Finding Battlestar Galactica

by Lynnette Porter, David Lavery, Hillary Robson

When Battlestar Galactica reappeared in 2003-a revamp of the original series in which a "rag-tag fugitive fleet" of the last remnants of mankind flees pursuing aliens while simultaneously searching for Earth-it redefined what television science fiction should be about. Since then it has been critically claimed as one of the best shows on television while growing TV's strongest cult fandom of 2 million viewers. Now, as the series comes to its conclusion, fans are more eager than ever for more BSG.
Acclaimed television experts Lynnette Porter, David Lavery and Hillary Robson, authors of the top-selling unauthorized Lost guides, provide fans with an in-depth look at the history, politics, themes and philosophies of the hit show. Topics include:
--Battlestar Then and Now
--Positions of Power
--The Transformation of Baltar
--Aliens Among Us: Political Realities and the Culture of Fear
--Battlestar and the Bush Era
--Thirty Years of Battlestar Fandom

Genres: Nonfiction

320 pages, Paperback

First published May 1, 2008

Reviews

[The other John · Rating 2 out of 5]

I recently binged the 2003 version of Battlestar Galactica. I had seen the miniseries back in the day, but didn't catch the series because I wasn't about to pay for cable TV. (I'm still not, though I do spring for a streaming service from time to time.) Anyway, I was enthralled with it and immediately wanted to get info about the series. Being a child of the 20th century, I went looking for a book and found this one.

Finding Battlestar Galactica is a collection of essays about the two Galactica series. It's interesting, but in the end, I can only rate it as waiting room material. It's biggest flaw is that it was written between the third and fourth seasons of the second series. I'm sure back in the day I would have been excited for the exploration of the show and the speculation for the final season. But reading it after having seen that season drains the excitement from the text. I don't even have any nostalgia to indulge in as I would if I were reading an old Star Trek or Doctor Who fanzines. It's a well-written, well-compiled tome--it just hasn't aged well.

[Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

What can I say, I love BSG - all it's flawed characters and great story lines. This book describes some of the backstory in an interesting way.

Note: the actual title of the book is "Finding Battlestar Galactica" but goodreads brings up "unlocking"

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finished this collection over the summer. Excellent set of short essays and "jumps" on the new series and its relationship to the original series. The author happens to be my tenure mentor. I liked the portions on gender and sexuality and the parts on religion best.