The Owl Service (1967) Book Covers Gallery

Cover art by Stephan Lavis

 

First published by Collins in 1967, The Owl Service is a fantasy novel for young adults set in modern Wales that plays with folklore and ancient myth.  Its also so much more than that and once read, somehow manages to get under the skin to haunt the mind long after the last word has been read. I suspect that this is almost entirely down to the subtle craft of the author Alan Garner.  I own three of these copies but my favourite is by far the top one by Stephen Lavis.  Lavis did some rather fantastic covers for the rest of Garner's books and also some very nice Narnia covers.  We will of course be looking at those later on. 

 

 

 

 

Steve

Trumpton town (1967)

Steve.

A Candy and Andy Gallery - part one (1967)

This is Candy and Andy....they want to play with you!

 

Candy and Andy live with two panda bears called Mr and Mrs Bearanda

 

They enjoy pre-decimal ice cream

 

They like the colour red

 

 They really like the colour red

 

 Sometime it seems that they are planning something

Sometimes Mr Bearanda and Andy like to pretend they are having car trouble

 

In 1966 Gerry Anderson came up with a "killer" idea for a new TV show.  Unfortunately no one shared in his vision and the project was never developed.  However, maintaining his belief that the idea had some potential, Gerry developed it into a weekly comic instead which began publication in January of the following year

 

 

Photography was by Doug Luke who struggled through 154 issues of the "Candy" comic as well as various annuals and numerous story books.  Some would say this was one of Gerry Anderson great misjudged failures! I, on the other hand, think it a work of dark genius.

 

 

Steve