One of the best books we've ever read on any sort of creative scene and cultural moment – a superbly-penned account of the rise of underground comix in the 60s, and the growth and changes of the movement in the decades that followed! Author Brian Doherty makes the scene come alive in ways that are even more powerful than most music books that try to do the same – tracing the disparate roots of key figures like Robert Crumb, Gilbert Shelton, Trina Robbins, and others – as they end up converging in San Francisco in the late 60s, finding a way to express themselves through new styles and new means of production and distribution – then spread out as the 70s move in, and underground comix provide the building blocks for the graphic novel generation to come. The book is insanely well-researched, but also written with a lively style that really gets at both the creative talents and individual personalities of each of the folks involved – all at a level that makes for a hell of a read that goes way past the usual book on comics, music, or any other sort of cultural creative scene! Hardcover edition is 439 pages. Book

The soundtrack to Valley Of The Dolls is one of the longstanding favorites in the world of vinyl – and the original book and film are even more sensational – covered here in great detail by the author! Stephen Rebello looks at both the initial creation and circulation of Valley Of The Dolls, then explores the surprisingly long legacy the camp classic has had over the decades – long after its initial cultural shock had passed, with a universality that we're guessing author Jaquelin Susann never expected when she first sat down to write! Softcover edition is 336 pages, with some black and white images in the middle. Book