Public Servant Lifestyle

The writer’s behind some of television’s hottest - and most fantastical - properties speak out in this great new volume from Titan Books that goes right behind the scenes.

Writing Science Fiction and Fantasy Television by Joe Nazzaro

What’s it like putting words into Bufffy’s mouth? How do you go about creating your very own X-File, or coming up with a challenging mission for the crew of the Enterprise – with an idea that’s not been thought of a thousand times before? This great behind-the-scenes book by Joe Nazzaro looks into doing just that, speaking to some of the most influential names in modern television who work on many of the highest rated, biggest budgeted shows in the world.

With the current vogue for all things fantastic showing no sign of waning - on both the big and small screen - this latest book could hardly have been better timed. It neatly follows on - and complements both Titan’s Complete Book of Scriptwriting - by the creator of Babylon 5, J. Michael Straczynski - and David Gerold’s similar work Worlds of Wonder: How to Write Science Fiction and Fantasy. Indeed the book features an exclusive, in depth interview with Straczynski about the creation and growth of the Babylon 5 television series, along with a number of the other big names in genre television.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

The creator and central driving force behind Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Angel and Firefly – Josh Whedon - chats to the author about the business of writing, as well as the business of showbusiness. Author Rockne S. O’Bannon talks about scripting the Jim Henson co-production Farscape and Terrance Dicks talks with great affection about his days script-editing BBC television’s Doctor Who, and about screenplay writing in general. Writers from both Xena: Warrior Princess and wormhole drama Stargate: SG1 also contribute to the discussions.

Most importantly Nazzaro has gathered together a series of unique insights into the way the scripts are put together and how they get to be make it to the small screen at all. Most interviewees talking candidly about how they got started in the business in the first place and the trials, tribulations and realities of a career in television scriptwriting.

An invaluable tome for anyone interested in the development of television writing, as well as for media students and fans of the shows under discussion; this is a treasure trove of information. Nazzaro gives the reader a real insight into how authors find inspiration and what it’s really like creating the incredible and the fantastic on a daily basis.

Author Joe Nazzaro is a journalist and writer, based in New Jersey. His previous books include The Making of Red Dwarf and Star Trek: The Next Generation Make-up FX Journal.

Further Reading

For aspiring television scrptwriters 'The Bible' is probably the hard-to-find Writing For Television (1981), by Malcolm Hulke. For other advice and guidance you could do a lot worse that visit the BBC Writersroom at: www.bbc.co.uk/writersroom

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