In the following University of Kansas professor James Gunn interviewed Rod Serling about science fiction in literature. It is incredible and inspiring to hear a creator show true humility and deference to the works of science fiction.
I think the networks have traditionally and almost ritualistically short-changed the science fiction audience both qualitatively and quantitatively. I don’t think…they’ve given the proper respect to science fiction as a legitimate area of literary attempt. Number one, I think, first of all, it’s a high level literary form and number two I think it’s much more than a small coterie of loyal viewers who’ve read Amazing Stories and want to go on.
I think it’s a sizable group, particular amongst the young. Because we live in a society which is so technologically improved and which is so scientifically orientated now that indeed this is simply a reflection of the time around us now. –Rod Serling
It is refreshing to see a creator genuinely interested in making good stories and being brutally honest about his own work. This is such a stark contrast to the bulk of creators popular today that seem to believe the sun rises and sets on their “awesome film-making abilities.”
As you’ve no doubt noticed, we’ve placed the interview above the cut and combined them into a playlist for easy viewing.
Cause, see, I love science fiction, but I’m an aficionado, not a contributor, and I say this, you know, with no stupid, dumb, dumb humility at all. I’m am purely a Johnny-come-lately. I am perhaps the least scientifically knowledgeable man in the whole writing group, and I bow with great deference and respect to the real masters, you know, Asimov and Bob Heinlein and Sturgeon and all the rest of them. And these, of course, and yourself included, because you write pure science fiction. I can adapt science fiction I think quite adequately, but I can’t create it on an original level.–Rod Serling
via comicscavern
