Description

Book Synopsis
British science fiction television of the 1970s and 1980s is full of Machiavellian protagonists and fatalistic endings. It presents a complex world of moral and ethical dilemmas, appropriate to the emerging political landscape of Thatcherite Britain. This book analyses the science fiction series of the period – including Blake’s 7, Doctor Who and Sapphire & Steel – alongside Britain’s transition from social-democracy to neoliberal economics and the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. It examines the abrupt shifts in themes and tone that these series often exhibit compared to their predecessors, highlighting comparisons to the similarly abrupt change in Britain’s political landscape.

Table of Contents

Introduction
1 British science fiction television in the consensus era: authority and paternalism
2 ‘Wealth is the only reality’: Blake’s 7 and Thatcherism
3 Sapphire & Steel: the illusion of independence
4 Rewriting the Doctor: Doctor Who in the late-Thatcher era
5 ‘A precarious existence’: science fiction television adaptations of the 1980s
6 ‘It won’t be easy’: original science fiction series of the 1980s
Conclusion
Index

Time Lords and Star Cops: British Science Fiction

    Product form

    A Hardback by Philip Braithwaite

    £63.75

    Includes FREE delivery

    RRP £85.00 – you save £21.25 (25%)

    Order before 4pm today for delivery by Sat 3 Oct 2026.

    1 in stock

      Trusted by thousands of customers. See 2,385+ Customer Reviews

      View other formats and editions of Time Lords and Star Cops: British Science Fiction by Philip Braithwaite

      Book details

      Publisher Manchester University Press
      Published 30 May 2023
      ISBN-13 9781526163370
      978-1526163370
      ISBN-10 1526163373
      Also in:
      Entertainment Television: styles and genres Popular culture

      Description

      Book Synopsis
      British science fiction television of the 1970s and 1980s is full of Machiavellian protagonists and fatalistic endings. It presents a complex world of moral and ethical dilemmas, appropriate to the emerging political landscape of Thatcherite Britain. This book analyses the science fiction series of the period – including Blake’s 7, Doctor Who and Sapphire & Steel – alongside Britain’s transition from social-democracy to neoliberal economics and the premiership of Margaret Thatcher. It examines the abrupt shifts in themes and tone that these series often exhibit compared to their predecessors, highlighting comparisons to the similarly abrupt change in Britain’s political landscape.

      Table of Contents

      Introduction
      1 British science fiction television in the consensus era: authority and paternalism
      2 ‘Wealth is the only reality’: Blake’s 7 and Thatcherism
      3 Sapphire & Steel: the illusion of independence
      4 Rewriting the Doctor: Doctor Who in the late-Thatcher era
      5 ‘A precarious existence’: science fiction television adaptations of the 1980s
      6 ‘It won’t be easy’: original science fiction series of the 1980s
      Conclusion
      Index

      Recently viewed products

      © 2026 Book Curl

        • American Express
        • Apple Pay
        • Diners Club
        • Discover
        • Google Pay
        • Maestro
        • Mastercard
        • PayPal
        • Shop Pay
        • Union Pay
        • Visa

        Login

        Forgot your password?

        Don't have an account yet?
        Create account