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Space Precinct (Big Finish) #1
Space Precinct: Demeter City
The previously untold opening story from Gerry Anderson's 1995 series Space Precinct. Demeter City charts Brogan and Haldane's transfer from the NYPD to the DCPD on the planet Altor.After more than twenty-five years, author Richard James returns to the world of Gerry Anderson’s Space Precinct. This script was never made into an episode and is now placed within the show’s official canon as a bona fide ‘origins’ story. If you’re familiar with Gerry Anderson’s last live-action series, you will know how it ends. Now you get to know how it all began.
- GenresScience Fiction
111 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 25, 2020
1 person is currently reading
5 people want to read
About the author
Richard James
20 books20 followersI've been telling stories all my life. As an actor I've spent a career telling other people's, from Charles Dickens to David Walliams. As I writer, I get to create my own!
I have written almost thirty plays which are produced the world over; from USA to New Zealand and just about everywhere in between. They're mostly comedies and frequently win awards in competitions and festivals.
In 2014 I wrote a memoir, Space Precinct Unmasked, detailing my experiences working as an actor on Gerry Anderson's last live action sci-fi series. This was followed by an adaptation of the unscreened pilot episode, Demeter City, and four new short stories featuring the officers of Precinct 88, Space Precinct: Revisited.
As to my own series, I decided I wanted to write a sequence of books set in a world I would want to spend time in and featuring characters I would want to be with. Most importantly, it would have to feature a grisly murder or two! I love the Victorian era. It seems such a rich period of history, populated by some hugely colourful characters, so that is where we first meet Detective Inspector George Bowman.
The Head In The Ice is the first in the Bowman Of The Yard series and follows Bowman's investigation into the discovery of - well, a head in the ice of the River Thames. Over the course of the book, however, and throughout the series in general, we see he has demons of his own to contend with.
There are four books in the Bowman Of The Yard series in all, together with some short stories from Bowman's Casebook. These have been collected into two volumes and fill in the gaps between the novels, giving the reader the chance to follow Bowman's professional progress and personal battles (he's a troubled man, as you'll see) over twelve months of his life.
'A masterful new Victorian mystery series.' Rosie Amber books
'A genuinely impressive debut.' Andrew Cartmel
'Full of the thrills of Victorian London.' Adam Croft
I really hope you like the books. If you do, you can tweet me your thoughts at @RichardNJames. I hope to hear from you!
Richard James
2019
www.richardjamesonline.com
I have written almost thirty plays which are produced the world over; from USA to New Zealand and just about everywhere in between. They're mostly comedies and frequently win awards in competitions and festivals.
In 2014 I wrote a memoir, Space Precinct Unmasked, detailing my experiences working as an actor on Gerry Anderson's last live action sci-fi series. This was followed by an adaptation of the unscreened pilot episode, Demeter City, and four new short stories featuring the officers of Precinct 88, Space Precinct: Revisited.
As to my own series, I decided I wanted to write a sequence of books set in a world I would want to spend time in and featuring characters I would want to be with. Most importantly, it would have to feature a grisly murder or two! I love the Victorian era. It seems such a rich period of history, populated by some hugely colourful characters, so that is where we first meet Detective Inspector George Bowman.
The Head In The Ice is the first in the Bowman Of The Yard series and follows Bowman's investigation into the discovery of - well, a head in the ice of the River Thames. Over the course of the book, however, and throughout the series in general, we see he has demons of his own to contend with.
There are four books in the Bowman Of The Yard series in all, together with some short stories from Bowman's Casebook. These have been collected into two volumes and fill in the gaps between the novels, giving the reader the chance to follow Bowman's professional progress and personal battles (he's a troubled man, as you'll see) over twelve months of his life.
'A masterful new Victorian mystery series.' Rosie Amber books
'A genuinely impressive debut.' Andrew Cartmel
'Full of the thrills of Victorian London.' Adam Croft
I really hope you like the books. If you do, you can tweet me your thoughts at @RichardNJames. I hope to hear from you!
Richard James
2019
www.richardjamesonline.com
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
October 2, 2020
Captures the feel of a family friendly Sci-fi/action adventure movie from the 90s (anyone remember Robocop 3? 😉) The script by Paul Mayhew Archer serves as the pilot for Gerry Anderson's last live-action TV show. I can only assume that budgets prevented this as this has 'pilot' all over it. Funnily enough the origins of Police Officers Brogan and Haldane are nothing like I'd imagined but exactly what I expected. Richard James' adaptation and narration is what lifts this up for an OK 3 star to a pretty darn tootin' 4 star. He keeps thing pacy never dwelling too long on a scene and conversations between have a narmtural feel even though he's basically talking to himself. Characters have enough vocal nuance to differentiate from each other, without being impressions, with Podley the police chief being my fave an a perfect recreation of the character. Its fun, exciting (it is the perfect audio book version of a TV show) there are some nice sound effects scattered around that don't interfere with the reading. I'd have liked a few more but if they make more... Who knows 😉
September 2, 2021
In terms of published Space Precinct fiction, I have to say that Demeter City is the best so far.
So its a novelization of the unpublished pilot fleshed out and written by Richard James (Officer Orrin)
Apart from a couple of spelling/punctuation errors (there're instead of they're being particularly glaring) I actually thought this was pretty good, and a damn sight better than some of the editing in the previous novels.
From a fan POV this is awesome - we get to see how Brogan & Haladne first come to the 88th Precinct from Earth and its a great introduction to the universe and its well loved characters - Jane & Jack's first meeting, Took practicing her telekinesis which she still hasn't mastered, Patrick getting in his first space cruiser, Orrin and Beezle (Romek's predecessor) hazing our two new human cops.
The story has a lightening pace, just like the series episodes, and while its a crying shame this never got filmed, its a joy to be finally able to experience it now. Thank you for letting me re-visit Demeter City with some new material! One happy fan girl.
So its a novelization of the unpublished pilot fleshed out and written by Richard James (Officer Orrin)
Apart from a couple of spelling/punctuation errors (there're instead of they're being particularly glaring) I actually thought this was pretty good, and a damn sight better than some of the editing in the previous novels.
From a fan POV this is awesome - we get to see how Brogan & Haladne first come to the 88th Precinct from Earth and its a great introduction to the universe and its well loved characters - Jane & Jack's first meeting, Took practicing her telekinesis which she still hasn't mastered, Patrick getting in his first space cruiser, Orrin and Beezle (Romek's predecessor) hazing our two new human cops.
The story has a lightening pace, just like the series episodes, and while its a crying shame this never got filmed, its a joy to be finally able to experience it now. Thank you for letting me re-visit Demeter City with some new material! One happy fan girl.
April 23, 2025
A thoroughly enjoyable read from start to finish. It's so nice to see the characters from the Space Precinct television series return for another adventure (albeit a prequel of sorts, as this story comprises the unfilmed pilot episode).
The writing is spot-on and captures all our favorites characters just as we remember them. The action is tense and plentiful. The plot is well-paced and manages to capture the reader's attention without overstaying its welcome.
The book's 125 page length felt appropriate for the novelization of a TV pilot, and I for one, was glad that it wasn't drawn out with unnecessary filler. It was short, sweet, to the point, and hit all the right notes. I'd highly recommend it.
In fact, if the powers that be decided to continue this trend by producing a series of books that comprise the "continuing adventures" of the Space Precinct squad, I'd happily plunk down coin for more books just like this.
The writing is spot-on and captures all our favorites characters just as we remember them. The action is tense and plentiful. The plot is well-paced and manages to capture the reader's attention without overstaying its welcome.
The book's 125 page length felt appropriate for the novelization of a TV pilot, and I for one, was glad that it wasn't drawn out with unnecessary filler. It was short, sweet, to the point, and hit all the right notes. I'd highly recommend it.
In fact, if the powers that be decided to continue this trend by producing a series of books that comprise the "continuing adventures" of the Space Precinct squad, I'd happily plunk down coin for more books just like this.
June 13, 2024
Good Read.
An excellent prologue to a classic sci-fi series from the 1990s. Certainly gave the characters some history of they ended up on Altor and the start of the series.
An excellent prologue to a classic sci-fi series from the 1990s. Certainly gave the characters some history of they ended up on Altor and the start of the series.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews