Irwin Allen's Lost in Space: The Authorized Biography of a Classic Sci-Fi Series, Volume 2

I always like to take a book with me on vacation as a way of taking a break from all of the electronic stuff we're usually forced to use at work and at home. Ironically, the cast and crew of Lost in Space didn't have that problem, unless you take into account the props and set pieces that had blinking lights and push buttons, so this book is definitely a blast from the past. Not only do we get a chance to step into the unique world of television production, but we also get a chance to find out what life was like back in the late sixties. I've had the rare opportunity of working on a couple of TV shows as an actor, so I can appreciate the unique experience of the work. The best part of all of it is seeing familiar faces and of course meeting new people in the industry and having some great conversations. If you don't know anything about the entertainment industry on this level, I think this series of books will help give you at least an idea of what it's like. If you're a huge Lost in Space fan, this is definitely a good read. It goes into detail on each episode of Season 2. The most memorable to me is what was supposed to be the official Christmas episode which I happened to read about on Christmas eve. Production on the series was so frantic that the episode couldn't be aired on time and had to be aired on a later date. There's also some great information about the very popular B9 robot toy that was released that year, just in time for Christmas and just in time to be used on one of the 2nd season episodes. So, whether you're a huge Lost in Space fan or just a fan of television in general, this book is definitely a good read. I'm looking forward to reading the final book in the series, Volume 3.

It was the late 1970s, I was in high school, and I had spent years by that point watching Lost In Space every day at 4:30 on WNEW, followed by Star Trek at 6:00 on WPIX. I knew every episode of each by heart, identified with Will Robinson, and made audio tapes of each episode. It was years before I realized that I had watched the episodes only in syndication and that each had precious minutes of action cut out so that more commercials could be shown. And of course it was decades before there was a way to watch each episode as desired, to listen to the music and sound effects independently, and to read about what went into each episode. Star Trek was the first to be made available on VHS, but years before that "The Making of Star Trek" gave some hope to those of us who wanted to learn more. For LIS, there was nothing at all. By the 1980s it was almost as if the show had never happened. Finally, a few little things began to happen that gave us hope. And now we have the Blurays, the box set of scores, and Cushman's trio of books providing all the background. Cushman writes in the mode of historian, bringing us the original material leading up to each episode, explaining through primary sources why Lost in Space followed the path it did, and how a show that started out as excellent SF ended up as the Will/Smith/Robot comedy/fantasy hour. While I wish these texts had been around when I was 13, it's better late than never and I enjoyed the week or two of evenings that I spent reading through each of them. This second volume thoroughly explores the second season of the show, its first in color, and the transition from science fiction to fantasy.

Crammed full of information, Marc Cushman's second volume in the story of television's classic series LOST IN SPACE, provides a treasure-trove of research. Each episode is discussed in detail and given contemporaneous reviews, ratings and some behind-the-scenes information. Although I am delighted to have this, and I do better understand what made LOST IN SPACE this unique television show that it is, this hefty tome is not as much fun to read as I expected. I thoroughly enjoyed Mr. Cushman's STAR TREK trilogy, and felt that there was something missing in this. LOST IN SPACE was always good for a giggle and a thrill, and I wish there were more giggles to be had in this book (a few more Jonathan Harris quotes would probably have lightened the tone a bit). Actually, that is a minor qualm, however, as Cushman has done a great job of contextualizing and explaining the world of LOST IN SPACE and the world of television. It is, in short, a business that has no time for dilly-dallying, and no money to spare. It's easier to appreciate the talent that must overcome these obstacles after reading this wonderful book.

Lost in Space is by far my favorite TV show of all time. As a result, I check into anything I can find on Lost in Space. Marc Cushman’s Three Volume set is magnificent and highly recommended for Lost in Space Aficionados.I am combining my review for all three volumes into one review. The three-volume set should be purchased together.Each volume contains a chapter dedicated to each episode, in chronological order in which they initially aired. The flow is essentially the same: Information “From the Script”; Cushman’s “Assessment” of the episode; followed by in depth insight on how the episode was developed; production details; interviews; other relevant information and wrapping-up with Nielson Ratings. And there are hundreds of great pictures from a variety of sources.Volume One is the longest, primarily because it includes significant background material prior to the individual Episode Chapters. Volume Three also contains post- Lost in Space information.The books are also a great companion when watching each episode.Never fear, Smith is here- purchase these books!

Bought Volumes 1 and 2 for my brother who is a big Lost in Space fan. He loved them !

I absolutely love this book. I’ve been a fan since the show debuted and loved it ever since. The photos & behind the scenes looks are worth the price alone! I can’t believe I didn’t know about this book sooner. I love it!

The book thickness

Wanted to complete the set of 3. Very informative.

Plenty to read and for fans of the series it will be a great insight to the show

Excellent second volume of LOST IN SPACE behind the scenes.