N
Nigel Kneale
Quatermass
Professor Bernard Quatermass investigates alien threats to Earth, from a mutating astronaut to an ancient Martian spaceship buried under London. This classic science fiction series explores humanity's struggle against cosmic horrors and the potential for self-destruction.
The Quatermass stories were originally broadcast as BBC television serials, with "The Quatermass Experiment" in 1953, "Quatermass II" in 1955, and "Quatermass and the Pit" in 1958. These are generally considered the definitive versions and follow the narrative chronology.
Hammer Film Productions adapted all three original Quatermass stories into feature films: "The Quatermass Xperiment" (1955), "Quatermass 2" (1957), and "Quatermass and the Pit" (1967). While they follow the core plots, they offer a distinct cinematic interpretation.
While each Quatermass story presents a self-contained alien threat, there is a clear progression in Professor Quatermass's character and the overarching themes of humanity's place in the cosmos. Reading them in order allows for a richer understanding of his evolving perspective.
A fourth story, simply titled "Quatermass," was produced as a four-part television serial in 1979, starring John Mills. It continues the professor's investigations into global catastrophe in a near-future setting.