The Real History of Science Fiction

Synopsis

The series heads to the very frontiers of space and science to produce the definitive television history of science fiction, told through its impact on cinema, television and literature, with the help of filmmakers, writers, actors, and graphic artists. Each episode will explore one of the enduring themes of science fiction: time travel; the exploration of space; robots and artificial intelligence; and aliens.

First Air Date: 2014-04-19

Last Air Date: 2014-08-16

Number of Seasons: 1

Number of Episodes: 4

Networks: BBC America

View Technical Specifications on IMDb

Top Cast

Dominic Sandbrook as Himself - Presenter
Mark Gatiss as Himself - Narrator (voice)
Charlie Jane Anders as Self
Gale Anne Hurd as Self
Douglas Trumbull as Self
Phil Tippett as Self
Neil Gaiman as Self
Michio Kaku as Self
Ronald D. Moore as Self
Arthur C. Clarke as Self (archive footage)

Seasons

Miniseries (2014)

No overview available for this season.

Episodes:

Ep. 1: Robots (2014-04-19)

What if our creations turn against us? The idea of creating life has fascinated society since the earliest days of science fiction. From HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey to the Cylons of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica and the world of The Matrix, this is a journey that asks - what does it mean to be human?
Ep. 2: Space (2014-05-17)

What if we could explore the vastness of Space? Science fiction has always fed upon our need to wonder what is out there. From the horrifying scenes of Alien, to the epic spectacle of Star Wars, this is a journey to the stars and the alien encounters that await us there.
Ep. 3: Invasion (2014-06-14)

What if aliens landed on Earth? No? Well, there is more than one kind of invasion.
Ep. 4: Time (2014-08-16)

This Time Travel Special journeys from H. G. Wells The Time Machine through ideas like The Grandfather Paradox and The Butterfly Effect, to the professional time traveler that is the ever popular Doctor Who. Steven Moffat, David Tennant, Karen Gillan, and Neil Gaiman offer a unique perspective on the Doctor. Furthermore, Edward James Olmos reveals the hidden meaning of the language he created for the vision of the future that is Blade Runner, while Bob Gale and Christopher Lloyd take us behind the scenes of Back to the Future.