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Rating: 
Summary: Great Over-All Discussion...
Review: Brad Walker's book is great for beginner fusers with its fine sampling of projects to test new skills. Those who have been fusing for a while should welcome it, too, since it's the only new work on the subject for several years. Walker's book has valuable information, such as a summary of annealing points and strain points for various art glass makers, which reflect a depth of research that should be valuable to fusers on the intermediate and professional levels--but many may never discover these gems of information, since the book appears to be written for beginning fusers. It would have been good to see a few more challenging projects for those with a bit of fusing experience. Further, the cost of this book is surprisingly high when compared to other recent books such as Lucartha Kohler's "Glass: An Artist's Medium," which is hardcover and much more richly illustrated.
Rating:
Summary: Great Over-All Discussion...
Review: Brad Walker's book is great for beginner fusers with its fine sampling of projects to test new skills. Those who have been fusing for a while should welcome it, too, since it's the only new work on the subject for several years. Walker's book has valuable information, such as a summary of annealing points and strain points for various art glass makers, which reflect a depth of research that should be valuable to fusers on the intermediate and professional levels--but many may never discover these gems of information, since the book appears to be written for beginning fusers. It would have been good to see a few more challenging projects for those with a bit of fusing experience. Further, the cost of this book is surprisingly high when compared to other recent books such as Lucartha Kohler's "Glass: An Artist's Medium," which is hardcover and much more richly illustrated.
Rating: 
Summary: The teacher
Review: Brad's book was the first one from lot's of glass books I've bought in the last 3 years. The first and the most important one.
I've learned so much from it - and I still do!!
I've never had a course on warmglass but Brad's book was and still is my teacher.
It covers the subject from the beginning, but it is not only a beginners book, cause it goes beyond - every time you come back to it's pages you will see a different facet of the problem.
If you love glass, you will love Brad's book!!
Rating:
Summary: Good Beginner - Intermediate Handling of Fusing Topics
Review: I found this book to be very informative and easy to read. It had lots of useful information, complete lists of supplies, and detailed firing schedules (for both Bullseye 90 and Spectrum 96 ). It tells you everything you need to know (and what to buy) to start you on the road to fusing bliss. The Table of Contents lists chapters on: *Glass Types and Forms (goes into COE and glass compatibility); *Supplies and Equipment; *Preparing the Kiln for Firing; *Keeping a Firing Log; *The Basis Fusing and Slumping Process; *Molds for Slumping; *Troubleshooting; *Fusing and Slumping Techniques; *Glass Polishing; *Finishing for Display; *Compatibility Testing; *More about Annealing; *Kiln Casting; *Glass Painting; *Making Your Own (devit spray, kiln wash, iridescent glass, frit, stringers); and *Master Firing Schedules My only complaint about this book is its poor editing. The proofreader must have been asleep at the computer when he/she reviewed the content and page layout of this book. There are lots of typos, misused words, forgotten punctuation (missing periods at the end of sentences), and most disturbing of all UNFINISHED sentences. On several pages the last sentence on one page is not completed on the next page. For example, page 57 ends with the partial sentence "If you plan to use", and page 58 begins with the sentence "Some people use the spray for every slump firing." I never could figure out what the author "Planed for me to use" on page 57. The typos were annoying, but not enough to distract for the content. So 5 stars for the writer, -5 stars for the editor.
Rating:
Summary: Good Beginner - Intermediate Handling of Fusing Topics
Review: I found this book to be very informative and easy to read. It had lots of useful information, complete lists of supplies, and detailed firing schedules (for both Bullseye 90 and Spectrum 96 ). It tells you everything you need to know (and what to buy) to start you on the road to fusing bliss. The Table of Contents lists chapters on: *Glass Types and Forms (goes into COE and glass compatibility); *Supplies and Equipment; *Preparing the Kiln for Firing; *Keeping a Firing Log; *The Basis Fusing and Slumping Process; *Molds for Slumping; *Troubleshooting; *Fusing and Slumping Techniques; *Glass Polishing; *Finishing for Display; *Compatibility Testing; *More about Annealing; *Kiln Casting; *Glass Painting; *Making Your Own (devit spray, kiln wash, iridescent glass, frit, stringers); and *Master Firing Schedules My only complaint about this book is its poor editing. The proofreader must have been asleep at the computer when he/she reviewed the content and page layout of this book. There are lots of typos, misused words, forgotten punctuation (missing periods at the end of sentences), and most disturbing of all UNFINISHED sentences. On several pages the last sentence on one page is not completed on the next page. For example, page 57 ends with the partial sentence "If you plan to use", and page 58 begins with the sentence "Some people use the spray for every slump firing." I never could figure out what the author "Planed for me to use" on page 57. The typos were annoying, but not enough to distract for the content. So 5 stars for the writer, -5 stars for the editor.
Rating:
Summary: A Glass Fuser's Must Read
Review: I own a stack of glass kiln-working books (including all of Lundstrom's). Many of them are very good. None, though, can touch Walker's book for easy-to-follow, comprehensive coverage of this topic. All the basics are covered with clear step-by-step instructions and just enough science and background to make it all make sense. If you're thinking about getting into warm glass work then start here.
Rating: 
Summary: Nice but overpriced
Review: This is a nicely presented book. The writing style is clear and informative. The pictures are nice, though a little artsy for me to find inspiring. My problem with the book is that I had already gleaned most of what I found in it on the internet - from free and helpful sources. I paid over [money] for this book what with ... I expected to be enthralled, educated and inspired for that amount of money. I was not. Every page was a disappointment - nothing I hadn't already found out. If you don't want to spend the time to ferret out this info on your own, then perhaps the book is worth your money. I, however, am going to be smarting from the loss I took on it for some time to come. At [money], I would have kept it. That's about what I would expect to pay for an arts and crafts book like this one - like many other fine ones I've invested in.
Rating:
Summary: My Bible!
Review: This is the book I reach for again and again--a must-have for anyone seriously considering working with kiln-formed glass. I have two copies: one on my nightstand that I refer to when I'm reviewing my day's glass working questions, and the yellow-highlighted copy in my studio that I use as my how-to guide while I'm actually working. I have several reference and idea books, but this is by far the one I consider my most used and most useful.
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