New No Starch Press books
Posted by Huw,
No Starch Press is publishing six new LEGO books in the run-up to Christmas, ranging from coffee-table books to Mindstorms EV3 programming manuals. I have four of them here and will take a look at two of them, Beautiful LEGO 2 and Steampunk LEGO, today, then two later in the week.
Beautiful LEGO 2: Dark by Mike Doyle is a follow up to the original Beautiful LEGO book published last October (read our review here). At 326 pages, it's thicker than the first one, and also now a hardback. Like the first, it's essentially a coffee-table book showcasing impressive MOCs beautifully photographed and presented one photo per page. There are one or two interviews with builders interspersed with the images but not as many as in the first.
The theme of the book is 'dark' which I guess sets the tone and provides some focus although it's very broad: there's everything from insects, dinosaurs, scenes from 'Saw', trains in dark liveries, futuristic urban landscapes to black skyscrapers and shipwrecks. So, don't expect to find anything like Cloud Cuckoo Palace in it. In fact, don't expect to find many minifigs in it either: Mike tends to steer clear of models that contain them and in any case, they are far too happy :)
It's not the sort of book you'll pick up and go through from cover to cover but it does make a great book to dip into from time to time, perhaps when seeking inspiration for your own models, or to show others what's possible with the LEGO medium.
The first one apparently sold some 50,000 copies, I think this one will be as well received. If you loved the first, you'll like this one too.
Steampunk LEGO by Guy Himber is a 200-page hardback that showcases weird and wonderful Steampunk creations.
According to the book's preface, Steampunk is a creative genre that imagines an alternate history of 19th century technology. It's probably quite difficult to pinpoint exactly what makes a model Steampunk but when you see one you can tell straight away that it is.
The book is written as if it, too, is in the same alternate 19th century as the technology it showcases which makes it quite fun to read. Fictional explorer Sir Herbert Jobson and Lieutenant V.P. Penfold guide you through the book which is, apparently, a catalogue of Steampunk builds prepared for Queen Victoria.
It has 12 chapters each of which covers a different type of contraption, such as Robots and Automatons, Horseless Carriages and clockwork beasties. Accompanying the photos of the models is a paragraph or two, not about how it was built or the builder, but about the creation itself and how it fits into the alternate history: useful information for the Queen, I am sure. A lot of work has gone into the page layouts, both in terms of the look of them and the write-ups, many of which are written in old-style Victorian language.
Models from many well-known builders in the Steampunk genre are featured, including the author (under the pseudonym V&A Steamworks), Tyler Clites and Rod Gilles. Even Pete Reid's turtle is in it.
It's certainly very different from other LEGO books presented in a way like no other. It's an esoteric, niche, subject matter which won't interest everyone, but if you're a fan of it this is probably the book you've been waiting for.
Both books are out in November and can be pre-ordered from Amazon.co.uk
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13 comments on this article
The yellow train on the bottom-left is more like a Dieselpunk train. It, and everything else, is still very awesome though! Wonderful books!
Neat looking books, I feel like I got a good impression for them but for some reason I can never buy a photo book or art book without actually flipping through it in person.
Looks like the put a LOT of work into the layout of the Steampunk book.
Amazing-looking books. Beautiful LEGO 2 looks like it will fit right in in my room, as most of the stuff I've been getting lately is, well, dark.
The Steampunk book looks pretty amazing too. I wonder if any of the Star Wars ships in there (because there is a whole chapter on them) are from either of FBTB's contests?
I will be asking for these at my local library, because $70 for the pair is a sizable chunk of my remaining LEGO budget.
Just got my LEGO neighborhood book in the mail today. Also by no starch press. I like it alot
I liked the first "Beautiful Lego" but this one seems a little, well, dark. Scenes from terrible horror films? Even in Lego, pass.
Wow, I'll definitely check out Beautiful LEGO 2, especially because the first one was pretty cool.
They've both just gone on my Christmas list. I've got Mike Doyle's first book and it's great for browsing, or waving under non-Lego people's noses.
And I'm a total sucker for Steampunk! DanRSL is right - looks like a lot of work has gone in to the production of that one.
Keep 'em coming!
I've been considering getting the Steampunk book, I've seen a lot of Guy's work, particularly as a result of backing a couple of his Kickstarter campaigns. Think I might hold off for a bit though, it's an expensive time of year to consider buying books for myself.
I wish my Steampunk Motor Cab was asked to be included :(
https://ideas.lego.com/projects/61515
@speshy, I just supported your project (I'm Colin23 on LEGO Ideas). Very cute.
I am glad in general to see more books about LEGO MOCs come out, especially in hardcover, and wouldn't mind the dark stuff too much - except for the parts about the "Saw" movies, as I don't want to explain any of that to my son or his friends. So... not for our coffee table!
The Steampunk book looks really neat. I like the repurposing of parts.
I didn’t saw that "LEGO books at Amazon" section before. My wallet is probably feeling bad about it.
Thanks darthwalle!
So much books! Most of the creations are on the edge of being a piece of art. The Steam-punk book seems to be interesting. I am still proud of the model of a Flying ship I made more than 20 years ago.
The owl reminds me so much of the Bubo Owl from the movie 1981 movie Clash of the Titans:
https://img4.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20130310025340/gwangipedia/images/b/b1/Bubo2.jpg