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The Unseen University Cut-out Book

Terry Pratchett's The Unseen University Cut-out Book (Doubleday, $45.00) is an old-fashioned concept - and a welcome one. In his foreword the author of the Discworld series reminisces of completing a "passable attempt" at a cut-out version of Waterloo Station. Those were the days, eh? Before we isolated ourselves in front of TVs or computer screens we spent about 150 hours in our bedrooms cutting out and gluing models of castles, ships and railway stations. This book is definitely for the fan of Discworld, but it is a magnificent achievement. Alan Batley & Bernard Pearson, the guys who did all the hard work on this project, and the author, of course, can be very proud indeed. The cut-out is beautifully decorated, certainly more detailed than my attempt of the Golden HInd when I was eight. The illustrated instructions put this complex project into the realms of possibility for the beginning modeler. Alternatively buy two copies and keep one as a collector's item!
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