The Ultimate Encyclopedia of Science Fiction [antikvár]

lib-'-ForemordHow popular and influential is science fiction? Some might judge it to be a minority taste; but consider the following:Which are the most successful movies ever produced? The two most popular Hollywood films, measured by box-office receipts, are E.T. (1982) and Jurassic Park (1993), both directed by Steven Spielberg and both, as it happens, works of science fiction. The top ten list of "all-time box-office hits" also Includes the famous Star Wars trilogy of movies (1977-83) produced by George Lucas; and these have Inspired scores of books and vast quantities of comics, toys and other merchandise.Which Is the most famous television series ever produced more successful. In global terms, than I Love Lucy or Coronation Street, more watched than The Man From UNCLEl The answer, surely, has to be the science-fiction series Star Trek. Ironically, It was adjudged a "failure" during its American prime-time first run (1966-69), never rising above 20th place 1n the ratings; and yet, when it went Into US syndication (the system of reruns, based on local TV stations), it rapidly established itself as the most popular series ever, constantly shown somewhere, at some hour of day or night, for 30 years now. Star Trek has inspired three or four spinoff TV series, more than half a dozen big-screen movies, countless weekend conventions attended by tens of thousands of people, and well over 200 associated books; and no end is in sight. Which Is the most famous radio drama ever broadcast? The answer 1s The War Of The