'Masters of Science Fiction' to ABC
ABC has confirmed that they will be airing a six episode series that features works by classic science fiction authors. Masters of Science Fiction will feature adaptations of six famous science fiction stories. The selected authors include John Kessel, Robert Heinlein, Howard Fast, Walter Mosley, Robert Sheckley and Harlan Ellison. Although I am not too familar with Kessel and Mosley, this is a pretty impressive selection.
Many top-line actors have signed up to work on the production, including Terry O'Quinn (from Lost), Anne Heche, Sean Astin and John Hurt. More details on each of the planned episodes can be found here.
I can name a dozen stories that I would have rather seen produced into primetime television. Heck, I would have picked 'Pretty Maggie Moneyeyes' or 'Ernest and the Machine God' from Ellison alone. However, if this does well, we may see this concept repeated in future seasons. It certainly fits the networks 'formula' of a show that can be picked up at any point in the season without having to know about prior episodes and there is no shortage of material to be had.
All reports are saying 'this fall' for the series, but Zap2It's day by day schedule for ABC does not list the show. So, its probably a midseason replacement.
