READ THIS BOOK!

Special Effects: The History and Technique

This is actually a textbook, but it's the only textbook I've gone through cover to cover. I first picked it up after finding it in the Fort Wayne library. It walks you through everything, from the first cameras to computer animation. What is important about it is that it helps you understand why things work the way they work. When you know that, you can then adopt technologies and techniques that have been passed up in favor of newer methods, technologies and techniques that in this computer era can be picked up again and used in whole new ways. That is, if you're clever enough to apply the knowledge.

You can get it on Amazon for around $50. If I ever have the money I'll be getting a copy for myself.