In the Zone: The Twilight World of Rod Serling [Paperback]

Peter Wolfe (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 1, 1997

The classic television show The Twilight Zone explored the possibilities inhering in the ordinary. A Twilight Zone episode moved us by being poignant and intimate, rambunctious or thought provoking. But whether it takes place on an asteroid, in a city pool room, or in the backwoods, it will usually convey both a folklorist’s eye for detail and the born raconteur’s sense of pace. Rod Serling, the show’s originator, main scriptwriter, and artistic director, knew how much burden he could place on his rhetorical and dramatic gifts. Deservedly celebrated as a pioneer fiction writer for television, Serling always grounded his work in the human condition: he wrote movingly about history and loyalty, the grip of everyday reality, and the dangers of both forgetting about one’s ghosts and giving them the upper hand.

Editorial Reviews

Review

The Twilight Zone explores the possibilities inherent in the ordinary. A Twilight Zone episode can move us by being poignant and intimate, rambunctious or thought provoking. It can also be orchestrated as a set of intertwined plot developments or as a serial progression. But regardless of whether it takes place on an asteroid, in a city pool room, or in the backwoods, it will usually convey both a folklorist's eye for detail and the born raconteur's sense of pace. Rod Serling (the show's founder, main scriptwriter, and artistic director) knew how much burden he could place on his rhetorical and dramatic gifts. In The Zone is a tribute to one of the celebrated pioneers in television science fiction and a "must read" by every fan of the still popular series. -- Midwest Book Review

About the Author

Peter Wolfe, professor of English at the University of Missouri- St. Louis, has written widely about modern literature and culture. In the Zone is his fifteenth book. His most recent title for the Popular Press, Alarms and Epitaphs: The Art of Eric Ambler, was awarded the first annual Armchair Detective award for the best scholarly work in the mystery genre for 1993. Mr. Wolfe also won the University of Missouri President's Award for Research and Creativity in 1995.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 228 pages
• Publisher: Popular Press 1 (June 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879727306
• ISBN-13: 978-0879727307
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 2.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,379,683 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

40 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars For Zone addicts only and maybe not then, May 3, 2001

By 

lisatheratgirl "lisatheratgirl" (New York, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: In the Zone: The Twilight World of Rod Serling (Hardcover)

Don't even bother to read this book unless you have seen all or most of the TV shows and/or have memorized Marc Scott Zicree's Twilight Zone Companion. The author presumes extensive knowledge on the part of the reader. I've been a fan of Rod for almost 40 years, and I found this book difficult. The author does make some interesting points and new insights, but they get drowned in his stream-of consciousness style that is constantly jump-cutting from show to show and point to point without continuity. The book struck me as disorganized, even though he has chapters with names. Another irritant is his criticism of production errors, when his own writing and editing is inexcusably sloppy. He constantly gets details wrong, especially characters' names. This is important because he seems to find meanings in each person's name that I'm not sure Serling even thought of. He expounds on the meaning of the name Christopher, when the character is actually named Christian. In an episode involving two brothers, he mixes up the names repeatedly in discussing the plot. A character named "Jeff" he often refers to as "Jess"; unfortunately there is another episode with a main character named Jess, in which the same actor starred. He nitpicks about background noises from microphones and bandaids on actors' fingers until it makes you crazy. I also disagree with some of his premises. I think Serling did want the show to be about the paranormal rather than everything being projected in the characters' own minds. I believe in the paranormal; I get off the train right where Willoughby is supposed to be. Part of the wonder of the show is that the paranormal exists side by side with a very normal setting--the point is the episode could happen to you, with a little imagination. The author seems to lack this quality.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Waste of Paper, November 23, 2008

By 

T. Farwell "Sci Fi Guy" (Las Vegas NV) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: In the Zone: The Twilight World of Rod Serling (Paperback)

This book just rambles on with poorly explained ideas about a show I feel Wolfe barely watched. I found it very hard to read and understand. Please reconsider buying the other books mentioned above. Night Gallery: After Hours is very well researched (the authors were used for commentary on the Season 2 DVD set) and the Marc Scott Zicree Companion or the amazingly detailed "Unlocking the Door" Book by Grams are well worth the money. "Dimensions Behind the TZ" by Stanyard is also fun with many behind the scenes photos and interviews. But, beware, this book is the pit of your fears.

9 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Troublesome, November 14, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: In the Zone: The Twilight World of Rod Serling (Hardcover)

I was disappointed in Mr. Wolfe's effort. His knowledge of Serling appeared to be limited. I will reserve the right to keep away from Wolfe's work in the future.