Rating: 
Summary: Lots of Details; Lots of Quotes; Not so much of value
Review: An avid fan, I grabbed up Sid's book as soon as I could. It was a quick and moderately interesting read; but it was not have the sort of work I was hoping for. The bulk of the work was given over to reminiscence from current and former members; as well as a Track by track walkthrough of each mainstream album. Sid certainly did a good job assembling the material and it is comprehensive, but it does not analyse the music nor its place in music as much as one would wish. I was left wanting alot more; still it may be just me. I dont think Sid intended to write the book I wanted to read. Worth it for a fan.
Rating: 
Summary: A must-have for every Crimson fan
Review: As a huge Crimson fan, I was very excited to learn that this book was written and that I would have this opportunity to learn more of the band's history. In no way, was I ever disappointed!
Sid Smith, a long-time fan of KC himself, did an excellent research. His book tells us about the concieval and evolution of the band and includes numerous quotes from the band's past and current members as well as from people close to the musicians. Since KC history was never smooth, it is amazing how Sid Smith could actually capture the spirit of each incarnation of the band and how he could objectively present often differing views.
He also presents an excellent track by track account and interpretation of KC studio albums.
The book is written in objective, but eloquent manner and is very hard to be put down once a reader opens it. I definitely felt completely absorbed by its narrative.
Full of interesting information and interpretation, this biography offers us an objective view of the most intriguing and original musical band. A must have for any Crimson fan!
Rating: 
Summary: vous êtes in the court
Review: Avec ce livre je suis plongé dans les plus petits détails que Fripp et ses musiciens ont pu vivre au cours des années de King Crimson ainsi que les groupes adjacents. Il y a tout les aspect important relié à ce groupe extraordinaire. Chacune des pièces sont expliquées minutieusement, comment elles ont été composées, dans quel circonstance, etc. J'aimerais bien avoir une version française pour ma compréhension, mais il me le fallait absolument. Pour ceux qui veulent en savoir d'avantage sur "King" c'est un "Must".
Rating:
Summary: This book is a good history channel tunnel entrance lobby.
Review: Every small mobile intelligent unit must have one or be disciplined!
Rating:
Summary: Made me curious about the older stuff
Review: I latched on to KC in the 80s. Loved that trio of albums and the THRAK-era stuff. I've only heard a few odds and ends from the early incarnations of the band, but this book has DEFINITELY piqued my curiousity and I'll likely now dig into that material.
I gave only three stars because while the history of the band is very interesting, the track-by-track descriptions of each album -- I thought -- were not. The book's strengths are: A) its descriptions of the MANY folks who have been in or around KC and B) its delving into the -- shall we say -- unique personality of Fripp.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Does the Story Justice
Review: I really don't agree with any criticism of this book be it minor or major. I think that Smith did a tremendous job. He covers each era of the band in sufficient depth to understand the characters involved and the work they did. He benefits from Robert Fripp's detailed and (as always) well-thought out analysis of each phase of the band, but takes care to present the views of other members where they diverge from Fripp's. I did get a feeling from this book that all members had been heard from, and that I now posessed an understanding of each phase of this band. Really a great job of researching and writing.And, the band has made a load of great music, which makes this a great book to read.
Rating:
Summary: Great Book, Does the Story Justice
Review: I really don't agree with any criticism of this book be it minor or major. I think that Smith did a tremendous job. He covers each era of the band in sufficient depth to understand the characters involved and the work they did. He benefits from Robert Fripp's detailed and (as always) well-thought out analysis of each phase of the band, but takes care to present the views of other members where they diverge from Fripp's. I did get a feeling from this book that all members had been heard from, and that I now posessed an understanding of each phase of this band. Really a great job of researching and writing. And, the band has made a load of great music, which makes this a great book to read.
Rating:
Summary: More Frippology
Review: I think that Robert Fripp is more than entitled to his view of the History of the Crimson King but I am confused as to why Sid Smith would feel the need to write this rather ordinary book when we already have Fripp's diary on his Discipline Global Mobile website.
I began Mr Smiths book with enthusiasm and finished it feeling that yet again a "rock Book " had failed to ignite my interest or engage my emotions.
In the preface to his book Sid writes" I've always been fascinated by histories, the movements and interactions of individuals and their impact on events large and small,it's a way of making sense of the world after it's happened".
The individuals in this particular history never seem to come to life and the interactions between those individuals are painted in such broad strokes as to be almost pointless.
One of the most interesting and intriguing aspects of King Crimson history is of course the changing line ups of the band,but Sid skims over these and any other "delicate" issues or simply repeats " the gospel according to Fripp".
Let's face it ,the only people who will buy this book are fans of the band and they already have access to almost all the information here via websites and CD liner notes.A history should offer it's readers a far deeper understanding of the subject than this.
Whether right or wrong conjecture adds interest to a history.For example some readers may be interested to know that there is a variety of cider apple called Crimson King which has been around for a lot longer than this band. Did a certain Peter Sinfield perhaps overindulge in the demon scrumpy one evening or do we just accept the [weak] Beelzebub story forever?.
I can see that Sid has put a lot of time and effort into this book (and I can certainly admire his even attempting to write it) but in trying to avoid offending anyone(and always giving Mr Fripp the last word) he has created a sterile approximation of a history.
Rating:
Summary: Interesting and illuminating
Review: If you have an interest in King Crimson or "progressive rock," then this is essential reading. Sid Smith's book focuses on the formation and dissolution of the different King Crimsons and the production and recording of their different albums. The most important thing about the book is that Smith interviewed many Crimson members and associated personnel and friends (such as sound engineers and "significant others"). As a result, the book contains a wealth of fascinating historical information that is not available anywhere else. The book casts light on why Crimson members made certain decisions, about both their music and their careers. Just about every chapter contains a track-by-track treatment of a Crimson album, preceded by extensive discussions of the relations between the band members (and their management), the circumstances of the recording sessions, and the general reception of the band's work. Many photographs are included that have never before been available to the public. Smith finds something worthwhile to say in almost every entry of the track-by-track sections. Retrospective evaluations of particular tracks, by Crimson's own members (gained in interviews) and Smith himself, are helpful in tracing the general development of the band. More importantly, Smith gives us glimpses behind the scenes. We find out, for example, how Ian MacDonald's lovely romance with Charlotte Bates served as the inspiration for Suite in C (from the MacDonald and Giles album, which Smith rightly considers as a King Crimson album); and how Fripp recorded the amazing guitar solo on "Sailor's Tale." We also find out how the great final masterpiece of the 1970s Crimson, "Starless," came together from disparate pieces, including a haunting song by Wetton that was initially rejected by the band; how the "the Howler" went from being a heavy instrumental live to a vocal piece on the Beat album (this had been a mystery to me for years); and how the 1990s Crimson digitally knit together "Heaven and Earth" from a number of experimental sessions. Of course, the book leaves some questions unanswered. King Crimson is a unique band that is still working. It seems too difficult now to set the band's accomplishment in the broader context of popular music or avant-guard rock. The evaluations of particular tracks seem incomplete without a detailed discussion of Crimson's music and how it compares with other efforts. On the whole, Smith wisely avoids such a large project. If and when music lovers become interested in such questions, then Sid Smith's account will be a necessary touchstone. For the moment, we can enjoy this excellently written and engaging book, which tells us a great deal about the making of an important band.
Rating:
Summary: Inside the Court of King Crimson
Review: King Crimson has existed as a focus for a particular quality or expression of music for over thirty years. Being a member of King Crimson has (apparently and understandably) been problematic, but as a means by which the more extraordinary features of music can be approached, one can surmise from the observations of the various members of Crimson, well worth the pain.
Sid Smith has written a book that focusses on this premise, detailing as he does the social and musical experiences of the various incarnations of Crimson from the perspective of the people involved. Through the course of insightful and candid interviews and anecdotes he approaches the question, where do the indefinable qualities that appear in both live and recorded contexts come from, and how is it that Crimson manages to encourage their presence so consistently?
Sid has included some fascinating descriptions of the creative process as well as the inter-personal machinations that surround each track that Crimson has created since their first outing in 1969. All are described from an enthusiast's perspective and informed by first-hand accounts on the parts of the players of the music themselves.
The book guides the reader through the formative pre-Crimson years, describing the various stages and musical experiences that (against the backdrop of history) appear to have some logic to them. It closes, (appropriately enough) with the release of "Construkction of Light" which represents for some the "next step" in Crimson's evolution. The text is accompanied by photographs for those who require some sort of visual referent to place the words in context.
I highly recommend this book to Crimson enthusiasts, and to people who are amazed that "music (as Robert Fripp writes on the back cover) enters our world despite those that nominally give rise to it, not because of them."
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