Written by Glen A. Larson & Robert Thurston
SUMMARY:
Adapting the 1978 TV series’ three-part pilot episode, this 244-page paperback was released by Universal TV’s fellow corporate subsidiary, MCA Publishing. Humanity’s long-sought galactic armistice negotiated with the devious Cylon Empire is revealed as a catastrophic ruse. Simultaneously, in a coordinated series of catastrophic surprise attacks, thirteen colonized worlds and their space fleet of naval carrier-like Battlestars are nearly annihilated. Cobbling together humankind’s survivors into a makeshift fleet, Commander Adama’s naval carrier-like Battlestar Galactica is its sole remaining defense from genocide by the Cylons.
The fleet makes a desperate gambit to journey across the stars in search for a mythical refuge known as Earth. Yet, political dissension may prove the fleet’s imminent doom once an influential politician’s avarice delays the Galactica’s efforts to leave planet Carillon’s posh, casino-like ambiance amidst a brief layover. Only the heroism of Adama and his loyal son, Captain Apollo, along with fighter pilots Lt. Starbuck and Lt. Boomer, can protect their fleet from a final Cylon onslaught.
Notes: The pilot’s alternate title is Saga of a Star World. To help promote the TV series, the pilot episode (in a condensed version) was also released as a feature film.
REVIEW:
If not for a little something entitled Star Wars, this storyline’s originality would have been dynamite. Despite the TV series being so visually derivative of George Lucas’ mega-hit, the novel still breathes some fresh life into Glen A. Larson’s own space opera. Pivotal relationships (i.e. Apollo with future wife Serina and young son Boxey; the Athena-Starbuck-Cassiopeia love triangle; brothers Apollo & Zac; and the Apollo-Starbuck-Boomer trio) merit their screen time, as do some key sequences (i.e. the big shoot-out climax at Carillon). Between terrific characterizations of Apollo, Starbuck, Athena, Cassiopeia, Boomer, Adama, and bombastic Sire Uri, among others, co-authors Larson and Robert Thurston devise a likable adaptation of the pilot episode. For fans of the original Galactica series, this novel proves well worth the read.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
Between chapters are short excerpts from Adama’s Journals, which provide ongoing insights from the vessel’s commander.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 7 Stars
Notes: Larson also co-adapted Knight Rider’s pilot episode into novel form. Other titles in that series include adapting the first KARR episode: “Trust Doesn’t Rust.”
