Kurt Vonnegut Thanasphere Reading

(4.6 stars; 42 reviews)

Kurt Vonnegut - Thanasphere An astronaut discovers voices of the deceased beyond the stratosphere. He deems it "dead space" or “thanasphere" from the Greek word thanatos meaning death. A pioneering astronaut hears voices in outer space. The story deals with the morality or lack of it, during the Cold War. Major Allen Rice is the first American astronaut in space. His military mission is to report back weather conditions over enemy terrain. Lift off goes well and the spaceship settles into its orbit, with regular radio reports coming back to base. But then, somehow the major hears a child crying. What happens next takes this pioneering mission in a direction no-one could have predicted… American writer, Kurt Vonnuegut's delicious piece of sci-fi philosophy from the 1950's is read by Kerry Shale. Producer: Joanne Lafferty First broadcast: Sunday 6th March 2005, 18:00 on BBC 7 "Thanasphere" was written before astronauts were actually placed in orbit around the earth, and reflects the widespread anxiety surrounding what such an accomplishment might mean for humanity.  The theme of technology is prominent here, especially the tension between technology and humans. Machines, not humans, guide the space ship. First published in Collier's Weekly, September 2, 1950.

This recording is part of the Old Time Radio collection.