Read Ebook {PDF EPUB} Mirrorstone by Michael Palin THE MIRRORSTONE. An adventure in picture-book format, designed to make use of laser-produced holographic images, of which seven are included. The story is banal. Paul travels through his bathroom mirror to a medieval-looking world where an evil wizard (Salaman, surely an echo of Tolkien's orb- deluded Saruman) tries to trick him into making a perilous sea journey; running away, he falls into the sea through a reflecting puddle, evades sea- monsters, is somehow trapped within the sphere of the mirrorstone, but crashes back into his own bathroom when it shatters. The watercolor illustrations include plenty of eerie, mysterious spaces and nightmare-like architecture. The holograms are fascinating, with the surface appearance of shiny foil: when manipulated under a light source, they reveal three-dimensional images derived from complex constructions by the artist, bathed in ever-changing colors. As a curiosity, they may be worth the book's price. Mirrorstone by Michael Palin. Monty Python alumnus Michael Palin steps into the larger-than-life world of Ernest Hemingway in a two-part series airing Wednesday, May 3 and Wednesday, May 10, 2000 from 9 to 11 p.m. (Check local listings.) Michael Palin (Host/Writer) established his reputation with the ever-popular "Monty Python's Flying Circus." More recently, the British actor has become known for his entertaining global adventures documented in three other award-winning, PBS series "Full Circle With Michael Palin," "Around The World In 80 Days" and "Pole To Pole." Born in Sheffield, England, Palin first gained recognition in 1962 when he joined Brightside and Carbrook Co-Operative Society Players and won the Best Performing Gent Award at the Co-Op Drama Festival. At Oxford University, he wrote and performed comedy with Robert Hewsion, and for the university production of "Hang Down Your Head and Die." In 1964, he appeared with fellow Python member Terry Jones in the Oxford Revue at the Edinburgh Festival. Almost immediately upon graduation from Oxford, the satirist was snatched up by the BBC, where he wrote and appeared in several shows. In May 1969, Palin joined Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Terry Gilliam, Eric Idle and Terry Jones for the first series of "Monty Python's Flying Circus," while continuing to work on other projects, including a BBC-TV play "Secrets," written with Jones. In 1977, Palin and Jones also wrote and starred in the BBC's "Ripping Yarns," an award-winning series of comedies. Palin takes a break from adventure to enjoy the beauty of the Italian countryside. With the Python crew, Palin moved on to big screen projects such as "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" and "The Life of Brian." He has received critical acclaim for his work in such films as "The Missionary," "A Private Function," "Fierce Creatures" and "A Fish Called Wanda," which earned him the British Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In addition to his novel "Hemingway's Chair," the book that inspired his latest television travels, Palin has written the companion books to his previous series. His other literary forays include "Dr. Fegg's Nasty Book of Knowledge," "Dr. Fegg's Encyclopedia of All World Knowledge" and the children's books "The Mirrorstone," "Cyril" and "The Dinner Party" and "Small Harry and the Toothache Pill." Lee Alan Michael Palin and Richard Seymour. Hardcover. Condition: GOOD. Alan Lee & Richard Seymour (illustrator). Spine creases, wear to binding and pages from reading. May contain limited notes, underlining or highlighting that does affect the text. Possible ex library copy, will have the markings and stickers associated from the library. Accessories such as CD, codes, toys, may not be included. More buying choices from other sellers on AbeBooks. the mirrorstone. Palin, Michael, Alan Lee and Richard Seymour. Published by Jonathan Cape, 1986. Used - Hardcover Condition: Fair. Hardcover. Condition: Fair. No Jacket. Missing dust jacket; Readable copy. Pages may have considerable notes/highlighting. ThriftBooks: Read More, Spend Less. More buying choices from other sellers on AbeBooks. Hemingway's Chair. Michael Palin, Alan Lee, Richard Seymour. Published by St. Martin's Press, New York, 1998. Used - Hardcover Condition: Very Good. Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. Dust Jacket Condition: Very Good. First American Edition. Book. The Mirrorstone. Michael Palin, Alan Lee, Richard Seymour. Published by London: Johnathan Cape, 1986, 1986. Used - Hardcover Condition: Very Good. Hardcover. Condition: Very Good. F. Very Good. First Edition. binding rubbed in a few places. Book. La pierre de cristal. Michael Palin, Alan Lee et Richard Seymour. Published by Casterman, 1993. Used - Hardcover Condition: Bon. Hardcover. Condition: Bon. Traces d'usure sur la couverture. Ammareal reverse jusqu'� 15% du prix net de ce livre � des organisations caritatives. ENGLISH DESCRIPTION Book Condition: Used, Good. Signs of wear on the cover. Ammareal gives back up to 15% of this book's net price to charity organizations. The Mirrorstone. Palin, Michael and illustrated by Alan Lee conceived and designed by Richard Seymour. Published by NY: Alfred A. Knopf (1986), 1986. Used - Hardcover. First edition with a 1 present in the number line; 4to; pictorial boards with gilt lettering and hologram; hardcover; color illustrations and 7 holograms; "the first picture book using a hologram" according to The Best of 3D Books by Tadashi Yokoyama 1989; a very good clean tight copy. The Mirrorstone. PALIN, Michael, LEE, Alan and SEYMOUR, Richard. Published by London: Jonathan Cape, 1986. Used - Hardcover. 28 x 21.5 cm. [32 pp.]. Numerous colour illustrations, several with incorporated holograms. Original glazed pictorial boards with hologram at centre. No dw., as issued. NF. Fine illustrations for children of all ages; if it is not yet a classic, it will be. El Espejo Magico. Michael Palin. Published by Montena/Mondiberica, 1987. Used - Softcover Condition: Good. Condition: Good. Richard Seymour (illustrator). Ships from the UK. Former Library book. Shows some signs of wear, and may have some markings on the inside. More buying choices from other sellers on AbeBooks. Der Spiegelstein. Michael Palin Alan Lee Richard Seymour. Published by Sauerl�nder Verlag Frankfurt 1987, 1987. Used - Hardcover. SW: Hologramm Bilder Buch Farbiges Hardcover Unpaginiert Etwa A4 Format, farbig illustriert und mit 7 Holgrammbildern. Sehr h�bsch gemacht. Stempel vorn, geringe Lagerspuren, guter Zustand. Lo specchio magico. Palin Michael - Lee Alan - Seymour Richard. Published by Mondadori, Milano, 1988. Used - Hardcover. 28 cm. pagine non numerate ologrammi di Light Fantastic, London buono stato. Prima ristampa 1 volume. THE MIRRORSTONE Spooky Hologram to Front Picture Board and Six More in the Text! PALIN Michael: SEYMOUR Richard. Published by Cape, 1986. Used - Hardcover Condition: Very Good. Hardback. Condition: Very Good. Alan Lee (illustrator). First edition. Fabulous and entertaining medieval fantasy. A modern classic. Picture boards as issued. Super novelty book. THE MIRRORSTONE Spooky Hologram to Front Picture Board and Six More in the Text! PALIN Michael: SEYMOUR Richard. Published by Cape, 1986. Used - Hardcover Condition: Very Good. Hardback. Condition: Very Good. Alan Lee (illustrator). First edition. Fabulous and entertaining medieval fantasy. A modern classic. Picture boards as issued. Super novelty book. THE MIRRORSTONE. Palin, Michael; Lee, Alan; Seymour, Richard. Published by Jonathan Cape, London, 1986. Pp. [32], illustrated in colour and black & white, including 6 holograms; demy 4to; pictorial papered boards with hologram on upper board, faintly scuffed; Jonathan Cape, London, 1986. First edition. THE MIRRORSTONE. LEE, Alan (illustrator). Designed by Richard Seymour, written by Michael Palin. Published by London Cape, 1986. Used - Hardcover. FIRST EDITION 1986, 4to, 280 x 215 mm, 11 x 8� inches, colour illustrated shiny dark blue boards with hologram on upper cover, (32) pages. 9 full page coloured illustrations, 2 double page, 7 of which incorporate a hologram. Fantasy about a boy and a quest, which although it doesn't quite start with going through a looking-glass, certainly ends with him crashing back into the real world through the bathroom mirror. Minute scrape on lower cover, dark blue shiny surface shows very light rubbing, bookseller's tiny label on front pastedown, no inscriptions. A near Fine copy, no dustwrapper issued. MORE IMAGES ATTACHED TO THIS LISTING, ALL ZOOMABLE, FURTHER IMAGES ON REQUEST. POSTAGE AT COST. Michael Palin. Sir Michael Edward Palin , KCMG CBE FRGS (born 5 May 1943) is an English comedian, actor, writer and television presenter best known for being one of the members of the comedy group Monty Python and for his travel documentaries. Contents. Early life and career [ edit | edit source ] Palin was born in Broomhill, Sheffield. His father was an engineer working for a steel firm. He started his education at Birkdale preparatory school, Sheffield, and later Shrewsbury School, Shrewsbury. When he was five years old at Birkdale, Palin had his first acting experience playing Martha Cratchit in a school performance of A Christmas Carol . At the age of ten Palin, still interested in acting, made a comedy monologue and read a Shakespeare play to his mother while playing all the parts. After his school days in 1962 he went on to read modern history at Brasenose College, Oxford. With fellow student Robert Hewison he performed and wrote, for the first time, comedy material at a university Christmas party. [1] Terry Jones, also a student in Oxford, saw that performance and began writing together with Hewison and Palin. In the same year Palin joined the Brightside and Carbrook Co-Operative Society Players and first gained fame when he won an acting award at a Co-Op drama festival. He also performed in the Oxford Revue together with Jones. In 1966 he married Helen Gibbins, whom he first met in 1959 on holiday in Southwold in Suffolk the county he returned to in recent years to live. This meeting was later fictionalised in Palin's play East of Ipswich . Together they have three children. Whilst still a baby, his son William briefly appeared in Monty Python and the Holy Grail as Sir Not-appearing-in-this-film. After finishing university in 1965 Palin became a presenter on a comedy pop show called Now! for the television contractor Television Wales and the West. [2] At the same time Palin was contacted by Jones who had left university a year earlier, and was writing a theatrical documentary about sex through the ages. He asked Palin to help him write it. Although this project was eventually abandoned it brought Palin and Jones together as a writing duo. Together with Jones, Palin wrote comedy for various BBC programmes, like The Ken Dodd Show , The Billy Cotton Bandshow and The Illustrated Weekly Hudd . [3] They were also in the team of writers working for The Frost Report . Other members of this team were Frank Muir, Barry Cryer, Marty Feldman, Ronnie Barker, Ronnie Corbett, Dick Vosburgh and future Monty Python members Graham Chapman, John Cleese and Eric Idle. Although the members of Monty Python had already encountered each other over the years, The Frost Report was the first time all the British members of Monty Python (Terry Gilliam is an American) worked together. During the run of The Frost Report the Palin/Jones team contributed material to two shows starring John Bird: The Late Show and A series of Bird's . For A series of Bird's the Palin/Jones team had their first experience of writing narrative instead of the short sketches they used to write. Following The Frost Report the Palin/Jones team worked as actors and writers on the show Twice a fortnight with Graeme Garden, Bill Oddie and Jonathan Lynn, and the successful children's comedy show Do Not Adjust Your Set with Eric Idle and David Jason. The animations on Do Not Adjust Your Set were made by Terry Gilliam who joined the cast on recommendation by Cleese and was the first time the Palin/Jones team worked with him. Without Jones, Palin was asked by Cleese, who was eager to work again with Palin, to perform in How to Irritate People together with Chapman and Tim Brooke-Taylor. A television program meant to break into the American market. The Palin/Jones team worked again together in The Complete and Utter History of Britain . During this time, John Cleese contacted Palin about doing a show which would become Monty Python's Flying Circus . Cleese and Chapman were offered a show by the BBC who had seen them on The Frost Report and other programmes. Cleese was reluctant to do a two-man show, for various reasons including Chapman's reputedly difficult personality. At the same time, following the success of Do Not Adjust Your Set Palin, Jones, Idle and Gilliam, were offered their own series. While this series was still in production, Palin agreed to Cleese's proposal and brought Idle, Jones and Gilliam along. The formation of the Monty Python troupe has been referred to as a result of Cleese's desire to work with Palin and the chance circumstances that brought the other four members into the fold. [4] Monty Python [ edit | edit source ] In Monty Python , Palin played various roles, showing the range of his acting abilities. Roles go from manic enthusiasm, (such as the lumberjack of the Lumberjack Song), or unflappable calmness (such as the Dead Parrot vendor or Cheese Shop proprietor). As the latter, he was often a foil to the rising ire of characters portrayed by John Cleese. Palin frequently wrote with Terry Jones for the sketches, some of the most memorable being the Lumberjack Song and Spam. But some sketches Palin wrote by himself, (or began the sketch by himself) such as the The Spanish Inquisition sketch, in which a fairly widespread catchphrase was created- " No body expects the Spanish Inquisition!" Each member of Monty Python has an asteroid named after him. Palin's is Asteroid 9621 Michaelpalin. Because of his huge range, his ability to get on with all the other Pythons, and his boyish appeal to the general public, he is often viewed as being the nicest of the comic troupe, with David Morgan's official book which includes interviews with all surviving Pythons, even labelling him as "The Nice One". Other performances [ edit | edit source ] After the Monty Python television series ended, Palin collaborated with Python writing partner Terry Jones on the television comedy series Ripping Yarns and the play Secrets , from the BBC series Black and Blue . He also appeared in All You Need Is Cash as Eric Manchester (based on Derek Taylor) press agent for The Rutles. In 1982, Palin wrote and starred in The Missionary , co-starring Maggie Smith. In it, he plays the Reverend Charles Fortesque who is recalled back from Africa to England to aid prostitutes. He appeared in Terry Gilliam's films Time Bandits , Jabberwocky , and Brazil . His biggest international role in a movie besides Python was as stuttering would-be assassin Ken Pile in A Fish Called Wanda . The film was such a success that John Cleese reunited the main cast almost a decade later to make Fierce Creatures . After filming for Fierce Creatures finished, Palin went on a travel journey for a BBC documentary and, returning a year later, found that the end of Fierce Creatures had failed at test screenings and had to be reshot. Apart from Fierce Creatures , Palin's last film role was a small part (The Sun) in The Wind in the Willows , or Mr Toad's Wild Ride, a film directed by and starring Terry Jones. Palin also appeared with John Cleese in his documentary, The Human Face . He also assisted Transport 2000 and others with campaigns on transport policy issues, particularly those relating to urban areas, and has now become president of Transport 2000. [5] Palin has also appeared as a "straight" actor in serious drama. In 1991 Palin worked as producer and actor in the film American Friends based upon a real event in the life of his great grandfather, a fellow at St John's College, Oxford. [6] In that same year he also played the part of a headmaster in Alan Bleasdale's Channel 4 drama series G.B.H. . In 2000 Palin became a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his services to television. In a 2005 poll to find The Comedian's Comedian , he was voted the 30th favourite by fellow comedians and comedy insiders. [7] Palin also had a small cameo role in Australian soap opera Home and Away . He played an English surfer with a fear of sharks, who interrupts a heart-to-heart between two main characters to ask whether there were any sharks in the sea. This was filmed while he was in Australia for the Full Circle series, with a segment about the filming of the role featuring in the series. Travel documentaries [ edit | edit source ] Palin's first travel documentary was part of the 1980 BBC Television series Great Railway Journeys of the World , in which — humourously reminiscing about his childhood hobby of train spotting — he travelled throughout the UK by train, from London to Kyle of Lochalsh, via Manchester, York, Edinburgh and Inverness. At the Kyle of Lochalsh, Palin bought the station's long metal platform sign and is seen lugging it back to London with him. In 1994, a second journey of Palin's for the same series, entitled "Derry to Kerry", went through Ireland. In a quest for family roots, he attempted to trace his great grandmother — Brita Gallagher — who set sail from Ireland 150 years ago during the potato famine, bound for a new life in Burlington, New Jersey, USA. It is a trip along the Palin family line. Starting in 1989, Palin has appeared as presenter in a series of travel programmes made for the British BBC Television. These programs have been broadcast around the world in syndication, and were also sold on VHS tape and later on DVD: Michael Palin: Around the World in 80 Days (1989): travelling as closely as possible the path described in the famous Jules Verne story without using aircraft. Pole to Pole (1992): travelling from the North Pole to the South Pole, following as closely as possible the 30 degree line of longitude, over as much land as possible, i.e., through Europe and Africa. Full Circle with Michael Palin (1997): in which he circumnavigated the lands around the Pacific Ocean counter-clockwise; a journey of 80,000 kilometres starting on Little Diomede Island in the Bering Strait and taking him through Asia, Oceania and the Americas. Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure (1999): retracing the footsteps of Ernest Hemingway through the United States, Europe, Africa, and the Caribbean. Sahara with Michael Palin (2002): in which he trekked around and through the world's largest desert. Himalaya with Michael Palin (2004): in which he travels through the Himalaya region. Following each trip Michael Palin wrote a book about the trip, providing information and insights not included in the TV program. Each book is richly illustrated with photographs by Basil Pao, the stills photographer who was on the team. (Exception: the first book, Around the World in 80 Days , contains some pictures by Basil Pao but most are by other photographers.) All six of these books were also made available as audio books, and all of them are read by Michael Palin himself, allowing the listener to hear his wit and charm, and his ability to do accents. The audio books do not include the photographs, of course. Around the World in 80 Days and Hemingway Adventure are unabridged, while the other four books were made in both abridged and unabridged versions, although the unabridged versions can be very difficult to find. For four of the trips a photography book was made by Basil Pao, each with an introduction written by Michael Palin. These are large coffee-table style books with beautiful and interesting pictures, printed on high-quality glossy paper. Most of the pictures are of the people encountered, while some of the most impressive landscape photos are displayed as two-page spreads. In 2005, Palin presented Michael Palin and the Mystery of Hammershoi , about the Danish artist Vilhelm Hammershøi, whose work he collects. In May 2006, he embarked on a new project, currently called Michael Palin's New Europe , which includes visits to twenty-one countries once in the Soviet bloc and Yugoslavia and that are now either part of or future members of the European Union, as well as countries like Turkey which are applying to join the EU. The New Europe travels are intended to produce six one-hour programmes for BBC 1 and a book, both planned for release in late 2007. Palin's travel programmes are responsible for a phenomenon termed the "Palin effect": areas of the world that he has visited suddenly become popular tourist attractions — for example, the significant increase in the number of holidaymakers interested in journeying to Peru after Palin visited Machu Picchu. In honour of his achievements as a traveller (especially rail travel), Palin has 2 British trains named after him. Virgin Trains' Super Voyager number 221130 carries his name externally and a plaque is located adjacent to the onboard shop with information on Palin and his many journeys. [8] Also, one Railway have named a British Rail Class 153 (unit number 153335) after him. Bibliography [ edit | edit source ] Travel books [ edit | edit source ] Around the World in 80 Days (1989) ISBN 0-563-20826-0 Pole to Pole (1992) ISBN 0-563-37065-3 Full Circle (1997) ISBN 0-563-37121- 8 Michael Palin's Hemingway Adventure (1999) ISBN 0-297-82528-3 Sahara (2002) ISBN 0-297-84303-6 Himalaya (2004) ISBN 0-297- 84371-0. All his travel books can be read at no charge, complete and unabridged, on his website. The Mirrorstone , a Creepy Gem in the Rough from 1986. Recently, looking through the stacks of books I have in my library, I stumbled upon an illustrated horror fantasy fable for children illustrated by Alan Lee (whose work I’ve covered previously) with accompanying hologram illustrations (I’m presuming) from Richard Seymour (who I was unable to find anything about) and written by Michael Palin. That book is The Mirrorstone . The Mirrorstone tells the tale of a young boy by the name of Paul who gets sucked into an alternative fantasy world by a menacing magician in order to retrieve the precious mirrorstone. A stone that shows you as you REALLY are. Sounds like a decent story right? It is! But unlike Alan Lee’s illustrations, it leaves something to be desired. Which is a shame! But probably why it’s out of print. The story has a pace that plods along and stays fairly flat. Its few peeks don’t quite reach high enough, and the chills it delivers serve as momentary gusts of fear that pass as quickly as they come. That’s not to say that the story isn’t original or entertaining, it’s just slow and not very frightening — which it’s supposed to be. If anything the illustrations and holograms are what truly deliver the shivers and make this book a must have. They pick up where Michael Palin’s plot does not and keeps the reader turning the pages. All in all, I think this is a good book that I certainly won’t part with, but will probably only take out now and then to look at the illustrations. Again, it’s not that the story’s bad, it’s decent, but that’s all it is.