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Blake's 7
Afterlife
Over ten million people watched the dramatic final episode of the BLAKE'S 7 TV series. And not one could ever forget--or fathom--the final catastrophic shootout on Gauda Prime.
Did Blake's death really mean the end of the fight against the evil forces of the Federation? Was the vulnerable thief Vila killed--or just wounded? What happened to the computer Orac? Would the scheming Servalan regain her old power-base? And what of Avon himself, the unbeatable, unpredictable paranoid who had ended it all? AFTERLIFE is Tony Attwood's brilliant continuation of the Blake's 7 story.
Did Blake's death really mean the end of the fight against the evil forces of the Federation? Was the vulnerable thief Vila killed--or just wounded? What happened to the computer Orac? Would the scheming Servalan regain her old power-base? And what of Avon himself, the unbeatable, unpredictable paranoid who had ended it all? AFTERLIFE is Tony Attwood's brilliant continuation of the Blake's 7 story.
- GenresScience FictionFiction
217 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1984
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59 people want to read
About the author
Tony Attwood
50 books3 followersFor works of this author entered under other names, search also under: Catherine Christie and John Keats
British Library: Anthony Leonard Attwood, born 22 June 1947; has also written on careers and produced school texts; has also written as Catherine Christie and John Keats.
Author’s website, 30 Dec. 2005: Tony Attwood, C.Ed., B.A., M.Phil., F.Inst.A.M.; wrote a small number of novels incl. two "Blake’s 7" books and one based on "Doctor Who"; has been a composer of popular music and musicals; has written on school improvement, dyscalculia, and secondary school music
Tony Attwood (born 1947 in Southgate, Middlesex, England) is an expert in direct mail, who previously worked as a teacher and lecturer, and has written over 80 books on education. He currently lives in Northamptonshire.
Attwood was educated at what is now the University of Brighton, the Open University, and London University Institute of Education, where he gained an M.Phil for his research in music education. In 2006 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Administrative Management for his work in setting up the National Certificate in Educational Administration - effectively the first comprehensive training programme for school secretaries and administrators.
His books have been varied, ranging from a Blake's 7 programme guide and novel, a 1986 Doctor Who spin-off novel, a series of music education titles with Oxford University Press, and several works that introduced the notion of using pop and rock music as a serious topic in education. Later work includes The Improving Department, a radical re-working of school improvement ideas in the UK which challenged mainstream views.
In 1981 Attwood set up Hamilton House Publishing, a company which not only published his post-1981 work but also re-issued earlier work. Since 2000 much of Attwood's work has been in advertising and he has acted as copywriter for a number of national companies. As a result of this work he produced the web site http://www.theory.bz which sets out his theory of direct mail.
He continues to work with the School of Educational Administration, with the Hamilton Housegroup, and with Witchwood Records, (including in 2007 as a performer on one of the record company's albums).
Novels by Tony Attwood
Blake's 7 Afterlife (published WH Allen) Doctor Who: Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma (published WH Allen) Making the Arsenal (published Hamilton House) October 2009
Books on education by Tony Attwood:
The Improving Department Methods of Teaching From Failure to Excellence
"Making the Arsenal" by Tony Attwood published Hamilton House. Historical novel set in 1910.
Reference: Arsenal FC official programme 4 November 2009, page 82, article by Tony Attwood, states "contributor to fanzine Highbury High, the Arsenal player database on arsenal.com and the Arsenal History project for AISA."
British Library: Anthony Leonard Attwood, born 22 June 1947; has also written on careers and produced school texts; has also written as Catherine Christie and John Keats.
Author’s website, 30 Dec. 2005: Tony Attwood, C.Ed., B.A., M.Phil., F.Inst.A.M.; wrote a small number of novels incl. two "Blake’s 7" books and one based on "Doctor Who"; has been a composer of popular music and musicals; has written on school improvement, dyscalculia, and secondary school music
Tony Attwood (born 1947 in Southgate, Middlesex, England) is an expert in direct mail, who previously worked as a teacher and lecturer, and has written over 80 books on education. He currently lives in Northamptonshire.
Attwood was educated at what is now the University of Brighton, the Open University, and London University Institute of Education, where he gained an M.Phil for his research in music education. In 2006 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Institute of Administrative Management for his work in setting up the National Certificate in Educational Administration - effectively the first comprehensive training programme for school secretaries and administrators.
His books have been varied, ranging from a Blake's 7 programme guide and novel, a 1986 Doctor Who spin-off novel, a series of music education titles with Oxford University Press, and several works that introduced the notion of using pop and rock music as a serious topic in education. Later work includes The Improving Department, a radical re-working of school improvement ideas in the UK which challenged mainstream views.
In 1981 Attwood set up Hamilton House Publishing, a company which not only published his post-1981 work but also re-issued earlier work. Since 2000 much of Attwood's work has been in advertising and he has acted as copywriter for a number of national companies. As a result of this work he produced the web site http://www.theory.bz which sets out his theory of direct mail.
He continues to work with the School of Educational Administration, with the Hamilton Housegroup, and with Witchwood Records, (including in 2007 as a performer on one of the record company's albums).
Novels by Tony Attwood
Blake's 7 Afterlife (published WH Allen) Doctor Who: Turlough and the Earthlink Dilemma (published WH Allen) Making the Arsenal (published Hamilton House) October 2009
Books on education by Tony Attwood:
The Improving Department Methods of Teaching From Failure to Excellence
"Making the Arsenal" by Tony Attwood published Hamilton House. Historical novel set in 1910.
Reference: Arsenal FC official programme 4 November 2009, page 82, article by Tony Attwood, states "contributor to fanzine Highbury High, the Arsenal player database on arsenal.com and the Arsenal History project for AISA."
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 16, 2014
Just when you thought Blake's 7 couldn't get any... weirder, along comes this novel that attempts to wrap up the series 4 cliffhanger, and take the story in a new direction. Some of the characters survive the final shootout, and some are never heard from again. Good and evil and weird psychedelic planets converge to create a story that is a bit... hard to follow! But you know you were never in it for the special effects. It's the dialog, the character development, the quips, the comedy gold found in the dead pan delivery of sarcasm. That's why we love Blake's 7, and why I had to buy this book off the shelf back in the late 80s and read it, then be confused by it, then put it on my shelf next to my VHS tape collection of recordings of the show off the local Public Broadcasting Station. "Blaaaaaaake!!!"
September 30, 2022
"The authentic sequel to the great TV series" only in the sense that the show could sometimes be terrible, too.
May 1, 2023
I often checked for this book on the bottom shelf of the science fiction section in the back corner of the Waldenbooks in the mall, as I was crazy obsessed with how this British sci-fi series ended. I mean I just couldn't believe it had ended. That way. So I had to read the official continuation, right? But time after time, I passed, harboring my doubts.
My brother eventually bought it, and when it was my turn I devoured it, and promptly forgot the plot.
Alas, I wasn't looking for more toxic Avon and perennially put-upon Vila. More Orac was fine, but there was no getting inside the head of a talking, blinking supercomputer in a lucite box. I wanted the others back, I wanted the ship back. There were no good guys left! Eventually I forgot that I'd even read it.
Until today, when I imagine a cosmic ray from that conflict-scarred, red-shifted galaxy made its way here, into my head, and knocked loose this memory.
After all these years, I now tend to think Blakes 7 ended perfectly, at the knife's edge of possibility, with a hint of wobble in the spinning top, on the rain-slick precipice of doubt. And there really wasn't a need for this story. But back then, perhaps it gave me some hope on a languid summer weekend, if not the closure I so wanted.
My brother eventually bought it, and when it was my turn I devoured it, and promptly forgot the plot.
Alas, I wasn't looking for more toxic Avon and perennially put-upon Vila. More Orac was fine, but there was no getting inside the head of a talking, blinking supercomputer in a lucite box. I wanted the others back, I wanted the ship back. There were no good guys left! Eventually I forgot that I'd even read it.
Until today, when I imagine a cosmic ray from that conflict-scarred, red-shifted galaxy made its way here, into my head, and knocked loose this memory.
After all these years, I now tend to think Blakes 7 ended perfectly, at the knife's edge of possibility, with a hint of wobble in the spinning top, on the rain-slick precipice of doubt. And there really wasn't a need for this story. But back then, perhaps it gave me some hope on a languid summer weekend, if not the closure I so wanted.
June 12, 2023
This book on the 'sequel' to Blake's 7 tends to ramble a little but if read as a basis for TV series (that never was) it makes sense. I can see that broken into several episodes it would have hung together quite well, even to the finish which is somewhat enigmatic but in keeping with the series (and isn't that what happens with so many Star trek / scifi series who are always hoping for a new season? ).
The story isn't great as a book but as a TV series outline it would have been 'polished' and produced and could easily have worked.
I think some readers wanted a round off of the series and a 'final' ending, this isn't it, so they may have been disappointed, hence some of the ratings.
For anyone who enjoyed the series it is worth a read if you can get a copy.
The story isn't great as a book but as a TV series outline it would have been 'polished' and produced and could easily have worked.
I think some readers wanted a round off of the series and a 'final' ending, this isn't it, so they may have been disappointed, hence some of the ratings.
For anyone who enjoyed the series it is worth a read if you can get a copy.
Read
April 23, 2021This was kind of good. The writer clearly knew the characters and the show well, and his story expanded nicely on the world of the TV show... though he did spend a bit much page space describing everyone's mannerisms in minute detail every other page. For those of us who watched the show it makes you go "Oh yeah that's exactly how they walked/talked/etc" but it gets a bit tiresome after a while.
The book also sets up with a cliffhanger/open ending, so I'm not sure if the plan was to write further novels, but instead it just ends up feeling a touch frustrating.
The book also sets up with a cliffhanger/open ending, so I'm not sure if the plan was to write further novels, but instead it just ends up feeling a touch frustrating.
July 11, 2022
Got the characters personalities right.
I think another alternative finish is warranted though - perhaps with a Blake clone.
I think another alternative finish is warranted though - perhaps with a Blake clone.
January 4, 2023
Ouch. Horrible sequel to 'Blake'.There are far better fan offerings out there. Perhaps even ones who understand the series.
March 26, 2025
Like many kids my age in 1981, I was astounded, shocked and excited by the dramatic, tragic ending of Blake's 7. I mean, what the hell?!? I hated it and I loved it all at once. And I never forgot it. It remains for me the greatest TV moment ever.
About 15 years later, I found out about this book. How had I missed it?
I've just read it for the second time. The first time, I didn't like it. This time... I'm uncertain.
Avon and Vila were always my favourite characters. They are both committed to their own survival, and both very funny in a sardonic, existential kind of way. I found Blake himself too goody goody (although he did become quite reckless and merciless by the end of series 2), and Tarrant was somewhat supercilious. Dayna and Soolin were cool and deadly, but I always thought more could have been done with them. Same with Jenna, which was a shame, because Jenna's character promised so much in the beginning. Gan was a bit dull, but Cally was quite fascinating.
Back to Blake for a moment, though. I must admit that I never found Gareth Thomas very convincing. He was too nice (Derek Riddell did a much more convincing job, I thought, in the trilogy of audio adventures produced by B7 Media in 2007). When Gareth Thomas returned later in the Big Finish audio productions, he sounded like what he probably was - a pleasant old man, and not the angry figure of vitality and rebellion that he should have been. But I digress. Back to "Afterlife".
I was pleased to find that Vila had survived that final Blake's 7 bloodbath along with Avon (we always knew Avon would survive, didn't we?), and Tony Attwood does a great job exploring Vila's character in this book. Unfortunately, the book itself could have been better. It reads like a series of novelised episodes - much like the Trevor Hoyle books, I suppose. So I guess it's following a format.
And the bit with Tarrant. What the hell was that all about? Spoiler - he turns up near the end, having survived the final TV episode shoot-out, only to quickly get killed without adding ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to the plot.
But then, maybe I'm being unfair. There are some very good ideas in this novel.
I just wish it had been structured better. It probably needed a few more rewrites.
Still - I've read worse books in my life.
About 15 years later, I found out about this book. How had I missed it?
I've just read it for the second time. The first time, I didn't like it. This time... I'm uncertain.
Avon and Vila were always my favourite characters. They are both committed to their own survival, and both very funny in a sardonic, existential kind of way. I found Blake himself too goody goody (although he did become quite reckless and merciless by the end of series 2), and Tarrant was somewhat supercilious. Dayna and Soolin were cool and deadly, but I always thought more could have been done with them. Same with Jenna, which was a shame, because Jenna's character promised so much in the beginning. Gan was a bit dull, but Cally was quite fascinating.
Back to Blake for a moment, though. I must admit that I never found Gareth Thomas very convincing. He was too nice (Derek Riddell did a much more convincing job, I thought, in the trilogy of audio adventures produced by B7 Media in 2007). When Gareth Thomas returned later in the Big Finish audio productions, he sounded like what he probably was - a pleasant old man, and not the angry figure of vitality and rebellion that he should have been. But I digress. Back to "Afterlife".
I was pleased to find that Vila had survived that final Blake's 7 bloodbath along with Avon (we always knew Avon would survive, didn't we?), and Tony Attwood does a great job exploring Vila's character in this book. Unfortunately, the book itself could have been better. It reads like a series of novelised episodes - much like the Trevor Hoyle books, I suppose. So I guess it's following a format.
And the bit with Tarrant. What the hell was that all about? Spoiler - he turns up near the end, having survived the final TV episode shoot-out, only to quickly get killed without adding ANYTHING WHATSOEVER to the plot.
But then, maybe I'm being unfair. There are some very good ideas in this novel.
I just wish it had been structured better. It probably needed a few more rewrites.
Still - I've read worse books in my life.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 5, 2013
Let me confess, I'm a total Blakes 7 (no, the lack of an apostrophe is not a grammar mistake) fanatic. The adventures of Blake, Jenna, Avon, Vila and Cally (and the various other characters that joined or left the team throughout the story) kept me spellbound from when I first discovered the show in its Australian showing in 1981 onwards. When the scriptwriters killed off the team in the final episode (though leaving a slight room for ambiguity) I was heartbroken.
So, finding a book that purports to tell what happened to our favorite anti-heroes after the dreadful climax on Gouda Prime made me jump for joy. Unfortunately, like one of Travis' plans to capture the Liberator it rather failed. Attwood makes no attempt to explain just how the band escaped alive after the events of "Blake" (the TV series' final episode), jumping straight into the story and taking their survival for granted. Unfortunately, he fails to capture the spirit of the original characters, and the rather weird computer he introduces to replace Scorpio's "Slave" grates badly. For plot, we get involved with alternate dimensions and all sorts of stuff not allowed for in the"reality" of the original. To be frank, I've read fanfic that's five times as good.
Two stars, since anything about B7 can't be all bad. But unlike my complete set of series 1-3 DVDs, I doubt I'll ever revisit this one!
So, finding a book that purports to tell what happened to our favorite anti-heroes after the dreadful climax on Gouda Prime made me jump for joy. Unfortunately, like one of Travis' plans to capture the Liberator it rather failed. Attwood makes no attempt to explain just how the band escaped alive after the events of "Blake" (the TV series' final episode), jumping straight into the story and taking their survival for granted. Unfortunately, he fails to capture the spirit of the original characters, and the rather weird computer he introduces to replace Scorpio's "Slave" grates badly. For plot, we get involved with alternate dimensions and all sorts of stuff not allowed for in the"reality" of the original. To be frank, I've read fanfic that's five times as good.
Two stars, since anything about B7 can't be all bad. But unlike my complete set of series 1-3 DVDs, I doubt I'll ever revisit this one!
September 16, 2022
Barmy. The characters are captured really well, and it felt and tasted like it was taking place in the same restaurant as the TV series, but... it was mad as a box of frogs and I'm not sure I really know what happened.... but enjoyed it overall.
Read
August 23, 2008isbn,original
July 25, 2016
Hmmm - - maybe a collectors item - not the best story follow up. In fact, wish I hadn't read it.
April 26, 2017
Based on a little known (in the US) BBC sci-fi show, this book is the sequel to the end of the series. We find out what happens to Blake.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews