The Time Warriors and Beyond

Book Excerpt: Zombie Blues 3: My Dog Died Today Zombie

By and copyright of Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

The zombie rollercoaster continues as the undead continue to give us their view of being a rotting corpse under the control of Mother Nature.
This time round we meet Comic Book zombie and the zombie who thinks the ending of Toy Story 3 is sacrilege. What happens when a zombie’s faith in God is rocked to its very foundation and why is the spirit of Elvis Presley still going strong in the vast
roaming herds?
A zombie tells why the covid pandemic was much preferable to being undead and why having a club foot makes you feel normal as a zombie. Plus more zombie characters than you can shake a stick at.

Available on Amazon now!

My Dog Died Today Zombie

I don’t know why I’m going to tell you this story. It just seems the right thing to do because it feels like a sliver of normality that we can all identify with.

I am not going to tell you my name or where I live. Somehow it just feels right to do that because what I’m about to tell you is something that is universal. Well, apart from those countries that eats them. The thought of that literally turns my very stomach to this day especially now this zombie shell would not think twice about devouring one right now.

When I tell you my story you will picture yourself and family members in my place because my story happens to us all, well most of us but enough of us. They are universal in all walks of life. In ways they are closer to humans than most humans ever could be through their undying loyalty and love. They are the protectors of our children and ask for nothing but table scraps and love in return. Whether you are the most powerful person on the planet or a homeless man on the street, they are there by our side no matter where you look. There are websites dedicated to them. There are Instagram pages for them. Tom Hardy’s cuteness factor increased a thousand fold when photos were posted online of him holding all sorts of types of them. They are man’s best friend.

Let’s face it, there has always been a connection between man and dog that cannot be explained. Cats have always been the second best friend but boo hoo pussies. You will see homeless people with only a dog for company. You see only poverty and loneliness but what you’re really seeing is a picture of pure loving loyalty. Why would a dog stay with someone who has nothing to their name not even food yet they stay with these people walking the streets with them or huddled anywhere they can for shelter. Environment means nothing to a dog; for them it is the person they connect with and stay with because in their minds this is no other option. This is their human and they would stick with them no matter what. You often see dogs sleeping on their owner’s graves long after their death because they miss that human so much it is unbearable for them. We feel the loss of a loved one deeply on their passing yet when you look at a dog during this time, you can see how subdued they get too. It is obvious they loved their owners and death confuses them as much as it does a human. Both species get lost in sorrow.

There is no doubt dolphins are intelligent but dogs equally so if not more. You’ve all seen the videos all over the internet where dogs are confused by magic tricks or protecting their owner’s new born baby. Make no mistake that some dogs are lethal but those that live in your home truly are part of the family. I knew a well to do woman once who only fed her Chihuahua minced lamb. It refused normal dog food like a spoiled brat and sat perched on its own embroidered pink silk cushion on its own side of the sofa watching television with its owner.

Then of course you have your celebrities with tiny dogs in their handbags for all the paparazzi to see. Not forgetting the poodles dyed pink or sculpted like a hedge and paraded in a competition. Is that the equivalent of a kids’ beauty pageant? We have dogs in talent shows that melt the hearts of millions of viewers. Even the Queen of England loves her corgis. Plus again Tom Hardy has his very own page where he poses with adorable dogs and it’s massive. I have a man crush on Tom I think because I wished I was the beagle he was hugging in one of those photos. I haven’t touched Southern Comfort since now I think of it. Hunters take their dogs out hunting all over the world in all weathers and how can we forget the fantastic guide dogs that work in absolute harmony with their blind owners.

For me, I don’t think there is a better example of the unbreakable bond between both species. I remember standing across a street watching how patiently the dog sitting at a street crossing waiting for the lights to change. It was a golden Labrador and their relationship was almost balletic in nature. I clearly recall how the Labrador sat on the kerb’s edge and looked up at its owner. It was a look of pure loyalty and undying willingness to help I’d never seen it before and it was amazing. Dogs are everywhere in our society in every aspect whether we like it or not. They’re even on the front of toilet rolls to entice us to buy them. To be honest I’m not going to dwell on the psychology of that at all. It’d take away from my tale. Why does the image of a cute puppy want to make us wipe our backsides? I’d love to meet the person that thought that up. Bet it was a man.

Of course, we now know that interaction with dogs helps people mentally and physically as witnessed by bringing them to old peoples’ homes and kids in hospitals. The positive effect of dogs is right there in front of us to see. For me it was the day I peeked into the living room and there was our horse of a dog lying sleeping next to my daughter with his big front legs placed across her protectively.

With a grin, I motioned to my partner to come and see. We stood there smiling at the sheer cuteness of it, listening to them breathing peacefully. He was the three girls’ protector whether the three amigas were asleep or awake.

This is the story of our dog, Jerry, the other beloved member of our family. This is the story of the day my dog Jerry died.

The 2nd Greatest Cliffhanger in Star Trek: Azati Prime!

By Owen Quinn author of the Time warriros and Zombie Blues

Photos and video copyright Paramount Pictures

There is no doubt that the season three cliffhanger to Star Trek: The Next Generation caused a sensation at the time. The Borg have kidnapped and converted Jean Luc Picard into a Borg leader called Locutus who will speak for them in all things. The Enterprise crew have devised a one off weapon that will blow apart the Borg cube. When Locutus tells them their lives as they have been are over and will now service the Borg, Riker has no choice but to give the order to fire killing their beloved captain along with the Borg. Even today the power of this cliffhanger is undeniable. Fans went into meltdown and suddenly Star Trek: The Next Generation became the show to watch for everyone. With rumours Patrick Stewart wanted to leave the show, it went crazy.

However the reaction seemed to scare writers as when it came to every season cliffhanger they were good but seemed muted somewhat, with fans being able to figure how the story would resolve. Sometimes viewers were right and sometimes they were wrong. But none seemed as strong as the Best of Both Worlds. When Voyager tried the same trick with Janeway, Tuvok and Belanna being turned into Borg, the shock of this was dumbed down when it was made clear that it was all a ruse of some sort and that the trio were in no real danger from permanent residency on the Queen’s cube.

However there is one amazing cliffhanger that blew fans away but is barely recognised because the show was locked into a network and not syndicated like the others. It wasn’t until the release of Star Trek: Enterprise on Netflix that the show had a resurgence and a whole new generation of fans.

Season three of Enterprise was an attempt to prevent cancellation as there were behind the scenes goings on with the network and the show became a victim of politics. Manny Coto, of the brilliant one season show Odyssey 5, was brought aboard and helped craft the season and indeed went full throttle on season four making these two seasons better than some of the other shows. And let’s face it, some previous seasons of Trek were just drivel. Let’s not look through rose tinted glasses. If Manny had been allowed to go the full seven seasons and it had been syndicated, Enterprise would have been better thought of sooner. It was a superb show with Quantum Leap’s Scott Bakula as Captain Jonathan Archer. He commanded the Enterprise NX 01 as the first Starfleet vessel to explore deep space against the Vulcan’s wishes. Just as a side note it was great to see the show mentioned in the recent episode of Strange New Worlds crossover episode with Lower Decks, Those Old Scientists. In order to power a time portal they need an alloy called Heronium but they have used all they have. Jack Quaid’s Boimler, being a Starfleet superfan, realizes that Archer’s ship had it on its plated armour. When a new ship is launched a piece of the old is used in some capacity. It’s a wonderful nod to the show, especially when Ortega reveals she is a fan of helmsman Travis (Anthony Montgomery) and Uhura is a fan of Hoshi (LInda Park). It is a moment of acceptance to a show that was almost left out in the cold but is fully embraced now by casual viewers and fans alike.

An alien race consisting of several species collectively known as the Xindi has launched a test weapon on Earth that has killed seven million people. They learn there is a second more powerful weapon close to being launched that will destroy the Earth completely. Archer leads the Enterprise on a potential suicide mission to stop the weapon or make peace with the aliens. It turns out that a dimensional race of aliens called the Guardians or sphere builders have populated the Xindi region of space (the Expanse) with giant spheres that generate anomalies that can destroy, maim and kill. They have convinced the Xindi collective (the reptiles, the aquatics, the primates, the insectoids and the aborelas) that the humans will destroy them in the future so they must strike first to prevent that from happening. The Xindi have survived a great war where they lost another faction, the avians, so the fear of losing what they have left is easily manipulated.

It is a brutal season where we get everything from T’Pol’s drug addition to Archer killing and stalking to save Earth to Trip Tucker’s grief ripping him apart as his sister was one of those killed. The Expanse is in fact being turned into a wasteland for the Guardians to live in with no intention of giving the Xindi a new homeworld. They are to be sacrificed, the survivors of which will become allies, join the Federation and battle the Guardians 400 years in the future. The Guardians can see across multiple timelines and pick which one they want to come true. The reptilian Xindi are the most ruthless in their quest to destroy Earth and their hunt for the Enterprise. Archer manages to convince some of the Xindi he is telling the truth by showing them a Xindi badge from the future. He is able to pick holes in the Guardian’s story swaying the council to at least hear him out.

But in Azati Prime we get the most stunningly brutal cliffhanger since Best of Both Worlds. Archer is prisoner of the Xindi being tortured and pleading his case. T’Pol is suffering badly from the effects of Terellium-D and is determined to save Archer leading to conflict with Trip. The weapon is close to launching and time is running out. But the reptilians take over Archer’s interrogation overruling the rest of the members. The reptilian leader Dolim tells Archer that he has found the Enterprise and ordered an an all out attack to reduce it to dust.

In a sequence that is truly heart thumping; Xindi ships attack the helpless Enterprise in a fashion as ruthless and single minded as the Jem’hadar did in Deep Space 9. This season had its balls out on display like never seen before on Trek and Azati Prime leaves us speechless. If you thought there was no way out of Locutus’ dilemma then you can only sit in horror as our heroes fight losing battle.

There are no holds barred here as the ship is torn apart. Crewmen fall in battle consumed by fire, sections are blown apart blowing members of the crew into space in shocking detail. Engineering collapses, forcing Trip to evacuate what’s left of his team. The bridge is smashed to pieces as fire rages all around them under every shot. Travis is nearly killed at his station when the overhead lighting system crashes down. Archer is lost to his people and being brutalised in a reptilian detention centre. The nacelles are dead, the engines burned and we are left staring in horror as the ship tumbles end over end in space as the Xindi fire again and again. The camera pans over the crew desperately trying to find hope in the flames as the camera then zooms into a close up on T’Pol’s scorched sweaty face.

This is put together so brilliantly just like the entire season and it really feels like the mission will fail completely as there seems no way out. How this cliffhanger is resolved but you will have to watch on Netflix to find out how. But suffice it to say, there is no easy solutions here and the threat of failure is very much in the air. No techno babble will resolve this season and it will take the determination of the Vulcan, Denobulan and human Enterprise crew to save the day.

Go see this and, like Best of Both Worlds, the shock factor of Azati Prime does not diminish over time but instead makes you appreciate Star Trek: Enterprise all over again. Quite frankly, it’s bloody brilliant!

Damo Danger Larkin interviews The Time Warriors’ Owen Quinn

Check out my latest interview on fellow author Damien Larkin’s website today!!!!!!!

Just click on the link below to read the whole thing.

https://www.damienlarkinbooks.com/mars-occupation-force-press-office/268-an-interview-with-owen-quinn

Dublin Comic Con Summer 23 Meeting Linda Hamilton

Presented by Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and zombie Blues

As we hurtle towards the 10th anniversary of Dublin Comic Con Terminator fest, the guys have announced a quick guide for meeting Sarah Connors herself, Linda Hamilton this weekend so we all get a chance to meet her. Sadly I will not be attending due to an amputation but the Time Warriors were there at the first con ten years ago and we will be there in spirit this weekend. Enjoy and show the love for the guests!

Linda Hamilton Announcement

We know you are all super excited at the chance to meet Linda Hamilton but in order to ensure that she is able to meet as many fans as possible and give you all equal time we request that you abide by the following rules:

– If you would like the autographs dedicated to either you or someone else have the name written in bold on a piece of paper to ensure correct spelling.

– A max of 3 items will be signed, any more then this and you will have to re-queue!

– Have your phone ready on camera mode – not selfie mode. We will have a person there to take the picture.

– If you are getting a DVD or VHS covered signed, the sleeve must be outside of the case before approaching the table.

– Have anything you wish signed clean!

– Cash will be accepted at the table but credit card sales are at the merch desk in the guest area.

– If you want a certain ink or pen to be used, please bring your own.

– Please be mindful and respectful of the guests, crew and other members of the public. Rude or aggressive behavior will not be tolerated. We want everyone to enjoy this event!

– No voice recordings at the table.

– No videoing either in the queue or at the table.

– In order to ensure Linda can meet as many fans as possible, there will sadly be no opportunity to have conversations with each person.

Thank you!

The DCC Team

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#dublincomiccon #dcc #dcc2023 #dublincomiccon2023

Book Excerpt: Zombie Blues 3: Faithful Zombie

By and copyright Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

Available on Amazon now!

Faithful Zombie

“Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name”

I know Lord that this calamity that has wiped away all shades of our normality has not been initiated by you. As a missionary in Lima, Peru I dedicated my life to helping the poor children of the cities and its surrounding outlying areas get a proper education. Their eyes were full of life and smiles so warm and welcoming you couldn’t help but fall in love with these people.

We faced struggles in the beginning of our mission but our faith kept us strong. The outpouring of love and appreciation we received back for our efforts was payment enough. To witness the children learn and grow, opening their eyes to the bigger world and education was a rewarding journey all in itself I can’t even describe. I believe that journey will help the children survive this and build a brand new world.

Even in this sickening zombie form from hell I still have faith. If I didn’t I would not only be betraying you but the very vows I have devoted my life to. I know Mother Nature did this terrible thing to us without your intervention or consent so there is no blame on you. I know you are helpless before her power just as the human race is. Somehow I have to keep strong in this shell and try to fight back with every ounce of my hope and faith. I’m not expecting a sudden arrival by you to wave a hand and restore everyone’s souls, I’m not dumb. But the day simple Joan K. Walker from Alaska became Sister Joan K. Walker, my life was yours. Never did my faith falter despite some of the terrible tragedies I’ve seen across the world.

Life is a learning curve as is the long history of the human species. We will make mistakes but as long as we learn from them, good will come to the world in the end. I hear survivors whisper about the Book of Revelations but they are grasping at straws that do not exist. None of his is your fault. I believe that just as I believe your divine guidance brought me to Lima to help those vulnerable and less fortunate; to aid those left scarred by the atrocities spawned from the darker side of human nature. We are your servants and through us your great power reaches the people of Earth. You help them through us just as Mother Nature takes her vengeance through us. I have no doubt she tricked you somehow. I also know you are trapped up there locked away from the world because our souls are still here. The fact that all zombies can still think for themselves is full testament to that. The gates of heaven are locked therefore we cannot rise to join your eternal Glory.

I held my faith when we were trapped in the rubble the smell of burning flesh making us wretch. We covered our ears and protected the children as best we could with our bodies. All the while we prayed to you to keep us deliver us from this terror. It felt like Hell had come upon the Earth that day but my vocation helped me through it. The fact that we all made it out alive bruised and bleeding when the soldiers came to rescue us was testament to me that my faith had not been misplaced. You are the Lord and the creator of all of us. We are more than your image. We are the vessels through which we bring your light to the world. On that day as we huddled in the back of the military jeeps with the Red Cross personnel, I saw it on the frightened but relieved faces of all the children. We are the embodiment of all that is glorious within you.

I don’t need to recite the rest of the Lord’s Prayer because it will come to pass once more. Even if I am faced with a legion of snarling disbelievers who have lost faith in you after the zombies came, I will stand tall proud of my faith; a beacon in the dark, a testament to your Glory.

They may ask why I have faith that a world will be born again when I won’t see it come to pass but the answer lies in their own fickle natures. The only thing any survivor has to do is look in the mirror to see the answer to their own questions.

Man is quick to trespass with no forgiveness then claim the land under his feet as his own. History is littered with it when you look at America and Australia. Invasions like that cause festering boils that rumble angrily across the centuries.

Forgotten Villains: The Black Hole’s Maximillian

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

I was recently made aware of just how many movies and television shows the younger generation have never heard of, never mind seen. So to that end, we look back at some characters you really need to see before you kick the bucket.

To this day, Disney’s The Black Hole remains one of my favourite movies. Released in 1979, the whole thing is still a visual feast from the robots to the black hole visuals. It is let down only by the bizarre ending when the crew go through into the black hole itself. it’s all very metaphysoical and makes little sense but everything before hand is great.

This is truly a big name cast including Norman Bates himself, Anthony Perkins, Maximilian Schell as Doctor Hans Reinhardt, Yvette Mimieux as Kate McCrea and Planet of the Apes star Roddy McDowall as the voice of Vincent. The effects were in response to the success of Star Wars and this truly is a visual feast. For the droids of the galaxy far, far away we have a range of delights but in the Black Hole we meet the scariest robot of them all. Built and commanded by Dr Hans Reinhardt, Maximilian does not obey the three laws of robotics at all. Maybe this is how Reinhardt programmed him to protect the mission but Maximilian is the ultimate bodyguard. He has arachnid like appendages with a drill shredder and weapons. With all his appendages extend the robot looks demonic which fits in with the final image of him in the movie. In many ways Maximillian reflects the dark side of Reinhardt’s nature insofar as the mission to take their research ship the USS Cygnus into the black hole is all consuming requiring sacrifice beyond the normal. This could also be why Maimillian was not given the ability to speak as Reinhardt only requires action not a debate especially in the form of any doubts he hrbours. But what Reinhardt has done using Maximilian is murderous.

When the crew of the Palamino discover the Cygnus anchored on the edge of a black hole, there is initially no response to their communications. Boarding the ship, they meet Reinhardt and Maximillian’s initial on screen appearance is scary. He is built like a tank, coloured red like the Devil with armaments that we will see can shred anyone he targets. He cannot walk but hovers so he floats down from an upper gallery almost like an angel of death. Unlike the movie’s other good guy robots Vincent and Bob, Maximillian’s tank like appearance is one of threat and ill intent. Despite Reinhardt’s reassurances of his robot’s good intentions, Maximillian is far from welcoming taking an instant dislike to Vincent. Vincent meets an earlier model of his type, Bob who warns him about Maximillian. Bob is not in great condition and needs repair but Maximilian is in perfect shape. His ability to fly gives him an advantage that only Vincent and Bob have which may be why he dislikes them. The other drone troopers are the standard two legged ones. Maximillian can swoop and wipe them out from above. He is powerful and relentless as Anthony Perkins’ character Dr Alex Durant tragically discovers when Kate McCrea tells Durant that the robots are in fact what is left of the crew. Reinhardt turned them into mindless zombies with the simplest of basic actions. When they try to flee, Maximilian, listening to their conversation from above swoops down with his drill like shredder active. Durant futilely holds a book in front of him but Maximilian uses his drill shredder to rip through and tear his chest open. This is against the robot directives in regards to causing harm to a human but Maximilian’s cold silent murder is terrifying because of the lack of emotion. Reinhardt scolds the robot for killing a good man and asks McCrea to protect him from his own creation. Maximillian backs off like a child caught with his hand in a cookie jar beneath the wrath of his disapproving parent.

Totally out of his mind, Reinhardt orders Kate to be surgically turned into a drone as he aims the Cygnus into the black hole. Meteors pummel the ship as they move toward the event horizon. Rescuing Kate the remaining crew of the Palamino along with Vincent flee to a probe ship before they too are sucked into the black hole but are pursued by Maximillian. They are all marked for death. Bob is killed when he is shot by Maximillian in one of the best robot death scenes ever.

What ensues is a battle between David and Goliath as Vincent takes on the behemoth. Their ariel fight is beautifully done and Maximilian realises he has underestimated the little robot. He tries to electrify Vincent burning out all his circuits but Vincent is able to drill into Maximillian’s stomach area destroying his circuitry. His damaged shell loses power and floats into space only to be sucked into the hole along with everything else.

Helpless against the massive gravity forces of the hole, everyone is sucked inside. Almost like fate itself intervenes, Reinhardt finds Maximillian’s shell and clings to it. Somehow he merges with his robot, his eyes peeking from Maximillian’s visor. Beyond the black hole is another reality. the last we see of the robot is of hin perched atop a massive boulder with Reinhardt’s eyes looking out from inside. The robot has all his appendages extended as he stands over a fiery landscape. As I said at the start of this article, there is something demonic in his design. There is more when we see this image as the camera pans back to reveal the flames brning all around them. Could this be Hell and now Reinhardt is now king in th shell of his robot which now loks like it has horns like the Devil? As I said the end makes no sense but the impact of the imagery cannot be denied.

Maximilian lives; long live the King of Hell.

Book Excerpt: Zombie Blues 3: I F**king Love It Zombie

By and copyright of Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

Available on Amazon now!

I F***ing Love It Zombie

Don’t listen to any of them yappy crying bastards you have already met so far lads and lasses.

Being a zombie is bloody brilliant. I fucking love it!

How cool is this? We get to ramble at our own pace the entire country without restraint where we like and we retain our human minds. We are suddenly weatherproof, don’t feel pain and don’t have to go to the toilet any more. Do you know what a design flaw that is for humans? How many times have you had to hold it during a great movie because if you moved you would miss something? Despite both your bladder and bowel groaning at you to let them empty you are stuck where you are. Plus last time I bedded a girl I had to suddenly piss before I could even cum; not ideal when she’s hot and horny.

None of that happens any more. It’s such a bloody relief. The rest of the deep fried corpses whine and complain about their woes and this terrible tragic thing that has become of them as one of the undead but what a load of crap they’re feeding you. They can argue and recall all they want about their woes and how awful it is they were cruelly ripped away from their lives by Mother Nature. Oh no, we are only to live so long as zombies they cry. You know what? We only had so long to live as humans plus your life span was determined by an eternal rat race that made you consume fast food because the lunch hours were reduced to half hours. Worse than that if your workload was way too much then you had no time for lunch at all. Your gut wrenching bosses wear you down with targets and workloads that take longer than the eight hours you are supposed to work per day. So consumed are you at keeping that wage so the bank doesn’t take the house and keeping the mewling mouths of your brats spawned with someone you don’t even love after a too much alcohol romp ensures your work becomes part of your home life. All boundaries of work life balance evaporates when that happens.

Your life is spent trying to ensure Christmas is a magical time for ungrateful kids that get things too easily these days and appreciate nothing. They have to have the most expensive phone, the most up to date games console and the poor saps buy it for them no matter what the cost or how far into debt they have to go because we are now a material world of keeping up with the Jones. Let me tell you folks; the Smiths were well on their way to an early mass grave and for what? All for that magic Kodak moment of the smiling child that disguises the fact Mummy or Daddy are developing health issues for that Disney home life that doesn’t really exists.

My Mum was a strong single parent and did a great job. She taught me life is too short and that my Dad was a waste of space. He didn’t want to know when she told him she was pregnant mostly because he didn’t want his clueless faithful wife to know for some strange reason. Yeah it takes two to tango but at least my Mum never shirked her responsibilities. She worked full time in a supermarket as a cashier and shelf stacker to give us a home. My aunts and uncles took care of me when her shifts fell outside school hours because that’s what family does. On many nights she came home so tired and deflated mum was on the verge of collapse but she always made time for me. I never went without, was never hungry and was never cold. We didn’t have very much but we were comfortable. Deadbeat dad came about when I was eight but he was soon sent on his way when Mum found out.

Several times coming home from school I noticed a dark navy car parked across the road. I usually walked home from school every day so when you do that the route becomes ingrained in your head. Instinct and muscle memory and all that. Ever find yourself driving but not really concentrating?

All of a sudden you realise you’re going a familiar route somewhere like work without even thinking? It’s like that. I could simply close my come to bed hazel eyes and let my feet do the walking. Kind of like now as a zombie dude.

Anyway I noticed the same car at certain points on the route home. The glint of a mobile phone in the sunlight caught my attention. With all of Mum’s warnings about strangers and bad men screaming in my head I whipped out my phone and took a photo back. A split second later I took off down the road like a terrified rabbit fleeing hunting dogs.

Taking one look at my photo my Mum’s pursed her lips hardened into a determined expression. I knew she knew exactly who my stalker was but instead of screaming blue murder my master schemer Mum hatched a plan worthy of a TV detective.

Loki season 2 trailer released

Forgotten Villains: Dr David Kibner Invasion of the Body Snatchers

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

Photos copyright United Artists

Humanity always wants to improve on what has gone before hence the old adage if a sequel/remake is better than the original. Very few remakes/sequels fall into that category bar for example Aliens, Temple of Doom and Every Which Way You Can.

In 1978 a remake of the classic 1956 Kevin McCarthy version of Invasion of the Body Snatchers hit the big screen. It featured an all star cast with Donald Sutherland as Matthew Bennet, Veronica Cartwright as Nancy, Jeff Goldblum as Jack, Brooke Adams as Elizabeth and Leonard Nimoy as therapist Dr David Kibner.

This time instead of a small town, we see the invasion as it hits a big city. McCarthy makes a cameo which has become part of pop culture as he throws himself on the bonnet of Donald Sutherland’s car yelling, “They’re coming! You’re next! You’re in danger!” before being run over by a car. The trick with any remake or sequel is to make it different from the original without straying too far from the parent material. Writer W.D. Richtter manages to make this version its own entity while retaining all that makes the original unique. With the evolution of special effects, we get a better view of the pod people as they are born.

While everyone knows the scene with the dog with the human head (homaged in Mars Attacks), this time the pod people are birthed against the sound effect of a foetal heartbeat which makes the audience uncomfortable. Many of us hear this sound when we go for a check up while pregnant so there is an immediate and total association with happiness and smiles. A baby’s heartbeat symbolises hope for the future, a new chapter and the love of a family. But the same sound put against an alien growing into a full bodied person while killing all that their host is, is unsettling to say the least. There is no love, no emotion, just an empty replicant that does not know what it is to be human despite stealing our forms. There is no continuation or family get togethers or the promise of that first birthday party. The things that steal our faces are cuckoos that live in a world without love, no hate, no emotion at all. That isn’t life; that is damnation.

With one exception; this time round Richter takes the theme of being replaced to a new level in the character of Dr David Kibner played by Star Trek’s very own the late and great Leonard Nimoy. However, I have never forgiven him for not turning up to a convention in Malahide years ago with Majel Barrett Roddenberry. I never did get the chance to meet him again. But I digress.

Kibner is a famous therapist kind of like Dr Phil. Elizabeth is convinced her boyfriend Geoffrey is not the same person and has seen him meeting strangers in the city. She confides in Matthew and he takes her to the book launch of his friend Kibner’s latest work. There they witness a woman freaking out badly because she believes that her husband is not the man she married which immediately draws Elizabeth’s attention. Kibner calms her by using therapist jargon. The phrase “Will you trust me?” is soon to become a huge no no in this movie. Kibner does the same with Elizabeth equating her fears to simply wanting out of a failing relationship with a man she no longer recognises. He reveals that he has been hearing stories like this from his patients all week which links into the theme that we don’t look out for each other any more and we don’t know what is happening in the world. This movie is before internet yet it is the same today with heads in phones. Kibner smiles and laughs showing emotion like any of us but what Richter does very cleverly is dupe us into the same wave of paranoia the characters are feeling.

Jack and nanacy own a massage parlour with mud baths etc. Nancy finds a duplicate Jack and calls David who flees to find Elizabeth. We are on a single continuous timeline now since the book launch so in the audience’s head there are no gaps in time. Matthew tells Jack to call David and get him over to the parlour which he does. Finding Elizabeth almost converted, Matthew rescues her putting her duplicate in a closet. Returning to the parlour he finds David with Jack and Nancy. The body has gone but Nancy finds an open window and sees a garbage truck outside.

With David’s scare jump we conclude immediately that he has somehow disposed of the body and one of the pod people now. His tone is flat and face impassive so we revel in sussing out one of the movie’s twists. However when Matthew calls the police and brings them to Elizabeth’s house to show them her dead duplicate, it too has gone. Looking foolish and deluded in front of the cops, David sits on the edge of the bed and suddenly he is acting just like any despairing friend would. He puts his head in his hand rubbing his forehead and raises his voice to try and get Matthew to see reason. He gets angry and reasons with the cops to leave it for them to resolve using his fame as a therapist. This is not the action of a pod person but obviously a real human. Of course, you keep expecting that emotionless Vulcan Spock to raise an eyebrow and surface in Kibner’s pod person.

Morning arrives and Kibner is obviously exhausted and still trying to reason with Matthew and the others over what they claim they saw to find a logical explanation. Kibner does his best to deter them from their people are seemingly mad being duplicated theories. Nancy challenges as to why he is trying to convince them they are insane but he answers he is simply trying to help them. Finally a weary Kibner agrees to help them as he has known Matthew too long so believes his story. He agrees to use his influence with the authorities including the Mayor and leaves to start the ball rolling.

But we get a kick in the balls as Kibner gets into a car with Elizabeth’s turned Geoffrey and another man and simply says, “The sooner the better.”

Kibner has been a pod person all along so why is he different from the others displaying apparent emotion?

That is where Richter works magic. Look at the 80s where counsellors were treated like gods and the likes of Dr Phil upon whom people hang on to and believe every word they utter. A few years later Jean Luc Picard’s Enterprise would have a shrink in the form of Troi. People are so flawed that they will live and die by their shrink’s advice. We know now the hysterical woman at the party was definitely taken home and replaced there and then. So if you were a pod person and let’s assume Kibner was one of thr first, then using that intimate knowledge to manipulate people is a sound plan. He can deliver you to your death with a “Will you trust me?” It is simple, it is scary but speaks volumes about humanity and their needs and desires. They cannot find in themselves what it is to be happy so therapy is one source they turn to. So in order to ensure the aliens duplicate the whole human race it is reasonable that they can copy the expectations we would get from a therapist. Kibner’s words are simply repeated as the alien has his memories and sees a way to subjugate people through their on inadequacies. They can copy our forms so why not our behaviours that they can utilise to complete their plan? At the movie’s climax we see Matthew cutting clippings out of newspapers just as the human Matthew did at the beginning and following his old routines but there is no life there, just soulless repetition. When Matthew and Elizabeth are captured by Kibner he is the typical pod person with no emotions showing. He simply tells them they came from a dying world drifting through space on solar winds adapting on whatever world they land on. To them survival is what drives them. They believe the humans are evolving into a new life form with no need for hate or conflict. This speel comes across to us as something you’d hear a therapist tell a patient about self awareness and evolving as a person. How does “Will you trust me sound now?” it isn’t a hard stretch to imagine the pod people would have some form of leadership. Who else would organise the distribution of pods to other cities and ships around the world?

The notion that Kibner may well be one of the first aliens to take human form could be seen in the way the others look to him for guidance and orders. This is an aspect not seen in the first movie and its inclusion here is designed perfectly to pull the rug from under the audience’s feet. It plays with your expectations as to who apart from the four main characters has been changed. It’s written and performed perfectly by Nimoy in a ballet dance of is he or isn’t he? Given Nimoy’s unique features and association with Spock, it was a genius move to cast him in a movie where humanity is being replaced by emotionless doubles.

The last we see of Kinber is when Matthew locks him in a chamber where all masks are dropped and he screams that alien scream that humans are on the loose. In this age of superhero movies and big features, go back and see a masterclass in how to make an audience doubt themselves in the ultimate game of guess who.

Writing Tip: Reach Out And Ask for Help!

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

A little help from my intergalactic friends

By Owen Quinn author of the Time Warriors and Zombie Blues

Being a novel/book writer can be a stressful process that can leave you feeling angry and frustrated. That’s what I have found and I can only speak for myself but maybe others feel it too.

In a zoom interview with scriptwriter Laurence Doherty, we were comparing the differences betweenw writing a film script and a novel. You can watch it here

What became abundantly clear was that writing a book is a much more solitary task than script writing which can be a more collaborative effort. It got me thinking and here’s something no one ever seems to discuss or bring up. Being a novel/book writer can be a stressful process that can leave you feeling angry and frustrated. You can feel isolated and alone not knowing where or who to turn to. That’s what I have found and I can only speak for myself but maybe others feel it too.

I know many of us do not have the luxury of following one of Stephen King’s tips; to do 6 clean pages a day. I work full time, go to the gym, have a family life and deal with whatever life throws at me so most of my writing has been done after the restt of the house has gone to bed. I have seen me write to 6 o’clock in the morning then have to go to work but that is the nature of our game. Only we can write the story because we are the only ones that know what it is and where it has to go. Yes, things change along the way, sometimes for the better but it is a world only we can imagine and create. We are literally the conduit to bring it to the page and hopefully to the world. It can leave us tired and exhausted but the one thing the story will not do is leave us alone until it is written. It is a weird combination of mental and physical fayigue yet when we see the final product it is worth it.

A prime example of this is my books Zombie Blues. The idea had been floating round my head for a while. One night it buzzed so loud, I had to get up at two in the morning and write the first zombie character. It was only about five pages long but the moment I put it on the page, I was able to sleep.

I know my wife would get frustarted by the amount of night owl time I was spending but it was hard to explain that this was something I had to do. But again when she saw the final result and realised I now had a routine having completed the first four books, it was slightly easier. It is mostly night time writing but bills need paid. One author I knew said he would write for two hours solid then take a two hour break then go back to it. He was minted so didn’t have to work so this method suited his life. It does not suit the rest of us working Joes by any means.

My method is easy. I write when it takes me like a wave. I cannot sit down and just force myself to write if I am not in the right headspace or my mind is clouded by other things. if you have writer’s block then it is worse but you’ll find my hopefully useful recommendations on this by clicking on the link below.

To Sit Down and Write, Get Off Your Arse!

But that’s all well and good but from here in you cannot do the rest alone unless you are multitalented or have learned what to do over the years of self publishing. We all need help, something I have been guilty of and shied away from for a long time. I must also point out that not everyone is willing to help and advise without payment or just out of sheer solitude. Some think that if they help you somehow it will slow or impede their writing career. They are afraid that you will get the champagne sipping on a yacht lifestyle surrounded by the profits from their JK Rowling like book sales.

So the first thing you have to learn is ask for help.

Seek out writing groups or similar interest groups and join them. If you can contribute to them all the better but networking will get your name out there. Another tip is to make your email your book title or series eg mine includes the Time Warriors. One recommendation is to search Facebook. I find great support in the British Irish Writing Community. There are several in northern Ireland which can be found via Facebook that hold regular online chats. But there is so much more to getting your book to the physical book form.

I can write but I cannot draw to save my life. With the manusript written, it is time to sort a cover. If you have friends or know someone who can do it then ask them. See if they want paid or is it gifted to you. If gifted keep a copy of the message or if paid, keep the receipt of payment. You can also use the website Fiverr. Don’t accept the first one out of politeness. If it doesn’t mirror your vision say so.

So when you have your interior and book cover sorted, where to publish? I use KDP on Amazon self publishing but there are pther options. Long gone are the days of big advances from publishing companies and be prepared for many rejections from agents. Have as many social media platforms as possible all utilising your book or series title. Follow as many authors, agents and publishing houses as possible so that when you send out tweets or posts you can tag them in it. Post at least weekly so your stuff is out there. I send out book excerpts from my stories and character bios. I post adverts, snapshot reviews and covers to get the internet buzzing with Time Warriors and Zombie Blues material. It will not be instantaneous but this is a marathon not a sprint.

But if you are like me how the hell do I mesh my interior to my cover using KDP? What size is your cover? What dimensions match that chosen size? What is bleed? How do I convert my book to Kindle form? What price should I make it? What is a cover creator? What is that bit at the start of books about it being a total coincidence to real life people? How do i ensure copyright of my work in a digital day and age? WHat are interior, headers and footers? I was totally lost in this so had to ask people and thankfully I was helped by people whom I had given stories or articles to for their anthologies or magazines. It is true what they say; you reap what you sow. A helping hand costs nothing and the rewards can be great. I learned so much about formatting but to this day have no clue about formatting to Kindle. That is a battle I have still to conquer but I will. There are several guide videoees on Amazon but I am the sort of person who really needs a double dummy’s guide to understand and earn how to do things. Swallow your pride and reach out to people; help them with your skills and before long you will unravel the mysteries of publishing.

Now there will be issues you come up against when trying to load to KDP so again this is where these contacts come in thankfully. When you’ve established a mutual friendship you have an open door for help as do they. Read everything you can about publishing and making it work. I recommend Mark Dawson for advice and you can sign up to his newsletter where you will receive regualr emails.

Now when you manage to get your book uploaded to Amazon and approve it for publishing, promotion is vital. Amazon ads are a useful tool to use to boost your book but equally your social media platforms can help here too. It will take time to build up an audience. For example, my website https://timewarriors.co.uk/the-time-warriors-and-beyond/ publishes articles on sci fi, convention visits and interviews to draw in traffic. if they stop to check out a Walking Dead article, they may stop to check out your books. Now be warned there are people out there promising to get your book out there via marketing juggernaughts but be careful. Similarly there are publshers out there who will ask for money from you to publish your book for very little return.

Remember this; never ever pay someone to publish your work; the money should flow to you, not away from you. Now there are some who use this method and are happy with it but several years down the line they are still not on that yacht beside JK sipping champagne. Your desire to get your book out there will cloud your judgement with visions of book signings all over the world. Just ebcause they claim to be a agent or publishing company does not mean you will be a surefire hit. A lot of self publsihed stuff on Amazon is shit to say the least making it harder for the rest of us who put effort into giving a quality product. There is a very useful website called Predators and Editors you can use to filter out vanity publishers.

There are reading groups that have zoom meetings or face to face get togethers to help you and critique your work to help you improve. Please do not take the criticism personally; they are there to help.

But you can easily get caught up and financially caught if you are alone. Networking and establishing connections with people will safeguard you against this. It also means that you can share what you learn as we all have similar jpurneys in this quest to get on to the yacht and sip that champagne.

Any questions or you want any more advice contact me via the website.