New Zealand's lush landscapes have been favorite inspirations for fantasy writers and filmmakers for years. The popular 1979 novel "Under the Mountain" put New Zealand's natural features at the center of the story, playing themselves for once, and then became a TV show that premiered on this day in 1981. Even after a 2009 movie was overlooked by most audiences, the stories have endured for a new audience.

Follow Sci-Fi 5 for your daily dose of science-fiction history.

Written and hosted by Earl Green

Music by Devin Curry