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21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
How did we get here, 9 Jun 2005
I'm moved to write this to try and clarify a couple of points that related to the writing of Afterlife. The book came about when it became clear that there was not likely to be a 5th series of Blake's at least for another couple of years, because of contractual arguments which by and large had nothing to do with the series, but were happening off stage. Having written The Programme Guide to the series I was asked to write a book which could be turned into four episodes. My instructions were to work with Avon and Vila and to keep within the format - but not to introduce anything that would cause too much confusion if the 5th series were made. As the novel developed I suggested that we could consider doing 2 novels - the second being State of Mind, which would resolve the issues in Afterlife - which are left hanging reading for the next events. This idea was welcomed, but then those contractual arguments got in the way.A lot of hardcore fans didn't like Afterlife - criticising both what I did with the characters, and what happened in the storyline, but to balance that (and to keep me feeling moderately happy) there was a lot of nice stuff from people who just watched the show but never subscribed to the fanzines etc. If you enjoyed Afterlife - I'm glad you did. If not - well, sorry. I thought it worked ok, but we all have our own style.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Has a Certain Nostalgia Value., 12 Sep 2008
When this was first published, it was a BIG DEAL! At last, the 'authentic' continuation of the story. However, the reaction to this novel was a very bad one overall. It seems to have been quietly agreed by just about the whole of fandom that we will quietly forget that this book ever happened - and, additionally, nobody has been whipping up campaigns to ever have the mooted follow-up book 'State of Mind' published.
Personally I found it an enjoyable enough read. It drew me in at my tender age when I read it and it retains a certain nostalgic value for me. It was interesting to hear it's take on what really happened to Blake after he left the Liberator and before his devastating reunion with Avon. There is the introduction of new characters and computers, in keeping with the series itself. (We've lost Blake and Jenna? No worries, here's Tarrant and Dayna! Bye Zen and Cally! Hello Slave and Soolin!) This replacement mentality continues in this book. Perhaps that is where it went wrong. Perhaps it should have really been bold and been a new, almost unrecognisable continuation, taking the series into uncharted waters. Then again it would have been criticised for not being familiar 'Blake's 7'. Sometimes you just can't win. Worth a read, if only as an interesting curio. And make no mistake, this is still a very readable book. If you don't agree that it is 'authentic', at least view it as taking place in an alternative universe, then you may give it a chance.
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4.0 out of 5 stars
Avon's Obsession - MIND, 28 Oct 2009
Hi.
(Spoilers Alert)
You may have read a lot of unpleasant commentary on this book, which overall,is underserved. It is true to say that the charactersiation of the surviving characters seems a little off at some points, but at other times you can almost hear Villa's subdued complaints and Avon's vibes. That said, I felt the portrayal of Blake was inaccurate presenting him as a homicidial maniac destroyed mentally after the galactic war, which on the surface of episdode 52 is exactly what he seems to have become, but in the penultimate scene we see the bounty huntung routine is a facade to cover up for his true motives. What I did like about the book was the imagination that was evident in the creation of MIND and how MIND was linked with the two most significant episodes of series 3 and 4 (Terminal and Blake). It was MIND that made Avon kill Blake. Imaginative as MIND was, I did find it hard to make that interpretation fit "Blake" on viewing it again as I have always interpreted Avon's rash act as the result of secretly trusting a man who he claimed he hated; and that seeming act of betrayal breaking Avon. On the whole a good read and, unlike some, I would have liked to have read the mooted sequel but the ending to this works well and can stand without the sequel hsving placed the guide lines for the imagination down it is easy to visualise the end of the Blakes 7 legend.
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