There is something about the anthology. You might remember the literary form back in college when an English literature professor would assign an anthology for the class. It allows rapid exposure to a wide variety of different authors in a relatively short time. Because of this the anthology has been a staple for television since its origins. Back in the fifties I would watch such dramatic anthologies as ‘CBS Playhouse’, ‘Playhouse 90’ and ‘Alfred Hitchcock Presents’. Most of us grew up watching the original science fiction anthologies ‘The Twilight Zone’ and ‘The Outer Limits’. One of the reasons these series are still afforded such high regard is the format permitted the producers to constantly change the writers, directors and cast to keep each episode fresh. All of the aforementioned series also had something very important in common; they adapted stories from the best writers of their genres. They also typically were showcases for established and new talent on both sides of the camera. Steven Spielberg had one of his first directing jobs on a fantasy anthology show ‘Night Gallery’. In 2005 the anthology series made a big come back with Showtime’s ‘Masters of Horror’. Each week it continued the tradition of excellence with its tales of terror. In 2007 this concept was extended in an old school fashion with ‘Masters of Science Fiction’. It has a big set of shoes to fill considering the continued popularity of ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Outer Limits’ but it is off to a fantastic start with its first season. Now the full season set is available on DVD through Starz / Anchor Bay. If you are a fan of this time honored genre this is a must have. For the novice you might want to take note of the writing credits and treat yourself to the original short stories used here. Like the anthology English Lit textbooks this will introduce you to some of the great writers in the field of science fiction.

Like any anthology this one admittedly has its ups and downs. Some episodes are simply amazing with greatness on both sides of the camera. Others will fall short of your expectations. The main point is the variety that the series contains. This first season was only six episodes; another victim of the 2007 Writer’s Guild strike. As such it only touched on the potential it has ahead of it. After all not every ‘Twilight Zone’ or ‘Outer Limits’ episode was great; like the stories here it is only natural for some variation in results. Like its predecessors this series seeks to provoke thought, one of the key elements of truly great Sci-Fi. There are topics that are concerned with social and human issues that would be difficult to tell without the guise of it being just a science fiction tale. There is nothing like a good android or robot story to speak to the human condition. This series is the result of the efforts of men dedicated to quality; Ben Browning and Andrew Dean, both behind ‘Masters of Horror’. They do have an overall format that they adhere to. Each episode has a script based on a short story from a well known Sci-Fi author and a director typically with experience in the genre. They usually have two leading actors well usually well known through their work in television. Every episode is introduced by scientific genus, Stephen Hawking. Well, at least you hear his voice.