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Andra (novel) facts for kids

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Andra
Andra (novel).jpg
First edition
Author Louise Lawrence
Language English
Publisher Collins
Publication date
1971

Andra is an exciting science fiction novel from 1971. It was the very first book written by the English author Louise Lawrence.

A few years later, in 1976, Andra was turned into a TV show for kids by ABC Television.

Story of Andra

The story of Andra takes place far in the future, about 2000 years from now. The world has changed a lot after a big war. The Earth was knocked off its normal spin. This made the land above ground a cold, empty wasteland. Because of this, everyone who survived lives underground in special cities.

The main character is a teenage girl named Andra. She has a terrible accident. To save her life, doctors need to do a brain transplant. The only brain available comes from a young man who lived and died in 1987.

After her operation, Andra's life completely changes. She becomes a rebel. She starts fighting against the very strict rules of her underground city, called Sub City One. She also challenges the powerful leaders who control everything, even who lives and dies.

The TV Series

Andra
Genre science fiction
Written by Eugene Lumbers
Directed by Mark Callen
John Gauci
Starring Lisa Peers
Robert Hewett
Jonathan Hardy
Bruce Kerr
Suzanne Dudley
Country of origin Australia
Original language(s) English
No. of seasons 1
No. of episodes 8
Production
Producer(s) Christopher Muir
Running time 30 mins
Release
Original network ABC Television
Original release 8 September 1976 (1976-09-08)
Chronology
Preceded by Alpha Scorpio

The book Andra was made into an Australian children's TV show. It first aired on September 8, 1976, on ABC-TV. The Andra TV series had 8 episodes, each 30 minutes long.

This show was special because it was made with a very small budget. For example, in scenes with crowds, the "crowd" was actually made up of store mannequins! Also, the sets didn't have much furniture. Instead, they used large white blocks stacked on top of each other.

The Andra series was mainly made for a female audience. Another Australian science fiction show from the 1970s, Alpha Scorpio, was made a bit earlier and aimed at a male audience.

Main Cast

  • Lisa Peers as Andra
  • Robert Hewett as Syrd
  • Jonathan Hardy as Shenlyn
  • Bruce Kerr as Lazcaux
  • Suzanne Dudley as Cromer

Episode Guide

  • Episode 1 (September 10, 1976): Andra, a young person in Sub City One, gets badly hurt in a tunnel. Dr. Lascaux asks to try a brain transplant using a 2,000-year-old brain.
  • Episode 2 (September 17, 1976): A spaceship that left 30 years ago to find a new Earth finally makes contact. It has successfully finished its mission.
  • Episode 3 (September 24, 1976)
  • Episode 4 (October 1, 1976): A spaceship is ready to explore the new planet. When it returns with information, it seems it must crash-land, putting the crew in danger.
  • Episode 5 (October 8, 1976)
  • Episode 6 (October 15, 1976): The team that explored the new planet returns to Sub City One. But they don't have their navigation maps.
  • Episode 7 (October 22, 1976)
  • Episode 8 (October 29, 1976): Andra realizes the rockets for the new planet are about to launch. She runs quickly towards the surface.
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