Empire of Dreams is the first definitive look at all of the science fiction (SF), fantasy, and horror films directed by Steven Spielberg, one of the most popular and influential filmmakers in the world today. In the 1970s and 1980s, along with George Lucas, Spielberg helped spark the renaissance of American SF and fantasy film, and he has remained highly productive and prominent in these genres ever since. SF, fantasy, and horror films form the bulk of his work for over thirty years; of th...

To say that children matter in Steven Spielberg's films is an understatement. Think of the possessed Stevie in Something Evil (TV), Baby Langston in The Sugarland Express, the alien-abducted Barry in Close Encounters,Elliott and his unearthly alter-ego in E.T, the war-damaged Jim in Empire of the Sun, the little girl in the red coat in Schindler’s List, the mecha child in A.I., the kidnapped boy in Minority Report, and the eponymous boy hero of The Adventures of Tintin. (There are many oth...

Screen Saviors studies how the self of whites is imagined in Hollywood movies-by white directors featuring white protagonists interacting with people of another color. This collaboration by a sociologist and a film critic, using the new perspective of critical 'white studies,' offers a bold and sweeping critique of almost a century's worth of American film, from Birth of Nation (1915) through Black Hawk Down (2001). Screen Saviors studies the way in which the social relations that we call ...

A Pulitzer Prize-winning historian recounts the tale of the unwanted president who ran afoul of Congress over Reconstruction and was nearly removed from office.Andrew Johnson never expected to be president. But just six weeks after becoming Abraham Lincoln's vice president, the events at Ford's Theatre thrust him into the nation's highest office.Johnson faced a nearly impossible task—to succeed America's greatest chief executive, to bind the nation's wounds...

Winner of the Longman's History Today Book of the Year Award and the inaugural Westminster Medal for Military LiteratureMore than a century had gone by since the Battle of Trafalgar. Generation after generation of British naval captains had been dreaming ever since of a 'new' Trafalgar - a cataclysmic encounter which would decisively change a war's outcome. At last, in the summer of 1916, they thought their moment had come...Andrew Gordon's extraordinary, g...

As a musician and educator with decades of experience, I've had the joy of helping thousands of students discover the excitement and soul of Blues music for numerous instruments. Best Beginner Blues Exercises for Flute was created with one goal in mind: to give beginners a fun, accessible, and musically rich introduction to the world of Blues.In this book, you'll find 25 original exercises that I've composed specifically for those just starting their journ...

With the continued worldwide success of the book series Ultra Smooth Jazz Grooves that I co-authored with sax player Frank Villafranca based on compositions that we wrote for our band The Super Groovers, I have now authored this series of Smooth Jazz books for the following instruments: Piano/Keyboards, Guitar/Bass, Flute, Clarinet, Violin, Tenor and Alto Saxes, Trumpet and Trombone.Smooth Jazz covers a wide variety of different styles and I have combined elements of Jazz, Rock, Po...

Step into the dynamic world of contemporary jazz-funk with Andrew D. Gordon's book, "100 Ultimate Jazz-Funk Grooves for Alto Sax." Renowned for his expertise in jazz and funk music, Gordon brings forth a comprehensive collection, offering a wealth of inspiration and exploration for sax players.As a distinguished composer, educator, and performer, Andrew D. Gordon is celebrated for his ability to seamlessly weave intricate jazz harmonies with the infectious energy of funk rhythms pu...

As a musician and educator with decades of experience, I've had the joy of helping thousands of students discover the excitement and soul of Blues music for numerous instruments. Best Beginner Blues Exercises for Clarinet was created with one goal in mind: to give beginners a fun, accessible, and musically rich introduction to the world of Blues.In this book, you'll find 25 original exercises that I've composed specifically for those just starting their jo...

"Real Life Stories of a Professional Musician" by Andrew D. Gordon is an inspiring and captivating book that takes readers on a journey through the life of a successful musician and provides a rare and intimate look into his life. Through a collection of captivating anecdotes and personal experiences, Andrew delves into the challenges, triumphs, and moments of self-discovery that come with pursuing a career in music. This book is a must-read for anyone who is passionate about music and wan...

100 Ultimate Jazz Riffs for Violin by Andrew D. Gordon consists of, as the title suggests, 100 Jazz riffs based on common chord progressions used in jazz such as the II-V-I, III-VI-II-V etc. in both major and minor keys. There are five separate sections: Jazz Swing, Jazz Ballad, Jazz Funk, Jazz Waltz and Latin Jazz. Each musical example has a single note improvised melody line with the chord progression At the end of the book there is the chord progression for the popular jazz standard "Bl...

Ultimate Contemporary Rhythm Keyboard Grooves by Andrew D. Gordon will give you an insight into how keyboardists play rhythm keyboard grooves in many different styles of contemporary music such as: Pop, Rock, Blues, Jazz, Funk, R&B, Latin, Gospel, New Age, Reggae, Calypso. Each of the 21 grooves is broken down into patterns ranging from 3 up to 16 with over 150 patterns in total. Each groove uses a chord progression that is commonly used for that style of music and generally starts off wit...