A Handy Guide to the Back of Beyond

Marc Scott Zicree was 22 with an art degree from UCLA when he decided to write a book about “The Twilight Zone.” The notion would have been daunting for any author, but it seemed outrageous coming from one who was born the year the series premiered.

Still, Zicree had his memories. “I might not have been old enough to watch when it originally aired,” says the 40-year-old screenwriter, “but once the shows were in syndication, I rarely missed an episode.”

What Zicree derived from the “cool yet creepy” stories was confirmation that “the world has horrors, but also magic.” Not exactly the message of “Leave It to Beaver” or “Father Knows Best.”

It took Zicree months to gather enough research--and courage--to ask Rod Serling’s widow, Carol, for her blessing, and her help. He got both and in 1982 published the first edition of “The Twilight Zone Companion” (Silman-James Press).

For the series’ 40th anniversary, Zicree and the second edition of his collection are on tour once more. Zicree will sign books Tuesday at Barnes & Noble in Marina del Rey; on Oct. 29, he will sign books and show videos at Golden Apple, Los Angeles; and on Oct. 30, he will gather with actors and writers from the series at the Hollywood Entertainment Museum. Among invitees to the latter two events are actors Earl Holliman, William Windom, and Veronica Cartwright.