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| {{Book Data | | {{Book Data |
| | image = The Tombs Of Kobol - Glen A. Larson & Robert Thurston Cover.jpg | | | image = Bg03.jpg |
| | title= The Tombs of Kobol | | | title= The Tombs of Kobol |
| | series= Berkley Books | | | series= Berkley Books |
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| '''''The Tombs of Kobol''''' is a [[novelization]] of the "[[Lost Planet of the Gods]]" episodes from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]]. | | '''''The Tombs of Kobol''''' is a [[novelization]] of the "[[Lost Planet of the Gods]]" episodes from the [[Battlestar Galactica (TOS)|Original Series]]. |
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| Originally published in September 1979, months after the Original Series' cancellation, the book was one of a few reprinted on January 28, 2003 by the now-defunct iBooks, Inc.
| | The book was reprinted on January 28, 2003 by iBooks, Inc. |
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| == Plot == | | == Plot == |
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| === Chapter One === | | === Chapter One === |
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| After [[Serina (alternate)|Serina]]'s death on {{TOS|Kobol}}, {{alt|Apollo|TOS}} sits in their darkened quarters with Serina's portable recorder in his lap. He rummages through the quarters, finding a handful of recording crystals. He begins to play them. The first crystal he plays is of a conversation between Serina and [[Cassiopeia]], discussing Serina's past as a premier reporter on her native homeworld of [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]] and her engagement to Apollo. | | After [[Serina]]'s death on [[Kobol (TOS)|Kobol]], [[Apollo (TOS)|Apollo]] sits in their darkened quarters with Serina's portable recorder in his lap. He rummages through the quarters, finding a handful of recording crystals. He begins to play them. The first crystal he plays is of a conversation between Serina and [[Cassiopeia]], discussing Serina's past as a premier reporter on her native homeworld of [[Caprica (TOS)|Caprica]] and her engagement to Apollo. |
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| At Cassiopeia's urging, she tells the story of how Apollo was essentially forced by {{TOS|Adama}} and others to announce his desire to marry her over a dinner. She tells the story up to the point where {{TOS|Athena}} smiles at [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]], resulting in Starbuck's hasty departure from the dinner. The recording ends when a battle alert is issued. | | At Cassiopeia's urging, she tells the story of how Apollo was essentially forced by [[Adama (TOS)|Adama]] and others to announce his desire to marry her over a dinner. She tells the story up to the point where [[Athena (TOS)|Athena]] smiles at [[Starbuck (TOS)|Starbuck]], resulting in Starbuck's hasty departure from the dinner. The recording ends when a battle alert is issued. |
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| Apollo is left to decide whether or not to play the other crystals.<ref>''Ibid.,'' 13-21.</ref> | | Apollo is left to decide whether or not to play the other crystals.<ref>''Ibid.,'' 13-21.</ref> |
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| == Notes == | | == Notes == |
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| * There are several scenes in which a grieving Apollo is listening to some recordings that Serina made before she died.
| | === Colonials === |
| * {{TOS|Boxey}} is noted as being orphaned from ''both'' biological parents, with [[Serina]] and [[Apollo (TOS)|Apollo]] being his adoptive parents. In the series, Serina is Boxey's biological mother. | | |
| | * [[Boxey (TOS)|Boxey]] is noted as being orphaned from ''both'' biological parents, with [[Serina]] and [[Apollo (TOS)|Apollo]] being his adoptive parents. In the series, Serina is Boxey's biological mother. |
| * Before the Cylon attack, pilots near experiencing combat fatigue would be given furlough to a leisure resort.<ref>''Ibid.,'' 23.</ref> | | * Before the Cylon attack, pilots near experiencing combat fatigue would be given furlough to a leisure resort.<ref>''Ibid.,'' 23.</ref> |
| * Unlike his [[Lucifer|canonical originator]], [[Lucifer (alternate)|Lucifer]] is not a Cylon, but an "ambulatory cybernetic sentience" created by the Cylons. Essentially, Lucifer is a computer whose motion is not bipedaled but based on rolling via ball bearings. The on-screen depiction has Lucifer walking via bipedaled locomotion. | | |
| * With Lucifer, Robert Thurston manages to take what was a minor, one-dimensional character in the TV series and turn him into an interesting, complex being. Lucifer shines in almost every Berkely novel he appears in. In many ways Lucifer becomes the most interesting character in the BG universe (at least in the Berkley version). Lucifer's scenes are among the most enjoyable parts of any of the Berkley novels.
| | === Cylons === |
| * In the theatrical version of [[Saga of a Star World|the pilot]], Baltar is beheaded by a sword in front of the Imperious Leader. In the televised version, Baltar is spared for "public execution," suggesting that he was returned to [[Cylon]]. | | |
| | * Unlike his [[Lucifer|canonical originator]], [[Lucifer (alternate)|Lucifer]] is not a Cylon, but an "ambulatory cybernetic sentience" created by the Cylons. Essentially, Lucifer is a computer whose motion is not bipedaled but based on rolling via ball bearings. The on-screen depiction has Lucifer walking via bipedaled locomotion. |
| | * In the theatrical version of [[Saga of a Star World|the pilot]], Baltar is beheaded by a sword in front of the Imperious Leader. In the televised version, Baltar is spared for "public execution", suggesting that he was returned to [[Cylon]]. |
| * Cylon machines have a deeply-programmed loyalty to the Cylon Empire, thus making betrayal impossible. For comparison, the [[Centurion (RDM)|Centurion]]s of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] were also programmed by the [[humanoid Cylons]] to be devoutly loyal in order to prevent an uprising. | | * Cylon machines have a deeply-programmed loyalty to the Cylon Empire, thus making betrayal impossible. For comparison, the [[Centurion (RDM)|Centurion]]s of the [[Battlestar Galactica (RDM)|Re-imagined Series]] were also programmed by the [[humanoid Cylons]] to be devoutly loyal in order to prevent an uprising. |
| * {{TOS|Viper}} in prime condition are capable of identifying viruses and other microbes.<ref>''Ibid.'', 23-4.</ref> Vipers in the series have no such ability, despite being able to analyze a ship's lifeform readings as well as technical attributes of the scanned ship.
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| * Lucifer saves Baltar from being executed. Lucifer is not considered to be a Cylon because he is a machine, and the Cylons in the novel are organic underneath their armor. Lucifer houses a soul inside his left shoulder which he created. He is constantly able to reprogram and improve himself. Lucifer hides Baltar away for awhile and forces him to exercise and get into shape. Baltar finds the regimen to be torture. When Imperious Leader gives Baltar a base star to command, he orders Lucifer to be programmed to obey Baltar no matter what. Lucifer is upset about this and quickly regrets saving Baltar's life.
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| * All Cylons, including Lucifer, have a secret name that they never reveal.
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| * When humans are executed, the Cylons place their heads in the chopping block face-up, not face-down.
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| * Apollo proposes to Serina at the dinner after being pushed by the others. In the episode, Apollo and Serina had already made the decision to wed.
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| * Boomer and Jolly never bother to wear gloves on the asteroid, and the result is that their hands get wet. As it turns out, even with the gloves they still would have caught the disease.
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| * It is revealed that the Sentries (Council security guards) did not exist before the Holocaust; the new council created them. The Sentries consist of men who don't qualify to be Colonial warriors, and the jealousy they feel helps explain why they always cause so much trouble for the warriors.
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| * Serina reveals that she traveled throughout the Colonies as a journalist and was offered numerous awards. She turned them all down, apparently so she would not feel obligated to be biased towards the people who awarded her.
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| * Serina has many bad dreams about being killed by a Cylon ever since starting her cadet training, but she never tells Apollo.
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| * Adama also tries to talk Serina out of being a cadet, but she refuses.
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| * Cassiopea's career as a socialiator ended because the fleet outlawed most luxury occupations because there were so many other jobs needed to survive in a rag-tag fleet. It is revealed that some of the songs a socialator sang were composed to deal with specific emotional problems. At one point, Cassiopea sings to Starbuck a song called "The Death That Is No Death, The Life That Is No Life" shortly after the pilots fall ill.
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| * One of the female cadets named Gemi has a huge crush on Starbuck. She does everything she can to get his attention, but he never really notices her. Gemi is killed in the space battle above Kobol.
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| * During the viper simulation training, instead of Athena shooting down Starbuck, Brie shoots Dietra.
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| * The cadets have a slight advantage over the Cylons at first because they do not fly in typical flight patterns which throws the Cylons off.
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| * Kobol was a world of peace. According to the Book of the Word, power struggles over land and wealth were conducted without treachery or combat.
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| * Lucifer enjoys Starbuck's company on the Cylon basestar, preferring him greatly over Baltar. Starbuck teaches Lucifer how to play pyramid and beats him. Lucifer is baffled by the concept of "luck" as Starbuck describes it.
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| * Starbuck tells Lucifer that he can't act on calculation, that most of his heroic feats were performed on impulse. Later, this inspires Lucifer to act on impulse and launch the Cylon attack despite Baltar's orders.
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| * Serina carries a recorder with her into the tomb which breaks right after Baltar reveals himself.
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| * Athena saves Starbuck from a pinwheel attack in the battle above Kobol.
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| * The laser battle in which Serina is killed involves a lot more than two Cylons. Lucifer had arrived on the surface and brought a number of Cylons with him.
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| * Lucifer rescues Baltar from the tomb. He has incredible strength as he is able to single-handedly lift the pillar off of Baltar. He conducts a quick "med-scan" which reveals Baltar has a couple of broken bones. Lucifer assures Baltar he can mend them very quickly back on the basestar.
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| == Analysis == | | == Analysis == |
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| === Story === | | === Story === |
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| * The portions of the story where [[Serina]] is involved are told through recordings, she made before her death on {{TOS|Kobol}}. Her efforts to record the flight of the Colonies draws upon her pre-attack profession as a reporter. However, the recordings are also the only tangible remnants of Serina that are left for Apollo, given that Boxey is not her biological son. | | * The portions of the story where [[Serina]] is involved are told through recordings, she made before her death on [[Kobol (TOS)|Kobol]]. Her efforts to record the flight of the Colonies draws upon her pre-attack profession as a reporter. However, the recordings are also the only tangible remnants of Serina that are left for Apollo, given that Boxey is not her biological son. |
| * In investigating the [[Otarsis Quadrant asteroid|asteroid]], [[Boomer (TOS alternate)|Boomer]] and [[Jolly (TOS alternate)|Jolly]] take bio-hazard precautions, donning breathing gear and gloves. Further, upon returning to ''Galactica'', both pilots go through decontamination procedures, which fail to detect the "[[Otarsis virus|virus]]". For comparison, the episode shows that neither Boomer nor Jolly make any effort to protect themselves from contamination. Further, Boomer bypasses decontamination procedures in order to make it to Apollo's bachelor party.
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| === Cylons === | | === Cylons === |
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| == Alternate covers == | | == Alternate covers == |
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| <gallery mode="slideshow"> | | <gallery> |
| Image:Bg03.jpg|Original print cover. | | Image:Bg03.jpg|Original print cover. |
| Image:Tombs of Kobol back cover.jpg|Back cover. | | Image:Tombs of Kobol back cover.jpg|Back cover. |
| Image:Tombs of Kobol reprint cover.jpg|Reprint cover. | | Image:Tombs of Kobol reprint cover.jpg|Reprint cover. |
| </gallery> | | </gallery> |
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| == References ==
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| {{reflist}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Tombs of Kobol, The}} | | {{DEFAULTSORT:Tombs of Kobol, The}} |
| {{Novelization List (TOS)}}
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| [[Category:A to Z]] | | [[Category:A to Z]] |
| [[Category:Books]] | | [[Category:Books]] |
| [[Category:Novelizations]] | | [[Category:Novelizations]] |
| {{indicator|TOS}}[[Category:TOS]]
| | [[Category:TOS]] |
