Battlestar Galactica 11: The Nightmare Machine

Battlestar Galactica #11

by Glen A. Larson, Thurston

The Cylons allow a captured fighter pilot to return to the Galactica with a hidden mind control device in order to take over the battlestar

Genres: Science Fiction, Fiction, Media Tie In

216 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published October 1, 1985

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

[Linda · Rating 3 out of 5]

When Greenbean is captured by Baltar's Cylons, he is subjected to torture by the computer cylon Lucifer. Lucifer has designed a machine which could change human feelings with a touch of a button. Greenbean is sent back to the fleet with a chip in his clothing. As Greenbean is greeted back the feelings of guilt intensify and spread throughout the ships.

[Clayton Barr · Rating 3 out of 5]

This story is difficult to place in the chronology of Battlestar Galactica. Although not stated specifically, details in the novel generally seem to suggest it takes place some time in between the episodes "The Living Legend" Part 2 and "War of the Gods" Part 1. But then, there is one vague mention of "the lights that appeared to inform [Adama] of Earth's coordinates," which would seem to be a reference to the orbs of light that appeared in the 2-part "War of the Gods". Yet this conflicts with details in the TV series such as Baltar's imprisonment within the fleet after the events of "War of the Gods" Part 2. In addition, the next published novel, Die, Chameleon, which clearly must take place some time after Starbuck meets Chameleon (his father) in "The Man With Nine Lives", is presented as taking place not long after the events of The Nightmare Machine. Still, it's a fun read for any fan of the original Battlestar Galactica. My complete study of the novel is available at http://battlestar.popapostle.com/html...