You can't appreciate the groundbreaking Japanese anime series "Ghost in the Shell" without first delving into its nexus -- the original manga book by Masamune Shirow.

Shirow has been as influential in Asia as J.R. Rowland has been with the "Harry Potter" series, but Shirow is far more gritty and his story lines for more risky.

Set in the future as most anime is, "Ghost" tells the story of an elite deep cover espionage agency staffed primarily by hybrid human/robotic entities who are chronically challenged by their own sensibilities when dealing with friend and foe alike.

Partial nudity and an overall sexy look is part and parcel with "Ghost" but not wasted and certainly not gratuitous. That and the convincing manner in which Shirow's chilling vision of the future is presented as more than plausible vis-a-vis today's high-tech capabilities.

Even if you already own a fistful of "Ghost in the Shell" DVDs, you will want this lush print volume to read on that next long airplane flight. Just don't try and jump out of the plane as some of these anime "Ghosts" do!