Galactica Discovers Earth (Book)

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Galactica Discovers Earth A book of the Berkley Books line
Book No.	5
Author(s)	Mike Resnick
Adaptation of	Galactica Discovers Earth
No. of Pages	187 (2nd edition)
Published	December 1980 (1st edition) September 1981 (2nd edition) December 1982 (3rd edition)
ISBN	0425061256
Chronology
Previous		Next
The Young Warriors	Galactica Discovers Earth	The Living Legend
Paperback Version
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Audiobook Version
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Galactica Discovers Earth was a novelization of the original three hours of Galactica 1980 that was published after the series was canceled. The storyline covers the events of what would be the first three episodes in the syndicated version of the series: "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part 1" Part 2 and Part 3.

Plot

Much of the novel is composed of entries from Adama's journals, Dr. Zee's diary tapes, "reconstructed" transcripts and even newspaper clippings to lend a contemporary and urgent air to the text.

The novel strays far from the television scripts, indicating perhaps that it was based on a different story treatment. There is much additional dialogue in the book, while whole sections from the television programs are missing. The basic plotline involving the search for Doctor Donald Mortinson (named Alfred Mortinson), and the time travel sequence to 1944, and Xavier finding Mortinson are all present. Chapters 35 through 39 deviate the most from the storyline and also deal with additional events that occur between "Galactica Discovers Earth, Part III" and "The Super Scouts, Part I".

In these last chapters, we learn that Xavier has headed off into the past to several different time frames. Troy and Dillon follow him to Ancient Greece, to Europe during the Crusades, and to the time of the US Civil War. After he is intercepted—but eludes them—each time, Troy concludes that Xavier has given up time travel in favor of influencing present day Earth, since the Warriors will undoubtedly be able to stop Xaviar from making any changes to the timeline before they take hold permanently. Finally, Troy and Dillon again meet with Doctor Mortinson to make sure he is able to continue work using the formula they gave him, and Adama reflects on the promise the alliance between the Colonials and the people of Earth holds.

This novelization is an early example of writing by Mike Resnick who went on to become a Hugo Award winning science fiction author.

Characters

A list of characters and their analogues to the aired episode, if applicable.

Galacticans

Character	Biography
Commander Adama	Commander of the Galactican fleet.
Lieutenant Dillon	Colonial Warrior and friend of Troy's.
Kip	Colonial Warrior assigned to contact sympathetic scientists in the United Soviet Socialist Republics.
Captain Troy	Colonial Warrior, son of Serena, and the Fleet's leading Warrior.
Xaviar	Former Colonial warrior and scientist who is incensed with Adama and Dr. Zee's method of accelerating Earth's technology. He believes the Galacticans fools and tries to use the time warp synthesizer to change Earth's past, but is continually thwarted by Dillon and Troy. His goal eventually turns from helping the Galacticans to power-lust, wanting to secure himself a place in history and live luxuriously.
Doctor Zee	Child prodigy. A cerebral mutation born in space. His origins are unexplained in the book (as opposed to the episode "The Return of Starbuck"), however his age as of this tale is 14. He is responsible for many of the Galacticans' scientific advancements, including the time warp synthesizer, a language educator, the invisibility fields, and other technological advancements.

1980 C.E.

Character	Analogue	Biography
Dana Anderson	Mr. Brooks	Jamie Hamilton's boss, and West Coast News Director of United Broadcasting Corporation, who tries to make a story out of Dr. Mortinson and his escapades with the Colonial Warriors.
Billjac the Crusher	Biker	A bearded Hell's Angel who is quickly dispatched by Troy and Dillon.
Stuart Brownstein	None	Professor at the UCLA Department of Astronomy, who points out in a news article that the UFOs (the Vipers) sighted could not be explained in any rationalized way, given their distinct flying patterns.
James William Cavin	Moran	The delusional lush that Troy and Dillon are locked in with; they use their invisibility fields and manage to fool the sergeant into opening the cell to investigate. Using this window of opportunity, the Warriors escape.
Col. Henry Becksworth Davies	Davies	General Wilson's aide, who denies reports of UFOs (Dillon and Troy's Vipers) to the press.
Donzo Gates	Donzo	Hell's Angel biker who tries to take Troy and Dillon's turbocycles.
Jamie Hamilton	Self	An up-and-coming reporter who encounters Troy and Dillon, only to be embroiled in their plans for Earth, and an asset to the Galacticans.
Professor Khalinov	None	Soviet scientist, possibly recruited by Kip, to help the Galacticans develop Earth's technology.
Sgt. Michael Lalor	Cop at Police Station	Police sergeant that discredits Jimmy the Lush's stories; he later discovers that the two Warriors have disappeared from police custody while still inside a locked cell.
Dr. Alfred Mortinson, Ph.D.	Dr. Donald Mortinson, Ph.D.	Nobel prize laureate and scientist looking for a safe way to deal with nuclear power. Recruited by Troy and Dillon to help the Galacticans accelerate Earth's technology.
Carlyle Tabakow	Dorothy Carlyle	Mortinson's secretary. Her journal entry notes her concern over Mortinson's sanity, as well as her own future job security.
Professor Rashid Tarid	None	Pakistani scientist recruited to help the Galacticans develop Earth's technology.
Gen. Tucker Wilson	General Cushing	Head of Strategic Air Command.

Analysis

• As with the episode, Mortinson apparently doesn't back up his computer files, since any work that Troy and Dillon would've done could be reverted with such a computerized data backup.

Notes

• Troy and Dillon are equipped with climbing equipment in the form of suction devices for their hands and feet, and consider using it to gain access to the fourth floor (where Alfred Mortinson's office is), but determine that they may be easily found and gunned down before they knew what struck them.

Alternate covers

• 
  Front cover.
• 
  Back cover.