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John Kenneth Muir

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John Kenneth Muir
Born (1969-12-03) December 3, 1969 (age 56)[1]
Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation
EducationUniversity of Richmond
Genre
  • Science fiction
  • horror
Years active1996–present
Website
www.johnkennethmuir.com Edit this at Wikidata

John Kenneth Muir (born December 3, 1969) is an American media historian, critic and speculative fiction author. As of 2022, he has written 30 reference books in the fields of film and television, with a particular focus on the horror and science fiction genres.

Career

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Muir was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey.[1] He attended the University of Richmond from 1988 to 1992.[2] He cites Pauline Kael and Roger Ebert as influences.[3]

He began his full-time writing career in 1996, authoring several books for McFarland & Company. He also has written monographs on science fiction television, including Exploring Space: 1999 (1997), An Analytical Guide to Battlestar Galactica (1998), A Critical History of Dr. Who on TV (1999), A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7 (1999) and An Analytical Guide to TV's One Step Beyond (2001).[citation needed] His first book, Exploring Space: 1999, was the first English-language attempt to analyse the TV series Space: 1999 in a wider cultural context, and is sometimes contrasted with a similar French-language book written by Pierre Fageolle.[4]

He has written a book about Kevin Smith titled An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith,[5] a study of Sam Raimi titled The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi,[6] a book on horror television called Terror Television: American Series 1970–1999,[7] and another on the works of Christopher Guest, Best in Show: The Films of Christopher Guest and Company.[6] As of 2010, Muir's most recent film director study was Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair.[8]

Works of fiction

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Muir's first novel, published in 2003, was a licensed Space: 1999 continuation titled The Forsaken. He followed this with The Whispering Sea in 2014. His other fiction includes the Space: 1999 short stories "Futility" and "The Touch of Venus", as well as Farscape short stories for Official Farscape Magazine.[9]

The House Between

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In 2006, Muir wrote and directed a science fiction web series titled The House Between.[10][11] The first episode, "Arrived", premiered at Fantasci V convention[12] in Chesapeake, Virginia in July 2006. Twenty-one episodes were produced over three seasons.[13] The second season premiere ("Returned") was nominated for a SyFy Genre Award in 2008 under the category "Best Web Production" but was narrowly beaten by Star Trek: Of Gods and Men. The third season was nominated for "Best Web Production" at Airlock Alpha.

Muir has also written two novellas in the House Between series: Enter The House Between Book #1: Arrived and Enter The House Between Book #2: Settled, both published in 2022.[14]

Abnormal Fixation

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In 2024 Muir wrote, directed and starred in an independent web series called Abnormal Fixation,[15][16] a mockumentary comedy-horror series about the hapless Elvis Bragg (Muir), a paranormal investigator seeking to win a contest against an organization called SKEPTI-COP by proving the existence of the Woodpyre Mill Phantom.

Abnormal Fixation won awards including Best Web Series at Luminary International Film Fiesta,[17] Palm Beach Shorts,[18] and New York Movie Awards.[19] The six-episode first season was released between January and March 2025. Nerd Alert News wrote that the production quality was "fabulous."[20] Regarding the first episode, "The Contest", SciFiPulse commented that Muir "has written a warm-hearted and engaging opener. The characters are established with wit and clarity. Additionally, Muir has deftly balanced the real stakes with the comedic tone."[21]

Media appearances

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Muir's TV appearances include E! True Hollywood Story: "Curse of The Exorcist". On radio, he has been a guest on Destinies: The Voice of Science Fiction, NiteShift, Good Morning Charlotte, The Allan Handelman Show, and The Mitch Albom Show.[citation needed]

In 2007, Muir appeared as a commentator in Decade of Darkness, a special feature on the Collector's Edition DVD release of The Return of the Living Dead.[22] He also appeared in the 2009 documentary Nightmares in Red, White and Blue.[23] In 2010 he was a judge at the Acefest NYC2010 Film Festival.[24]

Bibliography

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  • Horror Films 2000 – 2009 (McFarland, 2022)
  • Joss Whedon FAQ (Applause Theater and Cinema Books, 2019)
  • The X-Files FAQ (Applause Theater and Cinema Books, 2015)
  • Space:1999 The Whispering Sea (Powys Media, 2014)
  • Horror Films FAQ (Applause Theater and Cinema Books; 2013)
  • Music on Film: Purple Rain (Limelight Editions; 2012)
  • Horror Films of the 1990s (McFarland, 2011)
  • Music on Film: This is Spinal Tap (Limelight Editions; 2010)
  • Space: 1999 Shepherd Moon ("The Touch of Venus," "Futility") (Powys Media, 2010)
  • Ken Russell: Re-Viewing England's Last Mannerist ("As the (White) Worm Turns: Ken Russell as God and Devil of Rubber-Reality Horror Cinema") (Scarecrow Press, 2009)
  • Battlestar Galactica and Philosophy ("SALTed Popcorn") (Open Court, 2008)
  • TV Year Volume 1: The Complete 2005–2006 Prime Time Season (Applause Theater and Cinema Books, 2007)
  • The Rock and Roll Film Encyclopedia (Applause Theater and Cinema Books, 2007)
  • Horror Films of the 1980s (McFarland, 2007)
  • Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2006)[25]
  • Singing a New Tune: The Re-Birth of the Modern Film Musical, from Evita to De-Lovely and Beyond (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2005)
  • Best in Show: The Films of Christopher Guest & Company (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2004)[26]
  • The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2004)
  • The Encyclopedia of Superheroes on Film and Television (McFarland & Company, 2004)
  • Space: 1999 – The Forsaken (Powys Media, 2003)
  • Eaten Alive At A Chainsaw Massacre: The Films of Tobe Hooper (McFarland & Company, 2003)
  • An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith (Applause Theatre and Cinema Books, 2002)
  • Horror Films of the 1970s (McFarland & Company, 2002)
  • An Analytical Guide to Television's One Step Beyond, 1959–1961 (McFarland & Company, 2001)
  • Terror Television: American Series, 1970–1999 (McFarland & Company, 2001)
  • The Films of John Carpenter (McFarland & Company, 2000)
  • A History and Critical Analysis of Blake's 7, the 1978–1981 British Television Space Adventure (McFarland & Company, 1999)
  • A Critical History of Doctor Who on Television (McFarland & Company, 1999)
  • An Analytical Guide to Television's Battlestar Galactica (McFarland & Company, 1999)
  • Wes Craven: The Art of Horror (McFarland & Company, 1998)
  • Exploring Space: 1999 – An Episode Guide and Complete History of the Mid-1970s Science Fiction Television Series (McFarland & Company, 1997)

Liner notes and forewords

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  • Space: 1999 Aftershock and Awe by Andrew Gaska (Boom Entertainment, 2012)
  • Lexicon of the Planet of the Apes by Rich Handley (Hasslein Books, 2010)
  • The House Between: Original Internet Television Score CD booklet (Powys Media, 2010)

Awards and nominations

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Interview with John Kenneth Muir: Author, Screenwriter, and Producer". thethunderchild.com. Retrieved October 22, 2025.
  2. ^ Richmond.edu Archived June 17, 2013, at the Wayback Machine
  3. ^ Virtualfools.com Archived February 16, 2008, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ Willey, M. Space: 1999 Merchandise Guide, Space1999.net Archived December 9, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  5. ^ Muir, John Kenneth (2002), An Askew View: The Films of Kevin Smith, Applause Theatre and Cinema Books
  6. ^ a b Muir, John Kenneth (2004), The Unseen Force: The Films of Sam Raimi, Applause Theatre and Cinema Books
  7. ^ Chiller Theater Magazine. 2002. p. 57.
  8. ^ Muir, John Kenneth (2006), Mercy in Her Eyes: The Films of Mira Nair, Applause Theater and Cinema Books
  9. ^ Captphilonline.com Archived July 8, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  10. ^ Kenneth Muir, John (January 2007), A Reminder That All Things End: Farewell to Far Sector SFFH, Farsector.com, archived from the original on August 8, 2006, retrieved August 1, 2006
  11. ^ Muir, John Kenneth, The House Between, JohnKennethMuir.com, archived from the original on August 10, 2006
  12. ^ Chesapeake.lib.va.us Archived August 12, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
  13. ^ The House Between (Sci-Fi), The Lulu Show, February 16, 2007, retrieved July 12, 2022
  14. ^ "The House Between".
  15. ^ [1]
  16. ^ [2]
  17. ^ [3]
  18. ^ [4]
  19. ^ [5]
  20. ^ [6]
  21. ^ [7]
  22. ^ Reviews – DVD, Digital-retribution.com, archived from the original on February 8, 2008
  23. ^ Top 100 Film Studies Blogs, Onlinedegreeshub.com, 2009, archived from the original on September 9, 2012
  24. ^ Welcome to ACEFEST, Acefest.com, 2010
  25. ^ "A Search for Identity". The Sunday Tribune. December 24, 2006. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  26. ^ "Monroe Writer's Guest Shot Merits Readers' Attention". Charlotte Observer. December 10, 2004. Retrieved May 4, 2011.
  27. ^ [8]
  28. ^ [9]
  29. ^ Best of Reference 2005: Reference Values, New York Public Library, 2005, archived from the original on January 13, 2010
  30. ^ The Selections for Year 2003, American Library Association, 2003
  31. ^ Hinman, Michael (June 14, 2009), 'Battlestar Galactica' Dominates Portal Awards With 11 Nods, Airlockalpha.com
  32. ^ Portal Genre Awards, Crushable.com, 2008, archived from the original on May 27, 2012
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