Battlestar Galactica 3: The Tombs of Kobol By Robert Thurston
Prologue + 20 Chapters + Epilogue, 215 pages
Adapted from the episodes “Lost Planet of the Gods” written by Glen Larson and Donald Bellisario
A Berkley book, first printing September 1979
The novel begins with a prologue detailing Baltar’s stay of execution. It is ordered by Lucifer whom he meets and then begins to force Baltar into a lengthy series of exercises to get him in physical shape. Ultimately he is brought before the Imperious Leader where he is granted his own Basetar including, per his demands, a high throne.
As the novel begins Apollo, in a flash-forward, is listening to crystal recordings Serina made about the events of the episode. She reveals to Cassiopeia the details of Apollo’s proposal. Most of Serina’s POV are provided by these crystals. Though the narrative does shift back and forth.
Starbuck and Apollo discover a magnetic void. Boomer and Jolly contract a virus that incapacitates the fleet’s warriors and necessitates the recruitment of inexperienced pilots.
The female pilots are trained and launch a successful attack on the Cylon outpost where the virus was picked up. Starbuck is lost on a scouting mission to the void and captured by the Cylons. After that the Galactica enters the magnetic void and, during Apollo and Serina’s wedding the star pulses to guide them to Kobol.
The Galactica lands a contingent of warriors on Kobol. Adama, Apollo and Serina explore the ruins of the tomb of the last Lord of Kobol where they encounter Baltar. Prior to that, Starbuck is released by Baltar, after hearing Baltar’s claims of innocence and a plea to lead the Galactica to victory over the Cylons.
Against Baltar’s wishes, Lucifer launches an attack on Kobol. The attack destroys the tablet which contains the information about the 13th tribe that Adama had searched for. Baltar is trapped beneath fallen columns and the others return to the surface.
The warriors scramble and are almost overwhelmed until the recovered pilots from the Galactica join the fight and repel the Cylons. On the surface a few centurions engage in a firefight with the colonials. Serina is mortally wounded.
Onboard the Galactica, Serina dies and Apollo comforts Boxey, vowing to be his father.
The fleet leaves the void and continues on its journey.
The novels ends with an epilogue, again with Baltar, where he is rescued form his entrapment by Lucifer and returned to his Basestar.
* * *
The novel does a good job of getting into the heads and thoughts of some of the characters. Particularly Apollo as he’s reviewing the crystals, Serina as she’s recording to the crystals, Gemi and even the virus itself! We gain insight that wasn’t in the episode proper. A good read, Four Stars!
***
CONTINUITY NOTES
We learn a bit of Baltar’s backstory in that he and Adama were rivals at the Academy where they were both cadets. Baltar was expelled from the Academy for “tinkering with the test-computer.” (A note that this was a couple of years before we would first learn of the Kobayashi Maru in Star Trek II.) After his expulsion he became a politician and amassed wealth.
About a third of the way in the novel introduces the character of Gemi. Gemi is a female pilot trainee who has a case of unrequited love for Starbuck. Ultimately, Gemi dies in the fight over Kobol. Starbuck never knows who she is.
Serina says Boxey has let it be known that he is now her “real son” unlike the first novel. This brings the story more inline with the series.
Boomer thinks about how the foundry ships are building new vipers with mixed results.
Cassiopea notes that the Fleet Council has outlawed socialators.
Lucifer has created a “soul” for himself that he keeps in his shoulder
The ruins of a “modern” city are detected on Kobol. So the entire planet was not like ancient Egypt. Unfortunately Adama decides there is not enough time to explore the entire planet and concentrates on the ancient city.
Adama explains to Serina why the “old gods” were left behind and how the colonials moved to monotheism from polytheism
Written by Erik Matthews