1. Beginning

**** This programme was suggested by Hadrian Jeffs as part of BBC Radio 4 Extra’s All Request Weekend ****

The world is at war.

Self-destruction is inevitable.

Then the Overlords arrive.

What do they want?

Classic sci-fi novel written by Arthur C Clarke.

Dramatised in two parts by Tony Mulholland.

Jan .... Steven Pacey
Karellen .... Peter Jeffrey
Stormgren .... Philip Voss
Young Katerina .... Yana Weinstein
Katerina .... Alison Pettitt
Doctor .... Patricia Perry
Wainwright .... Bernard Lloyd
Katya .... Lynn Farleigh
Sir Kenneth .... Paul Webster
Luther .... Paul Birchard
Mark .... Leon Tanner
Kircher .... Jonathan Owen
The Thai President .... Sue Kimberley
The Terrorist .... Katherine Messenger

Music by Jeff Mearns.

Director: Brian Lighthill

Originally broadcast as a Classic Serial on BBC Radio 4 in November 1997.

First and last broadcast on BBC 7 in January 2003.

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