| Latest revision |
Your text |
| Line 1: |
Line 1: |
| {{separate continuity|universe=TOS|cont=Berkley books|lcont=:Category:Books}} | | {{separate continuity|tos=y}} |
| {{Book Data | | {{Book Data |
| | image = Bg11.jpg | | | image = Bg11.jpg |
| Line 6: |
Line 6: |
| | bookno= 11 | | | bookno= 11 |
| | episode = | | | episode = |
| | author= [[Robert Thurston]] | | | author= [[Wikipedia:Robert Thurston|Robert Thurston]] |
| | published= December 1985 | | | published= December 1985 |
| | isbn= 0425086186 | | | isbn= 0425086186 |
| Line 12: |
Line 12: |
| | next= [[Die, Chameleon!]] | | | next= [[Die, Chameleon!]] |
| }} | | }} |
| '''''The Nightmare Machine''''' is an original ''Battlestar Galactica'' novel based on the [[Original Series]] that was first published in December 1985. It was written by Robert Thurston who had collaborated with Glen A. Larson on earlier ''Galactica'' novels.
| |
|
| |
|
| ==Plot Synopsis== | | == Overview == |
|
| |
|
| During a battle between Colonial Vipers from ''{{TOS|Galactica}}'' and Cylon Raiders, [[Greenbean]] is separated from the group and captured and brought to a Cylon [[Basestar (TOS)|basestar]]. After considerable torture, Greenbean reveals the location of the [[The Fleet (TOS)|Fleet]] to his captors.
| | This is an entirely original story. |
|
| |
|
| Aboard this same baseship, {{TOS|Baltar}} is being tormented by nightmares, in which he relives his betrayal of humanity and feels great guilt. [[Lucifer]] reveals to him that he is, in fact, testing a machine known as LEADER on Baltar. LEADER is designed to cause intense emotions to arise within people and in so doing, debilitate them. Scheming, Baltar has Greenbean's memories of being captured erased and has the LEADER machine wired into the buttons of Greenbean's uniform.
| | Adama journies into the past through his dreams. This allows us to see, in effect, "Untold Tales From Saga Of A Star World" such as the death of Adama's wife, Ila. |
|
| |
|
| Greenbean is set released aboard his Viper, and returns to ''Galactica''. His colleagues and crewmates are overjoyed at his return, having assumed he was dead, but soon the LEADER machine begins to take affect. People across ''Galactica'' become depressed and feel guilt about their pasts. [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]] feels guilt over his treatment of women in the past, and {{TOS|Adama}} eventually descends into a coma where he relives the destruction of Caprica and the death of his wife [[Ila]].
| | It is unclear if the story occurs after the events of the original series or before "[[War of the Gods]]" (when Baltar is captured by the Colonials). The next novel reveals that it definitely occurs after the events of the Original Series, but then how did Baltar get back with the Cylons again? Did they rescue him after the Colonials dropped him off on some planet? |
|
| |
|
| Apparently unaffected by the machine, [[Sire Uri]] wants to be allowed to settle on the habitable planet of Vaile, and when Adama takes ill as a result of the LEADER affects, Uri decides to try to stage a mutiny in the fleet.
| | == Summary == |
|
| |
|
| [[Specter]], the [[IL-series]] Cylon who had been assigned to [[Attila]], arrives on Baltar's basestar to make and inspection, and flatters Baltar which annoys Lucifer. Specter announces that the [[Imperious Leader]] will be coming to visit, and when Imperious Leader finally arrives, Baltar suggests that he was the inventor the LEADER machine, and not Lucifer. | | [[Greenbean]] is captured by the Cylons in battle. After being tortured, he reveals ''Galactica's'' location. Baltar is having nightmares, feeling guilt about his betrayal of the Colonies. [[Lucifer]] wakes him up one night and reveals he was testing a machine called LEADER that can inflict intense emotions on people. Baltar has Greenbean's memories of being captured erased and has the LEADER machine wired into the buttons of his clothing. Greenbean is set free and returns to the Galactica. Everyone is overjoyed that he has returned from the dead, but soon the LEADER machine is turned on and almost everyone aboard the ship (except [[Boomer]], [[Athena]], and [[Sire Uri]]) become depressed and feel guilt about their pasts. Starbuck and Adama are affected worse than most. Uri wants to be allowed to settle on the habitable planet of Vaile, and when Adama is taken ill, decides to try to stage a mutiny. Adama eventually falls into a coma, and he begins to relive memories of the past such as the destruction of the Colonies. |
|
| |
|
| Back on ''Galactica'', Starbuck is having great difficulty under the influence of the machine, and determines to go after Greenbean, who he has managed to determine is central to what is happening on the ship. Greenbean flees into the lower regions of ''Galactica'' into an area called the Devil's Pit. Starbuck follows and tries to kill Greenbean, but an old man living in the Pit interferes with Starbuck and [[Apollo (TOS)|Apollo]] is able to disarm his fellow warrior. Greenbean starts to recollect what happened to him - that he was captured and that his clothes are somehow causing all the problems. The clothes are then incinerated, and everyone recovers immediately: Adama's coma is ended, and Sire Uri's rebellion is stopped dead in its tracks.
| | [[Spectre]] makes an inspection visit on Baltar's basestar. Spectre flatters Baltar with feint praise, making Lucifer unhappy. It is announced that Imperious Leader will be making a visit soon. When Imperious Leader finally arrives, Baltar takes credit for inventing the machine. Imperious Leader asks Baltar to show a demonstration of LEADER. Starbuck is on the verge of going mad. His craziness drives him to go after Greenbean, whom he somehow realizes must have something to do with what is happening. Greenbean runs away and winds up in a place in the lower regions of the Galactica called the Devil's Pit. Starbuck, with Apollo, Boomer, and Cassiopeia right behind him, follows and tries to kill Greenbean, but an old man living in this unused area interferes and buys enough time for Apollo to disarm him. The mindwipe begins wearing off, and Greenbean starts to remember that he was captured and that the clothes he was wearing are causing this. The clothes are then incinerated, and everyone suddenly recovers (including Adama, who comes out of his coma). Sire Uri's rebellion, which had stormed the bridge, suddenly dissipitates. |
|
| |
|
| The emotions of ''Galactica'' crew improve, and, after debriefing Greenbean, the Colonials are able to estimate where the Cylons are located and determine to launch a preemptive attack. | | The spirits of everyone are now high, and, after debriefing Greenbean, the Colonials are able to estimate where the Cylons must be waiting, and they decide to launch an attack to take them by surprise. Lucifer uses LEADER to inflict guilt on human prisoners. Baltar orders him to increase the power to dangerous levels, and the machine goes out of control. The Imperious Leader is affected and begins to feel waves of unbearable guilt for destroying the Colonies. He jumps off his pedestal and attacks Cylons within his reach, eventually smashing and destroying the LEADER machine. His guilt disappears and he quickly leaves. Spectre goes with him. At that moment, the basestar picks up the approaching vipers, and Baltar launches his raiders. The Vipers devastate the defending raiders and swarm the basestar, scoring several telling hits. Baltar decides to cut his losses and orders the basestar to retreat. There is a celebration afterwards aboard ''Galactica''. |
| | |
| On the basestar, Lucifer is using LEADER to inflict guilt on human prisoners while the Imperious Leader observes. Baltar orders Lucifer to increase the power of the machine and LEADER goes out of control. The Imperious Leader is affected, and starts to feel great pangs of guilt for destroying the Twelve Colonies. Leaping from his pedestal, the Imperious Leader lashes out at the centurions around him, and smashes and destroys the LEADER machine. The influence of the LEADER gone, Imperious Leader's guilt disappears and he quickly departs with Specter in tow.
| |
| | |
| Suddenly, the basestar picks up the approaching vipers, and Baltar launches his raiders. The vipers devastate the defending Cylons and swoop in on the the basestar, inflicting considerable damage. Baltar orders the basestar to retreat. Returning to base, the Colonial warriors celebrate their victory.
| |
| | |
| == Review ==
| |
| | |
| Robert Thurston returns to the Berkley Battlestar universe, and it is truly a breath of fresh air. Best of all, we are given an entirely original story. Thurston writes an exciting tale, finding a way to use Imperious Leader and bring back Spectre, a devilishly fun character from The Young Lords episode who had a lot of potential.
| |
| | |
| I know some fans don't like this story, but I really enjoyed it. I admit that part of the reason I enjoyed the Berkely novels more than most is because I didn't have access to any Galactica fan fiction until the mid 1990s, so these stories were all I had. But there's a lot of exciting things going on here. First, there is Adama's journey into the past through his dreams. This allows us to see, in effect, "Untold Tales From Saga Of A Star World" such as the death of Adama's wife, Ila (although since Adama never witnessed the event, it's hard to believe that the dream could be accurate, but we are given the impression that it is). Then there's Starbuck slowly going crazy from his guilt, Spectre's hilarious manipulation of Baltar, Lucifer's observations about everyone around him, and Imperious Leader driven by an insane, raging guilt due to the LEADER machine. Lucifer continues to be the most interesting character in the Berkely version of ''Galactica'' universe. The battle with the Cylons at the end is done really well, and I feel this is one of the best Berkely books yet.
| |
| | |
| If there is one major flaw with this book, it is that it is unclear if the story occurs after the events of the original series or before War of the Gods (when Baltar is captured by the Colonials). The next novel reveals that it definitely occurs after the events of the original series, but then how did Baltar get back with the Cylons again? Did they rescue him after the Colonials dropped him off on some planet? Thurston should have addressed this.
| |
| | |
| Still, the book manages to succeed. And as good as the story is, Thurston would outdo himself with the very next novel.
| |
|
| |
|
| == Notes == | | == Notes == |
| Line 52: |
Line 37: |
| * Adama is very reluctant to let any of the Colonials leave the fleet to settle on any of the habitable planets they pass because the fleet is badly understaffed as it is. | | * Adama is very reluctant to let any of the Colonials leave the fleet to settle on any of the habitable planets they pass because the fleet is badly understaffed as it is. |
|
| |
|
| * A Cylon squadron is often called a wall because of the tight way its raiders fly together, looking at times like a solid wall. | | * A Cylon squadron is often called a wall because of the tight way its raiders fly together, looking at times like a solid wall. |
|
| |
|
| | == See Also == |
|
| |
|
| {{DEFAULTSORT:Nightmare Machine, The}}
| | * Excerpts taken from Sheba's Galaxy. For the full review go [http://www.blast.net/hart/NightmareMachineReview.htm here]. |
|
| |
|
| [[Category:A to Z]]
| | [[Category:Books|Nightmare Machine]] |
| [[Category:Books]] | |
| {{indicator|TOS}}[[Category:TOS]]
| |
