Introduction

I first came across Sapphire and Steel, an obscure British science fiction series made in the early 1980s, while I was browsing through a mail order catalogue in the late 90s. I read the description: 'a strange and fascinating show - definitely something different'. Always on the lookout for the unusual, I ordered volume one expecting no more than the usual B grade offering that is unfortunately usually the rule when it comes to television science fiction. I was more than pleasantly surprised when I discovered something that actually did match the catalogue description. By the end of Adventure 1, I was hooked and submitting my credit card to a severe workout, I ordered the remaining 5 Adventures on tape. At the same time as I was watching the series I was also reading the works of Antonin Artaud. The combination was quite extraordinary - the television series echoing a number of Artaud's insights into the radical disjunction between words and things.

Availability and DVDs

The commercial tapes were only released in PAL format and are currently deleted. However the series has recently been released on DVD. In Australia, the entire series has been released as a nicely packaged box set available from HMV. Also in Australia, UKTV on foxtel cable and satellite plays the series at regular intervals. For the DVDs in Region 2 (European) format, try Blackstar or Bensons World. The series is now available in Region 1 (USA) format as well.
A new series of audio adventures with David Warner and Susannah Harker is currently being released on CD (2005). See the Anorak's excellent site for details.

Articles

My article Sapphire and Steel: your questions answered is probably more understandable if you have already watched the series or know something about the basic plotlines. You can also find a discussion including comments from myself and others in an article edited by Marina Chong titled 'Personality and Partnership: Speculations on the nature of Sapphire and Steel'.

Links

Background and episode guides can be found at these websites. After a dearth of websites for many years, the DVD releases reignited interest in the series. Listed here in alphabetical order. Thanks to the Anorak for some of these links. The tag indicates links added since 27 Dec 2005.

Andy's Anachronisms -Sapphire and Steel
Overview and summary
The Anorak's guide to Sapphire and Steel
Very comprehensive and good looking site.
Clive Banks
Sapphire and Steel -An introduction. A short overview.
The Best of British- Sapphire and Steel
On the Classic Scifi and Cult TV site. Includes page on special awards given to Sapphire and Steel and creator/writer P J Hammond and director/producer Shaun O'Riordan. at the Cult TV festival 2004.
Dismal Light Sapphire and Steel page
Roy Gill
DVD Times review of Sapphire and Steel.
Jillun's page
John Kenneth Muir's Reflections on film/tv
Review
Steve Phillip's guide to Sapphire and Steel
Dominic Robinson
DVD Fever review
Sapphire and Steel guide at TV tome
Sapphire and Steel site
Sapphire and Steel site
In French.