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The Orville: Sympathy for the Devil
An original novella set in season three of The Orville—straight from the pen of Seth MacFarlane, creator of the beloved sci-fi TV show! When Captain Ed Mercer and the crew of the U.S.S. Orville come face-to-face with one of humanity's most vile ideologies, they must solve the moral conundrum of who to hold accountable for evil deeds real… and imagined. Occurring just after episode 308, this is the Orville like you've never seen it before.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
First published July 19, 2022
113 people are currently reading
416 people want to read
About the author
Seth MacFarlane
24 books108 followersSeth Woodbury MacFarlane (/ˈsɛθ ˈwʊdbɛri mɪkˈfɑrlən/; born October 26, 1973) is an American actor, animator, writer, producer, director, and singer. He is the creator of the TV show Family Guy (1999–2003, 2005–present) and co-creator of the shows American Dad! (2005–present) and The Cleveland Show (2009–2013). He also voices many of the shows' various characters.
MacFarlane grew up in Kent, Connecticut and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied animation, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Recruited to Hollywood during the senior film festival by development executive Ellen Cockrill and President Fred Seibert, he was an animator and writer for Hanna-Barbera for several television shows, including Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Laboratory, I Am Weasel, and his own Family Guy-like "prequel", Larry and Steve.
As an actor, he has made guest appearances on shows such as Gilmore Girls, The War at Home, and FlashForward. MacFarlane's interest in science fiction and fantasy has led to cameo and guest appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise and voicing the character of Johann Kraus in Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army. In 2008, he created his own YouTube series entitled Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. As a singer MacFarlane has performed at several venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. MacFarlane has won several awards for his work on Family Guy, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and an Annie Award. In 2009 he won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year. He occasionally speaks at universities and colleges throughout the United States, and he is a supporter of gay rights.
His first feature-length comedy film, Ted, stars Mark Wahlberg as an adult who, as a kid, wished his teddy bear would come to life. MacFarlane voiced and provided motion capture for the bear. It was released on June 29, 2012, and went on to become the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. In September 2011, MacFarlane released his debut album, Music Is Better Than Words. Also in 2011, he began a revival of Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones for the Fox network. The first episode was due to air in the U.S. in 2013, but production has been indefinitely delayed due to MacFarlane's schedule.
MacFarlane grew up in Kent, Connecticut and is a graduate of the Rhode Island School of Design, where he studied animation, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. Recruited to Hollywood during the senior film festival by development executive Ellen Cockrill and President Fred Seibert, he was an animator and writer for Hanna-Barbera for several television shows, including Johnny Bravo, Cow and Chicken, Dexter's Laboratory, I Am Weasel, and his own Family Guy-like "prequel", Larry and Steve.
As an actor, he has made guest appearances on shows such as Gilmore Girls, The War at Home, and FlashForward. MacFarlane's interest in science fiction and fantasy has led to cameo and guest appearances on Star Trek: Enterprise and voicing the character of Johann Kraus in Guillermo del Toro's Hellboy II: The Golden Army. In 2008, he created his own YouTube series entitled Seth MacFarlane's Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy. As a singer MacFarlane has performed at several venues, including Carnegie Hall and the Royal Albert Hall. MacFarlane has won several awards for his work on Family Guy, including two Primetime Emmy Awards and an Annie Award. In 2009 he won the Webby Award for Film & Video Person of the Year. He occasionally speaks at universities and colleges throughout the United States, and he is a supporter of gay rights.
His first feature-length comedy film, Ted, stars Mark Wahlberg as an adult who, as a kid, wished his teddy bear would come to life. MacFarlane voiced and provided motion capture for the bear. It was released on June 29, 2012, and went on to become the highest-grossing original R-rated comedy of all time. In September 2011, MacFarlane released his debut album, Music Is Better Than Words. Also in 2011, he began a revival of Hanna-Barbera's The Flintstones for the Fox network. The first episode was due to air in the U.S. in 2013, but production has been indefinitely delayed due to MacFarlane's schedule.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
July 24, 2022
Oh man, this novella was brilliant.
At this point what can’t Seth Macfarlane do?
The charm, subtle sophistication and uniqueness of the tv show was not lost in this what would of been episode of The Orville.
It’s short but sharp (I know you’re saying ‘duh’ I can hear it.) Another great story that parallels the current political climate the world finds itself in.
Pity it wasn’t made into an episode it would of been a good watch, I’m thrilled we still got it in this format however, I do love a good read.
Seth Macfarlane feel free to write an actual novel about anything at all, I know I’d be interested.
If anyone hasn’t heard or watched The Orville on Hulu & Disney+ (the new season is on SBS for Aussies like myself) I’m begging you to do so. 🙌
At this point what can’t Seth Macfarlane do?
The charm, subtle sophistication and uniqueness of the tv show was not lost in this what would of been episode of The Orville.
It’s short but sharp (I know you’re saying ‘duh’ I can hear it.) Another great story that parallels the current political climate the world finds itself in.
Pity it wasn’t made into an episode it would of been a good watch, I’m thrilled we still got it in this format however, I do love a good read.
Seth Macfarlane feel free to write an actual novel about anything at all, I know I’d be interested.
If anyone hasn’t heard or watched The Orville on Hulu & Disney+ (the new season is on SBS for Aussies like myself) I’m begging you to do so. 🙌
March 26, 2024
4 Stars for The Orville: Sympathy for the Devil ( audiobook) by Seth MacFarlane read by Bruce Boxleitner.
I had to stop and make sure that I was listening to the right book. I thought that this science fiction not WWII? It ultimately was interesting to see how this kind of immersive history could be used in the future. And the story certainly tied it all back together in the end but it sure had me wondering at the beginning.
I had to stop and make sure that I was listening to the right book. I thought that this science fiction not WWII? It ultimately was interesting to see how this kind of immersive history could be used in the future. And the story certainly tied it all back together in the end but it sure had me wondering at the beginning.
December 25, 2022
The Orville feels more like Star Trek: The Next Generation than anything coming out of Star Trek's canon in recent years. The philosophical debates and the adherence to a idea feel very much in line with the stuff Brannon Braga was kicking out in the late 80s and early 90s. There should not be easy answers to questions raised in any debate, and there is always a lot more gray than black and white.
This novella was meant to be an episode of the new season The Orville: New Horizons, but due to COVID and other things, they ran out of time to film it, so Seth MacFarlane converted the script to a novella and tossed it into the world as a fairly-priced eBook.
After reading it this afternoon, it's a shame they didn't get to film it because it would have made a helluva an episode to watch.
I don't want to give away spoilers, but even non-fans of the show are in for a treat with this one. And the issues it brings up are--sadly--still very relevant to today's political climate.
For three bucks, this is more than worth the time.
This novella was meant to be an episode of the new season The Orville: New Horizons, but due to COVID and other things, they ran out of time to film it, so Seth MacFarlane converted the script to a novella and tossed it into the world as a fairly-priced eBook.
After reading it this afternoon, it's a shame they didn't get to film it because it would have made a helluva an episode to watch.
I don't want to give away spoilers, but even non-fans of the show are in for a treat with this one. And the issues it brings up are--sadly--still very relevant to today's political climate.
For three bucks, this is more than worth the time.
August 5, 2022
i am glad i waited till watching the finale to post my thoughts. this season of the show has been generally good, even great moments in certain cases where the cast works as an ensemble than holding a myopic plot line. This season we went from value of life, mortality, intersexuality, radical extremism, and finally somewhere between characters considering genocide for greater good and a man time traveling and undoing that travel, this story exists. After finishing reading, its evident that the story would have nicely fit in the current narrative but I don't see it impacting or changing what we know now.
As has been the case in every episode the plot offers a moral and ethical dilemma and the characters have varying point of view. is it still a crime if it was killing computer generated people. Is it still participating in holocaust if the whole life of the person committing these atrocities has been doing in a simulation room all his life.
but the question that goes unanswered - the computer responded to his reaction and generated directives accordingly. Thus if he hadn't taken the route of a Nazi, would he have seen a different future?
As has been the case in every episode the plot offers a moral and ethical dilemma and the characters have varying point of view. is it still a crime if it was killing computer generated people. Is it still participating in holocaust if the whole life of the person committing these atrocities has been doing in a simulation room all his life.
but the question that goes unanswered - the computer responded to his reaction and generated directives accordingly. Thus if he hadn't taken the route of a Nazi, would he have seen a different future?
July 24, 2022
Seth MacFarlane has really opened up with the latest season of The Orville. The quality of stories and writing in the show has gone from good to great and this is another example.
It's easy to see why this episode might have been problematic, to say nothing of expensive, to film, but there is a rich ethical and psychological conundrum to address here. It is a halcyon call back to some of the best Twilight Zone moments and at the same time speaks to the world we live in today.
I'm not sure if I'll ever read it a second time, but I think the first reading will stick with me for a long time. I look forward to discussing it with friends.
A great read if you like the show, and an intriguing one even if you don't.
It's easy to see why this episode might have been problematic, to say nothing of expensive, to film, but there is a rich ethical and psychological conundrum to address here. It is a halcyon call back to some of the best Twilight Zone moments and at the same time speaks to the world we live in today.
I'm not sure if I'll ever read it a second time, but I think the first reading will stick with me for a long time. I look forward to discussing it with friends.
A great read if you like the show, and an intriguing one even if you don't.
July 23, 2022
another wonderful story by Seth MacFarlane
For a one-off story, it was really excellent. You have no idea where it is going until about half way through. Lots of twists and turns. Very much recommended.
For a one-off story, it was really excellent. You have no idea where it is going until about half way through. Lots of twists and turns. Very much recommended.
July 23, 2022
This was so good I hope Seth does more episodes into ebooks loved every page of this!!!!
July 19, 2022
Sympathy for the Devil
Short but sharp, again interesting questions asked that don't lend themselves to easy answers. A real difference between the original tone of the Orville and current season.
Short but sharp, again interesting questions asked that don't lend themselves to easy answers. A real difference between the original tone of the Orville and current season.
July 24, 2022
It's pretty easy to see why this is the episode they didn't film, but I'm glad we got it in some form anyway. The Orville is the most thoughtful science fiction currently being produced, and this novella goes right to the heart of that. I can't bring myself to risk spoiling anything, and it would be easy, so the plot will have to be left aside.
As much as I liked it, it would have been better to add a side plot or two. In the episode that's likely what they would have done. Instead this just goes straight through the main plot, and that leaves it feeling shorter than it is, and a little hollow. One of the best parts of The Orville is how comfortable and real the world feels, and I hate to see a missed opportunity to revel in it a little.
As much as I liked it, it would have been better to add a side plot or two. In the episode that's likely what they would have done. Instead this just goes straight through the main plot, and that leaves it feeling shorter than it is, and a little hollow. One of the best parts of The Orville is how comfortable and real the world feels, and I hate to see a missed opportunity to revel in it a little.
July 23, 2022
If you love The Orville, you will want to give this a read. Normal episodic television has given us solid storytelling, but the written format elevates the storytelling. Set after episode 308, Sympathy for the Devil is a heartbreaking story of unintended consequences - in this case, of entertainment technology. Unchecked, technology corrupted this man, leading to three kinds of loss. I won't spoil any further, but the reactions from the crew and the moral questions raised stuck with me long after I put this down.
+ Amazing to experience The Orville in print
+ A unique storytelling twist and moral question
- The first five chapters drag a little
+ Amazing to experience The Orville in print
+ A unique storytelling twist and moral question
- The first five chapters drag a little
July 23, 2022
Much darker than the Series, but Powerful!
You have to read about half the novella before it finally ties in to the Orville, and it is a painful read about the Holocaust. I actually stopped reading twice because it hurt my heart and there was no apparent connection to the series. Too much,too long. When the connection came, it worked well. The was one scene with Ed that seemed forced and out of character, which still jars in my memory.
You have to read about half the novella before it finally ties in to the Orville, and it is a painful read about the Holocaust. I actually stopped reading twice because it hurt my heart and there was no apparent connection to the series. Too much,too long. When the connection came, it worked well. The was one scene with Ed that seemed forced and out of character, which still jars in my memory.
February 24, 2024
I have been on the record about my feelings about The Orville. I loved all three seasons, and of course, the third season was incredible. I have not enjoyed the discourse that pitted Orville against ST. I end both shows, universes. Seth MacFarlane dialed back the humor the humor in the third season, while I missed a bit of hijinks the show had gotten so good at telling Next Generation worthy Science Fiction I have been starving for more. If you missed it check my interview with writer and producer Brannon Braga talking about season three here:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
https://youtu.be/xxO8uGF3-f0
I missed the characters and the overall vibe. So I have been dying for Orville novels. The first we got was a novella that I consumed as an audiobook.
(For the record Seth and crew I am a published novelist and I would love to pitch Orville novels just saying)
The Orville: Sympathy for the Devil was written by creator Seth MacFarlane and it is an excellent short novel that seems like a planned episode that got novel treatment. It is impossible to write or talk about this novel without spoiling the GREAT reveal. I went in cold knowing nothing about the plot. For most of the audiobook, I was frustrated wondering where The Orville and the characters were. The wait was worth the payoff.
This is a powerful political science fiction story that uses unique SF elements to explore complex ethical issues. More Orville TV seasons would be ideal, but novels or comics are something us thirsty fans would slurp up in a heartbeat.
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast...
https://youtu.be/xxO8uGF3-f0
I missed the characters and the overall vibe. So I have been dying for Orville novels. The first we got was a novella that I consumed as an audiobook.
(For the record Seth and crew I am a published novelist and I would love to pitch Orville novels just saying)
The Orville: Sympathy for the Devil was written by creator Seth MacFarlane and it is an excellent short novel that seems like a planned episode that got novel treatment. It is impossible to write or talk about this novel without spoiling the GREAT reveal. I went in cold knowing nothing about the plot. For most of the audiobook, I was frustrated wondering where The Orville and the characters were. The wait was worth the payoff.
This is a powerful political science fiction story that uses unique SF elements to explore complex ethical issues. More Orville TV seasons would be ideal, but novels or comics are something us thirsty fans would slurp up in a heartbeat.
August 2, 2022
2.5 Stars
I definitely think that this would have worked better as a full episode or even a full novel.
The first half of the story is quite dark and I honestly wasn't sure where it was going. I suped up the audiobook to 3x speed just to get it over with because I was waiting for the sci-fi elements to kick in.
The 'twist' wasn't particularly unique, having been done on the show before in a Season 1 episode. I enjoyed some of the moral implications and questions, but ultimately I didn't care to read from a perspective. I feel like the resolution of the story fell a bit flat and could have been considerably expanded on. I didn't really like the Epilogue either, but I generally dislike flash-forward Epilogues anyway.
The prose was sometimes a little bit clunky and the point of view head hopped a little too often for my liking. My favourite part of the story was when we finally did get The Orville crew to appear - their interactions and personality shone through in every way, but it was too little too late for me.
All in all, a semi interesting little side story with some nice characterisation and moral quandaries, but ultimately not that unique with not enough to offer on the sci-fi front.
I definitely think that this would have worked better as a full episode or even a full novel.
The first half of the story is quite dark and I honestly wasn't sure where it was going. I suped up the audiobook to 3x speed just to get it over with because I was waiting for the sci-fi elements to kick in.
The 'twist' wasn't particularly unique, having been done on the show before in a Season 1 episode. I enjoyed some of the moral implications and questions, but ultimately I didn't care to read from a perspective. I feel like the resolution of the story fell a bit flat and could have been considerably expanded on. I didn't really like the Epilogue either, but I generally dislike flash-forward Epilogues anyway.
The prose was sometimes a little bit clunky and the point of view head hopped a little too often for my liking. My favourite part of the story was when we finally did get The Orville crew to appear - their interactions and personality shone through in every way, but it was too little too late for me.
All in all, a semi interesting little side story with some nice characterisation and moral quandaries, but ultimately not that unique with not enough to offer on the sci-fi front.
July 23, 2022
I thought it was an excellent addition to the series. It was short book but its a novella so it is to be expected. 120 pages to be exact. But it can be read in one sitting which took me about 2 hours so it felt like an entire episode. Talking specifically about the story without any spoilers, this story brought into the light interesting philosophical questions regarding morality and ideology. It wasn’t as action packed and humorous as the TV counterpart, definitely felt like something from season one where the setting was more story driven. Had it been adapted to TV during New Horizon season it definitely would have felt out of place, which is not necessarily a bad thing but it definitely would story pacing. Coming right after episode eight the overall story would have felt slowed down considerably. Still, I give this series a 4 out of 5 stars given that it had a very interesting philosophical and psychological ideas thrown and we see Ed’s leadership tested.
July 25, 2022
Just wow, Seth MacFarlane is just constantly blowing me away. I never thought I would say these words, but Seth needs to write more books.
This was an incredible piece of sci-fi, something that felt truly original and interesting. I really hope he gets a chance to make this story into an episode for the show, even though he said it might be a hard one to film. I think an episode like this would turn into and Emmy quite easily, it was absolutely amazing.
Highly recommend this for Orville fans and non-Orville fans alike!
This was an incredible piece of sci-fi, something that felt truly original and interesting. I really hope he gets a chance to make this story into an episode for the show, even though he said it might be a hard one to film. I think an episode like this would turn into and Emmy quite easily, it was absolutely amazing.
Highly recommend this for Orville fans and non-Orville fans alike!
July 22, 2022
A good read
Would have made an excellent episode. I enjoyed it very much. Good writing. The characters were very fleshed out and familiar.
Would have made an excellent episode. I enjoyed it very much. Good writing. The characters were very fleshed out and familiar.
August 3, 2022
If you have enjoyed the television series "The Orville" then you will want to listen to/read this novella set sometime before episode 9 of season 3. If you're not watching the show (all 3 seasons available on Hulu, and soon on Disney+) -- WATCH! It's a sci-fi series that closely resembles Star Trek: The Next Generation, with exceptional production values (especially this third season, when the series made the jump from broadcast tv to streaming). Enough about the series, the book was also well done. It explores the question of how people can be conditioned to accept extreme ideologies in the context of a WWII simulated world, and the difficulty of recovering from such extreme worldviews. Relevant to our increasingly polarized society today.
September 29, 2024
From the night it premiered in 2017, Seth MacFarlane's The Orville, marketed as an irreverent Star Trek spoof from the creator of Family Guy, took viewers by surprise with its earnest, old-fashioned storytelling. It proved itself to be a show of extraordinary moral imagination, tackling complex social issues while refusing to surrender to cynicism.
The series really came into its own with the recent third season, New Horizons, during which Sympathy for the Devil is set. The Orville is simply one of the best shows on TV right now, and certainly more Roddenberry-esque in style and spirit than any of the dreary Star Trek series airing currently, which are either exercises in "storyless" self-indulgence (Discovery) or point-and-clap nostalgia (Strange New Worlds) or both (Picard).
Sympathy for the Devil plays exactly like one of the feature-length episodes from New Horizons (no surprise, given that it was reportedly developed as a season-three script but went unproduced owed to pandemic-related travel restrictions). It's an engaging, exciting, thought-provoking story with no easy answers for its moral dilemma. You're better off knowing nothing about it before you read it. But it is absolutely worth your time.
I deducted a star from my rating only because MacFarlane's skills as a novelist -- I've also read A Million Ways to Die in the West (reviewed here) -- aren't particularly refined. He writes, understandably, like a screenwriter. Since a screenplay (or teleplay) is merely a list of things we see and hear, screenwriters rely only on the senses of sight and sound to tell their stories. They don't take advantage of the other senses -- touch, taste, smell -- to create a richly immersive narrative experience.
MacFarlane's prose, I should note, is perfectly serviceable -- it gets the job done -- but it isn't particularly polished or literary. Sympathy for the Devil succeeds on the strength of its story, not on the strength of the writing itself. (On the plus side: Because MacFarlane wrote this novelization himself, as opposed to outsourcing it to an author that specializes in media tie-ins, it captures the voices and perspectives of the show's characters with uncommon authenticity.)
In summary: This is a can't-miss supplemental novella for fans of The Orville, as good as any episode of New Horizons.
The series really came into its own with the recent third season, New Horizons, during which Sympathy for the Devil is set. The Orville is simply one of the best shows on TV right now, and certainly more Roddenberry-esque in style and spirit than any of the dreary Star Trek series airing currently, which are either exercises in "storyless" self-indulgence (Discovery) or point-and-clap nostalgia (Strange New Worlds) or both (Picard).
Sympathy for the Devil plays exactly like one of the feature-length episodes from New Horizons (no surprise, given that it was reportedly developed as a season-three script but went unproduced owed to pandemic-related travel restrictions). It's an engaging, exciting, thought-provoking story with no easy answers for its moral dilemma. You're better off knowing nothing about it before you read it. But it is absolutely worth your time.
I deducted a star from my rating only because MacFarlane's skills as a novelist -- I've also read A Million Ways to Die in the West (reviewed here) -- aren't particularly refined. He writes, understandably, like a screenwriter. Since a screenplay (or teleplay) is merely a list of things we see and hear, screenwriters rely only on the senses of sight and sound to tell their stories. They don't take advantage of the other senses -- touch, taste, smell -- to create a richly immersive narrative experience.
MacFarlane's prose, I should note, is perfectly serviceable -- it gets the job done -- but it isn't particularly polished or literary. Sympathy for the Devil succeeds on the strength of its story, not on the strength of the writing itself. (On the plus side: Because MacFarlane wrote this novelization himself, as opposed to outsourcing it to an author that specializes in media tie-ins, it captures the voices and perspectives of the show's characters with uncommon authenticity.)
In summary: This is a can't-miss supplemental novella for fans of The Orville, as good as any episode of New Horizons.
August 5, 2022
3/5
THE ORVILLE: SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL is a novella by Seth MacFarlane that is based around a really good concept and was meant to be an episode of the show. However, Covid-19 happened and they weren't able to finish it. Seth has stated he would make it into an episode if they ever get a season four but we don't know if that's going to happen after New Horizons. I also think they should make some major revisions to the story if they do it.
It's impossible to discuss the book without spoiling its major twist but it's a good twist so if you want to be completely surprised, don't read further. However, if you don't think spoilers are an impediment to enjoying a story then continue on. Okay? Everyone got that? Everyone ready? Good, let's go on.
The premise is that Otto is a young boy abandoned in America that is adopted by a German couple in the 1910s. Well, they return home and Otto is gradually radicalized by a certain National Socialist Party that proceeds to make him an SS officer. Yep, we're dealing with Nazis here and no metaphor or symbolism. Otto is genuine scum who has a wife and child that he loves but is the kind of guy who regularly kills Jews for a living. That's when we find out he's lived his entire life in a holodeck. Or whatever The Orville calls their holodecks.
Yes, Otto was a baby when his parents left him in the holodeck to look after him while they were being attacked by the Krill. The world's worst series of coincidences resulted in him ending up in Nazi Germany and becoming a pure example of what is worst in mankind. He's a mass murderer and war criminal as well as true believer: but he's never hurt anyone in his life.
Really, this is a fascinating story concept and actually one of the few ones I haven't seen for something like the holodeck in Star Trek. What do you do with a person who has been living in a video game his entire life but believes he's a killer of thousands? Is unrepentent about it? That his entire life until this point was a lie. Basically, you discover you're in The Matrix but you're an utter piece of crap who awakens in a Trekkian utopia.
The problem is that concept isn't given room to breathe. We get a bunch of information on how Otto turns from a sweet kid into a Nazi but none of it is necessary. Or interesting. Half the book is about his life growing up in Pre-WW2 Germany but literally, all of this could have been done in one scene instead of five or six.
Otto has a couple of scenes where he's upset at the Doctor and mad that the Germans lost the war but we really could have gotten a lot more into this. Really, one punch in the face and he's starting to realize he's a moron. However, we kind of skip over all the therapy and culture shock the guy had to go into as the book just says, "Yeah, this guy needs to be institutionalized." I mean, no shit Sherlock, but is that really the best way to write this story's end?
So, the book is...okay.
But underwhelming for a genuinely clever concept.
THE ORVILLE: SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL is a novella by Seth MacFarlane that is based around a really good concept and was meant to be an episode of the show. However, Covid-19 happened and they weren't able to finish it. Seth has stated he would make it into an episode if they ever get a season four but we don't know if that's going to happen after New Horizons. I also think they should make some major revisions to the story if they do it.
It's impossible to discuss the book without spoiling its major twist but it's a good twist so if you want to be completely surprised, don't read further. However, if you don't think spoilers are an impediment to enjoying a story then continue on. Okay? Everyone got that? Everyone ready? Good, let's go on.
The premise is that Otto is a young boy abandoned in America that is adopted by a German couple in the 1910s. Well, they return home and Otto is gradually radicalized by a certain National Socialist Party that proceeds to make him an SS officer. Yep, we're dealing with Nazis here and no metaphor or symbolism. Otto is genuine scum who has a wife and child that he loves but is the kind of guy who regularly kills Jews for a living. That's when we find out he's lived his entire life in a holodeck. Or whatever The Orville calls their holodecks.
Yes, Otto was a baby when his parents left him in the holodeck to look after him while they were being attacked by the Krill. The world's worst series of coincidences resulted in him ending up in Nazi Germany and becoming a pure example of what is worst in mankind. He's a mass murderer and war criminal as well as true believer: but he's never hurt anyone in his life.
Really, this is a fascinating story concept and actually one of the few ones I haven't seen for something like the holodeck in Star Trek. What do you do with a person who has been living in a video game his entire life but believes he's a killer of thousands? Is unrepentent about it? That his entire life until this point was a lie. Basically, you discover you're in The Matrix but you're an utter piece of crap who awakens in a Trekkian utopia.
The problem is that concept isn't given room to breathe. We get a bunch of information on how Otto turns from a sweet kid into a Nazi but none of it is necessary. Or interesting. Half the book is about his life growing up in Pre-WW2 Germany but literally, all of this could have been done in one scene instead of five or six.
Otto has a couple of scenes where he's upset at the Doctor and mad that the Germans lost the war but we really could have gotten a lot more into this. Really, one punch in the face and he's starting to realize he's a moron. However, we kind of skip over all the therapy and culture shock the guy had to go into as the book just says, "Yeah, this guy needs to be institutionalized." I mean, no shit Sherlock, but is that really the best way to write this story's end?
So, the book is...okay.
But underwhelming for a genuinely clever concept.
August 9, 2022
CWs: antisemitism, racism, reliving the Holocaust, violence
While I found the writing style easy to read, the subject matter was more difficult to stomach. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book that exists specifically as a tie-in for a TV show or movie, so I can’t compare my experience there. I did find the Orville characters consistent with how I see them on the show (which I expected based on the author) and I could easily imagine everything I read as if it were happening on screen. I would call this story compelling, but as a Jewish reader, it was not a light read.
While I found the writing style easy to read, the subject matter was more difficult to stomach. I don’t know if I’ve ever read a book that exists specifically as a tie-in for a TV show or movie, so I can’t compare my experience there. I did find the Orville characters consistent with how I see them on the show (which I expected based on the author) and I could easily imagine everything I read as if it were happening on screen. I would call this story compelling, but as a Jewish reader, it was not a light read.
August 13, 2022
I almost gave up on this book. Since it starts here, it’s not much of a spoiler to say the entire first half of the book takes place in Nazi Germany. It was so much so that I checked several times to make sure that I was not reading a different book than I thought I was. While there is a point to this, I don’t know why it took half of the book to establish it. I also think there were other ways to establish the point. Since half the book was taken up with establishing this back story, I found the resolution rather lackluster.
August 6, 2022
I actually thought I must have opened the wrong Kindle book when I hit the 20% mark of this but I hadn't.
It was really good. I am glad my husband heard about this "episode" and got us the book.
It was really good. I am glad my husband heard about this "episode" and got us the book.
August 20, 2022
WW2 story, not really much more!
The morale of the story is obvious and nothing to disagree with,
but I was hoping for a bit more sci-fi and less of yet another review of our demons from the past.
The morale of the story is obvious and nothing to disagree with,
but I was hoping for a bit more sci-fi and less of yet another review of our demons from the past.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 9, 2022
“Sympathy for the Devil” is a novella set during season 3 of “The Orville” by Seth MacFarlane following a young man named Otto living in Nazi Germany as he rises in station and becomes further indoctrinated into Nazi ideology.
And that is absolutely all I can say in regards to the plot. This story, wow, what a doozy! It’s absolutely insane, but so freaking good! According to Goodreads, this novella is set after season 3 episode 8 and it was actually a deleted episode due most likely to the COVID pandemic and set budgets. And what a shame this episode was cancelled because I think it would have been fascinating to see this play out with the actors and who would have been cast as Otto. I’m glad Seth MacFarlane was able to at least produce this as a novella.
Let me get into some of the pros and cons of this novella. I guess starting right there: this is a novella. The page time is just a tad bit over 100 pages. There’s not a lot of room for massive character development or for artistic writing. The writing is very standard and basic, nothing wildly special. It essentially reads like an episode going from one point to the next and you don’t get the benefit of having the performances of the actors to really bring the characters to life. Everything is very limited, I guess is the best way to describe it. Without spoiling anything (which is so incredibly hard with this story) I do need to mention something that may or may not turn you off from this story. You spend half the novella in the point of view of Otto. Characters from the Orville do not pop up until about the halfway point. You may be thinking, well that’s kind of weird, but trust me, once you get to the big reveal or twist of this story, it will be well worth it. We start the story off with a frantic woman brining him baby to a hotel and then she abandons him without any explanation. What follows is Otto’s story as he is taken in by a married couple and he is raised as their son. The narrative moves to Germany and we see Otto as he slowly becomes indoctrinated into the ideologies of Nazi Germany. We see that rise of hatred and prejudice that develops in him and what kind of monster that turns him into. Like I said, the entire first half of this story is all Otto, and you quite literally spend the entire time questioning where the Orville fits into all of this. For some readers, the first half may be a bit slow, may drag, may seem like a waste. But the narrative picks up immensely by the halfway point once you finally get some answers and you finally get to see all your favorite Orville characters. Season 3 at the time of writing this review has already concluded. If you did see season 3, you know very well the darker mood and tone the season took compared to the more light and comedic first two seasons. You can see very clearly how well “Sympathy for the Devil” would have fit into season 3, seeing as how it’s dealing with the very heavy topic of indoctrination. Every episode in season 3 did a wonderful job of really diving into some tough, uncomfortable issues, and it did a great job of trying to stay as balanced as it could and explore all the different sides of a situation and the different points of view. The big reveal and twist of “Sympathy for the Devil” was a brilliant way to discuss the issues of indoctrination and hatred and prejudice, and questioning where to place the blame and is there ever a way to forgiveness and atonement.
I definitely recommend this novella if you have the desire to consume all media with the Orville. I only spent $5 dollars on this and it was worth it in my opinion. I think readers just need to be prepared to spend half the story with Otto and be patient. There’s a rather emotional, thought-provoking sentiment spread through the story. I highly enjoyed it and the questions and commentary it was presenting and if Seth MacFarlane ever has the chance to revisit this story and have it filmed, I’d love that.
And that is absolutely all I can say in regards to the plot. This story, wow, what a doozy! It’s absolutely insane, but so freaking good! According to Goodreads, this novella is set after season 3 episode 8 and it was actually a deleted episode due most likely to the COVID pandemic and set budgets. And what a shame this episode was cancelled because I think it would have been fascinating to see this play out with the actors and who would have been cast as Otto. I’m glad Seth MacFarlane was able to at least produce this as a novella.
Let me get into some of the pros and cons of this novella. I guess starting right there: this is a novella. The page time is just a tad bit over 100 pages. There’s not a lot of room for massive character development or for artistic writing. The writing is very standard and basic, nothing wildly special. It essentially reads like an episode going from one point to the next and you don’t get the benefit of having the performances of the actors to really bring the characters to life. Everything is very limited, I guess is the best way to describe it. Without spoiling anything (which is so incredibly hard with this story) I do need to mention something that may or may not turn you off from this story. You spend half the novella in the point of view of Otto. Characters from the Orville do not pop up until about the halfway point. You may be thinking, well that’s kind of weird, but trust me, once you get to the big reveal or twist of this story, it will be well worth it. We start the story off with a frantic woman brining him baby to a hotel and then she abandons him without any explanation. What follows is Otto’s story as he is taken in by a married couple and he is raised as their son. The narrative moves to Germany and we see Otto as he slowly becomes indoctrinated into the ideologies of Nazi Germany. We see that rise of hatred and prejudice that develops in him and what kind of monster that turns him into. Like I said, the entire first half of this story is all Otto, and you quite literally spend the entire time questioning where the Orville fits into all of this. For some readers, the first half may be a bit slow, may drag, may seem like a waste. But the narrative picks up immensely by the halfway point once you finally get some answers and you finally get to see all your favorite Orville characters. Season 3 at the time of writing this review has already concluded. If you did see season 3, you know very well the darker mood and tone the season took compared to the more light and comedic first two seasons. You can see very clearly how well “Sympathy for the Devil” would have fit into season 3, seeing as how it’s dealing with the very heavy topic of indoctrination. Every episode in season 3 did a wonderful job of really diving into some tough, uncomfortable issues, and it did a great job of trying to stay as balanced as it could and explore all the different sides of a situation and the different points of view. The big reveal and twist of “Sympathy for the Devil” was a brilliant way to discuss the issues of indoctrination and hatred and prejudice, and questioning where to place the blame and is there ever a way to forgiveness and atonement.
I definitely recommend this novella if you have the desire to consume all media with the Orville. I only spent $5 dollars on this and it was worth it in my opinion. I think readers just need to be prepared to spend half the story with Otto and be patient. There’s a rather emotional, thought-provoking sentiment spread through the story. I highly enjoyed it and the questions and commentary it was presenting and if Seth MacFarlane ever has the chance to revisit this story and have it filmed, I’d love that.
September 7, 2022
This originally appeared at The Irresponsible Reader.
---
THE "BACK" OF THE BOOK
Here's what the Publisher said about the book, anything I say will ruin the book (and not because it put me in a foul mood):
THE ORVILLE
I watched all three seasons of the show this year, after putting it off since I started to hear positive things about Season 1. I really appreciated most of this not-Star Trek, although like the show it totally isn't ripping off,* it's not perfect.
* Wink.
One thing that The Orville surpasses its inspiration in is its sanctimoniousness. When this show gets preachy, there's nothing that compete with it. For the most part, I could endure those episodes, but a couple of them got pretty difficult. The last half of this book was pretty much one of those episodes. It's a lot harder to tolerate without F/X to look at.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL?
There was almost nothing about this that made it an Orville story. Maybe others can describe this without giving everything away, but I can't. Sure, every primary cast member from season 3 is in the novella—and some characters from other seasons are mentioned—so it's technically an Orville story, but just technically. A good tie-in story should feel like a long or an in-depth version of the source IP. This couldn't feel less like an episode.
And the writing? It was clearly written by someone who doesn't do prose that often—scripts, sure. It was lazy writing, the descriptions of characters were clunky, the dialogue was iffy, and the pacing was poor. We don't see a single character from the show until the 50% point.
Would I read another novella set in this universe? Oh, absolutely. Even another one by MacFarlane. I like the universe enough to give it another try. I just hope it's a fun, SF adventure next time (maybe even with a touch of the condescension, it's what the viewers expect). The only thing that was clearly delivered was the message.
---
THE "BACK" OF THE BOOK
Here's what the Publisher said about the book, anything I say will ruin the book (and not because it put me in a foul mood):
An original novella set in season three of The Orville—straight from the pen of Seth MacFarlane, creator of the beloved sci-fi TV show!
When Captain Ed Mercer and the crew of the U.S.S. Orville come face-to-face with one of humanity’s most vile ideologies, they must solve the moral conundrum of who to hold accountable for evil deeds real… and imagined. Occurring just after episode 308, this is the Orville like you’ve never seen it before.
THE ORVILLE
I watched all three seasons of the show this year, after putting it off since I started to hear positive things about Season 1. I really appreciated most of this not-Star Trek, although like the show it totally isn't ripping off,* it's not perfect.
* Wink.
One thing that The Orville surpasses its inspiration in is its sanctimoniousness. When this show gets preachy, there's nothing that compete with it. For the most part, I could endure those episodes, but a couple of them got pretty difficult. The last half of this book was pretty much one of those episodes. It's a lot harder to tolerate without F/X to look at.
SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT SYMPATHY FOR THE DEVIL?
There was almost nothing about this that made it an Orville story. Maybe others can describe this without giving everything away, but I can't. Sure, every primary cast member from season 3 is in the novella—and some characters from other seasons are mentioned—so it's technically an Orville story, but just technically. A good tie-in story should feel like a long or an in-depth version of the source IP. This couldn't feel less like an episode.
And the writing? It was clearly written by someone who doesn't do prose that often—scripts, sure. It was lazy writing, the descriptions of characters were clunky, the dialogue was iffy, and the pacing was poor. We don't see a single character from the show until the 50% point.
Would I read another novella set in this universe? Oh, absolutely. Even another one by MacFarlane. I like the universe enough to give it another try. I just hope it's a fun, SF adventure next time (maybe even with a touch of the condescension, it's what the viewers expect). The only thing that was clearly delivered was the message.
March 10, 2025
One of the big problems I have with any series is that there is a tendency to subvert the internal rules for the sake of a "good story". More often than not, the story isn't that good, and breaking the rules just irritates the fans.
In this case, the writers wanted to explore what were to happen if a child was left to be raised by the holo-deck/simulator. Interesting concept, but for me it went off the rails pretty quickly. Why would the software veer off from a Roaring twenties/USA-based simulation to the beginnings of Nazi Germany instead of The Great Gatsby, or The Grapes of Wrath (if we wanted to get dark)? Why would the software go in any direction that would be mentally detrimental to any occupant of the simulator?
In previous episodes of The Orville the programs that were run in the simulator seems to take a fair bit of time and trouble to create. I wouldn't expect it to be able to veer away from the original "New York Hotel" premise in such a drastic fashion.
After he was discovered, it makes more sense to leave Otto in the simulator for a year or two and influence the simulator program such that the war winds down quickly and he begins to learn that his attitudes towards Jews was wrong, rather than just pulling him out.
It wouldn't have been an exciting adventure on a space ship, but it would have made more sense.
Like the renaissance man that he is, Seth MacFarlane's writing is as good as his singing and acting and and.... So no complaints there. It was like an extra episode in my head. I just think the subject matter should have been looked at from a different angle.
In this case, the writers wanted to explore what were to happen if a child was left to be raised by the holo-deck/simulator. Interesting concept, but for me it went off the rails pretty quickly. Why would the software veer off from a Roaring twenties/USA-based simulation to the beginnings of Nazi Germany instead of The Great Gatsby, or The Grapes of Wrath (if we wanted to get dark)? Why would the software go in any direction that would be mentally detrimental to any occupant of the simulator?
In previous episodes of The Orville the programs that were run in the simulator seems to take a fair bit of time and trouble to create. I wouldn't expect it to be able to veer away from the original "New York Hotel" premise in such a drastic fashion.
After he was discovered, it makes more sense to leave Otto in the simulator for a year or two and influence the simulator program such that the war winds down quickly and he begins to learn that his attitudes towards Jews was wrong, rather than just pulling him out.
It wouldn't have been an exciting adventure on a space ship, but it would have made more sense.
Like the renaissance man that he is, Seth MacFarlane's writing is as good as his singing and acting and and.... So no complaints there. It was like an extra episode in my head. I just think the subject matter should have been looked at from a different angle.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 2, 2022
This is a weird one to review. It doesn't feel entirely fleshed out, and it doesn't entirely stand on its own. But it's not supposed to, it's a treat for Orville fans so that they can still get an episode that was canned due to limitations during the pandemic.
It spends a lot of time setting up the premise of the episode, and doesn't really have any subplots. I don't think we see any Orville characters until just over halfway through. So I expect the pacing is a bit odd as they chopped out subplots on the ship for potential use later, and let the novella focus more on the situation of the main character. To be honest, I found the first half of the book hard going as is incredibly overdone, and I thought the book was going in a slightly different direction with what would be discovered.
The writing is fine, but again leans on you knowing the Orville to get the best understanding of the characters, but you could read this with no other knowledge and pick it up. I found some of the writing a bit stodgy at times. Personally, I would have preferred a more open-ended ending as well, and I think that would have been stronger.
However, the actual concept of the novella is a fantastic premise, and the kind of interesting philosophical dilemma that makes shows like the Orville and Star Trek so interesting. That and the fact it's quite short to get through made it a worthwhile read, and although I'm glad we got this novella, I'm sad we didn't get an actual episode.
It spends a lot of time setting up the premise of the episode, and doesn't really have any subplots. I don't think we see any Orville characters until just over halfway through. So I expect the pacing is a bit odd as they chopped out subplots on the ship for potential use later, and let the novella focus more on the situation of the main character. To be honest, I found the first half of the book hard going as is incredibly overdone, and I thought the book was going in a slightly different direction with what would be discovered.
The writing is fine, but again leans on you knowing the Orville to get the best understanding of the characters, but you could read this with no other knowledge and pick it up. I found some of the writing a bit stodgy at times. Personally, I would have preferred a more open-ended ending as well, and I think that would have been stronger.
However, the actual concept of the novella is a fantastic premise, and the kind of interesting philosophical dilemma that makes shows like the Orville and Star Trek so interesting. That and the fact it's quite short to get through made it a worthwhile read, and although I'm glad we got this novella, I'm sad we didn't get an actual episode.
July 26, 2022
I was pleasantly surprised by how thoughtfully well-written it was. With that said, Nazis? The American obsession with them is as disturbing as it is boring. The moralizing glance seems tangled up in a fascinated, vicarious gratification in the subject matter. I felt the same way about the show "special victims unit." Is displaying the harm this way, no matter how well-intentioned, less damaging or opportunistic? Every time we dredge this up to say "never again," it is, of course, happening again - in a symbolic way. Not to suggest that ignorance and denial are a better choice, just maybe less voyeuristic? I guess it's about the ratio of respect and gravitas. I don't have the answers, but somehow exploiting tragedy for pedagogic entertainment feels hurtful - traumatic even. Yet. Art is supposed to make you uncomfortable. It is supposed to smack you out of your complacency, but where do we draw the line? As this story points out, just because it's "a simulation" doesn't mean it's not dangerously real.
Now I can only conclude by saying I love Orville, no matter how complicated our relationship became in season 3.
Now I can only conclude by saying I love Orville, no matter how complicated our relationship became in season 3.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 5, 2022
Spoilers, obviously.
Circa 1914, an infant is dropped off in the lobby of a fancy hotel in New York. A decision is made by the staff to offer him to a German couple who recently lost their own young child.
The child grows. And ages. Time marches on. And if you know your 20th-century history, you can guess what a kid born around 1914 and raised by Germans might get into in the 1930s and 1940s.
There is so much focus on the boy's upbringing that by the time Ed and Kelly of the Orville finally show up, I was seriously wondering if the wrong book had been delivered.
My understanding is this had been intended to be an episode of The Orville. I'm certain that had they filmed it, there would have been differences. Visually, it would have been an easy Tell to make Adam stand out in the simulation - non human, for example. Also, there's no way they could have made an uninterrupted run of the story the way the novella did before introducing the Orville twist; there's too much lead.
It's an intriguing premise. But for me, it's only half a story. The real story for me would be the story of how Adam - the son left in the simulation for his safety - and Otto, the accidental Nazi, eventually synthesized and reconciled. That could be well handled in a full novel, but it stopped before the hard work had a chance to begin.
Episodic television can only do so much. The third season finale of the Orville handles the Union's version of the Prime Directive (non-interference in developing cultures) as well as any episode of Star Trek. The show is often jarringly colloquial, so you have military officers goofing like Millennials at a bachelorette party along with a barista/refugee from a planet in dire straits (due to a terminal case of upvote/downvote culture) dressed like a floor manager at Forever 21. Serious, serious topics, but with a cadence I often find jarring.
Circa 1914, an infant is dropped off in the lobby of a fancy hotel in New York. A decision is made by the staff to offer him to a German couple who recently lost their own young child.
The child grows. And ages. Time marches on. And if you know your 20th-century history, you can guess what a kid born around 1914 and raised by Germans might get into in the 1930s and 1940s.
There is so much focus on the boy's upbringing that by the time Ed and Kelly of the Orville finally show up, I was seriously wondering if the wrong book had been delivered.
My understanding is this had been intended to be an episode of The Orville. I'm certain that had they filmed it, there would have been differences. Visually, it would have been an easy Tell to make Adam stand out in the simulation - non human, for example. Also, there's no way they could have made an uninterrupted run of the story the way the novella did before introducing the Orville twist; there's too much lead.
It's an intriguing premise. But for me, it's only half a story. The real story for me would be the story of how Adam - the son left in the simulation for his safety - and Otto, the accidental Nazi, eventually synthesized and reconciled. That could be well handled in a full novel, but it stopped before the hard work had a chance to begin.
Episodic television can only do so much. The third season finale of the Orville handles the Union's version of the Prime Directive (non-interference in developing cultures) as well as any episode of Star Trek. The show is often jarringly colloquial, so you have military officers goofing like Millennials at a bachelorette party along with a barista/refugee from a planet in dire straits (due to a terminal case of upvote/downvote culture) dressed like a floor manager at Forever 21. Serious, serious topics, but with a cadence I often find jarring.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
September 13, 2024
4 Stars! Pretty solid novella. I was wondering if I was reading the right book for a while haha. Not at all what I was expecting. But then about halfway through it all starts to make sense. Pretty crazy and really makes you think... Seth MacFarlane can really do it all haha. Enjoy!
Quotes:
- “Military geniuses are unpredictable. But so are madmen. If you can’t tell the difference, you’re playing Russian roulette.” (p39)
- “If you can put yourself in the other guy’s shoes, you can walk a lot farther.” (p92)
- “I guess it just depends on your opinion of the fundamental nature of wrongdoing: Is a crime defined by the act itself? Or by the harm it does to others? If you can resolve that conundrum, then you have your answer.” (p103)
Quotes:
- “Military geniuses are unpredictable. But so are madmen. If you can’t tell the difference, you’re playing Russian roulette.” (p39)
- “If you can put yourself in the other guy’s shoes, you can walk a lot farther.” (p92)
- “I guess it just depends on your opinion of the fundamental nature of wrongdoing: Is a crime defined by the act itself? Or by the harm it does to others? If you can resolve that conundrum, then you have your answer.” (p103)
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