Wonderland: Science Fiction in the Atomic Age (2025)

Odyssey television's new documentary on the history of science fiction will be screening on the Sky Arts channel beginning at 8pm on Thursday 3rd April 2025. A quick look at the credits suggests that behind the scenes is a bit of a one man band affair, that man being Adrian Munsey who writes, produces, directs, composes much of the music and provides a lot of the narration. That's no bad thing, though, as a singular view is often more interesting than something put together by committee. The documentary is presented in four 48 minutes episodes, the content of which is as follows:

Episode One: Mary Shelley to Isaac Asimov

Jules Verne

Readings from the work of Mary Shelley, Arthur C Clarke, Jules Verne,. E M Forster, H G Wells, Nevil Shute, E M Forster and Isaac Asimov amongst others pepper this distinctly apocalypse-orientated first episode, the idea being that SF has always been first in predicting apocalyptic events as well as having helped suggest ways around it. Film clips include PLANET OF THE APES (1967), DR STRANGELOVE (1964), FAIL SAFE (1964), THE WAR GAME (1965) and THREADS (1984). As you might expect, this is quite the downbeat affair and you may want something a bit cheerier lined up for after. Those interviewed include John Clute, Brian Sibley, Adam Roberts and Dinah Birch who all provide erudite academic opinions on the subject. Munsey's narration is clear and listenable and perhaps the best compliment the show can be given is its broad appeal to both old warhorses of SF and those who know very little about it. Recommended.

Episode Two: Arthur C Clarke to Ray Bradbury

The loose theme for episode two is how SF viewed pioneering developments in technology, looking at work by Arthur C Clarke, Issac Asimov, J G Ballard, George Orwell, Aldous Huxley, Stanislaw Lem and Ray Bradbury. Film and TV is represented by Kubrick's 2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY and Star Trek, and we also get Farah Mendlesohn talking about Robert Heinlein, as well as the interviewees from episode one offering their thoughts.

Episode Three: Margaret Atwood to Ted Chiang

Ursula K LeGuin

The main theme of episode three is the rise and development of diversity in SF writing. Authors who get their works quoted include Ursula K LeGuin, Margaret Atwood, Joanna Russ, Octavia Butler, Samuel R Delaney, Liu Cixin, Nnedi Okorafor, Tade Thompson and Ted Chiang. A brief summary of cinematic SF up to the mid 1950s is squeezed in at the end. 

Episode Four: Quatermass to Christopher Nolan

J G Ballard

The final episode dots around, beginning with Quatermass and the work of John Wyndham before moving onto Dr Who, 2001 A SPACE ODYSSEY, STAR WARS, Spielberg's CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND and AI: ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, William Gibson's Neuromancer, Philip K Dick and BLADE RUNNER, William S Burroughs, THE MATRIX, the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Christopher Nolan (less than a minute despite his name being in the title), THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW and Kim Stanley Robinson.

Octavia Butler

The series as a whole is a decent enough watch, with the attempt to have clear themes and commentary best achieved in the first three episodes, whereas the final one is a bit of a free for all. It's well put together, however, and never dull, and as mentioned above both seasoned fans and those new to the genre will find it accessible and with plenty to keep them engrossed.

WONDERLAND: SCIENCE FICTION IN THE ATOMIC AGE is a weekly four part documentary series on Sky Arts beginning at 8pm on Thursday 3rd April 2025