* Under Construction - Please Be Patient *
This is an
appreciation website that offers information and comments about the 1979
radio program Alien Worlds. The
information presented largely comes directly from the original
broadcasts and promotional material. The details are captured here
an informational reference and are intended to introduce new people to
the program. While
the provided plot summaries from these pages aim to avoid show spoilers,
be aware that the editorial comments and other information can give away
key spoiler moments from an episode.
Show
recordings are not available from this website.
It is not
currently known where official recordings can be obtained.
Official cassette recordings and official CDR recordings were made from
an official Alien Worlds website, which is no longer accessible.
This site encourages the reader to obtain and listen to the show from
official sources. My understanding is that in the "recent" past,
the show had been rebroadcast on satellite radio. That could
happen again.
The
Alien Worlds radio show is owned by Lee Hansen. This page is intended as
a "Thank You" to Mr. Hansen along with the cast and the crew of the show
for the top-tier entertainment and positive outlook for humanity and for
the future when we may eventually encounter Alien Worlds.
Riding
on the heels of Star Wars, Alien Worlds premiered on radio stations
across the United States with much praise in January 1979.
It was a high quality radio show produced in stereo with a full
orchestral score and sophisticated sound effects. Radio dramas had
long gone extinct when the show premiered. It was a risk.
Syndicated radio programs were largely "Hit countdowns" or other music
related special events, music bios or concerts from contemporary
musicians.
The
show did still have an edge that could make it succeed, with the
stunning popularity of Star Wars, people wanted more science
fiction. Although home video was growing in popularity, at the
time it was not possible to get Star Wars on VHS or Beta tapes, although
fringe film fans could get an abridged version of Star Wars super 8
film. For many, there was a gap waiting to be filled by exciting
new science fiction stories. From Alien Worlds, they could get a fill of
sci-fi that sounded very much like a cross between Star Wars and Star
Trek, for 30 minutes, once a week.
While
the show is very much pulling on the fans of Star Wars, the story lines
were unique from that universe, and revolved around a Earth space
station called "Starlab". The show had a lead character of Maura
Cassidy, portrayed by Linda Gary. In 1978 / 1979 it was still rare
to have female leads in a sci-fi story, let alone a strong female who
was in a position of authority. It could be said that the movie
"Alien" put the first firm stake in the ground with a strong female lead
in a major science fiction motion picture with the character of Riply,
although she was a crew member who we watched rise to a strong character
under adverse conditions as the film progressed. The creators of
Alien Worlds beat them to the punch with Maura in a position of
authority from the start.
The series follows the characters of Maura, Jon and Buddy as they work on the space station and fly off to distant worlds. The Starlab team would encounter problems and aliens. Overall the series had a very positive spin on humanity, leaning more on the same kinds of themes that Star Trek also used where the human experience can be rewarding in itself and expand what we know of the universe and of ourselves.
Each
radio program is designed to run 30 minutes with two commercial
breaks. Most episodes are written as two part episodes. There was
one three part episode during its broadcast run. There were 4
unaired episodes that were all single part episodes.
Click on each episode for plot, characters and other details.
Season
1 Episode 2:
The Starsmith Project (2 Parts)
Season
1 Episode 3:
The Night Riders of Kalimar (2 Parts)
Season
1 Episode
4: The Resurrectionists of Lethe (2 Parts)
Season
1 Episode
5: Keeper of Eight (2 Parts)
Season 1 Episode 6: The ISA Conspiracy (3 Parts)
Season 2 Episode 1: The Kilohertz War
Season 2 Episode 2: The Adventure of the Egyptian Necklace (2 Parts)
Season 2 Episode 5: Infinity Factor (2 Parts)
Season 2 Episode 6: Earthlight (2 Parts)
Season
2 Episode 7: Seeds of Time
Season 2 Episode 8: Madonnas of Zanzibar Alpha (2 Parts)
Season
2 Episode 9: Himalayan Parallel
Season
three episodes never aired. Because
of this, I have not found that any radio station LPs were ever
distributed. These episodes
were made available on CDR discs (recordable CDs) when the official
Alien Worlds website was active.
Season 3, Episode 1: Dream within a Dream (Unaired)
Season 3, Episode 2: The Adventure of the Parallax Deception (Unaired)
Season 3, Episode 3: Question of Conscience (Unaired)
Season 3, Episode 4: Leukocyte Maneuver (Unaired)
Alien Worlds Cast and Crew Rundown
Alien Worlds Radio Station Distribution
Alien
Worlds Official Cassette and CD Releases
Alien
Worlds Show Cancellation
Disc Jockey
Comments and Promotional Quotes for Alien Worlds
Names of characters and actors, planets, ships, and listed and described are from the broadcast stories and vintage promotional material. Verification of correct spelling of names is very difficult for this series, for both the actors and characters. It is possible that names of actors, characters, ships, etc. could be misspelled or may use an alternate spelling such as Jon vs. John.
The Alien
Worlds radio show was created, produced and directed by Lee Hansen.
This
page is created, produced and directed by Ferin
Films to help spread Alien Worlds to new fans. It is not
affiliated with the original producer of the show.
If
you have production notes or other first hand information about the show
that should be listed on these pages, or if you can verify there are
errors on these pages, please contact Ferin Films.
Until Next time, Join us for our next adventure from the elsewhere and elsewhen of Alien Worlds.
Page last updated July 2021
Ferin Films - Digitize Film, Video and Audio