Anderson Entertainment Announces Publishing Venture

Anderson Entertainment, the company founded by Gerry Anderson – the man behind such iconic shows as “Thunderbirds” and “Space:1999” as well as “Space Precinct” and the 2005 reimagining of “Captain Scarlet” – has announced its entry into the direct-to-consumer publishing business.

Books in a wide selection of formats – including hardbacks, coffee table books, comic anthologies, series guides, audiobooks and more – will be launched soon. They will be based on classic Anderson properties, as well as many new Anderson projects, available, in production or planned.

After the direct-to-consumer publishing business is established, these books will also be made available through the mainstream book trade.

The publishing project begins with novels – a series of stories originally published in the 1960s and 1970s. These books are now being reprinted and repackaged for a modern audience and will be available in four formats: as physical print books in hardback (with slight adjustments to the content for a 2021 audience), Kindle e-books, digital audio downloads and packaged audiobooks, including extras.

Thunderbirds: Terror from the Stars, an adaptation of John Theydon’s 1965 book Thunderbirds, is the first of the new books. The audiobook version features both narration and a full cast, with characters voiced by Jon Culshaw, “Harry Potter” star Genevieve Gaunt and others. The packaged audiobook comes in a four-CD set that includes a behind-the-scenes documentary.

All physical formats are being made available at the Gerry Anderson online store beginning in July. The digital download audiobook version is available now and is also sold on the website of Anderson Entertainment production partner Big Finish, while e-book releases will be available globally via Amazon. More titles will appear on a monthly basis starting this summer.

Late 2021 will see more new titles. One will be a two-volume anthology of comic strips based on the live action Anderson show, “UFO.” It’s the first time all the “UFO” comic strips have been collected in book form.

The second book will be a Moonbase Alpha technical manual, a guide to the scientific research center that is home to the cast of “Space: 1999,” and more is planned. “Thunderbirds,” “Captain Scarlet,” “Joe 90,” “UFO” and other shows inspired not just novels but comic books, annuals and more.

These plans for growth come hard on the heels of a new agreement with rightsholder ITV Studios, which allows Anderson Entertainment to expand its ranges of product derived from its brands. This agreement will enable not only published output but also a wide range of new products inspired by Gerry Anderson creations.

“Beginning a new era as a publisher with direct-to-consumer product will build on the close relationship we have with many tens of thousands of Gerry Anderson fans around the world,” says Jamie Anderson, managing director, Anderson Entertainment and Gerry Anderson’s son. “At the same time, we firmly believe that the growing popularity of both classic and new Anderson output will help us to target a wider audience that can also be reached by traditional online and physical booksellers. This is an exciting venture for Anderson Entertainment and one that underlines the continuing strength of the Anderson name and brands and is the perfect addition to our existing threads of direct-to-consumer activity.”