Check It Out:

Among fans online, the date of May 11 has unofficially become known as “Twilight Zone Day,” in celebration of the classic television show, “The Twilight Zone,” and its creator, Rod Serling.

The Newport Beach Public Library stocks many books and DVDs related to the much beloved classic anthology show and its various contributing writers.

Relive memorable episodes, or share memories with your friends or children by checking out one of the five DVD volumes that contains every episode of this vital and imaginative show.

The library also carries the first DVD volume of the 1980s re-launch of The Twilight Zone and an informative DVD biography titled “Rod Serling: Submitted for your Approval.”

The library also carries collections of the original episode stories, which make for great reading!

Try “The Twilight Zone: The Original Stories” edited by Martin Harry Greenberg. This book contains a great many classic and enduring stories such as “Time Enough at Last,” To Serve Man,” “Nightmare at 20,000 Feet,” and many more. Writers that are represented include Rod Serling, Richard Matheson, Charles Beaumont, and even classic writers Ambrose Bierce (“An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge”) and Ray Bradbury (“I Sing the Body Electric”).

Also available at the library is another collection titled “The Twilight Zone: Complete Stories” by Rod Serling. This is a compilation of 19 stories, all written by Serling. Included are such perennial classics as “Where is Everybody,” “The Monsters are Due on Maple Street,” and A Stop at Willoughby.” These stories playfully include Serling’s closing narrations, which help evoke the feel of the television series.

Or, try a new one titled, “The Twilight Zone: 19 Original Stories on the 50th Anniversary” edited by Carol Serling. This book contains entirely new stories written in the style of the original. Contributing authors include Joe Lansdale, R.L. Stine, Timothy Zahn, Peter S. Beagle, Whitley Strieber, and Kelley Armstrong.

A modern new telling of perhaps one of the most classic episodes is “Rod Serling’s The Twilight Zone: Walking Distance,” written by Rod Serling, adapted by Mark Kneece, and illustrated by Dove McHargue. It is loving retold, with retro style and a fitting, modern appeal.

Another new book to check out is “Rod Serling and the Twilight Zone” by Douglas Brode and Carol Serling. This book breaks down several episodes into themes and explores them together. It offers insightful asides on prevailing ideas, influences, and related materials.

To learn more about the man behind the mythos, check out a biography on series architect and most prominent author, Rod Serling. “Serling: The Rise and Twilight of Television’s Last Angry Man” by Gordon Sander or “Rod Serling: The Dreams and Nightmares of Life in the Twilight Zone” by Joel Engel. Both are biographical, revealing, and engaging. They retrace the steps of a significant figure in drama, science fiction and television.

Be sure and stop by the Central Library to see additional titles on display upstairs about The Twilight Zone, its many writers, and their other significant work!

CHECK IT OUT is written by the staff of the Newport Beach Public Library. All titles may be reserved from home or office computers by accessing the catalog at www.newportbeachlibrary.org. For more information on the Central Library or any of the branches, please contact the Newport Beach Public Library at (949) 717-3800, option 2.