The Quatermass Memoirs by Nigel Kneale

Audiobook read by Andrew Keir

Love sci fi...always have...and Quatermass is the granddaddy of all British sci fi that first shown on the BBC in the 1950s. Andrew Keir played him in the movie version of ‘Quatermass and the Pit’ and is outstanding in the role...which takes place prior to the final televised series from the mid 70s. Indeed it dovetails almost exactly into the opening of the series which starred John Mills.

I have always thought, to Kneale’s credit, he never allowed for it to be continued apart from one reimagining of the first story in the early 2000s. This has meant the mystique of the four story drama has been maintained over the years. The great story telling remains undiluted to this day.

The story takes place in a remote house in Scotland and Quatermass is trying to come to terms with what happened in the first three TV stories. A journalist arrives and makes him face his ghosts that have held him captive for so long. His failures are laid bare and through narration from Kneale himself interspersed with actual world events we begin to see the reemergence of Quatermass as the scientist we remember...flawed but brilliant.

At 90 mins I found myself wishing it was longer. A brilliant piece of storytelling. 

A must for any radio drama aficionado.