Journey Into Space: Operation Luna

The BBC Radio Sci-Fi Drama

By: Charles Chilton

Narrated by: Alfie Bass, Andrew Faulds, Guy Kingsley Poynter, full cast

Length: 7 hrs and 1 min

Publisher's Summary

Charles Chilton's classic science-fiction trilogy stormed the BBC airwaves during the 1950s. Its gripping story lines, extra-terrestrial sound effects, and atmospheric music engaged listeners as never before. Between 1953 and 1958, a devoted audience of adults and children attentively followed Captain Jet Morgan and his crew from one cliff-hanger to another as, together, they faced the unknown perils of space.

In this, the first series of Journey into Space, Captain Jet Morgan and his crew battle to be the first people to land on the Moon, but soon discover they aren't alone up there...

Production Credits

Written and produced by Charles Chilton.

Music composed and orchestra conducted by Van Phillips.

Cast

Jet Morgan - Andrew Faulds

Lemmy Barnett - Alfie Bass

Doc - Guy Kingsley-Poynter

Mitch - David Williams

Other parts by John Cazabon, Alan Keith, David Jacobs and Deryck Guyler.

The original 1953 recordings of this futuristic series were erased. This series was re-recorded and first broadcast on the BBC Light Programme 26 March 1958 - 18 June 1958.

  

©1996, 1998, 2004 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd (P)1996, 1998, 2004 BBC Studios Distribution Ltd

Well Worth It Despite A Slow Start...

Any additional comments?

I've been a fan of old radio shows for many years now but this is the first series I have encountered that is structured in a serial format in which each episode plays off of the previous one's ending.
What results, is one long, 7-hour radio play. This may sound unappealing to those who lack an imagination, but - for those lucky enough to be endowed with a healthy one - it is pure gold.
I am a huge fan of the 50's radio program "X-Minus One", but each half hour episode can only pack in so much detail. Journey Into Space has the luxury of time which allows it to go into brilliant sci-fi detail as I've never heard before. The first two episodes are a little slow and boring considering that human beings have since already landed on the lunar surface, so it's hard to peak your interest. But trust me, if you stay with it...It gets INSANE.....

9.4 / 10

A classic sci-fi radio serial!

If you love sci-fi or classic radio dramas, you owe it to yourself to listen to Journey Into Space.

Different...a view of the 50's

The series was good and it let you see how the average person view space in the 50's. It reminded me of movie from the 50's.

outdated but good

It's outdated in some of it's contents but it is still good to sit back and listen to, I have listened to all of the radio broadcast on my MP3, Luna. Red planet and in peril, although they got some thing incorrect IE TV Signals had not reached mars!! and the radio needed a huge amount of power to reach earth, when Voyager signals come to earth even now and only have the strength of a torch bulb. What I say is to forget what we know now and just enjoy it, It would may a good movie, If I had the money I would make it( up dated of course).

Journey into space

A top decision to carry this story. Wonderfully done and evocative of a byegone era when science fiction stories were free of todays overpowering special effects. I hope the ''Red Planet'' and ''World in Peril'' are introduced soon.

Wonderful dramatisation

This is a great story. It was originally on BBC Radio in the 50's (before the actual moon landings) and it's interesting to hear how the author thought they would be.

Strange things start happening shortly after take-off and we get 6 1/2 hours of cliff-hanger after cliff-hanger, with great voice acting. You just want to keep listening to find out what's going to go wrong next :)

The kids enjoyed listening to this on the way to school and kept wanting to stay longer in the car so they could hear to the end of the episode.

The only thing that got slightly on my nerves was the 50's attempt to make 'spacy' music (which is over-loud and a bit grating), but quick action on the volume control sorted that out.

I'm looking forward to downloading the second series (also on Audible).

Memories of a bygone age.

This series is still as of Journey into Space :is still as captivating today as it was when as a radio series in 1963 the only difference now is you don’t have to wait from one Monday to the next to hear the next enthralling episode thanks to AMAZON audiobooks you can now listen via prime for free and if you get Operation Luna listen to EPISODE 14 . Yes it says 1-13 .!!!

Make Sure To Listen to The Last Chapter!

The last chapter is an interview with Charles Chiltern who wrote it. I was particularly moved by his account of the poor First World War wounded soldiers who worked at the BBC at the time.

Overall I love this series it's a true classic!

Brilliant

This is a production that does not age and is as good now as when it was first broadcast. I also have The Red Planet and World in Peril which are equally as enjoyable.
A well written set of Space Adventures perfect for Radio, what other broadcast medium could set an entire episode in the dark and get away with it.

gallantry, innocence , exploration and wonder

a fabulously gallant romp though space, with gentleman whose comradery and story telling takes you on every step.

it comes from a time when introspection and self examination propelled us into the 20th century in style and oh how we could do with some of that now.

make sure you listen to the cast and writer section at the end. wonderful

Back in time

Wonderful memory from my childhood. Loved this program it's just as I remember it and real future ideas from so long ago .

Great for a nostalgic classic

I really enjoyed listening to this. it really had that classic sci fi style to it warts and all. although there weren't really many events throughout the story, if you take into consideration the fact that it was a BBC radio production in the 50/60s it really gives you that nostalgic feel akin to watching an old movie like Forbidden Planet. I highly recommend listening to the commentary at the end from the people who wrote and starred in it, there are some wonderful bits of history around the second world war and the kind of honourable British things the BBC did for war veterans during that time.

They Don't Make 'em Like They Used To!

thoroughly entertaining, 50"s sci-fi at it's best.
will make you want to download the next series.

I really enjoyed listening to this again

I used to listen to this on the radio and was so glad to find it here. Now all I have to do is find the rest of his radio plays