Titan Books is unleashing a salvo of Terminator tomes in 2009 to accompany the release of Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins, the fourth entry in the storied film franchise, which is slated to debut in May of 2009.  Titan fires its opening barrage in March with the release of two hardcover volumes, Terminator Salvation: The Movie Companion ($19.95) and The Art of Terminator Salvation ($40).  Also in March Titan is publishing Terminator Salvation: The Official Movie Prequel Novel ($7.99), which sets the scene for the new film, while in April Titan follows up with the Official Terminator Salvation Movie Novelization ($7.99).  For its parting shots Titan will unleash two spin-off novels, with the first as-yet-unnamed volume launching in September.

The key volumes for collectors are The Movie Companion, a heavily illustrated chronicle of the making of the film filled with interviews and commentaries from cast and crew; and The Art of Terminator Salvation, which details the film’s intricate design, stunning computer-generated imagery, and stylish production art.

Retailers should note that unlike this year, because of the writers’ strike the summer of 2009 will see a relative dearth of effects-laden action films with larger than life characters.  Marvel Studios is not releasing a major film next summer, nor does Warner Bros. have a DC blockbuster ready to go.  Terminator Salvation, Transformers 2 and a handful of more conventional action films will have far less competition for the action film audience next summer than their counterparts are encountering this year.