World Famous Comics: Cylons in America: Critical Studies in Battlestar Galactica
Cylons in America: Critical Studies in Battlestar Galactica
From: Continuum International Publishing Group Publisher: Continuum International Publishing Group Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Continuum International Publishing Group Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 278 Publication Date: December 10, 2007
Book Description: With its fourth season due to air in January 2008, the award-winning Battlestar Galactica continues to be exceptionally popular for non-network television, combining the familiar features of science fiction with direct commentary on life in mainstream America. Cylons in America is the first collection of critical studies of Battlestar Galactica (its 2003 miniseries, and the ongoing 2004 television series), examining its place within popular culture and its engagement with contemporary American society.
Battlestar Galactica depicts the remnants of the human race fleeing across space from a robotic enemy called the Cylons. The fleet is protected by a single warship, the Battlestar, and is searching for a "lost colony" that settled on the legendary planet "Earth." Originally a television series in the 1970s, the current series maintains the mythic sense established with the earlier quest narrative, but adds elements of hard science and aggressive engagement with post-9/11 American politics. Cylons In America casts a critical eye on the revived series and is sure to appeal to fans of the show, as well as to scholars and researchers of contemporary television.
Good Overall this was an interesting piece. Because it is actually a collection of essays it is hard to be more specific about the overall content. Some of the essays were better than others. A few brought out points I was unaware of and to me these were most interesting. It isn't light reading for the casual fan, but for anyone who likes to unravel all the fine details and analyze, it is an excellent tool.
Looking for parallels If you watch BSG actively, attentively, if you "work" at the show watching for where it's echoing our current political/religous/gender/? issues, concerns, then read this book of essays.
The essays are of varying density and depth, but I enjoyed them all. Something to be gained from each of them although many were definitely on the "scholarly" side of the street. Some of the essays intrigued me from the first sentence and I underlined extensively. Others, I read quickly, simply didn't resonate with the material.
The diversity of points of view, the diversity of aspects of BSG investigated and dissected by the the authors is what makes this book worth the money.
Cylons and humans...what's the difference? Torture...is it ever justified? Rape...can a machine be raped? (Is Boomer a machine? Does a machine have feelings?) Is Starbuck a serial killer? (How many times DID she kill Leoben??) Is there racism among the the humans? The Uncanny...the "double" "The Farm" episode...pro life/pro choice... Why is Hera so important? How important is a hybrid? What will synthesis mean to Human and Cylon??? ...I could go on and on.
Again...if you actively watch BSG, like getting into philosophical/political/current events parallels, you will like this book. If you think about the show once you've seen an episode and then look out at the world we live in and relate the two...you'll like this book. If you're willing to put in some effort, you'll like this book. If you're already putting effort into BSG and enjoy doing that, you'll like this book.
I rated the book 4 stars...5 stars is perfect in my estimation and nothing is perfect...thank the gods for that!
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