UFO: S.H.A.D.O. Technical Operations Manual ready to invade fans bookshelves

By John Freeman on September 14, 2022

The vivid and imaginative world of Gerry Anderson’s 1970 British cult sci-fi series UFO will explode to life again with the October 2022 release of the UFO: S.H.A.D.O. Technical Operations Manual.

Written by Chris Thompson and Andrew Clements, and published by Anderson Entertainment, the UFO: S.H.A.D.O. Technical Operations Manual immerses readers in the classic show, which followed the Supreme Headquarters Alien Defence Organisation as it sought to defend Earth in the face of a significantly advanced alien menace – all while maintaining absolute secrecy of its efforts and methods from the general population. UFO preceded the hit Anderson science-fiction series Space: 1999 and shares much of its design aesthetic.

Measuring 300 x 230 x 25mm the 208-page book includes 180 plus brand-new illustrations. Thompson and Clements explore S.H.A.D.O.’s history, introduce readers to the show’s inventive vehicles and equipment via illustrations and blueprints, and share an overview of everything known about the dangerous unidentified aliens, a dying race that – in 1980 — abducts humans and harvests their organs.

UFO ran for one 26-episode season, from 1970 to 1971, with the pilot directed by Gerry Anderson based on a teleplay he wrote with Sylvia Anderson and Tony Barwick.

Thompson and Clements previously collaborated on the critically-acclaimed Anderson Entertainment book, Space: 1999 – Moonbase Alpha Technical Operations Manual, published in 2021.

• More information is available at andr.sn/shado where UFO fans can sign up to be notified of upcoming live streams and pre-order release

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.