Rating: 
Summary: The story behind the story
Review: The first season of "24" was a ground-breaking achievement. Not only did define a whole new storytelling theme (the real time plot developments of the day each hour in each episode), but it also provided some of the most compelling action and drama to make network television. The story of Counter-Terrorist Unit (CTU) agent Jack Bauer and his day-long quest to prevent the assassination of presidential candidate David Palmer (and protect the lives of his wife and daughter) are well known. The effects and consequences of the events that came from this day are also relatively well known to fans of the series. One can't help but think that there was more to the story of the first season than just what was shown on screen. Thanks to Marc Cerasini, "24: Findings at CTU" provides the 'rest of the story'.
While it has become commonplace to provide sourcebooks for various popular TV shows, Cerasini departs from the regular canned diet of character bios and episode guides and provides and unique look at the events of "24". "Findings at CTU" provides the 'declassified' documents of the Congressional investigation into the events the day of the California presidential primary. Personal backgrounds of the main characters come to the forefront, but so do the personal histories of the smallest bit players. We find out more about Ira Gaines and Jamey Farrell. We find out how Palmer's own staffer became intimately involved with one of his assassins. Greater background is given to the mission that Jack went on and Palmer authorized to kill Victor Drazen, which led to Drazen seeking revenge against the two.
The wealth of information available in "Findings at CTU" is considerable. Admittedly, if one breaks it down to its basest elements, this is still an episode guide with character biographies. Yet, the format and depth of the information provided takes it well beyond the conventional sourcebook.
Rating:
Summary: The Following Takes Place...
Review: The television show 24 has become one of my favorite dramas and is truly "must see" in my opinion. The ...Findings At CTU, like the show itself, is clever and well written. Disguised as a declassified government report, the book is not your typical tie-in or episode guide. Author (reporter) Marc Cerasini and his partner Alice Alfonsi assume that the events of the first season really happened. This allows the book to break away from others of its kind be unique. The overall layout of the book reads like testimony from a committee hearing that you might watch on cable news--only this text is obviously more exciting than what you see in real life. The book offers readers information about Operation Nightfall, which lead to the events of last season. It also has a detailed account of what took place within that 24 hour period The book's other features include character fact sheets, fictional articles written by political pundits and comments form other media figures. For instance, one of the sidebars, has a fictional night time talker with his take on President elect Palmer. Dozens of black and white photos from the show are peppered throughout the book as well. In order to keep the book as "realistic" as possible, Cerasini avoids any info outside of the events of the California Primary. In other words, you wont read anything about how the show is made, or what actor Kiefer Sutherland does in his spare time and so on. For those folks (myself included) that want to read up on the behind the scenes stuff, we'll have to wait until the unofficial guide for 24, is released in the Spring.This is a great book that is a must for any fan of the show. It is also a great resoiurce for anyone who started watching the show this season and would like to catch up. The 254 page book has a fun glossary of key terms, players, and an "at a glance" timeline. I highly recommend this book as wel as the complete first season on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: The Following Takes Place...
Review: The television show 24 has become one of my favorite dramas and is truly "must see" in my opinion. The ...Findings At CTU, like the show itself, is clever and well written. Disguised as a declassified government report, the book is not your typical tie-in or episode guide. Author (reporter) Marc Cerasini and his partner Alice Alfonsi assume that the events of the first season really happened. This allows the book to break away from others of its kind be unique. The overall layout of the book reads like testimony from a committee hearing that you might watch on cable news--only this text is obviously more exciting than what you see in real life. The book offers readers information about Operation Nightfall, which lead to the events of last season. It also has a detailed account of what took place within that 24 hour period The book's other features include character fact sheets, fictional articles written by political pundits and comments form other media figures. For instance, one of the sidebars, has a fictional night time talker with his take on President elect Palmer. Dozens of black and white photos from the show are peppered throughout the book as well. In order to keep the book as "realistic" as possible, Cerasini avoids any info outside of the events of the California Primary. In other words, you wont read anything about how the show is made, or what actor Kiefer Sutherland does in his spare time and so on. For those folks (myself included) that want to read up on the behind the scenes stuff, we'll have to wait until the unofficial guide for 24, is released in the Spring. This is a great book that is a must for any fan of the show. It is also a great resoiurce for anyone who started watching the show this season and would like to catch up. The 254 page book has a fun glossary of key terms, players, and an "at a glance" timeline. I highly recommend this book as wel as the complete first season on DVD.
Rating:
Summary: Informative guide to Season One
Review: Though I had watched the first season of "24" on TV, I made sure to watch all 24 episodes straight through on DVD before I read this book. I'm very glad that I did; this book answered many of the questions I had about events in the first season without sounding too contrived. I would not recommend this book to anyone who has not watched the show, obviously. But if you saw all or most of Season One, then I would highly recommend this book. Most of the attempts at humor fall far short (perhaps intentionally), but the wealth of information contained in this book offsets the bad jokes.
Rating: 
Summary: May not stand alone, but it's a great product attachment!
Review: Though not providing a ton of new information about what exactly happens to Jack Bauer after the end of "24" season 1, "The House Special Subcommittee's Findings at CTU" is a fun read and has lots of great background information on just about every major character. Lots of new revelations into the David Palmer presidential bid, and the Jack - David link of operation Nightfall. While the book does a superb job of patching up seeming plot holes, it also opens a lot of doors that it doesn't get around to closing. For instance, the DOD's prison system is never fully explained (while we get some more topical information on the system, we aren't afforded any sort of closure pertaining to what's going to happen to it) All-in-all, it's a great read - even if some parts may seem repetitious after watching the series... but it's a great compendium, and offers a lot of deepening background into the amazingly woven world of "24." Buy and watch season 1, then read this book, then move on to the next season. You won't be disappointed!
Rating:
Summary: Invaluable addition to the DVD's..
Review: Twenty-Four was first out of the gate with innovative plots, innovative camera shots, innovative scripts - and, it was all done supremely well.
This series appeals to people who see the possibilities of cinema as literature; there's a LOT that was going on behind the scenes, and a LOT of questions were raised by the series.
To those who do not function at that level, it was still a great series, one that kept unfolding with greater depth, breadth, and complexity.
This book is so damn useful - VERY well written, good detail, in a fast, easy to use style that fills in all of the blanks the show left in place.
Just buy it, THEN get the Series 1 DVD's.
All will be revealed.
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