The first of its kind, this book traces the evolution of motion picture technology in its entirety. Beginning with Huygens' magic lantern and ending in the current electronic era, it explains cinema’s scientific foundations and the development of parallel enabling technologies alongside the lives of the innovators. Product development issues, business and marketplace factors, the interaction of aesthetic and technological demands, and the patent system all play key roles in the tale. The topics are covered sequentially, with detailed discussion of the transition from the magic lantern to Edison’s invention of the 35mm camera, the development of the celluloid cinema, and the transition from celluloid to digital. Unique and essential reading from a lifetime innovator in the field of cinema technology, this engaging and well-illustrated book will appeal to anyone interested in the history and science of cinema, from movie buffs to academics and members of the motion picture industry.

: 2004 Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com).

Discusses sightseeing, beaches, dining, and accommodations

A major revision of the first comprehensive field guide to cover the birds of this exciting region, this book will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the countries covered. Birds of Western Africa (Helm, 2001) was the first single-volume guide to cover all the species of this region, which comprises 23 countries from Senegal and southern Mauritania east to Chad and the Central African Republic, and south to Congo. This updated edition uses all of the illustrations from Birds of Western Africa, along with a number of new paintings. The book also has updated colour distribution maps for each species placed on the text pages for the first time. On facing pages, concise, authoritative text aids identification to create a conveniently-sized, lightweight field reference covering all 1300 species found in the region. This handy guide will enable birders to identify any species found in any of the countries covered.