This past May I was contacted by editor and publisher, Ernest Farino from Archive Editions, about a 3 volume Ray Harryhausen book set his company was doing on Ray’s vast and historic career.

As well as being an accomplished editor and publisher, Mr. Farino, is also a  2-time Emmy® Award winning visual effects supervisor for films and television including, The Terminator, HBO’s, From The Earth to the Moon, Children of Dune, and others.

He explained that he enjoyed my 4 page article I did on Ray’s retrospective presented at A.M.P.A.S this past summer in Beverly Hills, CA, and asked if I would be interested in contributing some of the photos I had taken for my article about Ray, for use in the books.

I of course, said “Yes” ;).

The photos I took will be in 2 of the 3 books. Volumes 1 and 3. The books are of archival quality with literally thousands of photos of Ray’s original puppets, artwork, storyboards, behind the scenes info about Ray, and his co workers.

The 3 volume set written by Mike Hankin, features interviews and contributions from numerous actors, directors, and technicians including  producer Charles H. Schneer, John Phillip Law, Caroline Munro, Andrew Faulds, Martha Hyer, Sam Wanamaker, Gordon Hessler, Patrick Wayne, Taryn Power, Jane Seymour, Gila Golan (star of Valley of Gwangi, in her first interview in over 40 years),Colin Arthur, Lionel Jeffries, Ian Scoones, Gary Raymond, voice over artist Nikki Van der Zyl (who revoiced Raquel Welch in One Million Years B.C.), Martine Beswick, the late Forrest J Ackerman, Wilkie Cooper, Enzo Musumeci-Greco, Jason and the Argonauts title artist James Wines (his first interview about his work on Jason),Richard Green, Nathan Juran, Kerwin Mathews, Neil Pettigrew, and many others.

There is also considerable coverage of Ray’s films during production, with location photos on set, pre  &  post production info, and much more.

Jim Danforth, John Landis, Guillermo Del Toro, MGM, Hammer Films, and many others, have contributed to each volume, so there will be something for every Ray Harryhausen fan.

Preview of page 377 from Volume 3: 2 Centaur photos from the A.M.P.A.S article.

Volume 3 weighs an astounding 6 pounds and has over 3,600 images alone !

This 3 volume set is the most comprehensive and complete coverage of anything and everything Ray Harryhausen ever published.

I would also advise picking up the great DVD, Ray Harryhausen: The Early Years Collection. This 2 disc set is one of the most comprehensive DVD productions about Ray and his work that I have ever seen. It is a must have.

Ray Harryhausen Archive Editions Collection

Check out their website to learn more.

I am very excited to have been a small part of this exciting project.