In the realm of sci-fi design, an idea transcends the page when it becomes instantly recognizable. In the case of Battlestar Galactica, the 1978 series introduced the world to a slightly cheesy show that possessed incredibly innovative design that, to this day, has endured. From the Galactica Viper ships to the Cylon Raiders, their silhouettes have become instantly recognizable in sci-fi circles, and so well known that many survived the updating for a new generation in 2003's Battlestar Galactica reboot. 

In the 43-years of admiration for the aesthetics of Battlestar Galactica's space vehicles, it was clearly time to do a real deep-dive into the hows and whys of the universe's design with Hero Collector Books new exploration, Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships. 

Written by Mark Wright, Paul Ruditis and Ian Spelling, Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships contains 200 pages packed with original concept art from an array of Battlestar Galactica designers including Eric Chu, Andrew Probert, and the legendary artist Ralph McQuarrie. Available at all bookstores on November 16, 2021, the tome focuses in 18 specific ships from the 1978, 2003 and Blood and Chrome series. Vessels of note include the Ragtag Fleet and the Cylon enemy, the Galactica, as well as Vipers, Cylon Raiders, and more.

SYFY WIRE has several exclusive pages from the Cylon Baseship chapter of Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships that feature the work of seminal futurist and space designer, Ralph McQuarrie:

If you're not familiar with the name McQuarrie, he was an illustrator who worked closely with director George Lucas on the concept art that would define the look of 1977's Star Wars. With his art making waves and plenty of buzz amongst his peers, McQuarrie was hired to put his stamp on the look of Glen A. Larson's upcoming space television series, Battlestar Galactica. 

The book details how McQuarrie's real-world style fused together the fanciful with the practical. Throughout this sketches and early concepts, fans can see what made his designs for the Battlestar Galactica universe reasonable in theoretical form and function. 

In other chapters, the book reveals the updates done to the vessels that carry through to the 2003 series, with concept work from VFX house, Zoic Studios who helped realize the ships in the new series that eventually went on to win Emmy Awards. Battlestar Galactica: Designing Spaceships is priced at $34.95 in the U.S. and $44.95 in Canada.