From: LKJ1999 (LKJ1999@aol44.com) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 09:53:00 EST Subj: Space1999: Force of Life
Hi All...
Well this week it's Force of Life week!
I hate to say this. But Force of Life. Is on the bottom of My list of Y-1
episode's
But I will force Myself to watch it...
I will have My comment's on this episode later this week...
Chas P. LKJ1999
From: Patricia Embury (Patriemb@sprintmail44.com) Date: Sun, 25 Jan 1998 15:12:50 -0500 Subj: Space1999: Force of Life
I watched this episode this afternoon. Although it's not in my top 5, it has it's moments. It's a nice little change of pace from the usual "take the Eagle to the planet", or alien encounter episode. The alien in this case, is a being that cannot be communicated with, negotiated with, or defeated. The Alphans lose an encounter, but the consequences for the greater population of the base, won't seem to effect them in the long run. The acting by Ian MacShane (nice to see him pre "Lovejoy)and the actress playing Eva was solid. Eva was a strong character, but I thought she cried a little too much in the Medical Center, and not enough at the end of the episode. I also liked seeing the different parts of Alpha, and the daily life of an ordinary Alphan. Although I don't think I'd like a video wake-up call! :)
Character development: Nice in certain characters. Mathias got to do more, and they actually did better on the resuscitation scenes. A precordial thump is appropriate when your patient is monitored, but you really want to see the rhythm first. A thump can convert someone in Ventricular Tachycardia ( the ^^^^^^^^) rhythm you see with a thump,(I've done it) but it won't work with asystole (flat line) or Ventricular Fibrillation (~~~~~~~~). I was so happy they checked a pulse before starting chest compressions. (End of Medical Lesson)
Tanya: Level-headed as always. This time, as in the Guardian of Piri, she doesn't scream or hide before calling security. I didn't mention it in my "Guardian" post, but I really admired her attempt to stop Koenig, even though she was in the Guardian's control.
Alan: Darn near got himself killed a couple of times, trying to save his friends. I don't know why Zoref didn't touch him , or his wife in the corridor. He just kept going to the reactor. His shot, although reflexive, enabled Zoref to enter the reactor and energize the being. Why didn't Koenig yell for him to wait, like in the Solarium, and run the other way? Maybe it was to show the fallibility/ humanity of the Alphans.
Helena: An early warning system is only as good as the person watching it. Out of character for her to sit with her back to the patient she needs to watch so carefully. I admire Barbara Bain's portrayal of Helena the more I watch these episodes.
Victor: I just love the way he says he doesn't know what is going on, and it sounds so scientific, official.
They used the same people falling over each other footage from "Breakaway"
From: "Petter Ogland" (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 10:09:16 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: Force of Life
FORE OF LIFE is not in my top 5 either, but I dond't think I would place it at the very bottom of the list like Chas suggested.
While I agree with Pat that the guest artists make solid performances, I find it difficult to engage fully in Anton Zoref and Eva. Like in THE SEANCE SPECTRE the main concern is not the upper echelon scientists in the main mission, but rather with the down to earth people who do the daily trivial work on Alpha, and very much like in THE SEANCE SPECTRE this does not seem like a very happy lot of people. Their work do not seem particulary interesting or engaging, and it is hardly surprising that they seem to get a bit alienated and edgy over time.
In the case of FORCE OF LIFE, I think the alien force driving Zoref into a mindless killing machine works as an okay metaphor for the typical Johnny Byrne social statement. In his story he manages to say something both about modern life at the factory plant and to indulge in his typical fascination with biology. As Zoref is turning weaker and weaker, the alien force is turning stronger and stronger, and at the end there is the final metamorph from Zoref to the alien life form which again leaves Alpha.
As Byrne also has pointed out on later occations, the story is very similar to ALIEN (1979), or rahter the other way around, FORCE OF LIFE being made four years before ALIEN. While I admire Byrne's idea, I never was all too enthusiastic about ALIEN, finding concentrating too little on character, and for me FORCE OF LIFE has some of the same coldness to it, more attentive to the idea of the caterpillar turning into a butterfly, as Byrne put it, rather than focusing on social drama like Penfold and di Lorenzo seemd to do to a greater extent.
In my opinion Byrne scored better with his similar END OF ETERNITY, produced later in the series, which deals with similar problems, but giving it a much more human face, namely the Richard III-like psychopat character Balor.
When it comes to cinematography and music, however, the episode works splendidly, I think. Tomblin's visual direction is extravagant, and the music is mysterious and moody, not too unlike RING AROUND THE MOON and THE TROUBLED SPIRIT in this sense, I feel. The rather peculiar cocktail music in the solarium is reminicent of the romantic music in MISSING LINK supposedly projected from the mind of Vanna.
Petter
From: David Acheson (dkach@hotmail44.com) Date: Mon, 26 Jan 1998 02:44:21 PST Subj: Space1999: Force of Life
Back out into deep space once again, the moon runs into an energy-consuming ball of light in FORCE OF LIFE. This being the second collaboration of writer Johnny Byrne and director David Tomblin. This time I must admit I am a bit stumped at reviewing this one as its one of the episodes I've seen the fewest in reruns and do not have a taped copy laying around. Also, it is not discussed much around this list. Not an absolute favourite but I don't seem to remember hating it.
While GUARDIAN OF PIRI was the first episode to experiment with the inclusion of music from sources other than Barry Gray, FORCE OF LIFE had a soundtrack almost completely made up of other music material. I suspect this was to give a different feel to the episode but maybe someone knows the story behind the music of this episode.
Most memorable scene for me was the prologue. The eerie effect of Anton Zoref being invaded by this ball of light. The wierd music and bizarre camera angles in this sequence reminds one of the experimental ideas of the earliest episodes. Remember the collapsed Zoref on the floor and the whole scene turns upside down?
It was nice to see (for the first time) married couples living on Alpha. Yet another little and subtle fact about our fellow Alphans we get to discover. However, the wife was never a strong character in this or any episode that featured married Alphans. Eva Zoref was nothing but a confused woman who didn't understand her husband's condition and it was much of the same with Melita in SPACE BRAIN and the dying Michelle in CATACOMBS OF THE MOON. With the strong female lead in the series one would think more would have been done with the wife character.
Its interesting to note that Ian McShane is our guest in this episode. Today he is known by most North Americans for his role on DALLAS and his lead on the British series LOVEJOY. Back in 1975 we had never heard of him. I always find it fascinating to find long lost work of famous people from the days they were unknown.
Piece of trivia: If I remember correctly, not once was an Eagle shown in this episode. The first time an entire episode takes place within the confines of the moonbase.
Ever wondered what happened to the object after it left Alpha? I believe the Alphans to be the lucky ones. If this thing continued to travel the cosmos eating energy it would eventually grow to the size where entire worlds would be destroyed. Would it have really turned into a star as Bergman suggested at the end of the episode? I find this hard to believe in light of our scientific evidence of star formation but this series never was big on being scientifically accurate.
That's about all. The rest of you probably know this episode better. Go for it!
David
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 11:32:09 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: Force of Life
This time I must admit I am a bit stumped at reviewing this one as its one of the episodes I've seen the fewest in reruns and do not have a taped copy laying around. Also, it is not discussed much around this list. Not an absolute favourite but I don't seem to remember hating it.
I don't see why anyone should hate FORCE OF LIFE, or any episode of SPACE: 1999 for that sake, but I've also noticed that very few have this episode among their definitive favourites, although the strikingly visual and rather impressive direction of David Tomblin seem to be commented on from time to time.
In the SPACE: 1999 they used a sequence from the episode to introduce the interview sequence with Keith Wilson, and some of his interiors do look rather spectacular in this installemnt. For me this is one of the episodes where the artistic aspect of the episode is almost more focused than the episode in itself.
While GUARDIAN OF PIRI was the first episode to experiment with the inclusion of music from sources other than Barry Gray, FORCE OF LIFE had a soundtrack almost completely made up of other music material. I suspect this was to give a different feel to the episode but maybe someone knows the story behind the music of this episode.
On the music pages accesible from the RETURN MOONBASE ALPHA site it says:
Guardian of Piri
"Undersea" composed by Chuck Cassey
Force of Life
"Cosmic Sounds" composed by Georges Teperino
"The Latest Fashion" composed by Giampiera
"Videotronics" composed by Cecil Leuter
For me the music used on FORCE OF LIFE works very well. If Barry Gray managed to capture some of Kubrick's 2001 feel to the small screen, I think some of Kubrick's feel from A CLOCKWORK ORANGE (1971) coincides with the style on this episode.
While Anton is not depicted a "hero" as the amoral Alex in Kubrick's film, there is a disturbing mix of aestetics and nastiness in this episode, I think, most clearly depicted in the scene of the second killing, perhaps, where the viewer watches the killing in slow motion from the killers point of view.
There is also interesting to notice, I think, how similar Tomblin directs the scenes with the escaped Judy Geeson in ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE and the killing of the girl in FORCE OF LIFE. In both cases what we seem to be watching is portrayed more like a frightend animal than a human being.
Most memorable scene for me was the prologue. The eerie effect of Anton Zoref being invaded by this ball of light. The weird music and bizarre camera angles in this sequence reminds one of the experimental ideas of the earliest episodes. Remember the collapsed Zoref on the floor and the whole scene turns upside down?
Very good prologue, I agree. In the FAB article on Johnny Byrne in the Cybrary, Byrne exclaims his fascination with Tomblin as a director. While I regard the emotional style of Ray Austin more highly than Tomblin, I can understand why so many find him fascinating. He is certainly one of the most artistically inclined directors of the series, extraordinarily visual at times, seemlingly almost to think like a painter.
For me Tomblin seems a bit cold, however, especially in his three first efforts ANOTHER ITME ANOTHER PLACE, FORCE OF LIFE and THE INFERNAL MACHINE. His final work, THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA, is partly a love story, and as such perhaps a bit less cold.
It was nice to see (for the first time) married couples living on Alpha.
Of the three couples, I think Anton and Eva was the most interesting relationship. In SPACE BRAIN I feel the relationship was hardly explored at all, and CATACOMBS OF THE MOON, for me, seemed more like a paraphrase on Wagner's opera Siegfried than being about real people.
While Eva is confused and not able to understand her husband's condition, I think she does a good job showing her increasing care and emotions as he turns less and less human. I find it difficult to imagne how the character of Eva could be improved upon beyond this, and the way she was interpreted was quite good, I think.
Piece of trivia: If I remember correctly, not once was an Eagle shown in this episode. The first time an entire episode takes place within the confines of the moonbase.
There were at least three episodes (Year I) were they used no eagles, I believe: FORCE OF LIFE, THE TROUBLED SPIRIT and END OF ETERNITY. All written by Johnny Byrne. Personally I think this was OK in order to focus more on life and relationships on Alpha.
Come to think of it, there was perhaps a glimpse of an eagle in the beginning of END OF ETERNITY, but like TROUBLED SPIRIT and FORCE OF LIFE the story developed more or less within the bounds of the Alpha interiors.
Petter
From: Riccardo Iommi (r.iommi@mailcity44.com) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 05:05:51 -0700 Subj: Space1999: No Eagles?
Hi Alphans,
Petter Ogland wrote about a glimpse of an eagle in the beginning of END OF ETERNITY, but I think there's an entire sequence (at the end of the episode) showing an eagle destroying Balor's asteroid; maybe I don't fully remember the episode, can anyone tell me whether I'm wrong or right?
Keep an eye on your orbit and bye,
Riccardo
From: LKJ1999 (LKJ1999@aol44.com) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 17:00:58 EST Subj: Re: Space1999: No Eagles?
Yes Riccardo.
You are right! This episode does show a Eagle destroying Balor's asteroid !!!
Chas P. LKJ1999
From: Mark Meskin (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com) Subj: Re: Space1999: No Eagles?
But then it reappears about 30 seconds later.
From: Paulo Jorge Morgado (paulo.morgado@rtc44.pt) Date: Tue, 27 Jan 1998 13:49:06 -0000 Subj: Space1999: FORCE OF LIFE / ENGALE VIDEOS
[EDITOR'S NOTE: First part only; the second part started a different thread.]
Hello all
I'm a Newbie in the list but I see I got here just in time for the discussion of Force of Life which is one of my personal favorites. I guess the episode has always been uderapreciated, specially by die sard Season 2 American Fans that prefer more Hi-tech oriented episodes featuring Eagles exploding, or Monster Tongue-in-cheek fighting. I believe that establishing the atmosphere of Alpha on season 1 owes much to Force of Life. It shows exactly how vulnerable Alpha was to external unknown alien forces whose motives, origin and ultimate purpose remained unknown. It showed exactly that stories in the episodes were not necessarily self explanatory and concludible on one episode. The strength of Force of Life is the same strength of other episodes like Dragon's Domain: strange aliens that do not supply answers in plain English. Menaces in pure form. This is where Space 1999 reveals it was ahead of its time: Dragon's Domain is basically a premake of ALIEN and Force of Life anticipates in many aspects the X-Files.
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no) Date: Wed, 28 Jan 1998 09:27:36 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: No Eagles? / Force of Life
You are obviously right here, Riccardo, sorry about the misguidance.
In a letter called THE GOOD, BAD and the FLUSHABLE (Tue, 22 Jul 1997), Ggreg wrote a complete ranking of the 24 Year One episodes according to his taste. In the category GREAT he considered the following:
DRAGON'S DOMAIN
BLACK SUN
FORCE OF LIFE
ANOTHER TIME/ANOTHER PLACE
DEATH'S OTHER DOMINION
INFERNAL MACHINE
WIth the exception of BLACK SUN, neither of these are on my top 6 list, as I'm more of a fan of the early experimental episodes like 1. BREAKAWAY, 2. MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, 3. BLACK SUN, 4. RING AROUND THE MOON etc., but, nevertheless, I enjoy the six listed above too.
After reading a few more letters on FORCE OF LIFE, I am not so sure of the general reception of the episode among the list members. I usually use David Acheson as a barometre in these questions.
Paulo Jorge Morgado wrote:
I guess the episode has always been uderapreciated, specially by die hard Season 2 American Fans that prefer more Hi-tech oriented episodes featuring Eagles exploding, or Monster Tongue-in-cheek fighting.
From what I've heard FORCE OF LIFE was attacted by American critics for being meaningless. I'm not to sure what to make of this, but I believe the coldness of the episode would be something very unexpectet if one very thinking in lines of STAR TREK rather than for example 2001.
Menaces in pure form. This is where Space 1999 reveals it was ahead of its time: Dragon's Domain is basically a premake of ALIEN and Force of Life anticipates in many aspects the X-Files.
The not-too-optimistic world view in FORCE OF LIFE isn't too different from X-FILES. You have a point there.
Concerning ALIEN, I feel both FORCE OF LIFE and DRAGON'S DOMAIN contain ideas which reoccurs in this film, whether it is by coincidence or not.
Petter
From: jcg@vh44.net Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 20:51:31 -0500 Subj: Space1999: Force Of Life
I find my nits on this episode stem from those things that should follow real life rules...things which would not stand in the way of the plot.
Why do the Alphans freeze when the life form zeros in on Zoref? I find it to be a slight plot device (they can't answer when he calls for help) and a meaningless "let's have something strange happen cause it's sci fi even though there is no reason or logic for it."
Mathias is a doctor. Why is he fixing the monitor? Is he a fully trained electronics technician? Maybe he answered an ad in a matchbook. Or maybe it's another less than well thought out incident in an episode that is full of such problems.
The command staff was aware of the ball of light at the beginning of the episode. So why when they are discussing the unexplained energy sources, don't any of them think of the ball of light (which is generated by energy) as a possibility? Year one is full of scenes where they are speculating about what is happening, and the speculation is always meaningless and has nothing to do with anything, and is dialog that you can cut and not miss, because the resolution at the end in no way had anything to do with their earlier efforts or speculations. (I'm not saying that is 100 percen true...but that it did happen quite often.)
Why is it that a steaming hot cup of coffee (which is more than 98.6 degrees) does not cause any reaction in Zoref when he drains it of energy, but he goes all flush when he drains the energy out of a 98.6 degree body. Dramatic yes, consistent no.
A real nit: Mathias says the video monitor's energy cells were completly drained...which is fine except such a unit is hard wired into the power system (in other words, it's plugged in and it doesn't have energy cells...which we call batteries.)
It suddenly occured to me that he's been draining all of the energy around him...except from his commlock. That stupid thing is on his person for all of this time, and yet its energy cells still have their power.
Was anybody besides me screaming at the tv when Hiliary was running down the corridor "Call somone on your commlock you idiot!"
Helena investigated two deaths, as well as Zoref at the beginning of the episode, and she did not use one single instrument. Don't you think, especially if the computer is reporting a death, that she would bring a kit of some kind? Suppose the person could be resuscitated? Suppose the death was caused by a contaminant of some kind that could be spread? How is she going to test for anything?
Kano responds "2045 lunar time." Thank god he specified, because so many hundreds of light years from earth, I of course would have assumed he was referring to the time in Pango Pango.
Here is a bit of terrible writing: Victor is referring to the two deaths when he says "force that killed Dominix and the girl." The girl? The girl! Aside from the dehumanizing aspect of that sentence, it would be logical to assume that a smalll cut off community like that would grow closer over time and everybody would know each other's names...much less a scientist who is investigating a death.
A light is aimed on the unconscious Zoref as a safety precaution...if it goes out, he's starting to drain energy again. And yet they didn't attach the light to any sensor to trigger an alarm if it went out (gee, I'm sure Mathias could have rigged up something...since he can service tvs) and Helena sits with her back to the unit both Zoref, and the warning light, are in.
Zoref has killed two people and drained a lot of energy out of the base. He is dangerous. Koenig places a guard outside a closed, windowless door. Wouldn't it have made more sense to put the security guard in an eagle and send the ship through a space warp (sorry, this is year one) a black sun so the security guard is on the other side of the universe in case there's any trouble in the medical lab?
What is it with the women in this show. Helena is another one you want to give a dope slap to because she doesn't call for help until she's trapped herself in the corner and starts banging on the door. At least bikini clad Tanya (nah, nah, nah) is survival smart in this episode to call for help.
Anyone besides me think it was strange to have a display stand with crystal and rocks in the middle of a corridor?
While it looked very dramatic, the sideways tilting of the buildings during the reactor explosions was just stupid. It's one thing on the good ship Seaview, it's another on the moon.
Overall, I'm not bothered by a strange ball of light, or the Alphan's inability to really do anything about it...what I don't like is the simple real life things that get trampled on for no reason, and the stupid things that are said and done for lack of story editing or the five minutes it would have taken to look at it and say "this makes no sense." I think you can point to this episode as an example of the form that brought criticism to year one. You can have all the metaphysical stuff you want, but if your characters are not acting and reacting in a real manner, and if the simple everyday stuff is not real, then it doesn't work. I can suspend scientific disbelief so we can have the premise of the moon leaving orbit and reaching new worlds every week, etc, but I cannot except that a doctor is fixing a tv when there is a full technical staff, that guards are placed out of site from dangerous situations they are supposed to be guarding, and that names are not used when one of Alpha's most precious resources, (and a dwindling one at that) a human life, is lost. I think it is stuff like this that led people to compare year one to the supermarionation (spelling?) work. It is difficult for even the best of actors to make some kinds of material work...when the material is just lacking.
From: LKJ1999@aol44.com Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 21:17:44 EST Subj: Space1999: Force Of Life
My comment's on Force Of Life...
As You well know this is not my favorite episode !
Eagle action NONE.
No Eagle lift off's...
No Eagle landing's
Not even the word Eagle was said... NOW THAT'S BAD !!!
I did like the music. They used some of this music in END OF ETERNITY...
Blooper's. At the end. When the reactor explode's. They used some of the same scene's from BREAKAWAY...
I have to give this episode. A NO. 24. On My list of best liked episode's from Y-1.
Any comment's welcome...
Chas P. LKJ1999
From: eagle1@mb.sympatico44.ca Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 23:39:58 -0400 Subj: Re: Space1999: Force Of Life
I like you, my instant friend!! Eagles first and foremost! Gotta like it!
As an Eagle fan (as in FANatic!) I must agree! Glad to see I'm not the only one! Spaceships are an absolute must in a sci-fi show as far as I'm concerned, and lots of eye candy!!!!
As bad as the episode is though, it's still not as bad as the best episode of Star Trek Deep Sleep Nine or the Next Abomination!
Heh-heh-heh... Had ta throw that in!
From: LKJ1999@aol44.com Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 07:00:45 EST Subj: Re: Space1999: Force Of Life
I agree. I love My Eagle's...
Chas P. LKJ1999
From: relax@videotron44.ca Date: Thu, 29 Jan 1998 22:34:04 -0500 Subj: Space1999: FORCE OF LIFE
Hi all!
It's amazing to see how many people on this list don't like the FORCE OF LIFE episode. Even Chas P. (lkj1999) is giving a NO 24 of 24 episodes... Geeee!!!!
I was laughing a lot while i was reading JCG@VH.NET's letter on this one, i have to say that i agree on all points, but this one is still one of my top 5 year one episodes with AT AP, BREAKAWAY, BLACK SUN and DRAGON'S DOMAIN (in no particular order).
Andre Beauchamp
From: David Welle (dwelle@online.dct44.com) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 01:45:40 Subj: Space1999: Force of Life
Alphans,
This episode is, in my opinion, a mixture of really good and bad elements. Not in my top five, certainly; not in my bottom five either, though probably in my bottom ten of Y1.
To start...
A blue ball of light approaches the Moon, heading directly to the base. No one is sure what it is. (Nice view of Main Mission from the upper level in this scene, as well.) Why does it single-mindedly head towards the base? Well, it is the only source of organized power.
Some of that power is used to create an automated video wakeup. I'm not sure what the point of adding video to an alarm, though I suppose it's not unlike the "alarm" feature on some televisions. I suppose it looks "futuristic." Curiously, though, the couple has a normal-looking alarm clock sitting on the nightstand. One of the "moon lamps" activates, yet the whole room is already totally bathed in light! I hope that means the room lights came on before the video alarm, or this couple is wasting a ton of energy sleeping in full light! Nice little scene, though, of a married couple on Alpha. One wonders whether they were already married and both managed to get posted to Alpha, or whether they met and married there.
There's not much sense of advancing time, because with only the shortest of scenes in between, we suddenly find Technician Zoref is at his post in in Generating Area. Perhaps that's because I have a cut copy of this episode. Anyway...
The people of Alpha all slow down and stop. Curious, mysterious, odd-looking, yet it seems pointless to me, I'm afraid. How did it slow everyone else down? Well, it leaves Anton Zoref moving -- the only one on the base. The ball of energy has evidently targeted him, and as we see later, something alien becomes part of him. So the blue ball has some capability over life forms, and evidently froze every other one except its target. Still, the nagging question, why? Perhaps because while people were frozen, they couldn't see where the thing went, or what happened to it. Of course, any external cameras would be too. So okay, it's still a bit of a mystery, but one of those minor things that nags, rather than one of the grand ones that gets you thinking. Oh well.
It keeps growing, larger and larger in the skylights (spacelights?), bathing everything blue. Very creepy. He gets nervous and then frightened, and signals for help (though the signal doesn't get through at first either, like the blue light has frozen some circuitry as well -- not sure this is consistent, and I don't think I ever accepted that).
I like the camera effects as and after Zoref collapses in slow motion, with the camera then rotating, "flipping" Zoref and the whole scene upside down. Something of a metaphor for what will happen to the rest of his life, I like to think.
The others all come back to life, confused. Appropriate, considering the circumstances, even if the "circumstances" of their being momentarily static still seems like it is an almost pointless "device" that was thrown in because it looks "good."
Ian McShane. I'm glad someone pointed this out, or I wouldn't have realize who it was. I saw a couple episodes of Lovejoy a year ago. Still didn't recognize right away, but eventually did (the eyebrows are a giveaway, I suppose).
Zoref wakes back up, and seems normal. One of the medical monitors fails as it's watching him. That, in this series, is a giveaway, at least to this viewer, that something's up, considering the number of odd readings or lack of readings the medical devices have shown in other episodes. Helena ascribes it to simple "failure," and apparently thinks little more of it. That itself has never made much sense to me, though I suppose Helena's equipment may fail for simple reasons a lot of the time.
Then Anton starts drifting off, in an almost delusional way, the lamp next to him fading out. He ascribes it to simple burn-out, kind of like Helena did. But with him, of course, he has no real reason to feel suspicious, and thinks he merely needs fresh air ("we could all do with a bit of that on Alpha," his wife says), which is completely understandable.
About those "scan records" Victor likes to show every couple of episodes.... They look like painted plates, rather than printouts. I'm sorry, but those always looked fake to me, and still do.
More than that, their whole conversation baffles me. They speak of an "energy force" and "there's no energy source any near us in space that could have caused this." Huh? Are they contradicting each other, or have they entirely forgotten about the blue light that had been approaching? Perhaps it wiped their minds or something. This scene totally frustrates me. To me, it's not one of those mystery-building scenes that makes one wonder, but instead is simply confusing. In fact, this is one of the things that frustrates me with some episodes of Year One: scenes which don't build the episode up, but throw it out of kilter entirely -- or at least for that part of the episode. It just always seems to scream "continuity error" at me, even if it probably isn't.
That aside, the episode continues with Zoref back in the Generating Area, at his post, working with Mark Dominix. Zoref starts feeling very cold, stuggles towards Mark, on the edge of collapse. Dominix offers him a warm drink, the liquid freezes in his hand! Anton drops the cup, which shatters the ice on the floor. "What's wrong with me?" Very good scene. Anton starts collapsing, and though Mark shouldn't have tried catching him, he of course instinctively helps, and gets frozen in the process, while Zoref glows a strange color. (I don't think he was frozen solid, or he would have partially shattered hitting the ground, but he was certainly frozen enough to die.) Anton seems in shock as he looks down at Mark's body.
Mathias has discovered that the machine that had monitored Zoref after the first instance had its energy cells drained, one of the first clues the command staff gets. Here the remote medical monitors make another appearance, this time reporting Dominix is dead. Helena is playing the cool doctor again in this episode. Victor blithely states Zoref can take over, but John refuses, making the Generating Area restricted, speculating the problems are linked to the area, which is on the right track.
Anton is in his quarters, out of sorts, confused, and keeps shouting at Eva to keep her distance, much to her great confusion and concern. A well acted scene. Meanwhile, John and Victor are discussing the latest disturbance, and related energy readings. Another confusing scene where they speak both of "freak electrical discharages" and "alien forces," with no apparent reference to the original sighting of that "strange ball of light," yet no apparent indication that they're memories have been affected by something.
Instead of heading to Medical, Zoref wanders the halls, lights going out around him as he moves. Chilling to watch, though the scene lost it for me with the woman who tried running. First she runs in one direction, then the other, as if she expects to get somewhere when there's clearly nowhere to go in those directions. Sure, someone would try to find somewhere to run, but the way she runs almost right up to the wall, as if expecting it to vanish in front of he just looked silly, and partially ruined the scene. It was still chilling to see all this, and her body, though. Obviously, I've got very mixed feelings about how well the episode has been done to this point, and it only continues.
"Light is simply another form of heat." Huh? A more accurate reference would have been to energy -- that light and heat are both forms of energy that could be drained. One of those points of fumbling simple science.
A distraught and increasingly worried Eva makes an appearance at Medical Center, and is afraid when she discovers Anton never showed up. Eva believes Anton is sick, and Helena alerts John to the concerns about him, and that finally draws attention to Zoref, who is now stumbling about, looking almost mindless as he stumbles about, looking for more energy. The command staff has made the full connection, and take away Zoref's source of light, smartly knowing not to shoot directly at him (which would give him the energy he craves and has been stealing from Alpha, and from people), but at the panel routing the room's lights, robbing him of the energy. He seems to collapse as if suffocated, cut off from a source of something so immediately necessary. John does something rather brave or foolish (take your pick), touching Anton.
Helena remains stone-faced, showing no reaction whatsoever; her emotions in this episode range from small, subtle signs -- to nothing. I really didn't care much for her character in this episode, I'm afraid.
The "early warning" light put on Anton is clever, but there's the old overconfidence, when Helena says "Don't worry, he can't get out of there...."
Victor is holding some scan plate of a human body, declaring "that's the force that killed Dominix, and the girl." Huh? Guess there was something 'way off' of that scan as opposed to a normal human body, but it seems like a case of "wave a pretty picture and say it means this or that, and everyone will accept the connection." And come on, Victor, can't you at least say "Hillary," instead of "the girl?" Then they start speculating about an "it" that has taken over Zoref, reminding me again of my confusion of whether or not they remember that dang blue light! (Does this last aspect bother anyone else as it -- so obviously -- bothers me?)
Of course, Helena's sitting with her back to Zoref. What's the use of an early warning system if no one's going to keep even half an eye on it! She never once glances back to it until she hears the door collapsing, and even then, she stares almost blankly, when she should have started moving towards a communication panel or something -- and that's even forgiving her a moment or two of shock. Stupid. She does have a good move to get by him later. Another man dies, and now Helena shows subtle yet distinct horror.
Every scene seems to have a good and bad side: some moments that seem well-written and -acted, alternating with other moments in the same scenes that seem silly, hokey, or unbelievable. It's a frustrating watch, being "whipped about" in this fashion.
Eva hears the "Shoot to kill" order, and there's horror and fear in her eyes, and she runs out of the room, obviously wanting to do something, although even she probably doesn't know what.
They finally pick him on cameras, and try to follow his trail. He moves down the hall in a single-minded-looking, possessed manner, which is certainly fitting. An excellent scene. His power is growing, and they fear that if Zoref makes it to one Nuclear Generating Area and gets its energy, there'll be no way at all to stop him from getting to the others.
Koenig orders all of Alpha's power cut, and a medical patient starts dying, eliciting a very strong response from Mathias. Zoref, in darkness, immediately starts to weaken, while Eva continues running around the base, trying to find him -- and finally succeeding. She begs him to return, that maybe there's something that can be done. For those few seconds, he seems to regain some aspect of humanity, then loses the battle and tries to kill Eva.
"Don't let them kill him," Eva begs afterward, after Zoref again staggers away. His possessed body makes it to the generating area doors, but in its weakened state, cannot make it through.
Victor shows signs of trouble coping with a weakening environment, maintaining consistency with other episodes. The rest of the Alphans will soon start to die.
Zoref rushes John, Alan, Victor, and the others, and Alan shoots. A shocking transformation into a burnt-up human, collapsing, burnt bits of some of his clothing littering the area. Not only was it stated that they were "the only source of heat around," but perhaps there was some sense of knowledge on the part of Zoref/being, knowing such a rush might elicit a phaser shot and give him/it the needed extra bit of energy to regenerate, and break into the reactor area. Koenig knows there's no point in keeping the power off now, so he orders it turned back on.
Some excellent, exciting scenes follow, as the burnt husk of an alien-possessed man opens the reactor/generator. The music is wonderfully chilling as well. The Alphans evacuate the area, and suddenly that whole section goes up, shaking the entire base.
Didn't care for that initial glow around the section, before it exploded, but that was only a tiny nit. Afterwards, the blue ball of light comes together at the destroyed section, and moves off.
Everyone starts to pick up the "pieces," reporting in, as lights start turning back on in still darkened parts of the base.
John and Victor wonder what it was all about.
Victor: "Just one [reactor] was enough for its purpose."
John: "Purpose?"
Victor: "Some sort of creative evolution." ... "a birth."
John: "A star?"
What?!?! That whole exchange was nonsensical, and besides that, STILL doesn't admit to the first scene of the whole episode, when a strange ball of light (SBOL) approached.
The episode at least ended with a great little scene between Eva Zoref -- at one of those stunned, tearless stages of grief -- and Helena, who tries to comfort her as best as she can. There is no real answer, and I like that here.
.. Breakdown Ratings ..
Plot: Good/B+
Generally, *events* progress in a sensible manner, given
everything else.
Character Development / Acting:
John: good/B; except for his baffling conversations with Victor,
the characterization makes plenty of sense.
Victor: poor/D; in this episode, I got the sense of him like
a magician, waving his painted printouts around, magically
conjuning up declarations out of thin air. Probably my
least favorite portrayal of him.
Helena: mixed/D+; a very mixed up mixture of behavior ranging
from stupid to very intelligent, coldly unfeeling to very
tender and concerned. All sorts of wild extremes. An
inconsistent portrayal.
Mathias: good/B+; made fine use of what screen time he had.
Anton: excellent/A; a fine acting job displaying diminishing
humanity and a growing, hungry, alien influence. One
moment wandering the halls like a zombie as lights go
dark, mixed with excellent scenes with his wife.
Eva: excllent/A-; also well acted, with good chemistry with her
on-screen husband, and well-used expressiveness.
Alien force: Though chilling in behavior and deed while inhabiting
Zoref, there are disconcerting jumps in how it is portrayed
otherwise, especially when discussed in a series of baffling
conversations betweeen John and Victor. A back and forth
series of aspects that proved very annoying. Also, was it
the same being as at the beginning, regenerated with all the
newly-infused energy, or was it a "baby" of the first?
Other:
Art:
Cinematography: excellent/A; good use of that color change effect,
excellent use of darkening hallways, skewed camera angles,
and the like.
Construction: I loved that massive-looking reactor door swinging
ponderously open.
Special Effects: fair/C; I guess strange balls of light don't do
a lot for me, though it was okay here. I also didn't like
that momentary glow around the reactor area of the base before
it exploded, not only for it happening, but for its appearance.
Music: excellent/A
Clothes:
Makeup: excellent/A; truly horrifying makeup after Zoref's body is
burnt. Also, good "ice" effects on others.
Miscellaneous Details:
Eagle Crashes: none. Indeed, no Eagle action at all. Good to have
a change of pace and not be dependent on using all the stuff
all the time.
Destroyed: one reactor
Deaths: Hillary (Preston?), Mark Dominix, a security guard, Anton
Zoref.
"Lifes": the blue ball of energy either regenerates, or is born,
or has a child born, or something. Terribly confusing.
Injuries: Victor's heart trouble again
Quarters: forgot to observe again, but I don't think there were any.
.. In Summary ..
Overall rating: fair/C/2.0
Though writing about a fairly contained, intriguing premise, it came off as a mixture of good and bad scenes (or portions of scenes), mixed with odd non-science and some confusing discussions that left me feeling somewhat cheated, as much annoyed as intrigued. I'm not much of a horror fan, but admit S19 can do such a good job that even I enjoy it in some cases -- but this isn't quite such a case, or is but only partially, since it does have a lot of good elements. In my opinion, it just doesn't come together quite right. Well, the plot does progress well, and the action is often quite chilling, but is cut up with a lot of distractingly confusing elements, and some poor characterization by some of the regular cast members. I'm afraid a lot of these types of complaints of mine in regard to this episode are shared with some of the other Y1 episodes -- one set of reasons that I've tended to find Y1 to be frustrating, a little too frequently.
It did leave me with some memorable scenes that I did remember parts of for many years: Zoref walking zombie-like yet single-mindedly down the hallways, lights darkening as he wandered down the hallways; and the burnt thing he became at the end, pulling open one set of doors and the much heavier vault-like reactor door.
My 1.999 cents,
----
David Welle
From: Floyd Resler (floydresler@earthlink44.net) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 02:38:55 -0500 Subj: Space1999: Force of Life
Even though it's been a long time since I have seen this episode, I often use it as an example of how the creators of Space:1999 made you, the viewer, feel like the Alphans were at the mercy of the universe. Unlike many episodes of Star Trek, there was no tidy answer for what had happened. Of course, several episodes of Space:1999 were like that and now, as an adult, that really appeals to me.
Floyd
From: Petter Ogland (petter.ogland@dnmi44.no) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 09:57:54 +0000 Subj: Re: Space1999: Force Of Life
Here is a bit of terrible writing: Victor is referring to the two deaths when he says "force that killed Dominix and the girl." The girl? The girl! Aside from the dehumanizing aspect of that sentence, it would be logical to assume that a smalll cut off community like that would grow closer over time and everybody would know each other's names...much less a scientist who is investigating a death.
I thought that was a rather interesting remark by Victor. Perhaps he was absent minded and just forgot her name. Anyway, I think it stimulated to the rather cold CLOCKWORK ORANGE sort of feel through much of this episode.
What is it with the women in this show. Helena is another one you want to give a dope slap to because she doesn't call for help until she's trapped herself in the corner and starts banging on the door. At least bikini clad Tanya (nah, nah, nah) is survival smart in this episode to call for help.
I feel the behaviour patterns of both Helena and Tanya seemed quite in character. Being a doctor addicted to research work, it seems perfectly natural for me that she turns her back on Zoref and continues research. Personally I feel I could easily have acted the same way in a similar situation. As she is also an introvert, it also seems perfectly natural that her first thought is not calling for help when she panics. A very good sequence, the way I see it.
The scene with Tanya in bikini was less psychological I think. Here it seemed David Tomblin went for more menace with a wry smile almost paying hommage to Kubrick. Very misanthropic.
It is difficult for even the best of actors to make some kinds of material work...when the material is just lacking.
While you have done a much more thorough analysis than similar critical American reviews I've read earlier on this episode, I believe, the effect is very much the same. FORCE OF LIFE seems to be a favourite target when critisizing SPACE: 1999.
FORCE OF LIFE is not on my top 5 list either, but not because it "makes no sense", which, in fact, I feel it does to a very large extent, but rather because I feel the story revolves around Anton and Eva who I don't find all that psychologically interesting, and with the regular crew reduced to playing supporing roles. In this respect I find it similar to other Johnny Byrne stories like THE TROUBLED SPIRIT and VOYAGER'S RETURN, the similarity with THE TROUBLED SPIRIT perhaps being the most striking.
Now that we have reached FORCE OF LIFE, I feel we have moved quite a bit from BREAKAWAY, MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH, BLACK SUN, RING AROUND THE MOON and MISSING LINK. At this point I feel the series is starting to develop new directions. As the change of direction was apparent already with EARTHBOUND and ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE, the influence of Johnny Byrne had on the series as a writer is quite striking at this moment.
I think that I understand more and more why Byrne speaks so highly of Tomblin. For some reason episodes like ANOTHER TIME ANOTHER PLACE, FORCE OF LIFE and THE TESTAMENT OF ARKADIA seem congruently bleak both in writing and direction.
Petter
From: Tamazunchale@webtv44.net (South Central) Date: Fri, 30 Jan 1998 17:46:45 -0800 Subj: Re: Space1999: Force Of Life
The scene where Zoref walks into the Solarium and is seen through a woman's leg is not a nod to Kubrick, but rather to the film, The Graduate where Hoffman's character is seen through the legs of "Mrs. Robinson". Anybody remember this?
Mateo
From: Kenetrw@aol44.com Date: Sat, 31 Jan 1998 14:42:59 EST Subj: Space1999: FORCE OF LIFE
Hello Alphans!
I love the episode FORCE OF LIFE. It was one of the first episodes I saw while still evaluating the series-as to whether I should still watch. I picked the show up sometime in 1975 during the first re-runs. I give this show an A. It has a very eerie feeling to it which is what I get when I even begin to think of the stuff that's out in space.
The idea of putting a warning light on Zoref's body to act as a warning system was a real goof. I don't know wether to blame Helena for this. If you have an alien sucking up power, why in the world would you put a light (which gives energy) on him? I liked the alarm call which woke up the Zoref's 30 minutes before duty. Not only do patients wear the blue VIC satin pj's but everyone wears them at night. Nice shot of the scanning sensor tower as the BLUE LIGHT approaches. I like how things looked smooth in the power area as Mark tells Zoref that a condenser blew in panel #3. Then, all hell breaks loose.
The upside down shot of Zoref lying on the floor was spectacular! As the intercom blurts out REPORT YOUR SITUATION, it is indeed uopside-down. The strange monitor wire placed on Zoref's head had a strange "S" shape. I recognise this symbol but can't remember where. I think it has something to do with ESP or something. Again, we see the different colored cellophane report covers. Koenig is near one that's BLUE. Again, I love how Bergman answers Koenig's questions:
KOENIG: Victor, what caused it?
BERGMAN: Ah, that's a good question.
Remember Helena's quarters in MATTER OF LIFE AND DEATH? Again, in the Zoref's we see the YELLOW quares with circular knobs. Maybe they control climate osomething. It's in the Zoref's quarters that I thought-I wonder if any Alphans wear any jewelry. Bergman has a ring on his RH pinky. All Alphans are required to wear the Monitor watch on their left hands. These can be adjusted as Bergman does while running down the hallway with the power off- trying to escape the generating area as Zoref walked inside it. ERGOMANIA? Zoref certainly doesn't stop at getting the power he needs. Maybe that's why the aliens chose him. The gloomy music in this episode set the tone throughout.
I also liked how Bergman again deflects Koenig's thinking. He says so much for your freak electrical strom theory. Once again, poor Dr. Mathais! No power, patients are dying and vapor-locking, he's always conked on the head, Helena chewed him out when Piri messed up the simple blood transfusion and he said "Dr, I am not a computer!". I really feel sorry for this guy. I can't even think of any Alphan that is a close second for abuse such as this! I really feel for this guy.
The special effects and the great shots outside the base really added to the story. I liked the shots where Zoref's uniform are burned to shreds as his eyes suddenly turn WHITE! Check out the small fried pieces of clothing that once were his uniform lying on the ground. With the exception of the corny "Early warning system light", I found very little flaws with this episode. At times, however, I felt the could have filled in some of the spaces where we see Zoref endlessly wandering the halls, or lying down with perspiration pooring off him. Great episode!
From: "Ellen C. Lindow" (sfdxb@scfn.thpl.lib44.fl.us) Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 20:13:01 -0500 (EST) Subj: Re: Space1999: Force of Life
the week almost ended before I had a chance to watch Force of Life. I've always liked certain aspects of this episode, even though it is a "quiet" one. Nothing spectacular happens, and none of the regular cast has an emotional stake in what's going on.
Things I liked about the episode.: I enjoyed seeing more of Alpha, and more Alphans, not just the command staff. Too bad that so many of them die in this episode, but it was nice to get a glimpse of how they live, coping with being cooped up on Alpha, not wanting to get up and go to work any more than I do in the morning, and catching some rays-- probably prescribed for everyone to keep them healthy.
I've never been able to drink tea on a cold day without thinking about Anton's cup of coffee. My hand get so cold sometimes that I feel my tea will freeze up just like his did-- I used to work on a farm and in the winter, I was sure I could freeze just about anything with a touch, of course here, nothing on a farm is inside or heated, heck, I don't even have heat in half the rooms in my house!
This episode might even have been better as a second season episode. The only command staff person needed would have been the chief of security investigating these strange deaths. Since it seemed that the SBOL was forgotten the moment it arrived, it could have been a more effective story if no one but the audience had seen it, and no one had a clue what was happening-- that was the end result anyway!
It did seem that the critter took Anton over slowly, I liked that. Every time he sucked up more power he got a little stranger, until there just wasn't any Anton left at all.
This episode did a good job of relating how totally helpless the Alphans were against unknown phenomena. There was no solution to their problem. From the moment the SBOL merged with Anton, it was inevitable that he die. That's an unusual stand for any SF series.
So, what're we watching next?
From: LKJ1999@aol44.com Date: Sun, 1 Feb 1998 21:12:38 EST Subj: Re: Space1999: Force of Life
Alpha Child. Is next on the list !
I like this One !!!
Chas P. LKJ1999
From: Paulo Jorge Morgado (paulo.morgado@rtc44.pt) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 17:30:00 -0000 Subj: Space1999: FORCE OF LIFE
Kenetrw@aol.com wrote:
I give this show an A. It has a very eerie feeling to it which is what I get when I even begin to think of the stuff that's out in space.
Thank you. This exactly the point of this episode, and again, Y1 overall. That feeling of "we don't know what's out there and don't have all the answers."
The special effects and the great shots outside the base really added to the story. I liked the shots where Zoref's uniform are burned to shreds as his eyes suddenly turn WHITE! Check out the small fried pieces of clothing that once were his uniform lying on the ground.
Now here are details which add to the story's appeal, and while not the focus/main reason of the show, are cool nonetheless as small incidentals.
It's refreshing to see someone focusing on some "positive nits".
From: Paulo Jorge Morgado (paulo.morgado@rtc44.pt) Date: Mon, 2 Feb 1998 17:50:34 -0000 Subj: Space1999: FORCE OF LIFE
[EDITOR'S NOTE: last part of note only...]
FORCE OF LIFE is one of the pivotal shows of the series, and displays many of the qualities that made Y1 1999 so memorable, some of which I've elaborated on in my first message last week.
It shows exactly how vulnerable Alpha was to external unknown alien forces whose motives, origin and ultimate purpose remained unknown.
One of the most interesting and special concepts of this episode, and the series as a whole. this is SPACE: 1999, and is what sets it apart from all other shows, regardless of individual taste or styles.
The alien as neither malevolent or benevolent, just an amoral creature or even an animal that is just going about it's natural process of survival. it comes, it feeds and then leaves. There is no communication, no explanation, nothing. Never has the mystery and unknown of space been better depicted.
A very existential, alone in deep space at the mercy of the great unknown universe story, and it is excellent.
Paulo
May ALPHA's Journey be bright
From: Patricia Embury (Patriemb@sprintmail44.com) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 1998 17:58:42 -0500 Subj: Space1999: In defense of Nitpicking
[EDITOR'S NOTE: There was some question about all of the nitpicking going on in this metathread. Part of the intent, however, of the Episode by Episode discussion, from the beginning, was to look at various positives and negatives of each episode. Now, months later, Pat pointed out the benefits of this detailed discussion.]
I have to put my $.02 in about nitpicking. Since we started watching these episodes in order, I have found myself watching them with a more critical eye. Petter's , and other's posts have really helped me see them in different lights, and their views let me see new things in the episodes I may have missed. Therefore, things in episodes that do not make sense, or vilate continuity, really stand out. Continuity in a television program, short story, or any piece of literature is very important, to avoid confusion in your audience, and strong continuity can turn a so-so program, into a great program or piece. To some, highlighting these continuity errors can seem like overcriticism, and I understand and respect that opinion. However, in order to get the fullest enjoyment of an episode, or story, you have to take the good with the bad, the nits with the brilliant moments. If you focus on just the good of an episode, you only get a one-sided view, and lose the opportunity to discover so much more. When you think about what could have been done differently, your imagination is stimulated; you tap into the creative side of yourself that can get pushed back by the day to day rigors of life, your job, etc; you become more fully human. Maybe I'm romanticising this a little too much, but it makes watching the episodes, and reading my e-mail a little more enjoyable.
From: mcevoyc (mcevoyc@rcsn.nb44.ca) Date: Mon, 02 Feb 1998 20:12:57 -0400 Subj: Space1999: sorry for this, but....
I for one certainly hope that a new 'flame war' does not ignite...it has been so peaceful, civil AND INTELLIGENT these past few weeks. But, I do have one nitpick...
I actually had time to watch Force of Life last night and I found one thing that continually annoys me about Moonbase Alpha.
I am a teacher and I can easily keep track of over 300 students, staff, and parents. So, if little ol' me can do it...why is Alpha so damned impersonal? Is everyone a stranger on Alpha? Or do they all retire to their own little world at the end of their duty shift?
Zoref is awakened by a most impersonal alarm call.
Obviously in distress, the best a passing woman can say to Zoref is: "Are you alright?"
I mean, Zoref calls for Dominx by his first name when he has his attack...but everyone else is a nameless automaton. And this is not the only episode to do this!
And Y1 was not the only time this was done......remember Seance Spectre? Alan's 'crazy red-head' line?
I digress.
Overall, Force of Life is visually stunning as the sets really move this ep along, but the story is weak. Twenty years later I still hold out hope that the burned out Zoref would turn to Koenig and say why he was consuming energy. Even something as lame as a "You have served my purpose" before entering the generating station would have created far more of a mystery than what we have now! Koenig's "You mean a star?" still makes me cringe!
By the way, I do not have the epilogue to Force of Life as my copy ends with the blue moving off into space.......anyone care to fill me on what happens in the epilogue? Does Koenig go see 'Technician' Zoref's wife and tell her that 'Technician' Zoref was killed.....sorry for this.......
From: "Mark Meskin" (plastic.gravity@newrock44.com) Subj: Re: Space1999: sorry for this, but....
I am a teacher and I can easily keep track of over 300 students, staff, and parents. So, if little ol' me can do it...why is Alpha so damned impersonal?
Agreed.
Alan's 'crazy red-head' line?
yeah, where the hell did that conversation come from? Was he talking about events from years ago, or last week. he acts like she's just landed from a passing ship.
Even something as lame as a "You have served my purpose" before entering the generating station would have created far more of a mystery than what we have now!
I like the fact that we never find out why. Thats how life is. Its not tidy.
Koenig's "You mean a star?" still makes me cringe!
Same here, really crappy line.
By the way, I do not have the epilogue to Force of Life as my copy ends with the blue moving off into space.......anyone care to fill me on what happens in the epilogue? Does Koenig go see 'Technician' Zoref's wife and tell her that 'Technician' Zoref was killed.....sorry for this......
Doesn't Helena comfort her at the end?
-Mark
[EDITOR'S NOTE: The answer to the last question would be yes, Helena does.]
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