We’ve mentioned it before, but on Saturday night 4 August, ABC television is going to debut the first of four episodes of its Masters of Science Fiction. This short-run anthology series looks to be good, intelligent science fiction. There are some special effects, but they’re all in service of the story; no gosh-wow visuals just for the sake of visuals; make sure you keep your brain active.
The first episode, “A Clean Escape,” is based on a short story (which this reviewer hasn’t read) by John Kessel. It’s a story about personality, memory, forgetfulness, and humanity. A lot of good science fiction takes the form of “talking heads” with minimal action. This episode is what a good talking heads story should be when translated to a visual medium: an in-depth investigation of ideas. The bulk of the episode is just that: psychiatrist Deanna Evans (Judy Davis) and her patient, Robert Havelmann (Sam Waterston) talking, discussing, and arguing with each other. But in each act, we get closer and closer to discovering what it is Havelmann can’t remember, and why he can’t remember the last 25 years. And the layers of revelations are lush enough, and logical enough, to keep the interest for the entire hour-long episode.
The introductory animation with Professor Stephen Hawking’s voiceover is a good draw into the series, and Hawking does provide brief opening and closing narrations, but it’s the story that’s going to hold your attention. I wonder if ABC might have been better served starting with a more upbeat story, but since they’ve only committed to showing four, I won’t worry too much about the order. If you’re a science fiction reader, you definitely want to watch.
In the following weeks, we can look forward to “The Awakening,” based on a story by Howard Fast, starring Terry O’Quinn and Elisabeth Rohm, airing 11 August. “Jerry Was a Man,” based on a story by Robert A. Heinlein, starring Malcolm McDowell and Anne Heche, airing 18 August. And finally, “The Discarded,” based on a story by Harlan Ellison, and starring James Denton, John Hurt, and Brian Dennehy (airing 25 August).
And if you like it as much as I think you will, tell ABC you want more of this good stuff.