Gauntlet will be publishing, in two volumes, THE TWILIGHT ZONE SCRIPTS OF CHARLES BEAUMONT. Beaumont, who is credited with writing 22 episodes of the Twilight Zone, is considered one of the major writers for the series, next to Richard Matheson. Beaumont died in 1967 at the age of 38. The volumes will be edited by Roger Anker, who had also edited Charles Beaumont: Selected Stories, which won the 1989 Bram Stoker Award for Superior Achievement in a Fiction Collection. We are only publishing those scripts Beaumont wrote alone (not those co-written or ghost-written). Each volume will contain at least one unproduced script.
Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
For readers of popular fiction, this is a masterpiece that will live long past our time. -- Ed Gorman
From the Publisher
For only those ordering through Gauntlet Press, you receive a free chapbook containing an unpublished short story by Beaumont called "The Child".
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
There is a fifth dimension beyond that which is known to man.,
By
This review is from: The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont (Hardcover)
During the heart of the 1940's, in a typical Los Angeles bookstore, a teenage man and a slightly older gent meet for the first time, the teen striking up conversation about his comic book collection. The 17-year-old's name was Charles Beaumont, the other being the already "accomplished" author Ray Bradbury; and out of their blossoming friendship would be born "The Southern California School of Writers" -- which would, in turn, aid in the birthing of...The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont, Volume One, edited by Roger Anker. Gauntlet Press, September 2004. 8.5" x 11" hardcover binding, limited numbered edition of 500-750 copies (limitation quantity to be finalized) signed by Christopher Beaumont. 440 pages. The meeting of Beaumont and Bradbury, a 26-year-old with a first collection of short stories already in the works from Arkham House Publishers, would culminate in a student-mentor relationship between the two. While Bradbury would always maintain a mentorship status, it was Beaumont's destiny to be the central figure in the now legendary "Southern California School of Writers" -- a forward-thinking circle of authors whose profound effect on the evolution of fantastic literature, in both film and print, can still be felt today. While creator Rod Serling was contractually obligated to write 80% of the episodes for The Twilight Zone, the lion's share of the remaining scripts were done by Beaumont and, fellow "Southern California School of Writers" member, Richard Matheson. The Twilight Zone was designed around a very simple plot structure: a teaser opening that would leave the audience hanging, followed by a two act main body to flesh out and evolve the story, all finalizing in either a surprise or ironic ending. Beaumont's "fertile imagination," to quote from Matheson's foreword, and "remarkable ability to present his ideas with such skill and power" led to "helping establish The Twilight Zone as a creative wonderland which was due to last and last and last." The subject of Beaumont's first Twilight Zone script, "Perchance to Dream," was an exploration into the dark carnival of Edward Hall's dream-life. Hiding beneath the pervasive sounds of calliope music and the jubilant screams of those enjoying the amusement park offerings, we find the reason why Hall is a man who mustn't go to sleep as he fears he'll never awaken. This decisive turn for The Twilight Zone, away from exploring the human condition and into the darker theme of a nightmare from which there is no escape, would be Beaumont's trademark style for the series. While he did explore the human condition ("Passage on the Lady Anne") and revisited the nightmare-life theme ("Person or Persons Unknown" and "In His Image"), he also probed into everything from telekinesis ("The Prime Mover") and voodoo curses ("The Jungle") to a far too pleasant afterlife ("A Nice Place to Visit") and encounters with Satan ("The Howling Man"). "The Howling Man" is sure to be recognized by any Twilight Zone aficionado, as it continues to rank as one of the most beloved episodes ever made from the series. From open to close, this script is perhaps the most worthwhile read in the volume; for not only does it differ significantly from Beaumont's original short story (published in the November 1959 issue of the Harlan Ellison edited Rogue Magazine), but there is a subtlety to the text that was lost in translation to film. The other script to fascinate enthusiasts is "Gentlemen, Be Seated," since it remains unproduced to this day. The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont, Volume One opens with a preface by Beaumont's eldest son Christopher, a foreword by Matheson, and a prologue by editor Roger Anker -- who also provides insightful commentary after each of the nine scripts. These are bookended with an epilogue by Anker and an afterword from Earl Hamner, a fellow Twilight Zone alumni who owes much to Beaumont's guidance. Anker's essays are an especially wonderful read as he not only delves into the impact and history of the scripts but also includes pertinent biographical information regarding Beaumont's life. For both the die-hard fan and novice reader alike this book provides a breathtaking opportunity to step into the life of Charles Beaumont and to walk thru The Twilight Zone.
3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
At long last . . . .,
By
This review is from: The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont (Hardcover)
The TWILIGHT ZONE Scripts of Charles Beaumont, Volume One.Gauntlet Press, 2004 440 pages ; $66.00 ISBN: 1-887369-73-6 Gauntlet Press continues to put out books that deserve wider attention than they recieve. Over the last several years they have released beautiful and scholarly volumess that make available watershed works, usually long out-of-print, from seminal horror and sci-fi writers. Their most recent book is the first in a series that will eventually collect the complete TWILIGHT ZONE scripts of Charles Beaumont. While Rod Serling's name remains synonymous with THE TWILIGHT ZONE, Beaumont's work on the series should not be underestimated. Several episodes that have entered our social consiousness, like "The Howling Man" and "The Prime Mover," were either scripted by Beaumont, based upon his short stories, or both. As such, it was a true pleasure to find the original, uncut shooting scripts to these classic works finally being made available to the public. The scripts themselves are smart, lean, and engaging. In a perfect world, they would be required reading for anyone considering a career in screenwriting. Beaumont knew how to create compelling characters and hold a viewer's interest, but more importantly he knew how to plot a story in a way that both intrigued and satisfied. Even in the unproduced script that the volume provides, "Gentlemen, Be Seated," there is evidence of his mastery of the craft. It is testament to his powers as a writer that even now, 30 years after they were written, the stories Beaumont told caused the hair on my arms to arch, and my neck to tighten with suspense. This thick volume leaves no doubt that Beaumont was as talented a scriptwriter as he was a short story writer, and provides several glimpses into his creative process. By interviewing both TWILIGHT ZONE production staff, actors, and Beaumont's family, editor Roger Aniker makes sure each episode is placed in its proper historical, social, and literary context. Even more importantly, he places each script squarely into Beaumont's biography, revealing what was going on in his life at the time and interspersing his friend's recollections and observations of Beaumont's tragically short life. Gauntlet Press continues to impress me with each volume they release, and this is no exception. An indespensible volume for both TWILIGHT ZONE fans and lovers of fantastic literature, the nine scripts in this book serve as not only a portal to other worlds, but a fitting memorial for one of the most brilliant, creative, and unsung writers of our time. For more information, go to the Gauntlet Press webpage: http://www.gauntletpress.com
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Only if you are a true TZ fan . . .,
By
This review is from: The Twilight Zone Scripts of Charles Beaumont (Hardcover)
Reprinting scripts to a television program we enjoy watching isn't very exciting. Even less interesting for people trying to study film making, which is the point of reviewing scripts. Very few exceptions make scripts worth any value -- one being a page or two of dialogue that never made it to the finished production or handwritten notes from the author. While this is a valid and negative point, I would like to note that the commentary and insight behind the production of each episode is a plus. In fact, the best part of the book. Everything except the scripts is a big plus and worth the price of admission. The unproduced scripts are also a highlight.I share the same opinion with another reviewer: Marc Scott Zicree's book is NOT the "final word on Twilight Zone." The author who put this series of Rod Serling teleplay scripts did a good job with the commentary which makes Zicree's book even more obsolete. Amazon.com does offer a solution cheaper than the cost of even one volume of this script series. THE TWILIGHT ZONE: UNLOCKING THE DOOR TO A TELEVISION CLASSIC by Martin Grams Jnr. covers the entire series with 800 plus pages of behind-the-scenes trivia, exclusive interviews with cast and crew and a detail level will exceed anyone's expectation. if you are looking for a book that covers "everything" about the TV series, the Grams book is the one to invest. If you are looking for scripts to read, then this is your best source. As for this script book, don't buy this unless you want to spend hours reading the same dialogue you can watch on TV tonight.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tag this product(What's this?)Think of a tag as a keyword or label you consider is strongly related to this product.
Tags will help all customers organize and find favorite items. |
Sell a Digital Version of This Book in the Kindle Store
If you are a publisher or author and hold the digital rights to a book, you can sell a digital version of it in our Kindle Store.
Learn more
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
