The 'Space Vixens From Mars' series are not only
light-hearted 'girls own' adventure novels but also
a fully integrated miniatures gaming
system, freely referencing the
cliche and metaphor of fifty years of sci-fi.See 'Merchandise' for details of how to obtain our gaming products and adventure novels. These are also available at most of our convention appearances.
Click 'Conventions Page' for details and pics of past and future shows.
With something for boys and girls of all ages the
saga begins in Y2K with the abduction from Earth of
seven young women by a mysterious race known as 'The
Greys'. Waking in the 26th century they are recruited by
Mars to protect a humanity reforming
in the aftermath of a vast war of aggression
against the peaceful Galactic Coalition by the evil United States Of Earth (USE).
The 'Space Vixens From Mars' universe is conceived and written by Gary Mitchell. Artwork is mainly by Frank Cutbush. Steve Purbrick makes a special contribution, Dawn Johnson writes material for new adventures, and the 'first team' is completed by 'Black Cat Bases', who cast our miniatures and provide business expertise.
We are constantly expanding our range of 'Space Vixens From Mars' 1/3000th scale ships
and 25mm figures to compliment existing vessels, rules and miniatures. Martin Baker is again
sculpting and all models are being cast by
'Black Cat Bases' (see
'For Sale' for details).
In addition to our own miniatures
we use converted
figures painted by Gary or Vixens artwork maestro Frank Cutbush
(pic left - who else?). These include a scratch-built model of the Vixen's ship 'Amazon'
(see pic above). We are currently in discussion about developing a 'kit' version.
'Book Six' is now complete. See below and 'For Sale' for details.
'Book Seven' will be a new volume of adventures, and is already on the stocks. Set four years after the events of 'Book Five' it will continue the adventure and launch the 'spin-off career' of 'rogue trader' and human hybrid Ste VanMooRe, his droid Ann; and associates the very human Captain Dawn Kimberly Johnson and telepathic arachnid's Flippy and Flappy. The back story of the newly formed Kingdom of Earth will also be elucidated.
We are happy consider the submission of 'fan fiction' and scenarios for 'official' universe inclusion.
'Fantasy' and 'historical' rule
supplements are also currently being tested. For a taster of these buy Issue 2 of
'Battlegames' magazine (May/June 2006) available from
www.battlegames.co.uk.
, where these are contained in Gary's historical article,
'Sharpe's Pride And Prejudice' . Fantasy Amazon stats have already been included in
issue 309 of
'Miniature Wargames' (Jan 2009); and 'Ragnorak 53' (Jan. 2009) contains a 'Dr Who'
variant as 'Regicide of Pokeham'
(see The Society of Fantasy And Science Fiction Wargamers ). We've also used
the rules for 'Star Trek' and 'Star Wars' games.
Articles about our show games have been published in 'Ragnorak 50' as 'The Pope Must Die' and in 'Ragnorak 53' with an article about 'Book 6' . Reviews have been published in the June 2006 and May 2008 and February 2009 editions of 'Miniature Wargames'; 'Ragnorak 51', April 2008's 'Wargames Illustrated' ; in May/June 2008's issue of 'Battlegames' - and many, many more on the Net - just 'Googlewhack' "Space Vixens From Mars"! Gary has also been interviewed about the project on TV!
See also 'Wargames Page' .
The story moves on six years to 2531. Led by dashing twentysomething George Windsor (former British King George XIV) the humans of Mars have been working to achieve democratic statehood within the Coalition, thereby proving mankind worthy of having Earth returned. On the eve of this momentous event a crashed Grey ship is recovered and found to contain our seven heroines in suspended animation. Knowing mankind's fearsome military reputation rogue Coalition intelligence plans to re-program them as super-warriors for their defensive war against a species of sentient plants called the Leylandii. The girls are rescued from this fate by the Martians - but not before a wealth of military expertese has been downloaded to their brains. Accordingly they begin training as special forces, pledge to defend humanity and to steer it towards a better future. As the episode concludes they prove their worth, and mankind is given new hope.
Episode One - ' Life In Mars' . The Vixens infiltrate the Tamajin , the 26th century Mafia, and discover a long lost Martian civilisation, surviving hidden from the rest of the galaxy for 65 million years.
'Book One' ends in 2532.
Ideal for sci-fi gamers everywhere it is the this complete background to the Space Vixens universe and includes full game rules for both ship-to-ship and tactical ground combat using miniature replicas plus non-combat role-play. Lavishly illustrated by artist Frank Cutbush, care has been taken to ensure that rules and systems will also be useful to gamers replicating other sci-fi universe.
Sections of the book include a universe Timeline, fully crossed-referenced and interfaced rules for ground and ship-to-ship actions, 'Player Briefings' and 'stats' on all the species, ships and main characters involved, plus rule expositions and a sample adventure 'Entrapment' .
'Book Two' covers up to 2532 and is updated by suppliments in each subsequent novel - available to purchasers of the full rules as a free PDF file. See 'For Sale' for details.
It is now 2533 - and 'Book Three' moves the story further onward.
Episode Seven, 'Dark Vixens Rising' sees impostor Space Vixens, warped by transfer from a parallel universe, help a resurgent USE fight back against Coalition forces.
In Episode Eight, 'Reach For The Sky', the
Vixens makes an emergency
landing at a Carnoustie fighter base and become involved with the turmoil
of some propaganda filmmakers while making a deep oenetration raid.
In the feature-length Episode Nine, 'The Trial Of Mavis Plumber', the 20th century British dictator is resurrected from suspended animation and put on trial. Meanwhile the surviving Dark Vixens and USE forces take control of a Taurasian industrial tech planet, Anistan Prime. Backed by the Coalition's enemies, the plant-like Leylandii, they restore the evil USE as a major power, rescue Plumber, and make her their titular head.
In Episode Ten, 'Operation Lumberjack' , the Martian fleet make the first ever raid on Leylandii homeworld, Leya.
Finally 'Book Three' provides full updates for players of the Adventure Game. Synopses are given for the 'oral-tradition-only' Episodes Two to Six. In indexed sequence new ship and character stats are provided for the miniatures rules, plus player briefing updates, a full colour plate of major new characters from the brush of Frank Cutbush, and handy 'quick reference sheets' to speed play. See 'For Sale' for details.
It is now 2534 - and in 'Book Four' the dramatic story accelerates as the war continues against the evil Leylandii and their human clients, the equally unsavoury USE.
In Episode Thirteen, ‘Planet Of The Goats’ ‘first contact’ is made with the
Caprican Empire, an alien world where evolution has progressed against ‘humanz’
in favour of ‘goats’. Accidentally tampering with another society the Vixens
risk alienating this powerful neutral power.
In Episode Fourteen, ‘God Moves’ the Vixens cheat death at the hands of a USE bomb. Guided by Martian patron St. Kylie, they allegedly go back in time to the siege of Troy, and to 2010, to correct the timeline for The Supreme Being. ‘Oxygen narcosis’ or genuine ‘vision’? The reader must decide whether or not some genuine ‘higher plan’ is being played out.
Working undercover in Episode Fifteen, ‘Port Merrion High’, the Vixens prevent the assassination of Pope Georgius-Annulus – and the reader gains insight into teenage life in a society out to eradicate prejudice, yet constantly threatened by terrorism.
The climax of the volume is reached with Episode Eighteen, a novelisation of pilot screenplay ‘Republic In Peril’. It is 2535, and as youngest Space Vixen, Hannah Smith, marries Mars’ democratically elected leader, Governor George Windsor, the USE invade Mars. With help from the rest of the Coalition the Martians re-establish freedom. But at what price? In the constitutional climax, setting the scene for sequel Episode ‘Once And Future King’, threats to the Republic come in many forms…
As in 'Book Three' full updates are provided for players of the Adventure Games Rules. Synopses are given for ‘oral-tradition-only’ episodes, and in indexed sequence new ship and character stats are provided for the miniatures rules, plus three full colour plates of major new characters and equipment. See 'For Sale' for details.
An extract of this adventure, 'Planet Karr' appears on the CD ‘Suddenly… I’m An Award Winning Novelist’ . See 'For Sale' .
Now in publication - and concorded to the full rule book (up to the end of Volume Four!) - 32 A4 pages containing starter rules for ground skirmish combat, colour plates for painting, plus basic universe guide and all you need to get started (except the miniatures, which are also available). See 'For Sale' page for details.
‘Book Four’ ended in January 2535 with a USE invasion of Mars thwarted - and a cliff-hanger ending
concerning the constitutional crisis of an attempt to make comatose Governor Windsor ‘king. This story is taken up in ‘Episode Nineteen - ‘Once And Future King’ when, with original Vixens Yoko and Hannah leaving due to marriage and pregnancy, the girls take on new recruits the Marxist Tatiana Ulanov and the Muslim Aleya Assad. Uncovering an official ‘plot’ to solve ‘The Earth Question’ and grant the planet statehood they discover the key is Hannah’s unborn son Arthur - heir to the ancient house of Windsor. Despite a terrorist attack on the Martian Assembly the Red Planet’s democratic republic survives and thrives. Yoko and husband Stam concieve a mixed species child...
In ‘Episode Twenty-One -‘Phoenix’, evil Maria Cortes of the USE recovers a lost cruiser, the ‘Jefferson Davis’ , which the empire intends as a template to build a new battlefleet. They also devise an antidote to the Space Vixens in ‘The Protectoral Guard’, led by Cortes’ new lover, the dashing but ruthless Colonel Purbrick.
In ‘Episode Twenty-Three –‘’1957’’, Tatiana and Aleya return to the past after 'death' in a terrorist attack on 'Bar Viking' . Here they reconstruct the timeline for The Supreme Being - ensuring the meeting of Lennon and McCartney and - with a little help from their friends - the successful launch of Sputnik I. Back in 2535 the Space Vixens try to trace their 'missing' comrades as they are stood down to rest and reform.
In ‘Episode Twenty-Four - ‘Rex Quondam, Rexque Futurus’ despite an attempt by the USE to destroy the coronation - George and Hannah’s newborn son Arthur becomes King of Earth - his life to be guided by the newly elected Council. As man's homeworld finally achieves Coalition statehood Yoko and Hannah rejoin the Vixens (despite motherhood), but a reborn USE fleet is ready the scene, a phantom menace waiting in the wings...See 'For Sale' for details.
Now in publication - and concorded to the full rule book (up to the end of Volume Five!) - 56 A5 pages containing starter rules for space combat, colour plates for painting, plus basic universe guide and all you need to get started (except the miniatures, which are also available). See 'For Sale' page for details.
Eight of the Space Vixens greatest adventures are included - plus one never before released. Proceeds from the new adventure will go to help fund the restoration of 'Highcliffe Castle' .
CONTENTS: Timeline / Feature Length Pilot Episode 0.5 – Earth Fall, Mars Rise / Episode Seven – Dark Vixens Rising / Episode Eight – Reach For The Sky / Episode Ten – Operation Lumberjack / Episode 11.5 – The Mystery of Highcliffe Castle / (exclusive to this anthology) / Feature Length Episode Fourteen – God Moves / Feature Length Episode Eighteen – Republic In Peril / Episode Twenty-One – Phoenix / Episode Twenty Four – Rex Quondam, Rexque Futurus / Introductory Space Combat Game Rules (unillustrated) / Introductory Tactical Game Rules (unillustrated) /
See 'For Sale' page for details.
We've also filled in some timeline 'blanks' and prequels up to the end of 'Book Five' AND written a brand new adventure 'Episode 16.5 - Revelation Of The Space Vixens', as well as providing relevant rule updates and new character and ship stats.
The volume is additionally illustrated with new characters, as well as stills from some of our show games.