Isaac Asimov Nearly Joined Battlestar Galactica After Ripping Into The Sci-fi Franchise

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"Battlestar Galactica," nan original 1978-1979 incarnation created by Glen A. Larson, was an overseas show. On nan 1 hand, it was a reasonably naked effort to capitalize connected nan phenomenal occurrence of "Star Wars" by bringing a akin sci-fi/fantasy escapade to television, pinch conscionable capable visual-effects spectacle to scratch nan itch near by George Lucas' film. On nan different hand, nan bid saw Larson present a number of belief concepts inspired by his Mormon religion into nan narrative, resulting successful immoderate very trippy metaphysical elements. As such, nan show would bounce betwixt stories inspired by action movies for illustration "The Guns of Navarone" to thing for illustration nan section successful which Patrick Macnee fundamentally plays nan Devil.

Clearly, "Battlestar Galactica" was a bid that had sci-fi trappings, but wasn't strictly subject fabrication by itself. This was why Isaac Asimov, 1 of nan pillars of nan sci-fi genre successful nan 20th century, was not excessively enthused pinch nan show. As he told Southwest Airlines Magazine successful 1979, he "was a small impatient with" nan measurement nan series' ships were scientifically inaccurate. In particular, he didn't emotion nan dogfight sequences betwixt nan heroic Vipers and nan evil Cylon Raiders, which resembled in-atmosphere aerial warfare dogfights much than thing happening successful outer space. Then a funny point happened: "Battlestar Galactica" recovered itself successful a unsocial spot aft it was cancelled pursuing its play finale, successful which nan humans of nan Twelve Colonies yet make interaction pinch nan Thirteenth Colony, aka Earth. 

For various reasons, Larson was compelled to find a caller perspective for nan communicative if nan show were to beryllium revived, and, surprisingly, turned to Asimov for help. Though nan collaboration didn't travel to afloat fruition, Asimov did so constitute a curen for what would go "Galactica 1980."

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Of course, a bid attempting to present a "Star Wars"-caliber level of laser battles and spaceship dogfights was ever going to tally into money troubles, and nan disbursal was 1 of nan reasons why "Battlestar Galactica" was cancelled by ABC successful 1979. However, nan instrumentality outcry complete nan cancellation news prompted nan web to attack Glen A. Larson pinch nan thought of continuing nan bid successful a caller (and, importantly, cheaper) form. Faced pinch this challenge, Larson figured that nan committedness of nan Galactica yet uncovering Earth would supply ample logic for a bid revamp.

One of his first ideas was to group nan sequel show 5 years later, successful which nan Twelve Colonies fleet reaches Earth and embarks connected time recreation adventures aft discovering that Earth is not fresh to look nan threat of nan Cylons. After this thought was scrapped for various reasons, it was decided that nan show should return spot 30 years aft nan first series. A caller characteristic was introduced, Dr. Zee (Robbie Rist and James Patrick Stuart), a teen boy who is simply a "cerebral mutation." Zee has preternatural abilities, including becoming an master connected Earth. Given this characteristic and nan Galactica's effort to nonstop humans connected Earth to beforehand capable to beryllium fresh to conflict nan Cylons, 1 tin spot some similarities betwixt nan first "Galactica 1980" conception and Isaac Asimov's "Foundation" novels.

Sadly, it was not to be. Despite a news point successful nan October 1979 rumor of Starlog mag stating that Asimov had "completed an first treatment" of nan "Galactica 1980" pilot, either this book was outright rejected aliases Asimov different moved on. Though it was astir apt for nan best, 1 can't thief but wonderment what Isaac Asimov's "Galactica" sequel would've been like.