This is a nice guide to the Avatar world, which I checked out of the library after seeing the movie. This book is well-illustrated and shows the breatth and stength of the imagination of John Cameron. There is even a short lexicon of Na'vi- English words. Much of it reads like a scientific guide, a conceit maybe, but fun nevertheless. ( )

Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide, by Maria Wilhelm and Dirk Mathison

Written as a survival guide for Pandora, this book provides in-depth information on the flora, fauna, and Na'vi people on the moon, as well as details on the human weaponry and military vehicles imported from Earth. The plant and animal descriptions include classifications, Latin names, ecology, pictures, and their use on Pandora, as well as possible uses on Earth. The information on the Na'vi people tells about their customs, culture, and how they live. There's also some pseudo-scientific explanations for the formation of Pandora and its inhabitants.

"Avatar: An Activist Survival Guide" is full of beautiful glossy photos and is a good companion for the movie. While I haven't seen Avatar yet, I'm more eager to after reading this book, as there are things I'll probably look for in the movie now. This seems like the perfect book for anyone who is really into Pandora and the Na'vi, or maybe someone curious about something specific, such as Na'vi mating habits.

One of my few complaints for this book is the design of the pages. While the pages are designed to look like crumpled paper, going with the survival guide/smuggled information theme, it does make it difficult to read the text. If the gray of the pages were a little lighter I think the text would be easier to read. Otherwise, it feels as if a lot of time and thought went into the appearance of the book, and the visuals are very nice.

3/5. ( )