Apollo and The Bomb: A study of the influence of space exploration and a possible nuclear war on British science fiction television of the 1970s and 80s.

by Adam D.A. Manning

A study of the influence of space exploration and a possible nuclear war on British science fiction television of the 1970s and 80s.

Covering series such as Moonbase 3, Star Cops and Doctor Who, this is a detailed examination of the interplay between real space exploration, from Project Apollo, the Space Shuttle era and the earliest plans for what later became the International Space Station, with what to many was a golden age of British science fiction television.

Another theme running through these decades is the oppressive and incessant fear of nuclear war, as relations between the USA and the USSR waxed and waned. Arguably, space exploration was in itself a symptom of Cold War tensions. Did those tensions and the fear of a nuclear apocalypse influence British science fiction television as well?

45 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 23, 2018

Reviews

[Gareth · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very interesting analysis of the cold war space exploration era. Full of history I never knew.

[James Kinsley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Draws some interesting parallels between British sci-fi of the 70s and 80s, and the real world events that helped inform it.