Space: 1999 Maybe There – The Lost Stories From Space: 1999

by Gerry Anderson, David Hirsch, Robert Wood

Strap into your Moon Ship and prepare for a trip to an alternate universe!

Gathered here for the first time are the original stories written in the early days of production on the internationally acclaimed television series 1999. Uncover the differences between Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s original story Zero G, George Bellak’s first draft of The Void Ahead and Christopher Penfold’s uncredited shooting script Turning Point. Each of these tales show the evolution of the pilot episode with scenes and characters that never made it to the screen.

Wonder at a tale that was NEVER filmed where the Alpha People, desperate to migrate to a new home, instigate a conflict between two alien races. Also included are Christopher Penfold’s original storylines for Guardian of Piri and Dragon’s Domain, an adaption of Keith Miles’s early draft for All That Glisters and read how Art Wallace (Dark Shadows) originally envisioned the episode that became Matter of Life and Death.

Discover how 1999 might have been had they gone ‘Maybe There?’

332 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 12, 2023

Reviews

[John MacDonald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was a huge fan of all things Anderson as a youngster through the 1960’s , through to the early ‘70’s , including the best known of the puppet shows, right through to the more grown up live action shows, which followed them
Space 1999 first aired in 1975 , but this show passed me by , as I started growing up, and enjoying other interests
It was in 2018 , when I stumbled across ‘ the Gerry Anderson Podcast ‘ that my interest in all things Anderson was revived, ( even more so during the Pandemic) , and it was during this time I got round to watching Season 1 of Space , and I ended up absolutely loving it !
So when I saw this book, available for Kindle, I went for it
This book of Space 1999 tales from the two authors, is their interpretation and adaptation of early scripts from season 1 and 2 , into fictional stories , the result ( I found ) being slightly confusing in places ,to me being a recent convert , with main characters and hardware names being changed as the overall narrative continues and evolves
So in conclusion I would say this is one mainly for the Anderson hard corps , who I’m sure will appreciate the great efforts made by David Hirsch and Robert Wood to adapt some early draft material into five recognisable and compelling stories for Space 1999 fans to enjoy , in a fictional format for the first time in many years
Highly recommend, to fellow fans of this particular part of the Gerry Anderson Universe

[Valerio Pastore · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sì, in senso lato il sottotitolo è corretto: quelle raccolte in questo libro sono le storie, o meglio le prime versioni delle sceneggiature, che, ad eccezione di un episodio scartato, non hanno mai visto la luce.
Niente di speciale, dato che è perfettamente normale che ogni storia che vediamo al cinema o in TV è il frutto di diverse revisioni. Per un fan dedicato, saà più che altro l'occasione di vedere quello che avrebbe potuto essere fin dal primo, mitico episodio.
Il racconto più interessante è senza dubbio "A Breath of Death", che esplora il lato più oscuro ed ambiguo degli alfani, una storia che punta come non mai su "il fine giustifica i mezzi", ma che fu scartato perché alla fine avrebbe creato un pericoloso precedente nella gestione della serie.

[The Void Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Space 1999: Maybe There - The Lost Stories" by Gerry Anderson, David Hirsch, and Robert Wood is a treasure trove for fans of the iconic series. This book offers a fascinating glimpse into the episodes and narratives that never made it to the screen, filled with rich insights and intriguing plots. The authors have meticulously compiled these lost stories, providing readers with a deeper understanding of the creative process behind the beloved show. The blend of nostalgia and fresh content makes it a must-read for any Space 1999 enthusiast. It’s a captivating read that bridges the gap between what aired and what could have been, making it an essential addition to any sci-fi collection.

[Ian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Having read some negative reviews, I found this book to be a pleasant surprise. Having an insight into the development of familiar characters and scenarios is always fascinating to me. There were some near misses here; Space 1999 could have been a very different beast if sense had not prevailed on several occasions. Any modern-day sensibilities stung by what was transmitted would positively shrivel from the horror of what could have been.

This book also covers some of the people involved in the evolution of the programme which I also found interesting. All in all it's a nicely concise, yet info-filled, book.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting look at how stories evolved

For anyone who watched the series, this gives an interesting look at how the stories for some of the episodes began. It includes multiple versions of what would become the premier episode some close to what was actually filmed and some radically different.

[Steve359 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting read.

I was looking forward to a new story about the Alphans. Did they stay on the planet in the final episode or return to Alpha? These are interesting reads but not what I was hoping for.

[Simon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Recent Reads: Maybe There - The Lost Stories From Space 1999. David Hirsch and Robert Wood bring us the equivalent of Clarke's Lost Worlds Of 2001 from a Kubrick-inspired TV show. Early scripts as prose show the evolution of a favourite, not just characters but the iconic Eagle.