Prior to video releases in the 80s and 90s Gerry shows where well represented in book format. Many of the books and annuals are well worth tracking down.
Here is my top ten list of Gerry Anderson books every fan should own. I have included books from the present right back to the sixties. If you think other books should be included then email me [derek.eaton@virgin.net] with your opinions.
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Gerry Anderson - The Authorised Biography The top ten starts with Gerry's biography. It is a story that had to be told and has to read by any true fan.
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Joe 90 Annual 1969 A nine year old at number 9. This annual was typical of a first annual for a Gerry Anderson series. Thick and sturdy (like all the sixties annuals) it follows the format of a breakdown of the characters and superb photographs and specifications of the main equipment. Should the World Intelligence Network give away all these secrets? |
| 8 |
Countdown Annual 1973 This was a decent UFO annual in disguise. UFO on the cover, 2 decent UFO stories, a UFO board game and a great 'Moon base firepower' specification of the Interceptor. As a bonus we also get Captain Scarlet and Thunderbirds stories. Woohooooo!
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Stingray Annual 1966 While some of my favourite Gerry Anderson books have great photographs from the shows or great specifications of the vehicles this annual has epic stories. Stingray gets shrunk, visits a sunken island, hit by a death ray and involved in an Arabian Plot. All for 10'6 in old English money. Oink the seal also has his own strip. Is there anything he cannot do? |
| 6 |
TV21 Annual 1970 To be honest all the TV21 annuals are great. I picked this one out because it has perhaps the largest content of pictures that are not seen elsewhere. The backcover is Captain Black standing over a dead Captain Scarlet. One of my favourite items is the instructions on building your own go cart. This finishes up with:- 'Here is an idea to work upon. If either you - or your father - are feeling very ambitious. Try making a simplfied mock-up of the MSV.' No only would the 'mock up' fill the garage, but why of all the Gerry Anderson vehicles to build, would you build an M.S.V.? |
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| 5 |
1993 Supermarionation Classics
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This bought together the three books, Stingray, Thunderbirds are Go and Captain Scarlet & the Mysterons, which had recently been published by Boxtree, into one hardback book. Superb pictures from each series, 304 pages of pure Gerry Anderson. Highlights for me were a page and a bit photograph of Thunderbirds 60's merchandise. A whole chapter devoted to toys, books and games associated with Captain Scarlet. This contained not only decent photographs but in depth analysis of them too. The Stingray book has a detailed look at Stingray's opponents in the form of Alien craft. The best Gerry Anderson book published during the 90's apart from the next book.
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| 4 |
How do you go about describing this book? I will simply repeat the book summary. If your not interested by that, then your in the wrong place. " In this book Derek Meddings reveals how he and his team perfected the art of creating miniture illusion while working for the Andersons, and includes: Original pre-production artwork of many of the shows' futuristic machines. Detailed behind the scenes information about the creation of the programmes' special effects sequences. Never before seen shots of the special effects crew at work. |
21ST CENTURY
VISIONS - DEREK MEDDINGS
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Is
it as good as it sounds? It is actually better. A modern day collectors
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Captain Scarlet Annual 1968 The Captain Scarlet 'bible'. Own this and you will have a near complete guide to the world of Captain Scarlet. In addition to the usual vehicle specifications we have a tour of cloudbase and an indepth file on all the Spectrum personnel. Did you know Symphony Angel likes hairdressing? Note also that the next year's annual (Captain Scarlet Annual 1969) finishes off the details with breakdowns of the Spectrum hovercraft, Radar van and Clam sub. |
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Thunderbird 1 on the front but number 2 in my chart. Why is this such a great book? Well it's littered with superb photographs direct from the series. It has 8 comic strip stories using all the different sorts of pod vehicles. It even has a new pod vehicle 'the whale' with a small detailed specification of it. A map of Tracey Island, detailed specifications of the Mole, Firefly, launch bays of TB1, TB2, TB3. What more do you want? Go find it now. |
Thunderbirds Annual 1967
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Thunderbirds Annual 1966
Find, read, enjoy. Repeat. |
It could be said that this is my number 1 book because I spent my entire child hood carrying it round. Actually it is just superb for any Thunderbirds fan when ever they were born and how ever old they are now. One of the last Gerry Anderson annuals to have no pictures from the series on the cover. You just don't need them when you have Frank Bellamy to draw it for you. The usual specifications and character profiles are included. What makes this a number one Gerry Anderson book for me, beside it being the first Thunderbird annual, is the way the comic strips are drawn and the colours used in them. Even over 30 years later they still seem alive, jumping across and out the page at you. |
