Book review: Kronovecta: Concept Design of Syd Mead

[en_b]

There's quite a few Syd Mead books out there, but if youre a fan of his and/or work in the industry, you better just buy the Kronolog set before it's completely financialy out of reach. Here we have one of the books from that set; Kronovetca, consisting mostly of black and white sketches and marker renderings. (Kronolog is the entire box consisting of both Kronovecta and Kronoteko, as well as a set of Laser Discs, yup Laser Discs). You will see designs from all your favorite 80's films in here from one of the most prolific designers of all time. This book is MASSIVE, weighing in at 328 pages. Hardly any text in here. Extremely content rich and will probably make you rich one day as the price of this set will definitely increase dramatically in the coming years.
Get it.

- @en_b

Kronovecta
Concept Designs of Syd Mead
328 pages SC
Bandai Ltd. Publishing
ASIN: B000GHRNCU
Availability: Amazon (US)

[stainspecktacle]

it's already $500+ now....so when you say rich...you mean $2000ssss+?.....woow....how much was it originally?

[fleggett]

I'm curious as well as to the original MSRP. There are several people selling theirs, but far too rich for my blood. I would've given a quart of blood to've had the opportunity and foresight to purchase this when it was released. I think Syd Mead is a god of mechanical design.

(BTW, not that I really expect anyone to take me up on this, but I have the ability to transfer laserdisc material to DVD.)

[en_b]

I *think*, someone on the forum should know and should correct me- but I think there are two printings of this book- the boxed set is only the first printing (1991), but they reprinted kronovecta in 1998? I bought the entire box for $400 in 1994, and also bought Kronovecta by itself at the bud plant booth at comic-con in 2000 where it cost $130. I recall Syd Mead books being especially expensive when I was introduced to his work in the early 90s, so I wouldnt be surprised if the MSRP in the USA was pretty high. It has a LD in it- those were over a hundred dollars each back then! Amazing!
I suppose they will re-release these someday, so I dunno, try and wait them out, but I assure you, you will freak out on this set if you get it! Next time Ill post a peek at the sister book, Kronoteko, which is ALL paintings. Ive had the honor of meeting him a couple times, quite a character, definitely thee greatest of designers.

Ohhhh! LD to DVD? Great idea! He does a step by step, and I think I remember there being some StarBlazers/Yamato designs on there?