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[b]mateo wrote:[/b]
[quote]Here’s another example: What is up with the buttons on Koenig’s commlock? They’re all scrunched up in one corner in lots of Year One episodes. How did no one see this?[/quote]
Why is Helena’s turtle neck different and change color near the end of the series? Why do she and Koenig just have two (visible) stripes on their uniforms and not three? Why did they have professional glaziers available to install new windows in the “The Last Sunset?” Why would such things even be in stock and why didn’t they blow out when the atmosphere was “taken back”? Why didn’t Helena change her dress in “One Moment of Humanity” – and why was she so scantily clad and JK in a turtleneck and jacket on the planet? Why wasn’t she leaning over a console wringing her hands during “Devil’s Planet”? (OK – you addressed that one.) Why did that space warp thingy act as a Tom Tom GPS unit in “Devil’s Planet”? Why could Maya go from one form to another without her normal intermediate state sometimes, but not others? Why not change into a bug in “The Rules of Luton” instead of being crushed in a cage as a kestrel? How could she and Koenig cross through a lake in that episode and emerge dry? Why didn’t she change into a horse and they gallop off into the sunset? Why does Tony think that beer without bubbles is good? Why does the guy in “The Last Enemy” talk with his eyes closed? Was there ever a space mission that went off without a hitch? The list of failures is impressive. Why are the women on Ultima Thule so attractive and hanging on Carter likes he’s some Adonis (how horribly sexist and insulting)? How did Morrow get hurt immediately preceding “The Infernal Machine”?
Who does the laundry and cleans the bathrooms? I’m just sayin’ … :S
As the good doctor might say (and has said) – “Take it easy..take it easy.”
I don’t think realistically we, as readers, expect these things to be answered – they have a lot more to do with either the need to advance a story forward, or an issue at Pinewood. I think at this point we understand that – enough of us have spent time at the Catacombs to be aware of all these things. Nor do I think Powys – as writers and publishers – have a duty to explain everything. Some things just are; I get that. Other things are intriguing and suggest there [b]may [/b]be something to expand upon. But, if not, OK; I get that, too. The original 48 are essentially short stories. Like Cricket, I think these issues could be quickly addressed – if y’all have the time and inclination.
Maybe we fans could come off as needy. This is why a lifeguard approaches a drowning victim from behind – so the drowning person does not grab on to his rescuer and drag them both down. But, our neediness is born from our enthusiasm.
Thanks for Y3, guys (and gal). 🙂
(Wardrobe malfunction..hee hee. Maybe he’s colorblind and kept grabbing his wife’s uniform. Perhaps we should be thankful he was not a cross-dresser as well; he looks like he probably has knobby knees.)
Well, Youppi, you certainly beat my time for reading those books. Wow.
It never occurred to me to reply to the new poll announcements – I thought they were FYI only.
Those six-word novels/statements seem to be all the rage, so: What do I like about Y3? I like it because it exists.
Here’s the thing – assuming we all, or nearly all, started watching S19 in Year 1, [i]that [/i]is what hooked us. And we all liked it for different reasons, and we all had our favorite episodes based on what we liked. For reasons that have been discussed [i]ad nauseum[/i], things changed. Some for the better, some because of economics, blah…blah…blah. BUT, the basic premise was still there and that is what kept most of us – the sense of adventure, the sense of wonder, the sense of people who would be approximately our age in 1999 being thrown into an impossible situation. We could grasp it.
As loyal fans, we felt cheated, because these changes were made for no explained reason. I remember being so confused, but there was enough I still enjoyed so I scoured TV Guide in the fall of 1977 waiting for the Y3 premiere that never came. Fast-forward to 1993 and my introduction to the World Wide Web, and suddenly discovering that there were other people in the world who remembered and actually enjoyed this show. I thought my father and I were the only ones! But, despite some excellent fanfic, there was nothing official, until [i][b]Message from Moonbase Alpha [/b][/i], and so no real sense of closure.
What have Powys and Y3 done for me? They have distilled the best of both worlds. They have kept the essence of what more that 95% of us like (judging by current poll results). They have been blended in what one may say requires a certain amount of suspension of disbelief – but don’t most of us do that anyway, out of necessity? So, no problem. Plus, my eternally 39-year old brain looks at things differently than my 12-year old brain did (my own personal time warp – I stopped aging at 39…). I have lived and had a career and seen corporate politics and known obnoxious people that I had to deal with anyway, etc. So, I have a different appreciation for situations, people, and so on. The rich special effects of Y1 allowed me to see the battles in [u]Born For Adversity[/u]. The in-depth characters of Y2 allowed me to appreciate the stories in [u]Shepherd Moon[/u]. The changes between Y1 and Y2 allowed me to enjoy [u]The Forsaken[/u] and [u]Survival[/u]. The promise of the short films [b][i]Space:Eternal[/i][/b] and [b][i]Message from Moonbase Alpha[/i][/b] made me long for the Alphans to indeed find a home.
It seems to me that the [i]change [/i]phase has ended. I mean – what’s left? Well, the only thing left is a planetfall, but with MfMA being canon, that is probably in the future offerings. [i](Side question – how much of MfMA is canon? Does it include Johnny Byrne’s premise for a relaunch?) [/i]
What would I like to see? I’ve mentioned this in other posts, but in summary – address things that have been hinted at: the incident between [i]The Metamorph[/i] and [i]The Exiles[/i] that makes Koenig accept and rely on Maya and her abilities (referenced in the beginning of [i]The Exiles[/i] in the Y2 Omnibus); how did Tony and Helena recognize the symbol on the stasis chamber Pasc and Etrec were in?; how did they recognize the plague warning coming from Sahala’s ship?; what – if anything – happened between [i]The Dorcon’s [/i]and [u]Born for Adversity[/u]? ( I think there is a reference in [u]BfA [/u]to it being several years since [i]The Dorcons[/i]); what happened in that very dangerous stretch of space the Korth commander mentioned?
Short stories…Novellas…Novels…I don’t care. It’s like pizza – it’s all good.
I think perhaps traffic is down at this site because we are in a lull between releases. I’d really encourage anyone who read this far to add his or her own comments to the thread. Unlike 30-odd years ago, this is an opportunity for our voices to be heard! Don’t let silence suggest apathy.
-Pat.
[b]cricket wrote:[/b]
[quote][b]Procyonstar wrote:[/b]
[quote]
‘To everything that might have been…To everything that was…To everything that might yet be!'[/i]It sums up Space 1999 and Powys and all they stand for :)[/quote]
Yes, this would be perfect.[/quote]
Absitively. And what to toast with? Sixty-year old brandy, of course!
-Pat.
[b]mateo wrote:[/b]
[quote]Barry Morse made the book his own. He DID NOT try to imitate Peter Bowles or even Martin Landau. He interpreted the book in his own way, and ACTED out dialogue, male and female characters alike.Mateo[/quote]
Oh, dear, I did not mean to imply otherwise. I did mean I am interested to hear if he acted the lines and read the prose with the tone that I “hear” as I read, or if I missed or misinterpreted something by bringing my own preconceptions to the story. It is exactly those things which make great actors great (especially voice actors) – they are able to convey with voice what they feel or mean, as opposed to having to be knocked over the head with explanations. I have no doubt that hearing Mr. Morse’s reading will only make the story richer. Besides, he’s got a great, silken voice. Easy to listen to.
-P.
OK – you got me there! :laugh: It’s just that, with CDs, one cannot “rewind”, as one would reread a passage, but I suppose with WMP, I can. (I’m one of those who also likes a bookstore to smell like books, not coffee – a related affliction…Blibliophilia, I guess you could call it.)
I am actually looking forward to hearing if Mr. Morse voices the characters the same way as I as have while reading. Nuance is so important – and the reason people can get into so much trouble with emails or forum postings. You can’t hear sarcasm or mirth or a gentle tone when reading; an innocent, well-meaning comment can come off as a nasty swipe. Thank goodness for emoticons. Telepathy, however, would come in handy.
I suppose it is also why every reader comes away with a different perspective on events or conversations in a story. And THAT is why discussions such as here are enlightening. But, I digress.
-P.
David –
Your reviews are always so wonderfully crafted and enjoyable to read. I suppose I shall have to read [u]Resurrection [/u][i]yet again [/i]to make any reply worthy. There is always a tidbit or two to pick up upon re-reading.
Just wondering – did you read [u]Resurrection [/u]as a stand-alone, or as part of [u]Eternity Unbound[/u]?
Good to see you on this forum!
-Pat.
Powys –
You may have already addressed this, but can the audiobook be ripped to transfer to a “Portable Media Device”? Also, on the PayPal page, after having paid, the “Return to Powys” button sends us to the old cerebral massage webpage. Not sure if you want to contact PayPal about that or not. It doesn’t take much brainpower to navigate back here, but I just thought I’d mention it.
.–. .- –
[b]mateo wrote:[/b]
[quote]This post is 100% spoilers![spoiler][quote]If you think about it, Maya’s metamorphic abilities was overused in Year Two. It seemed like situations and entire episodes were dreamed up just to have an excuse for another transformation. [/quote]
This has always been my #1 complaint about the character. (As I dodge any thrown rotten tomatoes, I [b]do [/b]have complaints #2 & #3, and so forth, but this was always primary. Actually, my #2 has also been addressed in BfA to some extent as well.) Year 1 was often about the strength of the human spirit in overcoming their struggles, and in having to deal with the consequences of their choices. Heck, just being in space under those circumstances was a struggle, and they managed to hold on and even thrive to some extent. Marek even notes it – it may be [b]humanity’s[/b] universe, but it’s not [b]theirs [/b]- they weren’t prepared for it. Nevertheless, they made it because of their tenacity, for the most part.
No character should ever be infallible or omniscient. That’s just not life. Some may be more heroic, or more intuitive, or have some deep scars that need healing, but that is what makes an ensemble most enjoyable: the whole being greater than the sum of the parts. [/spoiler][/quote]
By the way, I am re-reading [u]BfA [/u], taking time to hear the words instead of just reading them. Lore is better the second time around!
-Pat.
I’m not sure [i]hate [/i]is really the right word for any of them. Yasko, BtB and DR all just make me want to squirm when they are on-screen. Simmonds, however – I LOVE. He reminds me so much of bosses I’ve had – stepping on people all the way up the political ladder. I am confident Powys could enlist one of their wonderful writers to come up with a short story or more concerning his whereabouts between Breakaway and Earthbound. He must have been a tremendous irritant during staff meetings – and you [u]know [/u]he would have insisted on attending.
-Pat.
[b]MLP* wrote:[/b]
[spoiler][quote]OK, I finished reading Omega / Alpha.
…the “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to continuity actually reduces the book to the level of “fan fiction” as it just feels like a fan trying to cram everything they ever liked about the show into one book.[/quote]
I believe The Powys That Be knew they had to tread very lightly to avoid this. Really, though, these books do only tie in fewer than half a dozen episodes, and fortunately they are some of the better known ones – the ones that a majority of fans will remember fondly. Also, Omega/Alpha were about tying up loose ends, and to do that, you’ve got to gather the ends together. Where the story proceeds from here will determine how successfully they’ve accomplished their goal of addressing things that fans have been talking about for 30-odd years. -PTS [/spoiler]
[b]He also wrote:[/b]
[spoiler]
[quote]…the offspring of the Alphans coming into conflict with their parents would have made the basis for a terrific episode or novel. As just one sub-plot in a novel which has a ton of other things going on it just didn’t leave room do the idea justice…. [/quote]
For me, their presence was a plot device as much as a sub-plot. NotMike was using two typical tactics – isolate the head, and divide and conquer:
What is/was/is Victor’s role on Alpha? A mentor to Koenig, as well as a father figure. What’s the first thing he does upon his return? Saves their hides with his ingenuity. Victor had been propagandized by NotMike, and NotMike believed that Koenig would believe anything Victor told him. Unfortunately, Victor is also very astute, and eventually saw through NotMike.
What is Helena’s role on Alpha w/ respect to JK? She comforts him, listens to him (though not as much as she ought, perhaps), and is a sounding board. Then, pregnancy hormones start rewiring her brain, PseudoRobert shows up, and she – irrationally, perhaps – fears losing him and sees JK as the vehicle through which he is lost. Before long, they can’t even be in the same space without arguing, he gets in something of a mood, and that – NotMike hopes – clouds his decision making.So, Victor’s presence and the future Alphans’ presence are thrown in the mix as a way to knock out two legs of the tripod. -PTS [/spoiler]
[b]He continued:[/b]
[spoiler][quote]
To have these “future” Alphans and the “alternate Earth” Alphans in the same novel felt like overkill. [/quote]As much as I enjoyed Omega/Alpha, I think I would have to agree about the Another Time, Another Place Alphans. I understand why they were there (humans – Earth – device – MoonMUFs), but aside from a mechanism for (re)uniting Carter and Ariana, and perhaps Koenig and Cellini, for me this was the weakest and (sorry) least interesting part. Again, if/how Powys uses these characters in the future will determine the success of their being around. Koenig needs a pal, but, as I recall, Helena considered Cellini an irritant and encumbrance in her relationship w/ JK. (Please though, not too much more of that, OK?) Maybe that’s over with, however, since the dragons were real, and not just windmills. And Carter gets a girl (Eroca) for more than 52 minutes. That’s nice. – PTS
[/spoiler][b]And finally:[/b]
[spoiler][quote]I know Powys are looking to emulate the style of the Doctor Who New Adventures …[though]… the difference in approach is that the New Adventures had ambitions to cross over into a more mainstream … sci fi audience. Here Powys seemed to be aiming soley at a small but highly dedicated bunch of Space : 1999 fans.
For future novels my preference would be for well written, standalone sci-fi novels which take the Alphan characters forward into new and fresh adventures rather than harking back to stories from the past. [/quote]
Any Doctor Who novels – and I have not read any, though I should – have the advantage of a current TV series, and one that is larger, probably, than Space:1999 ever was. Powys was hatched as a way to tie up all those loose ends and to take the Alphans beyond The Dorcons – but this is a show that ended almost 35 years ago – so it sort of is a niche audience.
For future novels my preference would be for well written, standalone sci-fi novels which take the Alphan characters forward into new and fresh adventures rather than harking back to stories from the past.
Born for Adversity was pretty much a stand-alone, although you did have to know about Dorzak. Now that these things gelled into place and a certain continuity established, I guess one could say the fun can begin. Do you consider maintaining continuity and building on their experiences as harkening back? (This is not meant to be a snarky question.) Though not directly depending on the Great Forty-eight, I’d like to explore things like how they knew the ship in “Dorzak” was transmitting the universal plague signal, for example, as well as moving forward. -PTS
[/SPOILER]
I enjoyed reading your perspective. Discussion is good! 🙂
-Pat.
Ah…was this the session held on Friday? I remember one where Martin Willey was there, but because we hadn’t introduced ourselves, nobody knew it was him until he had expounded on something technical for several minutes… :laugh:
I was only there that one day – if this is right the session, I’ll go dig through my boxes of things to see if I kept the handout. (My Main Mission: 2000 coffee mug still serves nicely as a pencil holder next to my monitor 🙂 )
-Pat.
Another [spoiler]Did the Powys cabal specifically make a point of JK’s middle name being emphasized in BfA, so we would all be reminded of it, and assume Robert Koenig was named after him for 150+ pages in [u]Alpha[/u]?[/spoiler] question about names. Really – don’t read it until you finish Omega. It’ll ruin one of the WHAT?!?!? bits towards the end.
-Pat.
