Forums 4 Fans » Television » Roswell (2)

Topic Subject: roswell book discussion #3

Posted 04-13-2003 10:19 PM by black widow    
here's the place to continue discussion of all the books related to roswell ... the roswell high series by melinda metz, the new tv-tie in books currently in release, and the other books related to the show (crash into me, the roswell trivia book, etc).

confused by all the different titles? check out the wonderful web page prometheus created -- it'll help straighten things out!

Posted 04-13-2003 11:09 PM by shapeshifter    
Thanks for starting the new thread, black widow!

On page 160 of Quarantine we learn that Max is able to perform what amounts to DNA surgery on Liz to heal the genetic defect/injury. In a way, this is a terrific example of classic science fiction that predicts the future--like Jules Verne's book about submarine travel that predated the invention of the submarine. But this would also mean that Max has a really big responsibility to the world. When he healed the children in the cancer ward, it was basically the same thing. And all of this fits with the ability to "modify molecular structures" as he explains to Liz in Pilot. But it still seems like a difficult super power to write about in a teen novel. I don't think the Metz books had him doing such delicate manipulations. But still, I guess it fits that as he matures, he could do more.

Posted 04-15-2003 11:16 AM by PrometheusUFO    
The cover art for Pursuit:
IMAGE: images.amazon.com/images/P/0689855222.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg

Very cool.

And a description for Nightscape from BooksAMillion:
"When Liz sees visions of danger and destruction, it becomes clear the battles the group fought back in Roswell aren't over. And while the pod squad knows they have changed their destiny by leaving Roswell, they begin to wonder how much they really are in control."

[ 04-15-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 04-15-2003 11:53 AM by TobAng    
quote:
Originally posted by PrometheusUFO:

And a description for Nightscape from BooksAMillion:
"When Liz sees visions of danger and destruction, it becomes clear the battles the group fought back in Roswell aren't over. And while the pod squad knows they have changed their destiny by leaving Roswell, they begin to wonder how much they really are in control."


can't wait to get that one, or Pursuit either

Posted 04-15-2003 10:30 PM by Eidolon14    
It's interesting to know that most of us can make better graphics than the people who get paid to design them.

But anyways, this is off topic, but did anyone happen to see Smallville tonight? I was doing homework and I was choosing between Platinum, the "critically acclaimed" hip hop show on UPN, and Smallville. Yeah, so Smallville. A kid healed someone. Healing is Max's thing. Yes, it's classic sci-fi. But it seems like Smallville is just a way for the WB to get back at Roswell.

Posted 04-16-2003 01:22 AM by black widow    
you're right -- the smallville stuff is OT, so let's please leave it at that, as the WB/smallville/roswell thing has been discussed to death about a million times on this board over the past couple of years and it rarely ends well.

the book cover for 'pursuit' looks pretty cool--i'm interested in what they do with post season 3 books, because there no longer is current canon to draw storylines from, the writers are free to make stuff up that doesn't need to dovetail with anything currently happening on screen. not that they haven't been doing this already, but it was different when the show was on the air, because there was always new canon to be taken into consideration, and now they have free reign to do whatever they want in the books (i'm not articulating this well--it's late, and i'm tired! ).

Posted 04-16-2003 10:38 AM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by black widow:
the book cover for 'pursuit' looks pretty cool--i'm interested in what they do with post season 3 books, because there no longer is current canon to draw storylines from, the writers are free to make stuff up that doesn't need to dovetail with anything currently happening on screen.

Looks to me, Pursuit may have something to do with computers and/or the internet, since there's a mouse and @'s on the cover and all.

[ 04-16-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 04-16-2003 02:07 PM by Eidolon14    
Sorry, black widow.

Yep. Looks interesting. I wonder what kind of alien mishap will happen in Pursuit

Posted 04-16-2003 05:50 PM by shapeshifter    
Eidolon14, You might want to visit the Rosvillions thread on the FF Smallville board. I posted about yesterday's SV ep & it's similarities to Roswell eps over there.


quote:
Originally posted by black widow:
...i'm interested in what they do with post season 3 books, because there no longer is current canon to draw storylines from, the writers are free to make stuff up that doesn't need to dovetail with anything currently happening on screen. not that they haven't been doing this already,...
This makes me wonder--do the writers of the new books have total free reign? Or is somebody approving the direction of the plotlines? Like I know the Sabrina shows have to adhere to a strict moral code as part of the contract they had with the creators of the original Sabrina that was in the Archie comics series.

Posted 04-16-2003 06:15 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by PrometheusUFO:
Looks to me, Pursuit may have something to do with computers and/or the internet, since there's a mouse and @'s on the cover and all.
Or, maybe it'll tie up the CHAD from Cry Your Name about Alex's signature of 0s and 1s:
IMAGE: www.fortunecity.com/lavendar/scarface/458/2874a87e0.jpg
image courtesy of Momo
I didn't think it was much of CHAD, just a sign of his brain deteriorating from being Tess's mind-warped decoding slave.
Most of Roswell was allegory for teen troubles, and in this case, Alex's demise pointed to the bad end that comes to ourselves and others if we become totally obsessed without considering others.

Posted 04-18-2003 07:30 AM by Eidolon14    
shapeshifter, what do you mean by CHAD? Only thing I can come up with is Colin Hanks Alex Death, which makes no apparent sense so...

I think the writers of the post season three books have a lot of weight on their shoulders. The fans of Roswell are looking forward to them as a way to continue from where the show left off. They expect something good... which puts a lot of pressure on the writers. But I think there are certain things they have to stick to for the books to even be decent.

Posted 04-18-2003 03:30 PM by Dommie    
quote:
Originally posted by black widow:
here's the place to continue discussion of all the books related to roswell ... the roswell high series by melinda metz, the new tv-tie in books currently in release, and the other books related to the show (crash into me, the roswell trivia book, etc).

confused by all the different titles? check out the wonderful web page prometheus created -- it'll help straighten things out!



Thank you both Blackwidow and Prometheusrealm!!!! i was looking for the titles of Melinda Metz's series! and you both came through in a crunch.

Posted 04-18-2003 05:32 PM by black widow    
eidolon -- no worries.

dommie -- don't thank me, i just cut and pasted! it's all prometheusUFO's awesome work that makes this info available! thanks, prometheus!

quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:
Like I know the Sabrina shows have to adhere to a strict moral code as part of the contract they had with the creators of the original Sabrina that was in the Archie comics series.

i did not know that!! i'm a HUGE archie comics fan, and though i knew the TV sabrina was lifted from the archies sabrina, i had no idea about the moral code. cool!

as for the 0's and 1's, that's binary code, no? i just figured it was a latent clue to alex's code-cracking abilities with the destiny book ... some sort of computer language he used to figure out what it said.

can't wait til the next book!

Posted 04-18-2003 05:43 PM by Algieba    
I think the SciFi reruns are having an effect on the sale of all the Roswell books. Two different bookstores I've been going to for months have had Metz's books in stock for a long time. Suddenly they're all sold out.

The newer books, for some reason aren't moving as fast.

Someone suggested Wallmart but I couldn't find a single copy of Metz's books or any of the newer ones.

I'm really eager to see what the first post tv series book will be like, because all the others will probably follow the same pattern. I hope they are good. I've been reading some fanfics that are as good or better than the books in print. But then I like scifi and I read fanfics that emphasize that aspect of Roswell. Maybe the new books will too.

Posted 04-18-2003 06:58 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by Eidolon14:
shapeshifter, what do you mean by CHAD?

Oh, a lot of us thought the binary code had a specific meaning.
For instance, by searching on the Archives for the phrase "binary code" I found this from blu5's Dixie:
    so we all know the binary is 11100100100111011001
    and old news if u put it into hexidecimal it comes out E49D9
    so if u equate a letter in alpha order to each number
    IE 1 = A
    2 = B
    etc
    it comes out EDIDI
    which is an anagram of
    I DIED
    I have never seen this anywhere else, I started to work it out this way after seeing a site on binary decoding
    link is here Gamma Ray Bursts Cosmic Code

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So, does anyone have any ideas about how we could find out about what the restrictions are for writing the books? I'm sending Andy Mangels an email right now, and will let you know anything he has to share with us.

Posted 04-18-2003 10:17 PM by Eidolon14    
To be honest, I doubt Katims put that much thought in the show.

Posted 04-19-2003 02:45 PM by Algieba    
I got a little information by emailing Andy Mangels back on Feb. 22. I was asking whether or not Tess would appear in any of the books since her genetic human donor played a part in Skeletons in the Closet. His answer was:

As for Tess, she won't appear in any of the post-Season Three books because the licensors consider her dead. However, our two books definitely deal with the aftermath of her actions in the end AND a certain Tess Dupe named Ava(as well as the other two Dupes) plays a major role. I think you will be pleasantly surprised at her actions. And though there is a bit more violence in the books due to the actions of the Special Unit, it's nothing that couldn't be shown on primetime.

From that I would conclude there are restrictions placed on what the writers can do. The "licensors" have the right to say what can and cannot be used or changed.

Posted 04-19-2003 02:57 PM by black widow    
cool, algieba! thanks for finding that out--it's always interesting to know the 'behind the scenes' stuff!

Posted 04-19-2003 07:32 PM by shapeshifter    
Yes, VERY cool, algieba! Thanks for posting! Maybe he'll reveal the identity of the "licensors" if he answers my recent email. Interesting that the word "censors" in in "licensors." Or, at least the way I spelled it.

BTW, both Amazon & B&N now say A New Beginning won't be out until June. Previously they had "May" posted. Well, I'd rather have the authors take their time than rush through it, if that's what that means. Does anyone know why they usually push back release dates on these kinds of books?

Posted 04-19-2003 10:07 PM by Algieba    
I've been curious too, who the licensors are. All the books after Melinda Metz have "From the television series developed by Jason Katims" on the front cover.

On the inside where they have the copyright, it says TM and copyright (or C with a circle around it) Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Regency Entertainment(USA) Inc., and Monarchy Enterprises B.V. I suspect these are the companies that have the sayso over everything, but there's no name of an individual to call or write or email. I have no idea how much influence Jason Katims has, but he is the one who has said if the Roswell fans want a movie it's up to them to make their voices heard.

I'm really curious how much influence the original Star Trek fans had on the movies coming out years later. That show only ran two seasons, I think, yet it had a tremendously fanatic fan following. It is a perfect example of great shows getting canceled by short sighted tv executives.

I'm not sure but I don't think any books based on the series were written right away like the Roswell books have been. The scifi reruns and the books are gaining a lot more interested fans. Maybe it will all have an effect on future Roswell possibilities. If a movie is eventually made, I'm sure 20th Century Fox will care very much what story lines are developed in the books.

Posted 04-20-2003 07:00 AM by Eidolon14    
I hope the authors include an explanation on what exactly Tess did to them in MItC.

Posted 04-20-2003 10:12 AM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:
BTW, both Amazon & B&N now say A New Beginning won't be out until June. Previously they had "May" posted.

What I find odd on B&N is that A New Beginning is now listed for release on June 5th when Nightscape is still set for June 10th. Heh.

Usually I find most sites (even SimonSays.com) list the month of release as the month AFTER the month it was actually released in. Books-A-Million and Amazon list A New Beginning and Nightscape for release in June and July, while B&N has set the two books for June 5th and 10th, like I said. Hmm... IMAGE: www.dvdfile.com/interactive/forum/images/smilies/hmm.gif

[ 04-20-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 04-21-2003 11:19 AM by Shilohaura    
"And though there is a bit more violence in the books due to the actions of the Special Unit, it's nothing that couldn't be shown on primetime."


Interesting comment and, although I'm certain he was just commenting on the level of violence and nothing else,......... Once a Dreamer, Always a Dreamer!

Posted 04-21-2003 07:59 PM by man-thing    
The books have been mildly entertaining, with some of the authors really "getting" the characters, while others just try to jam in as many episode references as they can. I was kind of hoping that Jason Katims kept some sort of tabs on what they were going to do in the books post-season 3.

Posted 04-21-2003 09:37 PM by black widow    
i would think--and i could be wrong--that jason katims wouldn't care too, too much about post season 3 book stuff (unless he actually *was* planning on making a film somewhere down the road), seeing as his company only owned the TV rights, and he's already moved on to boston public. *shrugs*

Posted 04-22-2003 09:48 PM by PrometheusUFO    
B&N.com has added "Pursuit" to thier site with a August 19th release date. But "A New Beginning" and "Nightscape" are still listed for release on June 5th and June 10th. I hope that error's fixed soon.

Posted 04-24-2003 01:10 AM by Flaquita    
Ok I have a quick question..... i have all the books of Roswell.... but the New begining doesnt come out until June, am I right?

Posted 04-24-2003 12:42 PM by Youremydestiny    
Guys, tell me, please, what's the connection between the books and the series-the names are obviously different. I want to read the books on which Season 3 was based.

Posted 04-25-2003 09:01 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
I'm still upset they aren't including Alex. Especially when they talk about 'all the characters' and crap like that. There's absolutely no reason they couldn't include him.

I'm really hoping there's no movie. After the screw-the-fans philosophy they've been following with the books, I don't trust them.

Posted 04-25-2003 11:38 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by Youremydestiny:
Guys, tell me, please, what's the connection between the books and the series-the names are obviously different. I want to read the books on which Season 3 was based.
Well, only because you said "please."
Quarantine takes place between the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3. No Good Deed takes place between Seasons 1 & 2...I think. Prometheus? Are you lurking? Maybe this stuff could be added to your site?

Posted 04-26-2003 02:30 PM by Youremydestiny    
Ok, what about the other books like "The Watcher","The Wild One"-are they connected to the series or they' re just separate story lines.

Posted 04-26-2003 02:44 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by Youremydestiny:
Ok, what about the other books like "The Watcher","The Wild One"-are they connected to the series or they' re just separate story lines.

Those are part of the original series by Melinda Metz, which inspired the TV show.

It is a separate storyline from the TV series, but well worth reading - particularly if you liked Season 1 of Roswell, which was closest to the books.

On another note, I went to a book sale today. I got 7-10 of the Metz books plus Loose Ends (and some non-Ros stuff) for 25 cents each... Canadian.

I now have all of the original series except number five.

Posted 04-27-2003 07:27 AM by Youremydestiny    
And what books are actually on Season 3? Quarantine, as someone said, was somewhere in between s2& s3.

Posted 04-27-2003 08:56 AM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:
Well, only because you said "please."
Quarantine takes place between the end of Season 2 and the beginning of Season 3. No Good Deed takes place between Seasons 1 & 2...I think. Prometheus? Are you lurking? Maybe this stuff could be added to your site?

I just added "TV Series Placement" to the TV series books and I added what I remembered from memory. No Good Deed was easy because the beginning chapters were dated "December" and "March" and had to do with the Christmas miracle, which happened in December 2000.

Posted 04-28-2003 08:55 PM by Eidolon14    
quote:
Originally posted by AlexEvans:
On another note, I went to a book sale today. I got 7-10 of the Metz books plus Loose Ends (and some non-Ros stuff) for 25 cents each... Canadian.

I now have all of the original series except number five.


Very cool. Very cheap too. Hmm. Classic Stargazer action

Posted 04-29-2003 10:07 PM by Flaquita    
Okay, no one ever answered my question about the new begining, but i figured it out on my own. Anyhow, if I can i was wondering, is the book "Crash into Me" anything to do with Roswell the series? Or is it just about Roswell New Mexico? If someone can please answer me i would truely be grateful and less confussed. Thanks!

Posted 04-30-2003 07:21 AM by black widow    
hi flaquita, welcome to our board.

'crash into me' was written by robyn burnett, who posts on this very board under the name "writergal." it's a book about the TV show roswell but a considerable amount of the book also deals with the fans, and all the things we've done over the years in the show's name, and to keep the show on the air. (in fact, crashdown.com and the roswell2 board are mentioned repeatedly! ) it's a fantastic book, and i highly recommend it for all roswell fans. we have a thread on crash into me here -- check it out!

Posted 04-30-2003 02:18 PM by mmpoole8    
Hi, I saw that the new roswell book, A New Beginning was supposed to be released early May, but I've called around locally and all the bookstores say June 5th is the release date. Anyone know if the book was pushed back, or if it still will come out early May. I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks.

Posted 04-30-2003 05:16 PM by Qfanny    
I thought Quarrantine was a well written book. Just passing the thought along.

Posted 04-30-2003 07:15 PM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by mmpoole8:
Hi, I saw that the new roswell book, A New Beginning was supposed to be released early May, but I've called around locally and all the bookstores say June 5th is the release date. Anyone know if the book was pushed back, or if it still will come out early May. I'm really looking forward to it. Thanks.

I'm looking forward to it too, but I do think it's been pushed back. These are the release dates on BarnesAndNoble.com:

Roswell: A New Beginning- June 5th
Roswell: Nightscape- June 10th
Roswell: Pursuit- August 19th

I personally think that Nightscape's date will eventually change because that was its release date before the previous one was pushed back.

Also, the same site seems to have added the Roswell cover for Turnabout to a completely unrelated book already in print (besides the title which is the same).

IMAGE: a1055.g.akamai.net/f/1055/1401/5h/images.barnesandnoble.com/images/6330000/6333949.gif

The same is also incorrect at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/0689840373/qid=1051751046/sr=2-1/ ref=sr_2_1/103-2779681-3375021

I'm sure they'll get all this straightened out eventually.

[ 04-30-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 05-01-2003 08:49 AM by TobAng    
I saw that on Amazon
My Roswell book reading is all screwed up. I have all the metz books and most of the show related books. But my local bookstore is a freak! They just started selling Little Green Men when they've already had the newer ones like Dreamwalk and Skeletons. Arghhh, they've gone retrograde on me!

Posted 05-01-2003 05:58 PM by roswck    
someone on a list I am on emailed the author of pursuit and turnabout and he said that turnabout would be the last of the books because sales are not good. So it seems even this will end.

Posted 05-01-2003 08:20 PM by Flaquita    
Thank you for the response Black Widow... I might just take that offer and go buy "Crash Into Me" Thanks!
By the way all the books on Roswell are very good, I can barely wait til the others come out.

Posted 05-01-2003 08:25 PM by Flaquita    
PrometheusUFO, I actually read somewhere that the Book Nightscape won't be out until July.... so you might have been right that it is going to be pushed back. (I got my information from Simonsays.com)

Posted 05-01-2003 08:28 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by roswck:
someone on a list I am on emailed the author of pursuit and turnabout and he said that turnabout would be the last of the books because sales are not good. So it seems even this will end.

roswck, *sigh* I'm afraid you're right.
I just did a search in WorldCat and found 80 Star Trek Series book titles from 1964 through 1968. There are over 1,000 to date.
Since Star Trek the tv series initially only lasted 3 seasons but then made a come back, I thought maybe their book series did something else parallel to Roswell's. That is, I was thinking the books might pick up later. But it looks like the Star Trek books were pretty steadily cranked out, with the exception, perhaps, of 1969--interestingly, the height of the Vietnam war.

But then, Roswell is a more rare, exotic species.

[ 05-01-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 05-02-2003 12:57 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
The Star Trek books captured the feel of the show. They had all the main characters. They weren't great, but when I was younger they made a pleasant diversion.

Roswell books don't promise that escape, except maybe to S3 fans.

Of course, there's nothing stopping them from writing AU Roswell books. They could diverge from the show at any point. They could start over. If they have the imagination and the desire, they could make a great book series, and I would predict good sales if they do.

Posted 05-05-2003 10:25 AM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by roswck:
someone on a list I am on emailed the author of pursuit and turnabout and he said that turnabout would be the last of the books because sales are not good. So it seems even this will end.
This just posted on Crashdown.com (emphasis added):
    Thanks to Kevin Ryan, the author of the next two Roswell novels, for sharing this information with us:

    "I have written two books that take place immediately after the third season finale. The first one, A NEW BEGINNING, picks up the characters while they are still in the van shortly after they drive off. The second book is NIGHTSCAPE and takes place a couple of weeks later as the characters continue their journey. A NEW BEGINNING will be available in mid-June and NIGHTSCAPE will be available in mid-July. After that there will be two books by Andy Mangels and Michael A. Martin. The first one will be titled PURSUIT.

    "Unfortunately, there are no plans to continue the book series after those four books because of relatively low sales on recent books. However, strong sales of these new books might change that situation."

    Let's keep this in mind and get those book sales up, folks! Stay tuned for more information as the publication dates approach

Posted 05-05-2003 12:02 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
If nobody buys them, maybe they'll look for another way to make money. Maybe even Roswell books without such a ridiculous setting and premise.

We can always hope.

Posted 05-05-2003 12:32 PM by Postman    
Thanks for sharing info about upcoming books at here too.

Postman

Posted 05-05-2003 03:34 PM by Ryder    
I have Crash Into Me, but have not read any of the books that the tv series was based upon. I have heard that there are differences between the books and the tv show, like Liz, Maria, and Alex had siblings (one of the differences I was told about). So, the new books that are coming out, that are taking place after the ending of the tv series, are they going to continue on like the tv series would have, or would they be like the book series? I guess I am wondering if I have to start with the Metz books and work my way to the end to be less confused.

Posted 05-05-2003 10:43 PM by shapeshifter    
Ryder, The 'TV Tie-In' books are stand alones. The Metz books are a series, and so better read in order. The show is based on the first Metz book; then the show was supposed to take off on its own tangent. But, as our discussions reveal, there are a lot of things from the later Metz books that worked their way into the show, and then, since she wrote the last 3 books after the first half of Season One aired, some of the show worked it's way back into the books. Oh, and then the original series writers were recruited to work on the second half of Season 3.

I just reread the first book of the original series, and I don't think Maria's brother has a role in it. Alex's brothers are just mentioned too. So not including them in the show makes sense, since it was supposed to follow only the first book.

Posted 05-06-2003 11:36 AM by Ryder    
Thanks ShapeShifter.

Posted 05-10-2003 09:23 AM by shapeshifter    
blackwidow, If New Beginning is in the B&N store here in Illinois before I leave for Toronto June 20th, I'll bring you a copy so you won't have to wait.

Posted 05-11-2003 08:15 AM by Eidolon14    
The release dates are different in Canada?

Posted 05-11-2003 10:27 PM by black widow    
aw, thank you, shapeshifter! that's a very kind offer!

yeah ... the release dates are a little off up here in canada. we usually get the books about 2-3 weeks after the US does. i have no idea why. although, we did get 'crash into me', robyn's book about the show/cast/fans, *before* the US, but that's cause robyn's from toronto and it got published here first (for a change!)! :P

Posted 05-11-2003 11:17 PM by Thicket    
Just letting you guys know that I pre-ordered the 2 Kevin Ryan books and spread the word to some non-FF Roswellians I know to do the same. I certainly don't want to see production of the books end especially when we're finally getting some post S3 stuff!

Posted 05-12-2003 01:25 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
Actually some of us do want sales to tank... then at least there'd be a chance they'd reconsider continuing this travesty, maybe backtrack and do some books about Roswell with the original characters.

I just finished reading Metz's original series... it was quite good. The characterization was reminiscent of season one - real characters, flawed sometimes, very human - but still people you'd want to know. Very good balance of all the characters. Great ending. I'd really love it if she did a continuation.

[ 05-12-2003: Message edited AlexEvans ]

Posted 05-13-2003 09:26 PM by KatieRive21    
I've read four of the Metz Roswell High series and they're very good. I especially like how we get to know all the characters so well. And the relationships between the characters as well. Is it just me or would the TV show have been somewhat better if they'd stayed closer to the book series?

Posted 05-14-2003 08:05 PM by shapeshifter    
KatieRive21, ITA about the show probably being better if it had followed more of the books. And yet, there are a surprising number of things in the show that appear in the books and vice versa (check out the links to the old Compare & Contrast The Show & The Books threads at the beginning of this thread).

In the books, a lot of the stuff with Elsevan Dupree was not any better than some of the not-so-good things in the show. When I reread the books, the thing that seems to make them so much better than the show is the "author omniscience" that allows us to hear the characters' thoughts and be sure about their feelings and motives.
But then again, Max's feelings in Sexual Healing are every bit as clear as Max's in the book when Liz makes him 'tremble.'

Posted 05-14-2003 08:15 PM by greenjetta    
I want to read the new books, especially since they'll be taking place after season 3. It will be interesting to see how they feel the show should have continued.

Posted 05-15-2003 12:35 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by KatieRive21:
I've read four of the Metz Roswell High series and they're very good. I especially like how we get to know all the characters so well. And the relationships between the characters as well. Is it just me or would the TV show have been somewhat better if they'd stayed closer to the book series?

I think you're right.

Metz managed a balance among the characters marvellously well. The whole show would have been better if it had managed that. She also managed to have the characters change and grow while remaining likeable, sympathetic people we could root for. Parts of Season 2 and all of Season 3 would have been immensely better if they'd managed that.

Posted 05-15-2003 08:55 PM by Flaquita    
Just felt like say HI!! And just to make sure.... June 5th, The New begining comes out, right?

Posted 05-15-2003 10:12 PM by KatieRive21    
Metz really did keep the characters all really likable, despite all the stuff they went through. I mean, at the end of the last book, Isabel had become a more likable character, and she still had the anal perfection that we associate with the TV character. And Micheal and Maria were not so 'bickery', they had a funny banter relationship, but not so harsh to each other. I just think that the show should have been more focused on( or faithful to) their characters than on the plot events.

Posted 05-15-2003 10:17 PM by black widow    
i agree with that. michael and maria on the show (and even some of the post-show books) have turned into caricatures, which is frustrating. melinda really set the bar for the series and characterisations, and it's a shame those who followed in her footsteps didn't always live up to those standards, in my opinion.

Posted 05-17-2003 08:24 AM by Youremydestiny    
Out of all the posts i understood that there're no actual books on Season 3 and there're only ones before or after season 3 and series've come away from the books, am i right?
You know, for some reason, i don't want to read just Roswell books. I want to know what happened in season 3, not some made up stories by Metz, which don't relate to the show...

Posted 05-17-2003 12:29 PM by sarah m    
quote:
Originally posted by KatieRive21:
I've read four of the Metz Roswell High series and they're very good. I especially like how we get to know all the characters so well. And the relationships between the characters as well. Is it just me or would the TV show have been somewhat better if they'd stayed closer to the book series?

I just finished the Metz series and really liked them. I think the books are more focused on a storyline and obviously have tighter continuity than the TV series. I think that's partly because the books don't get weighed down with the whole "hybrid" and "destiny" storylines. There are aliens and humans and their interactions and relationships. I think that allowed the book characters to be more developed and consistent. Where in the TV show, I thought the characters often had to act "out of character" in order to make the plot move along.

Posted 05-17-2003 05:28 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by Youremydestiny:
...I want to know what happened in season 3, not some made up stories by Metz, which don't relate to the show...

Ooops! Editing to say I'm sorry for laughing. I didn't realize you were from UK, or that UK never saw Season 3.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

sarah m, ITA.

[ 05-18-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 05-17-2003 08:58 PM by black widow    
quote:
Originally posted by Youremydestiny:
Out of all the posts i understood that there're no actual books on Season 3 and there're only ones before or after season 3 and series've come away from the books, am i right?

yes--you're right about understanding the timelines of the books: the non-metz books all take place either in the summer between seasons 2 and 3, or the summer after season 3. as far as i can remember, none of them take place *during* season 3.

quote:
Originally posted by Youremydestiny:
You know, for some reason, i don't want to read just Roswell books. I want to know what happened in season 3, not some made up stories by Metz, which don't relate to the show...

i don't understand ... if you want to know what happened in season 3, can't you just watch season 3? or are you in a part of the world where it hasn't aired yet? as for the metz books, they actually DO relate to the show--the entire show is BASED on the metz books. the characters are from the metz books, and there's a multitude of similarities in the plots. the metz books came first, they were started before the show even existed (but were completed during season 1). granted, over the years, the TV show and metz books stopped being similar, with the introduction of new characters and plots and whatnot in the TV show, but that's to be expected as TV is a very fluid medium and the books were very static.

Posted 05-17-2003 09:11 PM by icicle    
quote:
Originally posted by black widow:
melinda really set the bar for the series and characterisations, and it's a shame those who followed in her footsteps didn't always live up to those standards, in my opinion.

you phrased it perfectly what i wanted to say.

her books were special.

personally, after reading one of the other books...i've got to be honest. i've read better fan fiction: much better charactizations and plotlines.

Posted 05-18-2003 11:02 AM by KatieRive21    
Here's a question for the Metz readers, what character from the books do you think should have been in the series? (But wasn't) For me it's a toss up between Trevor and Adam. But for Adam to be in the series, it would have to change the whole Valenti, Kyle characters and plot.

Posted 05-18-2003 11:03 AM by Youremydestiny    
quote:
Originally posted by black widow:

i don't understand ... if you want to know what happened in season 3, can't you just watch season 3? or are you in a part of the world where it hasn't aired yet? as for the metz books, they actually DO relate to the show--the entire show is BASED on the metz books. the characters are from the metz books, and there's a multitude of similarities in the plots. the metz books came first, they were started before the show even existed (but were completed during season 1). granted, over the years, the TV show and metz books stopped being similar, with the introduction of new characters and plots and whatnot in the TV show, but that's to be expected as TV is a very fluid medium and the books were very static.


I'm in UK and they've cut off Roswell after season 2 I really want to see or read what happened after .I suppose i oculd read episode guides...

Posted 05-18-2003 12:28 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by KatieRive21:
Here's a question for the Metz readers, what character from the books do you think should have been in the series? (But wasn't) For me it's a toss up between Trevor and Adam. But for Adam to be in the series, it would have to change the whole Valenti, Kyle characters and plot.

I didn't care much for Trevor, personally. He was well-written, played an important role at some points, but I didn't care for the guy.

Adam was the best... but you're right, I don't see how he could have been included in the TV series.

Loose Ends

Last night I read Loose Ends by Greg Cox. I found it quite entertaining. It captured the early S2 feeling very well (when was it set exactly?) and I was quite impressed by the major roles all of the core six played. The characterization seemed pretty good, interesting concept for the plot, I liked the use of Alien powers in it. Now if there was even a chance the new Roswell books were like that, I'd buy them!

The big problem and why I didn't get it till I saw it for fifty cents? The back of the book lists Max, Isabel, Michael, Liz and Maria. But it actually includes the original six, so why imply that it's a cheap rip-off when it isn't?

I've never understood why people put the things on the backs of books that they do... that's far from the first misleading book-back I've seen. Sometimes commercials for TV shows are rather misleading as well. I wonder if the people who write them even read/watch what they're advertising first?

Youremydestiny, can you download the eps off of Kazaa Lite? In my opinion you've missed extremely little by not seeing season 3, but if you really want to downloading is probably the easiest way.

sarah m, I really like your explanation. I think you're right - one of the biggest draws of the books is the continuity in plot and characterization. Those things matter a lot to me. Metz did them right, while as you pointed out the show sometimes fell short. I would agree that part of that is the destiny/past life stuff. While the TV show got some very interesting plotlines out of that concept, I felt it also hurt them at times.

[ 05-18-2003: Message edited AlexEvans ]

Posted 05-18-2003 03:03 PM by icicle    
hmm what should they have kept from the books that i missed the most?

good question.

for me, it was maria's little brother. i thought the dynamics would have been interesting and seeing michael interact with her little brother...that could have brought out yet another dimension to the character.

Posted 05-18-2003 04:14 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by KatieRive21:
Here's a question for the Metz readers, what character from the books do you think should have been in the series?
... But for Adam to be in the series, it would have to change the whole Valenti, Kyle characters and plot.

Not necessarily. Pierce in the show is really the Valenti of the books, so I could imagine them rescuing Adam the same time they rescued Max in Destiny. Then, with Liz walking away from Max, it would open things up for her to become emotionally attached to Adam.

But I would rather have seen the Nickolas of the books. He came. He saw. He conquered. He died.
BTW, we never hear in the books anything about Nickolas' body. Didn't Clean Slate Valenti of the book know he was an alien because of the security guard's being zapped?

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

quote:
Originally posted by Youremydestiny:
...I want to know what happened in season 3...

You can read all the Season 3 scripts here:
crashdown.com/episodes

Posted 05-18-2003 06:02 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
Cool idea Shapeshifter, that would have worked to bring in Adam. Also book Nicholas was cool, I hated him but in a love-to-hate way.

Posted 05-18-2003 08:37 PM by KatieRive21    
I liked the way you say they could have worked in Adam, and the whole Liz walking away to Adam...that would have made a much better triangle, than Liz/Max/Tess, simply because in the books plot Max is jealous yes,and they aren't getting along (hence the happy couples don't sell problem of television) but it is never a question with either of them sleeping with someone else...

Posted 05-20-2003 11:42 PM by JOIE's Podsters    
The M/T/L triangle is believable though An A/I /l one wouldn't be.
In the books, did Max sleep with Tess?

Posted 05-21-2003 03:35 PM by sarah m    
In the original Melinda Metz series, there is no Tess. She is strictly a product of the TV series.

Posted 05-22-2003 07:36 AM by KatieRive21    
When Tess was first created, there were rumors that TPTB were going to make her MIcheal's sister, which would have had her being the female 'Trevor' character from the book. Personally I think this would have been a better way to go.

Posted 05-22-2003 04:47 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by KatieRive21:
When Tess was first created, there were rumors that TPTB were going to make her MIcheal's sister, which would have had her being the female 'Trevor' character from the book. Personally I think this would have been a better way to go.

I think that might have worked really well. And Tess had that (relatively) big house... Michael could have moved in with her.

Posted 05-22-2003 11:42 PM by shapeshifter    
I'm guessing that since JB was already known as The WB's kissing machine by the time they brought in the 4th alien that it seemed natural to make the triangle a L/M/T thing. But there's something more psychologically damaging when a fictional guy strays than a fictional girl. I think it's because generally the guy is perceived as the one in pursuit--even though Max was not chasing Tess in the show.

Posted 05-23-2003 11:03 AM by sarah m    
quote:
Originally posted by KatieRive21:
I liked the way you say they could have worked in Adam, and the whole Liz walking away to Adam...that would have made a much better triangle, than Liz/Max/Tess, simply because in the books plot Max is jealous yes,and they aren't getting along (hence the happy couples don't sell problem of television) but it is never a question with either of them sleeping with someone else...

ITA. I think they could have done something similar with Tess. Had the tension and maybe even some attraction/jealousy, without all the Max/Liz "betrayals". I agree with Shapeshifter-what happened between Max and Tess really made Max unlikable and unsympathetic to many. To me, his actions never seemed to fit what I believed his character to be. Definitely, not my favorite storyline!

In the books, because it's the collective conciousness that is interfering with Max and Liz's relationship, it felt more like a "nurture vs. nature" problem... Max's alien nature interfering with his human relationships and upbringing. To me, it didn't feel like a personal rejection of Liz, so much as Max wanting to embrace his race, his past, etc. I much preferred the book dynamic.

Posted 05-23-2003 12:47 PM by PrometheusUFO    
Here's a somewhat longer description for A New Beginning from SimonSays.com (with a few of the site's typos corrected):

quote:
Facing an unknown future

As Max, Michael, Isabel. Liz, Maria, and Kyle pile into their van and leave Roswell behind, they are each hoping for positive experiences - or at least something different from most of the events of the past three years. After all, their high school years were anything but typical - the whole alien experience has nearly cost them their lives, again and again. Still, they know that taking charge of their destinies and deciding to make a positive difference in the world has empowered them all.

But it isn't long before Liz sees a vision of future destruction, and the group realizes by leaving Roswell they have changed history, and not necessarily for the better. When they end up in a town where young girls are disappearing, it quickly becomes clear that their lives beyond Roswell will be anything but easy...


I just checked BarnesAndNoble.com, and A New Beginning is already available for ordering.

[ 05-23-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 05-23-2003 12:56 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Max, Michael, Isabel. Liz, Maria, and Kyle

All I need to know.

Posted 05-23-2003 01:00 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by sarah m:

ITA. I think they could have done something similar with Tess. Had the tension and maybe even some attraction/jealousy, without all the Max/Liz "betrayals". I agree with Shapeshifter-what happened between Max and Tess really made Max unlikable and unsympathetic to many. To me, his actions never seemed to fit what I believed his character to be. Definitely, not my favorite storyline!

In the books, because it's the collective conciousness that is interfering with Max and Liz's relationship, it felt more like a "nurture vs. nature" problem... Max's alien nature interfering with his human relationships and upbringing. To me, it didn't feel like a personal rejection of Liz, so much as Max wanting to embrace his race, his past, etc. I much preferred the book dynamic.



That's well put, and I agree, except about what made Max unsympathetic on the show.

So he slept with Tess... he and Liz weren't together. I wish he hadn't done that, but compared to his other actions it's completely minor.

The real issue with Max was his blackmailing of his sister in It's Too Late and It's Too Bad.

Posted 05-23-2003 09:24 PM by Stargazer_md    
Please forgive a first time poster, but a long time Roswell fan.

I can't believe they pulled the show in the middle of the run, especially since I didn't start taping 'till the beginning of season 3.

K, why I posted here,,, I know there are a lot books, can anyone steer me to season one books? As a I&A fan, thats where I want to start.

Also, I have decided to protest by writing my own fan-fic. Can anyone tell me if fan-fic is still uploadable? It seems like it isn't. If we write, at least there would be something new to (partly) fill the void until they start broadcasting again.

Thanks, will watch thread, or ok to e-mail.

[ 05-23-2003: Message edited Stargazer_md ]

Posted 05-24-2003 12:18 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
Hi Stargazer_md!

I don't know of any books based on Season 1 (I would love to read some) but the Metz books, on which the show was based, are quite similar in feeling.

There are a number of message boards where you can post your own fanfic. I've never posted fanfic at the Crashdown - is that what you mean?

Here's one (remove the * to make the link work)
The Boardello of Fanfiction: http://pub44.ez*board.com/bthespoilerslutsfanficwhorehouse

There was also an attempt to revive the Stargazer main site, the Observatory, which was lost when its server crashed quite a while ago. I may try again now that school is out and it looks like work is going to be slow this summer. That would give everyone a central place to read and post Alex and Isabel fanfiction again.

[ 05-24-2003: Message edited AlexEvans ]

Posted 05-26-2003 05:52 PM by greenjetta    
Has anyone had the chance to read "A New Beginning" yet? I'm anxious to see what happens to the gang after they left Roswell

Posted 05-27-2003 09:21 PM by KatieRive21    
Sorry jetta, haven't read New Beginnings yet. But as soon as I get ahold of it I will.

Here's a question for all you Ros Book enthusiasts...The book 'Loose Ends' was written by someone not otherwise affliated with the Ros High books right? Wasn't it written by a completely different author?

Posted 05-27-2003 09:46 PM by sarah m    
quote:
Originally posted by KatieRive21:
Here's a question for all you Ros Book enthusiasts...The book 'Loose Ends' was written by someone not otherwise affliated with the Ros High books right? Wasn't it written by a completely different author?

Yes, it was written by Greg Cox. I think it's the only one he's written. I just finished reading it. I liked it, but had a little trouble figuring out when it is set. Alex is still alive, but although Tess's name is mentioned- she's not in the book. If anyone has read it, I would be interested in your take on the time frame, as relates to the TV series.

Posted 05-27-2003 10:07 PM by KatieRive21    
I thought about that when I read it. Isn't Tess's name referred to with alot of negative memories? I assumed it took place after season 2, but Alex was in it so you're right....it really doesn't have a specific place within the series.

Posted 05-28-2003 06:22 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
I too liked it.

Best I can figure, some unspecified time in Season 2. My guess would be very early on.

My reasoning; they'd still have negative feelings towards Tess for destiny, and for mindwarping them.

Kyle wasn't part of the group yet then either (he knew the secret, but wasn't really part of the group).

So if it was around then, the core six going off for a vacation, and mentioning Tess in a negative way, would make sense. There are other interpretations, but that's my best guess.

I absolutely loved seeing the original six together again.

Posted 05-28-2003 08:52 PM by shapeshifter    
Page 27 of Loose Ends says, "...They had all spent the last two years covering up what had happened at the Crashdown..." (emphasis added), so I think it takes place in the summer between seasons 2 & 3, but that the author decided to pretend Tess had never existed. But I haven't read it in awhile, so I'm not sure she isn't mentioned.

I thought PrometheusUFO said she'd added information to the book guide indicating how the books relate chronologically to the show, but I don't see it.

Posted 05-29-2003 02:11 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
Thanks Shapeshifter that's very helpful info.

Tess is mentioned several times.

With that quote your suggestion it's AU from after second season sounds quite likely.

And that's exactly what they should be doing!

Posted 05-30-2003 03:00 PM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:
I thought PrometheusUFO said she'd added information to the book guide indicating how the books relate chronologically to the show, but I don't see it.

I'm a "he" ( ), and it's been added directly below the titles of all the TV novels, only a few of the early ones aren't quite filled in yet though.

Posted 05-30-2003 08:22 PM by shapeshifter    
Prometheus, I was about 85% sure you are a "he," but decided to err on the other side. Sorry about that. BTW, I'm an old lady.
Anyhoo, now I see:
    Roswell #1: Loose Ends by Greg Cox
    TV Series Placement: Not Available

Posted 05-31-2003 06:29 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
That's a really useful guide, Prometheus.

*sigh*

It just makes me so disappointed to see how many of the books they're publishing don't have the original cast. And they're surprised sales aren't strong? I'm glad people aren't buying them, anyway.

But when oh when will they try publishing real Roswell books again? Loose Ends for one shows it can be done.

Posted 05-31-2003 08:16 PM by PrometheusUFO    
I ordered A New Beginning from Barnes & Noble yesterday and it's already shipped. IMAGE: www.dvdfile.com/interactive/forum/images/smilies/thumb.gif

Posted 05-31-2003 11:03 PM by Roswell/Sunnydale    
i cant wait to get all the new books, its cool how they already know what the covers look like and they havent even written the stories yet!!

Posted 06-01-2003 02:00 AM by black widow    
wah! i want a copy of the new book, and it won't be out here for ages! (we're usually about a month or so behind the states)

interesting about loose ends. i thought it was the absolute worst of the 'new' book so far. i felt the author didn't have a very good grasp of the characterisations, and made several factual errors which were unforgiveable (one of them referring to "michael" having healed liz in the crashdown after she got shot). it's a shame, too, because the author of the book came to the season 2 finale (or was it premiere?) party in NYC and autographed copies and he seemed really nice and i really *wanted* to like the book because he was such a nice guy--he even came out with us for food afterwards! but i really, really disliked the book, in fact it's the only one i refuse to read again. oh well.

Posted 06-01-2003 06:04 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
He actually had, and used, all the main characters... I found that very impressive, for a start. I guess I just didn't find the characterisation to be off compared to the other new book I read. I missed the 'michael' for Max... that one I'm sure was a typo. He obviously knew it was Max who healed Liz, that was a major theme of the book.

Posted 06-01-2003 07:46 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by black widow:
wah! i want a copy of the new book, and it won't be out here for ages! (we're usually about a month or so behind the states)...
Never fear, shapeshifter, alias a small town librarian, will be there, hopefully with book in hand. I just ordered 2 copies from the local B&N, and she said they should be here before I leave for the librarian conference in Toronto.
And it's 256 pages!
Hey, if I have to wear a mask in Toronto, that will make me the Masked Librarian.


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In the Metz Roswell High series, Max is taken over by the Collective Consciousness, but Ray is not. Why is this?

[ 06-01-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 06-02-2003 09:29 AM by black widow    
the masked librarian! able to conquer the dreaded Dewey Decimal System in a single bound!

shapeshifter, you're a sweetheart! thank you so much for that! i can't wait to read it!

alex/bookworm: i agree, the max/michael thing probably was a typo (in which case i say "bad editor!", not "bad writer!"), but overall, i just felt he didn't do the characters justice. it's hard for me to cite specifics, as it's been a while since i read the book, i just remember finishing it and really disliking it. but i do agree ... it's always wonderful to read stories with alex in them, and i really miss him a lot, too. i'll take alex over jesse ANY day.

Posted 06-02-2003 09:48 PM by GregKeithB    
I just picked up my copy of Roswell: A New Beginning from Barnes and Noble. 238 pages. I can't wait to get started.

[ 06-03-2003: Message edited GregKeithB ]

Posted 06-02-2003 10:22 PM by shapeshifter    
Greg, only 138 pages? I hope that doesn't mean it was cut short from what was intended.

Posted 06-03-2003 02:15 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by black widow:
the masked librarian! able to conquer the dreaded Dewey Decimal System in a single bound!

shapeshifter, you're a sweetheart! thank you so much for that! i can't wait to read it!

alex/bookworm: i agree, the max/michael thing probably was a typo (in which case i say "bad editor!", not "bad writer!"), but overall, i just felt he didn't do the characters justice. it's hard for me to cite specifics, as it's been a while since i read the book, i just remember finishing it and really disliking it. but i do agree ... it's always wonderful to read stories with alex in them, and i really miss him a lot, too. i'll take alex over jesse ANY day.


Masked librarian

Well I don't know that you need to cite specifics... books sometimes make a general overall impression, we just got different ones from that particular book.

On your last sentence... word!

Posted 06-03-2003 06:28 AM by GregKeithB    
Oooops, 238 pages. Sorry shapeshifter.

Posted 06-03-2003 01:34 PM by Algieba    
I just got my copy of Roswell A New Beginning from Books A Million today. I'm at chapter 7 which is page 60. There are three things I can safely say without giving away any of the story.

First, it's really holding my attention. Since everything is new, it's satisfying my need to know what happened right after the show ended.

Second, the author is giving each of the characters a place of importance. He doesn't dwell on one couple to the exclusion of others. He started out with Liz's point of view, then jumped to Max, then Maria, then Kyle. Michael and Isabel's thoughts haven't been dealt with yet.

He's made Kyle more important in contributing to their survival so far. That is so much better than having him be the hanger-on, shoulder to cry on, friend to everyone that he was in the show.

Third, it looks like the author is going to try to clear up some things that weren't dealt with on the show. One of the things he brings up is Future Max. Max makes the comment, "This involves all of us. No secrets." Everyone is acting more like a team instead of "follow the leader king" that they did in the show. Maybe we'll finally get a lot of loose ends tied up.

Someone mentioned that there might not be any more books after the ones that have already been mentioned because sales are not good. Does anyone know how many books have to be sold for sales to be "good?" I'm afraid a lot of people won't try this book if they haven't been too impressed with the previous ones.

[ 06-03-2003: Message edited Algieba ]

Posted 06-03-2003 06:33 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
Thanks for the review, Algieba.

Character balance is good. (I don't care if it's balanced when it lacks the original cast so I won't be trying this one. But in principle it's a good thing.)

Dealing with Future Max could be interesting. But if he deals with that, how will he deal with him not having been dealt with earlier? If Liz and Maria in fact did retain those memories why didn't they say anything before, when it really mattered? I don't believe any explanation is possible.

Look on the bright side of low book sales. They want ways to make money... if they can't sell books the way they're doing things now, maybe they'll try something else.

Please, please let them try a new approach.

[ 06-03-2003: Message edited Abducted Bookworm ]

Posted 06-03-2003 08:30 PM by Algieba    
Wow! A New Beginning is the best Roswell book I've read, including the ones in the Melinda Metz series. The author obviously watched the show because his insights into the way the characters talk and act is right on. I can hear their voices saying some of the things that come out of their mouths in this story.

The story is uplifting, exciting, and funny. Kevin Ryan has great insights into the characters strengths and weaknesses. I love the way he portrays Michael.

And there are aliens in it. Not hybrids. Real aliens.

Abducted Bookworm. You would love the comment made about Jesse and Isabel's relationship but I'm not going to tell you since you're wishing an early demise to the post-graduation books. The book is worth the price for that one comment alone. It's perfect. Don't anyone tell Abducted Bookworm what it is.

All right. Maybe a hint. Michael says to Isabel, that Jesse "----- --- ---." The best sentence in the book. Made my day. (Chapter 8 for those of you who get the book.)

Has anyone else read the book? I want to know if I'm the only one reacting this way to it.

[ 06-03-2003: Message edited Algieba ]

[ 06-03-2003: Message edited Algieba ]

Posted 06-04-2003 10:19 PM by greenjetta    
As an Isabel/Jesse fan, I was happy to see that there was at least mention of Jesse in the new book. I was happy to see that Isabel didn't just dismiss him and move on. I wasn't surprised to see that Liz's feelings were dealt with first and Isabel's last. What else is new? If the show had continued after the group left town, I wouldn't have wanted to see Isabel get over Jesse quickly or easily. Just my opinions. I thought the book was good though!

[ 06-04-2003: Message edited greenjetta ]

Posted 06-04-2003 10:47 PM by Flaquita    
Hi! Where do you guys actually live? Because I live in Miami (fl) and I know it comes out in June... ( I already pre-oredered it) but I would like to know when you guys got it? I really want to start reading it... and I truly do hope it sells alot... cause I would love to continue reading them.... I am sad enough they took the show away... don't take away the BOOKS as well....

Posted 06-05-2003 07:41 PM by greenjetta    
I live in New York, but I ordered my copy through buy.com They're selling the Roswell books for $4.93 each, versus the $5.99 everyone else is charging.

Posted 06-05-2003 08:22 PM by shapeshifter    
I have 2 copies waiting for me at B&N!
After work tomorrow I will pick them up.

Posted 06-05-2003 09:59 PM by black widow    
wheee! thank you, shapeshifter! you're the best!

Posted 06-06-2003 02:39 AM by Mariarulesalways2    
quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:

roswck, *sigh* I'm afraid you're right.
I just did a search in WorldCat and found 80 Star Trek Series book titles from 1964 through 1968. There are over 1,000 to date.
Since Star Trek the tv series initially only lasted 3 seasons but then made a come back, I thought maybe their book series did something else parallel to Roswell's. That is, I was thinking the books might pick up later. But it looks like the Star Trek books were pretty steadily cranked out, with the exception, perhaps, of 1969--interestingly, the height of the Vietnam war.

But then, Roswell is a more rare, exotic species.

[ 05-01-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]



Are you sure you entered the right info on WorldCat? The reason I ask is that Star Trek didn't start airing until 1966 so I doubt there were any tie-in books published in 1964 or 1965.
Actually,to the best of my knowledge,you're quite right about the Star Trek books starting slowly and picking up later. Most of the early Star Trek books were adaptations of the original episodes and later the animated series. Although the later animated series books greatly expanded on the episodes, there was only one adult original Star Trek novel published until the mid1970's- Spock Must Die by James Blish. In the mid 1970's they started publishing original Star Trek novels but it was on a very irregular basis. Things really didn't settle down to their present monthly schedule until around the first or second movie.
Star Wars original paperbacks also started slowly. Until I believe 1991 and Heir To The Empire, there was one original Star Wars paperback-Splinter in the Mind's Eye by Alan Dean Foster. In fact,I seem to remember that they were a little nervous about publishing Heir but a big publicity campaign made it a success and,of course, there are now countless Star Wars paperbacks
Do you suppose there's some way we could publicise the paperbacks? I get mine at Barnes and Noble and I have to tell you,if I didn't know to look for them,I'd never find them. Maybe the reason that they haven't been selling well enough is that people don't know they exist?

Best wishes,

Scott

Posted 06-06-2003 04:26 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
Remember the show got cancelled... I think the books are failing for the same reason. Fans - even die-hard fans - aren't interested in new Roswell stuff.

Heir to the Empire was fantastic. Zahn captured the feel or the original movie trilogy in a way I wouldn't have suspected could be achieved in books. But he couldn't have done it if the movies had killed Han Solo.

Posted 06-06-2003 04:39 PM by CuteAlienBabe    
I'm thinking about buying the New Biginning book and was wondering are there any nice Maria/Michael moments in there?

Lucy xxx

Posted 06-06-2003 11:32 PM by Flaquita    
I order my books as well from B&N but they haven't called me about it yet.... I want my BOOK!

Posted 06-07-2003 01:40 AM by black widow    
for those who have read the new book, i have a question -- please try and answer this without getting into too much detail, a simple yes or no will do as i don't want to ruin it for others. did the book make any reference to the fact that max and liz are now married?

Posted 06-07-2003 02:31 AM by Mariarulesalways2    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:
Remember the show got cancelled... I think the books are failing for the same reason. Fans - even die-hard fans - aren't interested in new Roswell stuff.

Heir to the Empire was fantastic. Zahn captured the feel or the original movie trilogy in a way I wouldn't have suspected could be achieved in books. But he couldn't have done it if the movies had killed Han Solo.



Star Trek had been off the air for years when the paperbacks started coming out in the 1970s. It was the re-runs that really built the fanbase.
There hadn't been a new Star Wars movie for eight years when Heir To The Empire (which I agree is a terrific book) came out. Even the old Ewoks and Droids cartoon series-showing my age here -were long off the air.
There are literally hundreds of original Dr. Who novels that have been published in England since the cancellation of the series in 1989 (for those who don't know, Dr. Who is a very popular British SF TV series).
The cancellation is a problem,obviously. But it's nothing that can't be overcome.

Best wishes,

Scott

Posted 06-07-2003 10:04 AM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by Algieba:
Abducted Bookworm. You would love the comment made about Jesse and Isabel's relationship but I'm not going to tell you since you're wishing an early demise to the post-graduation books. The book is worth the price for that one comment alone. It's perfect. Don't anyone tell Abducted Bookworm what it is.

All right. Maybe a hint. Michael says to Isabel, that Jesse "----- --- ---." The best sentence in the book. Made my day. (Chapter 8 for those of you who get the book.)


I totally agree. I just read that chapter last night and I really like that line. And no, I won't tell. You guys will have to read it.

Posted 06-07-2003 01:35 PM by YettaKaren    
Ooh, I'm intrigued now!

Found the book at Barnes and Noble today (of course; I went shopping for shoes and swimsuits and wound up buying cheese curd and a Roswell book. Story of my life!)

And I don't even have time to read it because I'm seeing a matinee, then have to come home to watch the Belmont Stakes, then I'm going to a birthday party! Argh!

This is the first "canon" story to cover what happens after Graduation.

Posted 06-07-2003 01:36 PM by YettaKaren    
Whoops, didn't get to finish that last thought... anyway, I've been waiting over a year for this story, so I guess I can wait another day or two!

Posted 06-07-2003 01:46 PM by shapeshifter    
Yetta Karen, I got the books, the shoes, and the swimsuit! (Well, the swimsuit was for my daughter.)

I am getting ready to move 2 blocks over next week, but I did read the first chapter, and it's great!!!!!!!!!!!!!! One small typo on page 6. But I'm going to be very good and not read more until tonight...maybe.

Posted 06-07-2003 02:00 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by Mariarulesalways2:


Star Trek had been off the air for years when the paperbacks started coming out in the 1970s. It was the re-runs that really built the fanbase.
There hadn't been a new Star Wars movie for eight years when Heir To The Empire (which I agree is a terrific book) came out. Even the old Ewoks and Droids cartoon series-showing my age here -were long off the air.
There are literally hundreds of original Dr. Who novels that have been published in England since the cancellation of the series in 1989 (for those who don't know, Dr. Who is a very popular British SF TV series).
The cancellation is a problem,obviously. But it's nothing that can't be overcome.

Best wishes,

Scott


The cancellation itself isn't the problem. Those shows got cancelled without first alienating most of their fan bases.

The books aren't hurt by Roswell no longer being on the air. They're hurt by continuing what knocked Roswell off the air.

Which amounts to, basically, not really being Roswell any more.

Posted 06-08-2003 09:56 AM by YettaKaren    
Well, I wound up stashing the book in my purse last night and reading the first half of it on various subway jaunts around the city (those late-night trains are a doozy to wait for, but not so bad when you have a good read!)

So far: The typos are bothering me, I seem to find one every five pages. Who's editing this stuff?

The story itself is intriguing (argh, I'm about to give up writing fanfic, it seems like somebody's stealing all my ideas and doing them better! oh, well.) Actually, I think I've read other fanfic with similar feels, but I guess once you stick the characters on the road in a van, there's only so much you can do with it.

Michael's "----- --- ---" made my jaw literally drop to the subway platform at West Fourth Street. Hoo, boy! Typical Michael, stating the obvious at an inopportune time. But it is the obvious. Still, is Michael really the one who needs to point this out? Apparently, he is, if only because no one else will...

Kyle seems to be getting a good amount of story time, so yay. The Michael and Maria is... interesting. I don't love it, but I don't dislike it. It's intriguing, and so far seems completely in character with what was happening in Season 3.

I also wish they would make these books internally consistent - Liz told Max about ------ --- in one of the other books (Dreamwalk? Quarantine? I forget), so why does she have to tell him again in this one?

There's at least three more novels coming out, right? I try to buy them new, even though the extra copies usually show up brand-new at the used book store half-price, just so that the money I'm spending on them will count for something. It's silly, but I do enjoy the hour or two it takes me to read one of these books, I'd like for them to keep publishing them.

[ 06-08-2003: Message edited YettaKaren ]

Posted 06-08-2003 10:20 AM by black widow    
i'll ask again, cause i think my question got buried at the bottom of the last page is there any continuity / reference to M/L being married now?

Posted 06-08-2003 02:08 PM by shapeshifter    
I'm about half-way through now too.
BW, about the M/L marriage continuity: They don't seem to be married, but it's not clear.
What's bothering me more is the inconsistancy of the Michael/Maria relationship from the end of Graduation in which they seemed to have made peace and decided to be together and in love. It's rather like the author didn't see that last ep.
About the typos/grammar-os: I'm only finding one every 20 pages. Still, too many.
But the characterizations are true.
The story is engaging.

Posted 06-08-2003 02:17 PM by Mariarulesalways2    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:

The cancellation itself isn't the problem. Those shows got cancelled without first alienating most of their fan bases.

The books aren't hurt by Roswell no longer being on the air. They're hurt by continuing what knocked Roswell off the air.

Which amounts to, basically, not really being Roswell any more.



I have to respectfully disagree with you there but then everybody has their own definition of what makes Roswell Roswell. It's one of the cool things about Roswell

Best wishes,

Scott

Posted 06-08-2003 03:08 PM by black widow    
quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:
What's bothering me more is the inconsistancy of the Michael/Maria relationship from the end of Graduation in which they seemed to have made peace and decided to be together and in love. It's rather like the author didn't see that last ep.

oh, for the love of rath. it's not another book where they're bickering and snarking every two seconds and acting like they don't want to be together, is it? *sigh* i so hate those.

Posted 06-08-2003 03:37 PM by CuteAlienBabe    
Arghhhh I so hope not, I was thinking of buying it. Why can't thsoe two catch a break. Maria decided in Graduation to be with Michael after a season of trying to figure everything out, you'd figure they could at least be relatively happy.

Luce xxx

Posted 06-08-2003 06:10 PM by Algieba    
black widow. The book, A New Beginning, starts a few hours after the group has left Roswell and ends less than a month later. There isn't time for Liz and Max to get married in this book. No reference is made to an upcoming marriage.

Posted 06-08-2003 06:37 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by Mariarulesalways2:


I have to respectfully disagree with you there but then everybody has their own definition of what makes Roswell Roswell. It's one of the cool things about Roswell

Best wishes,

Scott


All I'll say is that if it were favorite characters and couples of other fans gone, say it had been Liz killed off and Max married to Jesse, or they killed Michael and Maria married Jesse, I wouldn't pretend it was all great and wonderful even if my favorite part of the show was still there.

My definition of Roswell is the Roswell that all the Roswell fans loved. The Roswell that caused most fans to leave I don't consider really Roswell. The Roswell that had only parts of what Roswell was originally I don't consider really Roswell.

Posted 06-08-2003 06:54 PM by roswck    
I just finished reading a New beginning. I thought it was really good. I liked the way that they included everyone in it. I also loved KYle in this one. HE was so under used in the series. I won't go into more detail about the book until more peoplee have read it but I highly recomend it. The typos bothered me also. There were alot but at least this was new.
roswck

P.S For the person who asked the question about Max and Liz and there Marriage the answer is no.

[ 06-08-2003: Message edited roswck ]

Posted 06-08-2003 09:57 PM by black widow    
thanks, everyone, for answering me about the marriage question! now i'm all curious, though, as to *why* it isn't mentioned ... i mean, according to the finale, we *know* they got married. i wonder when it happened, though, in the whole timeline of their escape. hmm. curiouser and curiouser.

Posted 06-08-2003 10:49 PM by shapeshifter    
Okay, I have no self control. I finished it.
My complaint is that the plot consisted of bits and pieces of various episodes with a sprinkling of X-files. For all the criticism of Jason Katims manipulation of the plot and characters, at least he showed creativity.
Other than that, and the poor editing, it was pretty good. After it's beyond spoiling I will post some more specific comments.

Posted 06-09-2003 11:36 PM by Mariarulesalways2    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:

All I'll say is that if it were favorite characters and couples of other fans gone, say it had been Liz killed off and Max married to Jesse, or they killed Michael and Maria married Jesse, I wouldn't pretend it was all great and wonderful even if my favorite part of the show was still there.

My definition of Roswell is the Roswell that all the Roswell fans loved. The Roswell that caused most fans to leave I don't consider really Roswell. The Roswell that had only parts of what Roswell was originally I don't consider really Roswell.



I have the feeling that I've offended you and I really didn't mean to. All I really meant by what I said was that I do disagree with you about Roswell not being Roswell any more but I respect that your opinion is different from mine. It's true that Alex is not my favorite character (Although I never had a problem with him and certainly wouldn't mind his resurrection. And not just because it would clear Tess's name either..)but I have seen characters I loved killed off on other shows (Tara leaps to mind. I kept watching Buffy but I have to say I really,really wish Joss would concede he made a mistake and bring her back on Angel or whatever the new spin-off is...)and I would certainly never take your feelings on the subject lightly. I apologise if I came across otherwise.

Best wishes,

Scott

Posted 06-10-2003 04:04 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by Mariarulesalways2:


I have the feeling that I've offended you and I really didn't mean to. All I really meant by what I said was that I do disagree with you about Roswell not being Roswell any more but I respect that your opinion is different from mine. It's true that Alex is not my favorite character (Although I never had a problem with him and certainly wouldn't mind his resurrection. And not just because it would clear Tess's name either..)but I have seen characters I loved killed off on other shows (Tara leaps to mind. I kept watching Buffy but I have to say I really,really wish Joss would concede he made a mistake and bring her back on Angel or whatever the new spin-off is...)and I would certainly never take your feelings on the subject lightly. I apologise if I came across otherwise.

Best wishes,

Scott


Thanks Scott, I understand what you're saying. I'm certainly not mad at you in particular. I may be annoyed by fellow posters from time to time, particularly during peak allergy season, but if I'm mad at anyone it's the people running the Roswell franchise.

Tara wasn't an original part of Buffy, nor was Willow/Tara. Killing her was the biggest mistake Joss Whedom ever made. It still wasn't the equivalent of what happened on Roswell, where Alex and Alex/Isabel occupied original and integral roles on the show - roles virtually unique. The roles were always quite different from those occupied by any other character or couple, before or after, and they were what made the show special even when I still liked the other characters and couples.

It's this uniqueness that makes Gazers care so much. It's why comparatively few are left in Roswell fandom anymore (although fewer on FF than elsewhere due to certain policies now reversed) - it hurt too much. We can't go to another show and find characters like that. Dreamers tend to find similar stuff with Buffy and Angel, for example.

I understand that other people weren't bothered with what happened on the show. But I guess I am bothered that so many fans consider what happened fine, consider what they're continuing with fine, despite knowing how it affected other fans of the show. I am bothered that people think a Roswell that pleases them is just great when they know that a Roswell that pleased enough people to stay on the air was possible; that a Roswell that would please enough people to make books profitable is possible.

Posted 06-10-2003 06:54 PM by Algieba    
AB. I have a different outlook on things regarding the success of the books. In order to get what I want from Roswell, which is a movie with both Alex and Tess in it, there first has to be support for a continuation of Roswell in some form. I don't think anyone is going to sink money into a film or more books unless they think they will have success. They will be looking at things like book sales, reruns on SciFi with continuing and new viewers, and campaigns by the fans to get something going. If they don't see that, I don't believe they are going to get the message that they need to go back to Season 1 and start over. I think they will just drop the whole thing.

If we succeed in getting a movie or even a mini-series, the next step would be to concentrate on letting the powers that be know there is a large group of fans who want Colin Hanks to return in the role of Alex. Would Colin Hanks want to do that? I have no idea. He's making movies, more than any of the ex Roswell actors, but he hasn't become a big star yet.

When talk of a movie first came out it was suggested that some big name actors be brought in and a more epic story be created. If the film looks like it might be a big success, I would think Colin would be interested, especially if his fans are writing him and clammering for his inclusion. If fans were right now letting him know how much they liked his character in Roswell and were trying to get him interested, wouldn't that make a difference to an actor?

I do think that a lot of what goes on in Hollywood comes about by connections, who you know. The son of Tom Hanks is going to know a lot more people than any of the other actors on the show. We need his support behind this effort. If he isn't interested, it isn't going to matter one bit how much we like the character he portrayed.

Since I like all the characters on the show, I'm interested in what happens to all of them, not just Alex. I doubt I'll get what I really want, the return of Tess. Emilie de Ravin is a newcomer and is just beginning her career. Since most Roswell fans despise her, I don't think there will be a part for her in Roswell in the future. That won't stop me from caring about the others though.

The latest book, A New Beginning is very much like the TV series. You get the feeling that you're continuing the story. You're following the Roswell gang into a literary season 4. I hope the sales are good so it can continue.

I am not at all insensitive to other fan's feelings since my feelings have been stomped on quite often by those who hate Tess. I can't really blame them because the character that Tess became starting with The Departure is not how she was originally. But I can't see putting an end to Roswell because two of my favorite characters are gone. I still care about the others and want to see what happens to them. I will continue to press for Tess and Alex in any campaigning I do but I won't give up on Roswell because of their loss.

Posted 06-10-2003 10:39 PM by sarah m    
quote:
Originally posted by Algieba:
The latest book, A New Beginning is very much like the TV series. You get the feeling that you're continuing the story. You're following the Roswell gang into a literary season 4. I hope the sales are good so it can continue.

I am not at all insensitive to other fan's feelings since my feelings have been stomped on quite often by those who hate Tess. I can't really blame them because the character that Tess became starting with The Departure is not how she was originally. But I can't see putting an end to Roswell because two of my favorite characters are gone. I still care about the others and want to see what happens to them. I will continue to press for Tess and Alex in any campaigning I do but I won't give up on Roswell because of their loss.


I agree. I just finished A New Beginning and liked it. The characters seemed to follow the series very closely. But I also liked that the author is letting them change a little - grow up and relate to their new circumstances. It seemed like a good start - I hope the rest are as good or better.

I also miss Alex and Tess. Alex was one of my favorite characters. I agree with whoever said (sorry I can't remember who) that he brought a different dimension to the show. The same with Tess. I think her character was really misused by the writers. I don't think a movie could resurrect both of them. But maybe Emilie could come back as Ava.

Posted 06-11-2003 03:37 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
I also miss Tess. Not as much as Alex, but a lot, and I agree that what they did with her was absurd. It isn't the same, she isn't an original, but I do miss her as well.

I'd prefer no Roswell to the partial continuation we're getting now, so I won't spend my money on it at present.

Posted 06-11-2003 03:18 PM by colinhanksisbuff    
im reading a book called Roswell Loose ends. im only just starting it and im enjoying it. im up to teh bit wheere alex is keeping an eye on a man who shot liz (i think thats her name lol)and mark or micheal healed her b4 the cops came. its really good.

Posted 06-11-2003 07:07 PM by CuteAlienBabe    
Which books would everyone recommend for nice Candy or Stargazer moments?

Luce xxx (who got New Beginning today and is already hooked)

[ 06-11-2003: Message edited CuteAlienBabe ]

Posted 06-13-2003 02:24 AM by Mariarulesalways2    
quote:
Originally posted by Algieba:
AB. I have a different outlook on things regarding the success of the books. In order to get what I want from Roswell, which is a movie with both Alex and Tess in it, there first has to be support for a continuation of Roswell in some form. I don't think anyone is going to sink money into a film or more books unless they think they will have success. They will be looking at things like book sales, reruns on SciFi with continuing and new viewers, and campaigns by the fans to get something going. If they don't see that, I don't believe they are going to get the message that they need to go back to Season 1 and start over. I think they will just drop the whole thing.

If we succeed in getting a movie or even a mini-series, the next step would be to concentrate on letting the powers that be know there is a large group of fans who want Colin Hanks to return in the role of Alex. Would Colin Hanks want to do that? I have no idea. He's making movies, more than any of the ex Roswell actors, but he hasn't become a big star yet.

When talk of a movie first came out it was suggested that some big name actors be brought in and a more epic story be created. If the film looks like it might be a big success, I would think Colin would be interested, especially if his fans are writing him and clammering for his inclusion. If fans were right now letting him know how much they liked his character in Roswell and were trying to get him interested, wouldn't that make a difference to an actor?

I do think that a lot of what goes on in Hollywood comes about by connections, who you know. The son of Tom Hanks is going to know a lot more people than any of the other actors on the show. We need his support behind this effort. If he isn't interested, it isn't going to matter one bit how much we like the character he portrayed.

Since I like all the characters on the show, I'm interested in what happens to all of them, not just Alex. I doubt I'll get what I really want, the return of Tess. Emilie de Ravin is a newcomer and is just beginning her career. Since most Roswell fans despise her, I don't think there will be a part for her in Roswell in the future. That won't stop me from caring about the others though.

The latest book, A New Beginning is very much like the TV series. You get the feeling that you're continuing the story. You're following the Roswell gang into a literary season 4. I hope the sales are good so it can continue.

I am not at all insensitive to other fan's feelings since my feelings have been stomped on quite often by those who hate Tess. I can't really blame them because the character that Tess became starting with The Departure is not how she was originally. But I can't see putting an end to Roswell because two of my favorite characters are gone. I still care about the others and want to see what happens to them. I will continue to press for Tess and Alex in any campaigning I do but I won't give up on Roswell because of their loss.


This is basically where I stand on the whole thing,as well. Although,basically, I enjoyed Season Three, I was not happy with what they did to Tess. And,while I'm a bigger fan of Tess than Alex (nothing personal against Alex or Colin Hanks. Emilie's just cuter ), I certainly would like to see Alex come back too( And, as you say,the Hanks name probably won't hurt if they do decide to make a feature). As you say, Roswell problems can't be fixed if there is no Roswell. And,certainly, I want Roswell to continue,because I find too much to love about it ,even
without Tess and Alex,not to want it to continue.. So I will continue to do everything I can to support Roswell whether it's buying the paperbacks,campaigning or whatever.

Best wishes,

Scott

Posted 06-13-2003 12:02 PM by Josh'sTexasGal    
Just wanted to say i've read through this whole thread and all your information was insightful. I can't wait to buy all the books, especially the new one.

[ 06-13-2003: Message edited Josh'sTexasGal ]

Posted 06-13-2003 05:02 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by CuteAlienBabe:
Which books would everyone recommend for nice Candy or Stargazer moments?

Luce xxx (who got New Beginning today and is already hooked)

[ 06-11-2003: Message edited CuteAlienBabe ]


Actually, only the original Roswell High series seems to have Michael & Maria doing anything but squabbling. At least that's how I remember the newer books. Anyone remember anything different?

Posted 06-13-2003 07:31 PM by black widow    
eh, they squabble in most of the books, but there's a difference from book to book in terms of the quantity and the appropriateness. in some books, it's annoying and excessive and totally unrealistic to the characters. the only book i've ever seen it in which didn't irritate me because i felt it was plausible and realistic was the last one released -- quarantine. but that could be because it was written by the editor of the original book series.

Posted 06-13-2003 07:43 PM by Algieba    
I agree they overdo the fighting between Maria and Michael. There is one scene in Dreamwalk by Paul Ruditis between Maria and Michael that is very good. Read chapter 7.

Maria discovers a painting that Michael has done and hidden away. She is amazed that it evokes the same feelings she had hoped her singing would have at a very sad event they all attended. It brings the two of them closer together and deepens their feelings for each other. Maria is able to see a more artistic aspect of Michael's personality.

I'm trying not to say too much because I don't like to spoil anything for those who still haven't read it. They should have more chapters like this one instead of the childish fighting they keep putting them through.

Posted 06-13-2003 11:00 PM by PrometheusUFO    
The next book after A New Beginning, titled Nightscape, is already available to order on Barnes&Noble. And I just ordered.

[ 06-13-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 06-13-2003 11:22 PM by GregKeithB    
I guess that Black Widow and myself were the only ones confused about Max and Liz being married. The book was supposed to pick up were the show left off. And the show left off with M/L getting married. I don't care how long it took for them to actually get married in the show, the book shouldn't have started before the marriage. I'm curious if they'll be married in the next book.

Posted 06-14-2003 12:48 AM by black widow    
yeah, that's exactly what i thought, too! weird. although, it's good to know it wasn't just me who was confused by that!

Posted 06-14-2003 02:05 AM by TDL    
Yes, I was a bit startled that the book picks up the story a mere few hours after they left Roswell. I was thinking that Max and Liz would be married and they would have been on the road for some time. Of course, since they were on the road only a few hours, there was no time for them to get married. I hope they will be in the next book.

I had a few problems with the book, one of them being the incredibly numerous typos. Didn't anyone proofread this book? Also, I couldn't stop wondering why they didn't just take some paper and change it into 20 dollar bills. They did with plane tickets in the 3rd season episode "Interruptus" and that seemed to work just fine. Also I was unsatisfied that there was no real resolution. What were the aliens doing? Who were they?

However, I overall liked the book. It was kind of refreshing to see what happens after they leave Roswell, kind of like getting a season 4. The relationship stuff was all good, although I'm irritated at Maria. I like how Michael was thinking about how he stayed on the planet for her. Those two need to have a serious talk and she needs to apologize for how she treated him in season 3. Max and Liz are happy, so I'm happy. I wish Isabel wasn't actually married to Jesse, so then eventually she and Kyle could end up together. At the end of season 2, I really thought they would end up together, and now it seems like that's the best thing to do. Oh, and for all you Alex/Isabel fanatics --- in the original Roswell High books, they don't end up together in the end, and they're okay with that. It just didn't work out for those two.

I'm a bit disappointed that these new books are not a continuing series with cliffhangers at the end like the Melinda Metz books. Still, though, any Roswell is good with me, as long as they don't kill off any of these remaining six characters. I can't wait till Nightscape!

Posted 06-14-2003 04:46 AM by colinhanksisbuff    
i think that the books are good.

i read loose ends. interesting...

Posted 06-14-2003 01:47 PM by shapeshifter    
My only issue with Max & Liz not being married in New Beginnings stems from the fact that Liz is writing in a new journal already. Does this mean she still has the old one and has not yet sent Jeff the old one with the note stating that they are married?
quote:
Originally posted by TDL:
...The relationship stuff was all good, ...
The Max/Liz relationship especially rang true.

Posted 06-14-2003 06:03 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
It was clear in the Roswell High books that Alex and Isabel loved each other and would wind up together for good in the future. In case you weren't paying much attention to the books, Melinda Metz even said so.

It was also clear with the TV series that all three couples would get a happy ending. That they were an integral part of the concept. Only Katims decided to screw us.

I wish they'd continue the adventures of the original cast. But it remains infuriating that they're putting out books and calling them "Roswell" but it's only about two thirds of the original couples.

Posted 06-15-2003 01:35 AM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:
It was clear in the Roswell High books that Alex and Isabel loved each other and would wind up together for good in the future. In case you weren't paying much attention to the books, Melinda Metz even said so.
Whoa! Really? How did I miss that? When/where did she say that?

Posted 06-15-2003 10:12 AM by Roswell_Creeker    
even in the original book series Alex didn't get as much attention as the other characters

Posted 06-15-2003 01:41 PM by Algieba    
I, too, would be very interested to know what Melinda Metz said about Alex and Isabel's relationship. I was very disappointed with the ending of the series in regard to these two characters.

It was very clear that Max and Liz were together. It also was finally very clear that Michael and Maria were. Michael actually said the words, "I love you," twice. That's what Maria had been wanting to hear since the very beginning.

Alex and Isabel, however, did not express love for each other. If you read the ending, book 10, The Salvation, it has a very ambiguous final conversation between them. They're serious one second, joking the next. I really couldn't figure out how to interpret how their final relationship was supposed to be viewed. I wanted them to be together but I couldn't be sure whether what they were saying was about friendship or love. If Metz wanted us to know they were together, why didn't she give them the kind of closure she gave the others?

If there weren't ten books in the series, I could almost believe there would be a sequel that would continue their relationship. It left me kind of perplexed again with writers who don't make clear their intentions for their characters. They leave their readers debating with each other over what each sentence or word or gesture or look really meant. When you want a story to end a certain way, you see something that someone else doesn't see because they don't care as much as you do. Just like the TV show.

Posted 06-15-2003 05:58 PM by black widow    
quote:
Originally posted by Algieba:
It left me kind of perplexed again with writers who don't make clear their intentions for their characters. They leave their readers debating with each other over what each sentence or word or gesture or look really meant. When you want a story to end a certain way, you see something that someone else doesn't see because they don't care as much as you do.


great point. i'm having a similar issue in another fandom with another ship at the moment, and it's infuriating me!

Posted 06-15-2003 07:21 PM by greenjetta    
As someone who does a lot of proof reading and copy editing for a living, I was amazed that they could let this book go to print with that many mistakes. Obviously they didn't care how it looked, as long as it got printed. Maybe they were getting close to their deadline and just gave the publisher whatever they had. I hope the next book is better, as far as the typos are concerned.

Now about the whole M/L wedding thing, I took it differently. I had a feeling that the book would start off from when they left Roswell. I'm thinking that they'll work their way up to Max and Liz's wedding, maybe get us used to them being on the run first? I think that with the show, they wanted to give the Max/Liz fans a happy ending for their favorite couple. With the book, they wanted to explain what happened after they all got into the van and drove away. Watching "Graduation", I just assumed that the wedding had happened a few weeks or months down the line, not right away. At the end, Liz did say in the voice over that she 'eventually' married Max. She doesn't say how much time had passed before she actually married him.

Posted 06-16-2003 11:31 AM by Melinda    
Hey,everyone

It's been a long time since I stopped by the book thread. Since I did, here are my thoughts on where Isabel and Alex ended up in the (Metz) books.

It's true that they didn't end up together romantically. They ended up as friends. But strong, deep friendships aren't all that easy to find!--so for me, where they ended up, especially after all they'd been through relationship-wise, was a very good place.

I did once say I imagined Alex and Isabel ending up together after college. (But it wasn't in any way implied in the ending of the series, no matter how carefully read.) I can still picture that.

Oh, and as for why Ray wasn't taken over by the consciousness... Excellent question. And honestly, one I thought about much too late (after I finished the book where Max was taken over by the consciousness.) I explained it to myself (not at all helpful to readers!) by figuring that Max, because he came out of his pod on earth, experienced everything in a different, more intense way than Ray did, so the consciousness glommed on to his experiences. But really, I just messed up.

As I've said before, I loved writing the Roswell High series.

All best,

Melinda

[ 06-16-2003: Message edited Melinda ]

[ 06-16-2003: Message edited Melinda ]

Posted 06-16-2003 02:08 PM by PrometheusUFO    
Thanks for coming by and resolving that question, Melinda.

Also, remember that I ordered Nightscape just a few days ago on B&N... Well, it just shipped today. Can't wait to read it.

Posted 06-16-2003 03:10 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
Thanks Melinda!

I was just trying to think where I could find the answer, but was having no luck (I think I heard it from an online friend who I haven't heard from in over a year). So very much appreciated.

Posted 06-16-2003 06:12 PM by black widow    
melinda!!! how wonderful to hear from you! thanks so much for stopping by--we are honoured! let us know what you're up to! (don't suppose you'd want to write another 10 roswell books, wouldja? )

Posted 06-16-2003 09:34 PM by shapeshifter    
Thank you, Melinda for posting!
I am doubly honored to have my question about Ray answered. Now I can sleep at night! --only half kidding

I also loved your Fingerprints series. Do you have another in the works? Maybe a post-college Roswell (since you did give it at least a passing thought already).

If you don't have time to answer, we will trust you are writing something good.

And Abducted Bookworm, I am Sooo sorry I doubted you.

Posted 06-16-2003 09:45 PM by Algieba    
Ditto on the request for more Roswell High books, Melinda. I am a teacher whose students love your books so I stock them in my classroom library.

Is there any possibility you will be writing more about the Roswell characters? Maybe their college years. Or maybe more alien teenager type books. My students are middle school age and really identify with your characters.

Thanks so much for posting here and answering our questions.

Posted 06-17-2003 12:36 PM by Melinda    
Hello, again!

Just wanted to say that the decision about whether or not there would be more Roswell High books was always up to the publisher. The initial concept for the series was theirs, and they own the rights. They decided to stop the original series at ten books. But I knew #10 would be the last, so I got to really think about how I wanted to end the series. (On Fingerprints, I wasn't sure if the publisher would want more books, so I didn't do quite the wrap-up I would have if I'd been positive.)

But I have been busy writing other things. As some of you know, I do television writing with a partner, Laura Burns, who was my editor on the Roswell High books. Right now Laura and I are on the writing staff of a cool new show for Lifetime called 1-800-Missing about an FBI agent and a psychic who find missing people. It's based on a series of YA books by Jenny Carroll (aka Meg Cabot who writes the Princess Diary books)called 1-800-Where-R-U.

Next fall, I have a YA paranormal thriller coming out. It's called Raven's Point. It's kind of hard to describe, and I don't want to give too much away, but it involves ghosts, time travel, ancient evil awakened, and of course, true love!

Okay, very long answer to your question. I suddenly feel like I'm doing a cheesy infomercial or something. Order now and you get a case of spray on hair free!

All best,

Melinda

P.S. For all you Buffy fans out there (insert infomercial voice) Laura and I (Buffy fans ourselves) wrote a gruesome little story for Tales of the Slayer 2 and we're writing a Buffy novel together.

Posted 06-17-2003 02:58 PM by PrometheusUFO    
lol. Raven's Point sounds great. I'd definately have to buy a copy.

Also, I've found a description for both Pursuit and Turnabout but it contains so much spoilers I'm just going to link to it. These two books definately sound like two-parter.
http://www.booksamillion.com/ncom/books?id=2558754996598&pid=0689855222

Posted 06-17-2003 04:10 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
No problem shapeshifter. I know how rumours get passed around online, and at the time my info was second hand.

Thanks Melinda, sounds very interesting. I also have to chime in on the request for more Roswell High!

Posted 06-17-2003 04:21 PM by Flaquita    
I have bought The New Begining but I have yet to read it. I am still reading Loose Ends and I have two more to read... I love all these books. Well see you guys... I am going to go finish reading it. Bye!!

Posted 06-17-2003 08:00 PM by greenjetta    
I know it just came out, but does anyone know if Nightscape begins right where A New Beginning ended? Is it a separate story?

Posted 06-18-2003 01:20 AM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by greenjetta:
I know it just came out, but does anyone know if Nightscape begins right where A New Beginning ended? Is it a separate story?

What a coincidence. SimonSays.com has just added the official description for this book:

quote:
On The Road...To Danger

While traveling through Colorado, Liz sees a vision of Maria being chased through a large house. Needless to say, the van then mysteriously breaks down right in front of a creepy old mansion. Tired of being pushed around by fate, the group decides to spend the night. But what they find hidden inside the house forces them all to face a powerful enemy, Max to make a decision about his leadership abilities, and Liz to reconsider her role in the group now that her powers are developing.

Looks like the battles they fought back in Roswell aren't entirely over. And while the group knows they have changed their destiny by leaving Roswell, they begin to wonder how much they are really in control. Liz can see the future, but when they act on her visions, are they changing or simply carrying out their destiny?


Edit: And I think it was Andy Mangels that said that Nightscape takes place just a few weeks after A New Beginning.

[ 06-18-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 06-18-2003 02:34 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
Still waiting for a book description that mentions Alex.

Okay so giving up for a moment on Roswell... where can I find a teen/twenties male character who is neither a jerk nor a bit of a loser? Buffy had Oz. Otherwise I'm pretty much at a loss. I like someone I can identify with and want to identify with. A guy who's smart and perceptive but also tough, and who preferably gets the girl. A sense of humor, but not a clown. Hmm... on 24 there's Miguel, if he shows up again. (I've only watched about 2/3 through the second season so far.) I can't think of anyone in written fiction either.

Anyway Melinda, if you're still here, you created a character of a type not often seen in fiction. It meant a lot to me.

I think there's a perception that guys don't read... but those of us who do are most likely to be someone a bit like Alex. (Since the Gazer threads have predominantly female posters that isn't the only reason he's a beloved character. It's the big one for me, though.)

[ 06-18-2003: Message edited Abducted Bookworm ]

Posted 06-18-2003 11:41 AM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:
I think there's a perception that guys don't read... but those of us who do are most likely to be someone a bit like Alex.

I read a lot, and since the beginning of the series, I always felt I identified with Alex the most. And being so, "Cry Your Name" had to be the roughest episode for me in the entire series...

Posted 06-18-2003 05:29 PM by greenjetta    
Thanks for posting the description of Nightscape, it sounds interesting!

Posted 06-18-2003 08:47 PM by shapeshifter    
not to mention that Colin Hanks always delivered a professional quality performance.

Posted 06-19-2003 09:04 PM by Flaquita    
Nightscape comes out July am I right? Theres two other books coming out as well.. but I can't remember the names of them or when it will be out. Does anyone have that info?

Posted 06-19-2003 10:10 PM by PrometheusUFO    
Nightscape was just released. My copy shipped from B&N a few days ago.

And check out my webpage. Page 2 has the more recent (and future) releases:
http://prometheusrealm.tripod.com/roswell/book2.html

[ 06-19-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 06-21-2003 01:42 PM by Roswell_Creeker    
ditto, i think that Alex's and kyle's characters are always easier to identify and apply to real-life people. It's not everyday we run into a Max on the street

Posted 06-21-2003 02:31 PM by Algieba    
I was in Books-A-Million today to get a book so I checked with the customer service desk to see if just maybe Nightscape had come in yet (even though they said it would be July). They checked the computer for me and it has already been shipped. They said they had a shipment that had just arrived but hadn't been unpacked yet and it may be in that.

I agree about the characters that are so often overlooked. I'm often drawn to them as much or more than the "lead" characters.

Posted 06-22-2003 02:44 PM by greenjetta    
I haven't finished reading it yet, but from what I have read of "Nightscape", they mention Alex quite a bit. It was an interesting surprise.

Posted 06-23-2003 07:20 PM by black widow    
just wanted to thank you, shapeshifter, for a lovely dinner the other night and thank you SO much for the book! i'm finished 'order of the phoenix' so i'm (finally!) planning to start on the new roswell book ASAP now.

Posted 06-23-2003 07:52 PM by *Vicki*    
I am halfway through Nightscape and can't put it down. It's really good! Kevin Ryan has done a great job on these after season 3 books.

Posted 06-23-2003 09:18 PM by Flaquita    
Has there been any new information about them making more Roswell books? I hope they continue with them... because I truly do love those books. If anyone has that info please let me know... thanks.

Posted 06-24-2003 01:45 AM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:
not to mention that Colin Hanks always delivered a professional quality performance.

Another good point. He was outstanding even in a good cast.

He came through in the books as well.

Posted 06-24-2003 06:39 PM by Algieba    
Nightscape. Very good story. I highly recommend it. Lots of Isabel's point of view. Yes, Alex was mentioned but I find it interesting that his character is never dealt with as definitely dead. So far they are just dealing with what is in Isabel's mind. The door is being left open. The owners of this story have yet to decisively shut him out. Leaves a possibility for him to appear in a movie, does it not?

Posted 06-24-2003 07:34 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by black widow:
just wanted to thank you, shapeshifter, for a lovely dinner the other night and thank you SO much for the book! ...
You're welcome for the book, but I'm the one who needs to thank you for the dinner!

It was the best part of my trip so far, and it's almost over.

When was Nightscape out in the stores? I'll have to get it when I get home. Sorry, BW, that I couldn't have brought it up north too!

For those who follow it, Episode 18 of The Final Chapter is up.
I will have to read it when I get home, most likely...

[ 06-24-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 06-25-2003 06:55 AM by sarah m    
quote:
Originally posted by Algieba:
Nightscape. Very good story. I highly recommend it. Lots of Isabel's point of view. Yes, Alex was mentioned but I find it interesting that his character is never dealt with as definitely dead. So far they are just dealing with what is in Isabel's mind. The door is being left open. The owners of this story have yet to decisively shut him out. Leaves a possibility for him to appear in a movie, does it not?

The return of Alex...in a movie...that would be worth the wait!

I am still waiting for the bookstore to get Nightscape. I hope it comes in soon, I can't wait to read it.

Posted 06-25-2003 07:34 AM by *Vicki*    
I just finshed Nightscape! I really liked it. As I have said before Kevin Ryan did his homework. Lots of surprises. I won't say anymore than that. You have to read it!

Mr Ryan would have made a great writer for the show.

Posted 06-27-2003 10:05 PM by Ladeia    
I finally got the first three books of Roswell High by Melinda Metz. I so wished the series had stayed closer to the books. I definitely liked the way the characters were portrayed in the books. They are definitely more likeable.

Posted 06-28-2003 02:43 PM by RoswellMouse    
This isn't about a Roswell book, but it is about a book that mentions Roswell. I found this at Blu 5 posted by Melandra.

quote:
I read the book Princess Diaries by Meg Cabot because I thought the movie was too cute. So then I got hooked on it all. I'm reading book 4 right now: Princess in Waiting. Mia and her best friend Lilly often like to make lists of things with commentary, they decided to maek a list of what's Hot and What's Not on TV check out what they said about Roswell!!


ROSWELL

Lilly: Now, sadly, canceled, this show offered an intriguing look at the possibility that aliens live among us. The fact that they might be teenagers, and extraordinarily attractive ones, at that, stretches the show's credibility somewhat.

Mia: Hot guys with alien powers. What more can you ask? High point: Future Max; any time anybody made out in the eraser room. Low point: When that skanky Tess showed up. Oh, and when it got canceled.


Posted 06-28-2003 03:45 PM by Shilohaura    
Okay - This has taken a while, but a loooong while back there was a discussion on this thread about the burning of the cactus during ARCC. During that discussion, I mentioned that procession lit by luminarias through the Rio Grande Valley to Santa Fe. Some of you expressed interest, but I don't have any pics of it. I did, however, find some postcards of the luminaria lit plaza of Old Town Albuquerque (where Nick is from!) that I bought when I lived there. ShapeShifter was nice enough to upload them for me, so I thought I'd go ahead and post them. Take note that there are NO Christmas lights in these pics - anthing you think looks like a Christmas light is actually a luminaria - the plaza and all of the buildings are FULL of them! It might give you some idea of what I was talking about - hope so! It's just absolutely beautiful!

IMAGE: thesmudge.com/shapeshifter/pics/OldAlbuquerque12.gif

IMAGE: thesmudge.com/shapeshifter/pics/OldAlbuquerque32.gif

Thanks bunches, ShapeShifter!

[ 06-28-2003: Message edited Shilohaura ]

Posted 06-29-2003 02:02 AM by rd_kittykat    

so how many books of roswell r dere neway?

Posted 06-29-2003 09:47 AM by out of this world    
Just got the latest book Nightscape yesteray. I just started to read it. So far so good. I hope there are more on the way?

CS

Posted 06-29-2003 04:02 PM by shapeshifter    
I'm re-reading A New Beginning while I wait for my Nightscape to arrive.
Okay, I know we all griped about the typos, but there is a major money CHAD that really bugs me.
On page 38 they all count their money and determine they have a total of $68.40.
Then, on page 39, they give $50 to Gomer.
This should leave them with $18.40.
But on page 50, after the girls have paid for their meal, Liz says they have $42.40.
What really bugs me about this, is that the lack of money is a major factor in the plot.
I'm guessing that the part about counting how much they had was originally written to occur after they paid Gomer.
Hey, anyone want to hire me to edit?

Posted 06-29-2003 06:38 PM by sarah m    
quote:
Originally posted by shapeshifter:
I'm re-reading A New Beginning while I wait for my Nightscape to arrive.
Okay, I know we all griped about the typos, but there is a major money CHAD that really bugs me.
On page 38 they all count their money and determine they have a total of $68.40.
Then, on page 39, they give $50 to Gomer.
This should leave them with $18.40.
But on page 50, after the girls have paid for their meal, Liz says they have $42.40.
What really bugs me about this, is that the lack of money is a major factor in the plot.
I'm guessing that the part about counting how much they had was originally written to occur after they paid Gomer.
Hey, anyone want to hire me to edit?

They definitely need someone to proof read and edit.

But I think an even bigger CHAD is why do they have a money problem at all. Michael has demonstated several times that he can change docs- the ID's in Vegas, his overdue bills into airline tickets to follow Isabel on her honeymoon. Why can't they just change ANYTHING into money? It bugged me on the show and it continues to bother me in the books.

Posted 06-30-2003 12:35 PM by YettaKaren    
Spoiler alert for Nightscape!

Found Nightscape today for 2.99 at The Strand. I try to buy the books new from Barnes and Noble, but I've checked all my regular BN's and none of them have it. I even went to the store at Union Square immediately before going to The Strand. Hey BN, if you're not gonna carry the book when it comes out, I'm not gonna buy it from you at full price! Get a clue!

Anyway, I read it over lunch at an outdoor cafe. Yep, one sitting. This one's a quickie.

It picks up where A New Beginning left off, and mentions the events in Stonewall. The character development as well is pretty consistent - Michael's suddenly relaxed demeanor continued, which makes sense. The comment that Michael made to Isabel about Jesse, which we discussed on this thread a few weeks ago when A New Beginning came out, is brought up once again when Isabel is thinking about it.

Kyle does not play a huge role in this one. Most of it is told from Liz, Michael and Isabel's POV's. A little from Max's, and virtually none from Kyle or Maria - Maria has a lot to do, but it's mostly seen through Michael or Liz's eyes.

The plot bugged me a little because a) the ghost story seemed so contrived, and b) (BIG SPOILER) the "bad ghost" seemed so pointless for awhile, running around just being "bad", which was annoying. Even though I already said this was a spoiler post I don't want to give away the twist, but suffice it to say I was satisfied by the "bad guy" in the end, and thought it was a rather inventive twist that made perfect sense.

They spend a huge section in the middle of the book with Isabel just reading a journal from the 1930's, which I found to be kinda boring, and in the end, kinda pointless. This is a Roswell book - give me Michael and Maria! Max and Liz! A few new characters are fine, but we want to know what our old friends are doing in this new post-graduation era.

And on that note, Michael and Maria thankfully get some development to the stagnation of their post-breakup relationship. It picks up from ANB, with Michael being rather relaxed and slap-happy, but Maria still in her sulky, confused mode as Michael persists after her. But they've got a couple of scenes that I think will have Candies turning backflips.

Dreamers also might turn backflips over the last Max-Liz scene, given that this is official Roswell canon... better not say anything more.

Stargazers also get a little nibble...

Posted 06-30-2003 01:30 PM by PrometheusUFO    
I recieved Nightscape a while back, but I want to finish Harry Potter 5 before I move on to that...

Andy Mangels has added pages to his site for Pursuit and Turnabout, including larger versions of the cover art and official back cover descriptions!

http://www.andymangels.com/pursuit.html
http://www.andymangels.com/turnabout.html

Too bad this confirms that these are the final books, but they do sound like a great two-part finale though!

[ 06-30-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 06-30-2003 02:45 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
Thanks for all the info!

I'm still not going to buy the books, except perhaps used... but god. Finale. And I'm not optimistic about a happy ending. Probably another huge rip-off like "Graduation."

If they actually do tie up all the storylines that has to include EOTW and bringing Alex back, but they've lied to us before.

Posted 07-05-2003 10:21 AM by shapeshifter    
As usual, I am a very bad girl, reading Nightscape and posting here instead of working on other stuff that I really need to get done.

ITA with YettaKaren's comments.

On the plus side, Nightscape is the first of the tv tie-in books that has come close to Metz and Season 1 in describing the physical attractions between the characters. The others have been pretty devoid of that very major element of Roswell.

And, unlike A New Beginning, Nightscape had better editing. There are a couple of rough spots, but nothing like A New Beginning with dozens of typos.

Nevertheless, I have 2 big beefs with this book, and what makes them so big is that the author also illustrated that he was capable of making a great, true-to-character work.

S
O
M
E

N
I
G
H
T
S
C
A
P
E

S
P
O
I
L
E
R
S

Beefs:

  • First, as with A New Beginning, Ryan gives us a distorted, out-of-cannon Maria/Michael relationship. In both books Maria is constantly physically abusing Michael. I don't recall seeing that in the show other than when she caught him with Courtney. Am I wrong? And, for that matter, I don't recall ever seeing a relationship in real life in which people physically abuse one another that has a happily-ever-after outcome.

    Even more importantly, in Graduation, after much emotional struggle, Maria makes her choice: Michael. There is no doubt. I wonder if Ryan was reading the fanfic The Final Chapter while working on these books and he got that story line mixed up with the end of Season 3?

    He gives his email address, so I will ask him.

  • The second thing that ruined it for me was, like YettaKaren mentioned, was the use of ghosts in the book. He has the characters reasoning that if there can be half-human alien hybrids, why not ghosts? Maybe if Liz had given some scientific explanation for ghosts, it would have sat better, but like YK, I found that bringing in an entire ghost family and its history into the plot to save the day did nothing to advance the development of the characters and their relationships. It's not that Ryan didn't handle the ghost plotline skillfully, it's just: what the %$#@?!$#? was it doing in my Roswell book?

[ 07-05-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 07-05-2003 11:04 AM by ceilirose    
shapeshifter - I think I read on this thread or the previous one that the writers were told to play up the 'bickering' part of M & M's relationship. Sorry I can't remember who posted that exactly..possibly black widow??

Anyway I'm not surprised that the sales are down. Besides the plotholes, the errors in spelling and other nuisances - they have all dropped the ball in portraying the M & M relationship. There are a fair amount of Candies who can't be bothered even reading the post Roswell High books because of the bizarre character portrayals. Those include both Maria and Michael.

I stopped buying them after Skeletons In The Closet. However I broke down and bought Quarantine and Nightscape. Quarantine (surprise, surprise) actually had a Maria storyline in which she was written in the first person and we got to read her thoughts instead of having the other characters tell us what she was thinking. Which in my roundabout way leads me to a criticism of Nightscape. I skimmed it yesterday and although there was some resolution (if you can call it that) to the M & M relationship - we never got to read Maria's thoughts. Liz gave us her impressions, Michael gave his and Isabel may have thrown something in there as well. But Maria..no..at least that's my first impression.

Posted 07-05-2003 09:31 PM by Mariarulesalways2    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:
Thanks for all the info!

I'm still not going to buy the books, except perhaps used... but god. Finale. And I'm not optimistic about a happy ending. Probably another huge rip-off like "Graduation."

If they actually do tie up all the storylines that has to include EOTW and bringing Alex back, but they've lied to us before.


Personally, I'm hoping they leave a little wiggle room to pick the books up again someday when Roswell comes back but I agree that they really ought to deal with the whole EOTW business and how they're going to handle it without Tess being there...

Best wishes,

Scott

Posted 07-05-2003 10:24 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by ceilirose:
...I think I read on this thread or the previous one that the writers were told to play up the 'bickering' part of M & M's relationship. Sorry I can't remember who posted that exactly..possibly black widow?? ...
ceilirose, you've been doing your homework!
black widow does say on the 2nd Ros 2 Books Thread:
    ...i'm honestly beginning to reconsider that opinion for the book series. the arguing is getting very old, very fast, and it's a consistent theme throughout almost all of the books. didn't someone on the old thread say mel odom, when contacted, had been told by the publishers to push the M/M arguing in his book? why on earth is that? fun, feisty bantering ... is one thing, but this is worlds away from that level of argument / interaction. it's honestly getting ridiculous and not enjoyable to read anymore. it's turned into such a cliche!
Well, I can only assume that the tv tie-in book authors have misunderstood a command to include M&M "bantering" to mean "battering." Snappy banter was part of the charm of M&M. Battering was not (fortunately!), and I wish it wasn't in these books either.

BTW, I did writer to Kevin Ryan. Will let y'all know if I get a reply.

Posted 07-06-2003 07:08 AM by Algieba    
I sent an email to Kevin Ryan too. I'll be surprised if I get an answer because I wanted to know just how far behind in sales the latest Roswell books are. I got my copy at Books-A-Million but when I checked back later, all the copies of Nightscape were sold out. There are no Melinda Metz books on the shelves. You'd think they'd restock those since Roswell is airing again on SciFi.

I think all the books could be improved by leaving out in depth plot lines about new characters and concentrating on the ones we already know from the books and show. Maybe they could bring in Serena from the mention in EOTW because there's a lot of curiosity about her, but I want to hear about what's happening to Max, Michael, Isabel, Liz, Maria and Kyle. I would love it if they brought Alex back. I know they don't have any plans to bring back Tess, but I'm eager to see what Andy Mangels does with Ava in his upcoming books. It would also be great to hear about what's happening back in Roswell with the parents.

I'm a little confused about Michael and Maria in Nightscape. I like the way Michael is getting his temper under control and learning not to bash like his foster father. But I'm not sure if the ending implies that he and Maria are together permanently or not. That's what I thought the last show, Graduation implied, so why are they still having trouble. If Maria would just grow up and start acting like Michael, their relationship would be a lot healthier.

Possible Spoiler. I don't think it is. I think it's just my opinion but if you don't want to know anything about the book before you read it stop here___________

I still think the writers are leaving the door open for Alex. Notice in the end, even though Isabel knows she needs to let go of him, she can't. I thought that was going to be the purpose of the ghost theme, letting go and moving on but I'm not sure it ended that way for Isabel. She still doesn't seem to be "ready" to say goodbye to Alex.

Posted 07-06-2003 09:29 AM by greenjetta    
I've read the descriptions of the final two books of this series. Based on those summaries, I don't know if I want to read them. I especially don't like what they're implying about Isabel & Jesse's relationship. Being that I am a fan of that couple, I think I might just want to leave it the way the show did. I don't want to be disappointed or annoyed with the book version of what happens next.

Posted 07-06-2003 02:31 PM by out of this world    
I just got on a website that publishes the books and I think there are two more coming. It is not by the same other that Wrote A New Beginning and Nightscape. So maybe it will take a different turn?

CS

Posted 07-07-2003 03:56 PM by Algieba    
I was very surprised to get a reply today from Kevin Ryan by email. I had asked if he knew how far behind the sales are lagging to make it worthwhile for the publishers to order new Roswell books. He said he wasn't privy to that information. Also, that the decision to discontinue the books was made prior to the publication of A New Beginning because of low sales on previous books.

Good sales might improve chances for future plans though, he said, so I will continue to promote the books. I told him I started reading a trilogy he wrote on Star Trek, Errand of Vengeance, because I liked his writing in Roswell and that I was a teacher and was recommending his books to my students.

I'm pleased he took the time to answer my email but distressed over the news about future books. There haven't been any books about Roswell that I have completely liked but I do feel a connection to Roswell when I can read continuing stories about the characters. I bet if a movie comes out, there will be more books. I'm going to get more active in the movie campaign.

Posted 07-07-2003 06:02 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by Algieba:
I was very surprised to get a reply today from Kevin Ryan by email. ... Also, that the decision to discontinue the books was made prior to the publication of A New Beginning because of low sales on previous books....
I wonder if this had anything to do with the poor editing of ANB? Maybe Ryan was disheartened by the news?

Posted 07-07-2003 07:43 PM by just me    
Hi! Shapeshifter pointed me here

I am now reading A New Beginning and i'm not too keen on it. I like the plot but some of the things bug me. Besides the 'are they married?' thingie and the money issue (i did notice that they had less money then more money) it also said that Micael had helped Connie and her dad just a few days earlier...but Crash took place before 4AAAB and Graduation...how is that 2 days?
Also too many L/M descriptions of e/o i'll spare you the puking smilie and the fact that (even tho Max is the one thinking it) is says that the only selfless act Tess ever performed was her killing herself...now how does murdering so many humans redeem her when murduring one put her in the 'evil' category? And did they just forget all the stuff she did for them that was actually helpfull and saved their lives?

I don't like Tess-bashing books...like most of them in those 'based-on' books were. Only Quarintine and the one where Isabel dreamwalk's Kyle don't continually bash her.

But other than that it's semi-interesting. More to come after i'm finished the book altogether.

Posted 07-07-2003 08:56 PM by Ryder    
I have read A New Beginning and Nightscape. I thought they were okay. I did notice that B & N in my area and another mall book store do not have ANY of the Metz books on the shelves. I better get to ordering them!

Posted 07-08-2003 07:47 AM by xmag    
I just finished Nightscape. I wasn't really expecting Nicholas in the end, but well.

Now, i didn't really understand M/M in this book. Michael has changed, but Maria's behavior is puzzling. She is still confused, ok she she has the right but hello, did the author see "Graduation" ? SHE CHOSE MICHAEL, and now the author wrote that she doesn't want him ? I was really worried for them with this scene in the bedroom, i supposed that Maria was afraid that Michael might die in the future, therefore, refused to let herself fall back in love with him, so when he dies, she doesn't suffer ?

But in the end, she was by Michael's side, standing guard with him, bringing him food and water. So i guess she made up her mind and decided to be with him.

Isabel seeing Alex, i think was a way to bring Alex back in the book, the same way JK brought him back in season 3. And to make Isabel realize that Jesse wasn't the one for her, even though she loved him, maybe she wasn't maddly in love with him.

[ 07-08-2003: Message edited xmag ]

Posted 07-08-2003 08:08 PM by shapeshifter    
Kevin Ryan responded to my email today too. While I think it would be inappropriate to post it in its entirety, I think it's okay to share this bit that answers our questions about his handling of the M/M relationship.
    "I followed only the series finale "Graduation". I thought that episode gave a necessarily quick resolution to a lot of issues, including Maria and Michael's relationship--after all, the producers only had an hour, not the two they had hoped for. Like most fans, I was eager to see Maria and Michael put their fighting behind them. However, I wanted to also see a dramatic resolution that made sense of Maria's distance from Michael in the last season, something there wasn't time for in the single last episode."
He also said that the typos in A New Beginning should have been caught by at least one of the various editors, and he too was not happy about them.
He also apologized for the money amount error, and said that he would, "certainly fix that for reprints."

One of the advantages of fanfiction online is that errors can be corrected at any time, and there are no deadlines. The author of a printed book doesn't have those luxuries. But, having read his reply and his books, I believe Kevin Ryan is a fan just like we are, and it's very cool to have a fan writing the books.

Posted 07-10-2003 03:55 AM by PrometheusUFO    
Quick update on the release dates (according to B&N):

Pursuit (Part 1) - August 19th
Turnabout (Part 2) - November 1st

And I just now began reading Nightscape.

[ 07-10-2003: Message edited PrometheusUFO ]

Posted 07-10-2003 12:47 PM by out of this world    
So they are making more Roswell books. Yes that is great.

Posted 07-10-2003 01:05 PM by GregKeithB    
I just reread the summaries for the final 2 books at Andy's site. I guess I'm a little upset. Isn't it a little too soon to call these books the end of Roswell? What if the book sales go up? I'm afraid that Andy is going to do something in his 2 books that can't be undone, if by some chance, the books go on. Just why does this have to be the end? First they take away the TV series. Now they want to kill off the books. What about us Roswell fans who love the story of Roswell, despite who might have died or who turned out to be evil or whatever else. I'm not going to say that I agree with everything that has happened. But despite what has happened, I LOVE ROSWELL. I guess the only think left will the R:TFC. They can't take that away. The fans write that. I cross all my fingers and toes and pray that this isn't the end of Roswell. And what will this do to a movie if we get one?

Posted 07-10-2003 06:39 PM by shapeshifter    
GregKeithB, Don't worry, whatever they do in the last 2 books, they could always undo it with time travel or a mindwarp.

Posted 07-11-2003 10:56 AM by Algieba    
I think it's great that the authors of the Roswell books respond to email. Makes me feel like they actually care what we, the readers, think. Did any of the writers, directors, producers, or actors ever give the fans an email address and invite fans to give opinions? I'm asking because I don't know. I just started writing on Forums 4 Fans in January. Seems like if the writers actually care, they might respond to our likes and dislikes more than the show's people did.

Posted 07-14-2003 04:27 PM by PrometheusUFO    
I finished up Nightscape last night and it must be my 2nd favorite novel so far (Skeletons In The Closet being 1st).

Posted 07-14-2003 05:25 PM by black widow    
i finally finished 'a new beginning' (reading and re-reading 'order of the phoenix' three times sort of delayed my progress somewhat!) and i was very disappointed. i liked that kyle had a bigger role, and i liked that his crush on isabel -- which was hinted at in the show -- was mentioned. i liked that they were on the run, and where they turned up (stonewall ... heh, reminded me of michael's "i gotta be a stonewall" comment from 'toy house'), but honestly, that's about it.

the loony plot with the aliens doing abductions just for the hell of it (it was never resolved -- how frustrating!), as well as the dozens of typos in the book itself really annoyed me. not to mention, i totally agree with shapeshifter's comments that maria CHOSE michael. i don't care what the ridiculous publishers wanted or told the writer to play up or play down ... she made her choice at the end of graduation, they got in the van together and they drove off into the night. and now, 24, 48, 72 hours later, all of a sudden she's pushing him away when he kisses her, running hot and cold with him and *slapping* him? it totally turned me off the book. i am so sick and tired of these two being misrepresented and twisted out of proportion in the books. enough. already. i'm rapidly losing my patience with it. if the books are all going to continue in this vein, then i, for one, am glad they are not making any more after the next couple are released.

Posted 07-14-2003 06:59 PM by locutus of borg    
I read ANB. I'm waiting for Nightscape to arrive at my local B&N.

I could have picked ANB apart, but I chose to just enjoy it instead!

Posted 07-14-2003 07:07 PM by Flaquita    
So there is no real answer of waether or not there will be more roswell books after the next two that are coming out soon (the ones after Nightscape). Well I hope they decided to continue writing them... I really emjoying reading it.

Posted 07-14-2003 07:50 PM by shapeshifter    
Flaquita, maybe we'll have to write our own.

black widow, read my excerpt from Kevin Ryan's email (a few posts up). It explains what he was doing with Maria & Michael. I didn't appreciate it, nor the weird extra alien plot line, but reading his email helped me understand the motivation behind what he did with it.

Posted 07-14-2003 09:16 PM by black widow    
i did read it. it just doesn't make any sense to me, nor did i find his answer acceptable or satisfactory ...

quote:
"I followed only the series finale "Graduation". I thought that episode gave a necessarily quick resolution to a lot of issues, including Maria and Michael's relationship--after all, the producers only had an hour, not the two they had hoped for. Like most fans, I was eager to see Maria and Michael put their fighting behind them. However, I wanted to also see a dramatic resolution that made sense of Maria's distance from Michael in the last season, something there wasn't time for in the single last episode."

he was eager to see them put the fighting behind them ... so he made them fight even more. huh. and if he wanted a 'dramatic resolution' that made sense of maria's distance from michael, he failed specatcularly ... NONE of what he wrote concerning maria and michael in his book made any sense whatsoever. we have this calm, zen-like michael who doesn't react to her taunts and goading -- which is great, but i wasn't satisfied with *why* michael all of a sudden decided to cop a gandhi attitude ... and we have this annoying, shrewlike, harpy maria who physically seems to smack him about every chance she gets. it wasn't a dramatic resolution, it was the same old tired song every author -- perhaps with the exception of laura burns -- has done since the new series of books have come out. none of what he wrote made sense of her distance from michael. She. Chose. Him. period, end of story. to go back now and have her express doubts and hit him and just generally behave like a total cow to him is completely ridiculous, in my opinion. i'm hoping the rest of the series actually shows some, you know, GROWTH in their relationship, as opposed to the usual arguing and fighting ad nauseum.

Posted 07-15-2003 07:54 PM by black widow    
replying to myself to say i found 'nightshade' today (yay!) and bought it, but i have to finish 'quidditch through the ages' and 'fantastic beasts and where to find them' first before i start on it.

Posted 07-16-2003 08:01 PM by Flaquita    
shapeshifter thanks for the answer. And I have to agree with the whole Maria and Micheal thing. I did not like that either. She left for him... she could hae stayed in Roswell.. but she didn't .. so why would she have her doubts again? That part threw me off... hopefully the next two books ( the ones coming out soon) is not liek that about the whole Maria and Micheal thing. I haven't read Nightscape yet... but I hope he had changed the Micheal and Maria thing in that one. Did He???

Posted 07-16-2003 08:29 PM by shapeshifter    
Nightscape is basically part 2 of A New Beginning.
I need to reread it, but I know Ryan thinks he resolved things, I just don't recall sensing it.
He said in the email that Nightscape was similar to Harvest--which was one of my least fav eps., even though it had the amazing Micko Hughes.

Posted 07-17-2003 02:20 PM by Flaquita    
I strated reading Nightscape today... I haven't read much of it... but all I really hope is that, Kevin makes Micheal and Maria be into eachother more. As for example when Micheal kissed Maria in teh book "A new Begining" and Maria pushed away... Maria ran off with him for the fact that she loves him, why would he push away from the kiss. (Obviously my fave couple in Roswell is Maria and Micheal.)

Posted 07-17-2003 06:57 PM by Ladeia    
I just started the Roswell books but so far I've only read 1-7 of Melinda Metz's books. I'm a little worried about reading the ones not by her. The way I've heard most of them described makes me wonder if they are even worth reading but I really would like to read a continuation of after they left Roswell. There is a potential for alot of stories.

Posted 07-21-2003 04:39 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
quote:
Originally posted by Ladeia:
I just started the Roswell books but so far I've only read 1-7 of Melinda Metz's books. I'm a little worried about reading the ones not by her. The way I've heard most of them described makes me wonder if they are even worth reading but I really would like to read a continuation of after they left Roswell. There is a potential for alot of stories.

I would definitely read the rest of hers.

Most people here disagree with me but I would avoid the new books. I don't even consider them a continuation as they don't have the original cast.

Posted 07-23-2003 01:04 PM by Flaquita    
OKay... after Night scape... theres two other books coming out... am I right? Well does anyone know when the are coming out? Cause I am almost done with Nightscape.... and I do not want to start reading other books... I want to stick to the Roswell... until they are officially over with. So does anyone know when it comes out?

Posted 07-24-2003 12:21 AM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by Flaquita:
OKay... after Night scape... theres two other books coming out... am I right? Well does anyone know when the are coming out?

quote:
Originally posted by PrometheusUFO:
Quick update on the release dates (according to B&N):

Pursuit (Part 1) - August 19th
Turnabout (Part 2) - November 1st


Posted 07-24-2003 06:43 AM by black widow    
reading 'nightscape' now. not liking it much so far. the M&M stuff is *really* getting to me.

Posted 07-24-2003 09:55 PM by shapeshifter    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:
...Most people here disagree with me but I would avoid the new books. I don't even consider them a continuation as they don't have the original cast.
While I do buy and read the new books, ITA what you said about them, Abducted Bookworm. Melinda's books are wonderful. But the new books tend to be another alternate universe of Roswell, even when the author obviously knows the show and characters inside and out, like the author of ANB and NS. I guess that's okay, given that the show is an alternate universe of the books. I just haven't like any of these alternate universes as much as the original.

[ 07-24-2003: Message edited shapeshifter ]

Posted 07-25-2003 06:36 PM by Algieba    
I'm going to have to stick up for Kevin Ryan and his treatment of Michael and Maria's relationship in Nightscape. I thought he did resolve some things for them.

Michael is the one who started the whole arguing, temper losing, insulting nature of their relationship. He didn't know how to be nice to a girl. His only role models were foster parents who didn't really want him around. I remember him asking Max for tips on how to romance a girl because he really was clueless in that area. His idea of a present was shampoo.

Just because Michael and Maria decided to stay together at the end of the show, it doesn't mean that old habits will immediately vanish. New habits have to be formed. Michael has a temper. He usually had little patience with Maria. In Nightscape, we see him making a conscious decision to change his behavior. He deliberately holds back on caustic remarks that quickly come to mind. He buys Maria the perfect gift. He knows Maria is scared and chooses to be sensitive to her needs. I really liked the new Michael. More sensitive, more mature, more sure of himself.

Maria doesn't pick up right away on what Michael is doing. She continues the old, destructive pattern of their past relationship. To Michael's credit, he becomes the one to try to keep the relationship going. I liked that. He's the one that caused the defensive nature of Maria's reaction to him in the first place so he needs to be the one to change it.

Remember how Maria called herself the Teflon Babe and then admitted to Michael that she was anything but that. She seems to be scared half out of her mind in Nightscape because she is the one in Liz's vision. She reacts out of fear a lot in this book. I'm not quite sure why she rejected Michael at a certain point in the book. Maybe she was seeing her life with Michael as one of continual terror. One thing Maria does a lot of is to change her mind for emotional reasons. Without giving away the status of their relationship at the end, I would say the the book had a realistic conclusion.

The question of how Nicholas was able to continue after the husks were destroyed in Harvest is also dealt with well. When the next two books by Andy Mangels come out, we will probably see more of him but we needed a plausible explanation of how he survived. I thought the description of how he looked made it clear that his husk may have had more longevity than the other Skins but time was running out for him. The story plot reminds me of Harvest and Panacea. Nuff said.

[ 07-25-2003: Message edited Algieba ]

Posted 07-25-2003 07:08 PM by black widow    
algieba, you make some good points. and i totally agree -- i really liked the Kinder, Gentler, Michael. he's been a long time coming, and i loved how he was steadfastly there for maria, no matter what she threw at him.

no, my problem wasn't with the depiction of michael -- i thought he was perfect. my problem was with the depiction of maria. michael stayed on earth for her at the end of departure. then she eventually broke up with him. then she went back to him. then he left. then she went with him. the end of graduation had them leaving, together, and it was as if they'd reached an unspoken agreement -- they were in this together, and would face the future together.

both a new beginning and nightscape are supposed to take place immediately after graduation, in fact, a new beginning starts either the same night or the next day. and all of a sudden, without warning, without it being developed or justified or explained, maria is this evil harpy wench to michael. there's absolutely no well-explained reason for it by the author, no insight as to *why* she's being so horrible all of a sudden, she just is. and michael is sitting there taking it, which is also puzzling, but at least that's explained later on with him not wanting to be hank and repeat the past, etc.

so why can't we get the same sort of explanation from maria? she just acts psychotic, she *hits* michael repeatedly, which just floored me, she yells at him, she pushes him away when he tries to kiss her, she picks fights and harps on him ... it's awful. i was horrified with her behaviour, even for her it was well out of character. if the author had done a better job of explaining that maria was frightened or scared or worried michael was going to die and was acting out, then maybe i could have suspended my disbelief. but to have the two of them reasonably happy and together at the end of graduation and then presumably a few hours later at each other's throat (or, her at his throat), was a tired cliche and made no sense.

even in nightscape -- which read to me more like a ghost story than a story about aliens, but that's another subject all together -- she continued the ridiculous behaviour, and as you said (and i know which scene you're referring to), there was absolutely no justifiable reason for her to freak out and rebuff michael yet again. he was bending over backwards to make her happy, to tell her he wants to be with her and he won't leave her and she just goes off on this bizarre rant. it was most unsatisfying as a reader to endure that. i am sick and tired of the book writers going overboard with the M/M bickering and arguing. they never argued half as much in the shows. it's pointless and a cliched plot device and it isn't even realistic. i was disappointed, and it really put a damper on the book for me.

s
p
o
i
l
e
r
s
p
a
c
e

just in case! :-)

also, i didn't care for the ending. i don't want to give it away to those who haven't finished it yet, but i didn't understand why they just didn't kill him, why isabel didn't do it when she was alone with him. it seemed contrived he escaped ... probably just in time to show up in one of the two future books left. and don't even get me started on the convenience of the special unit showing up at the beginning.

having said that, i loved the idea of an old haunted house and the six of them spending the night there. it's a shame kyle didn't have more to do, and i was hoping to see/hear more from alex, too.

Posted 07-25-2003 08:08 PM by Algieba    
black widow. Thanks for clarifying your thoughts on the books. I agree Maria's reasons for her actions were not explained well enough. I read a lot into her actions based on what I think I know about her. A reader shouldn't have to do that. It should be made clear.

All of these books based on tv shows that I've read seem to have the same shortcomings. They aren't long enough to be able to go into some real depth about all of the characters and they have side plots, like the lives of the people from the haunted house, that take away from the main story. The haunted house was cool, but there was too much about it's former occupants. I want to hear about my favorite characters. I want their lives developed, not the lives of some peripheral characters that appear one time and are never seen again.

When an author writes an original story, I think they are attached to the characters and their lives. When an author writes a sequel to someone else's creation, I don't think they love the story the way it's creator would or the way the fans of the show do. My idea of a good Roswell book would be the length of the latest Harry Potter book.

I'm not expecting a lot from these books. I don't think we'll get what we really want so I'm happy just to see a continuation of the story in some form. I feel like it keeps me connected to what is happening to people I've grown to care about. I miss Roswell. When I pick up a book and read about what's happening to Max, Liz, Michael, Maria, Isabel and Kyle, it helps me to imagine them out there somewhere continuing their lives.

I'm willing to put up with the flaws in order to keep the story alive and push for more Roswell. There won't be a movie unless fans stay interested. With the announcement of the DVD's coming out, I feel more optimistic.

[ 07-25-2003: Message edited Algieba ]

Posted 07-26-2003 07:21 AM by shapeshifter    
black widow, thanks for putting into words my exact thougths about the book.

Algieba, ITA with your post too.

Reading the back of Nightscape, I think the story had a good outline, but just went off into tangents as bw explained above.
Here's the text from the back:

    On The Road...
    To Danger

    While traveling through Colorado, Liz sees a vision of Maria being chased through a large house. Needless to say, the van then mysteriously breaks down right in front of a creepy old mansion. Tired of being pushed around by fate, the group decides to spend the night. But what they find hidden inside the house forces them all to face a powerful enemy, Max to make a decision about his leadership abilities, and Liz to reconsider her role in the group now that her powers are developing.

    Looks like the battles they fought back in Roswell aren't entirely over. And while the group knows they have changed their destiny by leaving Roswell, they begin to wonder how much they are really in control. Liz can see the future, but when they act on her visions, are they changing or simply carrying out their destiny?

This line:
    ...While traveling through Colorado, Liz sees a vision of Maria being chased through a large house. Needless to say, the van then mysteriously breaks down right in front of a creepy old mansion....
hints at what could have been a bit of campy humor.
And the rest of it points to what could have been Metz-style character development.
***sigh***
I did think that, at least, the handling of Nicholas' embodiment was good scifi and myth.

Posted 07-26-2003 02:53 PM by black widow    
funny you should mention that about campy humour ... i read the back cover initially and thought, oh wow, it's scooby doo. and sure enough, inside the book, they're cracking jokes about daphne and velma/thelma/whatever her name is. *sigh* i don't know. i really wanted to like this book, i just ... didn't.

Posted 07-27-2003 09:32 AM by Ladeia    
quote:
Originally posted by Abducted Bookworm:

I would definitely read the rest of hers.

Most people here disagree with me but I would avoid the new books. I don't even consider them a continuation as they don't have the original cast.


I'm a cheapskate so I'm waiting for them to come from interlibrary loan. I didn't really know if I would like them at first so I only requested a few at a time. I've already requested all the other Roswell books other than Nightscape so I could go ahead and read them. I will probably gripe about it and figure it being a waste of time but I'm obsessed so I will read them just to torture myself. someone put me out of my misery.

Posted 07-27-2003 08:08 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
Libraries are great if you don't have any money. I also like used book sales.

Plus, that way you aren't financially supporting something you disapprove of (in the case of the new books) or encouraging the current path.

I'm just really scared about a movie... I just think it'll be completely M/L focused and I'll here how happy I should be that they finally showed the wedding, when I'll be screaming because they pretended there was never any such person as Alex and they had my girl with creep way older than her.

Posted 07-28-2003 07:56 PM by Flaquita    
PrometheusUFO thanks for answering my question, I am looking forward to it...

Posted 07-31-2003 06:16 PM by shapeshifter    
B&N says the release date for Pursuit has been pushed back to Aug. 19, which is, coincidentally, the just-announced released date for Episode 19 of RTFC, which I predict will be better, even if shorter.

Posted 08-03-2003 09:08 AM by out of this world    
You know I was thinking. You know The End of the World Episode right. Well i was wondering that what if Tess was mindwarping Liz? I know that it is probably a laim question. But could have it been possible. If Tess is plan was to try get Max all along. Then When Alex Translated the book. You was keeping the book from the time they found it in Season 1. Because If you think about it. Who had the book must of gave the book to Alex. They could of figured out sooner who killed Alex.

P.S. If i am posting in the wrong place for these questions please let me know

Thanks

CS

Posted 08-03-2003 12:16 PM by Sternbetrachter    
the only possible way to make a movie that I might tolerate (not necessary like) is when they show what would life have been in the timeline that FM wanted to prevent ... this way, they could have all the characters from the first two seasons in it


Trude

Posted 08-03-2003 09:28 PM by TDL    
I FINALLY got Nightscape. I couldn't find it anywhere, so I had to special-order it at Barnes & Noble. My thoughts:

(spoilers)

I wish they had just left the whole "ghost story" thing out of it. I LOVED the run-in with the Special Unit. It harkens back to Season One when they were constantly running from the FBI. The Nicholas thing was intriguing. I personally am looking forward to the next two books, but I have the feeling I am going to have to request them at the store or order them online. Waiting around for the stores to get them is just not working. We all need to go to the bookstores and order them just to show there is a demand for Roswell.

Posted 08-04-2003 03:33 PM by Flaquita    
I already ordered "Pursuit" from B&N, I have to agree with you TDL, I would have enjoyed Nightscape more if they would have kept the whole ghost thing out, I mean what do they have to do with Ghost anyways? Their aliens... but I can barely wait to read the other Roswell books, and deep inside, I hop ethey do not stop making them....

Posted 08-04-2003 07:12 PM by Ladeia    
Argh.. Talk about culture shock.. hehehe.. I finally finished Metz's books and started on the others. It took me half the book before I started realizing that I was reading the books made after the tv show came out and that there were alot of differences. I kept waiting for them to talk about the auras or the collective or something. It kept throwing me everytime they said something that was apart of the show but not the original books. I'm losing it. Geez.. I need a life...

Posted 08-05-2003 01:22 PM by Lost_in_Roswell    
Can I ask one ismple question about Roswell books?When does Tess arrive?In which book?

Thanx!

Posted 08-05-2003 06:30 PM by PrometheusUFO    
quote:
Originally posted by Lost_in_Roswell:
Can I ask one ismple question about Roswell books?When does Tess arrive?In which book?

Thanx!


Tess never existed in the Roswell High books, though she does show up in a few of the novels based on the TV series.

Posted 08-06-2003 06:33 PM by Abducted Bookworm    
I still wish they'd do a book series continuing the adventures of the original cast of the show. I'd definitely buy those!

Posted 08-06-2003 08:45 PM by black widow    
new thread! :-)