The Day the Earth Stood Still | Harry Bates | Books in Sound
Season 3 Episode 22
"The Day the Earth Stood Still" is a science fiction novel written by Harry Bates, first published in 1940. The story revolves around the arrival of an alien spacecraft in Washington, D.C., and the encounter between humanity and the extraterrestrial being known as Klaatu. The book explores themes of interstellar communication, the consequences of violence, and the potential for humanity to change its destructive ways.
The plot of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" unfolds as Klaatu, accompanied by his powerful robot companion Gort, delivers a profound and urgent message to the people of Earth. He warns humanity of its self-destructive path and presents them with an ultimatum: change their ways or face the dire consequences. The novel delves into the political, social, and moral implications of Klaatu's visit, as various factions vie for control and Klaatu struggles to convey his message of peace and cooperation.
The radio presentation of "The Day the Earth Stood Still" through the "Lux Radio Theater" took place on February 4, 1952. The radio adaptation brought Bates' thought-provoking story to the airwaves, capturing the suspense and philosophical themes of the original work. The Lux Radio Theater's talented cast and crew skillfully portrayed the characters and events, immersing the audience in the tense and dramatic world of Klaatu's visit. The radio adaptation allowed listeners to experience the story's compelling narrative and contemplate the deeper messages it conveyed.
Books in Sound is a free podcast series that presents a collection of hundreds of the world’s greatest books through the magic of the performing arts.
Different from audiobooks: Instead of having a single narrator read an audiobook, these performances have a full cast of actors, suitable background music, and special effects that help define the drama.
Most presentations are from old time radio theater broadcasts that have been remastered to remove most of the hissing, clicking and volume fluctuations. Many of the presentations are from the 1930's and 1940's, so a significant amount of work went into the remastering process.
Most presentations are about one hour, some are multiple hours, and some are abbreviated presentation that last about half an hour, making this series wonderful for bedtime stories, self-improvement by learning about literature, or simply as a very imaginative form of entertainment.
The episodes are not sequential, but we do recommend listening to the complete collection starting with the first episode so that you can grow and benefit from the wide assortment of styles and content.
For more information visit https://www.booksinsound.com
