The sources for the following stories come from personal scans and OCR-ings of books. The formatting may not follow that of the original typeset editions. Note that there are many words with alternate (British) spellings and even some in the U.S. versions that look wrong, but have been left for historical purposes.
The covers are from either the books in my possession or from Internet sources, and have been extensively cleaned and fixed of cover tears, scratches and misaligned placement on scanners (cut off edges or corners being the chief result).
DESCRIPTIONS AND FINAL BOOKS WILL BE ADDED TO THESE AS I, AND OTHERS OF YOU, LOCATE ANY MORE OF THEM.
(1957) U.S. version of Blastoff at Woomera.
Mysterious domes have been sighted in a crater on the Moon. Suspecting that they may be the work of Communists, the British Government must launch a man into space in order to photograph them from outside the atmosphere. Unfortunately their rocket was not designed to carry a man, and so someone unusually short is required.
Enter Chris Godfrey, a four foot ten and a half-inch sixth-former at Wolverton Grammar School. Will he survive the trip? The less than reliable rocket is to be launched from Australia -- but there may be a Soviet traitor among the ground crew!
There are a number of surproses in store for Chris as he must pose as his mentor's nephew in order to fool the possible spy, leading to force some people to suspect his very presence at a top secret facility!
(1959) U.S. version of The Domes of Pico.
Strange things are happening on the moon. Domes near a point designated as Pico have appeared and are sending radiation down to the Earth. With no contact being made it is decided the domes must be destroyed. But, technology will not allow targeting with any accurace all the way from Earth.
Chris Godfrey is asked to repeat his space trip, this time carrying a beacon he must drop with great accuracy so that a phalanx of missiles to be launched as he does the task can find their target.
The porblem is the radiation that means extra lead shielding must be added to Chris' capsule using all the fuel he needs to get back home. Is Christ now a doomed man with no idea he has been set up by a very unlikeable man in charge of the mission?
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1959) U.S. paperback version of Operation Columbus
The race is on to place a man on the moon to examine the wreckage of the alien domes destroyed in 'The Domes of Pico'. The Russians are training a fanatical young Communist, Serge Smyslov, for the task, while the West's candidate is a cheery young American, Morrison 'Morrey' Kant. Unfortunately Morrey breaks his arm shortly before take-off in a riding accident and Chris Godfrey takes his place.
The two spaceships land on the moon virtually simultaneously. Chris can walk about in his spacesuit, however Serge is sealed up inside a 'lunar rover' vehicle. While Chris ventures towards the radioactive debris of the domes to retrieve a sample, Serge, brainwashed by his Red superiors, uses a rocket to destroy Chris's ship. The blast overturns his lunar rover, leaving him unable to return to his ship, while Chris is trapped by a strange, creeping grey mist that may be connected to the domes' builders...
(1961) U.S. hardbound version of Moon Base One
Chris, Morrey and Serge are headed back to the Moon, this time with a young man, a boy actually, who is being sent for medical experiments to see if an uncurable disease he has will be affected by cosmic radiation. He is easily bored and soon after takeoff becomes moody and glum.
After setting up a lunar base, the four go exploring, and encounter a dark, gray mist that threatens to get them lost without an oxygen resupply. The new boy, Tony, gets so obstinate Chris leaves him in an emergency tent without a helmet to see if he will decide to pull his weight.
Once the other three do get back to their ship, takeoff is made nearly inpossible by the damage to one of their three directional beacons, and the wiring inside is now too short to be reconnected.
Can they figure a way to fix things or will they be doomed to remain on the Moon, the first of mankind to perish there?
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1962) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
An unmanned probe returning from Venus has crashed in a tropical jungle. A spore on board has germinated and the Earth is fast becoming covered in a grey mould, that chokes the life out of anything it touches.
The only solution is to send Chris, Morrey, Serge and Tony, and a scientist, Pierre, on a mission to Venus to attempt to find something that will destroy the fungus. Work on the Venus probe, being built on the new permanently manned moonbase, Lunaville, is accelerated and the launch is ahead of schedule.
However, the plan to skim through the Venusian atmosphere to pick up samples fails and a landing has to be made! As the ship sinks into the Venusian surface, all fuel reserves are needed to take off again. The crew are heading for Earth - but will have no fuel left to decelerate when they arrive......
(1963) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
Now that near Earth and Venusian travel has been accomplished, the first man to travel close to Mars, Van der Veen, has been driven mad by the strange, horrible voices he heard babbling over his radio.
With little to go on, Chris, Morrey, Serge and Tony are detailed to investigate. Launching from space station Alpha, they touch down on Mars and find traces of an dead civilisation. Then however, a disembodied Martian appears, as nothing more than a point of light.
He seems friendly, but when he demands that his people be taken back to Earth, things get worrying...
(1963) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
Tony Hale, skilled engineer and amateur radio ham, smuggles a home-made transceiver on board an Earth-orbiting satellite during his tour of duty. This proves invaluable as the commander of the satellite, Hendriks, turne out to be a megalomaniac who has gained access to a terrible weapon and demands to be made 'Dictator of the World'.
To back up this demand, he kills an unsympathetic crewman and begins destroying swathes of the Earth's surface using a radiation beam.
The only secure link between the Earth and the satellite is Tony's radio. Can Chris and his team manage to get to the satellite safely?
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1965) U.S. hardbound version of Journey to Jupiter
Following their standard and rigorous training, the UNEXA pilots are ready for their next adventure.
Their first manned expedition to Jupiter reaches speeds never experienced before; despite this it takes several months to reach its objective, leading to tensions among the crew, as well as serious vision problems caused by a miscalculation in the gravity of Jupiter.
This means that they will not be able to stop in time and will crash into the giant planet. A diversion to the jagged moon Io offers their only chance of survival.
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1965) U.S. hardbound version of Mission to Mercury
The manned expedition to Mercury is complicated by the fact that strong solar radiation makes communication with Earth impossible. U.N.E.X.A. decide that telepathy may be the answer.
Telepathic twin girls Gill and Gail volunteer; one accompanying Chris Godfrey and the crew on the mission; the other remaining on Earth. As they near their objective, Gail notices increasingly disruptive personality changes in the crew caused by the radiation, their only chance of survival is to land on the 'dark' side of the planet using Mercurey as a shield; however the near absolute zero conditions lead to massive heat-loss.
Can they take back off or be rescued before freezing to death...
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1967) U.S. hardbound version of The Mohole Mystery
Another space adventure awaits Chris Godfrey and his fellow astronauts. This time, however, the flight is deemed to be far too long to be possible, at least as long as those going are awake and consuming food and air. So, an audacious plan is hatched to place them all in longterm hibernation… up to nine months each way!
Joining them, as on their recent mission to Mercury, will be one of the telepathic twin girls who will remain in contact with her sister when they are both awake; to keep then at the same age it is decided to place even the Earthbound girl in hibernation.
But, troubles await them at Saturn and it is a struggle for the team to get back on a course for home.
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1968) U.S. hardbound version of The Mohole Mystery
[Based on a real U.S. project to drill a 5,000 meter hole into the Earth's crust in the early 1960s]
A drilling project in Dudley in the West Midlands region of the United Kingdom hits a cavern 20 miles beneath the surface of the Earth and detects strange microbes.
UNEXA send Russian Serge Smylov down to search for other forms of life in a rocket-propelled capsule but it is damaged when it hits the bottom of the cavern.
Then, strange creatures start attacking him... It becomes a race afgainst time ot see if Chris Godfrey can get down and rescue Serge!
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1969) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
"Chris Godfrey and his three companions were dead!" So begins Nearly Neptune, as we learn in flashback of the fire that badly damages the ship, and its apparent break-up, monitored by radar from Earth. Needless to say, our four friends have not perished, but it seems impossible for them to make it back to Earth when the hypothermia equipment has been irreprably damaged...
NOTE: Considered to be one of the best of the series... however.
Comparing the UK and US editions of this book, the text of the US version seems to have been quite heavily edited, usually by chopping sentences from the end of paragraphs. Interestingly, in the first chapter there is a reference to USEXA, the 'United States Exploration Agency', but, perhaps realising that the acronym for this would be somewhat unfortunate, the editor left further references to the United Nations Exploration Agency unchanged.
(1971) U.S. hardbound version of First Contact?
Radio signals begin flooding Earth from the vicinity of Uranus and two ships, each with a crew of four young men, are sent to investigate.
The signals are traced to an alien spaceship on Ariel, one of the moons of Uranus. The ships land and all but two enter the alien vessel to converse with the apparently friendly humanoid alien, Vari.
One of the two remaining crewmen believe the alien to be malevolent and becomes determines to destroy it, even if doing so will mean nobody gets back to Earth. His worst fears are realized when the alien cuts off all contact between shipmates, and to the Earth!
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1973) The Weekly Reader Book Club edition.
Chris has become deputy-director of UNEXA, and thus will not accompany Tony, Morrey and Serge on their next mission -- to be the first men to actuall see the planet Pluto and to discover the reason for small changes in its orbit. And, a reolutionary atomic engine will get them there in record time.
When they arrive, they discover the cause is a super-dense wandering planet, which has been named Planet X.
They then make a horrifying discovery -- not only have their fuel tanks developed holes during the journey, but Planet X is on a course and will decimate the solar system! There is only one hope for them, and it is the longest long shot possible!
This was the final pure "exploration" novel in the series as it them became more a space mystery and adventure series.
Book 15: Tony Hale, Space Detective
Something odd is gong on with the Model 279 electrical generator up in Lunar City and Morrey, Serge and Tony are sent there to find out the truth. Chris Godfrey is now in management and cannot join them. Once the get there it is discovered that several of the men from the colony have gone missing with no sign of what has happened to them.
Then, the unthinkable occurs when Morrey and Serge also go missing while outside on the surface. Tony is left behind to try to make heads or tails from all this and decides that xsome gool old detective work is called for.
He has his suspicions, but what he discovers both inside and outside Lunar City will change things up there forever!
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1975) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
Morrey, Serge, Tony and their new crew head to Mars to investigate a death. Some owuld say it was a sicide but they believe the signs point to murder! After what recently happened with the rogue Commander and some of his staff on the Moon, U.N.E.X.A. is greatly interested in seeing the seame thing is not happening on the Red Planet.
There are several prime suspects such as the man's ormer lover along with a number of people who truly disliked the dead man.
One man seems to be their best suspect, but a young woman he appears to be protecting believes he in innocent. Tony has a nagging thought he might not be the right man, and so he hatches a plot to unmask the murderer--by putting himself in danger of becoming the crimonal's next victim!
This book provided to the group by Steve R. THANKS!
(1977) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
Chris Godfrey is on vacation in Majorca with his fellow astronauts. They visit the famous underground city of Drach where they encounter Evernezer Yatesm ab ekderly and rich American who is distressed becasue his grandson has disappeared.
There is one cavern nobody is allowed to explore with armed soldirs guarding the entrance, but Mr. Yates knows the boyt is fascinated by forbidden caves and is sure the boy slipped inside.
It is a cave regarded with such terror nobody wants to talk about it. The young men are determned ot get to the bottom of the mystery and rescue the boy. Chris quickly comes to the conclusion the dangers in the cave are unilke anything they have ever encountered.
This book provided to the group by Leo L. THANKS!
(1978) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
Astronomers at an International Symposium face an alarming discovery. An eclispe of the sun happens earlier that expected and it has affected the Moon's orbit. Now, all evidence points to the Moon drawing ever closer to Earth.
Ex-Wing Commander Billy Gillanders of U.N.E.X.A. is contacted for advice, and he and his deputy, Chris Godfrey, provide the astonomers with one faint hope. It involves a series of unproved experiments from an ecentric old professor who may or may not wish to assist them.
If he does, will his earlier discoveries be proven to be valid and can Chris and U.N.E.X.A. make use of them—in time—to save the world?
And, can "man" work together to build the most ambitious project in history or is squabbling, greed, ignorance and panic to lead to mankind's extinction?
This book provided to the group by Leo L. THANKS!
(1979) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
When the three astronauts Morrey Kant, Serge Smyslov and Tony Hale come to Guernsey at the invitation oftheir friend Chris Godfrey they are expectingjust a pleasant holiday. But Chris, who is Deputy Director of the United Nations Exploration Agency, knows that there is another reason for the visit.
The astronauts are to investigate the many UFO sightings which have been reported from Guernsey and in particular to meet Sue Howard, whose experience has been unique: other people have seen UFOs, but she has seen the Aliens — or so she believes.
The world leaders are suspendingjudgement while they wait for Chris’s report — all but one. General Whittle, the head of the forces of the United Nations Organisation, has made up his mind already. lf Aliens appear on Guernsey, he intends to destroy them, whatever the consequences.
This book provided to the group by Leo L. THANKS!
Book 20: The Dark Triangle NOW AVAILABLE!
(1981) The original U.K. (Faber) printing.
For years the occasional plane or ship has been disappearing after entering the ‘Bermuda Triangle’ in the western Atlantic, but the facts have been hushed up. Now the Prime Minister of Great Britain and the President of the United States have vanished and the mystery can no longer be ignored.
The United Nations Exploration Agency is ordered to solve it and the Director sends for his Deputy, Chris Godfrey. Chris is not content with theoretical investigations; he is determined to take the risk of entering the Triangle and his friends Morrey, Serge and Tony are determined to go with him. They are provided with every modern means of communication, but Serge believes that telepathy might also help. The astronauts can find no one with whom they can communicate telepathically, but Sue Howard, whom they met in strange circumstances in The Blue Aura, proves once again that she possesses unusual powers.
This book is being provided by Neil N. THANKS for completing the series for us all!
NOTE TO ALL: I have the indicated editions and in some cases it is the same for the U.S. as for British, but others are very different indeed.
If you have one of the books in an edition I do not have I will gladly scan and post it as an alternative version.
Also, if anyone has the slightest inkling if there is an existing version of Walters' book 21 in the series (THE GLASS MEN - never published) I would love to hear what you know as I hope to resurect it from its ashes.
We're sort of complete. If you know of or have the other published version in this series and would like to send them to me for careful scanning and posting (with credit given) please email me:
Here is the entire list of the Chris Godfrey books, including the alternate (US) names (--). Books on hand indicated with √:
-- Blast Off at Woomera (1957) aka Blast Off at 0300 √
-- The Domes of Pico (1958) aka Menace from the Moon √
-- Operation Columbus (1959) aka First on the Moon √
-- Moon Base One (1960) aka Outpost on the Moon √
√ Expedition Venus (1962)
√ Destination Mars (1963)
√ Terror by Satellite (1964)
√ Journey to Jupiter (1965)
√ Mission to Mercury (1965)
√ Spaceship to Saturn (1967)
-- The Mohole Mystery (1968) aka The Mohole Menace √
√ Nearly Neptune (1968) aka Neptune One is Missing --
√ First Contact? (1971)
√ Passage to Pluto (1973)
√ Tony Hale, Space Detective (1973)
√ Murder on Mars (1975)
√ The Caves of Drach (1977)
√ The Last Disaster (1978)
√ The Blue Aura (1979)
√ The Dark Triangle (1981)
The Glass Men (unpublished)