So Say We All: An Unauthorized Collection of Thoughts and Opinions on Battlestar Galactica (Smart Pop series) [Paperback]

Richard Hatch (Editor)

Book Description

Series: Smart Pop series | Publication Date: September 10, 2006

** COMPLETELY UNAUTHORIZED **

 

The science-fiction television series Battlestar Galactica is known for raising thought-provoking questions concerning martial law, artificial intelligence, power and corruption, and ultimately what it means to be human. What ethical complexities come into play when one mistake could mean the anihilation of the human race? How do you maintain faith in the Gods when you're involved in an Armageddon of your own creation? What is the distinction between a terrorist and a freedom fighter? These questions are given an intelligent and insightful examination in this engaging collection of essays.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Richard Hatch portrayed Apollo on the original Battlestar Galactica and Tom Zarek on the revised Battlestar Galactica. He has appeared on the television shows All My Children and The Streets of San Francisco.

Product Details

• Paperback: 264 pages
• Publisher: Smart Pop (September 10, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1932100946
• ISBN-13: 978-1932100945
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.3 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #308,537 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

I spent fifteen years consulting and running management consultancies in Chicago, Dallas and London. In a burst of mid-life crisis, I chucked it to start BenBella Books, a traditional publishing house. Starting a old-fashioned publishing firm in the 21st century is crazy, I know, but it's turned out to be one of the best things I ever did.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

38 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Challenges you, just like the show. Way better than the "official guides", January 19, 2007

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Traveler (New England) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

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This review is from: So Say We All: An Unauthorized Collection of Thoughts and Opinions on Battlestar Galactica (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)

I recently purchased both season 1 and season 2 "official guides" and was immediately disappointed by the lack of intelligent content. There were a few tidbits of information about the producers' perception and experiences in creating specific episodes, but I was so disappointed by a lack of meaty material and the excessive number of PR photos which showed us nothing new about the show, the actors or the creative process.

Battlestar Galactica reminds me a little bit of how The Simpsons is always saying more than you think. You watch and you know there's something metaphorical going on, but not sure what it is at all times. That's why the official Simpsons guides are so great - the point out the references and allusions you might have missed.

This supposed "unauthorized" collection of thoughts and opinions has the content I was looking for. Right out of the gate the first writer, Eric Greene, talks about terrorism, 9-11, human rights and a myriad of current events and how they're dealt with in the show. It challenges you. For example, as admirable as President Roslin is, she clearly violates her stated beliefs of supporting democracy. Just like the show, the author doesn't let you off the hook. It demands that you look at the situation in its entirety and admit that maybe what you emotionally want isn't exactly what you say you believe.

This first essay even offers a few examples of metaphor that I know I missed entirely. The assassination of Boomer on Galactica? Think 1963 in a parking garage when a man named Jack Ruby decides to take matters into his own hands.

"So Say We All" even pushes the buttons of its own audience by including an essay entitled "GINO" or "Galactica in Name Only." It's an in your face negative review of the modern BSG and praise of the original (which I personally find to be campy nonsense). I have to respect a book more when it's willing to include material that bashes the very show it's trying to praise.

That's the kind of content I wanted from the "official guides." BSG is a political show for our times. At times it's liberal, at times it's conservative, at times it's in the middle. Part of that process is not taking the easy route. It means challenging its audience to think and examine their own beliefs. And that's exactly what "So Say We All" does as a book. I highly recommend it.

6 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughtful Essays, March 12, 2007

By 

Mary L Wagner (Fayetteville, NC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: So Say We All: An Unauthorized Collection of Thoughts and Opinions on Battlestar Galactica (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)

Overall well-written, thoughtful essays, on a variety of aspects of the show - religion, gender roles, the media, politics, psychology.

A few too many of them focused on the show's relevance to current politics, which, please, I am SO tired of people on both sides of the Iraq War fussing at how some movie or TV show is so "liberal" or so "conservative," didn't anyone ever hear about classical themes?

I would have liked more humor, even given the general darkness of the show. The only "funny" essay was the one that placed characters into different jobs, which I thought was thoroughly un-funny, and the weakest essay of the book. I liked the inclusion of a negative essay, a bold move but one that made me appreciate the updated show more.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thought provocing and fun, January 10, 2007

By 

Kelly Schittenhelm "ldympr" (Seward, Alaska United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: So Say We All: An Unauthorized Collection of Thoughts and Opinions on Battlestar Galactica (Smart Pop series) (Paperback)

Being a huge fan of the 78 series, I was interested in the "remake" of Battlestar. Needless to say, I am completly hooked. I recieved this book for Christmas, as sort of a joke from my family. The book is very interesting with essays from all sorts of people who are highly respected by their peers. I found the stories to be thought provoking, insightful and some of them are very funny. I am glad that I got this book and have enjoyed reading it. One essay is wrong on the cylon numbers but can be forgiven by the overall subject.