kandicez's review against another edition
4.0
I’ve recently become enamored of the Battlestar Galactica re-boot. I know I’m late to the party, but I resisted it since I had some happy memories of the 70's version. Once I gave in and actually watched I really enjoyed it. It takes the essence of the 70's show and “smartens” it up. It needed it!
This little novel was a bit confusing only because I haven’t figured out if it was written before the tv series, as a result of the tv series (there were a LOT of after the fact novelizations in the 70's and 80's) or written from an original script that then changed as they shot it. In this novel Gaius Baltar is beheaded by the Cylon leader after his ultimate betrayal. This makes infinitely more sense to me than installing him on his own base in the tv series. Obviously those writing the re-boot felt the same way since Gaius Baltar is dealt with very, very differently in the new series!
I love old science fiction. I have to temper that with the acceptance of the atrocious way women are “treated” in older sci-fi. Without exception, every woman in this novel is described by her physical attributes, especially the attractive ones. One woman is described as “could be beautiful if she lost some of the weight.” I kid you not! By Starbuck no less. I can not say I agree with this treatment, but I can accept it and have almost gotten to the point where I find it amusing. I make up “more” for these women in my head, but content myself with the idea that this was acceptable when the novel was written.
One of the things the reboot prided itself on was using no "techno-babble." None was used here either. I find that refreshing. I don't mind techno-babble, and actual relish it in some stories, but BSG is really about the people, not the technology. I know that can be said of any good sci-fi, but especially here since religion is such a large factor. In that respect BSG reminds me of Dune.
All in all, this was a fun read. I had a great sense of nostalgia that took me back to my childhood. Reading this also made me appreciate some of the changes made with the re-boot more than previously. Small things like making Starbuck a woman, combining Boomer and Athena, little touches of genius like that.
This little novel was a bit confusing only because I haven’t figured out if it was written before the tv series, as a result of the tv series (there were a LOT of after the fact novelizations in the 70's and 80's) or written from an original script that then changed as they shot it. In this novel Gaius Baltar is beheaded by the Cylon leader after his ultimate betrayal. This makes infinitely more sense to me than installing him on his own base in the tv series. Obviously those writing the re-boot felt the same way since Gaius Baltar is dealt with very, very differently in the new series!
I love old science fiction. I have to temper that with the acceptance of the atrocious way women are “treated” in older sci-fi. Without exception, every woman in this novel is described by her physical attributes, especially the attractive ones. One woman is described as “could be beautiful if she lost some of the weight.” I kid you not! By Starbuck no less. I can not say I agree with this treatment, but I can accept it and have almost gotten to the point where I find it amusing. I make up “more” for these women in my head, but content myself with the idea that this was acceptable when the novel was written.
One of the things the reboot prided itself on was using no "techno-babble." None was used here either. I find that refreshing. I don't mind techno-babble, and actual relish it in some stories, but BSG is really about the people, not the technology. I know that can be said of any good sci-fi, but especially here since religion is such a large factor. In that respect BSG reminds me of Dune.
All in all, this was a fun read. I had a great sense of nostalgia that took me back to my childhood. Reading this also made me appreciate some of the changes made with the re-boot more than previously. Small things like making Starbuck a woman, combining Boomer and Athena, little touches of genius like that.
xeni's review against another edition
4.0
It took me a whole month to read this book. Youch. Med school is really kicking in with no free time thing at the moment.
But back to the book, from what I recall it really was great. What I enjoyed the most was the classic science fiction cornerstone that this novel represents. I wasn't reading it for the story or adventure so much as I was for the inevitable knowledge that this would bring to my future scifi books.
That said, it didn't disappoint. It did bore me a bit at times, and the dialogue seemed downright childish at times, but aside from that it was definitely worth reading.
Cheers for cornerstone genre novels!
But back to the book, from what I recall it really was great. What I enjoyed the most was the classic science fiction cornerstone that this novel represents. I wasn't reading it for the story or adventure so much as I was for the inevitable knowledge that this would bring to my future scifi books.
That said, it didn't disappoint. It did bore me a bit at times, and the dialogue seemed downright childish at times, but aside from that it was definitely worth reading.
Cheers for cornerstone genre novels!
cheryl6of8's review against another edition
3.0
I read this book over the weekend while visiting my brother and his family in New Jersey. I realized how much of the original series I did not pay attention to while I was, like so many other females, dreaming of Dirk Benedict. I was interested in this in part because I know the writers of the original show were Mormon and I was curious to see what aspects of the religion made it into the plot. Not as many as I expected, but the plot was a nice introduction to the show as a whole.
crunden's review
5.0
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