Slipstream (radio)
Encyclopedia
Slipstream is a radio drama
by Simon Bovey originally broadcast on BBC 7
during March 2008. It combines a story of a raid by British commandos
into Germany during the Second World War
with a science fiction
story concerning a new Nazi aircraft capable of fantastic speeds, which shot down 150 Allied bombers during a bombing mission. The aircraft, which is silver and disc-shaped, may be constructed around an extraterrestrial artifact.
Barton kidnaps Kate Ritchie, a research scientist whose brother may have been lost in one of the bombing raids. His men arrange for a prisoner-of-war, Flugkapitän Jürgen Rahl, to escape and then fall into his hands. Jürgen is a former test pilot who was captured when his Messerschmitt Me 262
was shot down. Barton recruits Jürgen by promising to save his father from the advancing Russians, though he later admits he has no plans to do so. Jürgen is to fly the Slipstream back to Britain once it has been captured.
In Germany the raiders enter an underground factory, the Mittelwerk
where they find slave workers, a German "technician", Frau Schenk, and the mysterious Slipstream in a cave. Jürgen finds that piloting the aircraft is a matter of wearing a helmet and controlling it with his thoughts. Unfortunately previous pilots have died of brain inflammation after a few missions.
Determined to secure the Slipstream for Britain, Barton and his men are utterly ruthless in their quest. They ambush and destroy an American squad who come to the factory. Kate and Jürgen learn what they can about the Slipstream. It seems to be built around an alien artifact that crashed into the Brazilian jungle in 1929. It was taken by the German SS after a German priest working in the Vatican learned of its existence from a missionary. The artifact is intelligent and Jürgen learns to communicate with it. It is apparently designed to teach advanced science, not destroy life. The other pilots died because they were forcing it to take part in war, against its programming.
As the Americans and Russians close in, Jürgen is able to pilot the ship back to Britain with Kate and Barton aboard, leaving Barton's second-in-command behind to hold off the attackers as long as possible. However once the war is over, politics take over and the Slipstream has to be handed over to the Americans. The British have been unable to study it because it will not fly for any of their pilots. They bring Jürgen back for one final attempt before the craft is handed over. He takes off into outer space, apparently to find the artifact's creators.
Radio drama
Radio drama is a dramatized, purely acoustic performance, broadcast on radio or published on audio media, such as tape or CD. With no visual component, radio drama depends on dialogue, music and sound effects to help the listener imagine the characters and story...
by Simon Bovey originally broadcast on BBC 7
BBC 7
BBC Radio 4 Extra, formerly known as BBC 7 and BBC Radio 7, is a British digital radio station broadcasting comedy, drama, and children's programming nationally 24 hours a day. It is the principal broadcasting outlet for the BBC's archive of spoken-word entertainment...
during March 2008. It combines a story of a raid by British commandos
British Commandos
The British Commandos were formed during the Second World War in June 1940, following a request from the British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, for a force that could carry out raids against German-occupied Europe...
into Germany during the Second World War
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
with a science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
story concerning a new Nazi aircraft capable of fantastic speeds, which shot down 150 Allied bombers during a bombing mission. The aircraft, which is silver and disc-shaped, may be constructed around an extraterrestrial artifact.
Plot
After hearing of the bomber raid disaster, Major Barton coerces the code word "Slipstream" from a German prisoner via torture, after which the prisoner dies. He persuades his commander to authorize, or at least turn a blind eye to, a commando raid on an experimental aircraft development site in Germany, where the Slipstream seems to have been built. The target is located between advancing American and Russian forces, who have their own agendas and may reach it before the British.Barton kidnaps Kate Ritchie, a research scientist whose brother may have been lost in one of the bombing raids. His men arrange for a prisoner-of-war, Flugkapitän Jürgen Rahl, to escape and then fall into his hands. Jürgen is a former test pilot who was captured when his Messerschmitt Me 262
Messerschmitt Me 262
The Messerschmitt Me 262 Schwalbe was the world's first operational jet-powered fighter aircraft. Design work started before World War II began, but engine problems prevented the aircraft from attaining operational status with the Luftwaffe until mid-1944...
was shot down. Barton recruits Jürgen by promising to save his father from the advancing Russians, though he later admits he has no plans to do so. Jürgen is to fly the Slipstream back to Britain once it has been captured.
In Germany the raiders enter an underground factory, the Mittelwerk
Mittelwerk
Central Works was a World War II factory that used Mittelbau-Dora forced labor in 2 main tunnels in the Kohnstein. The underground facility produced V-2 rockets, V-1 flying bombs, and other Nazi weapons.-Mittelwerk GmbH:...
where they find slave workers, a German "technician", Frau Schenk, and the mysterious Slipstream in a cave. Jürgen finds that piloting the aircraft is a matter of wearing a helmet and controlling it with his thoughts. Unfortunately previous pilots have died of brain inflammation after a few missions.
Determined to secure the Slipstream for Britain, Barton and his men are utterly ruthless in their quest. They ambush and destroy an American squad who come to the factory. Kate and Jürgen learn what they can about the Slipstream. It seems to be built around an alien artifact that crashed into the Brazilian jungle in 1929. It was taken by the German SS after a German priest working in the Vatican learned of its existence from a missionary. The artifact is intelligent and Jürgen learns to communicate with it. It is apparently designed to teach advanced science, not destroy life. The other pilots died because they were forcing it to take part in war, against its programming.
As the Americans and Russians close in, Jürgen is able to pilot the ship back to Britain with Kate and Barton aboard, leaving Barton's second-in-command behind to hold off the attackers as long as possible. However once the war is over, politics take over and the Slipstream has to be handed over to the Americans. The British have been unable to study it because it will not fly for any of their pilots. They bring Jürgen back for one final attempt before the craft is handed over. He takes off into outer space, apparently to find the artifact's creators.
Cast
- Major Bill Barton - Tim McMullen
- Flugkapitän Jürgen Rahl - Rory KinnearRory KinnearRory Kinnear is an award-winning English actor who has worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company and the Royal National Theatre.-Early life:...
- Dr. Kate Ritchie - Joanna Tinsey
- Lt. Dundas - Ben Crowe
- Teazle - Sam Pamphilon
- Frau Schenk - Rachel Atkins
- Voice of Slipstream - Laura Molyneaux
- Brigadier Erskine - Peter MarinkerPeter MarinkerPeter Marinker is a Canadian actor well known for his role as Kiichi Goto in the Patlabor series and his many audio book recordings. He currently resides in the UK.-Filmography:*A Wind Named Amnesia as Simpson*Angel Cop as Dr...
External Links
- Simon Bovey's Slipstream on BBC Radio 7 website.