Science Fiction Television

by M. Keith Booker

Science fiction series have remained a staple of American television from its inception: classic programs such as "The Twilight Zone," "The Outer Limits," and "Star Trek," along with recent and current series including "Babylon 5" and "Stargate SG-1," have been some of the most enduring and influential of all television shows. In this chronological survey, author M. Keith Booker examines this phenomenon and provides in-depth studies of the most important of these series. Science Fiction Television traces the development of the genre as a distinct cultural phenomenon within the context of broader developments in American culture as a whole.

In the process, it offers a unique and informative guide for television fans and science fiction fans alike, one whose coverage is unprecedented in its scope and breadth. A must-read for anyone interested in its subject or in American popular culture, "Science Fiction Television" is a perceptive and entertaining history of one of television's most lasting forms of entertainment.

Genres: Nonfiction

202 pages, Hardcover

First published July 1, 2004

Reviews

[Craig Langon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having read Keith Booker’s excellent books on the Dystopian genre and literary theory, I was quite looking forward to this as a fan of SF and SF TV in particular. The book has a lot of information and the author definitely has a grasp on the subject but the prose style isn’t quite as clear as usual. Most chapters simply consist of the author recounting or summarizing plots from various TV episodes with little else in the way of info. If you are looking for a book that is more history and behind the scenes oriented about sci-fi then pass on this. If you want a book that quickly spoils the plot of every sci-fi series but accurately summarizes entire seasons in a few chapters with the occasional minor mistakes then this is your best bet. (e.g. Farscapes’s Peacekeepers were not mercenaries and some of the Doctor details were wrong.)

[inhonoredglory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book. Goes academically in-depth into the many important television milestones in sci-fi, and really gave me (who has never seen most of these series but am avidly interested in knowing about them) a great overview of what these programs were about, their tone, the important characters or plot arcs, and impact on sci-fi television or culture. It covers everything from The Twilight Zone to things like The Prisoner and Blake's 7 to watershed programs like Star Trek. With each highlighted show, it draws comparisons to predecessors and explains how the genre was affected (or not) by that program. It's incredible to see how this medium reflects current cultural ideas/concerns. Definitely a fave.