SCI-FI NOW (1978) Part 1

As a kid, exploring the wealth of science fiction movies that were out there, this book became my bible.

I remember finding it in a branch of W H Smiths, in Hastings during a family holiday in 1978.  It cost £1.25, which seems very reasonable now although I remember a bit of a struggle negotiating its purchase with my elder sister who was temporarily my guardian while my parents were buying something somewhere else.  Despite wanting to spend my own holiday money, my sister wasn't prepared to sanction such a large purchase without my mother's approval and lead me out the store bookless and sulking.

A short time later, while walking back down the other side of the high-street, little Steve, persuaded his mum to cross back over and return to Smiths for the desperately needed book that would return the smile to his face.  Leaving the other two thirds of the family out on the street, I lead my mum to where this life changing book could be found.  She read the front, thumbed the pages and then hesitated. 

"I think its a bit old for you." she said, most probably having just clocked Valerie Perrine's boobs on page 39.
"Its not."  I insisted
"I think it is." Adrienne Corri getting her arse cheek pawed by a clown-faced Malcolm McDowell at the top of page 34.
"Its for children its got Star Wars on the front."
"Yes. Its quite expensive."
"I've got the money."
"You'll have none left for anything else."
"I don't want anything else."
"You can't have it and we need to go."  My sister!  I thought she was outside with the others.
"Shut up. What's it got to do with you."

And at this point my mum caved and took the line of least resistance and further bickering. "OK but don't ask for anything else.  Come on.  Your dad is waiting for us."
And off to the till we went. I'm fairly sure I thanked her and I'm fairly sure my sister stared daggers and mouthed an uncomplimentary name or two but I really didn't care.  I would be spending the rest of the evening ignoring her and everybody else while I studied each and every page of this magnificent new book and made a promise to see every film in it.

....I'm almost there.  Just one left to go.


Steve