The forgotten science fiction anthology series that adapted the best stories by Isaac Asimov

The horror anthology of the BBC of Irene Shubik, “Out of the Uncomfort”, is simply revolutionary. The series, which took place from 1965 to 1971, celebrates science fiction as a genre while kissing humanity inherent in stories that evoke fear or terror on a large scale. The creator of the Shubik series understood that few genres could provide comments on topical issues such as science fiction, because even the most bizarre plots of the genre could serve as an allegory for something more urgent and immediate. In addition, our relationship with technology is always at the dawn of change – a theme that catches them “of the unknown” alternating between the tense drama and the playful satire, brought to life with stories written by some of the best literary authors of the 20th century.

Everyone from Ray Bradbury to Em Forster contributed to the BBC series, highlighting various science fiction corners that help us understand the human impulses better than ever. The list of literary talents also includes John Wyndham and JG Ballard, but the genre feels incomplete without Isaac Asimov, whose work adopts a historical approach to science fiction (while merging it with mysterious and fantastic elements). Some of Asimov’s best stories are included in “Out of the Uncomfort”, where the series takes advantage of Asimov’s penchant to write complex allegories and present them in a clear and direct prose. There is a feeling of ease in the translation of the text on the screen, because the worlds of Asimov rarely engage in unknown abstractions, even when they saw towards fantastic developments from a perspective of global construction.

As you may already know, Asimov’s most influential work is his series of “Foundation” novels, which has been adapted for countless times, including the most recent Apple TV + series (which does a laudable work to capture its large expanse and nuance). Although the BBC Show is not inspired by the “Foundation”, it highlights a plethora of neglected genre titles that deserve to be verified. Let us take a closer look at these episodes centered on Asimov.

Certain episodes of the series have adapted whole novels, such as “The Naked Sun” by Asimov, a whodun which integrates science fiction at the most technical level to explore the complicated social customs of the hostile planet, Solaria. The detective of Homicide Elijah Bailey (Paul Maxwell) directs the events after associating with the humanoid robot R. Daneel Olivaw (David Collings), and the two embarked on an adventure to protect the earth from intergalactic threats. Unfortunately, this particular episode is now considered lost, due to the standard practice (at the time) of the BBC wiping their bands after the broadcasts. However, you can always Look at a part, thanks to a rebuilt DVD version which combines surviving fixed images with CGI to recreate this precious work of lost art in time.

The fact that most of the episodes of “out of the unknown” have undergone a similar spell is heartbreaking, because its inheritance can only be corrected with the help of out of context and media critics that have managed to survive. Even these incomplete extracts bear witness to the ambitious nature of the series, highlighting Shubik’s zeal to put seminal gender tales on the small screen. The adaptations of news from Asimov also survived in fragments – for example, his positronic robot tale “Liar!” And the loss of human robot “guaranteed satisfaction” only exists in telenapys and audio extracts.

This is also the case with the novel by Asimov “Sucker Bait”, which explores the traps of niche scientific knowledge which can lead to situations overflowing with double -edged morality. Some of the themes of this news from the beginning of 1954 bled in the ethics of the author of Asimov, because this encouraged his tendency to write science fiction stories accessible to the dominant current. This does not mean that his stories are devoid of complexity. On the contrary, Asimov is held in such high esteem for its ability to simplify complex concepts, allowing anyone to interest the genre to develop an appreciation of the distant worlds of ours (while linking parallels to an allegorical level).

All stories (Asimov or not) in “Out of the Unconnom” are not extraordinary, but everything that can be gleaned from reconstructed discs is riveted, because these fractured stories have a way to call on the curiosity of the unknown. Even if you cannot enter these episodes, I encourage you to look for more news from Asimov (in particular “The Dead Past”, its only almost autobiographical tale) if you want to discover a wide range of gender themes that science fiction can welcome.