Sound Design and Science Fiction

Very poorly written and extremely vague throughout. When talking about Terminator 2 on page 214 "It is not surprising that the score for Terminator 2:Judgement Day is aggressively conceptual, recalling militaristic tempos and sparse variations" however he cites no specific examples and just expects the reader to take is word as gospel. Rather than provide clear research about what decisions were made and why he seems to look at a sound and then fumbles around, looking to justify it in some way and make out that there was significant thought involved. Still on Terminator 2, Page 216 "Heavy metal music is associated with John Connor as a rebellious youth. In particular, the song "You Could Be Mine" by Guns N' Roses can be heard on his boom box as he flees his foster home on his dirt bike with his friend. The lyrics of the song punctuate the underlying conflict of the film, specifically that outside forces are stalking the young John Connor". There no evidence for this at all! Perhaps it's what Wittington interprets from the scene, but he's failed to actually give any proof for that being the case, weakening his entire argument. This happens throughout the book and as such I struggled to take anything he said seriously.Buy Sound Design by Sonnenschein or The Sound Effects Bible if you want to learn something useful.

Really helpful and easy read, engaging author.

It was a good one

I run a degree in Sound Design in London and this book has gradually pushed its way to the front of the reading list for my students. It is very succeeds at marrying the development of sound recording and post production technology with the conceptual role sound has played in film - using a series of well known Sci-Fi as case studies. The book actually is not really about Science Fiction per se - that is just the hook that the author uses to hang his ideas. The language is sophisticated and clear, and the overall approach informative and practical. You'll learn from this as a practitioner AND as a theorist. The chapter on THX-118 is the best explanation of technological determinism I've read. Essential for sound students.

I would highly recommend this book for anyone interested in film sound history and more detailed looks at the most influential films, with backgrounds on the industry climate at key stages of sound development and recession.Definatley an essencial book to have in your collection.

very good