Codex Seraphinianus: Luigi Serafini (E) Hardcover – 5 Nov. 2013

I first learned of this book in a rather obscure anthology, Douglas Hofstadter's "Metamagical Themas". I was deeply intrigued, and began investigating. At that time, though, Hofstadter's book itself was decades old, and the Codex was long out of print and extremely expensive. Only when it was reprinted was I able to order a copy. I have never regretted it. If you have come this far you probably know what it is, but should you be new to this volume it is an encyclopaedia of an imagined world, illustrated in painstaking detail, and with pages of text explaining everything. The twist is that the text, though always clear and coherent, is in an imaginary alphabet that nobody can read - not even the author, who says that he made it up as he went along - and the pictures, so intricate and beautiful, are so strange that you can never quite grasp the world they illustrate as a whole. To many people it would be merely incomprehensible, but if you are that way inclined, it's an unforgettable book. I have "read" it many times, and now get it out to study when I am feeling afraid. I find Serafini's alternative world soothing when the real world is more than I can face.

I'm so glad I bought this book, it is simply stunning. I became fascinated with this book after reading an article on it, but at the time the book was very very expensive and way out of my price range. The book itself is hard back and the writing on the cover in gold is shiny. The paper the images are printed on are thick and of very high quality, the images and text themselves are rich in colour and beautifully reproduced. The paper is laid and has a ribbed effect. I paid£58 for it and it really is worth so much more. It's such a privilege to have this book.

This book has been on the edge of my radar for a few years now. As with some other reviewers, it was outside of my price range for a while, but I'm so glad I finally went for it.The author-artist wanted to inspire that feeling of being a small child, 'reading' books before the words made sense, and he more than achieves this. The quality, heft and size of the book reminds me of being a very young kid, looking through those big Reader's Digest encyclopedias and compendiums, having no idea what the text read, but trying to make sense of the pictures. Within moments of opening, I think this may have become my favourite book.

This book is as much a work of art in and of it self as it is a book containing art.From the luxurious binding and paper stock to it's embossed cover and generous size, this book screams high quality.The contents are an enigma that are in a league of it's very own. From the uncoded language/script that runs through the entire book to the incredible art work on every page, this book is other worldly. It's like a biological text book from another dimension!If you love the weird, the wonderful and the abstract left field, then this book is an Essential purchase!

This book allthough expensive is great to watch and dig out your inner self. For me its like encyclopedia of dreams. Also its great to watch with children brings out imagination and is great to build fantasy stories out from them - thats the reason of the author to write such a unique masterpiece. Quality of the book and paper texture and images is superb. Very satisfied

What can I say about this book that hasn't already been said 100 times over. It is a piece of art in book form. I feel privileged to have it in my possession, and having put off spending the £800 on an original for so long, I was delighted to find this re-print. None of the original quality or feel has been lost, and having seen and handled a first-edition, I can tell you that if anything the quality has improved with the new addition, particularly with the slightly heavier gauge paper.

This is such an extraordinary book. Mine has come wrapped in a cellophane covering to protect it and to this day I have not opened it, I just went and viewed an on-line which I found. it's very much a huge book and very much a collector's style edition hence why I have not unwrapped it. This does go against the whole idea of having a book and one day am sure I'll unwrap it but I've kept it in case it helps to retain a value if one day it does become a collector's item. otherwise the version I have seen has some very bizarre collection of drawings, writing and explanations.

A completely mad and absorbing book.Currently resting on a bookshelf next to other reference books waiting for unwary visitors to open it and have their "WTF?" moment.

I learned of this book may years ago and was jazzed that an edition was finally released to the public. its pricey but worth it. I suggest looking at the wiki page before purchasing to learn the history of it. all I can say about the contents is that they are inexplicable.

Gostei da qualidade das imagens e peso do mesmo

Such an incredible piece of art... Infinite inspiration ; )

Este libro era un regalo para un chico que quiere dedicarse a la ilustración. Lo habíamos buscado en librerias físicas, online y había sido imposible. Al final en Amazon vi que ponía disponible a partir del 2 de septiembre y lo pedí aún sabiendo que no llegaba para su cumpleaños. Y sorpresa, llego días antes y mi sobrino quedó encantado con él. La búsqueda mereció la pena al ver su cara. Tiene unas ilustraciones maravillosas, aunque es cierto que es muy rarito ya que está escrito en un idioma inventado.

Es simplemente lo que esperas: Un WTF hechi libro y no necesitas más.Según varias personas aseguran que lo que intenta el libro es emular la experiencia de un niño cuando aún no sabe leer. Cómo hojean un libro sin entender qué dicen. Ellos crean el significado a las palabras y les añaden contexto a las ilustraciones. Es simplemente mágico.El libro es una obra de arte en sí; sus ilustraciones están bastante bien logradas y el contenido, pese a que no sabes qué significa, muchas veces parece que intenta explicar cosas complejas como categorías, especificaciones científicas, cálculos, etc. Se pueden visualizar varias fórmulas matemáticas y tablas por todo el libro.La tipografía es bastante hermosa y parece tener sentido, no son letras ni palabras aleatorias, de verdad pareciere que sí tiene un significado. Por lo menos se ve mucho más trabajado que un simple Lorem Ipsum.La calidad del libro también es excelente. El material al tacto es bastante bueno, no se nota que se vaya a dañar con facilidad no que pueda envejecer pronto y además sí da todo el estilo de ser un codex antiguo.Una de las mejores compras que he hecho.