Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Wild, an avid collector of old color photos since childhood, graciously extends an invitation into his fascinating collection of over 350 images. Opening with a now-hilarious ad for CompuServe from 1982 that presciently promises email, up-to-the-minute news sites, and online gaming, along with of shots of the dashboard of K.I.T.T., the futuristic Trans Am from the '80s show Knight Rider, it's clear that the tone of the collection is one of celebration and shared nostalgia rather than cold, arch hipster irony. Some of the images are made even more remarkable by accompanying anecdotes: a tin and a Bible that both saved their respective owners' lives by stopping bullets; others are fascinating for their historical context: portraits of three women who fought as men during the Civil War; and some are just plain awe-inspiring: seriously twisted valentines from the 1930s through '50s. The are images of the first documented emoticons via Victorian typographical art from 1881, as well as flying cars, robot bands, and the first photograph of a human. Candid shots, such as the cast of Star Trek rocking some serious leisure suits at the dedication of the space shuttle Enterprise, Katherine Hepburn skateboarding, and Boris Karloff cutting his birthday cake in full Frankenstein makeup give the book added depth and warmth. With every page comes a surprise; this terrific collection never ceases to entertain. (Sept.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Review by Library Journal Review
Who said that history can't be fun? Not Wild, the English curator-impresario behind this book and a namesake website, both eye-catching repositories of "time-disruptive" images that, as he writes, "transform the span of history into a series of drafts of the present." Over 350 historic images are calculated to amaze, which they do. In fact, they are a fraction of the compelling historical photographs, maps, arcane manuscripts, and regalia that continue to accumulate on the blog Wild began in 2010. The entire book consists simply of pictures succinctly captioned. He shares interests in such things as early color photography, celebrities in their youth, futuristic fantasies, and heads of state acting strangely. The volume is a delight to browse, and makes it easy to understand Wild's fascination with how certain things generate sensations of uncanny time travel. A few examples: creepy, violent valentines from the 1930s; a Cold War-era U.S. Capitol painted red; 19th-century "spirit photographs"; a 20-sided die from ancient Egypt, an Abu Dhabi KFC. Wild ends it auspiciously by revealing that he's been granted access to the National Geographic Society's archives. This means more fun is in store for Retronaut followers. VERDICT A way-back machine of great appeal to anyone who is interested in history, imagery, or art. In other words, just about everyone.-Douglas F. Smith, Oakland P.L. (c) Copyright 2014. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
