Paul Simpson Books

This guide to the Lord of the Rings provides an entertaining and informative insight into the books, the films and their creator, J.R.R. Tolkien. It serves as an introduction to those who have seen the films but fear the books are for anoraks and is of sufficient depth for devoted Tolkienites. It tracks the evolution of the Lord of the Rings phenomenon from Ronald Tolkien's upbringing and contemporaries such as C.S. Lewis to the revival of fantasy fiction, the obsessive fans and the trilogy's influence on figures from George Lucas to J.K. Rowling. There is also an in-depth look at the characters, a guide to Middle Earth and a rundown of the best film locations to visit, including practical details of how to get there and where best to stay.

Part memoir, part social history, Revolutionary Spirit is the poignant, often hilarious story of a cult Liverpool musician s scenic route to fame and artistic validation.

Farscape has quickly established itself as one of the most exciting and original sci-fi shows in years, mixing great scripts and characters with state of the art special effects. Following the huge success of the first volume, Farscape: The Illustrated Season 2 Companion provides in-depth coverage of the show's amazing second season. With unprecedented access to the show's stars and production team (including Farscape creator Rockne S. O'Bannon), the book takes an exclusive, detailed look behind the scenes, and also includes an episode guide to the whole of season two, with a look ahead to season three... It's a book no Scaper can be without

All you wanted to know about Stephen King . . . but were too afraid to ask!In 1974, a new talent burst onto the horror scene: Maine schoolteacher Stephen King. Over the next forty years, King's name would become synonymous with horror and dark fantasy through over fifty bestselling books, including his magnum opus The Dark Tower.Simpson traces the writer's development through his difficult childhood and his early writing career to the success of Carrie, 'Salem's Lot and The Shining in the 1970s and the outpouring of material over the following two decades, some published under the pseudonym of Richard Bachman. He shows how King's writing was affected by the accident that nearly killed him in 1999, and the ways in which his battles with addiction to alcohol and medication are reflected in his stories. He also discusses the dozens of films, TV shows, plays and comic books that have been inspired by King's works.A recipient of the Medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters, among many other fantasy and mystery awards, King is one of the most significant cultural figures of the recent past, whose work remains as relevant - and popular - today as when he began writing.

In this revised and updated paperback edition of Bond vs. Bond: Revised and Updated, you'll find side-by-side comparisons and contrasts of all the Bonds from Connery to Craig, now including the 2020 movie No Time to Die.

There's no-one quite like 007, the secret agent whose identity is not so secret. This book covers a range of information about James Bond and his world. There are accounts of stunts, facts about the novels and a look at the lifestyle - from the cars to the locations, to the girls.

Focusing on literary stylistics, this second edition offers a clear and thorough introduction to the subject. It explores key concepts and techniques, making complex ideas approachable for readers. The book is designed to enhance understanding of the interplay between language and literature, providing valuable insights for students and enthusiasts alike.

How many colours are there? In the West we see seven, but the Chinese see five, while the Pirahã tribe in the Amazon have no words for the spectrum. Colour isn't something we see; it's something we think.In this popular culture miscellany, Paul Simpson takes eleven key colours and explores how they have shaped our evolution as a species, persuaded us in politics and culture and allowed us to express or oppress personal freedoms. His book investigates such issues as the shifting gender of pink, the poisonous potential of green, the decadence of yellow, the performance-diminishing impact of grey and the ways in which orange has shaped power in Europe.

This new edition of the Rough Guide to Cult Movies offers a new improved blend of essential trivia and informed opinion as it takes you on a tour of the most compellingly weird - and weirdly compelling - films in the world. From ''A Bout de Souffle'' to ''Zoltan Hound of Dracula'', this guide selects films to savour in every genre from circus movies to westerns of all flavours - spaghetti and sauerkraut. New genres have been added - gambling and vampires - and this edition includes a miscellany of movie trivia identifying, for example, the four women who have played Hamlet on screen, a peek at celluloid''s greatest back stories (such as the rumours of munchkin mayhem in The Wizard Of Oz) and a personal selection of cult movies from the likes of Johnny Depp, Julie Christie, Kevin Spacey and Bert Kwouk.

This new Rough Guide is devoted to pop music; the tacky, catchy and yet enduring music we grew up with when we should have been listening to something more profound. We celebrate the hits, the singers, the impresarios, and the songs that have made up the