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Smart Pop
So Say We All: Collected Thoughts and Opinions on Battlestar Galactica
The science-fiction television series Battlestar Galactica is known for raising thought-provoking questions concerning martial law, artificial intelligence, power and corruption, and ultimately what it means to be human. What ethical complexities come into play when one mistake could mean the anihilation of the human race? How do you maintain faith in the Gods when you're involved in an Armageddon of your own creation? What is the distinction between a terrorist and a freedom fighter? These questions are given an intelligent and insightful examination in this engaging collection of essays.
272 pages, Paperback
First published September 10, 2006
About the author
Richard Hatch
21 books35 followersRichard Lawrence Hatch was an American actor, writer, and producer best known for his role as Captain Apollo in the original Battlestar Galactica
(1978-1979) television series, and also as Tom Zarek in the 2003 re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica. He passed away from Pancreatic Cancer on February 7, 2017.
(1978-1979) television series, and also as Tom Zarek in the 2003 re-imagining of Battlestar Galactica. He passed away from Pancreatic Cancer on February 7, 2017.
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Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews
November 3, 2009
Battlestar Galactica, both the original and the recent version, are some of the best SF shows ever made and I could gush about them forever. I think it's especially cool that Richard Hatch a.k.a. the original Apollo and more recently, Tom Zarek, edited and contributed a well-written essay to this book.
I also really appreciated that the problematic aspects of both versions of the show are discussed, and one essay in particular strongly prefers the original version! As for me, I like them both for different reasons and I think that the new one respects and builds on its predecessor.
Dirk Benedict was awesome. So was Katee Sackhoff. Lorne Greene was apparently a truly kind, thoughtful, amazing human being. So is Edward James Olmos.
After reading this, I am seriously considering investing in the boxed set of one or both shows.
2019 update:
Thanks to those who have commented or liked this review over the past seven years!
Since I wrote it, I've purchased the box set of the new version. Also re-watched the original version, and fellow children of the 70's and 80's may be interested to know that Rick freaking Springfield (yes, the singer...anyone care to join me in a rousing chorus of "Jesse's Girl"?) has a small but very important role in the first episode! 13 year old me swoons....and so does 52 year old me, because he was interviewed on Japanese TV recently and has aged well, just like Richard Hatch.)
I also really appreciated that the problematic aspects of both versions of the show are discussed, and one essay in particular strongly prefers the original version! As for me, I like them both for different reasons and I think that the new one respects and builds on its predecessor.
Dirk Benedict was awesome. So was Katee Sackhoff. Lorne Greene was apparently a truly kind, thoughtful, amazing human being. So is Edward James Olmos.
After reading this, I am seriously considering investing in the boxed set of one or both shows.
2019 update:
Thanks to those who have commented or liked this review over the past seven years!
Since I wrote it, I've purchased the box set of the new version. Also re-watched the original version, and fellow children of the 70's and 80's may be interested to know that Rick freaking Springfield (yes, the singer...anyone care to join me in a rousing chorus of "Jesse's Girl"?) has a small but very important role in the first episode! 13 year old me swoons....and so does 52 year old me, because he was interviewed on Japanese TV recently and has aged well, just like Richard Hatch.)
March 30, 2009
Benbella's "Smart Pop" imprint puts out some great little gems for scifi fans who actually like to think about what they read (and watch on tv) instead of viewing it as mere escapism. The new Galactica series provides possibly the meatiest subject that Smart Pop's tackled so far. This collection of essays by a variety of well-known fiction and tv writers delves not so much into discussing the series itself as what the show had to say about society, religion, gender roles, authority, and what "love" means to a frakking Cylon toaster. As in any collection, some entries were better than others, but on the whole this compilation will certainly make your inner nerd tingle.
The essays in this volume were written in between seasons 2 and 3 of the series (during the occupation of New Caprica), so it's also interesting to read what people were thinking long before the show's mysteries were revealed. Some were a little off the mark in their speculations, some were spot-on, and at least one of the writers who was an avid fan has since recanted because of the direction the show took in its latter half (but maybe that, too, was part of "God's" plan).
Also recommended from Smart Pop: "Star Wars on Trial," edited by David Brin (for the prosecution) and Matthew Stover (for the defense).
The essays in this volume were written in between seasons 2 and 3 of the series (during the occupation of New Caprica), so it's also interesting to read what people were thinking long before the show's mysteries were revealed. Some were a little off the mark in their speculations, some were spot-on, and at least one of the writers who was an avid fan has since recanted because of the direction the show took in its latter half (but maybe that, too, was part of "God's" plan).
Also recommended from Smart Pop: "Star Wars on Trial," edited by David Brin (for the prosecution) and Matthew Stover (for the defense).
February 11, 2016
This is, generally, a thought-provoking collection of essays about Battlestar Galactica, and I enjoyed it immensely. There is one article that is condescending and insulting, entitled "GINO," which reads like the fevered diatribe from a fan of the campy 1978 version that never quite reached maturity. Serious articles, such as "An Army of One God," explore the dichotomy between the polytheistic human religious beliefs and the One True God of the Cylons.
April 9, 2010
The Beautiful Miss Bonnie (my 15 year old lab)has another book review for you. She's giving the whole BattleStar Gallactica series and the book, So Say We All, by Richard Hatch, four paws up and one lick of the tongue. And a little drool.
Have you been following Battlestar Gallactica??? There's only 3 episodes left, when it's all suppose to make sense, and I both can't wait, and am already grieving that the series will end. It's a complicated Science Fiction soap opera with battles and betrayals in relationship, and identity crisis, and political intrigue, and religious philosophy/existential meaning-making and plenty of cliff-hangers to keep you on the edge of your seat. I've gotten lost enough in the series to have to consult salon.com's very nice synopsis and cliff notes (but don't look into this if you plan on starting the series; too many spoilers!). Bonnie certainly knows what she's barking about with this recommendation.
One of the main characters is a female pilot, Starbucks, with authority issues. She makes me think about the "Rules" for girls. (This is an aside; it's not in the series.) These days, girls have Rules: be pretty & nice, be athletic and competitive, be perfect. Well, Starbucks has it all going for her, except the "nice" part.
But think about how seriously sad it is that these "Rules" are operating in our society these days! Not horrible rules in themselves, but it's not in balance for ourselves and our daughters. I mean, no one should get bonus points for trying to be ugly, for pushing people down stairs, or stapling themselves to the couch, or doing everything with no effort whatsoever. But I think there's a lot of pressure on young girls (especially) to stay tightly within these Rules, and underlying fears that "no one will love me," if they don't. Well, hopefully we can try to raise our daughters (and ourselves as adults) to know that it's even more important that they care enough about themselves, value themselves and know that they shouldn't have to earn basic respect, to stand up for themselves and question the rigidity of these rules.
So let's all go out and color outside the lines today! Bonnie says we should. . .
Have you been following Battlestar Gallactica??? There's only 3 episodes left, when it's all suppose to make sense, and I both can't wait, and am already grieving that the series will end. It's a complicated Science Fiction soap opera with battles and betrayals in relationship, and identity crisis, and political intrigue, and religious philosophy/existential meaning-making and plenty of cliff-hangers to keep you on the edge of your seat. I've gotten lost enough in the series to have to consult salon.com's very nice synopsis and cliff notes (but don't look into this if you plan on starting the series; too many spoilers!). Bonnie certainly knows what she's barking about with this recommendation.
One of the main characters is a female pilot, Starbucks, with authority issues. She makes me think about the "Rules" for girls. (This is an aside; it's not in the series.) These days, girls have Rules: be pretty & nice, be athletic and competitive, be perfect. Well, Starbucks has it all going for her, except the "nice" part.
But think about how seriously sad it is that these "Rules" are operating in our society these days! Not horrible rules in themselves, but it's not in balance for ourselves and our daughters. I mean, no one should get bonus points for trying to be ugly, for pushing people down stairs, or stapling themselves to the couch, or doing everything with no effort whatsoever. But I think there's a lot of pressure on young girls (especially) to stay tightly within these Rules, and underlying fears that "no one will love me," if they don't. Well, hopefully we can try to raise our daughters (and ourselves as adults) to know that it's even more important that they care enough about themselves, value themselves and know that they shouldn't have to earn basic respect, to stand up for themselves and question the rigidity of these rules.
So let's all go out and color outside the lines today! Bonnie says we should. . .
February 13, 2008
The Smart Pop series is one I've been enjoying too much. Take TV shows I've enjoyed and add essays and you get a bit of a geekgasm.
The perspectives on BSG seasons 1 and 2 have been good, and its interesting to see some of the guesses as to what was coming that were right and wrong as season 3 has run since the book has come out. Three of the authors of essays are from the podcasting and podiobook world, so I was able to put their voice and personalities with the text.
The only essay that I could have done without is the "transcript of a meeting of cylons" but I think that is just a style thing I didn't jump into.
If you haven't really gotten into BSG and deep into story lines, this may not be the book for you.
The perspectives on BSG seasons 1 and 2 have been good, and its interesting to see some of the guesses as to what was coming that were right and wrong as season 3 has run since the book has come out. Three of the authors of essays are from the podcasting and podiobook world, so I was able to put their voice and personalities with the text.
The only essay that I could have done without is the "transcript of a meeting of cylons" but I think that is just a style thing I didn't jump into.
If you haven't really gotten into BSG and deep into story lines, this may not be the book for you.
Read
March 4, 2010I'm jumping around reading essays that look interesting. It's amusing because this was published mid way through season 2 or so, and there are a lot of suppositions about the next seasons. I just finished an essay that posited that the Six in Baltar's head and the Baltar in Caprica Six's head were the result of a downloading error when Caprica used her body to protect Baltar from the bomb blast at the start of the series. Interesting theory but way off.
July 6, 2011
I started reading this several years ago when it first came out. It was good then, but I guess I got distracted. ;) Picked it up again in a "read the things I have not read that I do own" project, plus I've been finally finishing the actual new BSG. I will say this awakened in me a desire to watch the original series, and I learned some cool stuff. Very readable essays, overall, and some of them were lots of fun! :)
July 29, 2007
I didn't finish this. Way too much philosophical techno-geek blah-blah-blah. I totally love BSG, but this just wasn't what I was looking for. I really don't need to read 25 essays about whether or not the Cylons have true consciousness, or analyzing the theoretical framework of Commander Adama's military philosophy.
August 16, 2014
This is an interesting collection of essays discussing primarily the Sci-Fi series Battlestar Galactica, although the original is also discussed as well. I found these essays to be entertaining and exploratory of concepts discussed in the show. These essays come from a viewpoint of seeing seasons 1 and 2, and they include spoilers.
Did Not Finish
January 15, 2008I tried to finish this book, but couldn't get past the first few essays. Don't get me wrong, I love me some BSG; however, I feel that a lot of the essays don't hold so true now (a couple seasons after they were written).
January 14, 2012
There are some really great essays in here, very deep and thought-provoking. There's only one I couldn't get around to reading because it's fundamentally wrong (MUAG - SIC Briefing). If you know the ending of the series, you can probably guess what I'm talking about.
August 13, 2014
Disappointing uneven from the ST-centric SF world. "Reporters In Space", in particular, seems to have been written in an alternate time stream where BABYLON 5 and its portrayal of "ISN" never existed.
August 28, 2007
While I'm generally a fan of academic essays on pop culture/media, this collection seems unorganized and generally poorly written.
December 26, 2010
Highly disappointing. The authors revealed little that wasn't obvious to a fan of the show. I needed and wanted far better and deeper analysis.
May 28, 2012
Decent set of essays on an outstanding show.
January 15, 2014
Interesting read for fans (or not!) of Battlestar Galactica.
January 18, 2014
A great book of essays on an amazing series.
Displaying 1 - 18 of 18 reviews