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."

GALACTIC ENCOUNTERS: WORLDS AT WAR - AN ILLUSTRATED STUDY OF INTERPLANETARY CONFLICT

Intercontinental Book Productions, hardback, 1980. Cover painting by
Tony Roberts.

"Despite the vast breadth of the Galactic Federation, and the many worlds and races it encompasses, it is nevertheless a minute speck on the rum of the great wheel of our Galaxy. Other worlds and other races lie scattered among the innumerable stars beyond its frontiers, and many of these will have evolved at least as far as the worlds comprising the Federation. 

There will be the those beyond its boundaries within reach, who regard the existence of the Federation with alien eyes: sometimes with resentment, sometimes with fear. As long as this is the case there exists the threat of interstellar war. 

Worlds at War records the battles that have already taken place in the dark and airless wastes of space, describes the reasons behind them, the events which followed and the final outcome of each confrontation between the Federation and its enemies. Only three major wars have taken place during the last 150 years but each of them threatened the security of the hundreds of inhabited planets that make up the Galactic Federation, and each of them demanded considerable sacrifices from the brave creatures who offer their lives in defence of their fellows."

Painting by Chris Moore.

"The huge transmitting centers of the Federation's signalling stations played a key role in the desperate attempt to halt the advance of the nightmarish intruder, and proved more effective than the sophisticated weaponry of the entire Federation Defence Force."

Painting by Jim Burns.

"A grim sight met the eyes of the rescue teams rushing to the main camp on the planet of Bell's Lode in answer to the desperate cries for help of its occupants."

Painting by Bob Layzell.

"Operating from semi-permanent bases established near Bell's Lode, squadrons of military warships stood by to intercept any further raids by the Marauders."

Painting by Tony Roberts.

"Beneath the dense cloud cover of a Marauder planet a huge invasion fleet was massing."

Painting by Bob Layzell.

"Aware that they had advanced too far, and with supplies running low, the Phalan attack began to slow. The arrival of the Federation fleet from the battle with the support force turned the tide against the enemy. Here a Phalan command ship makes a dash for the safety of deep space."

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.

GALACTIC ENCOUNTERS: ALIENS IN SPACE - AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO THE INHABITED GALAXY

Intercontinental Book Productions hardback, 1979. Cover painting by
Bob Layzell.

"One of the more significant developments in human history, and without doubt the most dramatic in terms of mobility of he species, was the introduction of the first Hyperdrive engine by Henri DeVass in 2027 AD. Within a short space of time this device had transformed Man's attempts to explore his extraterrestrial environment, and the doorway to the stars was open. 

The question of whether we were along in the Universe had haunted Homo Sapiens for generations, but even those believing most fervently in the possibility of life existing elsewhere in the vast reaches of space, had little idea that it would be discovered so close to our solar system, or that contact would lead directly to the founding of a great galactic empire. 

Aliens in Space is a fascinating account of the worlds within the Galactic Federation where sentient beings exist, and describes the characters, cultures and circumstances of an extraordinary variety of creatures, from the gentle and sophisticated Alpha Centaurians to the terrible Fangstones of Hades. Each section opens with a planetary data check and navigational reference, before going on to outline the planet and some of the intriguing life-forms to be found there. 

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 Bob Layzell.

"The settlements of Gadgetia are entirely industrial in nature and offer little in the way of amusement to travellers. They are, however, a fascinating race and there are sufficient points of interest to justify a brief stay, although the only places suitable for humans to relax are the domed glass solar centers where the inhabitants top up their energy levels."

Painting by Joe Petagno.

"Due to their extraordinary powers, the solitary wandering people of Nova Nevada are known as the Magicians."

Painting by Tony Roberts.

"A private solar-sailer encounters the infrequent but no less unpleasant phenomenon of the high-flying creatures of Swarmy as they congregate during the mating season in the manner which earned the planet its name."

Painting by Mike Masters.

"Very often the first sight visitors to Reptilia have of the local wildlife is the arrival of the nearest Scarlet Dragon whose ferocious-looking form belies its placid and inquisitive nature."

Painting by Chris Moore.

"The ponderous dormant species of Matar IV is a wholly unpredictable creature, and it is best to avoid any unnecessary contact. Although frequently generous in their dealings with off-worlders, they are as likely to erupt into an unprovoked rage."

Essentially re-purposed paperback covers, artist portfolio pieces and other examples of fine SF art of the late 1970s, Aliens In Space is part of the series of Galactic Encounters books. As the synopsis gives away, this one is a guide to extraterrestrial life-forms in a fictional Galactic Federation, rather similar to Steven Eisler's The Alien World - The Complete Illustrated Guide, which I also have (see post here). This one amusingly re-uses a painting of H. P. Lovecraft's Cthulhu by Terry Oakes to illustrate a Reptilian alien called the Slycath, and R'lyeh is its sophisticated aquatic civilization. Peter Elson's painting for the Hamlyn paperback cover of Henry Kuttner's Mutant (see post here) doubles as a Proximan; hairless beings resembling humans in all ways but for the arrangement of their internal organs. I love these books, at times it's a little difficult if you're familiar with the artwork to accept that painting X is a depiction of alien Y, but the descriptions really are brilliant and imaginative, if a little juvenile sometimes - emphasis on a little, and sometimes.