THE STONE GOD AWAKENS

Granada / Panther SF paperback, 1979 reprint. Cover painting by
Bruce Pennington.

"MILLIONS OF YEARS AFTER MAN'S EXTINCTION - ONE MAN SURVIVES... 

Ulysses Singing Bear was a scientist back in 1985. But an experiment with matter molecules backfired - and he became 'petrified'. Millions of years later he 'awakens'. But the world has changed - drastically - and he finds he is worshipped as a god by people no longer human. Hoping to find a human female with whom to start his race again, he sets out. But there is an obstacle - The Tree, Wurutana arch enemy of the Stone God's people, the mightiest tree ever known, whose branches touch the heavens and whose roots clasp hell. Ullyssses-turned-god must conquer The Tree and the weird race it shelters, move heaven and hell - no easy task, even for a god..."

TIME'S LAST GIFT

Granada / Panther SF paperback, 1979 reprint. Cover illustration by
Geoff Cummings.

"12,000 B.C. 

They were four trained scientists, each of them skilled in several disciplines - because this was an opportunity that would never occur again. There would never be another chance for men from the world of 2070 A.D. to examine in person the world of 12,000 B.C. What they learned and taped would be the only record ever made of this dim, enigmatic period of prehistory. But absolutely no one in the world of 2070 or in the borrowed time of 12,000 B.C. could have imagined what the tapes would reveal..."

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.

NULL-A THREE

Sphere SF paperback, 1985 reprint. Cover painting by
Bruce Pennington.

"WORLDS IN CRISIS 

Whoever it was that the Dzan had discovered in a space capsule floating perilously close to their battle fleet, it was certainly no ordinary mortal. 

It wasn't just that this Gosseyn - as he called himself - had apparently come from another galaxy. Nor that he'd been awoken from an ages-long state of suspended animation by their sudden intervention. 

What troubled the Dzan most was that Gosseyn was - by his own admission - the reincarnation of another human being, one who not only seemed to share the same brain as Gosseyn, but was clearly still very much alive. Once they'd accepted the existence of Gosseyn and his alter ego, they realised that here somehow might be the weapon they needed in their struggle with the alien Troogs - or the cause of their own imminent destruction..."

RENAISSANCE

NEL paperback, October 1980. Illustration: Gerald Grace.

"In a future world women are the dominant sex and men wear chemically treated spectacles to keep them in line. On man has discovered a  flaw in the lenses, an unnoticeable crack that can liberate him from the female tyranny. Yet every moment he is being monitored by underground revolutionaries who need his powers for the overthrow of their extra-planetary masters..."

THE BATTLE OF FOREVER

NEL paperback, April 1980. Illustration: Gerald Grace.

"For thousands of years Man has retreated behind the barrier - evolving a miniature physiology for a life of peace and philosophical contemplation. Modyun agrees to grow his body large and to return beyond the barrier, where animal-men roam the world. His quest will lead him deeper into darkness and deeper into the uncertain..."

ROGUE SHIP

Granada / Panther SF paperback, 1980 reprint. Cover illustration by
Peter Jones.

"THE HOPE OF MAN... 

A mighty space cruiser coasts through the dreadful emptiness of space on its voyage of human survival. Multimillionaire Averill Hewitt built her, crewed her with handpicked men and women, and had her launched on a one-way trip to the planets clustered around Centaurus. But he had not counted on radical changes developing in the social hierarchy on board - on mutiny and revolution, on space madness - nor on the astounding scientific advances made in that awful isolation..."

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.

BERSERKER BASE

VGSF / Victor Gollancz Science Fiction paperback, 1990.
Cover illustration by Terry Pastor.

"A collaborative novel by seven of the greatest stars writing science fiction today, set in Fred Saberhagen's Berserker universe. 

Created in an ancient war, implacable machines programmed to destroy all organic life, the Berserkers seemed invincible. But at last humans have come upon a Berserker base and they must strive to root out the mechanical killers at their very source."

Contents:

Prisoner's Base by Fred Saberhagen

What Makes Us Human by Stephen Donaldson

Friends Together by Fred Saberhagen

With Friends Like These by Connie Willis

The Founts Of Sorrow by Fred Saberhagen

Itself Surprised by Roger Zelazny

The Great Secret by Fred Saberhagen

Deathwomb Poul Anderson

Dangerous Dreams by Fred Saberhagen

Pilots Of The Twilight by Ed Bryant

Crossing The Bar by Fred Saberhagen

A Teardrop Falls by Larry Niven

Berserker Base Fred Saberhagen

Not really a short story collection...but kind of. Saberhagen weaves the story through those of the guest authors. Many of the stories previously featured in sf magazines throughout the mid 1980s; such as Niven's A Teardrop Falls (Omni), Poul Anderson's Deathwomb (Analog), etc.

THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT'S REVENGE

Bantam paperback, 1988. Cover painting by Jim Burns.

GALACTIC GUERILLA RAT! 

It was totally impossible for Cliaand to wage interstellar war...but the crazy little planet was winning, whatever the odds. And there wasn't much the peaceful galaxy could do...except send Slippery Jim di Griz - the Stainless Steel Ray - to wage his own kind of guerilla campaign against the grey men of Cliaand and their leader, the indomitable Kraj. But then the Rat was aided by a band of liberated Amazons and his own beloved, murderous Angelina...and they had to swing the odds in his favour."

THE STAINLESS STEEL RAT GETS DRAFTED

Bantam paperback, 1988. Cover painting by Jim Burns.

"When slippery Jim diGriz broke out so spectacularly from prison and found himself on the run on a planet so primitive it didn't even have the imagination to call itself anything except Planet (in the local lingo, of course), almost the last thing on his mind was joining the army. 

Thoughts of revenge on Captain Garth, the man responsible for his predicament, were uppermost. But one thing led to another and Captain Garth turned out to be General Zennor and General Zennor's defensive action was really a full-scale invasion. And somehow Jim seems to be the only thing standing between a small, defenceless planet and annihilation. 

Unfair odds, really - one Stainless Steel Rat against a merciless tyrant and his heavily armed troops. Zennor doesn't stand a chance..."

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!"

BILL, THE GALACTIC HERO...ON THE PLANET OF BOTTLED BRAINS

VGSF / Gollancz paperback, 1991. Cover illustration by
Michael W. Kaluta and Steve Fastner.

"Bill should know that you never complain in the Troopers. But when his new foot looks like turning into something green, scaly and abundantly clawed, a visit to the medics would seem reasonable. But before he can say 'Quintiform computer error' he seems to have got himself volunteered again, this time for a suicide mission on Tsuris - the planet nobody ever comes back from. 

A number, exactly a billion in fact, of Tsurisians have no body to speak of, and reside in bottles, which as Bill remarks, is an awful lot of bottles. And Bill is going to need all the bottle he possesses to get himself out of this one... 

If you want to bravely probe where no one has ever probed before, then join Bill, Splock and Captain Dirk as once again our Galactic Hero investigates new depths in the realms of the science fiction cliche."