Science Fiction Television Series

If you can't tell the difference between Bewitched's Darrens 1 and 2 but know the two different versions of the Lost in Space theme song by heart, well...

• Science Fiction Television Series
• By Mark Phillips and Frank Garcia
• McFarland & Company
• $75.00
• Hardcover 1996

cience Fiction Television Series assembles the minutiae for 62 famous and famously obscure series that began their runs from 1959 through 1989. The all-stars are here -- Lost in Space, Star Trek, The Twilight Zone -- but so are prodigal children like Kolchak: The Night Stalker and The Man from Atlantis.

Each section kicks off with the series premise, followed by a freestyle history-analysis that includes interviews with producers, directors, stars and stunt people. A few black-and-white production and publicity photos liven the mix. Next, the anatomy of the series -- episode listings prefaced by rapid-fire actor bio stats: birthday, background, major parts and, not uncommonly, "Where are they now?" highlights. Each episode is synopsized and accompanied by detailed credits.

Of course, there is only so much space, so an Honorable Mentions appendix takes care of the deserving and the also-rans, like Dr. Who, Thriller and even the super-obscure Wizards and Warriors. No episode guides for these series, however, just the premise and the players. Appendix B is for the die-hard trivialist -- unsold science fiction television pilots -- and Appendix C lists the relevant Emmy Awards and nominations. A final, exhaustive touch is the book's index of nearly 90 pages.

As a first cut, Science Fiction Television Series is first-rate. Its scope is fairly thorough, while the synopses are terrific. Although some of the quotes are unilluminating and extra-mild ("There was sort of a competition between William Shatner and Leonard Nimoy...They were both wonderful, however..." Margaret Armen, Star Trek writer), some are rudely interesting ("David O'Connell [producer] and I were proud of receiving an award for having the most chauvinistic show on TV...It was our intention to use beautiful girls in brief, futuristic costumes. N.O.W. and other women's groups objected strongly to that. That gave us quite a few laughs!" John Gaynor, Buck Rogers producer).

Just a couple of off-kiltering elements here. While an SF-skimming series like Night Gallery is profiled, a bonafide SF series like Dr. Who is only given honorable mention, leaving the casual reader confused and the serious SF fan apoplectic. Although the editors' ambitions are stated quite clearly in the introduction, they're not stated in the book's title, which would be more accurate if it were American Science Fiction Television Series. Aside from this, the only other slight jolt is that many of the capsule biographies seem unevenly researched and presented.

Although not ornamented with witty, panache-laden anecdotes, that same unrehearsed, unaffected delivery of remembrance gives this tome a personality befitting its subject matter. Ingeniously, Science Fiction Television Series has the air of a slightly grainy 1970's documentary and it's fun, unpretentious and even a little staid, in a great, fans-only sort of way. It's also as close as this genre will probably get to serious, scholarly attention.

My cousin once had a job putting window panes into Space: 1999 Eagles at a toy manufacturing plant. If you find that bit of trivia even remotely interesting (and I do), this just might be the book for you. -- Tamara

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