Thank you to Anderson Entertainment for sending me copies of UFO: Shadow Play and Space: 1999: The Armageddon Engine to review. All opinions are my own.
James Swallow’s new novellas, UFO: Shadow Play and Space: 1999: The Armageddon Engine, are an absolute treat for anyone who loves the detailed, high-stakes drama of the live-action Anderson canon. Swallow demonstrates how to immerse the reader in these worlds, capturing every inch of SHADO HQ and Moonbase Alpha with such vividness that they feel more real than ever before. You can practically hear the hum of the technology and feel the weight of the pressure building as both stories unfold.
Shadow Play cleverly takes us deep into the mind of Ed Straker, and wow – what a ride it is. Swallow leans into Straker’s complexities, exploring his mental and emotional limits as he wakes from a coma with fractured memories. Is it alien interference or Straker’s own mind breaking down? The tension is palpable as Straker struggles to hold onto his identity and control. It’s an intriguing look at one of the Andersons’ most layered characters, and Swallow certainly isn’t afraid to push him to the edge.
In The Armageddon Engine, John Koenig faces a crisis of epic proportions when a rogue alien weapon threatens to wipe out Moonbase Alpha with time running out fast. Swallow does a fantastic job building the tension, and Koenig’s leadership is put to the ultimate test. What’s especially great is how Swallow captures Koenig’s flaws and doubts, making him a truly human hero in the midst of all the sci-fi spectacle. The ticking clock feels real, and the stakes couldn’t be higher, aided by the suitably fast pace of Swallow’s storytelling.
What really stands out in both novellas is Swallow’s attention to the details and the characters. His love for these shows is clear – he is faithful to the mythologies of UFO and Space: 1999, but also explores certain concepts and characters with a fresh pair of eyes as any new writer for either television series would attempt. Fans of UFO and Space: 1999 will find plenty to enjoy here, especially in how Swallow handles the psychological and emotional depth of the lead characters. These aren’t just action-packed space adventures (although they absolutely deliver on that front, too) – they’re deep dives into what makes these characters tick.
Both novellas are part of the official canon and were published by Anderson Entertainment on September 13, 2024 (aka Breakaway Day). For longtime fans and newcomers alike, these stories are a brilliant way to dive back into the worlds of SHADO and Moonbase Alpha. I look forward to more new and original stories from the classic Anderson universes!
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