The Avengers Companion
by Alain Carraze, Jean-Luc Putheaud, Alex J. Geairns
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Book Summary Information
Author: Alain Carraze, Alex J. Geairns, Jean-Luc PutheaudEdition: Paperback
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 1998-06
ISBN: 0912333618
Number of pages: 194
Publisher: Bay Books
Book Reviews of The Avengers Companion
Book Review: An Over-all Fun Guide
Summary: 4 Stars
The Avengers Companion reads like a fan scrapbook, with plenty of great pictures. The glossy photos, both monochrome and color, can be cosidered the best aspect of this book. Another great thing the authors did is to avoid critiquing each story, a smart move in that it's pretty frustrating seeing your favorite Avengers story ripped to shreds by some dimwit who happens to have been lucky enough to have a book published, or have the time to create his own website.
Other features include an episode guide encompassing all eras of The Avengers, from the Ian Hendry first season to the end of The New Avengers in the late 70s. Each episodes plot is described in a brief paragraph, a synopsis which avoids playing spoiler in case a reader hasn't seen a particular episode. While containing some minor factual errors (one reason I gave only 4 stars), each synopsis stays pretty true to the main plot as seen in the televised versions of the stories. However, another reason I gave this only 4 stars is that after the overall episode guide lies a section that takes 13 episodes, presumably the authors' favorites, and gives a detailed plot description of two to three pages per story. I simply cannot understand the need for this section, as the stories are very subjective to each reader, and their favorite 13 may not, and likely won't, match each individual reader's 13. This space would have been better used to expand on the plot descriptions of the rest of the stories to include, quite possibly, a cast list or more pics, among other things, to give the stories more equal billing. As mentioned earlier, this is simply not criticizing the other stories, but mainly giving their baker's dozen significantly more ink.
Capping off this book are articles by certain writers as to what The Avengers mean to them, as well as interviews with the main stars, including Patrick MacNee, Diana Rigg, and Linda Thorson. The jewel of these interviews is with script editor Brian Clemens. In this, he explains very candidly his "controversial" no blacks policy. But this is what made The Avengers great, controversy. It's a show that would not be made the same way today. Dare I say if you need to see black actors, watch Good Times and leave The Avengers alone.
All in all, this is a fun, non-critical celebration of one of the greatest shows in TV history. Relax and enjoy the fantastic pictures and interviews.
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