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The Golden Age of Science Fiction: A Journey into Space with 1950s Radio, TV, Films, Comics and Books Kindle Edition

by John Wade (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 118 ratings
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A detailed look at the British world of science fiction in the 1950s.
 
John Wade grew up in the 1950s, a decade that has since been dubbed the “golden age of science fiction.” It was a wonderful decade for the genre, but not so great for young fans. With early television broadcasts being advertised for the first time as “unsuitable for children” and the inescapable barrier of the “X” certificate in the cinema barring anyone under the age of sixteen, the author had only the radio to fall back on—and that turned out to be more fertile for the budding SF fan than might otherwise have been thought. Which is probably why, as he grew older, rediscovering those old TV broadcasts and films that had been out of bounds when he was a kid took on a lure that soon became an obsession.
 
For him, the super-accuracy and amazing technical quality of today’s science fiction films pale into insignificance beside the radio, early TV and B-picture films about people who built rockets in their back gardens and flew them to lost planets, or tales of aliens who wanted to take over, if not our entire world, then at least our bodies. This book is a personal account of John Wade’s fascination with the genre across all the entertainment media in which it appeared—the sort of stuff he reveled in as a young boy—and still enjoys today.
 
“Not only a well–researched book grounded in hundreds of sources, but also an unmistakable labor of love.” —New York Journal of Books
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  1. Print length
    219 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Pen & Sword History
  5. Publication date
    January 30, 2019
  6. File size
    64257 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
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Editorial Reviews

Review

grab your secret decoder ring and your blaster, strap yourself in for liftoff, and enjoy. . . . The pictures in this book are reason enough to buy it.
New York Journal of Books

About the Author

John Wade is a freelance writer and photographer, with more than forty years’ experience in both fields. He has written, illustrated, edited and contributed to more than thirty books, plus numerous magazine articles, for book and magazine publishers in the UK, US and Australia. His specialties are photographic history and techniques, as well as social history.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07RSHSKW6
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Pen & Sword History (January 30, 2019)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ January 30, 2019
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 64257 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 219 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.1 4.1 out of 5 stars 118 ratings

Customer reviews

4.1 out of 5 stars
4.1 out of 5
118 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

JP Fish
5.0 out of 5 stars A terrific view of the earliest days of Sci Fi Media
Reviewed in the United States on November 26, 2020
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I am a little young for first hand experience with radio drama when it was new. But I have listened to plenty of these shows on tape and CD in my car while driving. As for films and TV, as a Boomer I devoured all things Science fiction including all the novels and comic books I could find and collect. Then later all the videos and DVDs I could find and collect. Still do. I may have slowed down because I have gotten more selective as the number of authors and trends have expanded. But I still enjoy a new story or film as much as a recognized classic. And I have a library any historian on the subject would envy.
I loved this book as a walk through memory lane as well as a guide to anything I might have missed. Even though I am an American and this is a British publication, I still found it quite useful. Glad I have it.
6 people found this helpful
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Taffey Lewis
4.0 out of 5 stars The British love sci-fi too
Reviewed in the United States on March 19, 2019
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While it isn't readily apparent by the description, this is a book about sci-fi as seen through the eyes of a British fan in England. As there are already so many books covering this subject in the US, I was very pleasantly surprised to get a different perspective. Turns out the British share our love for the genre. Sci-fi radio, films, TV, books, magazines and comic books are all covered. Author John Wade does an excellent job in combining his still youthful enthusiasm for sci-fi with useful and interesting information about the British sci-fi market. Baby boomer sci-fi kids are the same in the UK as they are here. We never grow tired of this subject. The colorful old movie posters and book covers brought back a lot of memories for me. It's really nice to know this is of international interest. This is a book I will refer back to in the future. It's a great addition to my voluminous sci-fi library.

Since, as of this date, the hardcover version of this book costs less than the paperback which isn't even released yet, I would buy the hardcover now. It is a nicely bound edition with a colorful sleeve.
20 people found this helpful
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Mathofiles
5.0 out of 5 stars Couldn't be better!
Reviewed in the United States on February 10, 2021
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As a lifetime fan of well written or well presented science fiction, starting in the 50's, it was great to find such a beautifully illustrated and informative book about 50's science fiction in Great Britain. This is a comprehensive treatment in that it looks at sf comics, sf books, radio dramatizations, television and motion pictures. Unlike anything else written for sf fans of my generation. The author's love for the subject shows through and reminds the reader of the joys of sf. Highly recommended.
4 people found this helpful
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Dennis
3.0 out of 5 stars Golden Age Thoughts
Reviewed in the United States on January 16, 2024
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Was somewhat disappointed that the theme is mostly Great Britain centered. There is a fair amount of USA golden age science fiction media stories but it is a different point of view for USA readers. Still interesting but it doesn't quite align with my views of that era. I lived through the 50s and 60s and loved science fiction books, radio shows and of course TV. It is still my fav genre but these days the fantasy genre has a watered down effect to the golden age I remember.
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James C. Babcock
4.0 out of 5 stars Entertaining.
Reviewed in the United States on April 23, 2023
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Eclectic, admittedly personal, but hardly authoritative. Still, very entertaining. It covers too large a subject to be anything but cursory with occasional interesting detail.
2 people found this helpful
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Ricky Kimsey
5.0 out of 5 stars SF In The 1950s
Reviewed in the United States on May 23, 2020
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This is a British centric look back at Science Fiction during the 1950s. It covers all media at the time including radio dramas,television,movies,comics,magazines as well as literature. It's British centric but you do get an idea what was going on in America at the time.
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walter smith
5.0 out of 5 stars awesome read
Reviewed in the United States on September 30, 2022
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easy to read
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Randy B. Peden
3.0 out of 5 stars Seller description MISLEADING
Reviewed in the United States on December 20, 2022
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Not chocked full of pictorial comics pictures as insinuated in description
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Top reviews from other countries

Amazon Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read of 50s Sci-Fi.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 14, 2022
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This is an excellent, easy to read book of the Golden Age of Science Fiction.

Arrived in excellent condition.
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Mr. Andrew Smith
4.0 out of 5 stars Pre Star Trek
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 5, 2023
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Having seen this at the Science Museums Science Fiction exhibition gift shop I gave this book a try. It explains how the 1950s growth of science fiction films and books was unique and not to be repeated. That Eagle magazine wasn't successful later in 1980s after it originally stopped it's exhausting print run in 1969 shows how tastes around science are more mainstream and less exotic now.
One person found this helpful
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polypody
5.0 out of 5 stars A must for sci-fi fans
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on February 14, 2022
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This book covers sci-fi in the 50's as depicted on TV, radio, films & literature. It also lists all the major movies produced in the 50's. A good read for all sci-fi fans.
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Martin Morris
4.0 out of 5 stars Again brilliant worth the money.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 25, 2022
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Golden age of science fiction is really just for sci fi fans.
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BB99
5.0 out of 5 stars Great for sci fi fans
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on August 6, 2020
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I bought this for my brother a real sci fi fan and he loved it
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