Alternative 3

The film is associated with a book by a guy called Leslie Watkins. It was all meant as a hoax, but Watkins later decided that maybe he had accidentally hit on something. He published the following letter to the editor of Windwords magazine in response to certain questions from her:

Dear Ms. Dittrich:

Thank you for your letter, which reached me today. Naturally, I am

delighted by your interest in Alternative 3 and by the fact that you

plan to sell it in the Windwords bookstore. I will certainly

cooperate in any way I can.

The correct description of Alternative 3 was given to you by the

representative from Penguin Books. The book is based on fact, but

uses that fact as a launchpad for a HIGH DIVE INTO FICTION. In answer to your specific questions:

1) There is no astronaut named Grodin.

2) There is no Sceptre Television and the reported Benson is also

fictional.

3) There is no Dr. Gerstein.

4) Yes, a "documentary" was televised in June 1977 on Anglia

Television, which went out to the entire national network in

Britain. It was called Alternative 3 and was written by David

Ambrose and produced by Christopher Miles (whose names were on

the book for contractual reasons). This original TV version,

which I EXPANDED IMMENSELY for the book, was ACTUALLY A HOAX

which had been scheduled for transmission on April Fools' Day.

Because of certain problems in finding the right network slot,

the transmission was delayed.

The TV program did cause a tremendous uproar because viewers refused

to believe it was fiction. I initially took the view that the basic

premise was so way-out, particularly the way I aimed to present it in

the book, that no one would regard it as non-fiction. Immediately

after publication, I realized I was totally wrong. In fact, the

amazing mountains of letters from virtually all parts of the world-

including vast numbers from highly intelligent people in positions of

responsibility-convinced me that I had ACCIDENTALLY trespassed into a

range of top-secret truths.

Documentary evidence provided by many of these correspondents decided

me to write a serious and COMPLETELY NON-FICTION sequel.

Unfortunately, a chest containing the bulk of the letters was among

the items which were mysteriously LOST IN TRANSIT some four years when I moved from London, England, to Sydney, Australia, before I moved on to settle in New Zealand. For some time after Alternative 3 was

originally published, I have reason to suppose that my home telephone

was being tapped and my contacts who were experienced in such matters

were convinced that certain intelligence agencies considered that I

probably knew too much.

So, summing up, the book is FICTION BASED ON FACT. But I now feel

that I inadvertently got VERY CLOSE TO A SECRET TRUTH. I hope this is of some help to you and I look forward to hearing from you again.

With best wishes,

Leslie Watkins

So, that's what leslie Watkins says. How extraordinary now that Global Warming transpires to be real, and may well destroy the world. I hope I won't be around to witness it.

This presents itself as a documentary show which starts by covering recent disappearances of scientists. It goes on to broadcast the contents of a recovered video tape which shows U. S. & Soviet astronauts partnering together on space missions. Finally, it shows a mission to Mars.

I thought this one was neat. They did a decent job with the found footage contents. The acting was good. It held my attention.

This is early for the FF genre! I believe this is the first FF to feature space travel. I can really only find 2 other earlier FF examples. This was the first for TV.

This was interesting to watch and I think once was enough but it was cool.

This faux documentary was made by Anglia (the regional TV station home to Sale of the Century and the rotating little knight on a plinth) and was initially scheduled to be broadcast on April Fool's day 1977 but was ultimately put back 'til June. Regardless its broadcast resulted in Anglia being inundated with calls from concerned viewers demanding further information on the outrageous claims being made. It takes the form of a fake news report detailing the mysterious disappearance of a number of people, the investigation then leads to climate change and the moon landings. More detail would reveal too many spoilers. It is a fascinating watch, which was pretty well executed. Conspiracy buffs and sci-fi fans should get a kick out of this one.

I've just listened to an internet broadcast of "Alternative 3," which in paperback, as well as the internet-down-loadable version, was authored by Leslie Watkins. {N.b.: the original British television series had no affiliation with Ms. Watkins, currently banished, retired, or removed to New Zealand, however the book was an alleged extension and elaboration of material presented in the "Science Report" broadcast.} That the book was banned or suppressed and yet made it's way onto the internet, thence to be translated to a variety of languages, might give credence to the program, or the book which derived from it. Yet there was no astronaut Bob Grodin, either as an Apollo moon walker, or with any affiliation with NASA.

The author herself, in a letter to the online bookseller which bought up all copies remaining, said: "The book is based on fact, but uses that fact as a launchpad for a HIGH DIVE INTO FICTION.", etc. ..Further: "So, summing up, the book is FICTION BASED ON FACT. But I now feel that I inadvertently got VERY CLOSE TO A SECRET TRUTH."

So much for the credibility of either the book or the series which preceded it. I might have given a moment's thought to a conspiracy designed to cultivate greater study of the sciences in the U.K., but have thought better of it.

I well remember the alleged 'Science Report' of June 1977 about disappearing scientists and secret bases on the Moon.

At a UFO conference in a London hotel August 1979 (I met and had a chat with J.Allen Hynek) someone told me that the people who made that episode - Alternative 3 had a lot of trouble now finding work. Almost 'Black Listed' ?

Then a friend who's father was a senior engineer for the Royal Navy was asked by my friend about 'Alternative 3' - I was reading the Granada paperback at the time(sadly poorly written).

My friend's father hit the ceiling ! And shouted,"It's not that number anyway!"

Back in the early 1980's when 'La Thatcher' was in charge there was a girl in my local pub who bore a marked resemblance to 'Lady T'. I used to pull her leg about it as she pulled the pints. Chatting to her one day it transpired that she worked in a Financial Library in her day-time job. She was complaining about the snooty attitude of the highly qualified degree people who worked there. Anyway we somehow got chatting about 'Alternative 3' (too much beer on my part).

She said,"Alternative 3 sent a shudder right around the Financial Community. Whilst it was not completely true it closely paralleled the real thing. I shouldn't be telling you this because I have signed secrecy papers."

Interesting ?