The Change (Alien Nation #4) [Paperback]

Barry B. Longyear (Author)

Book Description

Series: Alien Nation | Publication Date: March 1, 1994

"The Change" is one of a small number of scripts developed by the producers and staff of "Alien Nation" -- scripts never televised because of the show's early demise. A piece of history for "Alien Nation" fans, "the Change" provides an incredible glimpse at an "Alien Nation" story that never was. Critically acclaimed science fiction novelist Barry B. Longyear brings to life an exciting story in which Newcomer police detective George Francisco undergoes a startling metamorphosis that will either mean his death or the beginning of a new life. In the midst of this time of change, George must also face a vicious, unstoppable killer from his past who has sworn a deadly revenge on George and everyone he cares for...

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

The Change is one of a small number of scripts developed by the producers and staff of Alien Nation-- scripts never televised because of the show's early demise. A piece of history for Alien Nation fans, the Change provides an incredible glimpse at an Alien Nation story that never was. Critically acclaimed science fiction novelist Barry B. Longyear brings to life an exciting story in which Newcomer police detective George Francisco undergoes a startling metamorphosis that will either mean his death or the beginning of a new life. In the midst of this time of change, George must also face a vicious, unstoppable killer from his past who has sworn a deadly revenge on George and everyone he cares for...

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Pocket; Mti edition (March 1, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671736027
• ISBN-13: 978-0671736026
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 4.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,012,084 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Hugo & Nebula winning author of Enemy Mine (made into a major motion picture by Fox)

BARRY B. LONGYEAR is the first writer to win the Hugo, Nebula, and John W. Campbell Award for Best New Writer all in the same year. In addition to his acclaimed Enemy Mine Series, his works include the classic Sea of Glass and Infinity Hold series, SF & fantasy novels, recovery and writing instruction works, and numerous short stories.


Nominations and Awards*:

1979 (Nomination) John W. Campbell Award for best new writer.
1979 John W. Campbell Award for best new writer.
1979 Hugo Award, best novella, "Enemy Mine."
1979 Nebula Award, best novella, "Enemy Mine."
1979 Locus Award, best novella, "Enemy Mine."

1979 (Nomination) Hugo Award, best novelette, "Homecoming."
1980 (Nomination), Hugo Award, best novelette, "Savage Planet."
1980 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novelette, "Savage Planet."
1980 (Nomination), AnLab Award, best novelette, "Savage Planet."
1981 (Nomination) Locus Award, Single Author Collection, Manifest Destiny.

1981 Distinguished Achievement Award, University of Maine at Farmington.

1982 (Nomination), AnLab Award, best short story, "Collector's Item."
1984 (Nomination) Prometheus Award, best novel, The Tomorrow Testament.

1990 (Finalist) Philip K. Dick Award, best novel, Infinity Hold.

1990 (Nomination) Prometheus Award, best novel, Infinity Hold.
1991 (Nomination) Prometheus Hall of Fame, Circus World.

1993 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novelette, "Chimaera."
1994 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novelette, "The Death Addict."

1999 (Nomination) Prometheus Hall of Fame, Circus World.

2002 (Nomination), Locus Award, best novella, "Silent Her."

2006 AnLab Award, best novella, "The Good Kill."
2007 AnLab Award, best novella, "Murder in Parliament Street."

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Would have been better written by someone else, May 31, 2007

By 

D. Anastasi "Charmed" (WI) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Change (Alien Nation #4) (Paperback)

I have no clue where Longyear got off changing George's name from Stangya to "Nicto". He obviously didn't do enough research in writing this book. The dialogue is off and you really can't imagine the characters saying things that Longyear had them say. Longyear did a discredit to Alien Nation fans with this book.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Could have been better, August 13, 2001

By A Customer

This review is from: The Change (Alien Nation #4) (Paperback)

The idea of this book is very good, however the auther changed a lot of material that never should change (like George's Tenctonese name) For the longest time I didn't know who they were talking about. It was a good story overall, but common alien nation themes like George's tenctonese name being Stangya, should never be changed. Other than that it was a good book.

3.0 out of 5 stars Did this author even watch the show?, June 23, 2007

By 

Evan the Dweezil (A Place-Sort Of, Montana) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Change (Alien Nation #4) (Paperback)

For a novel that was written based on an extant script, it makes me wonder if this author had ever seen the show, or the original feature film, since he obviously couldn't get everything out of the directions in the script.

The story itself is a good idea that would have made a great episode. The other reviewers have pointed out how George's given name has been changed and language patterns. Also, there felt like there was a lot of missing action that had to be dropped in order to keep the book below a certain word count. All you have to do is read the last chapter and wonder just how on earth that concluding scene in the hospital went off so quickly. It would have been better written by someone who was more familiar with the Alien Nation universe and the fanbase.