1979: What is SCIENCE FICTION? | The Book Programme | Classic BBC interviews | BBC Archive

Robert Robinson presents a science-fiction themed edition of The Book Programme. What constitutes science-fiction, is there room in the genre for the metaphysical or spiritual, or should writers slavishly stick to the scientific? What is to be made of the phenomenon that is the sci-fi convention - is there something unique to science fiction that inspires such devotion in its fans? And is all fiction slowly becoming science fiction?
Taking part are: Douglas Adams, the author of the science-fiction comedy 'The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy'; Harry Harrison, a prolific science fiction writer best known for his 'Deathworld', 'Stainless Steel Rat' and 'Bill, the Galactic Hero' novels; Peter Nicholls, the editor of The Encyclopedia of Science Fiction; and Ian Watson, whose book 'The Jonah Kit' won the British Science Fiction Association award for Best Novel and whose new book "God's World" is reviewed here and forms the basis for the discussion.
Originally broadcast 17 October 1979.
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[@rabidbigdog]

OMG, this is glorious. Good on you Douglas for just supporting someone's art.

[@MrDirtybear]

The real science fiction is the gravity and self belief that sustains Robert Robinson's comb-over.....

[@highdownmartin]

Brilliant. Worthy of mr Adams.

[@DJ-Brownie-UK]

. . . and hell bent sexuality

[@sambonsampson228]

And Harry Harrison's mop covers the greatest genius in the room

[@garyburkin]

Polite, friendly and well-informed. This lot could be on to something.

[@SlowDazzle11]

Brilliant! no chance of anything like this on the BBC these days, sadly...

[@markszawlowski867]

Wonderful exchange of ideas. I crave such programmes, and especially value the ones that speak to us from earlier times.

[@nz1229]

I think I would quite enjoy Ian's perspective, I think Harry Harrison's perspective on limiting SF may have been a bit old school even for his day. Seems like the Monopoly man of the science fiction quite protective of the genre.

[@Esenfur]

Amazing to see these guys discussing "what should science fiction be" and we have all these great movies and tv shows in the genre now

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

Do we? I'd say compared to the SF being written then, current Tv and cinematic SF is pretty dreadful.

[@richardgray5069]

Has there been ANY great screen SF since the seventies?

[@outlawbookselleroriginal]

@@richardgray5069 - Not a huge amount in my view, though I'd single out the work of David Cronenberg (during and after the 70s) as being sterling SF - 'Scanners', 'Videodrome', 'The Fly' and 'Existenz'.

[@monkeechicken]

@@richardgray5069 I enjoy the irony of great scifi all being in the increasingly distant past if not the result

[@monkeechicken]

@@outlawbookselleroriginal i thought Arrival was pretty great but most movie scifi tends to aim too low. I read a couple of kazuo ishiguro scifi books and they were excellent in my view, I'm not sure about great but great isn't a great word, too general.

[@markrussell6881]

Public service broadcasting at its very height.

[@TheAerobicmonkey]

Great discussion of the science fiction “zhohn”

[@TheAerobicmonkey]

Especially the wonderful analysis of science fiction’s “mettahfuhzz”

[@ProvocativeSloth]

Next up: Zaza Gabor and Jean Michel Jarre

[@TheRetroEngine]

Dougggiieee, you were so funny in your books and great stories too. And the text adventure you wrote with Infocom - brazenly complicated puzzle with the babel fish. Dougggiieeee. I want a tash like Harry.

[@burhanbudak6041]

_Who knows Ian, maybe its my next movie?_

[@DemonetisedZone]

Mysticism has gone😂 Ok mate but i managed in 2024 to use Ancient Greeks methods of Cathartic Release as Therapy Mysticism is part of life Peel away the layers of psyche to find trauma, peel further travel deeper to find essential being I tried using rational modern 💊 Thus is what is wrong with our society that the Ancients had and we do not 7 days of crying about trauma Entered my own psyche and imposed order. Rearranged the furniture as it were Rewired my inner 🌎 That's real and its mystical

[@Avzigoyhbasilsikos]

The meanie dude with the glasses is such a bummer

[@fraserkatie]

Robert Robinson? Awww he is a legend in broadcasting that did Ask the Family the quiz show on BBC.

[@Trigger_000]

*Most of these people are dead now.*

[@sambonsampson228]

Never heard of cryogenics?

[@Trigger_000]

@@sambonsampson228 *If you think cryogenics can bring an unfozen skeleton back from the dead then I've got a bridge to sell you.*

[@ajs41]

Douglas Adams ought to be alive, he was younger than Trump and Biden.

[@rabidbigdog]

According to Harrison, Star Wars shouldn't be considered science fiction as 'woo' and metaphysics. I mean, Star Wars is absolutely dreadful, but still ...

[@randomman057]

Star Wars is more of a Space Fantasy story than Science Fiction.

[@sambonsampson228]

@@randomman057 Like Nu-Trek... all bored out

[@flaggerify]

Star Wars is fantasy.

[@DJ-Brownie-UK]

a lot of cross legged sittery going on, and none are wearing skirts or dresses

[@tomjones1424]

🎉😂just like a conversation I had with the window cleaner

[@tomjones1424]

😂🎉😂🎉but they are taking bollacks

[@tomjones1424]

Typical brick layers