Not to denigrate Ed's book, but there's also Guy Tucker's Age of the Gods (Daikaiju Publishing, 1996) and Steve Ryfle's Japan's Favorite Mon-Star (ECW Press, 2000). I am sure that Ed can fill you in on the rocky road to getting his book published and being slapped with a C&D from Toho (since he pops in from time to time).

In light of the other authors, I cannot recommend David Kalat's Godzilla book for McFarland, only because it was based solely on the US versions of the films. If the book was written a decade before, it would be been acceptable and a milestone -- Kalat's still a solid and enthusiastic author, and the book is a good read, but the lack of being able to contrast the US and Japanese versions hinders the book. Conversely, Stuart Galbraith's Japanese Science Fiction, Horror & Fantasy Films (McFarland, 1994 - revised 2007) and his follow-up, Monsters Are Attacking Tokyo! (Feral House, 1998), had the benefit of the author making sure to view the Japanese versions as well.

With all of that being said, the definitive English-language book on the Godzilla cycle has yet to be written -- IMHO -- hopefully done with Toho's cooperation (as was the good fortune in the case of my upcoming book on Eiji Tsuburaya, which Ed graciously contributed photos and an essay to).
August Ragone
Author, Eiji Tsuburaya: Master of Monsters
Director, SHOCK IT TO ME! Classic Horror Film Festival
Castro Theatre, San Francisco • October 12-14 2007


Coming May 2007 from Generation Kikaida