is the first substantial study of a genre which, despite a sometimes troubled history, has produced some of the best British films, from the prewar classic made in Britain by a British director. The contributors to this rich and provocative collection explore the diverse strangeness of British science fiction, from literary adaptions like and to pulp fantasies and 'creature features' far removed from the acceptable face of British cinema. Through case studies of key films like , contributors explore the unique themes and concerns of British science fiction, from the postwar boom years to more recent productions like , and examine how science fiction cinema drew on a variety of sources, from TV adaptions like , to the horror/sf crossovers produced from John Wyndham's cult novels (filmed as ). How did budget restrictions encourage the use of the 'invasion narrative' in the 1950s films? And how did films such as reflect fears about the decline of Britain's economic and colonial power and the 'threat' of female sexuality? celebrates the breadth and continuing vitality of British sf film-making, in both big-budget productions such as and cult exploitation movies like .