Fascist Lizards from Outer Space

When Kenneth Johnson’s science fiction miniseries V premiered in 1983, it netted more than 40 percent of the television viewing audience and went on to spawn a sequel, a weekly series, novelizations, comic books and a remake. Yet the 2009 V reboot was cancelled in its second season, despite a robust premiere. Both versions were products of their respective times, but the original was inspired by classic works by the likes of Sinclair Lewis and Leo Tolstoy. Johnson’s predilection for literature and history helped give his telling of V a sense of heart and depth that the contemporary version sorely lacked. Featuring exclusive interviews with cast and crew, this book examines V’s cultural impact and considers the future of the franchise.

Dan Copp is an award-winning freelance writer and former newspaper reporter whose articles have appeared in numerous publications. He lives in Thibodaux, Louisiana.

Dan Copp
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 196
Bibliographic Info: 5 photos, appendices, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2017
pISBN: 978-1-4766-6712-6
eISBN: 978-1-4766-2762-5
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments vi
Introduction 1
Part One: The Original Miniseries 15
1. Kenneth Johnson and Classic Literature 16
2. Lizards in Jackboots 26
Part Two: V Goes Primetime (1984–85) 48
3. The ­Not-So Final Battle 50
4. V’s ­Short-Lived Dynasty 62
Part Three: Terrorists from Outer Space 105
5. V in a Post–9/11 World 106
6. C’est la V 149
Conclusion: To V or Not to V 155
Appendix A. V Episode Guide 171
Appendix B. V Collectibles 175
Works Cited 178
Index 183

“Smart and meticulously detailed, this is just the book V fans have been waiting for.”—John Kenneth Muir, author, Horror Films of the 1980s