THE WATCHERS

Neil Spring is best known for his debut novel, The Ghost Hunters, which managed to capture the imagination of readers and gain critical acclaim. After this very successful debut, readers were anticipating the release of his second novel, The Watchers. In this novel, Spring has taken the theme of UFO sightings and has created a compelling story with intriguing characters and a plot full of originality.

The Watchers is loosely based on a series of UFO sightings throughout the 1970s in Wales. The novel follows Robert Wilding, whose upbringing was riddled with mysteries of the unexplained. He works as a parliamentary researcher and is tasked with the investigation of the recent unexplainable sightings.

The plot has a lot more depth than most UFO stories. The character of Robert Wilding as a parliamentary researcher allows the story to have more range, with his interactions with other characters able to reach powerful figures. Handling a character’s backstory and conveying it to the reader can also be difficult for an author, but the backstory is held just as well as the main plot.

The creation of a viable threat in a psychological thriller can be difficult to make, especially when it is of the unexplainable kind, but Spring creates an actual creepy atmosphere with the use of the unexplainable watchers. The infrequency of their use allows for the tension to build, keeping readers intrigued with the plot.

The first section of the novel can seem more of a political thriller than a psychological one, but it soon becomes clear the route the novel is taking. The novel does take time to get its readers intrigued after its initial opening. However, the novel does become another glorious read from Neil Spring. A mysterious tale of the unexplainable written from the point of view of a parliamentary researcher. Truly original, captivating and mysterious. A must read for fans of Neil Spring’s debut novel.

THE WATCHERS / AUTHOR: NEIL SPRING / PUBLISHER: QUERCUS / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 24TH

 

GERRY ANDERSON’S GEMINI FORCE 1: GHOST MINE

Gemini Force 1 is a rather nifty series of books invented by Gerry Anderson. The Thunderbirds creator only outlined the original project before his death in 2012, but the project was picked up by his son Jamie and the novels have been developed by M.G. Harris, who is rather good at creating action-adventure stories for young people.

The first book, Black Horizon, introduced us to the concept of Gemini Force 1. They’re an international rescue agency funded by a reclusive billionaire and former astronaut. The team features a diverse cast of talented specialists from across the globe, but the stories tend to focus on its youngest member; the young but very well educated Ben Carrington, who joined Gemini Force 1 nder tragic circumstances. This latest instalment, Ghost Mine, is very much Ben’s story as he changes from an eager and quick-to-anger boy to an increasingly professional and competent agent. He’s still an impetuous youth, however, and the Zodiac-themed rescue squad give him the rather apt codename of Taurus.

This time round, the main disaster is South African gold mine. The local politics of the region, coupled with an increasingly suspicious and wary team of miners, make this particular rescue quite the challenge for Ben and his team. The author mostly focuses on developing Ben in this one, though we do learn a little bit more about the people behind Gemini Force One and what motivates them.

Ghost Mine does feel very much like a middle book; character development hangs at points and it does feel like we still have secrets to uncover and surprises to come. The main ‘rescue’ sequence is appropriately thrilling and the various people in need of rescue don’t simply stand around; they make up for crucial parts of the action.


Gemini Force 1 is great fun for adults and motivational for younger types, though we reckon you will find yourself humming the Thunderbirds tune whilst reading it.

GERRY ANDERSON’S GEMINI FORCE 1: GHOST MINE / AUTHOR: M.G. HARRIS / PUBLISHER: ORION CHILDREN’S BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW


 

THE MAKING OF STANLEY KUBRICK’S 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY

With packaging reminiscent of the film’s mysterious black monoliths, Taschen’s new book detailing the making of Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Odyssey is truly a work of art. Full of new photos and behind the scenes details direct from the director’s own archives, this book offers an exhaustive insight and as such is an essential purchase for fans.

Trimmed down from its “big brother”, and considerably cheaper, it is 555 pages of interviews and images, detail and deliberation about Kubrick’s most famous film. Of course, so much has been written already about the seminal 2001: A Space Odyssey since its 1968 release but this book cleverly balances the “wordy” sections with the “pretty” pages, allowing you to skim through as well as offering more in depth analysis.

The issue is in the stylish and unwieldy format. Instead of a traditional landscape layout this book reads vertically and as such is difficult to hold comfortably. As the pages are narrow there is also a slight dilution in the effect of some of the photos, as appreciating them in their intended glory becomes a tricky manoeuver involving great hand and eye coordination, and oftentimes the book will close under its own weight. This then makes access to some of the many pull outs a careful balancing act, and while they are worth it this does become a little tiresome at times.

That criticism, aside this is a book that rewards the reader on each visit. Whatever your knowledge and appreciation of 2001: A Space Odyssey, this tome will astound and interest you. There is more information than you could have hoped for, and in the case of some of the latter detail regarding the formula for detecting alien life, perhaps more than you need. It is without doubt, though, a book to return to time and again. Just make sure you have a sturdy table on which to rest it.

THE MAKING OF STANLEY KUBRICK’S 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY / AUTHOR: PIERS BIZONY / PUBLISHER: TASCHEN GMBH / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

STAR WARS STARFIGHTER WORKSHOP

As we rush towards the end of the year, two things are coming more frequently to market. The sort of thing that makes for a good Christmas present and anything themed with the Star Wars brand. Star Wars Starfighter Workshop is both of these things; it’s a book-shaped stocking filler designed to be given to children and those with child-like glee. 

Despite the name, this is not a Haynes Manual-style book that explores how one would maintain and equip a garage for keeping Star Wars spaceships in full working order, though it is likely that someone at Disney is already working on that (we hope so anyway).

Instead what we have is a thick book with very few pages. This is because about two thirds of Star Wars Starfighter Workshop contains printed foam card. It’s a kids’ constructor set disguised as a book. You simply pop out the various pieces and suddenly you have enough bits to make a single X-Wing and a single TIE fighter.

This is actually a pretty impressive achievement. Each ‘page’ is glossy and sturdy enough to survive the mishandling of tiny but enthusiastic hands – it’s aimed at age 7 and up, and this is about right.  A little bit of care is required; both the X-Wing’s laser cannons and the TIE’s wing support sections are a little thin and can be easily bent. Foam card is resilient, but it’s tricky to fix if torn or broken. The various bits slot together easily, and though a how-to is available it’s more fun to watch people figure it all out for themselves. The TIE looks a little deformed (it’s hard to do sphere’s with flat card) and the R2 Unit is more a suggestion of a droid than an actual model, but they both make for fun toys.

The inside front cover of the book comes with an activity section. In addition to the instructions (which have plenty of diagrams), we also the usual fare; some blank spaces to ‘draw your own space ship’, a spot the difference, a maze and so on. If you have excitable people in your life and you need them to calm down (maybe because you’re on a family outing to see some sort of big deal sci-fi movie), then this might be just the thing. It’s an activity centre in a book-sized format, and though you’ll need some crayons for the booklet, it’s pretty much complete and almost certainly going to get you ten minutes worth of peace and quiet. Great Fun.

STAR WARS STARFIGHTER WORKSHOP / PUBLISHER: EGMONT UK / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

A PECULIAR EFFECT ON THE BBC

Older fans of Doctor Who – and possibly anyone who paid attention to the slow-rolling end credits of many BBC TV productions from the 1950s to the 1970s – will surely recognise the name Bernard Wilkie. After blagging his way into the BBC in the early 1950s, Bernard found himself heading up the Corporation’s extremely primitive first visual effects department, providing extraordinarily rudimentary smoke and practical effects for a raft of BBC productions as the corporation found its post-War feet and started to revolutionise the TV industry. At first Wilkie had no real idea what he was doing and pretty much made up his ‘art’ on the spot, aided in time by the equally-legendary Jack Kine in a partnership which continued until the latter retired at the end of the 1970s.

Wilkie, along with Kine, a two-man FX army, worked on pretty much every well-regarded production to come out of the BBC Studios during what might be known as its ‘glory years’. Wilkie passed away in 2002, but he wrote his ‘memoirs’ in the 1990s and now they finally see the light of day in the form of this charming, occasionally vague, but often quite amusing collection of memories, anecdotes and tall tales.  It’s very definitely not an autobiography; we find out little about Bernard himself except that he and his colleagues liked a drink or two after work. It is, though, a breezy and likable wander through an extraordinary and underappreciated career. Wilkie was present when the BBC aired its Quatermass serials, the ground-breaking live broadcasts of George Orwell’s 1984 along with countless unnamed one-off dramas, plays and series. Wilkie and Kine virtually created the special effects industry in British TV and Wilkie seems remarkably self-effacing about his contribution and his legacy – but that probably says more about the era he worked in than the man himself. Fans of Doctor Who might be disappointed that there’s no dirt to be dished here, just some familiar behind-the-scenes stories but the book really comes alive in Wilkie’s evocative descriptions of the early days of BBC Television Centre – he was working there before it was even completed – and early FX experiments which went hilariously wrong. Bernard writes fondly about his work with Dave Allen (one of his favourites) and chapters on Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em are more interesting than they have any right to be.

Warm and readable, Bernard Wilkie’s story is one of a true pioneer. Its lack of a narrative throughline is a bit frustrating – there’s no sense of a career developing, no dates to pin to certain productions so many of Wilkie’s memories exist in a sort of timeless vacuum. But it’s a charming if sometimes slight read – but you’ll be left with the feeling that the definitive history of BBC Special Effects is yet to be written.

A PECULIAR EFFECT ON THE BBC / AUTHOR: BERNARD WILKIE / PUBLISHER: MIWK / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 29TH

 

XEELEE ENDURANCE

Spanning across eons, Stephen Baxter’s Xeelee Sequence is very unique take on a galactic war. It’s a universe where the humans were effectively a bit player, a minor faction at best. Oblivious to the greater war around them, as humanity’s power waxed and waned, two other species fought in a greater clash, slowly leading the galaxy to its heat death. Noted for its grand scale, mind expanding ideas and fascinating use of scientific concepts, it has become one of the essential hard science fiction series all should read alongside 2001. This latest release, Endurance, serves to combine a multitude of tales throughout the timeline, further expanding upon humanity’s plight in this setting.

The real strength of Endurance stems from the broad scale, with its stories covering everything from the life and death of a man in a unique world to one of disaster and survival. While still retaining a keen cerebral edge, there’s solid variety on offer here to keep any reader interested, with the gaps filled in via brief outlines of the decades passing. Much like Dune, it manages to accomplish a true sense of gradual progression and development over time. Rather than merely advancing or altering technology, each era feels gradually more alien than the last, and the themes on hand become truly fascinating. Starfall in particular stands out exceptionally well, and depicts Baxter’s ability to utilise more human and likable characters than novels often do when handling such massive concepts.

Despite spanning an era which the books have previously explored, with readers already knowing how certain key events will play out, there’s a sense of exploration here. The way certain events are worked through and tie into the varied themes of existence helps it work as its own microcosm to a degree. While some knowledge of outside events is certainly needed, it remains oddly open to new readers.

If there is one problem to cite, it’s more down to personal preference with Baxter’s writing style. Lacking some of the grandiose descriptions and vivid imagery other authors favour, it can be hard at times to truly imagine the futuristic scale or nature of these settings. As a result, it can be sometimes difficult to feel the full impact of the far off time the book depicts.

However, despite one minor hiccup this is a worthy entry into the Xeelee Sequence and a fantastic release for this year. If you’re in search of some gripping science fiction utilising big concepts and backed by brilliant writing, look no further than Endurance.

XEELEE ENDURANCE / AUTHOR: STEPHEN BAXTER / PUBLISHER: ORION BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 17TH

 

DYING OF THE LIGHT

With the success of A Song of Ice and Fire and its adaptations, some often forget George R. R. Martin’s other accomplishments. Having written varied series of tales across a broad spectrum of genres, his works show his true versatility as a writer. Despite this however, Dying of the Light is sadly not a good book to start moving beyond Westros. While it certainly has its strengths, they don’t fully overshadow its failings.

Summoned to the dying world of Worlorn in search of a woman he lost, Dirk t’Larien finds himself dragged into a primitive, brutal conflict. With his old flame now bound to another man, and he must now protect her against the web of lies which threatens to doom them all.

This is classic science fiction to the core, both in terms of setting and style. From the very beginning you’re given the feeling that this is a novel of the seventies or eighties transported to the modern day, with all those same trappings attached. However, this style is backed by considerable substance and a sense of true age to the setting. The history on hand is truly staggering, and despite being focused upon what’s almost a pulp dime-a-dozen premise, we get to see everything from the effects of cultural shifts to the impact of colonisation. It’s enough to suggest that there’s plenty here to spark up an entire saga if need be, and what see remains truly fascinating.

The unfortunate problem, and the key flaw which truly mars this book, is that such a vibrant setting is viewed through a terrible choice of protagonist. While the book’s main themes focus upon a culture clash, Dirk is too obtuse for this to be fully effective. He never seems to learn from his mistakes or truly succeed, and until a brief final moment never acts a hero worth rooting for. His companions are no better, so you’re stuck seeing this world through the eyes of unlikable figures and (not to beat around the bush) focusing upon the primitive, misogynistic, society of Worlorn. Many prominent characters do end up being slain throughout the events which take place, but you’re never given enough of a reason to truly care about them. As a result, at best, you’re normally left stomaching the story to track the bigger world building elements.

Dying of the Light proves to both be difficult to recommend to anyone, but simultaneously hard to damn. Perhaps give it a look if you’re more interested in the setting than the story, but otherwise stick to some of the better outings from this genre.

DYING OF THE LIGHT / AUTHOR: GEORGE R. R. MARTIN / PUBLISHER: GOLLANCZ / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW

 

TIME LORD LETTERS

The market for Doctor Who books is thriving and more titles appear every month than you can shake a sonic screwdriver at. Into what might be regarded as a rather crowded (time and) space, Justin Richards has put together one more, Time Lord Letters.

Justin Richards is no stranger to Doctor Who books, having written many books (fiction and non-fiction) and audiobooks for everyone from Virgin New Adventures, to BBC Books and Big Finish. Amongst his many roles he is Creative Consultant to BBC Books

Time Lord Letters is audacious in its simplicity; as the Doctor has wandered around the fourth dimension he has written various letters around the edges of his many adventures, or had letters written to him. These cover all series of the show and a whole host of moments from various end of story departures, notes to companions left behind (including, of course, Susan), complaints to various organisations and much more besides.

The structure is slightly ad hoc, no doubt to blend material from all fifty-plus years of the series, and to create interest to fans both new and old. Each letter is presented in one to three pages of material including a short synopsis of any relevant TV episodes and plenty of pictures. The overall effect is attractive and well thought out.

The letters themselves range from the amusing (the Third Doctor’s application for a UNIT pass), to the indignant (his time at the academy) to the emotional (the aforementioned letter to Susan)). The book as a whole is contains over 100 letters across its 256 well-presented pages. The best letter? For us, it’s the final one – no clues though, you’ll have to read it yourself to find out!

Destined for many a fan’s Christmas stocking, this is well worth a browse and deserves its place in any collection.

TIME LORD LETTERS (DOCTOR WHO) / AUTHOR: JUSTIN RICHARDS / PUBLISHER: BBC BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: SEPTEMBER 24TH

 

TOM HARDY: RISE OF A LEGEND

With Mr Hardy’s profile very much on the rise, what with his triumphant turn as Mad Max earlier this year, and his dual role as the Kray Twins just arrived in cinemas, it’s quite timely that this 2012 biography is reprinted with chapters covering the recent years.


Beginning by briefly covering his upbringing (both his parents having a cultural bent, his father being a writer and mother an artist) in relative comfort, causing the young Edward Thomas Hardy to begin to rebel as teenagers often do, the book overlooks any real insight into what makes the superstar tick. Being an unofficial biography it culls its quotes from previously-published interviews and such, but Haydock does manage to do it in such a way that we can get a feel for the angst felt by young Hardy in these turbulent years.


From the moment he won the Big Breakfast ‘Find Me a Model’ contest in 1998, things wouldn’t be the same for Tom, but that didn’t curtail any self-destructive traits he may have had. Not completing the course at the infamously strict Drama Centre, and an ill-fated (if passionate) young marriage all began to take their toll, and even the luck of being chosen to appear in major TV mini-series Band of Brothers did nothing to slow the self-destructive tendencies down.
However, if it’s the sad low point of Hardy’s life you’re looking for insight on, you’ll find the book rather lacking. It’s certainly covered, but with the bulk of the book looking at his film and TV output, it’s relegated to a short chapter early on. It’s probably wise, as without proper input from the man himself (other than the aforementioned interview quotes), it would probably be unfair to dwell too much on such a downbeat (although, ultimately, triumphant since he got clean and has become so bankable) period of his life.


Similarly, Mad Max Fury Road is covered, but fairly briefly, and Legend is merely referenced (understandable since it would have been far off release when it was being written, but it’s not too shabby for an unofficial entry to the biog shelves. Casual fans will find enough to keep them going, while diehards might be best waiting for an authorised or even autobiography to emerge, as the obligatory photo section adds little more than the standard ‘red carpet’ shots, the likes of which we’ve seen before.


TOM HARDY: RISE OF A LEGEND / AUTHOR: JAMES HAYDOCK / PUBLISHER: JOHN BLAKE BOOKS / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW


ART OF BURNING MAN

With the annual American desert-set festival just taking place this last weekend, it’s apt that we look at this lavish oversized coffee table book.

While the event (and, indeed, the book) is not particularly in our sandbox, the fact it parallels to the superb 1973 classic The Wicker Man – certainly is. From its humble beginnings in 1986, the uniqueness of the festival – it doesn’t allow the usual trappings of what people are familiar with, there’s no big name bands on fancy stages, no corporate sponsors or advertising – certainly make it stand out and appear to be a special and stunning experience.


This book, therefore, is a visual delight. Chronically all aspects of the week-long celebration in beautiful detail, the images contained within exude a sereneness that the Black Rock desert location clearly has. It’s more than a festival; it’s a seven-day art installation. Attendees get involved, rather than merely experience and browsing the photographs is like taking a personal tour of an art gallery, each image is work of perfection, stunningly reproduced. With informative text supporting the images giving the full history and detail of the sixteen-year old festival, it’s an enthralling and beautiful read.


Fans of Mad Max will instantly want to book their ticket for next year’s event after reading the book, since it has all the hallmarks of a futuristic post-apocalyptic society, for those who may not want to spend that much on travelling or not willing to stand the heat, this book will provide a visual treat.


If you appreciate good photography, desolate landscapes, and weird art sculptures and things burning, this is for you… Simply luscious.


ART OF BURNING MAN / AUTHOR: NK GUY / PUBLISHER: TASCHEN / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW