Paperback: 864 pages
Publisher: Sybex/Wiley
Released: April 2006
Language: English
ISBN: 078214442X
Size: 9.2 x 7.4 x 1.5 inches
Specs: B/W, CD
Author: John Kundert-Gibbs, Dariush Derakhshani, Eric Kunzendorf, Boaz Livny, Mick Larkins

Have you found it yet? Did you know it was missing? What am I talking about? Why, Maya’s printed manual of course!

In the world of software there are generally two types of manuals, a “reference” manual, and a sort of “how things work” manual. The later one generally comes with actual tutorials, but it need not. Did you get either of these with your purchase of Maya? Well, sort of yes and sort of no.

For what Maya costs one would think a complete printed manual would be de rigeur (yes, that’s French for “necessary”). Instead what we get and this varies depending on the release is a “Getting Started” kind of book and online (hit that F1 key!) documentation. The online documentation though questionable a few versions back is really quite impressive today. And it does contain both types of manuals I mentioned above.

Despite this online documentation’s digital heft, a lot of the material contained in it still reads rather cryptically. It too often reads as if you must first know the answer in order to understand the answer. It is also tied to your installation of Maya and can’t journey with you to the beach or the bathr…well, to wherever you do your best reading.

While Maya has spurred the creation of more printed books than many small religions, few if any read like a manual. There are some really good beginner books out there, and there are a lot of exceptional books that cover excruciatingly narrow subjects ( “MEL Scripting for Ping Pong Balls”, “Character Rigging for Ferns”). What the Maya world has needed for some time is a book that could bridge the two extremes, a serious book that could take someone from advanced beginner up advanced intermediate. Or junior Guru?

“Mastering Maya 7″ seems to be that book. It takes on almost every area of Maya and give it a good shaking out. Does it cover every aspect of each topic? Certainly not, you then graduate to the narrow topic books as your need arises. But because each topic is dipped into so deeply, expect your need for specialty books to wither to a manageable (i.e., affordable) number.

This book is no lightweight. With 864 pages, it actually weighs in at almost 4 pounds! And it is not filled with puffery. The pages are laid out in a very compact design, while still being pleasant to look at. It is produced in a very clean and professional style, which is important when you are being asked to read so many pages.

Such an effort is not easy to make happen. Rather than one author, this book was the result of the work of seven well known Maya educators in the field. Many of the author’s names should be familiar from other books and magazines.

Before my copy of “Mastering Maya 7″ landed in my hands it had made brief pit stops on the desks of a number of hard working Maya artists. As it got passed around they were kind enough to e-mail notes and comments to me along the way. These comments included what folks liked about it, and what they didn’t.

LIKES: The table of content’s subjects are very complete. Somewhat predictable, but hey-very complete, From what I read, I like the way things are explained rather fully, good job, It has tutorials, but is not completely made up of them. I think the all-tutorial books are a cop-out from people who can’t explain and teach well. This book is a good balance.

There was one thread of DISLIKES: I dislike that they didn’t ask me to be one of the writers. I dislike that a lot. Otherwise, things were mostly in the LIKE column.

Recommendations: I glanced over at some posted consumer reviews of this book and saw things like “great for beginners”. I have a problem with a comment like that for a book like this. It gives the reader of such review the wrong message. A 300 page may be a beginner book, but an over 800 page book cannot be. At least not if it is done well, as this is.

Sure, the combined dynamics chapters (particles, fluids rigid body) are covered in about 100 pages instead a specialty book that might expand it to 300 pages. But when this book takes you so far in nearly every area of such a massive program, it can be nothing less than short-changing it to call it a beginner’s book. Not when you come away knowing so much about Maya overall.

The fact is once you get past the first interface and general workflow chapters, much of what is discussed is solid intermediate and above material. I can think of very few people that would not learn from this book. I would venture a guess that of the seven authors, many learned things from the chapters they did not write. (Do we think they read their co-author’s chapters?)

For those taking on the subject of Maya for the first time, you are fortunate to have what amounts to a real manual. And although you will need to pay for it above and beyond the student loan you took out to buy Maya, take heart in the plummeting prices and know it retails for a mere $49.95.