Battlestar Galactica spaceship design secrets to be revealed

Battlestar Galactica: Desigining Spaceships will be published next month.

Will you be shopping for a Battlestar Galactica fan this holiday season—or perhaps for yourself when you’re in the mood for science fiction other than Star Trek? If so, you’ll want to know about the latest behind-the-scenes volume from Hero Collector Books. Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships is jumping to bookshelves on November 16.

A lavishly illustrated, 200-page hardcover, Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships will offer readers an in-depth look at how artists and model makers created the vessels seen in both the original and reimagined series.

According to the publisher’s press release:

"Written by Paul Ruditis, Mark Wright and Ian Spelling for Hero Collector Books, Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships shines a spotlight on 18 ships from the two shows, including vessels of the Ragtag Fleet and those of the Cylon enemy, specifically the Galactica herself, which was part war machine and part Noah’s Ark, as well as Vipers, Cylon Raiders, and more."

In addition to preliminary sketches and final designs, the volume will feature rarely seen concept art from Eric Chu, Andrew Probert, and Ralph McQuarrie.

Battlestar Galactica has some artistic Star Trek connections

Star Trek fans will likely recognize the names of at least two artists whose work will appear in Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships.

McQuarrie, best known for his Star Wars art, produced illustrations for both the never-produced Trek movie Planet of the Titans and Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home. Probert helped design the refit Enterprise NCC-1701, and designed the Enterprise NCC-1701-D, among other contributions to The Next Generation.

But let’s cut the felgercarb. I’m not excited for this book just because of its Trek connections.

As a child of the 1970s who cut his sci-fi teeth on Star Wars, I watched Battlestar Galactica at least a decade before I saw my first syndicated Trek episode. I drew Colonial Vipers and Cylon Raiders when I should have been paying attention to my teachers. Those spaceships took flight in my mind innumerable times.

And, like its predecessor, the reimagined Galactica revolutionized how science fiction on television can look. Its spaceships don’t always look beautiful, in keeping with the show’s gritty aesthetic—but they never look less than believable.

If you’re excited for Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships too, the good news is we don’t have long to wait—and the book’s available for pre-order now!