Science Fiction World

The premise of the 1970's British science fiction television series Space: 1999 was fantastic (even if scientifically dubious): the moon flies out of Earth's orbit and the inhabitants of Moonbase Alpha drift through the universe, cut off from the rest of humanity, encountering plenty of alien life and high drama as they go. Earth's nuclear waste was stored on the moon for years and when it explodes their journey begins.

While it was amazingly cheesy at times, featured some dodgy special effects and frequently questionable story lines, it had some wonderful moments and a great cast led by American actors Martin Landau and Barbara Bain. I loved the "Eagles" space craft design and especially UK actor Barry Morse as Professor Victor Bergman, Moonbase's science advisor and all round wise man.

The series was the last to be produced by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson (famous for the Thunderbirds puppet show) and was the most expensive series ever produced for television at the time.

Deadline reports that Space: 1999 is being remade by the same team that bought us the recent V remake - ITV Studios America and HDFilms. As if this wasn't enough to create doubt about the whole project before they even begin (I really hated the remade V), they're calling their new version Space: 2099 - not the most creative name they could have come up with.

Still, I thought the same thing when they announced a Battlestar Galactica remake and that turned out brilliantly.

There's not much information on this one but we'll tell you more when (and if) we hear anything.

My favourite episode from the original Space: 1999 series was Black Sun from (season 1). The moon is approaching a black hole and most of the inhabitants are evacuated in eagles while Professor Bergman and Commander Koenig stay behind, relying on an energy shield which they hope (but doubt) will get them through.

Strangely, I found the entire episode on YouTube, which I've embedded below. The show's memorable opening credit sequence is in the video below that. Watch Black Sun for a potent dose of some classic science fiction from the seventies. Who would have thought we would ever see flares on the moon?