That Man on Beta

Buck Rogers #2

by Addison E. Steele

TV tie-in paperback book

Genres: Science Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy

251 pages, Paperback

Published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Kevin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Practically a missing episode of the Buck Rogers television series. It seems intended as an episode.

A very good story, it includes Buck Rogers dressing in women's clothes and attracting the amorous attentions of a powerful foe. This may have been why it never appeared as an episode, though I do not know.

[Jon · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting only in that this was meant to be the screenplay for the second movie, however they went for a TV series instead. Another poorly written read, full of people acting out of characters, bad plotlines, etc. Interesting to read some more about the desolate world beyond the inner city on Earth, but beyond that it's pure ham. I am also perplexed about the two characters on the cover on the book, who are clearly not the same people used in the movie and tv series.

[Mike Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

Only for fans of the TV series. I grew up watching the TV series and still love it. I enjoyed how much this book felt like the show in terms of tone and characterization, well almost. One little wrinkle was Buck's behavior at the beginning of the book was hard to believe, and Princess Ardala's behavior at the end was almost as inexplicable, but at least she's always fickle so it wasn't quite as bad, but it still felt like a very convenient contrivance to have her help Buck when the plot needed it.

The whole plot is a little bit of an eye-roller to be honest, with the Draconians being after Buck anti-bodies and all. It's also pretty hard to buy the idea that most of what happens in the first part is engineered by the Draconians.

On the other hand, a lot of the criticisms I could make about this book, I could make about most episodes of the show, and I still like the show. For me, it's fun to see it as an episode in my head. I see everyone as they look on the show so in my mind Dr. Hurt isn't bald and bespectacled as in the book, Dr. Theophilus is round instead of square, and Kane isn't huge. Visualized as the show, the whole thing feels so much like the TV series that it's like watching a lost episode in my head.

For instance, Buck's handling the three amorous Draconian women and ultimately sneaking off disguised as a woman himself feels like something right out of the show. Though Buck and Wilma jumping into bed together at the end is hard to imagine ever happening on the show.

So, it's very well worth reading if you like the show, but probably a waste of time otherwise.

[Reggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

For Buck Rogers fans it's an entertaining read, but it is really dated in regards to how women are portrayed. Wilma, a Colonel in the Earth Defense Force and an accomplished combat pilot, spends most of her time fluttering her eye's and doing the "oh buck" thing, which is really hard to stomach in this age of strong female leads (heck it was hard to put up with back then too). Overlooking how Wilma is portrayed specifically and the other female characters in general (hard as that may be) the story is basically readable and mostly entertaining.
This book was based on an unused script for the TV series. Buck is looking for any descendants of his relatives that might have survived the war. The Draconians get involved with their own agenda for Buck and things get interesting.
My understanding is that only two books were written as tie-in's to the TV series with Gill Gerard and Erin Grey, this being the second.

[Tipsy Pixy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally Figured out what book this was!!!! I read it as a kid when libraries still did trade paperback areas and you could check out a type writer! It is hard to remember those days, but I remember thinking this was a risqué and would sneak off to read it especially in the part where the goal is to breed the main character Buck. Overall I remember it was good, especially because the only other books I would read were Star Wars novels.

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved it.It took me back as a little kid watching the movie and TV show and picks up after the movie.

[James Miranda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had high hopes for this being a long time fan of the TV show. It starts out with an interesting premise, has all the familiar characters, but then fades into cheesy mediocrity.

[Egghead · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sci fi sex farce- Buck
learns he's Wilma's relative.
They boff anyway.