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I am an unabashed fan of the 1970s novelizations and novels (and of the series too, of course). I am more of a Year One fan than a Year Two fan (though I liked the new characters and their portrayal by Anholt and Schell). BUT I always saw the series as ONE series. That view guided my decision to have the book series be inclusive of both seasons. Johnny Byrne’s Message from Moonbase Alpha reinforced and locked that decision in.
So what’s that about a recurring dream? Well, anyone who’s a member of Online Alpha or its predecessors–I joined in September 1997–knows this story: I used to have this recurring dream of being far from home, usually on a bus trip. The bus pulling into a small station in some little town and the passengers having about 15 minutes to get a bite to eat, etc. Well, near to the station is a used bookstore (or department store that just happens to have used books). I find a shelf with Space: 1999 books on them. Year One (American style) books numbered 14, 15, 17 or some such.
14?! 15?! 17?! I read the back cover descriptions with excitement, realizing that more than 10 books were published–something I had NO IDEA about! Then I realize that I have NO MONEY, nor anyone to borrow money from. My chances of passing this way again are nil and the bus is soon going to leave. I have to leave the books behind! Then I wake up and can’t remember what the books were about (or their titles). Aargh! (Yes, I said ‘aargh’)
This was a dream I had again and again in the late 70s and 80s and 90s. It was what spurred me on to publish the books you have and will soon have. It was the selfish, obsessive dream to see them on my own bookshelf. Certainly, to see the series alive again, to construct a literary, consistent, quality book series. Also, to make books that Johnny could be proud of. If Powys has a motto for its 1999 releases, it has three words “Make Johnny Proud”.
I don’t know when the last one was, but I don’t have that dream anymore. 😉
That’s a great story………and I’m so glad you followed your dream and made it happen……..I thnk I have a major Space 1999 addiction…..which needs constant ‘fixes’ to keep it under control…….lol
The nice thing about the books is that we (1999 fans) get new fresh adult mind stimulating material. Being a book we can let our individual imaginations soar. With the stimulating material, we have new concepts and perceptions to dive into. This keeps the fanbase alive with vigor.
Dex
Nice compliments! The authors are all trying to tell new and challenging Space: 1999 stories–as opposed to telling safe stories that don’t push the envelope. They do this by respecting what has been done on the series, but moving the “meta-story” further.
A friend in Australia told me yesterday that the books are grounded in reality (within the fictional context of the series)–meaning the characters act and react like real people. And the series has a larger scale continuity that doesn’t just link back to what was shown on TV, but rather adds to it to create a new, large-frame mythos that carries the reader toward a future revelation.
I think he hit the nail on the head. He understood exactly what we are trying to do. Now, whether we succeed or not will be decided by the readers, one by one. Each will have their own opinion.
I like that the characters grow and change, are affected by what happens to them. Bergman’s percieved death in Survival changes Koenig. This change, unseen in the filmed Y2 episodes, is clearly evident and runs through the Year Two omnibus, culminating in the Lambda Variance (the new coda to The Lambda Factor). In the omnibus, Koenig won’t discuss Victor’s death and can’t bring himself to talk about him. He feels a tremendous amount of guilt and it informs his decisions. This is clearly evident in The Exiles. Koenig’s suspicion–almost paranoia–about Cantar and Zova, from the start, really makes sense now once one takes the events of Survival into consideration.
Once you read Omega (coming in March) you will never be able to go back and watch the episodes again in the same way. That’s a promise. And isn’t that the exciting part? To watch something you’ve seen tens of times–that you can literally quote–with a new perspective?
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