Unlocking the Meaning of Lost, 2E: An Unauthorized Guide (Paperback)

by Lynnette Porter (Author) "In September 2004, the ABC network series Lost debuted on U.S. television..." (more)
Key Phrases: Ana Lucia, The Stand, Dharma Initiative (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
ABC's hit show, Lost, goes under the knife as Porter, a humanities professor, and Lavery, who has written studies about other shows including Twin Peaks, investigate the show's mysteries and provide valuable explanations of the show's plotlines and characters, along with speculation as to how they may be interlinked. The authors analyze the show's predecessors-Gilligan's Island, Jurassic Park and the Stephen King novella, The Langoliers-and posit "Lost's ongoing narrative drive is modeled, in what may be a television first, on the storyworld of video games." Loftier questions dealing with philosophical and spiritual concerns (Is technology good or bad? How do people define who they are? Does man have free will, or is he controlled by destiny?) are posed and left to the reader to ponder. The writers are remarkably conversant with the show and the subculture it's spawned, and though this makes for an insightful and satisfying read, the narrative can get bogged down in debating contradictory or insignificant details. With easy-reading plot summaries, intriguing predictions and swift overviews of the show's philosophical underpinnings, the book is sure to be a hit with fans.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

From Booklist
In just a little under two seasons, the ABC drama Lost has already garnered a devoted and fervent fan base and helped turn things around for a struggling network. Porter and Lavery venture inside the phenomenon, examining the different aspects of the show that have garnered it such a loyal audience. From a title that carries meaning on many different levels to the religious symbolism in the show to characters that defy the stereotypes they first appear to fit so neatly into, Porter and Lavery show just how inventive Lost is. They also delve into how the show's creators and writers created buzz for the show, building excitement through hype before the show even began. They've retained that fan base by going far beyond the hour of new drama each week--official Web sites tease and illuminate the show's mysteries, and the writers and cast even take time to visit fan sites to gauge audience reaction and theories about the show. An all-encompassing guide for those who want to dig deeper into this complex, compelling show. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Sourcebooks, Inc.; 2 edition (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1402209177
• ISBN-13: 978-1402209178
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #743,653 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Interesting analysis, May 7, 2006

By	Blake Petit "Novelist, Comixtreme.com columni... (Ama, Louisiana United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide (Paperback)

I'll be the first to admit it, I don't read a lot of nonfiction. And what nonfiction I DO read, typically, is discussion and analysis of my favorite fiction. Such is the case here, as Lynnette Porter and David Lavery delve into the mysteries of one of the top shows on televison, Lost.

Porter and Lavery have constructed a very thoughtful and (more importantly) thought-provoking analysis of the show, the story of the survivors of Oceanic Flight 815, which crashed on a mysterious island where nothing is as it seems. The book discusses each of the main characters, outlines connections between them, dissects many of the "ancestor texts" -- TV shows, movies and books that are percieved to have influenced Lost and which may contain clues to unlock the show's mysteries -- presents a great many of the theories behind the show's mysteries and even talks about the innovative production and promotion of the show, which has used the internet to create a community of fans that interact with the creators in a way that no television show has done before.

Interestingly, for a book concerned with "unlocking the meanings," this book is very short on speculation. The authors content themselves with discussing the facts of the show as known and the ideas put forth and supported by the fan communities, but they don't put forth or endorse any theories or ideas of their own. It's a surprisingly journalistic approach to the subject matter, one that took me quite by surprise. The book covers the entire first season of the show and a bit more than half of the second season, presumably all of the series that had been aired at the time the book went to press.

Overall, this really is a well-written, well-researched book that serves best as a recap for longtime fans as a way to refocus their thinking and go over what we've uncovered so far.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Unlock Lost With the Utlimate Key, May 10, 2006

By	Writestuff (Daytona Beach) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide (Paperback)

Unlock the Meaning of Lost with this Unofficial Guide, which is the only key you'll need. This book is for the thinking fan who likes to unravel the many mysteries hidden in Lost. It delves deeply into all sorts of areas like spirituality, for instance, uncovering various hints of religious ideology from Catholicism to Paganism as well as the philosophical underpinnings of Locke.

It also secures Lost within a literary and popular culture history, providing the reader with its "ancestors," like the work of Defoe's Robinson Crusoe to my favorite, Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer. If you've read any of Lavery's other books on popular culture, this one won't disappoint either. Porter is also the author of one of the best books on The Lord of the Rings too. Together, Lavery and Porter create an unbeatable dynamic duo, who manage to create a real tour de force of criticism here.

Make no mistake about this. Even though it's written by two Ph.D.s, this book isn't just for academics. Although it deals with some complex material like literary criticism, it's written in an entertaining and engaging way. It's fun. It's even got a section on all the fan sites, a Lost glossary, and some great character sketches that help provide background for those of us wishing to catch up on the series.

In short, the book is well-researched and a great, easy read. It unlocks all the mysteries that you've been wondering about and even some that you didn't know existed.

This unofficial guide is the only guide you'll need to navigate the incredibly complex, unmapped terrain which is Lost.

Buy it today!

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lost in a great book!, May 10, 2006

By	JC "Bookish" (Palm Coast, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Unlocking the Meaning of Lost: An Unauthorized Guide (Paperback)

I am an avid fan of Lost and found this book to be a great resource, as well as a starting point for some new thought on the subject. There is a lot to keep track of in this TV series (characters' current lives on the island, flashbacks to characters' previous lives, plot twists, philosophy. . .etc) and the details that are catalogued in this book have been revelatory to me. Having all those details laid out in front of me has helped me to think about my own and others' theories on Lost and make some interesting connections and even some dismissals. This book is for the thinking fan who wants an accessible resource and insightful discussion of an incredible series. I have also loaned this book to a friend who I wanted to get interested in Lost, and she has found it most helpful and is now HOOKED on the series. There is also a section on fansites and blog resources that has been really fun to peruse. I have even run into one of the authors online and gotten to chat. Very cool! In short, this book has it all!