REVISITING ARTHUR C CLARKE’S MYSTERIOUS WORLD PART 3

Hello again, welcome back to the concluding part of our expedition to the Mysterious World, ITV’s most disturbing tea-time television series of the 1980s. We have a final three episodes before us, presented from his personal archive by Fort-fan and science fiction author Arthur C Clarke.

You may remember that so far we’ve been able to divide the episodes fairly evenly into two distinct kinds. There have been those of an archæological or astronomical bent, covering the likes of Stonehenge or the Tunguska event – mysteries that have proven amenable, at least to some extent, to scientific research and explanation.

And there have been the mysteries of a less tangible and more experiential nature, in which ordinary people report extraordinary encounters with sea serpents, lake monsters or the abominable snowman. We’ve made less progress resolving these since the show was broadcast, and personal reports of sightings continue.

So, what have these last episodes in store for us? Without further delay, pop in your copy of the Network DVD and let’s get started.

Episode 11: Dragons, Dinosaurs and Giant Snakes

A rather bitty compilation provides a general overview of cryptozoology and of several entities not already covered. Back in 1980, Clarke still believed there was room for a “whole zoo full of unknown animals” across the wilds of Africa and South America and he notes that until quite recently people had refused to believe in mountain gorillas, Komodo dragons or giant pandas.

In New York, Roy Mackal and James). It sounds like they have a lovely holiday, but their research is curtailed somewhat by visa issues.