When a tall tree falls in the forest

BEFORE reality TV and “live the dream” talent shows, there was a hugely influential science fiction and fantasy series which was compelling viewing for anyone with a grain of imagination.

The Twilight Zone ran for 156 episodes and inspired a whole generation of writers, including Stephen King. My favourite story concerns the editor of a dying, small-town newspaper who turns it round through the expedient of hiring the Devil as a sub-editor who uses a Linotype machine, which has the happy knack of predicting the future every time a story is set on it.

Exclusive after exclusive, always ahead of the opposition. If only things were so simple in 2010.