SHADO Technical Operations Manual by Chris Thompson

This is all delivered in a slick package, beautifully bound to last, with some stunning artwork.

We learn just how big SHADO HQ actually is, why the moonbase was designed we see it, how all the different vehicles function and what some of their predecessors looked like, what plans for future developments entail, even details about some of the funky uniforms. Continuing on with the success of their Space: 1999 manual, the authors go into exacting detail for a world that never was, but that could certainly have been as they describe the technology underpinning this classic television series. Let me just say that they are and so much more is delivered with this handbook for all things UFO. Why only one missile on the interceptors? Why do the women where purple hair on the moon, but all the men do not? Why is the Earth base under a movie studio? How does SID manage to see on the other side of the planet? And so on. But as the years went by, questions began to arise. Ah, the naivete of youth! This lack of experience also meant taking a lot of things on faith.

The wonders that were going to occur captivated me, while I paid no mind to the fact that this future also had nasty aliens kidnapping folks for their organs. I recall those days as a schoolboy when I would rush home from the library after completing my homework to watch an episode of this series that whisked me into the future of 1980. So for fans of UFO and Gerry Anderson this is a brilliant book to have and readĬhris Thompson and Andrew Clements are at it again with another entry into the Gerry Anderson universe bringing joy to all of the fans who are clamoring for more content. What impresses me the most (and has let down other books in this style) is that rather than using low grade images - sometimes taken from the original film new high grade graphics have been created meaning each and every image is crisp and sharp which for me gives a whole new fresh look and certainly gives an air of authenticity to the book. Here you have as the title says the technical operations manual - a fictional book given to each new SHADO operative. I have to say that I was not old enough to see the TV series when it first aired - but my brother was and as such I picked up his love for it (I even had a Dinky toy of the Interceptor - that toy was amazing and lethal) so when years later I was able to attend an exhibition put on his son where many of the props that survived were present as well as watching talk by the various crew I have always kept an eye out for more material - and was lucky enough to back this project from the start.

SHADO Technical Operations Manual by Chris Thompson