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We Are The Martians: The Legacy of Nigel Kneale
In 1950 Thomas Nigel Kneale won the Somerset Maugham Award for his collection Tomato Cain and Other Stories.
In 1953 he changed the face of British television with The Quatermass Experiment. Public houses across the nation emptied as each instalment of this thrilling new story went out live to the nation. Never before had a television drama become a national event, and few enough have had such an impact since.
His adaptation of Nineteen Eighty Four would raise questions in Parliament, such was its power, while original dramas like The Year of the Sex Olympics accurately predicted, and indicted, the sensationalism of "Reality TV" and the passivity of the society that produced it.
In the years that followed Quatermass and the Pit, The Stone Tape, Murrain, Beasts, The Woman in Black and more, would influence successive generations of authors, film makers and screenwriters. From Russell T. Davies to The League of Gentlemen, John Carpenter to Stephen King, Chris Carter, Peter Strickland, Ramsey Campbell, China Mieville and more...
Jacques Derrida may have coined the term, but it is Kneale - in his style, themes and the unique tone of his work - who provides a touchstone for the Hauntological movement which has pervaded our culture in recent years.
Now the authors, critics, screenwriters and film makers so influenced by him gather to celebrate his work and influence. To share their passion for the astonishing writing of Nigel Kneale and tell you why this too little known man was one of the Great Writers Of Our Time.
In 1953 he changed the face of British television with The Quatermass Experiment. Public houses across the nation emptied as each instalment of this thrilling new story went out live to the nation. Never before had a television drama become a national event, and few enough have had such an impact since.
His adaptation of Nineteen Eighty Four would raise questions in Parliament, such was its power, while original dramas like The Year of the Sex Olympics accurately predicted, and indicted, the sensationalism of "Reality TV" and the passivity of the society that produced it.
In the years that followed Quatermass and the Pit, The Stone Tape, Murrain, Beasts, The Woman in Black and more, would influence successive generations of authors, film makers and screenwriters. From Russell T. Davies to The League of Gentlemen, John Carpenter to Stephen King, Chris Carter, Peter Strickland, Ramsey Campbell, China Mieville and more...
Jacques Derrida may have coined the term, but it is Kneale - in his style, themes and the unique tone of his work - who provides a touchstone for the Hauntological movement which has pervaded our culture in recent years.
Now the authors, critics, screenwriters and film makers so influenced by him gather to celebrate his work and influence. To share their passion for the astonishing writing of Nigel Kneale and tell you why this too little known man was one of the Great Writers Of Our Time.
- GenresScience FictionFilm
477 pages, Paperback
Published December 10, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
January 3, 2019
This looks, feels and reads like the labour of love it obviously is and it is a text that every discerning Kneale fan should read. I have just two minor criticisms that make it a 4 and a half stars rather than a 5.
Firstly as each of the many contributors were unaware of the what the others are writing there is a significant amount of repetition, in particular when it comes to describing the plots of individual Kneale stories. However even here there are gems to be found in the different emphasises each gives in those descriptions.
Secondly there is the hugely (both in terms of length of piece and depth of disappointment) disappointing section by Steve Bissette. Both Steve Bissette’s reputation, and the sheer length of his piece on the book, should have been strong indicators that one was in for a treat but sadly his contribution spends a long time in a deeply disappointing rambling rummage, referencing film and TV with similar themes that is almost stream of consciousness like in its delivery. It does however eventually settle down to become a slightly more useful reference of differences between small and large screen Quatermass.
After detailing a couple of minor criticisms it would be remiss of me then not to also mention some the many highlights of this book(s). I say book(s) as my version came in a slipcase with another hardback copy of the script of Kneale’s unfilmed “The Big, Big Giggle”. It is an engrossing but dark tale and you can see why the BBC struggled with the topic, and probably would still do so today, you can also see many elements that are clearly precursors of the plot of the final Quatermass.
A particularly useful chapter on the ‘The Literary Kneale’ by Tim Lucas gives a detailed description of every story in Kneale’s 'Tomato Cain and Other Stories', which is a wonderful resource for those of us who won’t get to read such a relatively rare book.
Neil Snowdon’s interviews with Judith Kerr and Mark Gatiss; and Stephen Volk’s chapter referencing Ghostwatch are also among the many highlights.
Firstly as each of the many contributors were unaware of the what the others are writing there is a significant amount of repetition, in particular when it comes to describing the plots of individual Kneale stories. However even here there are gems to be found in the different emphasises each gives in those descriptions.
Secondly there is the hugely (both in terms of length of piece and depth of disappointment) disappointing section by Steve Bissette. Both Steve Bissette’s reputation, and the sheer length of his piece on the book, should have been strong indicators that one was in for a treat but sadly his contribution spends a long time in a deeply disappointing rambling rummage, referencing film and TV with similar themes that is almost stream of consciousness like in its delivery. It does however eventually settle down to become a slightly more useful reference of differences between small and large screen Quatermass.
After detailing a couple of minor criticisms it would be remiss of me then not to also mention some the many highlights of this book(s). I say book(s) as my version came in a slipcase with another hardback copy of the script of Kneale’s unfilmed “The Big, Big Giggle”. It is an engrossing but dark tale and you can see why the BBC struggled with the topic, and probably would still do so today, you can also see many elements that are clearly precursors of the plot of the final Quatermass.
A particularly useful chapter on the ‘The Literary Kneale’ by Tim Lucas gives a detailed description of every story in Kneale’s 'Tomato Cain and Other Stories', which is a wonderful resource for those of us who won’t get to read such a relatively rare book.
Neil Snowdon’s interviews with Judith Kerr and Mark Gatiss; and Stephen Volk’s chapter referencing Ghostwatch are also among the many highlights.
November 30, 2018
It is safe to say that this book has had a troubled road to publication, but thankfully at last it has arrived... and what a glorious tome it is!
Although Nigel Kneale's body of work is synonymous with science fiction and fantasy TV, he was not a huge fan of genre - his sole collection of short stories he considered rather juvenile - but as this collection of essays, collated superbly by Neil Snowdon, ably illustrates, his lack of empathy for science fiction and fantasy fiction gave him his own the unique way in approaching the subject when adapting genre works, during the golden age of 1950s and 60s TV and film.
Sadly, much of his work no longer exists - wiped by penny-pinching BBC executives (much like most TV) - and as such there is a little repetition of subject matter in the essays, but that is only a very slight negative (and wholly understandable) of this collection.
To cap it all, the design work by PS Publishing is utterly sublime - I've not read the included novella yet, but looking forward to it. Yes, it is an expensive book, but it is entirely worthy of the man himself (and of course there is the less-expensive paperback edition).
Overall, this is a must-have for anyone wanting to read more about what drove Kneale with his writing, and yes you will feel slightly upset that it is very very unlikely we'll ever see all those missing (presumed deleted) dramas.
Thoroughly recommended.
Although Nigel Kneale's body of work is synonymous with science fiction and fantasy TV, he was not a huge fan of genre - his sole collection of short stories he considered rather juvenile - but as this collection of essays, collated superbly by Neil Snowdon, ably illustrates, his lack of empathy for science fiction and fantasy fiction gave him his own the unique way in approaching the subject when adapting genre works, during the golden age of 1950s and 60s TV and film.
Sadly, much of his work no longer exists - wiped by penny-pinching BBC executives (much like most TV) - and as such there is a little repetition of subject matter in the essays, but that is only a very slight negative (and wholly understandable) of this collection.
To cap it all, the design work by PS Publishing is utterly sublime - I've not read the included novella yet, but looking forward to it. Yes, it is an expensive book, but it is entirely worthy of the man himself (and of course there is the less-expensive paperback edition).
Overall, this is a must-have for anyone wanting to read more about what drove Kneale with his writing, and yes you will feel slightly upset that it is very very unlikely we'll ever see all those missing (presumed deleted) dramas.
Thoroughly recommended.
September 28, 2018
A superb selection of thoughtful, varied and very readable* essays on Kneale's many creations (in television, film and prose) with a nice balance of tribute and information.
(*Aside from Steve Bissette's wordy, thesis-like, and very long contribution, which may suit some, but which I couldn't plough through to the end.)
(*Aside from Steve Bissette's wordy, thesis-like, and very long contribution, which may suit some, but which I couldn't plough through to the end.)
May 1, 2018
If you haven't heard of Nigel Kneale, then Andy Murray's INTO THE UNKNOWN might be a better starting point. If you've seen the QUATERMASS films and starting to look for THE STONE TAPE & THE YEAR OF THE SEX OLYMPICS, then you'll want to pick up this excellent collection of essays about Kneale's work, which will help with appreciation of the man & his long legacy - and provide some incentive in looking for his work (not as easy in the U.S. - but not impossible).
The version I read was the deluxe edition which came in a slipcase and signed by all the contributors and also includes Kneale's script for THE BIG BIG GIGGLE, intended for production by the BBC in the mid-60's and halted mainly due to the subject matter, teen suicide as a 'happening'.
Shame this wasn't produced; this could've become a landmark production like the original QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT serial - but then again, considering the subject matter, it might've been wiped and lost forever, like a good portion of early BBC television. However, it did influence some later work - the tone of it got used for SEX OLYMPICS and the generational divide was incorporated in the 70's QUATERMASS - and foresees such mundane (to us) things as cellphones and their presence in the everyday lives of teenagers, flash mobs, media exploitation of the problems of youth, 'depression'...
The version I read was the deluxe edition which came in a slipcase and signed by all the contributors and also includes Kneale's script for THE BIG BIG GIGGLE, intended for production by the BBC in the mid-60's and halted mainly due to the subject matter, teen suicide as a 'happening'.
Shame this wasn't produced; this could've become a landmark production like the original QUATERMASS EXPERIMENT serial - but then again, considering the subject matter, it might've been wiped and lost forever, like a good portion of early BBC television. However, it did influence some later work - the tone of it got used for SEX OLYMPICS and the generational divide was incorporated in the 70's QUATERMASS - and foresees such mundane (to us) things as cellphones and their presence in the everyday lives of teenagers, flash mobs, media exploitation of the problems of youth, 'depression'...
September 7, 2025
Mark Gatiss says it best when he describes Nigel Kneale as "a prophet without honour". This appreciation of his varied work is long overdue and a heart-warming labour of love. It could have done with some tighter editing in places but this is a valuable collection of essays.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews