photonovels

…this is probably the most original idea of the site, without any doubt…
The purpouse here is not to talk about SF comics (maybe one day I’ll do that) but to show some samples of TV science fiction.
It’s quite easy to write something about your favourite show, but so far the only way to give some example on the web was probably to force people to long downloads of video files…
I think this unusual way can be quite effective.
This idea was born in February 22, 1974, when a little italian publisher, “Romana Periodici Illustrati”, came out with a very original way to merchandise the success of the “U.F.O.” TV show in Italy.
Instead of producing low quality comics (as somenone did) or some absurd product called “UFO” without any link with the serie, the publisher had a very interesting idea: photonovels with images and stories from the show!
The idea was very good, and readers forgave the huge number of mistakes contained in the magazine (changed lines, wrong photos etc.) and the very low quality of images (black and white, with terrible contrast).

Italian UFO fans could also read some unreleased episodes: in fact, only 20 episodes had been broadcasted on italian television.
Anyway, only 18 episodes were published, and the reasons are not clear: economic problems, or maybe the missing episodes were not suitable for children (in Italy they were the exclusive target of UFO and its photonovels).
I decided to re-use the idea for this site. Of course I will start with “U.F.O.” and then go on with other TV shows.
In the italian version of the site I produced a higher number of UFO episodes, because completing the serie of italian photonovels was particularly interesting for italian audience.
I think here there will be no need, unless you will absolutely ask for them…