Access All Areas 1st (first) edition Text Only

by Ninjalicious

Discover a hidden world in your own city!From Ninjalicious, the author of Infiltration zine, comes Access All Areas, the the first published guide to the exciting art of urban exploration, a rapidly growing hobby that allows participants to personally experience their cities’ hidden and off-limits spaces. Through chapters on topics like sneaking around, equipping and training, readers will learn the basics of the hobby, as well as about the most popular sites for urban exploration, such as abandoned buildings, construction sites, storm drains and utility tunnels.Always an adventurer, Toronto author Ninjalicious began his intensive, thoroughly documented approach to exploration during a lengthy hospital stay, when boredom motivated him to explore the beautiful old building’s every nook and cranny. He began publishing the zine Infiltration in 1996, in conjunction with the website infiltration.org, which, with nearly 2,000 visitors a day, is widely considered to be an authoritative source on the hobby of urban exploration. Ninjalicious completed Access All Areas shortly before his untimely death from cancer in summer 2005. Copies are available for online purchase at www.infilpress.com

Genres: Nonfiction, Travel, Reference, Sociology, Urban, Urban Studies, Counter Culture

Paperback

First published October 15, 2005

Reviews

[Jack Wrenn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book out of a sense of obligation to the tradition of urban exploration—I figured it probably wouldn't tell me anything I didn't already know. To my pleasant surprise, I could not have been more wrong.

This is an indispensable guide for anyone with even a passing interest in urban exploration, adventure, and infiltration. This book is remarkable in both its breadth and depth; it includes everything from notes on uncommon targets like boats, to the logistical minutiae of recruiting and training methods. The handbook is peppered with fascinating anecdotes, each of which directly illustrate the lessons of the chapter they're in.

[pG Ra · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was not just the most pracitally informative read of 2014, but also a huge moral and philosophical influence on my usual blend of mischief and righteousness. In other words, "I get where this guy is coming from," and I find it hard to blame him for the pure and visceral passion he had for urban beauty.

OK, seriously here, this book is not just a guide to urban exploration, it is also a treatise in moral empowerment and respect for urban structure, a call to living a life of wonder and joy, and a total re-awakening to the law-abiding and ignorant life of work-gohome-and-obey.

Please, please read this book. It has been my favorite read of 2014, and I want to explore all that is being hidden from me by people in blue uniforms. Learn about your city, it's history, and the most wonderful buildings therein! Take courage; find out for yourself!

The world is wonderful. There are many things to explore, even in cities and you have good intentions to want to see them and to have an adventure.

[Петър Стойков · Rating 3 out of 5]

Urban Exploration се нарича аматьорското проучване на различни градски места, до които обикновено човек няма достъп - най-често е свързано с различни изоставени сгради, в които любителите на това хоби се промъкват, но също така и строежи, сгради, които си работят, но достъпът до разни техни части (мазета, покриви, тавани и др) е ограничен, помпени станции, градски тунели и други такива места. На български са го кръстили урбекс.

Авторът на книгата Ninjalicious ни запознава доста подробно с това, което обясних по-горе и дава различни, полезни и не чак толкова съвети за това как да се влиза в тия сгради така, че да не те застреля охраната/изядат кучетата/да си счупиш крака/закачиш за бодлива тел/паднеш в някоя шахта и умреш от жажда.

Интересно е да се научи за хобито, но съветите не са чак толкова полезни и бих казал, че голямата част от тях са близко до акъла.

[William Yip · Rating 4 out of 5]

The author contradicted himself a couple of times stating that security cameras are just for show and later that they mean serious business and that a guard will be compelled to do his duty if there are accompanying guards and later that a guard will feel he has diluted responsibilities if there are accompanying guards. He used the words "nasty" and "nastiness" many many times. A lot of the advice was common sense.

That said, the book is a handy guide for people wanting to start doing urban exploration. I liked his stories about his adventures doing UE. The pictures were nice too. Several of the sites seemed very dangerous and not worth exploring due to the potential risks involved such as mines and drains though I appreciated the author including them in the book and giving warnings and ways to minimize the risks.

[Tom J · Rating 4 out of 5]

fantastic reading, although a touch too dry for some of the less engaging parts. handbooks like this are like crack to me, i love getting an insight to something that i'll never actually do but always wanted to understand

[Melanie Robertson-King · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was okay, but not exactly what I was looking for as a research book.

[Ds Oswald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Extremely funny and interesting. Rest in peace.

[Jan Schaller · Rating 3 out of 5]

Standardwerk zum Thema Urban Exploring. Aber eben auch nicht sonderlich spannend in Gänze zu lesen, weil es eher ein Nachschlagewerk ist.

[Pierre Dayon · Rating 5 out of 5]

You can tell this is a passion project. Beware it's influence as passion is contagious.

[Kathleen Fowler · Rating 4 out of 5]

True Confessions time: I have spent countless hours on the internet reading about the exploits of intrepid urban explorers. I am thrilled by accounts of midnight forays into the off-limits areas of the Catacombs of Paris, into abandoned subway lines and stations of New York, Paris and London, into crumbling mental hospitals in Los Angeles, into defunct missile silos in New Mexico, and even up into the cables of well-known suspension bridges. I may never have the opportunity or the nerve to engage in such activities myself, but I pour over the accounts and photographs of those who do with an abundance of vicarious pleasure.

Ninjalicious has produced the ultimate guide to the “sport” of urban exploration. It is of practical use to those who indulge, and a source of fascination for those of us who only dream of it. This guide describes in detail the dangers that one might encounter in various situations, and provides suggestions for how to avoid injury. It explains how to manage entry to abandoned structures, as well to those still in use. It reminds urban explorers that vandalism, theft, and even littering are violations of the ethical urban explorer’s code. If you are the least bit interested in urban exploration, you absolutely must have this informative and very funny book.

[Elaine Meszaros · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ninjalicious, founder of Infiltration.org and master urban explorer, came out with the wicked useful guide to visiting hidden and off-limit places. Sadly, he died weeks after the book was published. However, his immensely useful collection of tips on getting in and out of spaces is available to one and all. Urban exploration in the hobby/art of visiting ruined buildings, construction sites and off-limit areas of "live" buildings. The purpose of these trips are to visit and appreciate sites often long-forgotten or seen only by handful of select few. Interspersed with stories of his actual trips, Ninjalicious offers sound advice on safety, not damaging sites, surveillance, photography, propping doors, overriding freight elevators, hiding, accessing air-ducts, climbing fences, running and, most importantly, fast talking. Will I ever go down a storm sewer to explore? Not likely. But there is something just so delightfully satisfying knowing I could, should the desire arise.

[Daniel Nurgitz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ninjalicious certainly was thorough in this guide to Urban Exploration. A definite read whether you are an armchair explorer or risk the dirty and dangerous real world of urban exploration. His humorous comments peppered throughout made it light and easy to read. I also enjoyed learning about some of the secrets that lie beneath the great city of Toronto. One other thing that I admire Ninjalicious for was his commitment to exploring without causing damage..."take only pictures, leave only footprints".

I may have allegedly visited one abandoned site at a time before I knew of this book. I think reading it would have better prepared me for that experience.

[Lloyd · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very basic primer, suitable to loan to the uninitiated before they tag along with you, or to friends a bit lacking in common sense (although I recommend never taking anyone along from the latter group until you're SURE they've matured enough to not be a liability). For the more experienced, many chapters may be a bit too obvious to hold your attention.

Cool pictures and descriptions of explored sites are sprinkled throughout the text. As others have said, this book is thoroughly compiled and written with a sense of humor that makes it an easy read. RIP Ninjalicious, wherever you're exploring now.

[Neo · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was pretty well written with a good dose of humor. Some of the guidance seemed pretty helpful, and some not so. More importantly, I got a good sense of what sorts of urban exploration I could comfortably try. I also a got sense of what is generally involved and see that I probably don't have the time in my life to get a whole lot of practice or experience at it. I enjoyed reading the book just the same.

[Dustin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I've never gone on an expedition to an abandoned urban site myself, but I've loved reading about the exploits and seeing the fantastic photos of people who do. This book is exactly what it says on the tin: a guide to the art of Urban Exploration. It has useful tips for identifying dangers and staying safe, as well as a few personal accounts that make for great reading. I enjoyed this book and thought that also had some good material to inspire writing and gaming.

[Andrej Nechaj · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great! Really made me want to do some fun exploring around Brno again. I loved Ninj's black humor and all the spy and ninja references. I enjoyed it and laughed a lot but first of all, the tips and advices contained in the book are really useful. I am just really sorry that he passed away so young. :(

[Oriana]

The seminal urban-exploration text, apparently. Spawned the whole genre maybe? including this one, which I really want to read, and this one, which I just proofread.

[Daniel Rotsztain · Rating 5 out of 5]

An essential read for urban explorers and the city-curious. Though Ninjalicious offers advice for urban exploring specifically, his lessons can be easily applied to "all areas" of life. He shows a side of Toronto most don't see - and he will encourage you to use your eyes whenever you walk around the city to see where the next new place might be.

[Scuppers · Rating 5 out of 5]

A first-hand account of urban exploration. The first night after I read this, I had a dream that I was recruited as an urban explorer, and had to go check out the city from a van. I think some grappling hooks were involved.

[Sasha]

This stuff fascinates me. There's a cool article about it here that cites this book as the Bible of urban hackers.

[Pearse Anderson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a fantastic guide to the hobby of UE. The humor, the moral quandaries, the hidden tips, it was all extremely helpful. I could've used some more diagrams and was often turned off by some large sections of text, it was a very good read.

[P. Es · Rating 5 out of 5]

brilliant brilliant brilliiiaaaannt. author died recently. how to of urban high adventure. some of it's common sense to the curious. so much more dangerous post 9/11.

[Katherine]

I'm definitely writing a review of this (mostly liked it) but need to read through some issues of Infiltration zine to put it in better context. Stay tuned...

[Mick · Rating 3 out of 5]

deeply satisfying to the life-long trespasser in me.

[Jeremy · Rating 5 out of 5]

The father of contemporary urban exploration, Ninjalicious (RIP) shares his experiences and expertise through humour and wit.

[Matt Skeels · Rating 3 out of 5]

A lot of information for newbies and the uneducated. A few nuggets of interest here and there. The best stuff is the stories.

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this book. I am excited about this book. I probably like this book far, far too well for my roommate's peace of mind.

[Rachel Rillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

learned so much from this book and am already putting my new skill set to good use! i loved the tongue in cheek style as well!

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fun read about urban exploration. Casual writing for a casual subject, the author is listed as "Ninjalicious," so if you accept that the author wrote this book for fun you'll enjoy it.

[Diva]

simple