The Twilight Zone has captivated, teased and haunted the imaginations of countless millions of viewers from 1959 debut through its 156 subsequent episodes and many rebroadcast. This companion is the complete show-by-show guide to one of television's all-time greatest series. Zicree's account of the series from inception to cancellation, through syndication and subsequent offshoots and remakes, is fascinating reading for even the most casual fan. Coverage of each episode includes a plot synopsis, critical commentary, behind-the scenes stories and anecdotes from the original artists who created the series, a complete list of cast and credits and over 200 production photographs.
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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com Review
The Twilight Zone Companion is one of the finest examinations of a television series. Author Marc Scott Zicree spent five years researching and writing what is without a doubt the definitive look at this classic horror-fantasy-science fiction show. (The series originally ran from 1959 to 1965, but is still seen in syndication around the world.) Not only is the book an exhaustive episode-by-episode guide, but the author apparently interviewed every living soul who was ever associated with the show. It's quite likely that creator Rod Serling, who died before the book saw publication in 1982, would have been suitably impressed by the respect and dedication that clearly went into this labor of love. Zicree later revised and expanded The Twilight Zone Companion for a second edition in 1989, and discusses both the briefly revived series and the feature film based on the show. --Stanley Wiater
From Library Journal
From its signature theme song, to its many memorable images, to its very name, Rod Serling's The Twilight Zone is ingrained in our collective conscious like no other TV show. In this 40th-anniversary, updated edition of his 1982 American Book Award-nominated volume, Zicree takes readers through every episode of the show's five seasons (1959-64). In addition to credits and plot synopses, the author provides background on each episode, along with numerous pictures. Essential for all Zone fansAand who isn't one?
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
260 of 268 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Although this is the best episode guide on TZ, the author fails to accurately analyze many of the shows. At times he seems to randomly nitpick and bash episodes that fans have loved for years. In addition, some of the shows receive only a few lines of analysis, while other shows receive very lengthy and detailed coverage. However, if you are a very big TZ fan, like me, you need this book. Some of the comments by Zicree are insightful, and his coverage of the series is the most extensive thus far.
363 of 377 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Where this book is great is in the background work behind the scenes of getting the Twilight Zone off the ground, the history of the man himself, Serling, and the "facts" that range from the obscure, to the truly bizarre. Where this book suffers is in the authors extreme lack of vision when trying to discuss the episodes. Truly, an interpretation is a matter of opinion, however, when ideas are kicked around about classic material, I for one, have to draw the line. Example: The Old Man in the Cave. The author brings up the awkward idea of how the "old man" (the computer) is powered through all the years since the aftermath. Even going so far as sounding negative that the old man could run at all. Uh, that's the kind of stuff an eight year old would roll around their mind. Totally uncalled for, not to mention unnecessary. I wish their were a book written by people who seem to understand the Zone, or even like it. Marc, thanks for the book, it is an interesting read as far as fact, but leave the fiction to the master.
*EDIT*
Also, there is far too much time devoted in explaining what each episode is about. I for one watch an episode, then refer to the "book" and find out the tidbits. Frustrating, when there is 4 paragraphs of "what the episode" is about (what I already knew) and barely 1 paragraph of tidbit. Looking at the book, it is bulky and one would assume it is chock full of useful stuff, not really, it's chock full of stuff you already knew. I don't know anyone who would buy a book like this and never watch the show.
289 of 299 people found the following review helpful
By E. Olague
Format:Paperback
This companion book is very necessary for any fan of The Twilight Zone. It offers, interviews, insight, cast lists, dates, EVERYTHING; even an extensive look into the lives and/or backgrounds of Rod Serling and the other writers - which I enjoyed.
Where it annoyed me is the fact that Zicree ends up criticizing and suggesting for us what to think of many episodes. Throughout the whole book, he bashes scripts (eg. "If such and such were changed or taken out, it would have been better." "This script is cliche-ed"), actors and actresses (eg. "...with and uninspired performance by..."), directors (eg. "...in the hands of any other director, this could have been great...").
Zicree even "nit picks" on facts: there's an episode in which he points out that Rod Serling had gotten the distance from Earth to the planet Venus wrong. LOL WHO CARES?!! Serling was an overworked writer (which Zicree makes very clear, but still decides to nit pick), not a NASA engineer! There's also another passage in which he proclaims an episode a disappointment just because the plot is slightly possible. "Any episode that is this grounded in reality, should be considered a disappoinment." Ok, thanks for letting us know Marc. *sigh* Pleeease... Further in the book, he starts off an episode's commentary with, "Despite the basically absurd premise..." WHAT?! It's science fiction! It's the TWILIGHT ZONE! Aren't all the stories based on absurd premises?! Not to mention, that aforementioned quote about being "too grounded in reality" - now the TZ is too absurd for him?!? What an annoying little man this Zicree dude is...
I was hoping for more behind the scenes info such as commentary from people who actually worked on the episodes, or how certain effects were accomplished in such an era. While there is a lot of those two things too; I was hoping for a lot more it. And A LOT less of the writer's feelings and bashings of the episodes he felt like picking on.
Still this book is a required read for any fan.
Where it annoyed me is the fact that Zicree ends up criticizing and suggesting for us what to think of many episodes. Throughout the whole book, he bashes scripts (eg. "If such and such were changed or taken out, it would have been better." "This script is cliche-ed"), actors and actresses (eg. "...with and uninspired performance by..."), directors (eg. "...in the hands of any other director, this could have been great...").
Zicree even "nit picks" on facts: there's an episode in which he points out that Rod Serling had gotten the distance from Earth to the planet Venus wrong. LOL WHO CARES?!! Serling was an overworked writer (which Zicree makes very clear, but still decides to nit pick), not a NASA engineer! There's also another passage in which he proclaims an episode a disappointment just because the plot is slightly possible. "Any episode that is this grounded in reality, should be considered a disappoinment." Ok, thanks for letting us know Marc. *sigh* Pleeease... Further in the book, he starts off an episode's commentary with, "Despite the basically absurd premise..." WHAT?! It's science fiction! It's the TWILIGHT ZONE! Aren't all the stories based on absurd premises?! Not to mention, that aforementioned quote about being "too grounded in reality" - now the TZ is too absurd for him?!? What an annoying little man this Zicree dude is...
I was hoping for more behind the scenes info such as commentary from people who actually worked on the episodes, or how certain effects were accomplished in such an era. While there is a lot of those two things too; I was hoping for a lot more it. And A LOT less of the writer's feelings and bashings of the episodes he felt like picking on.
Still this book is a required read for any fan.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great companion book
I recently bought and watched the entire Twilight Zone series on dvd. I bought this book at the same time as a companion piece. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Maximus
4.0 out of 5 stars
Informative and Enjoyable.
The volume begins with Rod Serling's background in Binghamtom, New York, and ends with his career fizzling out on television and his early death. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Steven Daedalus
5.0 out of 5 stars
Other Books are a Compliment to This One, Not a Replacement!
I have had Marc Scott Zicree's "The Twilight Zone Companion" for years. If you are only going to buy ONE book on "The Twilight Zone" TV series, this one is it. Read more
Published 2 months ago by Happy Reader
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Twilight Zone fan must
If you love the Twilight Zone, you must read. If you like the Twilight Zone, you should read. The Companion offers detailed insight, trivia and episode summary of one of the best... Read more
Published 3 months ago by 51000
5.0 out of 5 stars
...its what you need.
this really is the episode bible. there are other(really good) books but, this is the best one. the fact that its right around 10 dollars orso, also makes it real easy to open up... Read more
Published 4 months ago by mike
4.0 out of 5 stars
As described
Good resource for the many seasons / episodes of this program. Well packaged, as described, arrive on time. No problems.
Published 5 months ago by Kooper Mom
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Invaluable Guide to a Great TV Series
In 1960, 1961, and 1962 the Hugo award for best dramatic presentation went to a television series-- Rod Serling's _The Twilight Zone_. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Paul Camp
3.0 out of 5 stars
Buy it as a used book only
When I got my copy of this book I got it at a book fair where you could get a bag of books for five bucks. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Steve Reina
1.0 out of 5 stars
A disappointment.
Let me say first off, that I am a great Twilight Zone admirer. I think that the series is the greatest thing that show business has ever produced. Read more
Published 9 months ago by DONKEY
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Good Companion
There is no doubt after having read Marc Scott Zicree's book "The Twilight Zone Companion" that anyone who is a fan of the original TV show, which ran on CBS from 1959 to 1964,... Read more
Published 14 months ago by Janet Chandler
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