- This topic has 29 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 6 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I posted in the Omega thread that I found that novel quite hard to follow due to all the continuity references to episodes and previous novels. Alpha has just arrived and it looks like I am in for more of the same. :blink:
So I thought maybe it would be a good idea to have a “suggested viewing” list of episodes that more casual fans can refresh themselves on before reading these books ?
So far I’ve come up with
Black Sun,
Dragon’s Domain and
The Testament of Arkadia.I’m guessing Another Time, Another Place as well ?
I’ve found Ken Scott’s episode guide at Space1999.net useful in piecing this together but any suggestions on other episodes I’ve missed gratefully received ! 😉
The books do build on one another, so in addition to the above mentioned episodes there are some alien species, characters and events from SURVIVAL referenced or further developed in OMEGA.
It’s been six or seven years since I read SURVIVAL, but I’m finding that my lack of recall on specifics isn’t affecting my enjoyment of OMEGA.
I think the time has come to change our perception of Space: 1999 as a series–particularly as a book series. I would suggest that it is now more akin to Marion Zimmer Bradley’s Darkover novels. Not in content, but in structure.
MZB published her Darkover novels out of order, but they were all mutually consistent. When something was “overwritten” and she determined that the new idea was better than her old conception, she went back and made changes to the older books to MAKE them consistent. Some early books were completely rewritten from scratch.
She slowly crafted a multi-generational story (indeed her saga, if you will, crossed millennia–as does Dune). Space: 1999 is the story of the Alphans, what happens 500 years down the line would not be the same. But I think the comparison is valid nevertheless.
Eventually, there will be ONE epic tale (with auxiliary tales of histories and futures of characters) comprising Year One, Year Two, Message from Moonbase Alpha and all the Powys novels and major stories.
I think, beyond the thoughts and memories that would occur to the characters naturally, it would be a mistake to reiterate and explain continuity references to get people up to speed. The books are there, as are the episodes. We all love the show. The Powys books just may make you go back and read a few passages again, or watch a few episodes, or read the transcripts on Martin’s site. But that’s the fun of it.
And in the case of Omega and Alpha, you may see things with new perspectives–in fact, I guarantee it.
I would love to hear people’s thoughts when, after reading Omega and Alpha, they go back and watch the key episodes mentioned above.
My thoughts on some of the mentioned episodes…
[spoiler]Life has been very busy these last few weeks, so my ‘Space1999 time’ has been limited to gym sessions and a snatched half hour in the evening before bed.
In the gym this week I watched Black Sun, Dragons Domain and Testament of Arkadia again for the first time since reading the new books. Mateo you are so right
[quote]The Powys books just may make you go back and read a few passages again, or watch a few episodes, or read the transcripts on Martin’s site. But that’s the fun of it.
And in the case of Omega and Alpha, you may see things with new perspectives–in fact, I guarantee it.[/quote]
It’s weird. :blink: After reading the latest books, the episodes themselves seem to make so much more sense.
In [b]Black Sun[/b], John and Victors experience has always been one of the most significant moments of Space1999 as far as I’m concerned. They are resigned to their fate, calmly awaiting death AND in that moment the real essence of life is revealed to them. It is their acceptance of death as a ‘life-experience’ that allows them to reach the understanding that ultimately ‘we are all one…’
[i]Everything is everything else…[/i]
It is at this point that they themselves truly become part of the Universe, which they are eventually going to play such a vital role in saving.
As I watched the episode this week I imagined the ‘friend’ not to be – just simply God – but a God with name – Adantia.
Her words to JK in [b]Black Sun[/b], [i]‘I have a thought…but you are never here to hear it!’[/i] seemed to tie in with the end of [u][b]Alpha[/b][/u] where they are again ‘talking’.
JK [i]‘I…you don’t know how much I wish we could keep talking.’[/i]
Adantia [i]‘You keep talking. If there’s a way I’ll keep listening.’[/i]
The mystery of Mike Ryan’s death in the [b]Black Sun[/b], while everyone else was able to survive the encounter now becomes significant. He was taken by the other side to eventually be used by NotMike against Alpha! Fiendishly clever 👿
In [b]Testament of Arkadia [/b]when Luke and Anna have their – experience – in the cave, again more pieces fall into place or rather you make them connect together flawlessly.
[i]‘A force … an indefinable intelligence did exist on the planet …and Luke and Anna were chosen as the agents of its will’[/i]
I know it sounds strange but it’s like the original episodes were written in the knowledge that Powys would come along and fill in the gaps.
I was also impressed by how big a part [u][b]Shepherd Moon[/b][/u] played in scene setting. Rather than being ‘just’ a collection of random stories, which was how I originally saw it, I now appreciate that there was NOTHING random about its compilation. It plays an important part in setting the scene for [b][u]BFA [/u][/b]and [b][u]Omega/Alpha [/u]. [/b]The whole project has obviously been incredibly well planned and I am only now starting to comprehend just how much effort has gone into the whole thing.
You didn’t just say – [i]‘oh you want to write about JK and Tony Cellini – ok, go on then’[/i] or [i]‘yes, ok incorporate Bergman’s force field into a story’ [/i]or [i]‘Yes…that’s a good idea, bring back the monsters…oh and while you’re at it bring back Victor.’[/i]
No,no,no…pretty much everything you gave us in SM was a tiny glimpse into the new world of Space1999.
With these new books you guys at [b]POWYS[/b] have really messed with my head AND I’m still trying to decide whether it’s a good thing or a bad thing :unsure: My life used to be so simple. I used to be quite happy going into ‘my space1999 world’ as my husband so eloquently describes it! Losing myself with the stories and characters and not really thinking too hard about any of it! Not anymore! I feel like I’ve gone back to school and I’m studying for an exam! I’m watching the episodes and making notes, I’ve got sticky tabs and scribbles everywhere. Book marks on hundreds of different pages throughout maybe eight different books, and Word documents in varying stages of completion…
and…I blame you and thank you for making it happen 😆
Procyonstar[/spoiler]
That post alone makes all the effort worth it. It was a decision we made early on to not JUST have a series of stand-alone novels (though there have been and will be more), but to have a series of books (even the stand-alones) that contribute to a larger “meta-story” along the lines that Johnny and Chris set up. It is an “origin” tale–and an epic one at that–with the Alphans thrown out into a mysterious and often threatening universe, wherein they try to survive, encounter alien races and cultures, uncover and understand the tracks and machinations of beings akin to gods, and all the time retain their basic humanity and values.
It other hands, who knows what the books would be like? As we say in Spanish, “I am not trying to put cream on my tacos.” But you have to wonder.
Yes, we are following the example set by the editors and authors of the Virgin Doctor Who New Adventures–and Big Finish (many of the same people). I think they did (do) a great job. We aspire to do for Space: 1999 what they’ve done for Doctor Who.
Though, of course, Space: 1999 is NOT Doctor Who. It has its own precepts and possibilities.
I’d also suggest re-watching [i]Message from Moonbase Alpha[/i] after reading [u]Omega/Alpha[/u]. A lot of what Sandra says takes on new and even deeper meaning.
It’s a good thing that the Alphans destroyed the Guardian of Piri or you might have had to re-watch that as well… 😉
So, I was watching “Black Sun” last evening, and I started thinking [spoiler] we know the MUFs hopped a ride when the Alphans went through the black sun/hole, but did it say in either [u]Omega [/u]or [u]Alpha [/u]that it was they who protected the Alphans? If so, what was the motivation for keeping the Eagle safe, or bringing it along (it will be interesting to see which way Powys goes with this; the novelization and the episode are 180 degrees different in how the Eagle came through).
What I’m wondering is…why would BadMike bring the Eagle through? Helena led the charge against Koenig in “Collision Course”, and Sandra was certainly unsupportive of the whole bang into the planet idea. On the other hand, Alan was like the back-up man for JK, so why would GoodMike want to see him saved? Why would GoodMike want to see the moon preserved over-all? Was it another struggle – one protected the moon, one protected the Eagle?[/spoiler]
Any ideas about this, or if can anyone point me in the right direction? (No pun intended. OK – Maybe a little one.)
Also, can anyone tell me if it is worth investing in a region-free DVD player and to pick up the Network release of the two seasons? Is the picture/audio quality that much better?
Thanks,
Pat.[b]PatS wrote:[/b]
[quote]Also, can anyone tell me if it is worth investing in a region-free DVD player and to pick up the Network release of the two seasons? Is the picture/audio quality that much better? [/quote]Yes, to both. It [i]is[/i] well worth investing in a region free DVD player, and the quality IS that much better, although I am only aware of season one being redone and available by Network.
I haven’t got round to upgrading from the Region 2 Carlton set to the Network one. I saw an episode screened at a Fanderson convention a few years back though and the picture quality was terrific.
There have been rumours for a while of Network putting out a Blu Ray edition although nothing offiicial has been announced.
As an aside, I believe when the show was remastered they also produced a widescreen version which I guess might be used for future TV screenings ?
[spoiler]As a general rule — if it helps the Alphans, it’s BadMike, if it hurts the Alphans, it’s GoodMike. As a further branch, however, if you don’t have Helena, you don’t have Robert — BadMike’s all about having Robert around. However, never forget the Space Brain was NOT addressed in Omega/Alpha — it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that there’s something else out there messing with everything and everyone…including the MUFs.[/spoiler]
To anyone in North America who doesn’t have the Network release all I can say is that you are missing out big time. When I got my Network release the quality difference was as good as going from VHS to DVD. The picture source is from the original film stock and actually has more of each frame in view, it is like the previous DVD releases were zoomed in slightly. Also the sound is in 5.1 surround which gives a much better effect, especially with that oh-so-special Barry Gray music. 🙂
I recently tried an experiment where I watched the Network release zoomed on my wide screen TV to remove the “pillar boxed” side bars, it’s true I lost some of the top and bottom of the picture but, for all but a few scenes the effect was that of a perfectly framed wide screen picture. The added picture quality also helped as there was no appreciable grainyness that can be evident when using the zoom function on some DVDs.
If you are a ‘true fan” as I guess most of us are (or we wouldn’t be here) please invest in the Network release and when you do drop them a line about season two, then they might pull their collective finger out and release it too. 😉What Zack didn’t mention–and this is what really excited me when I got mine–is that the Network release has an ISOLATED SCORE! Yes, you can listen to the music by itself while watching the episodes. This gives you access to music used in the show but not on any soundtrack CDs! Sweet!
Well, it took very little prodding and thus I ordered Y1 from Amazon.uk, and a multi-region (or regionless, I don’t know) upconverting DVD player, for not so bad a price. Y2 is well over $150, so that’s gonna hafta wait.
Also:
[b]blatham wrote:[/b]
[quote][spoiler]As a general rule — if it helps the Alphans, it’s BadMike, if it hurts the Alphans, it’s GoodMike. As a further branch, however, if you don’t have Helena, you don’t have Robert — BadMike’s all about having Robert around. However, never forget the Space Brain was NOT addressed in Omega/Alpha — it’s not beyond the realm of possibility that there’s something else out there messing with everything and everyone…including the MUFs.[/spoiler][/quote]Yes, although [spoiler]if Helena had been pulled apart into little mesons and so forth, there would have been no need for Robert, because his primary role was to play with her head.
A more far-reaching implication, as i see it, is when, as AltHelena is picking up after AltRobert, asking him to take his dishes to the sink, and so forth, and telling him that the universe does not revolve around him, he would be able to truthfully reply that [b]that [/b]one did.[/spoiler] (she responds to the author who gave us these points to ponder in the first place…)
And, yes, Mateo, if you’re reading this, I have said that, thanks so much. More recently than I’d care to admit, considering how bright the full moon was this month. :side:
P.
edit – [spoiler]OK – perhaps not his primary role, but right up there. Is there 100% synchronicity between the universes? Lilliana existed despite Bob Matthias’ death. RK could have represented what [b]might [/b]have been, had she not been on the survival ship. Then, we could throw guilt into the pot and let that fester, too. Sorry is this is too speculative-ish. I was just thinking, you know, about everything that might have been. [/spoiler]
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.