THE OUTPOSTER

Sphere paperback, 1980. Cover artwork by Peter Elson.

Rear cover/synopsis.

PARALLEL LINES: THE SCIENCE FICTION ILLUSTRATIONS OF PETER ELSON & CHRIS MOORE

This is a 'second pass', after doing some housekeeping I was perplexed as to why in my original post of this book three years ago I only scanned three or four images out of approx. 77. Paralell Lines was published in 1981 by Dragon's Dream and contains a foreword by Roger Dean; most of the included paintings feature space hardware, though there are a few exceptions.

"Hot Sleep" by Chris Moore.

"The Rings Of Saturn" by Peter Elson.

"The Word For World Is Forest" by Peter Elson.

"Far Out" by Chris Moore.

"The Proud Robot" by Chris Moore.

"My Name Is Legion" by Chris Moore.

"Reach For The Stars" by Peter Elson.

"The Naked Sun" by Chris Moore.

"A Heritage Of Stars" by Chris Moore.

"On Darkling Plain" by Chris Moore.

Cover for "The Best Of Isaac Asimov" by Peter Elson.

GALACTIC ENCOUNTERS: DANGEROUS FRONTIERS - THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL ON DISANT WORLDS

Intercontinental Book Productions, hardback, 1980. Cover painting by Bob Layzell.

"The ships of the Galactic Federation's Survey and Preliminary Study Service ceaselessly range among the alien stars and unexplored planets which lie beyond the distant Perimeter. Contact with the bustling, central worlds of the Federation is difficult and infrequent as they face the dangers of the vast unknown. 

But the prosperity and growth of this great association of worlds would be impossible without new sources of supply and new avenues for expansion. Scarcely more than one in every hundred planets explored proves to be of sufficient interest to justify the implementation of a settlement programme. 

All the planets described in Dangerous Frontiers have won a place in the Federation at great cost in lives and efforts, and their existence owes much to the courage and determination of the creatures who first struggled for a foot-hold in their lonely and alien landscapes. 

Dangerous Frontiers is a study of those worlds as they are today. Some are vital to the network of trade, others have faded in importance and a few are only just emerging from obscurity. Whatever their current status in the Federation, it is to those who struggled alone in the emptiness beyond the frontiers that the honour belongs."

Painting by Angus McKie.

"One of the first sights to meet the eyes of a visitor to Monk's Field, are the impressive orbital terminals built in the mid twenty-second century."

Painting by Colin Hay.

"One of the scores of gigantic ore extraction plants constructed on Alpha Indi II to process the sea water. This plant is still operational."

Painting by Angus McKie.

"A view of Nihalan and its nearby lunar companion, Phox, showing one of the areas of intense volcanic activity which are scattered over the planet."

Painting by Chris Moore.

"The Beta Phoenicis system provides a base for the largest single industrial centre in the Federation. Transport between the twenty-seven planets and countless asteroids orbiting the sun is assisted by the vast transit stations where passengers can embark for any destination in known space."

Painting by Peter Elson.

"Passenger liners such as this Starfleet Major now ferry in pleasure seekers from all over the Federation to sample the delights of Ethsymon."

Painting by Cesare Reggiani.

"Until quite recently, the dolmens of 15 Lyncis Bee marked the sites of zyrillium treasure troves."

Painting by Roy Virgo.

"The research team's surface skimmers proved invaluable in their surveys of Eptel III."

GALACTIC ENCOUNTERS: STAR QUEST - AN INCREDIBLE VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN

Intercontinental Books, hardback, 1979. Cover painting by Robin Hiddon.

"Early in the 23rd Century, a Federal patrol ship on a routine mission to one of the colonized worlds far out on the Galactic Perimeter, encountered a strange craft from far beyond the boundaries of the Galactic Federation. The implications of there being an unknown species with a technology apparently more advanced than our own, and existing within striking distance of the Federation, led to one of the most remarkable voyages in the history of space travel. 

Star Quest is the account of the epic voyage of a single ship and its highly trained crew, as they embarked on a journey towards the very heart of the Galaxy. Drawn from their own records, this book tells the story of their extraordinary adventures during their solitary and often dangerous passage among strange and distant worlds. 

Many of the situations with which they were faced tested their ingenuity and courage to the limit until an encounter which was to have far-reaching consequences for the entire Galactic Federation, marked the end of their historic quest."

Galactic Encounters aka artist's portfolios re-purposed (mostly from the Young Artists agency) published after the original series of Terran Trade Authority handbooks and written by Steven Caldwell (a pseudonym of TTA author Stuart Cowley). This particular book also features artwork by Jim Burns, Bob Fowkes, Colin Hay, David Jackson, Bob Layzell, Chris Moore and Tony Roberts.

Painting by Peter Elson.

"The alien ship from Arko. From beyond the edge of known space came this strange visitor to the Galactic Federation. Where it was from and what would happen now that it knew we existed were questions that could no longer remain unanswered."

Painting by Fred Gambino.

"The legendary Commander Mo Mikiss, one of the most experienced and respected operational officers in the Security Service was the natural choice of the unique team."

Painting by Peter Elson.

"The Venturer, distinctive in its scarlet and black livery, moves out under military escort before entering hyperspace for the first leg of its journey into the unknown."

Painting by Cesare Reggiani.

"The three man team from the Venturer streaked downwards to make the first contact with the medieval inhabitants of Adara III."

Painting by Peter Elson.

"Nibor Max's innocent excursion onto the surface of the unnamed planet almost ended in disaster as a band of warlike inhabitants bore down upon him."

Painting by Peter Elson.

"A Phalan armoured jetcraft streaked up from the surface of the war-torn planet and docked with the ship carrying the captive Federation crew. Their guides for the next stage in their journey had arrived."

Painting by Fred Gambino.

"While two of his crew fled from the devastated landing apron, Mor Mikiss struggled to retain control of the captured Phalan Interceptor in the desperate escape from their captors."

Painting by Peter Elson.

"The last survivors of a society overwhelmed by the Phalan onslaught provided the means of escape for the crew of the Venturer. The tiny shuttle which picked up the two crew members left on the shattered planet led them to safety and offered them the means of returning to the Federation itself."

MANIFEST DESTINY

Orbit paperback, 1986. Cover painting by Peter Elson.

"The United States of Earth will become The United States of the Universe...

If.... 

They can survive Baalphor of the Shikazu, where the warriors who can never be conquered stalk the conquerors who can never win... 

They can absorb Draco, a planet of pale reptilians, which most humans can't stand - and some can't leave... 

They can defeat Rhana, last of the rebel worlds, where the final battle is to protect man from his worst enemy - himself..."

GALACTIC ENCOUNTERS: THE FANTASTIC PLANET - A WORLD OF MAGIC AND MYSTERY

Intercontinental Book Productions hardback, 1980. Cover painting by
Robin Hiddon.

"The survey and Preliminary Study Service probably demands a degree of courage and dedication far beyond any other branch of the Galactic Federation's forces. The men who explore the furthest frontiers of the Federation confront the unknown in the knowledge that they have only their own initiative to rely upon. 

Even a routine charting trip is fraught with danger, as the three-man crew of the Stellar Ranger discovered when their instruments recorded the presence of a planet that could not be seen. The Fantastic Planet is an account, reconstructed by the diary of Commander Lenain, of the crew's forced landing on the strange world of Mystery and the momentous events which swept them up in the shaping of its destiny. 

Steven Caldwell joined the galactic Federation Security Force in 2393 and quickly rose to the rank of Group 1 Battleforce Commander. During his 15 years of active service he travelled to all parts of the Federation, and was awarded the Andromeda Star for his part in the settlement of the Perimeter Worlds. 

He now runs his own company prospecting for the ore Zyrillium - the major propulsive for Interstellar Military Interceptors. 

The GALACTIC ENCOUNTERS series is produced by the Federal Data Bureau which was formed in 2168 as a division of the Galactic Information Service in order to provide a comprehensive service for space travellers. 

Although most of its publications are highly technical programmes for licensed spacecraft operators only, the series was developed to satisfy the the growing demand for information of a more general nature, and to serve as an introduction to the rich variety of life within the Galactic Federation."

Painting by Peter Elson.

"Suddenly aware that he was no longer alone, the crewman turned to find himself cut off from the Stellar Ranger."

Painting by James Fox.

"Imprisoned deep beneath the Torkral city, the captives began to despair in the suffocating darkness. Suddenly, the door burst open to reveal the legendary, half-winged figure of Rathryl and the flight to safety began."

Painting by Terry Oakes. Note: this is half of the image, the picture takes up
two pages and was printed across the centre of the book, and impossible to
scan without damaging the already fragile binding.

 "From all over the land, fighting men converged singly, in small bands or as whole companies to join the greatest army ever assembled in the history of the planet."

Painting by James Fox.

"Deep within the Torkral fortress lay the laboratories and research chambers where they carried out their dreadful experiments in their desperate search for immortality."

More sword and sorcery than science fiction, this one. As with all the Galactic Encounters books it features numerous paintings skewed or re-purposed to illustrate the book, the basic premise is that a survey ship lands on a planet that - to all outward appearances - has gone all Lin Carter (or R. E. Howard, or whatever). I only scanned the more interesting paintings, the others appear to be works after - or directly influenced - by Frank Frazetta's Conan illustrations or other heroic fantasy clichés.

A STAINLESS STEEL RAT IS BORN

Sphere SF paperback, 1988. Cover painting by Peter Elson.

"A RAT BY ANY OTHER NAME... 

Young Jim diGriz has but one ambition in life - to become a master criminal, perhaps the greatest that little Bit O'Heaven has ever seen. So that he can learn the ropes, he has to mix with the right people - or rather the wrong people. And for this kind of on-the-job training the best place to meet the worst villains is in prison. But even for a customer as slippery as Jim, getting behind bars isn't easy.  

So Jim does a bank job, very badly, with the avowed intention of getting himself nicked..."

THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT FOR PRESIDENT

Sphere SF paperback, 1982. Cover artwork by Peter Elson.

"RAT IN PARADISE! 

You can't keep a good rat down, not one as slippery as Jim di Griz alias the Stainless Steel Ray. And you can't keep his nose out of trouble either. 

Jim and the lethal, luscious Angelina owe themselves a honeymoon and Paraiso-Aqui looks like the place. Settled long ago by voyagers from the southern continent of Earth (or Dirt as it was also known) Paraiso is warm and easy. But all is not well in paradise. The serpentine tyrant General Julio Zapilote is about to sail back into office in another rigged election, and the chance to scupper him is just too good for Jim to miss. Corruption, bribery, graft and chicanery - for the Ray it's just like coming home."

THE STAINLESS STEEL WANTS YOU

Sphere SF paperback, 1979. Cover artwork by Peter Elson.

"SAVE THE GALAXY FROM DESTRUCTION! 

Slippery Jim di Griz - the Stainless Steel Rat - is still recovering from his efforts to save his beloved Angelina from the notorious Interstellar Internal and External Revenue when he is called upon to perform the impossible. Saving the galaxy. But can he pull it off? The galaxy is being attacked by every kind of alien race - untold billions of tentacled, slimy, green, clawed mutations - and time is running out. Aided and abetted by his wife Angelina and his teenage sons, James and Bolivar, Jim infiltrates the nerve centre of the enemy council chambers. But he hasn't reckoned on the grey men and their commitment to a 'holy crusade' to destroy mankind - permanently!"

PLANET OF NO RETURN

Sphere SF paperback, 1983. Cover painting by Peter Elson.

"MACHINES THAT MURDER! 

Landing on a new planet is a danger every time, and Selm-II is no exception. 

The specialist didn't like it. There were no cities visible from space, no broadcasts or transmissions on the blank airwaves - yet the wrecked war machines of an advance technology littered the rich pastures of the deserted planet. Hundreds, perhaps thousands, of crumpled and gigantic weapons of war, a graveyard of destruction stretching almost to the lifeless horizon. But the war wasn't over...and they weren't all wrecks! 

It's an emergency. It's a job for Brian Brand, the mightiest weightlifter in the galaxy. With he brilliant, sensuous Dr Lea Morees at his side he plunges into the war zone, into the steel jaws of the PLANET OF NO RETURN!"

MUTANT

Hamlyn SF paperback, 1979. Illustration: Peter Elson.

"When there were no telepaths men were used to being alone. But I couldn't remember a time when I'd been locked in the bony prison of my skull, utterly and absolutely cut off from all other men. Deafness or blindness wouldn't have mattered as much. They wouldn't have mattered at all - to a telepath." 

Originating after the great Blow-up, they were a sub-species of the human society. Because of their hairless bodies they were known as the Baldies, telepaths all linked to each other by thought and sensation - objects of suspicion to the rest of mankind. 

The survivor is alone. But still he can remember how it was - two hundred years ago..."

THE EYE OF THE HERON

Panther SF paperback, 1980. Cover illustration by Peter Elson.

"THREE KINDS OF CREATURE CAME FROM EARTH TO VICTORIA: MEN, LICE AND SHANTY-TOWNERS 

These are the words of Falco, leader of the City people. They were the first to come to the penal colony of Victoria, sent away from the cities of Brasil-America in one-way space-ships. When the People of Peace were sent there from Can-America, sixty years later, they found the city had been built, and they were not welcome. They had to live in Shantih and the City people called them vermin. 

But now Falco faces a double threat: the growing restlessness of the pacifist Shanty-Towners and the growing consciousness of his daughter, Luz, in a male-dominated society. 

A new world, a frightening crisis of future history, an intense drama of human relationships, The Eye of the Heron is Hugo and Nebula Award-winning author Ursula K. Le Guin at her best.

Contents:

No One Said Forever by Cynthia Felice

The Song Of N'Sardi-El by Diana L. Paxson

Jubilee's Story by Elizabeth A. Lynn

Mab Gallen Recalled by Cherry Wilder

Phoenix In The Ashes by Joan D. Vinge

The Eye Of The Heron by Ursula K. Le Guin.

TIME STORM

Sphere SF paperback, 1987. Artwork by Peter Elson.

"The day the time storm struck, Marc Despard was one of the handful to survive. Mist walls, moving endlessley across the surface of the earth, created a devastated, shifting patchwork of temporal anarchy. 

But Despard saw strange, dazzling patterns in his head that he knew could lead him through the storm. In the violent, terrifying landscape of an ever-changing world he began to realise his awe-inspiring mission: he must become nothing less than master of the universe - he must become god."

PRIME NUMBER

Sphere Science Fiction paperback, 1983 reprint.
Cover painting by Peter Elson.

"A FEAST OF THE FUTURE 

From the fertile imagination of one of the liveliest minds in the science fiction spectrum come nineteen visions of possible tomorrows. Sometimes sardonic, sometimes sad, often amusing, always brilliant, harry harrison's collection of mind-spinning tales re-emphasises his status as a giant in the science fiction galaxy."

Contents:

Mute Milton
The Greatest Car In The World
The Final Battle
The Powers Of Observation
The Ghoul Squad
Toy Shop
You Men Of Violence
The Finest Hunter In The World
Down To Earth
Commando Raid
Not Me, Not Amos Cabot!
The Secret Of Stonehenge
Incident In The IND
If
Contact Man
The Pad
A Civil Service Servant
A Criminal Act
Famous First Words

THE FLIGHTS OF ICARUS

Paper Tiger hardcover, 1977. Cover painting by Roger Dean.

The Einstein Intersection by Peter Elson.

The Ship That Sang by Angus McKie.

Before The Golden Age by Tony Roberts.

Untitled, painting by Angus McKie.

The Alien Way by Bruce Pennington.

The Princess Of Mars by Bruce Pennington.