Legacy Review #03 – ROBOTECH Novel 2 (BATTLE CRY)

Release Date: February 1987

Author: Jack McKinney

(James Lucerno and Brian Daley)

Page Count: 214 pages

(includes Chapter 1 from Battle Cry)

INTRODUCTION

The second of the six-book series covering the “First Generation” of the Robotech franchise; at least as portrayed to North American audiences. Thus continued my rabid obsession with continuing the novelization of the anime I once enjoyed on Saturday mornings, and playing the Palladium Books ROBOTECH RPG years later.

REVIEW

Episode Counter. The second book encapsulates the events of episodes 06 to 11.

• S01 E06 – Blitzkrieg

• S01 E07 – Bye-Bye Mars

• S01 E08 – Sweet Sixteen

• S01 E09 – Miss Macross

• S01 E10 – Blind Game

• S01 Ep 11 – First Contact

Synopsis. The SDF-1 is on a long, slow and treacherous journey to return from the distant Pluto orbit of their ill-fated space fold. The result of the space fold creates a very difficult dynamic for Capt Gloval and the SDF-1 in terms of its main weapon, but with the input of Dr Emil Lang, a plan is concocted to literally bridge the gap. This involves the transformation of the SDF-1 into a ‘battloid’ mode, which confounds their Zentraedi opponents. The SDF-1 traverses the solar system on its way to Earth, coming around Saturn and on it's way to Mars. At Mars Base Sara, a new enemy awaits; Khyron and his forces have laid a trap for the SDF-1, foiled only by Lisa's detonation of the Mars Base Sara's subterranean reflex furnaces. Meanwhile, civilian life goes on and Minmei finds herself the center of attention for morale and welfare, her dreams of stardom coming true.

Cat and Mouse. Rick has joined the RDF as a pilot, relentlessly training on Veritech fighter jets. Under the tutelage of his ‘big brother’ Roy Fokker, and benefitting from the eight weeks of stand-off the Zentraedi have allowed, he is plunged into the thick of things. As the SDF-1 uses the gravitational force of Saturn to propel them towards Earth, the Zentraedi unleash a new character from their ranks, Khyron the Backstabber. His zeal for combat, even at the expense of his own troops, introduces an element of chaos that Breetai, commander of the Zentraedi armada, is unable to control. For some time, they failed to accurately analyze Gloval’s tactical choices or their behaviour. The conflict leads to a culmination point at Mars Base Sara, where the SDF-1 is forced to replenish its stores and is nearly captured by Khyron.

Rick Hunter and Lisa Hayes. Khyron’s penultimate scene is his trap for the SDF-1 at Mars Base Sara. This plot point also brings Lisa Hayes’ character to the fore. Her relationship with her deceased boyfriend, Karl Riber, who died in the conflicts that led to the decolonization of Mars, becomes a focal point. This is one of the primary plot points that develops her character in a way that draws us in, empathizing with her as she faces a past trauma that led her to the current scenario. It provides a contrast to the argumentative interactions she continues to have with Rick Hunter, who himself is coming to grips with his own pacifist leaning now that he is a Veritech Fighter pilot of the RDF.

Collision of Two Cultures. The first glimpse of the two cultures interacting without the use of weapons of war has arrived. Lisa, Rick and Ben Dixon (one of Rick’s two wing mates) are captured and brought before Commander Dolza. Here we see the interplay between two cultures and the forced physical intimacy between Rick and Lisa (just a kiss, it’s an anime targeting kids). A bit ham-fisted as a plot point by today’s standards, this holds up significantly better in the novelization than the anime. This display of affection and physicality has a profoundly disturbing effect on the Zentraedi. This intrusion into their psyche allows Max Sterling to come help rescue the group in the most ludicrous way possible. It’s good for a laugh and allows them to make good their escape, with the valuable intelligence on just how vast the Zentraedi armada is.

Macross Civilians. The people of Macross City come into their own. The city is rebuilt again within the vast cavernous main body of the SDF-1. The fact that there is a civilian society provides several plot points for this book, and continues throughout the series. The RDF personnel have a city to save, adding to the stakes; Capt Gloval, Roy Fokker, Rick and Lisa all refer to it one point or another, layering the dynamic as more than just Veritech versus Battle Pods. Minmei becomes a pop star sensation, rallying the troops as it were, constantly putting her relationship with Rick Hunter to the test.

CONCLUSION

The interplay between the two forces begins to develop in some meaningful ways. Capt Gloval feels stranded, despite seeing Earth in the view screen appear ever so much closer. Breetai and Exodore are at a loss to accurately define humanity’s efforts; Exedore is increasingly worried, referring to an old Zentraedi myth. This interplay between the alien warrior society of the Zentraedi against that of the Humans is portrayed in a manner that is leaps and bounds better in the novelization. By unleashing Khyron, the Zentraedi hope to unlock the détente and forcibly capture the SDF-1.

We see a much grander cast of characters: the Bridge Bunnies (Kim, Sammie and Vanessa) and their interplay with the more senior Claudia Grant and Lisa Hayes and the professional relationship they develop with Capt Gloval. Rick gains a couple of wing mates in Cpl Ben Dixon and Max Sterling, under the tutelage of Roy Fokker. Touchpoints between Rick and Minmei demonstrate a clear divergence, juxtaposed by Lisa Hayes coming into conflict with Rick more and more. We also get more into the society of Macross City and how they have interwoven themselves into the conflict.

Current Assessment (8/10). The action continues with some really sweeping scenes. The eight-week lull in the action is an obvious attempt to provide Rick with the time to feasibly get trained as a Veritech Pilot, but this is put side by side with Breetai and Exedore’s position. The Zentraedi are also hamstrung by the limitation of trying to capture the SDF-1 intact, to exploit its secrets and free themselves from slavery to the Robotech Masters. This revelation provides yet another layer to the conflict. Captain Gloval and the Robotech engineers continue to make bold tactical choices that swing them from certain defeat to a cautiously optimistic victory or escape. This tension is not something I recall the anime ever really accomplishing; the 22-minute episodes simply couldn’t convey enough to stick. Thankfully the novels do it in spades.

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