The Starlost

The Starlost was a Canadian-produced science fiction television series devised by writer Harlan Ellison and broadcast in 1973 on CTV in Canada and on NBC in the United States.

Premise

The initial concept was that, faced by the destruction of Earth, a multigeneration starship had been built. The ship contained dozens of self-contained biospheres, miles across, each one containing people from a different culture. Early in the voyage, disaster struck, and the command section, with its crew, was destroyed.

Related Topics:
Destruction of Earth - Starship - Biosphere

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Centuries later, the story opens with a young man in the Amish biosphere making a discovery that the world is far larger and mysterious than he had realised: he finds his way into the service areas of the ship, and discovers its history. The ship is now only a few years from its destination: the (lost) alternate command bridge needs to be found, somewhere on the vast ship, and preparations made for arrival.

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The scenario drew on common themes in science fiction; it had the obvious potential for an interesting, developing storyline as more discoveries were made about the ship, and other, previously isolated cultures contacted in other biospheres. Twentieth Century Fox was interested in the project, Douglas Trumbull was to be the executive producer; Keir Dullea was contracted to play the lead role. The science fiction writer and editor Ben Bova was signed up as science advisor.

Related Topics:
Twentieth Century Fox - Douglas Trumbull - Keir Dullea - Ben Bova

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