Just finished Omega…No Spoilers

[Patricia Sokol]

Just finished reading [u]Omega[/u], much to my husband’s displeasure (did you check the clothes in the dryer?…could you sweep the floor?…are you going to leave the lettuce on the counter?…and so forth.)

All I can say is [b]O M G[/b].

If you folks @ Powys are interested in feedback, I’d be happy to write some…but I gotta straighten out my thoughts, first.

Pat.

[Mateo Latosa]

Pat,

Email me! I would love to hear your thoughts!

Mateo

[Ally Davies]

I finished the book this afternoon…totally agree with Pat…[b]OMG[/b]…still in shock

I am still trying to catch my breathe…what a pace!

Am scared to say anything…in case I say too much !!!!!

[Deb]

Just finished [i]Omega[/i]; I started this morning, and I could not put it down. [b]OMG [/b]is right! I need a drink..or a Valium…or something! That’s all I’ll say to avoid spoilers. 🙂

[Ally Davies]

There’s nothing else to say is there…but OMG

I’ve been walking around all day…muttering and mumbling to myself…my husband thinks I’ve gone nuts…it’s a relief to have someone to share the experience with although we can’t really say much here can we…aghhhhhh….

I’m also glad to see that it’s had the same affect on you guys too lol

[Patricia Sokol]

My initial thoughts about Omega…

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Where to start? As a Space: 1999 novel – riveting. As an arc continuing on to a full circle – well, one of the first things I thought was “Lost” in Space, to turn a phrase. As an end to the Alphan saga – say it ain’t so – there were so many loose ends that even my nerves are frayed. This CANNOT be the end of the story.

The thing about Omega is that we had no idea how it would end. [u]Resurrection[/u], [u]The Forsaken[/u], [u]Survival[/u], and even, to some extent, [u]Born for Adversity[/u] – we knew where they were headed. [u]Resurrection [/u]was a great stand-alone story, and it introduced us to “the one about the Commander who heard voices on the surface of the moon.” It showed, or reinforced, how Bergman and Helena Russell were very strong individuals who were themselves willing to sacrifice all, not only for the base, but for a single man whom they both loved. We knew Paul Morrow and Tanya Alexander had to get off the base somehow, and thus, [u]The Forsaken[/u], which was a bridge between “Space Brain” and [u]Omega[/u]. Likewise, “Spider’s Web” provided the link between [u]Survival [/u]and [u]Omega[/u]. One has to admire the co-ordination among the authors and editors to get everything into a tidy package. Real vision and dedication.

[u]Omega [/u]itself. Uh. You can’t do this to us. William Latham can’t be remembered as the person who managed to kill off John Koenig. I know, I know, it may have been Koenig’s decision –[i] if indeed it did happen[/i]. He was tired, but he’d finally reached equilibrium in his life. His spousal equivalent was expecting (intended or otherwise), he was thinking of stepping down (yeah, right – after what he confessed in [u]BfA [/u]about being so tied to the moon), and he knew it was killing him/aging him/making him something other than he was. But in these things, too, he was almost resolved to it.

Hope is better than despair – we were led to believe that. Thus, I can’t accept that all three of the principle factions winked out in an instant when Paul touched the symbol. I have to believe that they are all still alive (hey, even [i]dead [/i]people are alive again) and that Mr. Latham has another brilliant novel up his sleeve. If we accept “Message from Moonbase Alpha” as canon (I think we do…don’t we…?), we have to believe things worked out OK, at least for some, if not all.

The synaxis of past and near past colleagues was explained well in the context of the over-all arc which has been created. While I realize that writing [u]Omega [/u]began long ago, it reminded me a lot of the end of Season Four of the current incarnation of Dr. Who. However, in [u]Omega[/u], it was more of a culmination than a convenience. Not sure if any of you are familiar with the prose poem “Desiderata”, but there seemed to be an influence of that, too, in [u]Omega[/u]. Not even sure if the author is even familiar with the poem. It just struck me as I was reading Koenig’s conversation with his “mother”. Interesting how both Koenig the Elder and Koenig the Younger use the term “Mom”. Cute. Also, shades of Stargate: SG-1 and Stagate: Atlantis. That’s OK, though.

One of the wonderful things about the written medium is that you get to know what characters are thinking and feeling. The Greek Chorus being out of vogue in modern productions, we are only allowed as much insight as a character states in a performance. Sure, we can see expressions, but, would that tell us that Helena makes an effort to shut Koenig out of her mind so she can go on, while he opens his mind to her so he can continue? And, I did enjoy his recollection of their first kiss.

So, my perspective on characters…

John Koenig – The story really pivots around him. One has to wonder that he’s not nuts by now, or dead from a heart attack. He is essentially given the same choice he is given in “Collision Course” (CC) and “War Games” (WG) – whom to trust? In CC, we thought it was all good. We trusted in Koenig. He was the hero – how could he have made a bad choice? In WG, he made what he thought was the right choice, but given the opportunity to reconsider. Oddly – or ironically – enough, it was a glance at Helena at the end of WG that made him change his mind. However, there was no reset button in [u]Omega[/u]. And if he made a choice, we don’t know what it was. Regardless of what his choice was, others acted. His last(?) thoughts were of Helena, which may suggest he did or didn’t do whatever he did or didn’t do for her sake and the sake of their child. [i]Too noble for it to mean his demise in our comfy little universe, though[/i]. C’mon, Mr. Latham, everybody else came back… There was also an awful lot of foreshadowing of his death; both Koenig and Helena almost seemed to anticipate it. That doesn’t make it right. Depending on the author, either the paving stones were being laid for it to happen, or making us believe that it was inevitable, only to have it not be so.

Mama Doc – When my left brain is active, I try not to be too much of a “ ‘shipper”, but, awww. An absolutely wonderful juxtaposition in the first two scenes of the book. The thoughts going through Koenig’s head before we knew what she was scanning was a fantastic set-up. Our first jaw-dropping moment. A scan so early in pregnancy means 1) it was Nature’s Little Surprise; 2) they’d been reeeealy workin’ on it; 3) because she can. HOWEVER – William, the poor woman. How many times can she lose a spouse, on whatever planet? Lee, twice; Koenig, two…three…even four times…? The universe may not be fair, but this is downright nasty. Cut the lady some slack. Essentially retreats back into her shell of work therapy. Guess her secret is out at the end, but is that enough to make up for Koenig’s (?) loss? RK must’ve come back from the future, meaning that she, and by extension the universe, survived. However, it could have been more manipulation by “Mike Ryan”. What better way to manipulate the present than by presenting a possible future? And what better messenger than the child of the one person who is MIA, not DOA? My brain hurts. Plus, there is that unresolved scene in the Other Earth where “she” is looking at Carter. Who is “she”? We could infer. I don’t remember if Helena actually died in “Another Time, Another Place” as filmed. In the novelization, I believe she did. In the televised version, I’m not so sure.

Victor(s) – Was surprised to see him so early in the book. His intuition saved the base one more time. His answer to Sandra’s question in WG (“Why is all this happening to us, Professor?” or something to that effect) is prescient, because that’s exactly what it is/was. Victor and Other Victor seemed to be able to co-exist. Maybe because they were not in direct contact. Sorry about Yendys. That really stinks (but that’s another book, anyway). Seemed younger in this novel than I remember him. Or much older, depending on which one, though, natch.

Tony Verdeschi – Disliked him less. Not a lot to say about his character development, really, except he’s a good tactician, despite not having practical experience. I like that he regretted not being married, at least in This Time, This Place. He’s an honorable fellow after all. Darn it, did you ruin it at the end? Who was that young fellow? Was your youthful impetuousness an asset or liability? Will Helena ever forgive you, if that were the only chance of getting JK back? Would she even know? Still think Carter would’ve made a better second-in-command, but we’re dealing with the realities of a TV show, aren’t we?

Maya – Disliked her less, too. Not sure her metamorphic abilities would have mattered. There wasn’t much she could have done, especially in the very limited time frame. This was all a game of wits, and there didn’t seem too much that science could do, aside from save their skins. And anyway, Bergman had most of that covered, already.

I’ll come clean, here. I really started to dislike Maya at the end of “AB Chrysalis”, where she makes Koenig look inept by challenging him with math a 12-year-old could do. Egads, he was proud of himself for being able to do addition? I HATED that scene. In Season One, he was a bright, capable astronaut and Commander. IRL astronauts are not idiots. Blech. She also makes Helena act like a school girl (“The Exiles” and “One Moment of Humanity”.) Helena doesn’t giggle – she just doesn’t. Laughing at a drunk Taybor – well, that was different. Seeing Helena as anything other than level-headed makes me uncomfortable.

I feel better now.

Carter – Still love him. Tony thinks he’s the only one with the off-world sweetie? Look at Carter – Rhoda (not canonical, I know) – Sahala, Eroca. The guy’s got it. It’s the swagger.

Sandra – Not the shrinking violet who fainted when Mike Ryan first disappeared. Bravo.

MUFs – Machiavellian, amoral, SOBs. Olympic in the sense that they don’t give a tinker’s dam about mortals. Their motives make the whole of both Y1 and Y2 make sense, which is what we wanted from [u]Omega[/u]. Yeah, Alphans are those gnats that you can never seem to get rid of. You swat at them, but they still fly into your eyes. Dragons and brell = insecticide that you spray all over just to get some peace, at least for a short time. Nevertheless, these are OUR humans, dammit, and I don’t like seeing them messed with so much. Evil Arra? One had to know she would at least be mentioned, if not show up, but didn’t see this one coming.

Cmdr. Robert Koenig – Had to come not only through space, but time. If NotMike was running out of umph, could he have brought somebody through time? I doubt it. Victor frowned, as if he knew this wasn’t right. NotMike knew Helena was expecting when it was still unannounced. he’s been probing their minds. I have no doubt she truly is expecting; the very human scene where she is sick reinforces that. However, it’s just a bit too convenient and manipulative. Alphans have had their senses tricked recently (“Futility” and “Dead End”.)

Paul Morrow – Oh, jeeze, you didn’t just go and ruin everything, did you? Or did you save the day?

Helena references a number of years between the end of [u]BfA [/u]and [u]Omega[/u]. So, I hope we can anticipate more adventures.

Anybody else?

Pat.

[Ally Davies]

Omega spoilers !!

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Pat …that was a brilliant review ! BRILLIANT 🙂

You write your thoughts down so well and I really enjoy reading your views of the characters. I laugh out loud most of the time because you actually say what I feel. You’re right…Helena would never giggle..way too frivolous for our CMO…and Arra…can she really be evil…??

There’s a part of me that believes that our Commander couldn’t have got it so wrong…we’ve trusted his judgement for so long that it seems disloyal to not believe in him at this critical moment…surely he will save the day ??

My thoughts on Omega aren’t nearly as ‘involved’ as yours but here goes…

When the book arrived I was a little disappointed that it wasn’t as weighty as BFA…I like a really good, long read…but then I wasn’t expecting a cliffhanger was I?…I wasn’t expecting it to end just like that…OMG…think I’m going to be in shock for a while…

Ok…did I like it? Now I’ve read it and found the ‘cliffhanger’ ending…YES. YES. YES.YES. YES …As I was racing thorough it ( and I really do mean racing because it’s so fast paced that it made me breathless) I couldn’t see how you were going to give us a satisfactory end with so few pages left in which to do it…now my worry has been alleviated…you just didn’t give us an end! It was non-stop action and it just jumped out of the page at me.

It’s such a complex story line. Loved the way everything managed to fit together like the pieces from a jigsaw puzzle. The pieces seemed to fall into place with ease and as I was reading I gave you and everyone at Powys a huge ‘high 5’ because I can’t begin to imagine the amount of work and effort involved to do what you’ve done. To weave together such an intricate and powerful tale.

It was also a lot of FUN ! It was like some wild, crazy reunion and as each ‘long lost’ Alphan was brought back to us the sense of anticipation kept building. To have everyone ’re-united’ together again was a joy and a thrill. Maya meeting the ‘Earth Alphans’, Kano connecting with Susurra, Alan and Eroca…Anna and Luke, I guess I could keep going for awhile here…but I know you know what I mean.

John and Helena…I could have done with more interaction ( you can never give me enough J&H ). I do know you have to stay true to the original way they were portrayed and ‘it’s not a soap opera’ and yet I crave more! Their pillow talk was much appreciated and John facing his death by using Helena as his ‘happy place’…was very poignant. We, all of us, face the end of life alone and it is our life experiences, that define our existence. It was satisfying that John was able to be ‘content’ with his life experience as he contemplated death.

I say ‘contemplate’ death because I just refuse to believe that it is over.

I’ve never been one for roller-coasters…I prefer to keep my feet on the ground and watch other people screaming with the excitement and thrill of the ride…but yesterday I felt like I had been on the world’s largest and most exhilarating roller-coaster ever…and I want more !!!

Procyonstar

[Simon Morris]

It’ll be a good while before I get round to [b]OMEGA[/b], but it is the book I have [i]most[/i] been looking forward to, ever since reading [b]RESURRECTION[/b] (and [b]ETERNITY UNBOUND[/b]). So it’s good to hear that the book has had an impact and is somewhat…controversial!

This is what was intended, if you re-read Mr Latham’s [i]Omega Diary[/i]:

http://www.williamlatham.net/diaryhome.html

Oh – and I’m [i]sure[/i] he has at least another book in him…. 😉

– Simon

[Patricia Sokol]

:unsure: Thanks for changing the message title to include the spoilers. Should’ve thought of that…

-P.

[Phil Merkel]

:cheer:

I am loving this

[Ina Litera]

Quick question– how many pages is this novel suppose to be. According to Lulu is it 196, yet my copy ends on 183?
Hmmmm?

[Mateo Latosa]

Lulu counts the title pages, copyright page, dedication, foreword pages and end pieces. That’s why it is 196. The novel pages are numbered from where the actual novel begins. Hope that helps!

[Ina Litera]

Let’s try this- how many chapters are there suppose to be?

[Mateo Latosa]

twenty.

[Deb]

I have been feeling a little guilty about not offering more complete thoughts about [i]Omega [/i](and the other recent Powys books), especially after my “OMG!” reaction a few posts ago. Other posters have already provided some insightful thoughts and I’m not sure if anyone will find what I think at all useful. But if only to ease my own guilty conscience, here goes…

SPOILERS follow:

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SPOILERS START HERE –

Wow…I really, really enjoyed [i]Omega[/i], and I am looking forward to more. I must say that I was prepared by the previous warnings that I might not like some of the events in the book…so far that hasn’t happened. But the “ending?” [u]That[/u] bordered on cruelty! 🙂

Right off, I found it interesting that the plot unfolds using mostly dialogue and action, and without much accompanying descriptive narration. Perhaps this is Bill Latham’s style; I have not yet read [i]The Forsaken[/i] or [i]Resurrection[/i] – not for lack of trying, but only because I have yet to find a copy of either without having to take out a small loan. Anyhow, although I initially noticed the lack of description, the story still fell smoothly in place for me.

I found the story very fast-paced and engaging. I must say, though, that the MUFs are really starting to piss me off. (I even made up my own definition for the MUF acronym and it’s not very ladylike – so I won’t repeat it here.) The MUFs can make their battle forces appear and disappear at will, and apparently can transport the Alphans anywhere they want, whenever they want. Was it Tony who said they don’t play fair? I do like how NotMike (clever nickname courtesy of PatS) and Enlen are portrayed; they are so shadowy and ambigious that I refuse to guess at who is telling the truth.

Great portrayal of Commander Koenig. He’s tired and jaded after years of harrowing situations and decisions involving life and death of a large group of people. It’s a good thing he is not curled up in the fetal position by now. Helena was quite practical and grim as she viewed her future (or lack of it) with John and with her unborn son.

Being a Y1 kind of gal, I was glad to see Victor back, although I have read [i]BFA [/i]and [i]Shepherd Moon[/i] so I knew that was coming. I didn’t expect him to be the one to save the base from the brell; I half-expected Arra or some other MUF. So that was a pleasant surprise. Also, it was nice to see Paul back again; I just hope he didn’t blow up the universe.

Carter (always my favorite) was mostly spot on. IMHO, this book provides the most authentic portrayal of Carter that I’ve read. I have only one nit about him, and that is the tear he sheds for co-pilot Sara when she is killed. I might be a bit of an unromantic, but Carter [u]was[/u] in the midst of a battle – that’s no place for tears or kisses. I could see him getting angry, maybe punching something instead. Tears might come later, but personally I think not. On the other hand, I liked that he is cautious of Eroca; seems he may have learned something in [i]Survival[/i].

And Sandra – you GO GIRL! I loved how she got irate with the Alphans who seemed to give up near the end. But her pain about “Mike” rings hollow for me. Mike Ryan’s brief role in “Black Sun” did not leave me with the feeling of a very strong bond between the two. Perhaps the other books I have not read revealed more about their relationship that would better explain her pain.

I could not believe it when the plot was building so intensely and yet there were only a few pages left in my right hand. Then I was really mad when it ended as it did, and I completely glossed over the last page…so, yeah, you got me. Ouch.

But in a nutshell: I couldn’t put [i]Omega [/i]down, and I can’t wait to see how everything shakes out. Well done!

I did find a few typos in the book; if you’d like me to point them out, let me know (but I suspect you already know about them).

[Author]

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