The original pressing of this book is waaaay cool and is a must have for anyone interested in Giger's involvement in the film. Judging by the images above, looks like the re-issued edition contains the same features as the original pressing. The double page photo spreads have identical page numbers, which incidentally in the book are divided in half. This is because the book is largely a facsimile of Gigers own diaries. Not only is everything from both of his diaries present, but the slender dimensions of what you expect from a are adequately represented in this volume.
While being narrow as you would expect a diary to be, it is thick and weighty with all of Giger's notes present in his native language in handwritten notation. This is a true facsimile of the man's actual written record of his involvment int he film and also contains an abundance of rare and previously unseen sketches and concept art. Unless you can read Swiss, you won't be able to glean much from the written facsimile documents that are the bulk of the book's content but along with a Swiss translation, an English version is also present. All this content means that 'ALIEN Diaries' possesses the dimensions of house brick, and almost weighs in as much as one.
It's a pricy book, sure, and the original wasn't any cheaper for me to purchase and have it shipped to Australia. Damned expensive, actually. Was it worth it? Oh, Hell yeah! At over 650+ pages, this sturdy an rigid hardcover tome features a cloth spine and a pair of ribbon bookmarks. It's not the kind of thing I would have anticipated to be reprinted but I am glad that other people will get a chance to appreciate this item.
It's a great book, and an absolutely essential item to anyone seriously interested in the first 'ALIEN' movie. It more than adequately supplements other existing books like 'Giger's ALIEN' and complements that one in particular, filling in many, many details that were simply outside the scope of that book to accommodate.
This is one of those items you will look back on in years to come and say, "Yeah, it was expensive but I am so glad I have a copy now!" because it will sell out and vendors will seek even higher prices in years to come on Ebay.
-Windebieste.