By San Denman, illustrated by Graham Bleathman

Haynes, out now

All you could want to know about Spectrum, its history, vehicles, bases and personnel…

Haynes Manuals celebrates the 50th anniversary of Gerry Anderson’s Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons with this terrific guide to all things Spectrum, starting with  a detailed and fascinating account of the history of the organisation which references many of the other Anderson series (although oddly in context, not the one that you’d expect, given the Zero X’s mission history!), tying things together in the way that TV21 and the John Theydon novels used to.

If you’re looking for something about the making of the show, you need to turn elsewhere: the nearest that there’s recognition that this is a TV series is in the author’s note at the front and the “episode guide” at the end of the book which details the different Mysteron threats. (I’m assuming the Captain Scarlet Vault will cover the real-world elements, but as we’ve not had a review copy, I can’t comment!)

If you want something that immerses you in Spectrum, then this is perfect. There are cutaways of all the main vehicles and bases, and biographies for all of the Spectrum agents, alongside copious photographs from the show. Most of the illustrations are by Graham Bleathman, with Mark Thomas’ dynamic shot of SPV, Saloon Car and Angels as the frontispiece, and pieces by Chris Thompson, Richard Farrell and Mike Trim.

Denman’s text extrapolates from what we learn in all the various media to produce a consistent guide, and I’d put this alongside Big Finish’s audio collection as an essential purchase for any fan of retrometabolism the Anderson way.

Verdict: Spectrum is all variants of Green for this excellent guide. Recommended. 10/10

Paul Simpson