The Twilight Zone Companion by Marc Scott Zicree Summary and Reviews
|
List Price: Our Price: $9.30 You Save: $6.65 (42%) Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days Buy Used: from $4.56 (click here) Category: Book See more book details and other editions |
|---|
Book Reviews of The Twilight Zone Companion
Book Review: May well be the finest book of its kind.
Summary: 5 Stars
I reread this bible over and over. Can't say enough good about it. Zicree's work is superb! Only have one nit to pick. His analysis of "Five Characters In Search Of An Exit" completely misses the mark (pun intended). Marc, read (or reread) Sartre's "No Exit" then reflect on the human condition in general, the categorical roles we play, etc. Then rewatch Rod's superlative treatment of all of this. I think you'll see what I mean.Book Review: Great Reference Guide But Pompous Commentary
Summary: 4 Stars
I can not echo the five star reviews of this book, because while this book is ultimately a fascinating look at a great show with lots of wonderful information, I have to say something about Zircee's evaluation style. He writes in a very pompous fashion in which his own subjective, personal biases about each episiosde are meant to be taken as the Gospel Truth. This results in some fine episodes ("Escape Clause") getting short-shrift while other episodes get loads of attention. What is really pompous of Zircee though is when he suddenly starts taking Serling to task for writing unflattering depictions of Nikita Khruschev in "Nothing But The Truth" and Fidel Castro in "The Mirror." Indeed, I was ready to throw my copy across the room when I saw this indignant comment of Zircee's that Serling "did Castro a disservice" in "The Mirror." Really, as though murdering his subjects and forcing the survivors to live in the world's last Stalinist dictatorship didn't already do him a disservice. Get real, Marc. Get real.Book Review: The Ultimate Companion
Summary: 5 Stars
Much has been said about this book on these pages, and I'll take away any doubts that you possibly have in your mind:
It Is Brilliant.
This is as exhaustive an account of the Twilight Zone that you're going to get. Zicree has researched Rod Serling extensively, and goes into Serling's life pre-Twilight Zone, looks at 'Patterns,' 'Requiem for a Heavyweight,' and 'The Time Element.' He has synopses for each and every episode and opening/closing narrations. He profiles Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont, and George Clayton Johnson. He describes behind the scenes information, gives trivia and informs about the production of the series. He goes into Serling's life post-Twilight Zone, with looks at Night Gallery and his last teleplays. He expands into the 1980's with the Movie, and the two 1980's series revivals.
Much has been said here on Zicree's opinions. But you must remember - they're only his opinions! I watched some episodes after I read this book that I had not seen before, and disagreed with him. Or vice versa. The only real problem I see with this book is in its unbalanced handling of some of the episodes. Zicree has chosen episodes such as 'Walking Distance,' that get much coverage, but other deserving episodes such as 'Escape Clause' don't. But that's a minor criticism. If every episode were to be looked at in-depth, the book would run to a few thousand pages!
Some guides to TV shows are vacuous, all episode guides and no insight. This is not. It can be read cover-to-cover and enjoyed all the way through and also to dip into as an armchair guide whilst watching the episodes. A wonderful piece of work. I should also mention that ?7 for this is an absolute bargain! If you are a Twilight Zone fan, this is an essential buy.