Sci-Fi Film Fiesta, The Swingin' 60s - The Complete Book by Chris Christopoulos - HTML preview

The Night Caller from Outer Space will

CHILL you…

THRILL you…

and ...

HAUNT your dreams FOREVER!

“It's headed straight for London….. it's changing course!”

Dr. Morley, Dr. Jack Costain, and Ann Barlow observe n object on radar that’s over a 100 miles up and coming in from space at over 10,000 mph when suddenly it slows down rapidly indicating that it may be a ‘meteorite’ that will probably “disintegrate as soon as it hits the Earth's atmosphere.”

Suddenly, upon hitting the Earth’s atmosphere, the object changes course but unexpectedly does not burn up when it’s well inside the atmosphere. Defying all expectations, the object’s actions suggest that “it's been guided down” – but how and by whom?

“There is no doubt that a large object landed here and disappeared”

Using their to determine radar where the object has landed, Morley and Costian head out to to the landing site to investigate. Military personnel allow them to enter the area where, eventually, a basketball-sized object is found. It's surface temperature is 25 degrees below zero. After determining where the meteorite has crashed, they and their aides investigate a meteorite in the British countryside,

When they arrive at the site they find that the military have begun to cordon off the area and are are conducting a search for whatever has landed. Inevitably the word “security” is bandied about and the two scientists have to present their credentials in the form of security papers indicating that they are cleared by Army security.

Contrary to Morley and Costain’s expectations, the Major (who by the way sounds a lot like the actor, James Mason) in charge of operation Tooth Comb” informs them that “there is no 20t object and no crater” and that a helicopter search found “nothing that's extraordinary.” However, all technical evidence and calculations do suggest that a large object had indeed “landed here and disappeared.”

Eventually, an small object the size of a basket ball is located. Unexpectedly, little radiation is found to coming from the object and it is determined to be safe to approach it. Even though it is thought that the object “must have been a white hot mass of flames a few hours ago” its temperature now is well below freezing! As to the object’s origin? That is anyone’s guess…...At the moment, all that can agreed on is that “it must have been guided down with fantastic accuracy - inhuman accuracy….

“Yes, its potentialities are quite alarming”

At Falsley Park Government Radio and Electronics Research Establishment there’s a flurry of activity with preparations being made for the lodging and study of the mysterious object. Once again, the word “security” is thrown about by the Major. Preliminary investigation of the sphere with x-rays determine that it is hollow inside and the surface temperature is 25° below zero. The shell seems to be made of silicate of some kind.

So, where does the sphere come from? Mars? Or as the political and intelligence establishment would have it, “a satellite one of our friends has sent up.” Possession of the object may offer the Brits the chance to discover its secrets and possibly take their “knowledge forward 50 or more years.” More to the point though is the increasing certainty that no “human mind thought it up” and nor had “any human hand built it.”

The scientists’ deliberations are interrupted by the return of the Major and suddenly Anne, Costain and Morley go quiet. Here at once we can see the conflict between the respective priorities of the scientific community in their quest for knowledge and those of the military whose primary concern is with maintaining security.

They inform the Major that their preliminary examination has revealed that the sphere is “made of an undetermined silicone-type material” that “forms an exterior protective shell of 3 mm thick” and that the sphere’s interior consists of “a lattice of carbon filaments but the bulk of the Interior contains nothing but a vacuum.” In addition, the sphere is not radioactive. Not unexpectedly, the Major seeks reassurance that the sphere is not a weapon and is informed that it is not an atomic device and contains no fissile material.

Once again, the matter of the sphere’s origin is raised and all Costain can offer is that at the moment he has no idea. Quite a refreshing admission coming as it does from someone who is deemed to be an expert and is expected to have all the answers. How many so-called experts these days openly admit to not knowing something in their area of expertise when confronted by inexplicable phenomena.

And speaking of knowledge, its dissemination and application: who should be responsible? Scientists? The political class? The military? Private / corporate sector? As far as Anne, Costian and Morely are concerned, “the less the military knows at this stage the better.” Any information concerning the sphere’s secrets will have to be divulged “gently so they can assimilate it.” But why? Possibly because as Morley states, “its potentialities are quite alarming.”

Costain soon leaves Ann behind as she stays on at the lab to finish up some work. So far, Anne comes across as a rather buttoned up cold fish of a woman devoted to her work and her reserved and ordered appearance speaks volumes about her personality. Even her expression is pompous and superior as she rattles off technical explanations to the seemingly intellectually inferior lay person like the Major. Is that also a look of disdain on her face?

“I don't think I'm getting through to him”

Meanwhile, it seems that the Major’s superiors in Whitehall are having trouble understanding his and Morley’s report concerning the current situation involving the sphere from outer space. In exasperation, the major tells Morley that the big wig on the end of the telephone line “doesn't understand a bloody word I'm saying!” It appears that their political and bureaucratic masters are little more than idiots which in any era is not really all that surprising when you come to think about it.

“Rational explanation, rubbish!”

As Ann stays late in the lab working on her notes, something – some force - emanating from the room containing the sphere is having a disquieting effect on her. She then becomes aware of a bright light coming from the adjoining room. As if impelled to approach the room, Anne gets up and goes to check on it. Upon opening the door, a hideous clawed hand suddenly reaches for her arm and she rushes in panic to hit the facility’s security alarm. Her slightly disordered hair reflects the beginnings of an unravelling process of the logical and ordered underpinnings and certainties of her life.

When the military personnel arrive, it is no surprise that Anne has trouble convincing them of the truth of what she experienced. After all, everything appears to be alright in the storeroom, the soldier on duty outside the storeroom window saw no-one come in or out of the window and the windows themselves are fastened so nobody could have got in or out of the storeroom. Even Anne’s testimony that she felt strange and almost fainted “with a terrible pain in the head” is put down to her experiencing a migraine. Now we know why people may be reluctant to report strange and unusual experiences that defy logical explanation when the result might be having to face scepticism and ridicule. Having personally experienced just such a thing, Anne is almost forced to dispense with her treasured sense of logic and rational view of reality.

Not so the erstwhile major whose training is firmly rooted in firm realities that can be observed, explained, assessed and dealt with. After the discovery of an unusual footprint out side the storeroom window, as far as he is concerned, “it stands to reason” that the footprint couldn't have been made by any animal they know of and that therefore “it must have been made by a man.” The logical conclusion: Anne is merely “the victim of a practical joke” perpetrated by one or more of the soldiers under his command.

Despite the major’s “fairly rational explanation,” a feeling of unease remains as reflected in the Major’s attempts at levity which the the scientists don’t respond to at all. After the Major departs on an awkward note, there is a feeling that much still needs to be done considering the fact that if no-one could have gotten in or out of the locked storeroom then who stopped Anne from opening the door last night? In addition, who held the door from the other side and whose footsteps did she hear? Finally, there’s the matter about the claw Anne referred to and how “the thing” she encountered got out of the storeroom by the time the soldiers arrived!

So many questions and not enough answers! What is certain is that accepting what Anne has experienced, everything points to it having “something to do with this sphere.” The three scientists decide that they had better quickly find out what that something is “for everyone's safety.”