The Encyclopedia Of Cult Children’s TV by Richard Lewis
01/03/2002 . Source: Geoff Willmetts 
pub: Allison & Busby Ltd. 354 page paperback-size hardback. Price: £ 9.99 (UK). ISBN: 0-7490-0576-9. Buy from Amazon US - Buy from Amazon UK
nb: US titles may only be available from Amazon US, and UK titles from Amazon UK. You know how it is. You see a little
publicity about a book and think cos its got a low price, there can’t
be any harm in buying it for a looksee.
If I’d see it on the shelf first, I think I’d have
probably left it there. As there is some reference to some TV SF
shows here, then it needs to be covered here if for no other reason
that you can save your pounds for a more deserving book.
 Author
Lewis goes out of his way in the introduction to say he is only
going to focus on series from the mid-1960s to 1988. Then through
lack of material, every cast member from ‘Wacky Races’ and ‘Top
Cat’ get separate entries to make up the space that could have easily
covered ‘Huckleberry Hound’, ‘Yogi Bear’ (where Daws Butler is first
recognised for these voices than for his later work), ‘Space Patrol’
(it isn’t though it wasn’t out on video when this book was compiled)
amongst many others.
He even forgets 70s delights like ‘Timeslip’ and the
more slightly bizarre surreal ‘Bright’s Boffins’. The latter might
not have everyone’s favourite but should have been noted.
When it comes to factual errors, it’s on par with
that ‘The Mammoth Encyclopedia Of Science Fiction’ I reviewed last
year. Does anyone remember Lady Penelope having a co-starring role
in ‘Stingray’?? Me neither. The TV ‘Batman’ entry hits on secondary
characters who played the Riddler and Catwoman then those who played
them regularly. There’s worse but why dwell on them.
Yes, there is some things that are noted correctly
but it isn’t hard to see why as they’re what Lewis either remembered
watching or was able to get from source. Anything else got a cursory
glance. Whoever was editing him should have been able to have recognised
some of the mistakes with minimal research.
Lewis was also extremely patronizing in his attempts
at being funny at the expense of the series he notes. Whether this
was a demonstration of his own boredom or cheering up the text when
he had little to say is debatable.
Personally, if you were going to buy this book for
some knowledge or insight about your favourite series then you’re
going to be sadly disappointed by this author’s uncaring attitude.
Recognising a series has a cult following based on this book’s title,
there should have been sufficient detail covering why its appeal
has stood the passage of time.
This is obviously a book put together by publishers
to make money. It’s a pity that they couldn’t have chosen some author
with a better awareness of the subject matter. Certainly there’s
enough of us around.
GF Willmetts
Check out website: www.alisonandbusby.ltd.uk
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