Space Wars: Fact and Fiction was originally published by Octopus Books Ltd in 1980 and was clearly designed to cash in on that whole Star Wars / Sci-Fi thing that was going on back then. What really surprised me about it was that I didn't ever own it back in the day because I was clearly the target demographic. But what's nice about finally owning it now is that I can get all kinds of nostalgic over completely new material. Like this...
Anyway the whole book it's stuffed full of the most amazing bits of art to illustrate its factual and fictional writings so there will now follow several posts to show off some of the best bits. As ever with these kinds of books, writers and artists were rarely acknowledged but if any of you out there can put a name to them, I will of course update to add the credit where it's due.
Steve
The guys sitting in that box that looks a bit like a goods lift are taking part in the Strato Lab balloon flight. I first read about it in an edition of Look & Learn and the illustration looks quite familiar so it might recycled from that source. It was a record breaking ascent to test equipment like space suits and such, which unfortuantly ended a tragic incident when one of the testers drowned at the recovery. It was particularly unfortunate because, it's said, water entered through his visor which he just opened.
ReplyDeleteHey there, DSE. You learnt about it from Look & Learn and I learnt about it reading this book. It made me laugh to read the first few pages of a kids annual from 36 years ago and hear myself say; Well I never knew that.
DeleteSome of the other paintings are quite familiar as well. I think they've copied from library photos as I would imagine Look & Learn did
That last one (of the small step/giant leap) has the smell of a Ladybird book about it. Either that, or it's an illustration from an album of space cards I had back in the day (70's) that were issued at random in packs of a certain tea brand I can't remember.
ReplyDeleteMight be right on both counts. I had that Ladybird book; Exploring Space and the PG Tips card book as well... but not anymore. Might have to check in with my brother, keeper of lost childhood paraphernalia. I think I've seen something very similar as the box art of a model kit which I may even have blogged but now can't remember what I labelled it as. You've given me some ideas for future posts - Thanks
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