Great Space Battles by Stewart Cowley

Great Space Battles Reviews

• 
  Andrew

  'Great Space Battles' is the second title in the Terran Trade Authority series of illustrated science fiction books, which were first published from 1979 onwards. The author of all four books in this sci-fi universe, Stewart Cowley (joined for this title by Charles Herridge) takes the imaginative path of combining futuristic and space ship art by the likes of Angus McKie, Bob Lazyell and Peter Ellson with short stories about an expanding Earth based space federation.
  
  The first section of the book is a short, fast-paced and concise narrative of a war between the Terrans and the mysterious Lagunans. Even though it is relatively simplistic and at times cliched, this is a rattling good yarn that is more than the sum of its (few) parts. Whilst no 'Star Wars' or (for example) 'The Forever War', the Laguna War story reads well, has serious undertones and is filled with intriguing futuristic combat sequences.
  
  The second part of 'Great Space Battles' is a loose collection of even shorter stories about things like colonisers battling strange planets, a rebellion against central authority, mutant pirates and a space mafia. Due to the brevity of each episode it is harder to discern as many qualities as seen in the writing of the Laguna War section of the book.
  
  Ultimately, what is best about 'Great Space battles' is that Cowley and Herridge have cobbled together some concise sci-fi stories with great art work, which will appeal to primarily younger readers. this is decent pulp science fiction in a very digestible format.
• 
  Daniel McGill

  Have been trying to remember what these books were for close to 30 years after coming across the Great Space Battles one in my elementary school library as probably a 2nd or 3rd grader and subsequently never seeing any of them again. Almost certainly the first Sci-Fi I ever read.
  
  This excellent animation led me to rediscover them:
  http://vimeo.com/29549708
  
  Beautiful vintage scifi art accompanied by faux documentary style short stories that are easy for young readers, highly recommended for introducing kids to recreational reading.
• 
  Mike

  Just a really fun book. Cowley collects some great science fiction art and weaves it into a fictional history of epic battles between galactic civilizations.
• 
  Michael

  I loved these books as a youngster, I remember checking these out from the library over and over again.
• 
  Mark Moxley-Knapp

  Another interesting book from Cowley. Sci-fi paintings with commentary, imagining the wars, bravery, and loss.
• 
  Bruce White

  One of my long-lost books from when I was a kid. The illustrations and stories would capture my imagination. I wish that I still had it.
• 
  Curtiss

  Another clever incorporation of various science fiction artwork into a storyline. I'll bet many of these paintings first appeared as book or magazine covers.
• 
  Dave/Maggie Bean

  The text is hokey with a capital "H". The illustrations, on the other hand, are gorgeous.
• 
  Mark Healey

  It's hard to believe that these books were put together in 1978, the artwork is incredible!
• 
  Malcolm Price

  Rediscovered from my teenage years. Simply loved the art. Got into the storyline a little later on. The future depicted in the books holds up well and presents a private sector and commercialisation of space very perceptibly. Will an all powerful TDA emerge? Like other well known sci-fi stories this one shares the recurring theme of human expansion into space-whether it's a federation or an empire-time will tell. I am hoping for us to reach to new planets in the next 15 to 20 years whether this is done through space agencies or private enterprise or a mix of the two. To enter into this next part of the space age will be truly exhilarating.