Futures: 50 Years In Space The Challenge Of The Stars by David A. Hardy and Patrick Moore.

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Futures: 50 Years In Space The Challenge Of The Stars by David A. Hardy and Patrick Moore.
pub: AAPPL: Artists And Photographers’ Press Ltd. 112 page hardback. Price: Ł17.95 (UK). ISBN: 1-904332-13-7).

check out website: www.aappl.com and www.astroart.org

Thirty-two years ago, celebrity astronomer Patrick Moore and space artist David Hardy began collaborating on a book called ‘The Challenge Of The Stars’, although it wasn’t published until 1972. The art depicted showing how the Solar system and universe looked to us back then and the promise of mankind as it explored beyond this meagre planet Earth.

With this book, we draw comparison to what they saw then with what we know now about the planets, stars and other stellar phenomena. Although modern telescopes on Earth and in orbit, like the Hubble, can show us what’s out there, they can’t get as up close as David Hardy can with his trusty motorbike - as illustrated in the back of the book - and his electronic paintbox to provide some of the emotional impact to stand on an alien planet or moon to admire the view.

Futures: 50 Years In Space The Challenge Of The Stars by David A. Hardy and Patrick Moore.

This is accompanied with Patrick Moore’s observations and knowledge of what we are looking at that should fill in the blanks for those who are learning about the universe and a little more detail to some of us who should be paying more attention. To learn that methane gives a planet a somewhat green atmosphere, for example, reflects on how much research where words on paper can’t convey the effect and everything has to be examined when building a picture.

In many respects, this review can’t do justice without looking at the pictures. If you want to see samples you need to look in on Dave Hardy’s website, www.astroart.org, to see what I mean, although frankly they don’t do as much justice as the full-size book illustrates.

Now the emotional and intellectual aspect of this book is an entirely different matter. Looking at our nearby planets, the knowledge that they are bleak and extremely dangerous places should make any SF writer, neo or otherwise, reflect this more accurately in their stories. At least, I’m hoping some of you out there will learn from this book and put the knowledge to some use.

Any greener pastures, even methane atmosphered ones, are going to be a long way from here. Jupiter and Saturn might look enchanting but I’m not sure if I’d like to be that close to the hard radiation they give out either, come to that. Further out to other nearby stars tends to indicate this is a hostile galaxy but by no means unconquerable.

I can see this book being bought by those who favour space art books - the US release is in September by the way - but in equal number by those who like classy SF art will also find this book appealing as well. It is always useful to remember what is truly out there and how much our knowledge has widened in the past 30 years. From all accounts, this book is bound to sell well as there’s going to be a lot of promotion. Just make sure you get your first edition first.

GF Willmetts

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