Galactica novelisation review
Posted: Sun Jul 17, 2011 12:25 am
Or, more accurately, a run through of the key differences between the novel and the film. Given the significance of some of them, I strongly suspect the novel was written first.
- The various replacement measures of time and distance don't exist - years are years, minutes are minutes, etc
The Cylons are the original species, not robots. The novel goes into great detail about their society, biology and command structure, from the perspective of the Imperious Leader.
Zac isn't on his first patrol, but is an experienced Warrior.
A lot more attention is paid to the implications of the Galactica bugging out during the ambush of the fleet, not only from the perspective of the pilots left behind, but from Adama's.
It's made clear that Serina is a very well known figure on Caprica, explaining Adama's recognition of her. She isn't Boxey's mother, but simply found him during the attack. Muffit also appears to be a far more realistic copy of a dog (still referred to as a Daggit in this case), and is destroyed during the final battle (and gets fixed).
Adama is initially President of the Council after the holocaust, but resigns. His resignation is "lost" by the council following the final battle.
Cassiopeia does more than scream to generate tension. Indeed, it turns out that she's a qualified tylium hauler pilot while Starbuck isn't.
Galactica leaves most of the fleet (that portion without FTL) behind, protected by what appears to be a form of area-wide cloaking device, while she and the remaining third head to Carrilon.
Much more time is given to developing Apollo and Serina's relationship.
The approach to Carrilon is completely different - in this case the minefield is laid around the planet itself, rather than through the nova straights. The pilots are still flying with blanked-out cockpits, as the minefield includes a type designed to blind sensors and people. This later causes problems during the battle, as Galactica and the fleet have to escape through the same passage they came in through.
The Ovions play a much great role, with part of the novel writen from their point of view, and with them being present assisting the Cylons in the final action.
Adama's plan is different, keeping most of the pilots and all the Vipers (or "Starhounds") on Galactica, rather than sending the fighters down to the surface.
Apollo and Starbuck's run that led to the destruction of the Imperious Leader's baseship does not occur.