And seeing iteration after iteration of the Colonial Viper, hands-down one of the coolest ships in science fiction, was a treat. I especially enjoyed seeing how Chu, seeking to satisfy both the Sci-Fi Channel’s insistence on “complete originality” and the existing BSG fan base’s desire for familiar designs, drew inspiration for his Galactica’s ribbed appearance from artistic vases by Italian designer Andrea Branzi. Sketches, paintings, digital models and previsualizations, storyboards, set blueprints and photographs, and even art department plans for instrument panels all help readers immerse themselves in the world of BSG’s vessels. The bulk of the book covers the reimagined BSG, beginning with Eric Chu’s designs for the new Galactica in the 2003 Sci-Fi Channel miniseries, all the way through CGI models designed for the 2012 web series Blood & Chrome by a team headed by Doug Drexler ( no stranger to Star Trek fans). (Fans of creator Glen Larson’s Buck Rogers in the 25th Century series will also enjoy seeing an early, color sketch of that show’s Thunderfighter as a candidate for the Colonial Viper.) They give readers a sense of how the show’s spaceship designs progressed, especially how the Galactica itself was envisioned as a futuristic aircraft carrier. Many concept sketches by McQuarrie also feature prominently. It’s not hard to understand why his paintings helped sell the series. McQuarrie’s work for the BSG universe is every bit as compelling as his paintings for the Galaxy Far, Far Away.

The section on the original series boasts a dozen concept and production paintings by Ralph McQuarrie, best known for his Star Wars art. The visuals are the book’s main attraction.

Image courtesy Hero Collector Books From concept paintings to complete CGI, Battlestar Galactica’s spaceships look beautiful

Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships.

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