John Gosling

John Gosling

John Gosling has written many articles for British science fiction magazines and runs a highly respected War of the Worlds website.

I've always loved Old Time Radio. Last century (and doesn't it feel odd to write those words), they really knew how to draw in an audience and capture the imagination. Today, computer graphics can create incredible visual effects, but back in the golden age of radio (1930's to 1950's), the spoken word and clever use of sound could just as easily transplant the listener to a New York street or even another world. That the results have so often stood the test of time is a credit to the ingenious staff of shows like The Mercury Theater, the brainchild of a rather well known chap by the name of Orson Welles. His War Of The Worlds broadcast is perhaps the most effective and brilliantly conceived example of its kind, a chilling drama that actually convinced a sizable number of people that the end of the world was nigh. To learn more about this incredible event, visit my War ofthe Worlds web site.