X Minus One Tribute

Background

Dimension X (8 April 1950-29 September 1951; 50 total episodes, 50 surviving) was the first science fiction radio drama series with broad adult appeal, featuring works by young science fiction writers like Ray Bradbury, Robert Bloch, Robert Heinlein, Isaac Asimov, and Kurt Vonnegut.

From 24 April 1955 - 9 January 1958 X Minus One continued in this vein, reviving its first fifteen episodes from Dimension X. The remaining episodes of X Minus One were new adaptations of science fiction written by the rising stars of the genre whose stories appeared in Galaxy Magazine. Examples include Isaac Asimov ("Nightfall," "C-Chute," and "Hostess"), Ray Bradbury ("And The Moon Be Still As Bright," "Mars is Heaven," "The Veldt," "Dwellers in Silence," "Zero Hour," "To the Future," "Marionettes, Inc.," and "There Will Come Soft Rains"), Philip K. Dick ("The Defenders" and "Colony"), Robert A. Heinlein ("Universe," "Requim," "The Roads Must Roll," and "The Green Hills of Earth"), George Lefferts ("The Parade"), Fritz Leiber ("A Pail of Air"), J. T. McIntosh ("Hallucination Orbit"), Frederik Pohl ("The Tunnel under the World"), Robert Sheckley ("Skulking Permit"), and L. Sprague de Camp ("A Gun for Dinosaur").

Today, X Minus One, an anthology program known for its high quality radio adaptations of original science fiction stories, is on every list of the best radio programs ever. LEARN more about X Minus One.

This Re-Imagined Radio tribute features two episodes from X Minus One, "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury and "The Cave of Night" by James E. Gunn (1923-2020). Both illustrate the high quality stories X Minus One offered radio listeners, as well as the production values used in transforming these stories into radio dramas. For these reasons the popularity of X Minus One continues today.

The Veldt
Written by Ray Bradbury (1920-2012). First published in The Saturday Evening Post, 23 September 1950 with the title "The World the Children Made." The story's title was changed to "The Veldt" in 1951 when it was collected in Bradbury's anthology The Illustrated Man. Ernest Kinoy adapted "The Veldt" as an episode of the radio program Dimension X in 1951. Kinoy's script was also used for the August 4, 1955 episode of X Minus One.

Bradbury's story is set in a future home where the children program their playroom to provide a virtual reality of the African veldt complete with lions. As the children spend more and more time in the playroom, the parents become distressed, thinking the room is taking over their roles as parents. When they try to limit the children's access to the playroom, trouble begins.

The Cave of Night
Written by James E. Gunn (1923-2020). First published in Galaxy Science Fiction, February 1955, Gunn's story was adapted by Ernest Kinoy as an episode of X Minus One broadcast February 1, 1956. A professor of English specializing in science fiction and fiction writing at University of Kansas, Gunn established the Center for the Study of Science Fiction which awards the annual John W. Campbell Memorial Award for best science fiction writing.

Gunn's story "The Cave of Night" concerns the pilot of a U.S. experimental rocket ship stranded in space, unable to return to Earth, traveling through the cave of night, waiting to be rescued.

Written in a time before human space travel, "The Cave of Night" anticipates the drama of Apollo 13, the tragedy of the Challenger and Columbia shuttle disasters, and even the Moon landing conspiracy theories, all while stressing the importance of commitment and resources as we seek to slip the bonds of gravity and venture into space.

Promotion

"Re-Imagined Radio 'X Minus One Tribute'." The Oregonian, 18 June 2021, p. 9.
John Barber directs a broadcast of two science fiction stories from the "X Minus One" radio anthology program. The hourlong broadcast features two adapted stories: "The Veldt" by Ray Bradbury and "The Cave of Night" by James E. Gunn.

"Local Artist Produces Radio Plays," a television interview produced by Steve Redlin of KGW, Portland, Oregon, 15 June 2021.

X Minus One Tribute web poster by Holly Slocum, Holly Slocum Design (240 x 356)

X Minus One Tribute Kiggins poster by Holly Slocum, Holly Slocum Design (480 x 711)

X Minus One Tribute cover poster by Holly Slocum, Holly Slocum Design (820 x 360)

X Minus One Tribute social media poster (2000 x 2000)

X Minus One poster by Holly Slocum, Holly Slocum Design (2000 x 3000)