As I Knew Him

My Dad, Rod Serling

By: Anne Serling

Narrated by: Anne Serling

In Twilight Zone reruns, I search for my father in the man on the screen, but I can’t always find him there. Instead, he appears in unexpected ways. Memory summoned by a certain light, a color, a smell - and I see him again on the porch of our old red lakeside cottage, where I danced on the steps as a child.

To Anne Serling, the imposing figure the public saw hosting The Twilight Zone each week, intoning cautionary observations about fate, chance, and humanity, was not the father she knew. Her fun-loving dad would play on the floor with the dogs, had nicknames for everyone in the family, and was apt to put a lampshade on his head and break out in song. He was her best friend, her playmate, and her confidant. After his unexpected death at 50, Anne, just 20, was left stunned. Gradually, she found solace for her grief - talking to his friends, poring over old correspondence, and recording her childhood memories. Now she shares eloquent, revealing letters and beautifully rendered scenes of his childhood, war years, and their family’s time together. Idyllic summers in upstate New York, the years in Los Angeles, and the myriad ways he filled their time with laughter, strength, and endearing silliness - all are captured here with deep affection and candor. Though begun in loss, Anne’s story is a celebration of her extraordinary relationship with her father and the qualities she came to prize through him - empathy, kindness, and an uncompromising sense of social justice. As I Knew Him is a lyrical, intimate tribute to Rod Serling’s legacy as visionary, storyteller, and humanist, and a moving testament to the love between fathers and daughters.

©2013 Anne Serling (P)2013 Brilliance Audio, Inc.

The Story of a Dad and Daughter

Anne Serling writes a touching personal story about her relationship with her dad, Rod Serling, the mind and writer of many episodes of The Twilight Zone and other screenplays and more. But the heart of the book is the daughter/dad relationship over the years. It was very moving to read as she talks all along about her too short years with her dad who died young and the aftermath of his death and dealing with that. She reads sections of letters he wrote her and parts of The Twilight Zone that connected with his own life and views. Her dad was her hero and more. She narrates the book and that makes it special to hear her talking about him.

A daughter's loving remembrance of an interesting man

As a fan of Rod Serling, but not knowing that much about him, his daughter fills in the gaps between the public and private Rod Serling. I found her recollections framed a loving family man, brilliant writer and a man whom I shared similar political views. I was often grown tired of Ann Serling's maudlin, seemingly still grieving remembrance of her father. But then I realized how profoundly affected my family was at my own father's untimely death in 1986. I think often of him along with my late mother. So to fault her would be an insult to close families and other acquaintances. I will take away a lot from this Audible book and no doubt think of Rod Serling not only from his television, movie and written works but as a great, sometimes simple, but often complex man.

Beautiful work

I’ve been a fan of Rod Serling since I was 7 years old, sneaking late night viewings of the Twilight Zone during the early 1970’s. With this memoir, I was given an intimate view of what it was like growing up with one of my heroes, and came through it with a greater appreciation of the man behind the Twilight Zone and other memorable works. Highly recommend!! Thank you Anne Serling!

Loved this book

Rod Serling & Twilight Zone have followed me throughout my life. He had a unique way of taking a point of view and building an deeply rich & amazing story in 24-minutes. I have watched most episodes of The Twilight Zone probably approaching 100 times. I capture something new each time... a point of view... a new way of seeing the world. It saddens me to learn he sold the rights to the franchise because he did not believe they would endure. His stories have endured and taught millions of people around the world, including several generations. He packed a hundred years into his short 50-years on this earth. I hope someday to meet him when my time comes and thank him for the insights & the adventures. A five-star read for a five-star man. Bravo, Mr. Serling. You were a success at work & home. What more could a man ask?

Good on family life- Bad on politics

I loved hearing about some of Rod's personal experiences like in Walking Distance, the carving of his name in the tree, and some of the phrases he would use with his kids like "Who's your best buddy?"But I could've gone without the political references. The joys of The Twilight Zone is that it's fantasy, unfortunately the politics brings it back to reality.

A Beautiful Tribute to a Wonderful Man

I feel so grateful to have stumbled upon this biography of Rod Serling! I knew him from Twilight Zone and other works, but never knew the man behind the writing. The author, his daughter, gives us a deep and intimate picture of the man, the father, the writer, the activist that he was. I'm deeply moved by his genius, passion, his conviction, and the intense way he lived his life. I have also ordered several of his plays and other writings because I want to dive deeper into the writing, since I'm well-versed in his work for tv. Anne Serling, thank you for laying bare your inner most pain and emotion and allowing us into that private world that you shared with your dad.

Getting to know Rod's life was a treasure

A warm Thank You! to Ann Serling and her family and friends of Rod Serling for a visit back into the life and loves of a man who many watched on TTZ yet perhaps like me, didn't know about his military service, brilliant writing, teaching, game show hosting in the early years of TV in the 50s and 60s. His vision to end discrimination and value hard work ethics is timeless, then and now.

As Only Anne Could Tell It..

I first downloaded the book, but when I saw that Anne had narrated an audiobook, the switchover was a "no-brainer." Captivating and insightful; the work holds the listener from the first chapter to the closing acknowledgements. Always appreciated Rod Sterling's wit and insights as portrayed via his stories on the TZ, and appreciate what it took to give us this "deep dive" into some of the personal background that helped to shape this world and life view. Awesome..

A must for real Serling fans

Ann does a fine job of describing her father’s famous life through her remembrances as a child and young adult. Her delivery, although a bit monotone, works best when she weaves her fond memories into a dreamscape-like tapestry. Although the last part of the book is maudlin and overstated, it is clear that she had a special bond with her father and, even decades later, misses him immensely. Overall, a casual fan of Rod Serling’s work may find this work a bit dull. But for those of us who have been impressed by his incredible creativity and durability as a writer during his relatively short life, this is a wonderful glimpse into his life.

Thank you, Anne!

Truly beautiful and meaningful. Rod Serling became even more real to me after listening to this book. Thank you for giving us this precious gift, Anne. You dad is so proud of you.