The Science Fiction Universe and Beyond: Syfy Channel Book of Sci-Fi by Michael Mallory

by Michael Mallory

Travel where no man has gone before with this decade-by-decade progression of science-fiction classics. From the classic, low-budget space exploration Flash Gordon tales of the Saturday matinee serials, to the slick CGI-realized world of The Matrix, science-fiction films have long been pushing the boundaries of the visually and dramatically fantastic—turning the known world on its head, playing with the laws of physics, and all the while holding their audience spellbound. The Science Fiction Universe . . . and Beyond offers a breadth of knowledge, insight, and passion to a century of close encounters, black holes, time travel, distant planets, impossible quests, nuclear war, futuristic technology, inexplicable forces, spaceships, extraordinary monsters, and subterranean societies.Arranged chronologically, showing the progression of sci-fi over the decades, and delving into interesting back stories and trivia, this volume includes a variety of classic films and television shows, such as The Day the Earth Stood Still (1951), Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956), The Twilight Zone (1959–1964), Doctor Who (1963–1989), 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968), A Clockwork Orange (1971), Star Wars, Episode IV—A New Hope (1977), Alien (1979), The Extra-Terrestrial (1982), Star The Next Generation (1987–1994), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Stargate SG-1 (1997–2007), Battlestar Galactica (2004–2009), and many others.

Genres: Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published September 25, 2012

About the author

Michael Mallory is an internationally-recognized authority on the subjects of film, animation and 20th century pop-culture, and the author of sixteen nonfiction books, which include The Art of Krampus, Essential Horror Movies, and Marvel: The Characters and their Universe. With the legendary American animation artist Iwao Takamoto he co-authored the memoirs Iwao Takamoto: My Life With a Thousand Characters, and has written more than 600 magazine and newspaper articles that have been published worldwide. A former newscaster, occasional actor, and frequent public speaker, Mike lives and works in the greater Los Angeles area.

Reviews

[Andy Hickman · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The Science Fiction Universe and Beyond: Syfy Channel Book of Sci-Fi” by Michael Mallory
[9780789324474]

Thorough look at a broad range of sci-fi movies & tv programs spanning the complete chronology of motion pictures. ****

“Through science fiction, every aspect of the human condition can be explored … real fans of the genre know that sci-fi also encompasses such areas as time travel, alternative history, future societies, imagined technologies, parallel dimensions, and so much more. … They have explored our world, alien worlds, parallel dimensions, politics, religion, science, family, and the human heart.” (p6-7)

Spotlight on Doctor Who:
“(Tom) Baker, who was towering and bushy-haired and possessed a grin like an auto grille, would become the most popular Doctor, playing the part in eccentric fashion while clad in Victorian dress and a floor-length scarf.” (p189)

“.. the Tenth Doctor, played with loquacious intensity by David Tennant, who, for many, eclipsed even Tom Baker's Fourth Doctor in popularity.” (p190)

* loquacious = tending to talk a great deal; talkative.

Movies I plan to watch:
Metropolis (1927)
Things to Come (1936)
The War of the Worlds (1953) & book
Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1956) & book
The Time Machine (1960) & book
Fahrenheit 451
Silent Running (1972)
Westworld (1973)

Mistake on pages 202 & 205. Milla Jovovich is not spelt 'Mila'.