Customer Reviews

Science Fiction Television Series: Episode Guides, Histories, and Casts and Credits for 62 Prime Time Shows, 1959 Through 1989

5 star:		(4)
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What makes this guide especially fascinating are the numerous candid in-depth interviews with the producers and writers of these shows, giving much insight into the creative process and the trials and tribulations of creating innovative television shows. There are countless behind-the-scenes anecdotes that have, I am sure, never seen print before. I thought I knew a lot about certain shows, but this book contained info that was new to me; and even reading the articles about shows I never watched (and the entries on each show are long and detailed) I could scarcely put the book down. This book serves as a reference, but it is more than that; it has a wealth of fascinating insights into the television industry itself.

It's past time that someone put some thought and effort into a book of this nature. We've had "Science Fiction TV" guides before, and they've uniformly been written by authors whose axes could be heard grinding away throughout as they slagged shows they disliked and drooled over shows they (often unaccountably) were fans of. Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia have done a good job of research and writing here, with few and minor mistakes. The chapter on "Battlestar Galactica," which is accurate and contains a good deal of information, much of it from new interviews done especially for this book, is worth the price of admission alone. If you're a fan of science fiction on TV, this book, in spite of its price, should be on your bookshelf. Very highly recommended.

This book represents the pinnacle in terms of a blend of behind-the-scenes insights and anecdotes combined with basic reference data. The multitude of interviews that went into the text give the material a depth that the more common coverage of sci-fi shows rarely attains. Like other books by McFarland, it's pricey, but I can think of none that give the reader better value for their dollar.

I recently read a blog on an unrelated website in which Mark Phillips spent several pages sharing the critics' impressions of many of the identical science fiction series reviewed in the book he co-wrote with Frank Garcia. The article was apparently authored solely by Phillips, which was somewhat of a disappointment. After reading his thorough retrospective of Babylon Five for Cinefantastique magazine, I was looking forward to reading Garcia's further reviews.

But I digress. My concern is not whether co-authors continue to share the limelight as if joined by the hip, but rather the time, place and manner this new work appeared. This may be a harbinger that there are stormy skies ahead.

What do Harlan Ellison and The Joker have in common? They both agree, if you're good at something, never do it for free. Indeed, Ellison, one of the most renowned science fiction writers of the Twentieth Century and author of the Star Trek episode, City on the Edge of Forever, for which he was awarded the Hugo, has established quite a track record of earning a living through the sale of the written word. Were I in the shoes of either Phillips or Garcia, I would certainly be more than inclined to take heed of his advice.

In his Youtube commentary, Pay the Writer, Ellison states, "The problem is, there's so many God-damn writers who have no idea that they're supposed to be paid every time they do something, they do it for nothing. 'Oh, good, they're going to look at me, I'm going to be noticed.'"

But noticed at what expense? If authors give away their work, where is the incentive for the reader (or publisher) to purchase it? If an infinite number of monkeys typed on an infinite number of typewriters for an infinite amount of time, the hypothesis is that eventually they would write the complete works of Shakespeare, Jonathan Swift, or even a retrospective of science fiction television series, 1959-1989.

However, if the author-monkeys who are responsible for writing these texts simply give them away for free, they make things more difficult on the ones who are doing this for a living. I believe this was the message Ellison was trying to convey, although I don't believe he was in the correct frame of mind to correlate the primate analogy.

History has shown when an author begins to dispense his wares for free, it is an indication that publishers are no longer interested in perusing their manuscripts. Hopefully this is not true with the case at hand. However, if a future book is forthcoming, it is my hope that the authors will secure a mainstream rather than an obscure publisher, and the price of their book will be much more affordable. In today's economy, it's unlikely that even the most dedicated reader will have the resources to purchase an $80.00 hardback.

From my own column (ex of Mania Magazine), Andy Mangels' Hollywood Heroes:

If you're a fan of science fiction television history, there is one indispensable book you must have in your collection. Science Fiction Television Series is subtitled "Episode Guides, Histories, and Cast and Credits for 62 Prime Time Shows, 1959 through 1989." It's written by Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia, both well-known writers for magazines like Starlog and Cinefantastique. Kenneth Johnson, producer/creator of V, The Incredible Hulk, Six Million Dollar Man, The Bionic Woman, Alien Nation, and more, contributed the introduction.

The hardcover book is a whopping 691 pages (!), and has photos throughout. Each series is given a historical overview, with interviews for the writers, producers, actors, cameramen, and more! Plus, you get an episode guide with correct titles, guest star information, and trivia. I've had this book on my shelf for a few months, and besides using it for research, I'm immensely entertained browsing through its pages.

What are some of the shows covered? Alien Nation, Auto Man, Captain Power, Cliffhangers, Greatest American Hero, Kolchak the Night Stalker, Logan's Run, Man From Atlantis, Misfits Of Science, Planet of the Apes, Quantum Leap, Spiderman, Starman, Star Trek, Superboy, Twilight Zone (all three series), V, Voyager, and Wonder Woman. And that's just to name a few! Plus, appendixes cover unsold SF pilots, and Emmy Award nominees and winners.

It's unlikely you'll find Science Fiction Television Series in your stores, as it's a specialty book largely aimed at researchers and libraries. It's well worth the price!

Once again, this gets my highest recommendation.

One of the most fascinating 'episode guides ' that has come on the market , a must have for any one associated or fan of the SF genre. An upto date episode guide / summary with an added bonus of interviews , with key actors directors of many favourite sf shows.