Tuesday, December 15, 2015

Hugh Walters' science fiction stories for children

Tim Peake's voyage into space has reminded me of the children's science fiction books by Hugh Walters.

As a website devoted to his work says:
If you regularly borrowed science fiction books from your local library anywhen from the 1950s to the early 1980s, the chances are that your read a Hugh Walters novel or two. 
You remember - English astronaut Chris Godfrey and his team flying to each of the planets in the solar system? 
With titles like 'Expedition Venus', 'Destination Mars' and 'Journey to Jupiter', with a Hugh Walters novel you were guaranteed nailbiting tension coupled with a wealth of technical detail! 
Unfortunately the books have been out of print for many years, and many libraries have by now disposed of their copies. Hopefully this page will evoke some memories of a classic series of novels.
As I once said of the first book in the series, Blast Off at Woomera:
They don't write stories like that any more. Particularly ones in which, as I recall, the hero visits Battersea Fun Fair and has a run in with some teddy boys, and the British space mission is led by a Wing Commander Greatorex.

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