Flights of Fantasy: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's Adventures of Superman
Michael Hayde's new book is a solid and entertaining examination of the career of the Man of Steel from a different perspective than previous volumes about him: how the radio show of 1940 - 1951 influenced the popular TV series that followed.  In telling this story, Hayde recaps the career of  the great super hero from his first appearance in Action Comics in 1938 through the final shows on television 20 years later, along with contests, cartoons, movie serials, and major motion pictures.As the story unfolds, he introduces us to the characters who gained control of Superman and their behind-the-scenes machinations to make their new property the top super hero....  While there are many rascals and ups and downs in the story, Hayde notes that throughout his 70-plus year career, Superman rose above them, remaining popular through the generations, in large part because he used his extreme powers to help the cause of justice.Of its 533 pages, "Flights of Fantasy" devotes 333 pages to the story of Superman.  The remaining 200 list every radio and TV show, their dates of broadcast, and details as available.  This is a goldmine for fans of the Man of Steel.  Hayde has written a highly readable, impressively researched book that makes an important contribution to the lore of Superman. --Radio Recall, October 2009