The Visitors are back, but so is the Resistance..

More importantly, the Man, the Director, the Producer, the Writer, the Creator, the Author, the Legend, that is Kenneth Johnson is back.. With the relaunch of the Bionic Woman recently, along with rumors that the new Hulk movie will be based closer to the TV show, the work of Kenneth Johnson is coming back in vogue again, even if the man himself hasn’t been given his dues..

Kenneth Johnson is more than an author; he has written, directed and produced dozens of movies, television shows and mini - series including titles such as V, The Incredible Hulk, The Bionic Woman, Six Million Dollar Man and Alien Nation.. In my opinion he single - handedly shaped the face of sci - fi television for the 1980’s.. In 1984, millions thrilled to his television mini - series V when it hit the airwaves.. An action filled drama of alien invasion, a TV event that was also a number one bestselling novel.. It was a huge success; the highest rated show on NBC for two and a half years and led to the creation of a regularly scheduled television show.. Johnson has been nominated for both the Writers Guild and the Edgar Awards..

Now in anticipating the 2008 television spin - off from the cult classic miniseries V, V: The Second Generation, a new novel based on the script to a new V mini - series that Johnson is hoping to produce with Warner Brothers, the tension between The Visitors and Earth’s human inhabitants has reached a boiling point..

They came to us as saviors, humanoid beings, seeking the assistance of the good people of Earth to obtain chemicals needed to aid their ailing world.. In return, the Visitors promise to share their advanced technology with humanity and to remove our polluted water and cleanse it aboard their ships.. The Resistance soon discover their true identity underneath their human faces, a carnivorous, aggressive race intent on conquering the Earth, who cleverly portray themselves as Earth’s protectors, though are anything but.. They instead seek only to exploit our planet’s lifeblood - water - and slaughter all humankind..

Set in pseudo - modern day, V: The Second Generation, picks up around twenty years after the events of the original 4 hours mini series.. The Earth has become occupied by the Visitors, who now have a solid chokehold on Earth’s scientists, intellectuals, celebrities and natural resources..

With the Resistance seemingly crushed in the Great Purge ‘99, where many human and visitor comrades were betrayed and imprisoned or murdered, there are still a hand full of fighters.. The main Resistance front has moved from L.A. to San Francisco where the first memorable image is of the Golden Gate bridge standing over a barren salt flat wasteland that was once San Francisco Bay.. ( I hope this pic I’ve designed catches the scene.. By the way, I know the mothership is upside down but I used it this way to represent the new attachment for the ships ) The oceans are continuing to disappear as the Visitors drain them to fuel their Motherships, with the planet drying up, time is ticking down for the human race..

But hope is not lost.. A small, yet resourceful Resistance risks everything to undermine the Visitors’ stranglehold on Earth’s people.. Despite their heroic efforts, without more help they will be crushed by the Visitors and their human militia.. The Resistance movement cannot stop the domination of Earth on their own.. Time is running out for the Resistance, for when the Visitors’ Leader arrives, the aliens will complete their mission on Earth, with devastating consequences for all life on the planet..

Just when Earth’s doom seems inevitable, agents of an alien civilization from another planet arrive in answer to humanity’s desperate call for help.. They are known as the Zedti, those fabled enemies of the visitors who the Resistance had tried to contact the last time we saw them.. Two decades later, they’ve finally received the message and have sent an expedition, with an invasion force waiting for the word to come in full force.. They have come to Earth, to aid the Resistance in defeating the Visitors.. They fought the Visitors and won but their insect evolved humanoid race believes they are using Earth’s water to power their fusion reactors aboard their ships, weapons and armies and are going to use Earth’s people to fight using a chemical weapon that the Visitors have developed to neutralize the Zedti’s..

But can these other aliens be trusted? Or might we defeat one alien overlord, only to be delivered into the hands of another, equally as oppressive? Humans were burned once by aliens pretending to be friends now the Resistance have to know for certain if liberation and freedom from the threat of the Visitors is all the Zedtis really want..

With the arrival of this new race the plot is set in motion for a final act of rebellion.. This is made even more urgent with the knowledge that the Visitor Leader is going to arrive to supervise a massive new plan to accelerate the timetable in draining Earth’s water, making Earth uninhabitable in years, not decades..

The story moves along at a good pace and there’s plenty of twists to hold your attention.. Used to screenwriting, Johnson doesn’t waste a moment and he does manage to create a page - turner.. The suspense builds and builds and the revelation near the end ( Regarding the real reasons for the occupation of earth ) all lead up to a satisfying conclusion, and the epilogue is a chilling reminder that while the enemy of our enemy may be our friend, enemies are always less complicated, and in that sense less dangerous..

As the epic unfolds, we’re introduced to many new characters; humans, Visitors, Zedti and Dregs ( Human – Visitor half breeds ) alike.. We also catch up with some old faces like Willy and Harmony, Robert Maxwell, Julie Parrish, Martin, Diana and Mike Donovan.. Some characters might seem familiar.. A new character, Nathan, a longtime, loyal Team Unit Leader ( Use to be known as The Visitor Youth ) He was informed that the Resistance was responsible for his parents death when he was fifteen, so he joined the Teammates, hunting down Resistance.. Now he has learned the truth through a fifth column member Sarah, who took him under her wing and raised him, and wants to join them in their battle against the Visitors.. This character reminded me of Kyle Bate’s personality.. Jeremy, the Leader’s Emissary, has characteristics and personality that of Charles, from the Series.. The characters stay true to form with Diana as the evil villainess who has the means and the power to back up her leadership. The various members of the resistance individually are shown to be heroes.. Honestly I could go on about different characters, but I will leave it at this point so you can read about them and join them on their journey..

I’ve read a couple of reviews for the new novel which have commented about the writing, how it seems to have been adapted from a screen play, with character descriptions sounding like little asides in a script, and with it jump - cutting around between dozens of points of view, with camera work more in mind than narrative coherence.. Well that’s because it was.. I, myself, enjoyed how it was written.. While reading the detailed description of scenes, characters and action, I could picture it perfectly.. I recently heard from Kenny regarding the format of the novel.. He explained..

When I first conceived of the idea and began to write the story for The Second Generation, I realized that there was so much I wanted to do that I likely couldn’t accomplish it all in merely a mini-series — so I just kept going to see where the process took me — and in doing so I recognized what a nifty novel it could be.

In fashioning the miniseries screenplay I distilled the full story down to the key basic dramatic elements to fit into the allotted time. — But the wealth of individual character and psychological development I wanted to do could only be fully achieved in the form of a book.

So the process was story outline, screenplay and then ultimately the novel — which gave me much more free rein to really get into the characters’ minds and explore their histories, emotions and relationships on a much deeper level.

After completing the book, I went back and added many nuances to the screenplay which came about as a result of my deeper thinking on the novel.

The four - hour V mini series was followed by the six - hour V: The Final Battle in 1984 and the short - lived V: The Series.. Johnson’s involvement on The Final Battle, however, was limited, and he was not part of the weekly series.. This is where fans of V will get confused when reading.. They will read about Martin and then think to themselves, ” Hang on Martin’s dead..” Remember, The Second Generation continues from where Kenny left, the end of the four - hour mini series and the original V novel..

Although the story line has turned much darker than the previous V mini series / novel, fans of the V saga will appreciate this powerful entry.. It is the secondary characters that provide strong support to the plot which makes this an endearing tale.. While reading I felt as if I was watching the mini series.. Johnson is descriptive, without being long - winded.. The novel was a delight to read.. The enormous success of the original miniseries and the long wait for a worthy sequel has created a vast audience that will flock to this exciting new thriller.. This pulse - pounding novel will keep readers riveted as it rockets toward a stunning conclusion both satisfying and utterly unexpected..

Will there be a TV Series after the new mini series? Only time can tell.. Though the ending does set up for a continuation..

Partly sourced from www.aintitcool.com

Twenty years ago the Earth was taken.. Now it’s time to take it back.. To the delight of millions of fans and a new generation who have yet to discover the power of V, Kenneth Johnson has written the exciting conclusion of his epic thriller.. V: The Second Generation will be available in bookstores from the 5th February 2008..

I give V: The Second Generation 4.5 out of 5..