Journey into Space

[cassidy]

A good friend of mine has made me a CD of Journey into Space and I've been re-living my youth with Jet, Lemmy, Mich and Doc. I'm just up to the part where they've landed back on Earth without realising it. To think nobody went out when this was on all those years ago !

[DB7]

But would Lemmy really cut the mustard as an astronaut?

[narabdela]

I loved it! Journey into Space on the BBC and Dan Dare on Radio Luxembourg.

Happy days!

[Nimuae]

But would Lemmy really cut the mustard as an astronaut?

Probably not - but did that matter at the time ? He was, after all, a brilliant mechanic !

[Nimuae]

A good friend of mine has made me a CD of Journey into Space and I've been re-living my youth with Jet, Lemmy, Mich and Doc. I'm just up to the part where they've landed back on Earth without realising it. To think nobody went out when this was on all those years ago !

That must be the first series - "Operation Lunar" I have that one - plus "The Red Planet", "The World in Peril", and "Frozen in Time". There was also a 'one off' play some years ago - but it was not very good so I let that go. My dad and I used to listen this series while my brother preferred "Riders of the Range" !

[Nimuae]

Hey - just seen they have all been re-released as audio books - Amazon have the complete set ! Might just have to go and buy them. My copies were downloaded from a freebie website and the sound is not brilliant.

[Nick Dando]

According to the BBC Shop, some of these are the originals from the 1950s. But some are using the original script and were produced only a couple of years ago. I can remember listening to one of these, Frozen in Time, and it was very good. They didn't use original microphones and sound effects, as they did for the recent Paul Temple mysteries, but it was still a good listen.

I do still struggle to imagine Lemmy in charge of a spaceship. Wasn't he better with a Bomber?

lemmy.jpg

Nick

[DB7]

Weren't some episodes home-recorded copies?

[Nimuae]

Weren't some episodes home-recorded copies?

Not that I am aware of, check it out at Wiki - full information there.

Journey into Space - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Nimuae]

See - now I am just going to have to curl up by the fire with a cat and a glass of red - and listen to them all again !!

[cassidy]

That explains his surname Lemmy Out !

But would Lemmy really cut the mustard as an astronaut?

[alan french]

Hi,
I used to listen to Journey Into Space. But of course, the problem with pre-Gagarin science fiction, is that many events have happened, so that it is sometimes difficult to blend the characters in with what is now histrorical fact. Sometimes new stories can do this. Either way, this programme was great then. And it can be good today. I have heard a bit of both in the last few years, and it still appeals. But one surprise I had, was Derick Guyler as an alien.


Alan French

[Alan Hayes]

I've been listening to Journey into Space recently and aside from the occasional mis-prediction, the science is pretty much on the money considering the series pre-dated even the first space missions and, compared to science fiction films of the time, is remarkably maturely written. Not bad for a guy with a background in writing westerns. For the time, an astounding piece of work.

It's well worth mentioning that although these serials regularly get an airing on BBC7 (oops... I mean Radio 4 Extra!), the CDs are markedly superior to the transmitted version, being beautifully restored by Ted Kendall (coincidentally, the chap who discovered the misfiled transcription discs in 1986). And the downloadable versions online are pretty horrific compared to the CDs. The new audiobooks are excellent value and highly recommended. Also worth checking out the much more recent one-off plays, Frozen in Time and The Host, both of which include original series voice artiste David Jacobs!

[Alan Hayes]

But one surprise I had, was Derick Guyler as an alien.

And wasn't he just BRILLIANT? Mind you, in my mind, Guyler could do no wrong. Please Sir! Playing the washboard. The sort of all-round entertainer we sadly lack these days.

[Johnallan]

A wonderful series for allowing one's imagination to roam free before we had the benefit of satellite imagery and moon landings - even allowing us to accept David Kossoff and Alfie Bass as astronauts.

[alan french]

Hi,
Just tuned into the thread. I agree with all the compliments about the series. It is a pity Charles Chiltern has never written for Doctor Who. I gather he is still alive. Someone told me that he once went on a London walkabout in which Charles Chiltern was a guide.

I have nothing but praise for the writing and the acting.

Alan French.