Customer Reviews

V: The Original Miniseries

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

Please be aware that this is not the original version of the book. It claims to be the full mini-series but actually what it contains is the first mini-series and an epilogue. The epilogue re-writes the original ending and prepares the reader for the new book recently published by Johnson. I was very disappointed that there was no warning that the book had been extensively altered.

I am both a fan of "V" (mini-series & the TV series that followed it) and of pretty much anything A.C. Crispin writes. I was thrilled when I noticed that A.C. Crispin's novel "V" was being released in Kindle form and purchased it right away. Unfortunately, this is not the full novel - this is just the mini-series version, which ends halfway through the story. I returned the book and will be the first in line to buy the novel if it's ever released.

I have seen all of the movies, as well as the TV series, and I've read both of the books. One of my favorite shows is the current series, which I think will be an even bigger hit.

I am a fan, and I am a big fan, because this series is very consistent when it comes to great story telling. It has a great concept, and the writing is consistently good even when Kenneth Johnson isn't involved in the process.

The first book, as well as the movie are pretty similar except for the ending. Johnson does introduce an additional element into the book that doesn't occur in the movie. It's just as well because for those who understand the "deux de machine" literary technique, introducing something into a story line to rescue the heroes, rather than having the heroes extricate themselves from their dilemma, does detract from the story. This story is no different.

If you love science fiction, you will love this, and if you love science fiction with political undertones, even better. This story line is especially relevant these days with all of the political upheaval in the world, including in the United States.

I highly recommend both of the books, even though the second book has nothing to do with the second movie, and the movies. This is a series with a message, and it's a message that's relevant today. It's also entertaining, which makes it well worth reading/watching. Definitely one of my all time favorite fiction series.

Also recommended:

V: The Second Generation

(Please note: the second book is totally different from the second movie. Many of the things that happened in the movie never happen in this book, but if you like good story telling and enjoyable entertainment, then read it.)

A legendary book for a generation. I wish that this book could be on the big screen with today's modern technological wonders on film. It would dwarf the joke of a mini-series on TV today by a trillion miles.

I rated this a 3 because of the beloved 80's TV mini-series, of which this is an almost word for word tie-in book. I was however misled by the promise for an new, ending. It was only a few pages and hardly worth the cost of the purchase.

This is a great piece of science fiction, with overtones of World War Two - Only this time, it's not the Jewish nation that is being persicuted, it's our scientific community! Kenneth Johnson has created a story which (although written for the small screen) was later completly ripped off by the writers of Independence Day. A great story which spawned a just as impressive sequeul (V: The Second Generation) is well worth a read and comes highly recommended from this avid SF reader.

One minute cameraman Mike Donovan and his co-worker Tony Wah Chong are filming a skirmish in El Salvador and in the next all activities halt as a space ship five miles in diameter hovers in the sky. Ships like this vessel are floating above every major city in the world and a voice asks for the United Nations Secretary-General to meet with them in one of their smaller crafts. They insist they come in peace having come to earth seeking help in creating a chemical needed on their homeworld; in return they will provide major advances in technology.

They are welcomed as friends and not even the disappearances of scientists seem to disturb anyone. Mike sneaks aboard one of the alien's ships where he sees the Visitors; when he gets into a fight with one of them, the Visitor's skin peels off leaving a sentient lizard with large veracious eyes. Mike escapes with the film he took on board. Soon an underground resistance forms with people risking their lives to get the planet free of the Visitors who are stealing the water and using people as sustenance.

It has been several years (perhaps decades) since this reviewer watched the original miniseries, but this fine science fiction rendition captures the essence of the TV show. The Visitors turn earth into a totalitarian state so they use the planet as a feeding ground. The resistance grows as more people understand the truth. Fans of the saga will appreciate the collaboration of Kenneth Johnson and A.C. Crispin as they convert the exciting V: THE ORIGINAL MINISERIES into an entertaining novel.

Harriet Klausner