Tintin Forums

BlueBlisteringBarnacles
I wonder whether they'll republish it i the usual format in the future, seems strange to have it in such a format, does the series not sell very well?

I have suggested here that the problem might be similar to “Congo” – the depiction of the natives is rather obnoxious both pictorially and in terms of how they are made to act and react; perhaps Methuen saw it as a problem best avoided, and the Sundancer edition served as a generally limited collector’s edition, which was available through specialist outlets, satisfying the demand for an English-language version.

Just a guess, but I think it fits the evidence quite well.

Well I bought a copy and there are several still behind the counter. The introduction at the front with the magazine covers is a very nice addition. Given that the edition is obviously a collectors' edition it is nice to see some though having gone into it. At least now I understan d the significance of the robot and tanks that always appeared on the inside covers of the other books (always confused me as a child). I wonder if Thermozero will ever see the light of day (sorry, that's really for the thermozero thread).

Thanks for the info BBB! I'll add it to my website as a place that might be able to get the book!

Rik

Just a note to add that the Tintin Shop are still selling copies of this, for £15. I ordered it from their website, along with some other stuff last week, and though the rest of the books arrived within 48 hours (I'm always impressed by the speed with which they process orders!), there was a little note in with them saying that The Secret Ray was out of stock, but they'd send one along as soon as they got some more in. Thought I was in for a long wait, but it actually arrived this morning!

It's a handsome volume all right, and well worth picking up. It's a rattling good read, if taken in the same spirit as old movie serials, such as Flash Gordon, which were being made at roughly the same time as it was originally printed in PV! In fact, it's rather satisfying to view it as a series of episodes, given the breathless, constant rounds of capture, escape and deadly peril throughout.

The loony scientist is indeed rather OTT, but suits the fantastic nature of the storyline as a whole. I think if I'd read this as a nipper I'd have found him somewhat frightening, with his habits of flying off the handle, being perfectly beastly to the young heroes and zapping his henchmen with that handy raygun-torch thingy!

The natives on the island are definitely portrayed in an even worse light than in Congo, and I can see why this has probably caused similar problems with producing a "standard" edition. Even so, I reckon my nephew, who's trying to get to grips with Tintin (he's only 6, and he's finding some of them heavy going), would find this to be right up his street. I might even get him a copy for his birthday this month, assuming that the Tintin Shop hasn't sold out again!

I've got The Secret Ray and Valley of the Cobras in Swedish. They're pretty good, although not as good as Tintin of course. ;)

I eventually got around to ordering my copy of 'The Secret Ray' from the Floral St. Tintin Shop today :) I'm unduly excited about its arrival too.

I've been meaning to order it for the last few weeks after seeing it posted on the Tintin Shop website but a problem with JavaScript meant I couldn't order it online. I dallied around, until last night when I saw the book had been removed from the shop's website! In a bit of a panic I phoned this morning to order a copy only to be told that they had ONE copy left. Very fortunate! The lady on the phone said I was lucky to have it as it's no longer in print but that Casterman 'keep finding cases of them in their warehouse' and then send them over to the Tintin Shop.

Perhaps this accounts for why the shop has been able to keep selling them way past the book's publication date, and it also means that 'The Secret Ray' could well be available again in the Tintin Shop at some point in the future.

I'm one relieved Herge fan tonight though.

Rich :)

Could someone point me to the online Tintin Shop that is being spoken of, here? I would like to get a copy of The Secret Ray.

Thanks,
Gopal.

This is The Tintin Shop that usually stocks the book, unfortunately it's not currently listed on the site. However, if you contact them (details are on the homepage) they may have a few copies left over, or could reserve one for you when they get some more back in stock. Good luck !

Looks like I came in late :-( I wrote to The Tintin Shop and this was the response I got

"We have sold out and I don't think it is available anymore, you might be
able to find it on Ebay."

Thanks, Richard, for the link.

Gopal.

The Secret Ray is on the Tintin Shop's website today, so try again!

When I bought my copy there on a visit to London four or five years ago, I was told it was unlikely it would ever be reprinted, so you should get it while you can. I'm surprised that more boxes still keep turning up.