Now 20 years old, Jim Henson's classic fantasy film The Dark Crystal--featuring the breathtaking concept design of renowned fantasy artist Brian Froud--is a soaring work of the imagination. This mystical adventure has such a huge cult following that when the film was recently re-released on video and DVD, it quickly sold a million copies. Just as remarkable is the cult status of The World of The Dark Crystal, Froud's book on the film. Originally published in 1982 and long out of print, this definitive volume--packed with brilliant artwork--has been in such demand that used copies can sell for well over $400.

Abrams is now proudly reissuing this sought-after book in a brand new collector's edition. This beautifully printed reproduction of the original volume contains all of its stunning art and text--plus a new essay by Froud, illustrated with never-before-published paintings, drawings, and sculptures from the film's archives. And this new edition features a facsimile of a 20-page booklet Froud and Henson created to present the film to backers--a gorgeous overview of the story so rare only a few copies are known to exist. This collector's edition of The World of The Dark Crystal, like the re-released film, will truly be a must-have for Henson and Froud fans.

This book is B-E-AUTIFULY done. The pages are crisp and easy to turn. They are chalk full of interesting facts of all the main creatures in the dark crystal (gelflings, skesis, mystics, pod people e.t.c). The beautiful art work in the book and the advanced knowledge of the creatures from the dark crystal gives any fan sure fire indepth looks into the mind of brian froud and the world he created. Any die hard fan of the series will enjoy this book. Giving you all the information leading up to the dark crystal(the movie), the major events in the series, and how it all comes together in the end.

this book with all its beautiful drawings is breathtakiong to look at, even after 20 years. have thoroughly enjoyed stepping back in time to a world credted by jim henson's imagination with these drawings. definately a must have book!

If you are a Henson fan, or just of the Dark Crystal, this is a must have. Fantastic pictures, nice story in a big book. Some things you don't need to talk about, just buy and enjoy this lovely book.

I loved the movie, and when I saw that the book has been reprinted I ordered it when I got the 25th anniversary DVD.

Here's the good... The artwork is excellent, and I especially like the 2 page photo of Jen & Kira in the first few pages of the book. The great thing about the book is the reflection of Brian when he was asked to work on this movie in a brief intro at the beginning of the book. What I also really like about the book is that it requires a bit of understanding how its written.

It's written from the point of view of Augara which makes it a fun read but its not a simple mindless read. The book explains a lot about the world itself, a little Gelfling history and the arrival of the Mystics and Skeksis. The book focuses on the world itself less so than on Jen and Kira.

If you like the movie, you will probably like this book. Highly recommended.

Combining the talents of Jim Henson's storytelling with Brian Froud's exquisite art, The Dark Crystal is an amazing film. The World of the Dark Crystal is a must-have companion piece to the film. On its pages are inscribed in detail the epic story's conceptualization and the process of designing its beautifully imagined characters and creatures. The book contains rare artwork by the ingenious fantasy artist Brian Froud who designed the complex and immense world of the Dark Crystal, a world whose people feel culturally authentic and utterly believable, a world where the landscapes feel familiar and yet completely alien at the same time. It is this fabricated universe, this artificial sense of reality that makes the Dark Crystal such an enduring classic.

Never before had movie audiences been transported to an entirely new world, a world without any human contact, a world divided by two opposing principals, a world that was so fragile and yet so savage. In The Dark Crystal, we see the evolution of imagination and a physical, tangible representation of duality. We see the importance of balancing logic and faith, science and spirituality, self-preservation and sacrifice. The triadic images found in Brian Froud's artwork express the importance of social, spiritual, and psychological equilibrium. This is a spiritual philosophy shared by many cultures and religions including Druidism, Buddhism and even in Christianity. This is also reflected in the design of the characters and the sets that at times resemble, in physical appearance as well as in architectural design, those of different ethnicities but both Froud and Henson avoid racial profiling. Instead they've created a rich and majestic vision of a world that never existed and still it is so believable that we feel as if we are seeing the documentation of a recently discovered alien culture.

Along with Froud's artwork, the book includes informative descriptions of the characters, creatures, and flora and fauna of this fantastical world. There is also a new introduction by Froud and a facsimile booklet featuring original concept drawings that were used as a tool in marketing the film to studios. In conclusion, The World of the Dark Crystal is a wonderful addition to any fantasy fan's collection, an inspirational look into the mind of an artist, and an essential collector's item for all those who love the film.

Also recommended:
Faeries (25th Anniversary Edition)
Good Faeries Bad Faeries
Goblins!
The Goblins of Labyrinth: 20th Anniversary Edition
The Runes of Elfland