THE BIONIC BOOK: THE SIX MILLION DOLLAR MAN AND THE BIONIC WOMAN RECONSTRUCTED

I love this book. Episode summaries, behind the scenes interviews....

Lots of information here about the making of two truly iconic shows from the 1970s. Six Million Dollar Man and Bionic Woman. I learned a great deal from reading this book. Such as, Cyborg author Martin Caidin wanted actor Monte Markham to be cast as Steve Austin. This would've been a bad move, as Monte Markham was such a melodramatic and over the top actor, he would've killed the role with acting theatrics. Critics slammed Lee Majors acting at the time, but he really did do a good job in the role. Particularly in the early episodes, he made Steve Austin a soft spoken country boy, such qualities somehow granting him the psychological fortitude to deal with being bionic. Definitely the right way to go acting wise. It was also the wrong way to go in trying to make Steve Austin a James Bond clone complete with a tuxedo in "Wine, Women, & War", the second movie commissioned by ABC-TV.What truly stunned me about this book (and it is a bad thing), is that no mention is made of composer Oliver Nelson, who wrote some of the most brilliant music cues (as well as the theme music) for the Six Million Dollar Man. His theme music, as well as his specific music cues for the episodes "E.S.P. Spy"(Steve Austin being attacked on the beach), "Last of the Fourth of Julys" (Steve Austin vaulting over an electrified fence), "Population Zero" (throwing the fence post at the bad guys van) and "Look Alike" (the attack in the warehouse, the boxing ring match between Steve and Ben Breezy, and the final boxing ring brawl)showcases what a brilliant composer the late, great Oliver Nelson was. The man was a musical genius!! His music is some of the most brilliant ever composed for a television series. Musically, he found a strong identity for the series especially in the early episodes, with his dominant use of drums.There also should have been more attention paid to the special effects guys who rigged the insert shot gags for the Six Million Dollar Man. "Midas Touch" (Austin ripping a safe out of a concrete bunker), how did he jump so high without wobbling to the left or right?, "Outrage in Balinderry" (ripping hinges off of a door and crushing them while doing so), "Survival of the Fittest" (loosening lug nuts on a car wheel in order to change it), and "Little Orphan Airplane" (Using the same method to replace a plane engine.) We do learn in this book that Lee Majors used a trampoline to jump high in "One of Our Running Backs in Missing" while playing football.This is really a good book, but it just isn't long enough to pay homage to the late Oliver Nelson and the special effects guys who worked on the Six Million Dollar Man. The music and special effects for the Six Million Dollar Man not only hold up to this very day, but they are also a standard everyone working in television today should try and live up to.

This book delivers a huge amount of information in its 379 pages, and it will always be at hand as I play my DVDs of The Six Million Dollar Man and The Bionic Woman. It tells you so much, and it's so well-organized, it puts the whole world of Steve and Jaime in one place. It's a history and a reference book. Totally worth buying, for anyone who loves the two shows.

I really enjoyed the book,very informative,I strongly recommend it.

I’m a huge bionic fan and was 6 years old when the six million dollar man first aired. I watched every episode and kid played with bionic sounds. I have always wanted a good companion book to go with my Time Life DVD box set. Of course there is lots of good info in the book but I expected more. The book itself is small and should be way larger. No color pics at all. For all the information the book itself needs more bells and whistles. It’s not a collectible good to look at book. I waited 4 years to buy this book, waiting for the price to drop under 10 bucks and it never did. I really don’t think it’s worth more than 10. Just my opinion.

As most Men of my age growing up in the 70s, "The Six Million Dollar Man"was a must watch show.I had the Action Figure, I had the Comics and I had my slow motion run and Bionic sound effects downpat.So as I read this Book I was transported back to my youth when we only had 2 TV Channels but there was always something on that was Cool.I also loved "The Bionic Woman" ( the original one,notthat remake).So if like me you spent your youth dreaming of Bionicadventures you will love this Book.How exact all the information is I couldn't tell youI just enjoyed the ride.

This book enlightened me in so many ways regarding the background information and the creation of the show, cast comments from interviews and even information about the collectibles of the show. Plus, there is a great episode guide. Mr. Pilato has written a well researched book and he is a good writer to boot. If you liked either or both of these shows, "The Six Million Dollar Man" and "The Bionic Woman", then I highly recommend this book to you. I have gone back to the book several times. It is a wealth of information.

A comprehensive guide to the bionic shows. Interviews and comments from producers Harve Bennett and Kenney Johnson. Has pictures of the cast, the toys,and lots more. If you like the shows, this is a must buy! I haven't seen a book like this ever!

Extremely disappointing. Very messily written with little structure as it constantly veers off topic, often taking four or five pages to tell what could be told in one. Little effort has gone into sifting out the truth, Pilato merely throws together lots of quotes, most of which contradict each other, and leaves it at that. Neither does he go into too much detail regarding important areas of the shows histories, for instance the controversial dropping of BW by ABC is hardly addressed at all. Grainy photos, unforgivably Lindsay in the showgirl and wrestling costume are included clearly illustrating Pilato doesn't have a clue! Half the book is a poorly written episode guide and as it includes errors it leads me to believe he hasn't even bothered to watch the episodes. Let's just hope a better constructed book emerges soon, as unfortunately fans like myself will continue to buy this book purely on the basis there is a dearth of SM and BW merchandise to buy.

If you love The Six Million Dollar Man (and who doesn't?!!) And spin off The Bionic Woman then this book is just what the doctor (rudy wells) ordered ! Everything possible that could be written is in this tome. Interviews with just about everybody connected with show, episode guide and trivia galore through 5 Six Mill, 3 Bionic Woman and the 3 reunion films. Beautifully written this book cannot be recommended enough for fans of the series.

I am still reading this book on chapter five its good but goes off the subject about the six million dollar and bionic woman then comes back on to them. I feel the price was a bit two high but am not sorry that I bought the book. I think you should make up your own mind up on buying this book. I hope if you do you agree with what I said at the beginning of this any way If you buy the book I hope you are pleased with it.

Fantastic book that covers all the episodes of the two series....albeit not full cast lists but a nice run down.....a must for all fans

here there are many pictures unfortunately in back and white but it seems wll done, I just received it and have not yet read it but have gone though it.