Tag Archives: science fiction

Space 1999: The visual genius of Brian Johnson

Posted on August 4, 2026 by Samira Ahmed

When Brian Johnson died in June 2026, Paul Franklin, another Oscar winning visual effects maestro and superfan, came on Front Row to help celebrate his life and art.  Long before his Academy Award winning work on Alien and The Empire … Continue reading →

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Aliens, abortion and baby machines: HG Wells & John Wyndham

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

Woman’s Hour ran a fascinating interview today with novelist Kishwar Desai, about India’s burgeoning  surrogate baby industry. Her exploration of this massive business (an estimated 20,000 babies produced  each year) seems to differ from Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale only … Continue reading →

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The Fantasies of Youth

Posted on May 4, 2012 by Samira Ahmed

Every generation has its teen moral panic exploitation movie. In the 1930s it was Reefer Madness. In the 50s it was Beat Girl (the evils of Soho coffee bars and bongos). For my generation it was 1982’s Mazes and Monsters … Continue reading →

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