V (The Second Generation)

Infobox Book
name = V: The Second Generation
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption =
author = Kenneth Johnson
illustrator =
cover_artist = Stephan Martiniere
country = United States
language = English
series = V
subject = Alien Occupation
genre = Sci-fi
publisher = Tor Books
pub_date = 5 February 2008
english_pub_date =
media_type = Print Paperback
pages = 443
isbn = 978-0-7653-1906-3
oclc =
preceded_by = V (The Original Miniseries)
followed_by =

"V: The Second Generation" is a novel written by American television writer/producer Kenneth Johnson. It is an alternative sequel to his 1983 science fiction television mini-series V that depicted an alien invasion of Earth by an advanced race of carnivorous reptilians known as "The Visitors". The novel was released on February 5, 2008. [ [http://kennethjohnson.us/V-News.html V History ] ] Johnson states he is currently negotiating a new TV adaptation.

Plot summary

Set 20 years after the original miniseries, The Second Generation depicts an Earth still under Visitor domination with the Resistance fighting a losing battle. They desperately try to persuade the masses that the Visitors are evil aliens bent on mankind's destruction. However, they are largely ignored, as the many technological and social advancements brought by the Visitors to the planet have convinced the majority that the aliens have their best interests in mind. They are halfway to taking all of the planet's water, under the guise of cleansing it of all polluting substances. Many people were also convinced to join the Visitors' civilian militia, the "Teammates" (an evolution of the miniseries' "Visitor Youth"), for the purposes of hunting resistance members.

Just when all seems hopeless, the message that Resistance leader Juliet Parrish sent into space at the end of the original miniseries is finally heard. An alien race called the "Zedti", who are long-sought enemies of the Visitors, reinforces the Resistance in their time of need and soon the war is turned in their favour. However, all is not as it seems, as the Resistance is wondering whether they have found salvation...or have replaced one alien dictator for another.

Background

In 2004, Kenneth Johnson announced plans to produce a sequel to the first "V" miniseries from 1983, which would disregard both "The Final Battle" mini-series (1984) and the subsequent weekly series (neither of which Johnson had been involved in). He made it known that NBC wanted a remake of the original "V" miniseries, rather than a sequel. In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, he said the idea for a sequel was born during the production of the "Original Mini-Series" DVD in 2001, particularly while remastering the final scene where Julie Parrish and Elias Taylor send the distress signal. [ [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08034/853346-237.stm Tuned In Journal: 'V' creator speaks ] ]

In a press conference at the 2007 San Diego Comic Con, Johnson revealed that the novel has been written and negotiations were taking place with NBC regarding the production of its film version, a four-hour TV movie. He described the scenario of the novel as being "like Paris in 1943, where you could have a cappuccino on the Champs Elysee if you don't mind the Wehrmacht sitting next to you and all of your Jewish friends disappeared." He said that certain members of the original cast, such as Marc Singer, Faye Grant, Jane Badler, and Robert Englund, are interested in the project.fact|date=July 2008

References

External links

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* [http://kennethjohnson.us Kenneth Johnson's Official Site]
* The [http://us.macmillan.com/series/V V series page] at the [http://us.macmillan.com/TorForge.aspx publisher's official website]
* [http://sirianvisitors.com Sirian Visitors]
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* [http://slithytoves.org/~dthiel/visitor/visitorhome.htm The Resistance Reference Page]
* [http://www.thevisitors.info/ Visitors Info]
* [http://www.iesb.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=4252&Itemid=99 Kenneth Johnson Interview with IESB]
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08034/853346-237.stm Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Interview] :* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/08050/856926-148.stm Follow-up V:TSG book review by Rob Owen]
* [http://www.thescifiworld.net/interviews/kenneth_johnson_01.htm Kenneth Johnson Interview with The Scifi World]
* [http://www.mindpulse.com/users/lizlady/index.htm Ilana's "V" Page]