Book Review: Paleoart

Book: The Paleoart of Julius Csotonyi
ISBN-13: 978-1781169124

Author: Julius Csotonyi
Publisher: Titan Books
Release: May 20, 2014
Length: 156 pages (Hardcover)

Book Rating: B+ (90 / 100)

Verdict

If you had a fascination with dinosaurs as a kid, now's the time to revive your fascination with this lavish collection of scientifically accurate paleoart.

Pros: Excellent illustratons of dinosaurs. Plenty of scientific trivia.

Cons: Incredibly tiny type makes for difficult-to-read captions.

Book Review: Beyond the Horizon

Book: The Art of John Harris: Beyond the Horizon
ISBN-13: 978-1781168424

Author: John Harris
Publisher: Titan Books
Release: May 27, 2014
Length: 160 pages (Hardcover)

Book Rating: A (100 / 100)

Verdict

This is the perfect collection to adorn the coffee table of any science fiction fan.

Pros: Gorgeous iconic art reproduced on large format glossy pages.

Cons: The book is a little light on author commentary.

Commencement Speech: Bill Nye

"Bill Nye UMass Lowell 2014 Commencement Morning Speaker" by umasslowell

Bill Nye the Science Guy addressed the graduating class of University of Massachusetts-Lowell last Saturday.  Nye pleaded with the graduating class to change the world, referencing global issues such as the legitimacy of climate change. 

"Conspiracy theories are for lazy people, people who don't want to get down to the business at hand, so everybody please dismiss those ideas at once," he said. "We have to engage [those people], and bring them around, so we can get to work and dare I say it, change the world. We are at a tipping point and with just a little bit more engagement, and discussion, and a few more hilarious comedy bits, people will get to work on climate change. I want you to spark this movement, and give it direction, and I want you to change the world."

Commencement Speech: John Lasseter

"CalArts Graduation Lasseter 2014" by PhotoCalArtsEdu

Pixar and Disney chief creative officer John Lasseter recently received an honorary degree and delivered the commencement speech at his alma mater CalARTS.  His address was something like a cross between a revival meeting and a rock concert, complete with rowdy audience members chiming in.  Here’s his two-cents on what you need to not only prosper, but stay inspired.

Short Film: Golem

"Golem" written and directed by Woodruff Laputka

Read more about the making of this film at The Dean Brothers website.

"A man seeks to discover his connection with nature while hunted by the onslaught of the machine."

Short Film: The Hunt

"The Hunt" by Spencer Estabrooks

In the short film "The Hunt," a father and son who set out on a hunting trip to repair their fractured relationship soon find themselves under siege by a strange and horrifying creature.

Artist: Nicolas Ferrand

Illustrations by Nicolas Ferrand