The Outer Limits Companion

David J. Schow wrote The Outer Limits: The Official Companion in 1986, an offspring to a series of articles and broadcast log that appeared in The Twilight Zone Magazine during the 1980s. In 1998, Schow expanded his initial publication and re-titled it, The Outer Limits Companion. It is the 1998 edition that I am doing my book review, and the revised version is the one I recommend. It is out of print and goes for as much as $180 a pop, but shop around and you can get it for $40 like I did. And when spending that kind of money, make sure it is the 1998 version pictured here, to get your money's worth.

I won't make any comparison with the two versions, and base my review only on the 1998 edition.

"There is nothing wrong with your television set..."

With these words, each week, the mysterious Control Voice would usher us to the furthest reaches of the human imagination -- The Outer Limits. Some people don't like the series, but I suspect they saw a few of the stinkers from the second season and thus never saw the series at its prime. The producer, Joseph Stefano, fought the networks during the first season and the best human morality plays using space aliens left an impression on the viewers, including Rod Serling. According to author Martin Grams, had The Twilight Zone been renewed for a sixth season, Serling had intentions of doing more outer space stuff and the kind of stories seen on The Outer Limits. The first season has the majority of the best episodes and deserves multiple viewings.

This book takes apart the series in every aspect from viewers' faulty memories and fan letters reprinted in magazines of the mid-sixties, a history of Daystar Productions, how Project Unlimited created the creatures (known as the Monster of the Week), and everyone who was ever on the series was obviously interviewed as there are tons of quotes from actors, writers, directors, producers and even the folks who voiced the creatures. There are tons of trivia. The episode "ZZZZZ," for example, contains five letters but it was pointed out that the commercial VHS release had it listed on the package with six letters, and cast members, not wanting to go insane, referred to the episode as "The Bees." The actress who played the lead in that episode recalled padding her bra because the director wanted her larger than life.

Robert Culp recalled how Harlan Ellison wrote "Demon With a Glass Hand" with Culp in mind for the lead role. Inside jokes such as "The Chamelion" has a character named Colonel Stevens, named after producer Leslie Stevens. The stunt men were interviewed. Behind-the-scenes photos reveal how some of the camera tricks were accomplished. 

This is a very thick 400 page coffee table book with glossy pages. The only way it could have been more expensive to produce was if the publishers wanted to have the entire inside in color. But since the series was shot in black and white, it seems logical to retain the interior in black and white. It's also 9 by 12 and that's larger than most books.

My review can be summed up in one sentence and I'll put it in quotes. "This is the kind of book I wish all television series received the same treatment." There isn't anything in here that isn't covered (except maybe dates of production and music cues but that was done for The Twilight Zone book Martin Grams wrote and proves that sometimes we don't need everything about a series, but it sure is nice to have).

"We now return control of your television set to you until next time..."

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