There's a great big sci-fi season coming to BBC4 in early November. As well as interviews with Iain M Banks and Terry Pratchett, there's a dramatisation of John Wyndham's Random Quest, a three-part documentary on UK sci-fi writers and all sorts of goodies from the archives (allegedly).
There's also going to be a series called The Cult Of… that focuses on cult British sci-fi series: Blake's 7, Adam Adamant, Doomwatch, Star Cops, The Survivors and Tripods. I can understand all those obsessions except Tripods - Star Cops and Doomwatch were brilliant, Blake's 7 had its moments as did The Survivors, and Adam Adamant was fun. But Tripods? Lines from the books such as “And then they went into a village and stole some bread” turned into an entire episode? Dismal. Have you noticed that loving Doctor Who is no longer considered a cult pursuit by the Beeb, though? Interesting.
To coincide with the season, BBC4 will be opening up (from today) a web site called My Science Fiction Life, where you can deposit your memories of sci-fi shows and books, some of which might be used in a “new TV programme”. They don't mention whether that'll be The Cult Of… or not.
Updates and related entries
November 9, 2006:
Details of the Science Fiction Britannia season.
October 31, 2006 | Reply
So what would YOU like to be dragged from the archives into the light of the 21st century?
October 31, 2006 | Reply
Ooh. Tricky. BBC or someone else's archives? Sci-fi or other genre?
I'd love to see Ace of Wands released, because there are some fantastic bits of work in there, particularly from PJ Hammond. I'm curious to see what The Incredible Robert Baldick was like. I'd also like to see if Shoot to Kill, the dramatisation of the John Stalker inquiry was as good as I remember. Maybe Cold Warrior as well. I'd quite like to have a gander at Sky. Top of the list would have to be The Adventure Game, though. You?
October 31, 2006 | Reply
Ooh, ooh, black and white episodes of Callan! How could I forget?
October 31, 2006 | Reply
Here's hoping that when Mark Lawson asks Terry Pratchett whether his books can be seen as both science fiction and fantasy, Terry says 'No, don't be so bloody stupid.'