An Analytical Guide to Television's Battlestar Galactica: Amazon.ca: John Kenneth Muir: Books

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Book Description

When the space drama Battlestar Galactica debuted on ABC in 1978, it was expected to be the most popular new program of the year. Instead, it was attacked as a Star Wars rip-off and canceled after a mere 17 stories. The author acknowledges the show was full of dramatic clichs and scientific inaccuracies, but despite these shortcomings, Battlestar Galactica was a dramatically resonant series full of unique and individual characters, such as Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) and ace warrior Captain Apollo (Richard Hatch).

The author contends that Battlestar Galactica was a memorable attempt to make science fiction accessible to mainstream television audiences. The brilliant work of artist John Dykstra brought a new world of special effects to network television. Battlestar Galactica also skillfully exploited legends and names from both the Bible and ancient mythology, which added a layer of depth and maturity to the weekly drama.

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Customer Reviews

11 Reviews

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
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Average Customer Review

4.0 out of 5 stars (11 customer reviews)

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5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful, objective commentary, Dec 10 2003

By

John Solley (Hinsdale, IL USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: An Analytical Guide to Television's Battlestar Galactica (Library Binding)

The author impressed me with his knowledge of the history of the show including the legal milieu surrounding BG and Star Wars. While I thoroughly enjoyed BG series as a very young man, I am now adult enough to accept the obvious production flaws the author exposes in his superb objective analysis of the series.

I recommend this book for those who would wish to recapture the essence of the series and further understand the importance of the SF TV genre.

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5.0 out of 5 stars An objective analysis from an author who knows his stuff, Dec 7 2003

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R. M. Rogers (United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: An Analytical Guide to Television's Battlestar Galactica (Library Binding)

If you are looking for a frothy cheerleading book about how perfect a show "Battlestar Galactica" was.......this isn't it. If you want an objective, insightful analysis on the series strengths and weaknesses from an author who is more concerned with providing honest, well-thought out opinions rather than tired propaganda, then this is THE book to get.

The book reads like a thesis, with numerous points of the show's characters, concepts, and context being explored in a very objective way. Highlights of the book include an excellent analysis of every episode in the series, a detailed look into the Biblical and mythological overtones present in the series, as well as an interesting commentary on the lawsuit filed against the series by Star Wars creator George Lucas. This is simply great reading.

There is no question that Mr. Muir is a Galactica fan, however, he is not a mindless fan willing to accept every aspect of the show as flawless. His honesty and objectivity are wonderfully refreshing, and reading the book made me fall in love with the series all over again.

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5.0 out of 5 stars Good Review and Analysis. Recommended, Jan 1 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: An Analytical Guide to Television's Battlestar Galactica (Library Binding)

This is a very interesting, thought-provoking book about Battletar Galactica that is perfect for easy reference and has become a permanent fixture near my TV. The author knows the ins-and-outs of the series and writes well about it, and has clearly given his "analysis" a lot of thought (whether one agrees with it or not). He has a good eye for details and knows why the series was sometimes great/sometimes not - capturing the essence of a flawed classic. Overall a provocative read - not studio (or fan) propaganda.

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Most recent customer reviews

2.0 out of 5 stars This book isnt worth (the money)
I am a diehard Battlestar Galactica fan and I would not waste the (money) to read this uthor call the show a "guilty pleasure". Read more

Published on Dec 28 2002 by Disappointed Battlestar Galact...

4.0 out of 5 stars Good Review of Battlestar Galactica
This book is a detailed anaylsis (with some author bias) regarding Battlestar Galactica, but not its [dumb] offspring, Galactica 80. Read more

Published on July 10 2002 by Dan Lee