Telos Publishing opened orders for The Fantastic Art of Ron Turner, written by the late John Lawrence, the artist’s long-time friend and agent, in July and now author Phil Harbottle, who completed the project after John’s death, has revealed more about it in an interview for Sequential 21.

Ron Turner was one of the UK’s prolific science fiction illustrators whose work spans many much-loved characters from Dan Dare to Judge Dredd. In Gerry Anderson circles, he’s perhaps best known for his celebrated run on TV Century 21‘s “The Daleks” between late 1965 to the strip’s end in early 1967. Outside of “The Daleks”, Ron also contributed to TV21‘s line-up of specials, extras and annuals, illustrating many “Fireball XL5”, “Stingray”, “Thunderbirds”, “Zero X”, “Captain Scarlet” and “Joe 90” adventures.

As we previously reported, author John Lawrence, who became Turner’s agent in the early 1980s, had nearly finished writing an extensive biography of the artist’s life and career. Sadly, John passed away in August 2023, but his friend Phil Harbottle took responsibility to complete John’s manuscript. 

The Fantastic Art of Ron Turner is now finished and will be published by Telos Publishing in November 2024, and serves as the latest title in Telos’ growing line-up of wonderfully produced artist biographies, alongside books on Phil Bevan, Reginald Heade and James E. McConnell.

Sequential 21‘s Fred McNamara caught up with Phil recently to discover more about him taking charge of his friend’s book, as well as the professionally extensive yet personally elusive life of one of science fiction literature’s defining artists.

“John spent years researching Turner’s life and work, and I was privileged to assist him where I could, principally in his interface with John Russell Fearn, an author who had earlier been the subject of my own biographical studies,” Phil reveals. “I was therefore determined to ensure that John’s book would be published. It was the least I could do to repay my immense debt to him for his help with my own career in publishing, and in making many of my own dreams come true.

“Hopefully its publication will also drive John’s hope (and my own) to maintain Turner’s marvellous legacy, well into the future. There is still a wealth of material that needs to be collected in permanent form.”

• You can read the interview here on Sequential 21

• The Fantastic Art of Ron Turner 320pp approx. Large format 11×8.5-format full colour hardback | ISBN 978-1-84583-235-3 | November 2024 (Provisional) | Check out our preview feature here

• Available to pre-order direct here from Telos Publishing now. Copies of this book will be available to US-based customers through Bud’s Comics and Art

John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.

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