Gerry Anderson Paperbacks

Here’s a selection of tie in paperbacks for the Anderson sci-fi series from Stingray through to Space 1999 which I’ve collected over the years.

 

These early covers including the Dr Who edition were painted by Peter Archer who also did text illustrations inside the books except 'Ring Of Fire' which was done another uncredited artist.

 



 

The books with the early painted covers were copyrighted to A.P. Films however 'Ring Of Fire' was copyrighted to Century 21 Films, which may explain why from that point all the covers were photographic. Inside the books there was still text illustrations - Thunderbirds Are Go was Jim Watson and The Albanian Affair  was Chris Higham.

 

The three 'Spectrum File' paperbacks were very Century 21. Again the Chris Higham did the inside art.

 

 

The Century 21 look continued for the two Joe 90 paperback,  copyright credits were ATV Overseas Ltd. with illustrations inside by  Malcolm Stokes. 

 

 

The seldom seen Secret Service series had two books devoted to it and returned to painted covers.

The artist for both the covers and inside illustrations was unidentified. Copyright credits were Century 21 Merchandising, the same as the two UFO books.

 

 

I must admit  I did like the UFO books as they were obviously less juvenile than the others and they were the only ones I’ve read more than once.

Apart from the UFO and 1999 books which I picked up at the time most of the others were found at flea markets and charity shops with the odd one being bought cheaply on the dreaded eBay.

 

 

I used to love rummaging through old paperbacks in second hand shops and the like in the hopes of finding something good. These days you’d be hard pressed to find any in places like that now, and to be honest nowadays I rarely bother.

 

 

Did any of you folks ever collect these books , and more to the point did any of you read them and what did you think ?