Future tense: The cinema of science fiction

by John Brosnan

Future Tense anticipates every question that a lover of cinematic science fiction could want to ask. Technical mastery and special effects, the differences between written science fiction and filmed science fiction, history and lore of the genre - are all covered here along with plot summaries and analyses of the greatest and most notorious films, among them "The Thing", " Invasion of the Body Snatchers", and "The Incredible Shrinking Man."

320 pages, Hardcover

First published December 14, 1978

About the author

* Pen names:
Harry Adam Knight, Simon Ian Childer, James Blackstone, John Raymond

John Raymond Brosnan was an Australian writer of both fiction and non-fiction works based around the fantasy and science fiction genres. He was born in Perth, Western Australia, and died in South Harrow, London, from acute pancreatitis. He sometimes published under the pseudonyms Harry Adam Knight, Simon Ian Childer (both sometimes used together with Leroy Kettle), James Blackstone (used together with John Baxter), and John Raymond. Three not very successful movies were based on his novels–Beyond Bedlam (aka Nightscare), Proteus (based on Slimer), and Carnosaur. In addition to science fiction, he also wrote a number of books about cinema and was a regular columnist with the popular UK magazine Starburst.

Reviews

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

I picked this up whiled working through a donation at the book store (yes I am sure you are all bored with this by now) but there is a reason I pounced on this title.
A while ago i read Primal Screen by John Brosnan and found it an excellent book to read - however it did make reference to this book since this really only goes up to 1978 while the Primal Screen picks up and carries it on from there.

Anyway this book! IT is a fun and witty read without being either patronising or too highly opinionated. I am very much a person who likes to make up his own mind - and I do not like people who try and do it for me. I do however appreciate things being pointed out to me, and then I can make a more informed decision if you like. Well John Brosnan does just that. He tells the story of the film, its struggle (or not) to get made and its general reception and in some cases how it went on to shape the science fiction film industry.
As you can imagine the more modern films get larger and larger entries till you get almost who sections dedicated to the comments and quotes of those involved with their filming.
All in all it was an interesting read and I think an honest and open account of how the massive money making film industry genre took its first hesitant steps.

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

Both opinionated and informative, this is a good read for anyone interested in science fiction films and their connection to the wider genre. I noticed some misinformation regarding some of the films mentioned (for example, the description of the plot of Conquest of the Planet of the Apes was incorrect), but these weren't errors that affected the book very much overall.

[John Walsh]

Brosnan is one of the most interesting writers on SF film. He actually comes across as someone who thinks about these films, and doesn't just fill pages with common knowledge and common opinions (i.e. Spielberg = good, something truly odd and different = "You're a weirdo!"). Also, I think he's British, or was, and they're always good at hatin' on American SF, so it's always funny to see their inferiority complex workin'. :D Kidding.

[Cat Springer · Rating 4 out of 5]

Should be available as a used text from most any online bookseller, Brosnan's "Future Tense" is a personal appraisal of the history of science fiction in the cinema from the silent era through "Star Wars". Very informative, anecdotal. Updated as "The Primal Screen".