but it has a (very thin) patina of intellectual cachet from making frequent and occasionally incongruous references to classical mythology. Since the ratings titan has been on only since 1995, there is only so much an in-depth fan guide can cover, so Weisbrot also provides much detail on Xena's notable forerunner, Sheena, Oueen of the Jungle, a black-and-white syndicated series of 26 episodes that first ran in 1955. Aside from the welcome Sheena retrospective, the guide's highlights include episode breakdowns, worthy cast profiles, and pictures, pictures, pictures. Although not exactly challenging reading, this guide to a tasty enough slice of currently popular entertainment is engaging. Mike Tribby

Product Description
In a time of ancient gods, warlords, and kings, a land in turmoil cried out for a hero. She was Xena, a mighty princess, forged in the heat of battle...Her courage will change the world.

The millions of fans who watch Xena: Warrior Princess^TM every week already know that it is the hottest and hippest show on television. But for inside information that is available nowhere else, The Official Guide to the Xenaverse is the place to turn, offering:

Over one hundred photographs in color and black and white

A complete and detailed episode guide to the first two seasons, featuring Lucy Lawless's own take on every episode

A look behind the scenes that reveals the inner workings of the show, including writers' meetings, casting sessions, filming, special-effects secrets, and much more

The intriguing story of the origin of Xena: Warrior Princess^TM

Biographies of cast and crew

Fascinating trivia and little-known facts about life in the Xenaverse

Xena: Warrior Princess (r) & (c) Universal Television Enterprises, Inc. Licensed by Universal Studios Licensing, Inc. Copyright (c) 1998 by Universal Studios Publishing Rights, a division of Universal Studios Licensing, Inc. All rights reserved.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 240 pages
• Publisher: Main Street Books; 1st edition (January 20, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385491360
• ISBN-13: 978-0385491365
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (26 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #549,544 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must Have If You're A Xena Fan, March 5, 2001

By	"xenagabby" (Granite City, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This book is basically the Bible for Xenites. With tons of color and balck and white pictures, you can't miss. There is a in-depth look at the making of the show, including the step by step process of editing, directing, prop making, costume designing, and the music that goes with the show. One littlle tibet I found particularly interesting was that they included the lyrics to the Xena theme song, both the Bulgarian words and their English counterpart. This book also includes detailed plot synoposes of each and every episode of the first through second seasons. This section has a special "Lucy's Take" with her outlook on every episode, which is neat. This book is pack full of Xena goodness (and badness, if you like the evil Xena, with tons of backround on her appreance on Hercules). This book is a must have and essential to any fans collection.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The most professional treatment of Xena a fan can give, December 13, 2000

By	Michael Martinez (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

I've met Rob Weisbrot. You wouldn't think he's a hardcore nutball (what Lucy Lawless calls her most dedicated fans) but he is a Xenite through and through. He's also a professional historian who teaches at a northwestern college. The man can talk to a room full of people.

But more importantly, he gave Xena fandom its first step into the world of print by impressing Renaissance Pictures and Universal Studios with his enthusiasm that when it became clear he was going to write some fan books they realized they'd better get him on board.

So, we have the official guide to Xena written by a true Xena fan. Weisbrot took the time to interview producers, writers, and cast members. He visited the sets and watched all the episodes. He understands the subject matter thoroughly, and his love of ancient Greek mythology is an added bonus. You can't go wrong by buying this book!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I Love This Book!, March 1, 2000

By	NYCpeanuts (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This is a great behind the scenes look at one of television's most clever shows. If you are a Xena fan, this is a MUST have. Beyond that it is an excellent behind the scenes look at ANY television series because it covers all areas of production - script revisions, editing, special effects, casting of both main and extra characters, stunts, and more. Plus you get the usual cast bios and epsiode summaries. The only problem (as most reviewers note) is that the episode guide only covers the first two seasons. We are all anxiously awaiting that second edition. Also enjoyable is the ability for the creators of Xena to poke fun at their chronological inconsistencies. You will find an amusing time line at the end of the book. Buy it =)