Overview

"During the 2010s, science fiction's immortal adversaries King Kong and Godzilla, representing our conflicts per Carl Sagan's ""dream dragons"" analogy, made comebacks in American cinema. The blockbuster Kaiju resurged onto the screen, depicting these protectors of an Earth plagued by mankind's hubris and folly. With Earth's future hanging in the balance, their climactic 2021 staging settled a score between the two giant monsters, resolving Toho's classic 1963 film King Kong vs. Godzilla. As formidable creatures emerging from Time's Tomb on Mother Earth, metaphorical Kong and Godzilla are considered here in light of new millennial environmentalism's stark reality. This book, nostalgic in tone, explores the meaning of Kong and Godzilla as planetary saviors--titanic protectors of a theoretical ""living Earth"" Gaia--defending the globe from a prehistoric plague of adversaries."

Full Product Details

Author:   Allen A. Debus
Publisher:   McFarland & Co Inc
Imprint:   McFarland & Co Inc
Dimensions:   Width: 15.20cm , Height: 1.30cm , Length: 22.90cm
Weight:   0.354kg
ISBN:  

9781476687216

ISBN 10:   1476687218
Pages:   258
Publication Date:   24 June 2022
Recommended Age:   From 18 years
Audience:   Professional and scholarly ,  Professional & Vocational
Format:   Paperback
Publisher's Status:   Active
Availability:   Manufactured on demand  
We will order this item for you from a manufactured on demand supplier.

Table of Contents

Table of Contents Foreword by J. D. Lees Preface: A Future of Biblical Proportions Introduction: Two Towering Titans of Terror and Tumult One. King Kong and Godzilla: Immortal Adversaries—­21st-Century Daikaiju Two. Dinosaur Movies and Cryptozoological, Anachronistic Prehistoric Monsters of Film and Literature (1853 to 1963): The Path to King Kong and/versus Gojira Three. Merciless Gaia in Geological Time Four. ­Kong-frontations: Introducing King Kong Five. Conjuring Classic Godzilla Six. Let Them Fight Seven. Godzilla and Kong: Primal Struggle Eight. Colossal Conflict Nine. Rematch Demanded Ten. ­Non-Classical Daikaiju: Godzilla in New Millennial Alternate Apocalyptic Media Eleven. ­Paleo-Apocalyptical ­Dino-Monsters: Reflections of Doomsday? Epilogue: C’mon. So What?—You Can Never Go Back. Appendix: An Assortment of Titans, ­Dino-Daikaiju and ­Dino-Monsters Chapter Notes Bibliography Index

Reviews

Allen Debus's newest abounds with perceptive, well-informed prose exploring the intersection between Gaia's apocalyptic overtones and Legendary's Kong and Godzilla clashes. Nostalgia plus insight--a win-win combination! --Mike Bogue, author of Apocalypse Then: American and Japanese Atomic Cinema, 1951-1967 Another deep dive into the shrouded origins and hidden meanings of giant monster movies that other scholars often miss, this book proves once again that nobody does it better than Debus when it comes to deconstructing dai-kaiju eiga! --John LeMay, author of Kong Unmade: The Lost Films of Skull Island and The Big Book of Japanese Giant Monster Movies: The Lost Films More than 99.99 percent of every species that has ever lived on this planet is extinct. Extinction seems to be, not something evil, but the inevitable fate for all living things, giving way to something else. Will Homo sapiens be next in line for extinction, succeeded by some other dominant form of life--i.e., the Kaiju? Read Allen Debus' latest book, then decide for yourself. --Donald F. Glut, author of Dinosaurs: The Encyclopedia.

Author Information

Allen A. Debus, a retired environmental chemist, has long been infatuated with dinosaurs, paleontology, science fiction, Godzilla and King Kong. He has written several books addressing prehistoric creatures—both real and fictional—in popular culture, and attends Chicagoland’s Wizard World and G-Fest. He is a member of the G-Fan Hall of Fame and lives in Hanover Park, Illinois.

Tab Content 6

Author Website:  

Customer Reviews

Recent Reviews

No review item found!

Add your own review!

Countries Available

All regions