If you're a fan of the show, it's certainly a fun book, and a fun look at what we thought the 1980s would look like in 1970. Needless to say, the futuristic world of 1980 (which of course is now growing ever more distant in the past) turned out very differently than the sort of sleek Mies van der Rohe sans serif modernism that UFO projected. On the plus side, last time I checked, we're not being invaded by hordes of liquid breathing little green men in chrome flying saucers, either.
At least, I don't think we are...
But hey, the truth is out there! (Whoops, sorry, catch phrase from a different show about a top-secret paramilitary organization that investigates unexplained phenomenon.)
Just as Harryhausen's efforts are up on the big screen of every Hollywood special effects film today, the special effects men of UFO went on to work on the James Bond, Superman, and Batman films, and many other films shot in England.
There are a lot of childhood memories--and great pioneering craftsmanship contained in these two books, which are well worth owning.
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
Thansk Ed, very interesting. I'm not sure how I missed UFO, must have watching someting else.
2 - JR
I think you were watching somewhere else. It was a British series.
3 - Ed Driscoll
JR,
Indeed it was. However, in the States, CBS picked it up to run for a season on Saturday nights (at 7:00 PM, I believe) in 1971 and then it ran perennially in syndicated afternoon reruns throughout the 1970s. The Sci-Fi channel dusted it off for a couple of years, when that channel debuted on cable in the mid-1990s.
Ed
4 - Jim Carruthers
UFO scared the crap out of me, especially the liquid oxygen used by the space astronauts. And the phones.
But the best tribute to Harryhausen is Evil Dead 3.
5 - Joe
I actually had the UFO lunchbox! Well, it was a handmedown, but still. Gerry Anderson also was the creator of Space 1999 (I still carry a torch for the woman with the chocolate chip eyebrows) as well as the guy responsible for Supermarionation, Captain Scarlet, Thunderbirds and all that other cheezy goodness.
6 - Jim Carruthers
The only lunchbox I own is a "Milk And Cheese" tin box. Ghod knows what that will do to me down the years. And it isn't even a good size to keep booze in.
And you don't even want to know the kerfuffle posting a year ago about the live action Thunderbirds movie.
7 - harry larry
awesome stuff man!