Battle Beyond the Stars (1980)

Here's an old chestnut from my misspent youth; the remake of The Magnificent Seven in space, also known as Battle Beyond the Stars.  I'm half way through a rewatch this very evening and have rediscovered a very forgettable spacesuit scene.

I had spotted a hint of a space helmet when Richard Thomas first enters the spaceship Nell but had assumed it was there as set dressing but no, about 30 minutes in and it actually gets a bit of airtime.

These are not the best images in the world but then its not the best space helmet either.  Still, that's another one added to the list that we didn't have before


Steve

Look And Read (1980)

Look and Read was a schools educational daytime TV show that featured segmented dramas such as; The Boy from Space as well as helping the young viewers to read more confidentially.  To the best of my knowledge the show ran for years and I certainly remember watching some episode, if not this particular one.

The Boy from Space is something of a cult viewing experience over here in Blightly, and having watched it today, I can see why.  I will certainly be digging down into the shows many wonders although over on my Strange England blog, where it truly belongs.

For now though, I'll present this rather nifty spacesuit that appears in episode one, in the linking bits between the drama.

 

I'm fairly certain that helmet was in Doctor Who - The Invisible Enemy (1979) first, then The Innes book of Records (1979).  After that at least one of them got a coat of silver paint before popping up in Blake's 7 - Voices from the Past (1979), Look and Read the following year and eventually, possibly Dr Who - Terminus (1983).  What's the betting there are a couple more BBC appearances in between.

 

 

Steve

Battlestar Galactica - Spaceball (1980)

 

Steve.

Vincent Di Fate - Gallery

Vincent Di Fate is an American artist specializing in science fiction and fantasy illustration. He was inducted by the Science Fiction Hall of Fame on June 25, 2011.

1980

Ashes to Ashes - David Bowie (1980)

Just a very brief image from what must be one of the finest 80's music videos by one of the most consistently inventive artists.  I could write lots about this video and I may well do so at sometime and in some other place but for now think not of silver clowns, black skies and JCB's and consider what Major Tom is wearing.


Steve

Saturn 3 (1980) - Lobby Cards

Steve

Survival by Alan Gutierrez (1980)

Survival by Alan Gutierrez (1980)

Also featured here

on the book by Gordon R. Dickson, commissioned and published by Baen Books, 1984

And here are a couple of other nice pieces by the same talent:

Steve

Women in Space - Les Edwards (1980's)

Commissioned by TV listings magazine TV-Times in the 1980's.  Sexist?  well possibly but then you could argue that so is this....

...but no one ever has.

 

 

Steve

Action-Man Space Ranger - Gallery (1980)

Some of the box art and a comic advert - All very nice.

Steve

Space Wars: Fact and Fiction (1980) part 4

I think I've found the name of the artist responsible for this...

Which appeared on the inside cover of this...

along with a smattering of other illustrations by the same chap.  I believe that to be one; Wilfred Hardy.

Steve

Future Life #17 (1980)

Probably the best dolphin in a spacesuit picture ever.  A big hand to artist Rick Sternbach

 

 

Steve

Distant Stars by Michael Whelan (1980)

Steve

Space Wars: Fact And Fiction (1980) Part 3

More art from Space Wars: Fact And Fiction

From the Planet of Terror:

And from the Dome of Doom:

Bloody marvellous

 

 

Steve

Space Wars: Fact And Fiction (1980) Part 2

Space Wars: Fact And Fiction interior artwork from the story; Rough Justice.

 

And three panels from the comic strip tales of; Space Cadet

 

 

Steve

Space Wars: Fact And Fiction (1980) Part 1

Just had a few days away at the seaside. There were ice-creams, brightly coloured beach huts, piers, lighthouses, chips, armed police training exercises (but that's another story) and the obligatory scrounging around in second-hand book stores that openly contravene a dozen or more fire and safety regulations in the name of providing a bibliophilic treasure-hunt  All good fun and especially when for a few quid you get to become the proud owner of this.....

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