For more than forty years, science fiction, fantasy and horror have been captivating television audiences around the world. The imaginary worlds of <em>Star Trek, The X-Files, Xena: Warrior Princess,</em> and <em>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</em> have become resources for lucrative multimedia franchises, their fictions extending beyond television into films, novels, video games and a wide range of other merchandise. Cult television series, once associated with small and marginalized groups of avid viewers, have stormed the mainstream.<br> <br> <em>Television, Cult and the Fantastic</em> considers the commercial success of cult television series in relation to other multimedia cultural phenomena such as <em>Star Wars, The Lord of the Rings,</em> and <em>Harry Potter.</em> The book examines their genres, themes, textual and marketing strategies, relating these to wider debates about audiences and consumers, the culture industry, technologies and storytelling.<br> <br> Students taking courses in television studies, cultural and critical studies, cyberculture and cultural ownership will find this a fascinating introduction to cult TV.