The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
Hi,
This novel was very different from the episode aired. First of all we learn that the replacement Vipers aren't as good as the original ones. It is only due to the skills of great pilots like Starbuck and Apollo that make them as formidable as the originals. The new Vipers are assembled on the foundry ship from and metal/materials that is salvaged from anywhere it can be found. Baltar isn't in the novel at all and it is the Imperious leader that orders both attacks on the Colonial Fleet. The Cylons have also come up with remote controlled Raiders that are controlled from a safe distance. The Cylons have brains after all. We also learn why Vulpa was sent to the ice planet. The Imperious Leader feared this Cylon would take over for him. The cover art for the book was used in TV guide for the premiere episode. People have speculated that the woman was supposed to be Athena. Look closely however and one can tell that she is none other than Leda. There is also a part in the book in which the Imperious Leader interviews a hologram of Starbuck and asks it questions. Near the end of the book, Boxey is trapped in one of the remote control Raiders as it lifts off. Unfortunately I gave all my BSG books to my cousin and can't look up how he was eventually rescued. In the episode none of this took place with Boxey. This is also why the books were better than the episodes in providing more of a back story. Regards, Paul |
Hey
Hey Paul,
You know what? I need to re-read all the novelizations. It's been more than twenty years since I read them. You keep reminding me of details I'd forgotten. One thing I do remember, is that Imperious Leader and Lucifer were both highly developed characters in the books. Even many centurians get decent character treatment. The stories are different in a lot of ways. I always read them as what had been intended for the screen, but with the realities of television, they were unable to actually produce, so despite many inaccuracies to what was filmed, they are really great books for the most part. Maybe part of the reason BSG really stuck with me was the reinforcement of good novelizations. Thanks for making me break out the old books and re-read them. As if I had the time...! But don't feel too guilty, they've been calling me for yahrens.... LOL! Ken |
I have several of the TV episode novels packed away somewhere. I need to find them and do some re-reading. I'm also looking for the original novels from that era. I know there were a couple published back in the 80's.
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For kingfish.
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I thought the idea of remote controlled raiders was clever. Quote:
It gives the impression that some of the actors had not been cast yet. "Apollo" is definitely Richard Hatch, but "Starbuck" doesn't look much like Dirk Benedict. |
Hi,
Thanks for the info. This was actually supposed to be the second episode aired after the pilot. That was why there was no Cassiopea in it. I read that they were going to kill off both characters, Cassiopea and Serina in the pilot but had a change of heart and kept Laurette Sprang around. Paul |
Hi,
Jewels here is another thread. Paul |
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Yes. I started the topic.
Paul |
Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
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And people accussed BSG of stealing from SW! Yeah, right. |
I think that many of the differences between the episodes and the novels come from two sources. First, the authors (Robert Thurston, Ron Goulart, Nicholas Yermakov and Michael Resnick) wanted to expand the story from the episodes to include character developement that there isn't time for on television. This allows them to include background information that adds but does not detract from the main story. Additionally, the authors (especially in the early books) might be working from an early draft of the script. I really enjoyed the original novel series and wished that it went beyond the 14th book in the series.
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Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
For the most part, the eps were better.
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Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
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I didn't mind the books, I just wish I had managed to snaffle all of them. I still look out for the missing ones in bookshops etc, but its usually the three versions of Saga that are there (the photo novel and the 2 versions of the text versions) BSG merchandise came down here, but not all of it and not very much of it (probably the 'leftover' stock from US and UK releases??) It was very popular and didn't last long in store, Cheers, Lara |
Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
Likely you'd have more luck getting them on line.
Try Abebooks or Amazon. Constantly amazed at the out of print stuff I can find there. http://www.abebooks.com/?cm_mmc=ggl-...eBooksabebooks |
Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
I've been able to snag good copies of most of the novels on Amazon. I'm now down to just 4 missings ones now. I stopped looking when my son was born, but I will be resuming the search again.
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Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
"Gun" was made into a two-hour telemovie in the early 1980s. In its opening credits, the brief videos you see of each of the actors include Laurette Spang and John Colicos, although neither of them are in the movie!
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Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
More's the pity, you could never have enough Colicos on Galactica. :)
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Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
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to senmut
You're right, Colicos was in the telemovie.
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Re: The Cylon Death Machine/Gun On Ice Planet Zero
I thought the bit with Boxey and the fighter was among the weaker parts of the book.
The simulation of Starbuck was a brilliant idea and the concept that the Imperious Leader was using a computer generated hologram to try to understand the human mind was an aspect that really amplified the Cylon mindset. The books made it clear that the Cylons were truly confused as to why mankind acted as it did. The other element that was interesting in this book is that the Cylons previously had a lot more advanced technology. The ice planet was formerly a lush world that the Cylons had moved into position to use as a gun platform. Its new location froze it over. By the time of the book, the Cylons had lost the ability to move large space bodies. All my best, Russell |
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