your comments
We're making some changes to the sites shortly and although this form will be closing, you will have other opportunities to contribute on our new-look site.
Ejay Sam from Rochdale
Survivors is an absolute gem! I watched the original 70's version and I have to say that Terry Nation had some imagination! The original was realistic for the time as is the recent remake. This swine flu that has come to our shore makes one wonder what if? In the 70's most of us had some skills to make it with basics but these days we are so reliant on technology, majority of us won't even be able to light a fire! Please don't be like Fox and kill off your best. Some of the best Sci Fi stories are British and this one is no exception!
Peter, Crookham
I have to say I have heard very little about Rebecca's World but it does sound good. Survivors is brilliant and he did create the Daleks after all.
Martin Dodwell from Tredodridge
When I moved to my house in Tredodridge in 1971 all the locals said that Terry Nation's parents lived in it before the peaple who sold it to me. They converted it to two storeys - it was once the village shop - one storey. I used to work at the BBC in London when they were making Doctor Who in the studios! The present series is amazing - my son, aged 11, is hooked on it. Reading about Terry Nation is fascinating. And yes, I am watching the current remake of Survivors.
John Miller, Norfolk
When I was a boy in the 70s Terry's work, like on Doctor Who, Blake's Seven and Survivors, made my TV days magical!
Mike Cane from NYC, USA
Here I am, an American, and Terry Nation's TV work is more familiar to me than American TV writers. That's how UK TV got things right. God bless and reward the soul of Terry Nation, whose works are immortal and memorable!
sarah ginns from eastbourne
I am desperately trying to buy this book (Rebecca's World) but can't afford the huge amounts of money asked on ebay?? Please anyone help! I read this when I was 8 in 1977 or there abouts and loved it so much I want to read it to my children!
East Sussex
Rebecca's world has to be one of the best children's books ever written.I read it as a child in the 70s and my daughter has enjoyed it since too!Fabulous writer.
Michael McQuown, Philadelphia, USA
I met the man at several Blake's 7 conventions. He was warm, witty and an all-around good man. It is a shame the Beeb allowed B7 to be sabotaged by lesser talents.
Vicky Raven, Derby
I am an ardent Survivors fan (and enjoy the daleks too ;) and would have loved to see Survivors in the light Terry meant it to go (rather than the drive to put the electricity back on). I belive there is a book of that -hasn't anyone considered making it - albeit an updated version? And incorporationg Ian McCullochs 4th series script too... I would love a copy of the original Survivors scripts and wonder if I can find them anywhere too...
Jenna Ford, Wales
He was my great uncle apparently! My mother was a Nation and he was her father's 1st cousin!
Derek John Davies
A very creative man. Does a copy of his Survivors series still exist please?
(Editor's Note: Each of the three series of Survivors is available as a DVD box set - they should be available from most major retailers)
Maggie from New Zealand
What would our childhoods have been like without being scared to death by the Daleks!! Brilliant! And to Jack Sabatti - just to add to the urban legend of how the Daleks came into being - I was always told that the reason they looked like salt and pepper shakers, was because Mr Nation came up with the idea during lunch, and thought they were a good shape!! Does anyone else know anything else about this?
(Editor's Note: Don't forget that another Welshman, Bill Roberts, was instrumental in designing and building the Daleks - read his biog here.)
Ciaran O'Kane, Belfast
It is wrong to suggest that Terry Nation had anything to do with the "birth" of Dr Who as your piece suggests. The first writer for Dr Who was the late Anthony (Uncle Tony to me) Coburn. When Verity Lambert rejected Tony's second script Terry Nation was then brought in and the rest is history.
(Editor's Note: It's true to say Terry Nation's involvement with Doctor Who began with the second story - our article doesn't claim he created the series.)
Seb James, Chepstow
I agree with Jules from Swansea, Rebeccas World is a brilliant book, I read my mums copy which she had from years and years ago, the last time I read it was a good 10 years ago, I found it a couple of days ago and im going to have to read it again. brilliant writer.
Jack Sabatti. Rhondda Cynnon Taff.
The Doctor Who Exhibition in Cardiff Bay is very good. Ive heard lots of tales about Terry Nation's creation of the Daleks. But I Attended many writers w/e courses at Dyffryn House Gardens circa 1960s. One of the tutors (I cant recall names, there were so many) Told us T.N. got his inspiration for the Daleks one night on Cowbridge Common from the Flashing red lights on the T.V. Mast. Has anyone else heard this story? The lights have been modernised since then.
Claire from Telford
I recently learnt who wrote a book from many years ago when reading at school. i never quite finished it, as I left to head into the seniors beforehand. However, it definitely stuck in my mind. Now, it must be good writing to stick in my mind for over 15yrs! I'd just like to say, it's a shame they don't print these anymore, as I'd love to finish it! and Thanks to Terry.
Audrey in Abergavenny
I knew Terry in the fifties, he lived near a friend of mine & caught me with a snowball once!he used to come into Boot's library to 'chat' up Pat.
Ted Moulder from New Jersey, USA
My wife, a former movie and stage(actress from Greece, and I were great friends of Terry Nation when we lived in Cardiff. We were all members of Cardiff Guild of Players. Terry was a frequent visitor to our flat on Richmond Road, Cardiff and he acted with my wife in a play 'It's a Boy' which I produced. It had a one time public showing.
Terry was an amiable individual and very handsome. We followed his career on British TV as well as we could (no Internet then). We were pleased that he came to Hollywood and saddened by his early death.
Jules from Swansea
Terry Nation also wrote a brilliant children's book called "Rebecca's World" which should be read by all children of 10 or so years of age. I managed to get hold of a copy in recent years, replacing one I had in the 1970's.
Lawrence & Jack From Worcester
The Daleks are the best - please may you put them on a cookery show! And use the gun as a whisk! Or a plumbing show because they could use their plungers to unblock the toilets. Thank You very much.
Vinnie Montez from United States of America
I wish I had met Mr Nation when I went to Scotland just to say "thanks, job well done". Sorry he left us so young. It was a sad day for sci-fi fans worldwide.
John Howe, Bangkok and Cardiff
I am spitting feathers because I will not be able to see the Daleks in this glorious land of smiles.
But I remember well the anticipation and trepidation I felt when the spooky sig tune started and the raspy voiced Exerminate, exterminate, issued from the tinny speakers of the black and white Echo TV.
Can not wait for my friends to send me the tapes or wait to buy the pirated VCD in Bangkok.
Tony Lloyd, Heath, Cardiff
So why did it take all this time (40 years) and another writer, Russell T Davies, to set a Doctor Who episode in Cardiff? It saddens me that local boys and girls who make good, forget promoting their home cities!
John from Australia's glorious Blue Mountains
Terry did some excellent work on the old Moore/Curtis series, "The Persuaders!", which I've been watching on DVD, all beautifully remastered.
Dennis T Baker, Cwmbran
Outstanding. I loved the Daleks like many kids born in the 50s they was one of the first things I saw on TV and they gave me the fright of my life. It will be wonderful to sit and watch them again with my grandchildren.
What's your opinion of Terry Nation?
Science fiction writer who created the Daleks
When his agent rang with an offer to write for a new fantasy children's series for the BBC, Nation initially didn't think he would be able to bring anything to Doctor Who, but he reconsidered.
In the 1970s Nation turned his hand to other sci-fi TV projects, creating the series Survivors and Blake's 7 (pictured left). In 1979 he moved his family to Los Angeles to realise his dream of working in Hollywood.
