Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down: The Official Behind-The-Scenes Companion

The first thing you notice about this book is that its creators have, like the TV show’s creators, done their best to evoke that 80s feel. It’s been made to appear like a secondhand book, complete with tastefully tatty cover and price sticker (from Melvald’s General Store, of course), nicely covered in a clear plastic protective sleeve. Inside, meanwhile, the photos have the slightly desaturated/high contrast look of a book printed thirty-plus years ago. And to cap things off, there’s a fold-out map of Hawkins and a detachable “Morse Code Pocket Signal Disk” — a duplicate of the one El uses in season 2 — at the back. So, if you’re a fan of the show and are wondering which to get, ebook or hardback, you should know that the hardback is really worth having. It’s a thing of tatty, nostalgic beauty.The text goes through the history of the show, from its development by the Duffer Brothers, the assembly of the cast, and the filming of season 1 (which gets the most attention), to the phenomenon of that season’s success, then season 2. It mostly goes through the plot of both seasons, using that as a way to look (never in huge depth) at various aspects of the making of the show, both technical and artistic. There are brief interview snippets with cast and crew, and the book’s peppered with little 80s-appropriate features on the main actors (D&D character sheets for Mike, Dustin, Lucas and Will, Hawkins Lab secret files on El, Joyce and Hopper, and so on). And there’s loads of full-colour photos throughout, many of which I hadn’t seen before — so, not just stills from the show as you’ll have seen it on-screen. (I guess they’re from alternative takes or an on-set photographer.)A great book for fans of the series, then. It ends with a 6-page Epilogue hinting at what’s coming in season 3. (Or Stranger Things 3, as it’ll no doubt be called, unless the Duffers follow their Jaws obsession and call it Stranger Things 3D! Now there’s an idea…)(There are a handful of morse code “secret messages” hidden in the book, which you can use the code wheel to decipher. Don’t expect them to make much sense, though, but perhaps the internet will have worked out exactly what they mean by the time you’re reading this.)

Fantastic condition for a used book - seriously would never have been able to tell it was in any way used! The book itself is a brilliant read/browse for fans of the series. Well written, excellently put together and loads of fab photos and behind the scenes stuff.

Lovely present for my Stranger Things mad niece

Loved reading this companion to the show. I loved learning about how they created the sets etc. the Duffer Brothers minds are amazing and you can see every film or series they were inspired by in Stranger Things. This series has become one of my favourites that I’ll definitely watch it more than once. While I’m waiting for the last series this has certainly whet my appetite and let me enter the minds of all the creative people behind this series. Each of the actors bring their characters to life and make them their own. I hope another companion book comes out when the series has completed because I would really love to read it.

Fantastic book for all stranger things fans. Would definitely recommend

Thick book interesting 👍

Bought this for my daughter for Christmas it came sealed up looks tatty but that's part of the 80s look says it on the front of the book itself as my daughter a massive stranger things fan am sure she will like it l.

STRANGER THINGS FANS NEED THIS BOOK! Its fantastic, love how much is packed into it. Making the book look old with the old plastic cover with the FAIR sticker is a nice touch. Lots about the show and characters. Covers series 1 and 2. Also when you come to the part about The Upside Down, you have to turn the book upside down (Get it?) in order to read it. Not finished it just yet, taking my time with it. But I did get emotionally when I seen a certain character bio. Hurry up series 4 already!