Showing posts with label Fred Gambino. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fred Gambino. Show all posts

Friday, 10 May 2013

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."

Monday, 12 March 2012

JUPITER LAUGHS

Coronet paperback, 1981. Cover design credited to David Cox
Studios. Painting is by Fred Gambino.

"Required: one Doomsday weapon capable of ironing out the whole human race. It was a tall order, but then I thought I had a rather tall solution. Oddly enough, several of my junior scientists were quite enthusiastic about the project. They came up with such wild schemes as indestructible viruses, radio-activity and saturation devices, even anti-gravity fields large enough to drain the planet of its atmosphere and so choke us all to death. I dismissed the more original and enthusiastic members of my team. Such people seemed to me to be rather dangerous. 
Besides, by this time I had an idea of my own. It was elegantly simple..."

Contents:

Jupiter Laughs
Falcon Chase
The Life and Death of Plunky Goo
The Menhir
The Doomsday Story
Tomorrow's Gift
The Jar of Latakia
The Unicorn
Ninteen Ninety-four
M 81: Ursa Major
The Brain Child
Welcome Home
Judgment Day
The Butterflies

Friday, 2 March 2012

STEPPE

Granada / Panther SF paperback, 1980. Cover illustration by
Fred Gambino.

Alp the Uigur steps into the Game 
Alp is a 9th Century warrior on the great Steppes of Russia, suddenly plucked from his own time by 24th Century Galactics, players of the Game. 
The Game is a reconstruction of history, controlled by a super-computer. Any Galactic with enough money can buy himself a part. The more he prospers, the more points he scores and the more fans he acquries on the outside. The history being re-run now is Steppe, 9th Century...with a difference. Instead of on rolling grasslands, the Game is played over an entire galaxy. Instead of on sturdy ponies, the competitors travel by individual spaceship. Only the women, and the need to use cunning and strength, seem the same..."

Monday, 27 February 2012

DANGEROUS VISIONS 2

Sphere SF paperback, 1974. Cover painting by Fred Gambino.

"DANGEROUS VISIONS is the most dazzling science fiction anthology ever published. Between them, the stories it showcases have won two Hugo Awards, two Nebula Awards, two Hugo Award runner-up places and one Nebula Award runner-up position. 
This second volume of the three-volume paperback edition of DANGEROUS VISIONS features brilliant stories by 
PHILIP K. DICK 
LARRY NIVEN 
POUL ANDERSON 
FRITZ LEIBER 
and other top SF authors." 

Contents:

The Man Who Went To The Moon - Twice, by Howard Rodman
Faith Of Our Fathers by Philip K. Dick
The Jigsaw Man by Larry Niven
Gonna Roll The Bones by Fritz Leiber
Lord Randy, My Son by Joe. L. Hensley
Eutopia by Poul Anderson
Incident In Moderan and The Escaping by David R. Bunch
The Doll-House by James Cross
Sex And/Or Mr. Morrison by Carol Emshwiller
Shall The Dust Praise Thee? by Damon Knight.

That's right, it's the return of the phantom permanent-marker-cover-scribbler, the bastard.

DANGEROUS VISIONS 1

Sphere SF paperback, 1974. Cover painting by Fred Gambino.

"DANGEROUS VISIONS is the most dazzling science fiction anthology ever published. Between them, the stories it showcases have won two Hugo Awards, two Nebula Awards, two Hugo Award runner-up places and one Nebula Award runner-up position. 
This first volume of the three-volume paperback edition of DANGEROUS VISIONS features brilliant stories by 
ROBERT SILVERBERG 
FREDERIK POHL 
PHILIP JOSÉ FARMER 
BRIAN W. ALDISS 
LESTER DEL REY 
and other top SF authors.

Contents:

Evensong by Lester del Rey
Flies by Robert Silverberg
The Day After The Day The Martians Came by Frederik Pohl
Riders Of The Purple Wage by Philip José Farmer
The Malley System by Miriam Allen deFord
A Toy For Juliette by Robert Bloch
The Prowler In The City At The Edge Of The World by Harlan Ellison
The Night That All Time Broke Out by Brian W. Aldiss.

I want to rant about the fact that the bookshop I bought these from felt the need to scrawl the price on the front cover with a permanent marker, that's overkill, surely. Usually a pencil scribble on the inside front cover does the trick.