Galactic Encounters.
OBJECTS OF OBSESSION #3: CLASSIC SCIENCE FICTION INSPIRATION (PART 2)
Welcome back to part two, if you missed the first instalment featuring the Terran Trade Authority books, click the link below.
ALIENS IN SPACE: AN ILLUSTRATED GUIDE TO THE INHABITED GALAXY
(Galactic Encounters)
By Steven Caldwell (1979):
Jim Burns, Les Edwards, Peter Elson, Nick Fox, Fred Gambino, Peter Goodfellow, Bob Layzell, Mike Masters, Chris Moore, Alan Morgan, Angus McKie, Terry Oakes, Joe Petagno, and Tony Roberts.
Dinotopia, Conan the Barbarian, and Forbidden Planet seem to feature in their alternate forms here, as well as what looks just like a Vulcan busying himself with an experiment of some kind. The menacing robot in the fifth image could easily be a forebear to that of HK-47 of Knights of the Old Republic too.
STAR QUEST: AN INCREDIBLE VOYAGE INTO THE UNKNOWN
(Galactic Encounters)
By Steven Cladwell (1979):
Jim Burns, Peter Elson, Bob Fowkes, Fred Gambino, Colin Hay, Robin Hiddon, David Jackson, Bob Layzell, Chris Moore, Cesare Reggiani, and Tony Roberts.
More Battlestar Galactica and 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes here with the astronaut and space cruiser.
THE FANTASTIC PLANET: A WORLD OF MAGIC AND MYSTERY
(Galactic Encounters)
By Steven Caldwell (1980):
Les Edwards, Peter Elson, Nick Fox, Fred Gambino, Colin Hay, Robin Hiddon, Melvyn, Angus McKie, Terry Oakes, Joe Petagno, and Dave Pether.
Conan, Lord of the Rings, and perhaps a bit more Star Wars here. There are seeds of inspiration for games such as Ark: Survival Evolved too.
DANGEROUS FRONTIERS (US: SETTLERS IN SPACE): THE FIGHT FOR SURVIVAL ON DISTANT WORLDS
(Galactic Encounters)
By Steven Caldwell (1980):
Jim Burns, Peter Elson, Bob Fowkes, Colin Hay, Bob Layzell, Melvyn, Chris Moore, Angus McKie, Tarry Oakes, Cesare Reggiani, Tony Roberts, and Roy Virgo.
Dune and Star Trek seem to crop up in this volume, as well as a predecessor to the Gungan submarine of Star Wars: Episode 1, and hints of TIE Fighter windows.
WORLDS AT WAR: AN ILLUSTRATED STUDY OF INTERPLANETARY CONFLICT
(Galactic Encounters)
By Steven Caldwell (1980):
Jim Burns, Les Edwards, Peter Elson, Colin Hay, Bob Layzell, Melvyn, Chris Moore, Angus McKie, Cesare Reggiani, and Tony Roberts.
In this book we can see some Dune and Planet of the Apes influence.
SPACE PATROL: THE OFFICIAL GUIDE TO THE GALACTIC SECURITY FORCE
(Galactic Encounters)
By Steven Caldwell (1980):
Peter Elson, Fred Gambino, Colin Hay, Bob Layzell, Melvyn, Chris Moore, Cesare Reggiani, Jeffery Ridge, Derek Riggs, Tony Roberts, Segrelles, and George Smith
Within this collection, we can see some Close Encounters inspiration as well as the interior of the Millennium Falcon and some Battlestar Galactica influences.
THE SPACE WARRIOR
(Spin Off)
By Stewart Cowley (1980):
David Hardy, Eddie Jones, George Jones, Nico Keulers, Eric Ladd, Paul Lehr, Carl Lundgren, and Blair Wilkins.
Within these you can see some clear inspiration from Star Wars creeping in, with the spaceships of a similar design to that of the X-Wing, and the hero posed in classic Han Solo style. There are some 2001: A Space Odyssey vibes here as well as some Planet of the Apes and Terminator influence.
In going through these books, I have discovered an appreciation for a plethora of artists whose names I didn’t know, and despite initially wanting to feature the authors of the books, Stewart Cowley/Steven Caldwell, Scott Agnew, Jeff Lilly, Jonathan M. Thompson and Charles Herridge, I found myself drawn to one name in particular, and the work he produced, it speaking to me more than any of the others. Peter George Elson. His work is remarkable, and I was rather sad to read of his untimely death after researching further. He died at the age of 51 in 1998, far too young, and it’s a terrible shame to think of his creative spark being put out. He provided a huge catalogue of wonderful artwork to enjoy, and it’s a legacy worth preserving. You can read more about Peter on his website, as well as find more of his work.
I mention a lot of influences there, and they are just some of the things that come to mind. I’m sure these artworks have inspired many creative endeavours, and many creative endeavours went some way to inspiriting the works themselves. Everything is a remix, as they say. These observations are based on what I’ve been exposed to, but I’d love to know of any connections you’ve spotted or know of anywhere these images have ended up, be it book covers or concept art for other things.
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