Men, Makeup & Monsters: Hollywood's Masters of Illusion and FX
For as long as they've been in existence, horror and sci-fi movies have  relied on special effects and makeup to make the unreal seem real. InMen, Makeup, and Monsters:  Hollywood's Masters of  Illusion and FX,Fangoriaeditor Anthony Timpone presents  profiles a dozen of today's most brilliant practitioners of the art and  science of effects. Artists such as Stan Winston, Rick Baker, and Dick Smith   have made everything from aliens to dinosaurs to  zombies come alive on the screen, employing a staggering variety of  techniques. In their conversations with Timpone, Winston and company  explain how they accomplished dozens of their most notable effects, which  involve the use of makeup, appliances, puppetry, robotics, CGI,  animatronics, and more. Abundant photos (including a color section) show  both finished products and works in progress.Men, Makeup, and Monstersis aimed not just at curious movie fans,  but also at prospective practitioners of the trade. Timpone's introduction  includes straightforward explanations of basic industry terminology and  procedures, and gives a realistic picture of what it takes to break into  this increasingly competitive business. Appendices include a glossary and a  directory of makeup schools.Movie fans who routinely leave the theater asking, "How did theydothat?" will find this detailed look behind the illusions absorbing, and  will come away with as much admiration for the artists as for the effects  they create.--Mary V. Burke