Serling - by Alan Sepinwall (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

New York Times bestselling author and esteemed TV critic Alan Sepinwall delivers the definitive biography of Rod Serling, creator of The Twilight Zone. Serling's pioneering work not only included entertaining millions and shaping television standards, but also being an outspoken advocate on a range of social justice issues.

"What I write is a part of me," Rod Serling once said. Serling put himself into everything he wrote. You could hear his distinct voice coming through whether a script was set on another planet or a familiar suburban street. Many of the hundreds of original radio and television scripts that he penned were in some way inspired by moments from his own life: his idyllic childhood, his time in combat in the Pacific, the period in his early career where he earned a reputation as TV's "angry young man," and even his experiences as the famed writer, producer, and narrator of The Twilight Zone.

So it seems fitting that the definitive biography of a man who poured so much of himself into his material should use his fictional alter egos to help tell his riveting true story. Renowned TV critic and bestselling author Alan Sepinwall employs Rod's own writing to paint a portrait of this singular creative force, using episodes of The Twilight Zone and Rod's other work to set the scene and illustrate how thin the line was between the man and his art.

Serling died believing he had left not legacy, and that his work would quickly be forgotten. Yet celebrated fans like Steven Spielberg, Guillermo del Toro, JJ Abrams, Ben Stiller, Rian Johnson, Vince Gilligan, Rob Mac, and many more discuss with Sepinwall how Serling inspired what they do. A revealing portrait of a complicated, principled man, Serling pays due homage to one of the greatest activist writers ever known.

Review Quotes

"Mixes a cradle-to-grave chronicle with smart observation and analysis."--The Wall Street Journal

"A deft exploration of the lasting impact Serling made on the television landscape and storytelling as a whole." --Booklist

"Both Serling and The Twilight Zone are well documented, but Sepinwall takes a fresh approach. He successfully positions Serling as the first showrunner, whose commitment to prestige television paved the way for Lost, Black Mirror, and numerous pop culture parodies."--Library Journal

"Serling is an essential biography of a seminal figure in the history of television. I don't think I understood the paradox at the heart of Rod Serling's life until I read this ingeniously structured biography, how little I actually knew about this familiar figure whose influence on our culture is still felt today. A lively, captivating biography."--Laura Lippman, New York Times bestselling author of What the Dead Know and more

"A portrait of the man who introduced legions of fans to a dimension not only of sight and sound but of mind. Rod Serling's name is inextricably linked to The Twilight Zone (1959-1964), the groundbreaking science-fiction show he created; accordingly, journalist Sepinwall, author of TV (The Book), titles many chapters of his biography after celebrated episodes that offer sharp insights into Serling's life. ... Frequent quotes from the many creators who have drawn influence from The Twilight Zone, among them Jordan Peele, Guillermo del Toro, and J.J. Abrams, are a rich testament to his legacy; this is the biography one wishes Serling himself could have read. Thorough, illuminating, and above all deeply empathetic."--Kirkus Reviews

"As someone who compulsively read The Twilight Zone Companion as a kid, this is the book I've been waiting for: a comprehensive, splendidly entertaining biography of the TV pioneer to whom we owe so much. Alan Sepinwall convincingly makes the case both for Rod Serling's ongoing and expansive cultural relevance and for his overarching artistic and personal integrity."--Megan Abbott, author of The Fever and The Turnout

"Electrifying...It's a revelatory tribute to a showrunner who unlocked the door to viewers' imaginations."--Publisher's Weekly

"Rod Serling isn't simply the most famous TV writer of all time. When you've held a seventy-year grip on the entire world, you get to leave off the 'TV' modifier. When you've affected four generations and counting--engaging people's imagination, emotion and moral compass--'famous' doesn't fully cut it, either. Serling is one of the most important writers, period, America ever produced. I've read every Twilight Zone tome I could get my hands on, and fancy myself a bit of an expert on Mr. Serling and his show. To my surprise, Alan Sepinwall's wonderful new book really schooled me. It was chock-full of details I didn't know. Best of all, it brings to life a gentleman I'd dearly love to have met."--Vince Gilligan, creator of Breaking Bad and Pluribus

"Rod Serling, age fifty, writer, producer, generational paragon. Successful in most things but not in the one effort that all men try at some time in their lives--trying to go home again. In your hands, a time machine, a magical portal of a book that expertly weaves Serling's fascinating past to his most iconic work, all threaded with meticulous research and yes, love by one of television's greatest archivists, critics and fans, Alan Sepinwall. Keep your eyeglasses secure and be grateful you've got time enough at last for an incredible journey into the life and writing of a true American icon."--Damon Lindelof, Emmy Award-winning creator of Lost, Watchmen, and The Leftovers

About the Author

One of the country's most influential and respected TV critics, Alan Sepinwall has worked for Rolling Stone and The Star-Ledger newspaper of New Jersey. His writing has also appeared in The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Ringer, and many others. He is the author or co-author of seven previous books about the medium, including New York Times bestsellers TV (THE BOOK) and The Sopranos Sessions. He currently runs the TV criticism website WhatsAlanWatching.com and co-hosts the podcast TV Is Good. He can be found on Instagram, BlueSky, Facebook, Threads, and X with the username Sepinwall.