Are there any fans of this series out there who know how many unfilmed episodes were released in book form? The last one I encountered was #7-"Extreme Prejudice".
I came across my collection when I moved recently and re-read them all (including the book version of the only AN movie released, "Dark Horizon"). I just wondering if any more were published.

Thanks.

There was an 8th book "Cross of Blood" by K.W. Jeter. It's been a while since I re-read it, so I don't remember if it's worth your time to track it down, but the used copies listed on amazon are pretty cheap. Not all of the Pocket novels were unfilmed scripts, I think it's just #2, 3, &4 and possibly #6. The others were written just for the series. Flipping through #8 just now, I think it may be one of the decent ones, but I couldn't promise. (#1-4 were solid, but some of the other ones had some iffy characterization & tone.)

I adored Alien Nation, and was deliriously happy when those Pocket novels came out and at last resolved the horrible cliffhanger of the final episode. Not to mention "Body and Soul" finally getting Matt and Cathy together. I think I was happier with the novels than I was with when they actually filmed the new tv-movies of them.

Thanks. I just found "Cross of Blood" in my collection and started re-reading it. "Day of Decent" was what the original feature film should have been.

I really, really miss that show.

I loved Matt and Cathy together, a very realistic couple. Matt was always a little uncomfortable with Cathy's alien culture, but he was so cute to try to understand and change for her. For example, in one episode (could have been in one of the movies, sorry foggy memory) Matt thought Cathy was cheating on him b/c she would go to a motel room. Turn out that she just wanted to have her own space. So Matt built an extra room in their apartment for her to just be by herself. So sweet. I'm really glad that they end up together.

I never read any of the books. Did Matt and Cathy ever decided to have children? And did they figure out the whole sex thing right? I remembered Matt and Cathy having problems getting together physically b/c she was alot stronger than him and could hurt him accidently in the heat of the moment.

While I love that book, I think it covers way too much ground for a feature film to handle. It could have worked as a miniseries, but would have been insanely expensive to do right (all the stuff on the ship, hundreds of Tenctonese extras, etc.). Also, the reason it works so well is because we already know the characters, and know who they will become. I don't think that scene by the fence at Quarantine would be anywhere near as moving if you don't know that George will become Matt's partner. It would be a good movie, but it wouldn't resonate, you know? But it would definitely have been nice to see the actors play that beacon scene, they would have nailed it.



taylor Actually, Cathy gets pregnant in book #8 (though I cannot remember if she has the baby or miscarries). Matt & Cathy getting together phsically happened in "Body & Soul" which was the third Pocket Novel and the second of the tv-movies. Which was hilarious -- Matt has to enroll in a Human/Newcomer sex-ed class with Cathy.

Some of the books are definitely worth tracking down. #1 "Day of Descent" is a prequel, told in a series of flashbacks between George & Buck waiting outside Susan & Emily's hospital room (when they were poisoned by the Purists) and Matt & Cathy as they drive to the hospital, and tells the story of the last days of life on the slave ship, and how Matt's story intersects with it. Really solid characterization, and some very moving scenes. #2 Dark Horizon is based on the scripts of the series finale and what became the first tv-movie, another satisfying read. #3 Body and Soul did get filmed as the next tv movie, but the book is hilarious (written by Peter David), and definitely worth looking for. #4 The Change - I think this one did become a tv-movie, but I don't remember the novel version to be all that interesting. #5 Slag Like Me - pretty sure this one had lousy characterization and was overly preachy - it has Matt going undercover as a Newcomer to track down a missing journalist, so at least the book's cover is interesting. #6 Passing Fancy - I think this one was a good one, and the author was a big fan of the show, so he knows the characters well. #7 Extreme Prejudice - George, Susan, Matt & Cathy fly to Pittsburgh for a Newcomer conference, murder & mayhem follow; I think this was a good one, but it's been a while. And then lastly #8 mentioned above.

I just hope Fox puts out the series and the tv-movies on dvd in the near future.

Wow I was just thinking about this show and starting a thread for it. I didn't know there were book that continued the story, I just saw the movies and read a script for a unaired movie in which matt starts to think about having another kid.
Anyways I loved this show and I'm still upset there was only one season.

mara...Thanks for the great recap of the novels.

You can definately tell the differences between the books written by authors familar with the series and those who were not.

I agree. What I meant rather is that the feature film's storyline is so thin compared to this novel. This would have been a great multi-part ending to the series, or to a season if it had lasted that long. When you look at the production values of some current sci-fi series now, it makes you wonder what could have been.

I found "Passing Fancy" to be my second favorite after "Day of Descent", particularly the way Matt's character comes full-circle with his attitudes and opinions of the Tenctonese. I forget which episode it was but there was a scene in the series where there's a party going on in the next room from Matt and through the window George beckons Matt to join, but he can't make himself go. Great scene.

Oh, absolutely. There's like a half of a good movie in the feature, but it gets overpowered by the standard action-thriller/buddy cop genre plot.



I forget which one that was too -- I think the squad had to get their psych evaluations done, and the party was hypothetical? I agree, great scene, and one of the few times that Matt didn't do a complete 180. Seemed like every other episode began with Matt saying "I'll never [fill-in-the-blank]" and ending with him doing just that. It usually worked, since he was just putting up a false front, and was such a big softie at heart, but the writers could take it too far. Kenneth Johnson isn't exactly renowned for his subtlety<g>.

I think my favorite episode, for humor, was probably the one with George & Susan's fertalization ceremony. Lately I've been thinking of Jonathan Brandis' episode, where he played the Newcomer kid who'd been chosen on the ship by the Overseers to become one of them, and have started trying again. Cathy recognizes him and rescues him, nearly getting killed in the process. Brandis had barely any dialogue, but he was such a heartbreaker. When I heard that he'd committed suicide, all I could think of was that poor, tortured kid he'd played, and wonder how little of that was acting.

Thanks Mara for the recap. I should defintely go read some of the novels. Any plans of novel #9 coming out?



I can't believed that Cathy was pregnant. I read the unfilmed transcript called "Carrier" where Matt and Cathy were talking to a Newcomer doctor to see if a child between them were possible but I never knew that Cathy was able to become pregnant. Who was the sperm donator? George? That would bring more tenision between George and Matt I assumed. Details anyone?

I really wish that they do another Alien Nation t.v. movie but they stop now for a few years.

Not that I know of. The novels were all published in the early 90's, in that limbo period before the tv-movies started up.

As far as how Cathy got pregnant...I forget the details, but I'm pretty sure that only Matt's sperm was involved, and it was just that Tenctonese ability to adapt to new environments that the writers loved so well. I'm not sure how they handled the pod transfer - if Cathy was going to be able to carry the pod to full term, or if they were going to have to find a Newcomer male to be a surrogate.


Yeah, I don't think there's a chance of any more tv-movies. But I really hope they release all of them, and the series, on dvd soon with some features. All I have is my old vhs tapes, which are no doubt in sad condition.

The premise was that the Tenctonese and humans evolved from the same source and that Cathy's pregnancy was supposedly a result of the further evolution of the species. Eventually, the Tenctonese would be "absorbed" into the human gene pool because it turned out that the child was 99% human, with only scattered Tenctonese characteristics (being that the "human" part was dominant).

Also, she was able to give birth due to "experiments" done on the ship by another character from the books. She was also able to carry the baby term but it get's kidnapped by the Purists, rescued, then dies (it couldn't survive). As it turns out, the whole pregnancy was not achieved by chance but in fact manufactured by a Tenctonese doctor who had worked with the aforementioned "experimenting" doctor. The whole thing was concocted to "unite" the humans and Tenctonese and one species to improve relations...or something like that! (Read the book!...it's good!)

Kinda complicated, but a good read. Since it was the last book, it was a fitting ending.

Thanks Mara and Rynn for the recap on book 8. Now I definetely have to go read the books. Do you guys know the title and author of the 8th book? I know the titles for Book 1-7 were mention above, but not Book 8. I'm actaully more interested in the Matt and Cathy relationship and book 8 looks like it focus more on their relationship. Its so sad to what happen to Cathy's and Matt's baby.

taylor I listed the title & author of #8 in the second post of this thread.

So, come on, there's gotta be more than just than the three of us who watched Alien Nation. Anybody? Bueller?

And does anyone else ever sit through The Stranger when it turns up on late-night cable, just for Eric Pierpoint? It's a horrible movie, with a lead actress who can't act her way out of a paper bag, but he gets shirtless, so what can ya do but watch?

Hey, I watched it too, at least when Sci-Fi was rerunning it. And I watched all the movies as well. Haven't read the books. But it's definitely a cool series.
One thing that set the series apart was their focus on the importance of spirituality, to the Tenctonese and, as Matt re-learned each week (heh!), to the humans as well. It was a bit too predictable, of course; George was always the one to give Matt the talk about the spiritual aspect of whatever case they were dealing. But for an SF/detective show, it was unusual and intriguing.
Plus the Newcomers' choice of names always provided a few good puns.

I used to enjoy the show as well. The movies? Not so much.

Thanks, Mara! I must be blind not to see that.

I actually did not watch the show until I started watching the movies. I never paid attention to the show, but one night I watched the t.v. movies and was suck in. After that, I would catch the reruns on cable. I don't think I ever saw the complete series. I had only caught the end of "Real Men" which was ashamed b/c I really thought that it was a good episode. I miss a few episodes where George was pregnant and how Matt was always worry about his safely. Is there a good site for all the recaps of the episodes? I know I tried TV tome but its just give you one or two sentences. I wish Sci Fi would reair the show again.

I really miss the show. When it first aired in Ireland (on Sky 1, I think), almost 10 years ago, I watched and taped every one of them. Those tapes were in my parent's attic, and probably rotted away to mush now, so I'd very much like to see this show released on DVD.

This is another show I wish I could have back now that I'm an adult (ok, that part is iffy...) where I think I could understand it all better. I'm way too excited to hear that there were movies and books! I never knew that--I think I moved someplace without cable before it ended and just sort of drifted away. I got thinking about this show after seeing Gary Graham on "Enterprise" this week, and then miraculously I stumble upon a forum about it. yay!

Anyone know of a good site with recap information to get me back up to speed?
Thanks

Gary Graham's been on Enterprise from the beginning, but what made this final appearance funny/interesting was that it was in an episode that also guest starred Eric Pierpoint, featuring an anti-alien group called "Terra Prime", or "Earth First".

True, I knew he'd been on there since the beginning...I just haven't been a regular viewer. I missed the Eric Pierpont guest appearance, though...damn. Get him outside of a big foam head and I just can't remember him at all.

It's his schnoz, for me, toddthomas. Can't hide it.

That and the fact that Liar, Liar is one of my favorite movies.

A DVD is on the way. check out http://www.tvshowsondvd.com for details.

Releasing in early January

Thanks Twisted Tie thats great news.

Seriously, I've been waiting for this show to come out on video/dvd for over 12 years.

Hooray! It's out now!

I'm so glad to know that I'm not the only one who has waited for this show to come out on DVD. I'm not kidding.

I loved AlienNation. Even those TV movies they came out with that weren't so great.

Gotta love a show that makes mpreg (male pregnancy) legit.

Alien Nation for those in the UK with access to digital is currently being shown on ITV4 on Friday nights. We've just had the episode with the Binaum.

Woo hoo! I loved this show. I always thought Gary Graham was teh sexXors.

I definitely will be acquiring this. Hopefully the TV movies will be coming out soon (I actually enjoyed those very much.)

Some saint posted a link to a newish (November 2005) interview with the cast re: the DVD release of Alien Nation.

It's on DVD Empire's website.

Thanks for the link, angiebee! I can't wait to get home and read the interviews tonight!

Aside: When I first saw Lauren Woodland on TYatR while channel surfing one day years ago, I thought to myself, aw, look at how Emily Francisco has grown!

scapebabe, you are not alone. I too had a huge crush on Buck! I remember when he hooked up with his pretty teacher and thinking that she was so lucky but also...bitch. Yeah, I was jealous of a fictional teacher because she kissed a fictional alien. I need help.

There was a moment in the scene when some punks threw a rock (or was it a Molotov?) through the front window of the Franciscos' home, and Emily was in the living room and screamed, and Buck ran down the stairs and jumped over the banister like it was nothing to get to her. I kind of swooned then, and still do.

I used to have such a crush on Buck (Finiksa!), that I would make up these stories in my head (not really being aware of the concept of fanfic or Mary Sue at the time) about the human girl who comes to be the nanny for the baby and hooks it up. Hee!

Yay! I finally got my dvds and I got through the first two discs. I miss this show so much. There was so much potential there. There was one point of off continuity that I noticed, though. George was saying something about not being there when Emily (or Buck) was born. And that reminds me, did they ever mention Vesna in the tv movies?

IIRC Vesna's never mentioned in the movies, but I'm not sure I saw them all. I guess they put the baby in the sack hanging from the chandelier and then forgot that the Franciscos had a third kid.

It's been years (early 90`s!) since I last watched the show and I didn't get my DVDs yet (at the weekend though, yay!).
But wasn't there an episode where George mentioned they actually had another child, a boy, even before they had Buck? But the child had been taken away from them and they never found him again? So including Vessna that would actually make four children.

Yeah, he did. That's something that really pisses me off. There were so many stories left to explore. I think that was the first Fox cancellation of a great show in a long line of stupid cancellations.

And I had no idea the show was doing well. I always thought it was cancelled because of low ratings, so it frustrates me even more that it was killed before its time.

Has anyone heard any rumors about Fox putting the 5 movies out on dvd. How did the series sell?

Looks like we're getting the movies at last!

http://www.kennethjohnson.us/DarkHor.html

Hey there, I just found this thread and I'm thrilled to see that there are still some other fans out there :)!

Thank you so much for the heads up, arrow! That's good news! I also love the reunion-picture!

And look, George is holding Vesna!

I am so psyched the movies are coming out on DVD - I have them on videotape, but the quality sucks.

Jep, that seems to have become somewhat of a running gag.

Anybody knows if Sean Six is on that pic?Could it be that guy on the right with the beard?
I can't wait to see the blooper reel!

Alien Nation: Dark Horizon was on this morning, around 2 am. I stayed up watching it even though sleep was beckoning. I loved that show so much. It still holds up!

I loved the show. The movies weren't nearly as good to me. Especially the one where Buck became a cop and Susan had been involved in a rebellion on the ship and let Emily be turned into a weapon and such. I don't remember all the details, but I remember it was way, way out of character. Susan wasn't a fighter - she wanted to run away and be safe at the beginning of the series, and was going to hide in a Tanctonese village in a another ep/movie, right? And Buck had had all that great stuff with Moodri that I really wished had been further followed up on. I think he could have found his calling in that area.

This would be a fun series to reimagine.

If there are any crossover Gilmore Girls/Alien Nation fans, you might be as gobsmacked as I was to find out that Ahpasno (from the first Alien Nation tv movie) was played by none other than Scott Patterson!! I could barely pay attention to the movie, I was so busy staring at Scott.

And Joe Lando is in another of the movies as well. I only saw it for the first time last year and as I only knew him from being in Dr Quinn, the alien make up completely threw me off and I had a hard time placing him for a few minutes.

What happened to Sean Six anyway? Count me in as another who thought Buck was the bees knees. Anyone know what he's been doing since?

I noticed a week or so ago that HBO is airing the Alien Nation movies this month, both the theatrical movie and the TV movies. Anyway, last night I channelsurfed into Alien Nation:Millenium just in time to witness this scene:

Sykes and Cathy are watching an awful TV sitcom called "My Brother, The Alien." The Fox Network logo appears suddenly on screen.

Fox Announcer: "The remainder of "My Brother, The Alien" will not be seen, because our instant national Nielson ratings indicate low viewer interest. Stay tuned for the Fox Network news team..."
...
Sykes: "I thought [My Brother, The Alien] was kinda funny. They should have given it a chance, at least 'til the first commercial!"

Bwah! Here is Fox, now with a rep for cancelling TV shows after 4 eps, pulling one before the first commericial! I love that Johnson is giving Fox a hard time. Or possibly he could see the future...and has Fox pegged. Also noteworthy about the scene: they watched the TV show on their computer monitor. Plus, David Faustino from Married, With Children played the alien sitcom star. Typecasting, huh.

The movies will be available exclusively at Best Buy on Tuesday, Sept. 11.
Yippee!

I don't know if anyone else is from NE Ohio, but it seems like the first two movies that I have on tape have blizzard warnings scrolling across them! The first two aired on the nights of the first big snows of the winter.

http://www.bestbuy.com/site/olspage.jsp?sk...&id=1674423

O.K.--this is days later, and we need a bump.

The dvds are fantastic! Unfortunately, Dark Horizon is on one disc, but the other two discs are flipper discs with one movie per side. But all five have commentaries by Ken Johnson, and the first four have gag reels and "Making of..." featurettes. The fifth movie has a 25-minute cast reunion shot at Johnson's house in January 2007. It includes Johnson, his wife, the makeup guy, and the actors who played all the leads except for Buck/Sean Six. It starts out with candid shots of folks arriving and sitting down to eat, then it goes into interview mode. They talk about auditioning, the makeup, coming back for the movies, critical reaction, and reaction from different ethnic groups. They were so good together--no one tried to take over or get the most attention. Interspersed are snippets from scenes and some candid, behind the scenes stuff from the original series (not tons, but I loved it)---awesomely awesome in its awesomeness! The reunion show is fantastic! I haven't watched anything else yet, but I wanted to post right away.

Best Buy didn't have it on sale, it's $40, perhaps when it's non-exclusive it'll go on sale at Amazon or where ever--but it's totally worth it to own now! This was my all-time favorite series, and with 5 commentaries, 4 gag reels, 4 featurettes, and a pretty darn meaty reunion--I personally couldn't ask for more...well, except for single-sided discs!

I just ordered both the series DVD and the movie DVD on Friday and should get them early next week. I'm so excited. I haven't seen some of the episdoes since they originally aired almost 20 years ago! Crazy that it's been that long. I adored this show as a kid and I can't wait to get back into it again.

I can't believe that it took me until the middle of January to discover the movies on DVD (why the exclusive through Best Buy???). I love watching series television on DVD for the extras, and was not disappointed with all the making ofs, gag reels, and Kenneth Johnson commentaries (I had no idea that Terri Treas was pregnant during the last two movies). And I really liked the last "get the cast together the chat" party on the Udura Legacy disc. Now I'll have to go back and rewatch the series and the movies in order.

Oh, someone a few pages back asked what happened to Sean Six. I think that Kenneth Johnson said (in the commentary for the first or second movie) that Sean was a paramedic somewhere. If I listen to the commentaries again, I'll post.

So I finally got the movies and have a few comments. I never realized that the actress who was playing Cathy was preganant during the last two movies. In hindsight I was just a kid when the last movies airs but now watching it years later it was very apparent that she was preganant! I wonder if they had to decrease her role? I really loved all the storylines with Matt and Cathy. I can ship them forever.

And whatever happened to the youngest child of the Fransico family? She was never seen in any of the movies. Must be a very long incubation period!

I think if the series was air now, it would definetely be more than one season. I can picture the Sci-fi channel picking up the series. And there is a huge market for movies straight to DVD! I think the series was just way before it time and hence it go cancel way to quick! I wish they make more movies.