Saddle up for the new sci-fi series

The HBO update launches here on Sky Atlantic on Tuesday, October 4, with executive producers including J.J. Abrams, responsible for the latest Star Wars and one of Hollywood's hottest directors.

Westworld is where artificial-intelligence goes awry. And does so (according to the trailer) with lashings of sex, violence and acclaimed actors.

Anthony Hopkins stars as the overseeing robot-creator alongside Evan Rachel Wood, the robot gunslinger is Ed Harris, playing the Yul Brynner part.

Westworld is hotly-tipped to be science fiction's latest addictive series.

Here we take a look back at the 20 greatest science fiction shows of all time.

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1932-1947)

Due to the popularity of the novella Armageddon 2419 AD and the comic series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century AD, it was adapted into a radio drama series. Notably, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was the first sci-fi radio series to broadcast, starting in 1932 with a 15-minute show. Two television series were also developed to mixed reviews, most at the time negative.

The Mercury Theatre on the Air (1938)

Created by the 23-year-old Orson Welles, The Mercury Theatre on the Air brought hour-long adaptations of classic works of literature such as Dracula and Oliver Twist. The October 30th episode, The War of the Worlds, is one of the most famous radio programmes in history due to the hysteria it created. It opened as if a real news broadcast claiming aliens were invading earth.

Dimension X (1950-1951)

Dimension X, an NBC production, used the work of respected science-fiction authors such as Isaac Asimov and Ray Bradbury, rather than writing its own plots. This immediately gave the programme some credibility amongst fans of the genre. The series was re-established in 1955 as X Minus One, judged to be more accomplished than its predecessor.

The Twilight Zone (1959-1964)

The Writers Guild of America ranked The Twilight Zone as the third best-written TV series of all time in 2013. The series is made up of unassociated episodes in which the characters are faced with out-of-the-ordinary situations – paranormal, futuristic and otherwise abnormal events. It saw two revivals, the most recent one ending in 2003.

Doctor Who (1963-1989, 2005-present)

Created by the BBC, Doctor Who is a popular and famous science-fiction show depicting the experiences of the Doctor as he travels through time with his companion/s. At first it was intended to be educational and to teach children about the past, however, sci-fi adventures came to dominate each episode. Doctor Who also generated the well-regarded spin off Torchwood.

Star Trek: The Original Series (1966-1969)

Created by Gene Roddenberry for TV, Star Trek boldly went with the spacecraft the USS Enterprise (NCC-1701) as it and its crew explored the Milky Way. After its cancellation in 1969, it returned with a vengeance and the series is now considered to be one of the most significant – and long-lasting – of all time.

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (1978)

Although missing the golden age of radio, The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, written by Douglas Adams, received an immense listener reaction. Despite mixed reviews the initial series was re-broadcast twice in its first year and then multiple more times since. The concept was also translated into novel, television and film format.

Blake’s 7 (1978-1981)

With roughly 10 million viewers watching on the first broadcast alone, Blake’s 7 was an immensely popular show from the outset. Critically, responses to the programme have been varied, but on the whole it is praised for its moral ambivalence and extensive plots. The show was created by Terry Nation and produced by the BBC.

Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994)

This was the first of four Star Trek spin offs, receiving numerous accolades including a Peabody Award and 19 Emmy Awards. The first episode was seen by 15.7 million US viewers and the last episode of season seven reached 17.4 million. Four Star Trek films are based on this series.

Quantum Leap (1989-1993)

Quantum Leap was an American television show that followed Dr. Sam Beckett, a scientist stuck in the past, in his efforts to get back to the late 20th Century. It was created by Donald P. Bellisario and ran for five seasons. In 2007, TV Guide accredited it as the 19th of the Top Cult Shows Ever.

The X-Files (1993-2002, 2016-present)

For Fox network, The X-Files was a quick success and garnered heavily favourable reviews despite the long-term storyline being criticised near its end. The X-Files is about the lives of FBI Special Agents Scully and Mulder. Mulder firmly believes in the existence of extraterrestrial life and the supernatural whereas Scully acts as a sceptic. So the truth is out there, perhaps!

Babylon 5 (1994-1998)

It was created by J. Michael Straczynski, who, amazingly, wrote over 90 of the 110 TV episodes, whilst also working as one of the executive producers. The series focuses on a 23rd Century space station. The show won one Primetime Emmy and became a fan favourite due to its long-running story lines, which was something seen little on television at the time.

Sliders (1995-2000)

A team of people slip through a wormhole to travel between multiple parallel universes. The series was created by Robert K. Weiss and Tracy Tormé and lasted for three seasons on Fox before being cancelled. After this, it moved to the Sci Fi Channel for its last two seasons.

Stargate SG-1 (1997-2007)

The first television show of the Stargate franchise, an adventure and military-based sci-fi series, Stargate SG-1’s plot begins a year after the events of the film. Stargate SG-1 was the longest-running North American science fiction television series until it was beaten in 2016 by Supernatural. The show was created by Jonathan Glassner and Brad Wight.

Futurama (1999-2013)

While working on the Simpsons, Matt Groening was inspired to make Futurama, a series following Fry, a pizza-delivery boy who is cryogenically frozen in 1999 and defrosted on New Year's Eve in 2999. The show won six Emmy awards and in 2013 was ranked by TV Guide as one of the top 60 Greatest TV Cartoons of All Time.

Firefly (2002-2003)

The space Western series was cancelled after only 14 episodes, although because it was not over-extended it aided the show’s consistency. The story was continued in the 2005 movie Serenity, in which loose ends were tied up for its diehard fans. Created by Joss Whedon, it became a cult success after its cancellation after season one.

Battlestar Galactica (2004-2009)

A remake of the one-season 1970s series which exceeded low expectations and became a hit due to its writing, directing, costume design, visual effects and sound editing. Set in a far-away star system, the crew of the Galactica shield the last of humanity as they voyage towards the supposedly lost 13th colony, earth.

Fringe (2008-2013)

Fringe follows an FBI agent named Olivia Dunham, a mad scientist called Dr Walter Bishop and his son, Peter Bishop, as they work together to justify a series of strange occurrences. Reception became more positive after the first season when the sci-fi, supernatural drama started to explore itself and more seriously introduced interesting aspects to the show such as alternate timelines and parallel universes.

Orphan Black (2013-present)

The plot revolves around human cloning. Tatiana Maslany stars as, so far, eleven separate characters. It begins with her witnessing the suicide of a girl that looks identical to her. The show has won 43 awards and been nominated for over 50, including a Golden Globe.

The Man in the High Castle (2015-present)

Based loosely on Philip K Dick's 1963 novel, this adaptation presents America in an alternate history where the Allies lost World War Two. The plot revolves around the storylines of multiple main characters. The series received positive reviews from critics and a month after its release it was announced by Amazon that it was their most-streamed original series.