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The Aliens Approach
The Aliens Approach cover
Author Easton Royce
Illustrator N/A
Publication date June 1996
Published by Harper Trophy
ISBN 978-0064406406
Publication Order
Preceded by
N/A
Followed by
Dark Side of the Sun (novel)

The Aliens Approach is the young adult novelization of the Pilot episode of the television series created by Glen Morgan and James Wong.

Plot Summary[]

A human colony 16 light-years away from Earth is attacked and destroyed by an unknown alien force while a group of youngsters enlist in the United States Marine Corps. While they train to become aviators, war is declared and human military forces suffer several costly defeats. The recruits are sent on a routine training mission.

Captured enemy information reveals the battle plans of the alien attackers. The half-trained 58th Squadron, The Wild Cards, based upon the space carrier USS SARATOGA is deployed to the far rear. However not everything is as it seems and the inexperienced 58th are suddenly thrown into a desperate battle.

Inconsistencies with Plot and Storyline[]

  • Vansen's father is noted as a Sergeant, but in the Pilot she states that her parents were USMC Officers.
  • The Pilot episode does not state where Nathan West’s parents live, however in the novelization of the Pilot it is stated that they live in New England in a town named Farmingville. This book states that his parents live in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains.
  • 2LT Walker is part of the team sent on the training mission to Mars, however this character does not appear in the Pilot episode. In the Pilot episode 2LTs Bartley, Stone, Low, and Carter are team members for the training mission.
  • The primary battle rifle of Earth Forces is the M590 Assault Rifle, however in this book the weapon is referred to as the M-190 rifle.
  • West’s space fighter is named Beyond and Back instead of Above and Beyond.

Main Characters[]

Additional Characters[]

Author[]

  • Easton Royce

Trivia[]

  • Easton Royce is the pseudonym of Neal Shusterman, an award-winning author of children’s books.
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