|
|
|
HOME
| ALIAS | ANGEL
| THE AVENGERS | BUFFY | CHARMED |
DOCTOR WHO | OTHER
FILM & TV | ROSWELL | LINKS |
||
|
|
Like the first ROSWELL spin-off novel, NO GOOD DEED is the sequel of sorts to an episode of the TV series. But while LOOSE ENDS went back to the very start, this time the original episode is a lot more recent. During the events of A ROSWELL CHRISTMAS CAROL, Michael confessed that he wished he had been able to heal the kids that Max was unable to. We know that while his control over his powers is okay for blowing up rocks, when it comes to saving dying children, he's not up to the task. However, as far as Chad Newcomb is concerned, Michael was present at the hospital that night, so he should be able to save his dying daughter Katie as well. Newcomb's not the only one who's investigated the so-called Christmas Miracle. A couple of con artists see it as the ideal opportunity to make a fast buck (or a few hundred thousand fast bucks) from parents desperate to save their kids, while investigative reporter Nila Spence sees a story in it and travels to New Mexico in search of it. The Pocket Books ads in NO GOOD DEED separate the two novel series into "original" (the ROSWELL HIGH ones) and "suspense" (the spin-off ones). That's a pretty good term as once again we're given a novel that utilises that aspect of the series, rather than simply serving scenes of the Royal Four using their powers. Far from it in fact, as there are several occasions when they could have used them and don't, definitely following the "hiding in plain sight" plan. As well as following on from A ROSWELL CHRISTMAS CAROL, NO GOOD DEED closely follows the TV series' continuity, being set after THE HYBRID CHRONICLES arc. Given the series' reliance on its mythology in season two, this is appropriate, yet never becomes overbearing. Smith and Rusch don't feel the need to keep showing us that they've watched an episode of the television series, yet the elements that you'd expect to see are all here - antagonism between Liz and Tess, Kyle and Alex being pretty much sidelined and the changed circumstances in the Valenti household. And unlike LOOSE ENDS, there aren't countless references to Tabasco sauce! There are a couple of areas that jarred, however. Liz is pretty dense in front of the reporter at one stage, and quite how Nila Spence is going to explain things at the end is a bit of a mystery. But these are minor complaints and as a whole NO GOOD DEED is another enjoyable ROSWELL novel. Fingers crossed that the events towards the end of season two don't end up screwing up the continuity between the books and the television series, which has been well-maintained in the first two novels. BACK TO THE TOP |
NO GOOD DEED |
