ROSWELL on PLANET-SF

Like the first two novels in Simon Pulse's new ROSWELL "suspense" series, LITTLE GREEN MEN picks up from an episode of the TV series itself, in this case HOW THE OTHER HALF LIVES.

As a television series, ROSWELL didn't have the greatest track record when it came to the science aspect of science-fiction, with some rather dodgy concepts and LITTLE GREEN MEN is no exception. The back cover blurb pretty much gives it away - people are turning green in Roswell, with Kyle, Maria and Alex all affected.

(Incidentally, minus marks to the blurb writer for a sloppy reference to the city's "Scandinavian" inhabitants.)

Having the city turning green sounds a bit barmy, and although this is explained by the crystals from the HYBRID CHRONICLES arc, it still seems like something out of the ROSWELL HIGH teen novels than a spin-off from the TV series.

Apart from the silly idea of people turning green, there are the sort of easy solutions that you'd expect in a novel for younger readers. We know that Liz is a bit of a science nerd, but the fact that she and West Roswell High, just happen to have the necessary equipment seemed to be rather too convenient, as did the fact that she and Maria don't get caught in the act towards the end of the novel.

It's not all doom and gloom, however.

For a story set towards the end of season two, Smith and Rusch have most of the characters' relationships as you'd expect. There's some antagonism between Liz and Tess (although at least Tess isn't just used as an outsider who causes trouble between the others), Max wondering about Tess's mindwarping and Alex being more interested in Isabel than she is in him (in fact, she's out on a date at the start of the novel and is pretty much on her own for most of the book). The Max/Liz/Tess situation is also fairly well portrayed for a novel set at this point in the season.

There are a few nice continuity tie-ins to the TV series, such as Max's liking for Cherry Coke, but these are quite well done, and there's no really obvious "hey, do you remember when we did such-and-such" comments where the author chucks in mentions of any episodes of the TV series that they just happen to have seen.

The low page count (at less than 200 pages, it's at least 40 shorter than either of its predecessors) and the inclusion of Tess, Alex and Kyle means that there's nothing much for Isabel to do apart from waiting at the hospital. (And on that subject, why doesn't she use her powers to recharge her mobile phone?)

It's a little lightweight, and the action drags in one or two places, but LITTLE GREEN MEN is a reasonably enjoyable read. Don't expect too much and you won't be too disappointed, but six quid is slightly expensive for this type of spin-off novel. BACK TO THE TOP

LITTLE GREEN MEN

Written by DEAN WESLEY SMITH
and KRISTINE KATHRYN RUSCH

POCKET BOOKS

£5.99

RATING: 6/10

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