Space
A series exploring the science fiction genre. Dominic Sandbrook looks at writers' enduring fascination with outer space, dating back to the 19th century with Jules Verne.
Series in which historian Dominic Sandbrook explores the most innovative and imaginative of all genres - science fiction. He is joined by leading writers and film-makers, who tell the inside story of their best-known works.
In this first episode, Dominic looks at science fiction's enduring fascination with outer space, from Jules Verne's pioneering 19th-century vision of a voyage to the moon to the galaxy far, far away of Star Wars.
Along the way we learn what Star Trek has in common with the British navy, the deep sea inspiration for Avatar, how Ursula K Le Guin captured the 1960s sexual revolution in her acclaimed novel The Left Hand of Darkness, how Stanley Kubrick made 2001: A Space Odyssey seem so believable, and why a man in a dressing gown became one of science fiction's best-loved heroes in The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy.
Among the interviewees are William Shatner and Nichelle Nichols (Star Trek), Anthony Daniels and Kenny Baker (Star Wars), Zoe Saldana (Avatar) and author Neil Gaiman.
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See all episodes from Tomorrow's Worlds: The Unearthly History of Science Fiction
Clips
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Dune
Duration: 01:39
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DON'T PANIC!
Duration: 01:49
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Web exclusive: The secret of Star Wars' success
Duration: 01:51
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Web exclusive: How to be a Na'vi
Duration: 01:15
Music Played
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Richard Strauss
Also sprach Zarathustra, Op. 30
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Johann Strauss II
The Blue Danube (Excerpt)
Conductor: Herbert von Karajan. Ensemble: Berliner Philharmoniker. -
Berk and The Virtual Band
Change
Credits
Role | Contributor |
---|---|
Presenter | Dominic Sandbrook |
Series Producer | John Das |
Series Producer | Ben Southwell |
Executive Producer | Michael Poole |
Participant | William Shatner |
Participant | Nichelle Nichols |
Participant | Anthony Daniels |
Participant | Kenny Baker |
Participant | Zoe Saldana |
Participant | Neil Gaiman |
Broadcasts
- Sat 22 Nov 2014 21:45Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two except Wales
- Sat 22 Nov 2014 22:30Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Two Wales
- Tue 15 May 2018 20:00
- Wed 17 Jul 2019 23:35
- Tue 19 May 2020 23:30
- Mon 4 Apr 2022 23:30
- Tue 15 Nov 2022 23:00
Featured in...
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Four Space Season
A host of new and archive programmes to mark the 50th anniversary of the moon landings.