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Official
The Art of the Matrix by Spencer Lamm - Includes commentary about various scenes by the Wachowskis themselves, pictures and commentary on omitted scenes, 27 full color pages from the movie, among other things. One user comment says, "This book gave me the feeling I had when I saw The Matrix for the very first time. Overwhelmed, in a good way."
The Matrix: The Shooting Script (Newmarket Shooting Script Series) by Larry Wachowski - A detailed script (not just a transcript) of The Matrix, including scenes that were omitted. Everything in this book (including scene notes and introduction) is also contained in The Art of the Matrix.
Enter the Matrix Official Strategy Guide by Doug Walsh - On top of standard strategies to be expected in a book like this, it also includes a "Behind the Game" section with interviews, concept art and other information that helps to complement your understanding of M2 and M3 (around 60 minutes of ETM cinematics were filmed along with M2 and M3).
The Matrix and Philosophy: Welcome to the Desert of the Real by William Irwin - A collection of essays that nearly all reviewers agree are very well-written, creative, informative and easy to understand, each written by a different author. Essays cover various topics, including artificial intelligence (and the mind's nature), fate/freedom/omniscience/determinism, Cypher's choice (bliss of ignorance), a comparison between Neo's journey and Plato's cave allegory, and many other topics.
More Matrix and Philosophy: Revolutions and Reloaded Decoded by William Irwin - Reviews recommend that you read Irwin's The Matrix and Philosophy before this one. Some authors from the first book return in this book. The essays are arranged in four categories called "scenes." Some essay topics include love, pessimism/Nihilism/Nietzschean Will to Power, Choice/Purpose/Understanding, Simulacra and Simulation, music, Vedanta, Islam, faith, Christianity, and cultural issues (race, violence).
Philosophers Explore The Matrix by Christopher Grau - This Oxford University Press publication includes essays written with minimal jargon (making the book highly accessible to a wide audience) by well-known philosophers such as James Pryor, Colin McGinn, Hubert Dreyfus, David Chalmers, Andy Clark, and Kevin Warwick. The appendix has a selection from the classic philosophical texts that inspired the Wachowskis.
Like a Splinter in Your Mind: The Philosophy Behind the Matrix Trilogy by Matt Lawrence - Covers all three movies, covering deep philosophical issues while staying accessible to those without background in philosophy. Discussion includes epistemology, metaphysics, foreknowledge, race and gender,ethics, and other philosophical issues.
Beyond the Matrix: Revolutions and Revelations by Stephen Faller - A discussion of the movies' mythological names, images, and suggestive dialog and how they tie into the philosophy, theology, Western values, pop culture and literature embedded within all three Matrix movies.
Journey to the Source: Decoding Matrix Trilogy by Pradheep Challiyil - Explores Hinduism and eastern philosophy as it applies to all three movies. Although there seems to be several errors in the book (such as misquotes and misunderstandings that actually falsify some of the points in the book), most reviewers recommend the book for an understanding of Eastern philosophies and religions in the Matrix movies, saying also that this book tackles M2 and M3 more aggressively while most books tend to focus mostly on M1.
The Matrix Revealed: The Theology Of The Matrix Trilogy by Mark W. Worthing - "In The Matrix Revealed, Mark Worthing deciphers the complex world of the Matrix trilogy from the standpoint of Christian thought. He tackles the comparisons between Neo and Jesus, unravels the messianic symbolism and explores the postmodern context, world religions, philosophy and religious imagery depicted in the films."
Matrix Reflections: Choosing Between Reality And Illusion by Eddie Zacapa - "Matrix Reflections is not alone in finding hidden meanings in one or more of the movies in the Matrix trilogy, but it is unique in form and style and would make an excellent study guide for any fan of the Matrix movies interested in exploring the parallels between what the movies have to say and what the Bible has to say. In fact, it would be a great tool for a church youth group (older kids) who wanted to have a movie review followed by some study sessions."
Connect: The Matrix by Damaris - A 24-page small group Bible study that focuses on linking God's word to the world by exploring Christian meanings contained in The Matrix.
Unofficial: Film Study
Exploring the Matrix: Visions of the Cyber Present by Karen Haber - "Haber, a veteran sci-fi and fantasy editor, assembles an array of original essays by 17 science-fiction authors and digital artists, including Alan Dean Foster, Joe Haldeman, Bruce Sterling and Ian Watson. John Shirley (Black Butterflies), insightfully explores what he defines as a new cinema movement of 'films questioning reality' as he compares The Matrix with American Beauty, Fight Club and the enigmas embedded in Mulholland Drive. Shirley sees allegories amid adolescent imagery, while nanotech novelist Kathleen Ann Goonan finds the Zen within. David Brin traces fiction's 'suspicion of authority'; writer-illustrator Dean Motter tours The Matrix's kinetic architecture; and Kevin J. Anderson examines the Columbine connection."
The Matrix by Joshua Clover - "Examining The Matrix's digital effects and how they were achieved, Clover shows how the film represents a melding of cinema and video games (the greatest commercial threat to have faced Hollywood since the advent of television) and achieves a hybrid kind of immersive entertainment. He also unpacks the movie's references to philosophy, showing how The Matrix ultimately expresses the crisis American culture faced at the end of the 1990s."
Key Film Texts by Robers and Wallis - Offers film students a quick and easy introduction to 50 films (The Matrix is Chapter 50). Each entry offers students a guide to production details, information on the film-makers and the institutional content of the film. It also explores issues of genre and stardom, the social and historical context, and questions of form and content. An introductory chapter introduces students to the core principles of reading films, and each entry ends with a list of other similar films to encourage students to broaden their viewings as required.
Unofficial: General Analysis
Jacking in to the Matrix Franchise: Cultural Reception and Interpretation by Matthew Kapell - A collection of essays that go into depth about the entire Matrix franchise (films, games, comics, pop culture aspects), also includes original articles that cover cultural/religious implications, gender/race issues, and its place within "cyberworlds of contemporary literature and philosophy." One reviewer says, "Accessibly written, enlightening, intellectually stimulating, with touches of humor that delight and intrigue...."
The Matrix Trilogy: Cyberpunk Reloaded by Stacy Gillis - "The Matrix Trilogy: Cyberpunk Reloaded is a collection of critical essays on the massive phenomenon that is the three Matrix films, including the subsequent Web sites, computer games and The Animatrix films. Among the topics considered are the new cyberpunk, Baudrillarian simulacra, the politics of gender and race, the femme fatale, costume, cyberculture and the body, virtual realities and special effects."
Unofficial: Humor
The McAtrix Derided: A Parody ... Or Is That Just What They Want You to Think? by Robertskis - author of Bored of the Rings turns the Matrix movies into a source of "unstoppable laughter." "In spite of featuring a lead actor who can barely speak, and quotations from philosophers most of its audience hadn’t read, the movies spawned an immense following. Now the entire trilogy has been transformed into comedy. You’ll recognize the pretentious themes—twisted realities, paranoia, and godhead—and the distinctive imagery: dark glasses, impractical long coats, slow-motion bullets that are deadly in more ways than one, and strange robot thingamajigs. They’ll all come in for ribbing."
Unofficial: Self Help
Matrix Warrior: Being the One by Jake Horsley - The author looks at our own pop culture through the lens of the Matrix, drawing an analogy between the truth that Matrix-aware bluepills are seek and the truth that real world people seek in today's society, arguing that anyone can become an enlightened "One."
by Spencer Lamm - Includes commentary about various scenes by the Wachowskis themselves, pictures and commentary on omitted scenes, 27 full color pages from the movie, among other things. One user comment says, "This book gave me the feeling I had when I saw The Matrix for the very first time. Overwhelmed, in a good way."
by Larry Wachowski - A detailed script (not just a transcript) of The Matrix, including scenes that were omitted. Everything in this book (including scene notes and introduction) is also contained in The Art of the Matrix.
by Andy Wachowski - Volume 1 of the official Matrix Comics.
by Geof Darrow - Volume 2 of the official Matrix Comics.
by Doug Walsh - On top of standard strategies to be expected in a book like this, it also includes a "Behind the Game" section with interviews, concept art and other information that helps to complement your understanding of M2 and M3 (around 60 minutes of ETM cinematics were filmed along with M2 and M3).
by Inc. IMGS - Guide to The Matrix Online massive multiplayer online game.
by BradyGames - Guide to The Path of Neo action game.
by William Irwin - A collection of essays that nearly all reviewers agree are very well-written, creative, informative and easy to understand, each written by a different author. Essays cover various topics, including artificial intelligence (and the mind's nature), fate/freedom/omniscience/determinism, Cypher's choice (bliss of ignorance), a comparison between Neo's journey and Plato's cave allegory, and many other topics.
by William Irwin - Reviews recommend that you read Irwin's The Matrix and Philosophy before this one. Some authors from the first book return in this book. The essays are arranged in four categories called "scenes." Some essay topics include love, pessimism/Nihilism/Nietzschean Will to Power, Choice/Purpose/Understanding, Simulacra and Simulation, music, Vedanta, Islam, faith, Christianity, and cultural issues (race, violence).
by Christopher Grau - This Oxford University Press publication includes essays written with minimal jargon (making the book highly accessible to a wide audience) by well-known philosophers such as James Pryor, Colin McGinn, Hubert Dreyfus, David Chalmers, Andy Clark, and Kevin Warwick. The appendix has a selection from the classic philosophical texts that inspired the Wachowskis.
by Matt Lawrence - Covers all three movies, covering deep philosophical issues while staying accessible to those without background in philosophy. Discussion includes epistemology, metaphysics, foreknowledge, race and gender,ethics, and other philosophical issues.
by Stephen Faller - A discussion of the movies' mythological names, images, and suggestive dialog and how they tie into the philosophy, theology, Western values, pop culture and literature embedded within all three Matrix movies.
by Chris Seay & Greg Garrett - Discussion of Christian allusions (Neo-Christ, Morpheus-John the Baptist, etc.) which also includes discussion of comics and Easternism influences in the films.
by Pradheep Challiyil - Explores Hinduism and eastern philosophy as it applies to all three movies. Although there seems to be several errors in the book (such as misquotes and misunderstandings that actually falsify some of the points in the book), most reviewers recommend the book for an understanding of Eastern philosophies and religions in the Matrix movies, saying also that this book tackles M2 and M3 more aggressively while most books tend to focus mostly on M1.
by Mark W. Worthing - "In The Matrix Revealed, Mark Worthing deciphers the complex world of the Matrix trilogy from the standpoint of Christian thought. He tackles the comparisons between Neo and Jesus, unravels the messianic symbolism and explores the postmodern context, world religions, philosophy and religious imagery depicted in the films."
by Eddie Zacapa - "Matrix Reflections is not alone in finding hidden meanings in one or more of the movies in the Matrix trilogy, but it is unique in form and style and would make an excellent study guide for any fan of the Matrix movies interested in exploring the parallels between what the movies have to say and what the Bible has to say. In fact, it would be a great tool for a church youth group (older kids) who wanted to have a movie review followed by some study sessions."
by Damaris - A 24-page small group Bible study that focuses on linking God's word to the world by exploring Christian meanings contained in The Matrix.
by Karen Haber - "Haber, a veteran sci-fi and fantasy editor, assembles an array of original essays by 17 science-fiction authors and digital artists, including Alan Dean Foster, Joe Haldeman, Bruce Sterling and Ian Watson. John Shirley (Black Butterflies), insightfully explores what he defines as a new cinema movement of 'films questioning reality' as he compares The Matrix with American Beauty, Fight Club and the enigmas embedded in Mulholland Drive. Shirley sees allegories amid adolescent imagery, while nanotech novelist Kathleen Ann Goonan finds the Zen within. David Brin traces fiction's 'suspicion of authority'; writer-illustrator Dean Motter tours The Matrix's kinetic architecture; and Kevin J. Anderson examines the Columbine connection."
by Joshua Clover - "Examining The Matrix's digital effects and how they were achieved, Clover shows how the film represents a melding of cinema and video games (the greatest commercial threat to have faced Hollywood since the advent of television) and achieves a hybrid kind of immersive entertainment. He also unpacks the movie's references to philosophy, showing how The Matrix ultimately expresses the crisis American culture faced at the end of the 1990s."
by Robers and Wallis - Offers film students a quick and easy introduction to 
by Matthew Kapell - A collection of essays that go into depth about the entire Matrix franchise (films, games, comics, pop culture aspects), also includes original articles that cover cultural/religious implications, gender/race issues, and its place within "cyberworlds of contemporary literature and philosophy." One reviewer says, "Accessibly written, enlightening, intellectually stimulating, with touches of humor that delight and intrigue...."
by Stacy Gillis - "The Matrix Trilogy: Cyberpunk Reloaded is a collection of critical essays on the massive phenomenon that is the three Matrix films, including the subsequent Web sites, computer games and The Animatrix films. Among the topics considered are the new cyberpunk, Baudrillarian simulacra, the politics of gender and race, the femme fatale, costume, cyberculture and the body, virtual realities and special effects."
by Robertskis - author of Bored of the Rings turns the Matrix movies into a source of "unstoppable laughter." "In spite of featuring a lead actor who can barely speak, and quotations from philosophers most of its audience hadn’t read, the movies spawned an immense following. Now the entire trilogy has been transformed into comedy. You’ll recognize the pretentious themes—twisted realities, paranoia, and godhead—and the distinctive imagery: dark glasses, impractical long coats, slow-motion bullets that are deadly in more ways than one, and strange robot thingamajigs. They’ll all come in for ribbing."
by Jake Horsley - The author looks at our own pop culture through the lens of the Matrix, drawing an analogy between the truth that Matrix-aware bluepills are seek and the truth that real world people seek in today's society, arguing that anyone can become an enlightened "One."
by Glenn Yeffeth
by Steve Couch
