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Did anyone else come to the series through the books?

posted 13 years ago by Fluke_Skywalker
11 replies | jump to latest

I'd never even heard of "Robotech" until my Freshman year of high school. I sat next to a kid in Spanish class who was reading "Robotech: Genesis". I thought the cover art was cool so I asked him about it. He told me a bit about the plot and said that this was his second time reading the series and that when he finished "Genesis" he'd let me borrow it while he moved on to the 2nd book, "Battle Cry". I wasn't much of a reader back then but I devoured these things like truffles!

It would be a few years before I actually saw the cartoon. My Senior year, Sci-Fi began playing it in the morning before I left for school and I would watch it while I ate breakfast. I remember I would always wait to catch the end credits music even though it usually made me run late .

I'm curious how many other people came to the series via the books.

Now playing: Visionaries http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/

[–] Enigmatic-Ocean 9 years ago

I started reading the second book last night. I made it through the first 112 pages in one sitting. I will probably finish the book today or tomorrow. But to answer your first question. No, I didn't start with the books, but so far they are MUCH better than the show. That's not an insult to the show. The show is/was great, but if a book is well written even the greatest of cinematic masterpieces pales in comparison.

VHS>DVD

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 9 years ago

Glad you're enjoying them. Brian Daley and James Luceno (aka "Jack McKinney") are/were strong writers. The books help to flesh out story and character, but at less than 200 pages each, they breeze along, keep a tight focus and don't overstay their welcome.

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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/

[–] Enigmatic-Ocean 9 years ago

I am midway through book 3. Now, did you read them in the order that they were released of in chronological order? On Wikipedia it say's that this is the chronological order. I am considering reading the books in this order. I am just wondering how you read them? Also, are the Southern Cross (that's the one with Dana right?) as annoying as that part of the series was? I have a REALLY hard time watching the middle part of this show.

01. Genesis
02. Battle Cry
03. Homecoming
04. Battle Hymn
05. Force of Arms
06. Doomsday
19. The Zentraedi Rebellion
13. The Devil's Hand (The Sentinels)
14. Dark Powers (The Sentinels)
15. Death Dance (The Sentinels)
16. World Killers (The Sentinels)
17. Rubicon (The Sentinels)
20. The Masters' Gambit
07. Southern Cross
08. Metal Fire
09. The Final Nightmare
21. Before the Invid Storm
10. Invid Invasion
11. Metamorphosis
12. Symphony of Light
18. The End of the Circle

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 9 years ago

I started reading them back in 1989, and so I went straight through in the order published (1-12), and only ever read the first Sentinels novel and none of the subsequent books.

I've seen that recommended chronological reading order my self, but I can't really say if it would flow better that way or not. I can see the benefits of it, as you'd likely forget things when you have to double back (reading it in published order).

It's been so long, but yeah Dana plays a big role in the Second Gen/Masters stuff. I don't recall it being annoying, but I didn't connect to it as strongly as I did The Macros Saga that's for sure.

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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/

[–] Enigmatic-Ocean 9 years ago

I just finished up book 6 last night. I started reading book 19 last night. Book 19 takes place in-between books 6 and 7. So, it bridges the gap between Rick and company and Dana's story. I have a few questions.

1.) What was it like for you to go from the books to the television series? I think the books are FAR superior. So, I think that (in a way) if I re-watch the series I will still enjoy it, but it'll never be as good as the novels.

2.) Kyle... is it just me or is he even more of a douche in the novels than he is in the series? I kept hoping that he'd get killed off in the books, but it didn't happen. He kept getting rescued, but NEVER appreciated it and he actually was a major cause for the deaths of many innocent people. I swear he was about 100 times worse in the novels.

3.) Minmei... Oh man where do I start? The authors explained a lot behind the reasons for why she acted the way she did which did help me to not completely hate her, but what a spoiled brat. The girl never really did anything for anyone but herself. Even when she sang as a diversion during the space battle against the Zentradi I honestly had the feeling that she was only doing it to further herself. How did you feel about the novelizations depiction of Minmei?

4.) I didn't think that Rick was as much of a jerk in the novels as I did in the series. To be honest the novels made it seems as if it were equally Rick and Lisa's fault that they didn't get together sooner. The only time during the entire Macross saga that I was truly annoyed with Rick was when he stood up Lisa in order to see Minmei instead. What's your take on novelization Rick vs series Rick?

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 9 years ago

I just finished up book 6 last night. I started reading book 19 last night. Book 19 takes place in-between books 6 and 7. So, it bridges the gap between Rick and company and Dana's story. I have a few questions.

1.) What was it like for you to go from the books to the television series? I think the books are FAR superior. So, I think that (in a way) if I re-watch the series I will still enjoy it, but it'll never be as good as the novels.

The series felt a bit like the Cliff Notes version of the story. Most of the beats were there, but it didn't have the same depth and detail.

2.) Kyle... is it just me or is he even more of a douche in the novels than he is in the series? I kept hoping that he'd get killed off in the books, but it didn't happen. He kept getting rescued, but NEVER appreciated it and he actually was a major cause for the deaths of many innocent people. I swear he was about 100 times worse in the novels.

I always found him interesting in the sense that he was a foil, a peacenik in a genre where everyone on the "good" side tends to be "Rah, rah, rah!". That's the Japanese influence for you.

3.) Minmei... Oh man where do I start? The authors explained a lot behind the reasons for why she acted the way she did which did help me to not completely hate her, but what a spoiled brat. The girl never really did anything for anyone but herself. Even when she sang as a diversion during the space battle against the Zentradi I honestly had the feeling that she was only doing it to further herself. How did you feel about the novelizations depiction of Minmei?

My infatuation with Minmei wore off very quickly. I wish we could say the same for Rick. I found her extremely irritating, but also quite real. We all know people like this, and Rick's inability to see this about her because he fell in love with an ideal of her is something I can certainly identify with. Robotech is nearly as much soap opera as it is space opera.

4.) I didn't think that Rick was as much of a jerk in the novels as I did in the series. To be honest the novels made it seems as if it were equally Rick and Lisa's fault that they didn't get together sooner. The only time during the entire Macross saga that I was truly annoyed with Rick was when he stood up Lisa in order to see Minmei instead. What's your take on novelization Rick vs series Rick?

I definitely think they softened the edges on many of the characters in the cartoon, which makes sense. I'm sure they were hoping to attract kids under 12 with the animated series, while the novels were likely aimed at 12 and up.

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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/

[–] DarthBill 9 years ago

I just finished up book 6 last night. I started reading book 19 last night. Book 19 takes place in-between books 6 and 7. So, it bridges the gap between Rick and company and Dana's story. I have a few questions.

1.) What was it like for you to go from the books to the television series? I think the books are FAR superior. So, I think that (in a way) if I re-watch the series I will still enjoy it, but it'll never be as good as the novels.

I'm always hesitant to read EU material since it often feels like fan fiction but I've heard some good things about Robotech's EU so I might try it out some day.

2.) Kyle... is it just me or is he even more of a douche in the novels than he is in the series? I kept hoping that he'd get killed off in the books, but it didn't happen. He kept getting rescued, but NEVER appreciated it and he actually was a major cause for the deaths of many innocent people. I swear he was about 100 times worse in the novels.

3.) Minmei... Oh man where do I start? The authors explained a lot behind the reasons for why she acted the way she did which did help me to not completely hate her, but what a spoiled brat. The girl never really did anything for anyone but herself. Even when she sang as a diversion during the space battle against the Zentradi I honestly had the feeling that she was only doing it to further herself. How did you feel about the novelizations depiction of Minmei?

Now that's interesting since I would have expected the EU to try to make those characters more sympathetic rather than less sympathetic, but maybe the writers by then figured "Well no one likes these characters anyway so what's the point.

4.) I didn't think that Rick was as much of a jerk in the novels as I did in the series. To be honest the novels made it seems as if it were equally Rick and Lisa's fault that they didn't get together sooner. The only time during the entire Macross saga that I was truly annoyed with Rick was when he stood up Lisa in order to see Minmei instead. What's your take on novelization Rick vs series Rick?

Having watched the show twice I agree that we're meant to view Rick and Lisa as both being at fault for their relationship failing to progress, but Rick keeps coming across looking the worse of the two, since he never really suffers any punishment for the angst he puts Lisa through. Seriously, Rick humiliates Lisa in front of her subordinates (seriously, why does this not bother anyone?) yet we're supposed to side with him and believe he's Lisa's one true love because hey he's the main character and making his twisted empowerment fantasy come true is all that matters. What's the worst thing that happens to Rick while Lisa endures suicide inducing levels of angst that nearly drive her to give up her job for an a--hole like him? The worst thing that happens to Rick is that Lisa leaves him alone in a park for standing her up for Minmei and I'm supposed to feel bad for Rick because he's the main character and he's making a crybaby face because he didn't get his way.

Oh and I'm supposed to feel bad for him at the end of Macross Saga because he runs around the burning city screaming his head off like a bratty kid who wants cookies because he can't find Lisa. And when he finally declares his love for her & hooked up ... all I could feel was disgust and revulsion because the dude is such an a--hole and he did nothing to earn her love. It's a reward he didn't deserve.

I'm sorry for the rant, but no matter how hard I try I can't feel any sympathy for Rick. Maybe the EU can change that, maybe it can't...

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 9 years ago

Having watched the show twice I agree that we're meant to view Rick and Lisa as both being at fault for their relationship failing to progress, but Rick keeps coming across looking the worse of the two, since he never really suffers any punishment for the angst he puts Lisa through. Seriously, Rick humiliates Lisa in front of her subordinates (seriously, why does this not bother anyone?) yet we're supposed to side with him and believe he's Lisa's one true love because hey he's the main character and making his twisted empowerment fantasy come true is all that matters. What's the worst thing that happens to Rick while Lisa endures suicide inducing levels of angst that nearly drive her to give up her job for an a--hole like him? The worst thing that happens to Rick is that Lisa leaves him alone in a park for standing her up for Minmei and I'm supposed to feel bad for Rick because he's the main character and he's making a crybaby face because he didn't get his way.

Oh and I'm supposed to feel bad for him at the end of Macross Saga because he runs around the burning city screaming his head off like a bratty kid who wants cookies because he can't find Lisa. And when he finally declares his love for her & hooked up ... all I could feel was disgust and revulsion because the dude is such an a--hole and he did nothing to earn her love. It's a reward he didn't deserve.

I'm sorry for the rant, but no matter how hard I try I can't feel any sympathy for Rick. Maybe the EU can change that, maybe it can't...

Lol, no worries. Unfortunately I don't have any real insight into this. Maybe they were trying to appeal to female viewers. Naturally in that case you'd want to twist up the character they'd most sympathize with; In this case Lisa. And of course while this is Americanized, it still has to conform to the visual material available and that "love triangle" was a cornerstone of Super Dimension Fortress Macross on which the Macross Saga is based. That soap opera element wasn't a big part of American animated series of the time, but Carl Macek and Co. really didn't have any choice here, and he was keen to preserve as much of the drama as possible from the original series as I understand it.

But I still found that it was handled much more gracefully in the novels.

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A journey into the realm of the obscure: http://saturdayshowcase.blogspot.com/

[–] Enigmatic-Ocean 9 years ago

Having watched the show twice I agree that we're meant to view Rick and Lisa as both being at fault for their relationship failing to progress, but Rick keeps coming across looking the worse of the two, since he never really suffers any punishment for the angst he puts Lisa through. Seriously, Rick humiliates Lisa in front of her subordinates (seriously, why does this not bother anyone?) yet we're supposed to side with him and believe he's Lisa's one true love because hey he's the main character and making his twisted empowerment fantasy come true is all that matters. What's the worst thing that happens to Rick while Lisa endures suicide inducing levels of angst that nearly drive her to give up her job for an a--hole like him? The worst thing that happens to Rick is that Lisa leaves him alone in a park for standing her up for Minmei and I'm supposed to feel bad for Rick because he's the main character and he's making a crybaby face because he didn't get his way.

Oh and I'm supposed to feel bad for him at the end of Macross Saga because he runs around the burning city screaming his head off like a bratty kid who wants cookies because he can't find Lisa. And when he finally declares his love for her & hooked up ... all I could feel was disgust and revulsion because the dude is such an a--hole and he did nothing to earn her love. It's a reward he didn't deserve.

I'm sorry for the rant, but no matter how hard I try I can't feel any sympathy for Rick. Maybe the EU can change that, maybe it can't...

That's the Rick from the television series. Not the Rick from the books. Throughout the books it is pretty much equally Ricks and Lisa's fault that they don't get together sooner. As Lisa was just as nasty to Rick as he was to her. I don't want to ruin the books for you (in case you do read them)but EVERYTHING and everyone was handled better in the books. So much so that I believe that they are far superior to the show.

I'm always hesitant to read EU material since it often feels like fan fiction but I've heard some good things about Robotech's EU so I might try it out some day.

You can get all of the books pretty cheap if you hunt around used book websites. So far i have read 1-6 (the Macross saga) and they were amazing. I think I read all of them in a few weeks. They are only around 200 pages a piece so they are a quick read. I am reading book 19 right now (which came out after the original run of 18 books) it takes place between The Macross saga and the Sentinels... it's been a tuff read so far. First off The original series (1-18) came out in the 80s. Book 19 came out in 1997. And while some of it is interesting and actually in a lot of ways reflects many of the troubles that we are facing in the world today, it is a slow read. Too many new characters, too much planning, and the original group of characters (Rick, Lisa, Max, Miriya, Exedore and Breetai) are hardly in it. To me it just seems that the writers couldn't recapture the same magic that they had in the 80s. I am going to finish it in the hopes that it picks up (I'm on page 200 so I am half way through it), but as I said before- it is a slow read.

Now that's interesting since I would have expected the EU to try to make those characters more sympathetic rather than less sympathetic, but maybe the writers by then figured "Well no one likes these characters anyway so what's the point.

Minmei and her actions are definitely fleshed out better in the novels. There are reasons for why she acts the way she acts and the reason why it was so easy for her to give up Rick to Lisa at the end is handled a lot better in the books than in the series. Also her relationship with Kyle is better explained as well.

Kyle... ugh-nuff said!

And of course while this is Americanized, it still has to conform to the visual material available and that "love triangle" was a cornerstone of Super Dimension Fortress Macross on which the Macross Saga is based. That soap opera element wasn't a big part of American animated series of the time, but Carl Macek and Co. really didn't have any choice here, and he was keen to preserve as much of the drama as possible from the original series as I understand it.

I should add that when I was a child and this series first aired that I called it "Robotech Love Affair". The name caught on with my friends and whenever we (as nine year olds) referred to this show that's what we called it.

[–] Billdo 8 years ago

Kinda sorta, but in a different way than most. I grew up without an antenna to tune in the UHF channels, so I never got to watch Robotech, Voltron, or He-Man. Sad face. Anyways, it wasn't until junior high school when I was hanging out with some friends that got me into RPGs. One of those was the TMNT RPG from Palladium Books, which led me to Robotech, also published by Palladium. I gobbled up every sourcebook I could find for that property and just loved reading the historical timelines and looking at the mechs. Then I remembered there was a cartoon, which led me back to that.

Like a blind man at an orgy, I was going to have to feel my way through.

[–] Fluke_Skywalker 7 years ago

Ahhh, you know I'd forgotten there was a Robotech RPG. Might have to track down those original sourcebooks some day. Great artwork.