The Young Warriors

Battlestar Galactica #4

by Glen A. Larson, Robert Thurston

On a routine reconnaissance mission, Starbuck crashlands on a world where the Cylons have wiped out most of the adult population, leaving tribes of children in charge. It's Lord of the Flies meets The Guns of Navarone as Starbuck leads the children in a daring raid to free their father from the Cylons.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Media Tie In

185 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published August 1, 1980

About the author

Glen Albert Larson was an American television producer and writer best known as the creator of the television series Battlestar Galactica, Quincy, M.E., The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, B. J. and the Bear, The Fall Guy, Magnum, P.I. and Knight Rider.

Reviews

[Little Timmy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Man I loved this show as a kid and the books don't disappoint. The perfect person was chosen as the writer, creator of the series Glen A. Larson. Great TV to book series. Recommended

[Ubiquitousbastard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Firstly, I was and remain ambivalent on the episode on which this is based. There are certain aspects that I like and then...ugh children. I hate children, especially reading about children and especially children living on their own and fighting and such. So, that remains an aspect which I was less than thrilled with in the book.

However, I think the plot made a tad more sense in the book. Things sort of happen abruptly in the episode without warning, there is much more of a plot progression here. (Although is it weird that I started to wish for some Apollo? Since I never do?) I also, still, love the bit of feminism that pops up in the book compared to the episode, actually, in the book series in general. It's not loud, blatant feminism or third wave feminism or whatever. It's more like the women quietly recognize inequalities and know they shouldn't be treated that way instead of just accepting that that's how things are and should be. Love it. Actually it was one thought of Miri's specifically that stood out to me, annoyance at the idea that women who are smart and beautiful are a rarity.

Overall, this was pretty decent. A bit weird, slightly annoying at times, but altogether a good waste of time.

[Gabriella · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this in the 90s. And I loved the book just as much as I loved the old TV series. (Don't get me started on the new crap...)I read this back in the day, when Starback was still a man, full of charm, wit, spirit and mischief.
The story about Miri and the other children was on of my faves. I think it's time for a re-read.

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Starbuck is stranded on a muddy wet world. Starbuck finds out that the Cylons have killed or captured most of the adults and where the youngsters plan sneak attacks on the Cylon base.

[Brian Schiebout · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Young Warriors by Glen A. Larson and Robert Thurston is the fourth book in the Battlestar Galatica series. The story revolves around the character of Starbuck and his questioning of the constant warfare which makes up his life. The story begins when he goes back to a therapy session to discover why he is so depressed and he believes he discovers that it is due to his focus on war forever. Soon after he crash lands on a planet where the only humans outside captivity are a band of children who are running a guerrilla war against the cyclon robots who control the planet. He soon makes himself leader and tries to make the children rediscover their childhood outside of the militaristic system they have discovered. This story made me think about what is better for children knowing the truth of the dangerous and meaningful things they do or being treated like everything they do is just a game. The book portraits childhood as something invaluable where it is only by making the children believe it is all a game that they are able to keep them sane. Thus the different tactics encouraged by Starbuck include games where the enemies are destroyed. I however would disagree I believe that if a person is doing something worthy of respect he or she should be told its importance and their importance to the society even if they are not fully mature. I sometimes wonder whether our societies convincing children that life is all a game has not led a generation of children who never figured out what it meant to be adults.

[Exanimis · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lt. Starbuck crash lands on a swampy planet and discovers a group of children trying to survive while dealing with a garrison of Cylons who want them dead or captured. The story takes place mostly on the planet Antila, a wild planet with telepathic unicorns, ok, that sounds corny but it is actually a decent story that could very well stand on it's own outside of the BSG universe. As with the previous three books this was a fun read that brought back lots of fond memories.

[Jonathanstray Stray]

Don't remember a damn thing about the plot. I think I stole it from the Mace-Kingsly school library, so now I have to keep it.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

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