Posted by
Shado-cabinet on
URL: https://www.shado-forum.com/Review-for-UFO-How-it-Ended-parts-1-and-2-by-Anthony-Appleyard-tp4024056.html
Hi Guys
Whilst I am still trawling through the DVD boxset of UFO (I know it is taking a really long time but it seems I don't really have all that much time these days etc) I have also been reading some of the excellent UFO Fanfic on the SHADO Library site (links are below). I do think it is a good idea to direct any N-UFO fans to this site to some of the finer examples of UFO fanfic that are out there
One of these Fanfic stories is the excellent 'How it Ended', a two-parter written by Anthony Appleyard.
Like the title suggests it tries to bring a sense of closure to the UFO story since the TV show failed to do this itself (which is indeed strange given that producers Lew Grade/ Anderson really planned for one season only). In fact the 1st UFO novelisation actually does speculate how it 'might' end with Alec Freeman imagining that UFOs would simply stop coming (due to the alien race either dying off or simply finding another planet to raid), and that Straker would live out his life as a sort of caretaker for the SHADO base in case the alien threat returns etc.
In 'How it Ended' the author has a much more interesting idea with the Aliens trying to reveal themselves to, and integrate with, the human race. It starts off the Aliens kidnapping a load of students (who are electronics experts) who help them upgrade their weapon systems from lasers to missiles as they are better to use in space combat. The aliens then launch an attack on moonbase which results in a number of SHADO interceptors being destroyed. At the same time a fleet of UFOs land in Scotland and the students are released to the world media who reveal that UFOs are real and that they are our 'friends' ( they also 'out' SHADO as a hostile organisation who were stopping the aliens from contacting humanity). As a result SHADO loses its cover as a 'film studio' and Straker has to contend with all the public scrutiny etc. SHADO also has to contend with a small friendly alien faction (of the same mindset of the alien defector in the AQOP episode) who have deserted their home planet and have settled in the UK (even one of them successfully runs for a seat in Westminister, replacing a former MP who was an ally of Straker). As a result these aliens share their technology with the world by setting up factories that build UTC craft (UFO-type craft) which a number of companies & governments purchase (including SHADO to replace its interceptors). It is interesting to note that the author coins the cool-sounding term of 'Spinners' to describe the UFO craft of the TV series
This development actually turns the world into a 'UFO frenzy' with thousands of people flying into space (ie: astronomers to study star constellation, asteroid miners to prospect in other systems, government agencies scouting planets for new bases etc), which results in SHADO evolving from a secret agency countering UFO threats into a sort of 'space coastguard' trying to police all these different groups within the solar system. Its both interesting & amusing to read Straker trying to manage all these issues as sort of 'bureaucratic Captain Kirk', whilst at the same time working with the Astrophysical Commission (still chaired by General Henderson) to find out more about the aliens on earth. Straker finds out that there are some governments aiding the aliens with DNA technology (ie: to counter 'transplant organ' rejection), as well as access to organs supplied by genetically-modified pigs etc (he also finds out that some corrupt governments are also supplying their most dangerous prison inmates to the aliens for transplantation).
Straker also contends with some bizarre organisations such as France's security group: CRS (Compagnies Republicaines de Securite - 'Republican Security Corps') that have been setup with UTC craft to try seek out the Aliens homeworld.
Eventually Straker is a given task force of UTC craft with an army of SHADO/ CIA commandos to try and locate the Aliens homeworld. During this space mission Straker encounters another alien race who were plagued by UFO attacks and have set up a SHADO-style organisation called the 'Space Guard' to combat them (but Straker learns that this new alien world is controlled by an 'isolationist dictatorship' whose Space Guard is also used to stop their citizens flying into space by shooting down any rockets ships leaving their planet).
The space mission finally results in Straker locating the homeworld of the UFO-aliens and finding out about their civilization and meeting their leader which matches the official depiction of aliens in the UFO Story 'The Snatch' in issues 32-37 of the Countdown comic (a badly executed story IMHO where the supposedly 'mysterious' aliens are so clumsily revealed to Paul Foster when he is abducted to their homeworld, and who eventually outwits 'Robart - the alien leader' by conveniently stealing a UFO and flying back to earth - LOL).
However in the 'How it Ended' story the author gives the mysterious aliens a much more epic flourish which gives them much more depth. The author actually provides a name for this Alien race (which actually sounds pretty cool), as well as examples of their complex alien language. He even provides an insight into their culture & religion. And kudos to the author, these additions really do work well and it certainly seems like such a suitable context for the aliens to the extent that you could imagine this being used by the producers had the show had gone onto a second season etc.
BTW in this story The aliens are also depicted as being almost albino in skin tone under the 'temporary greenish-tint from breathing liquid oxygen' of their faces (which coincides with the TV series early concept of the aliens being albinos such as the 'albino black man' that was rejected by the producers at the last minute as being a bit too scary etc).
The only differences in the authors depiction of the aliens and the TV show is that they do not appear to be outwardly psychic in anyway (whereas it is insinuated in some episodes ie: ESP & Kill Straker that some aliens may be psychic etc). Also in the 'IDENTIFIED'episode it is insinuated that aliens are all sterile and are unable to procreate which is why the need to keep themselves supplied with transplant so that they can try & live 'forever'. Whereas in the 'How it Ended' story the aliens are not all sterile and can conceive children but that they suffer from a genetic mutation (caused by an ancient plague on their planet) which results in frequent organ failure among the populace hence the constant need for organ transplants etc.
The premise of the Aliens suddenly integrating with humanity (in a limited & controlled way) seems fairly believable. One thing I like about this story is that it tries to explain the few plotholes that appeared in the TV show (here it is mentioned that the SHADO spy satellite that featured in the 'Close Up' episode contained an 'engine-block' that was taken from a crashed UFO (which the SHADO scientists were unable to reproduce etc) but when placed in the satellite it allowed it to fly at SOL speed to the alien planet for 'single use only' etc). The author also states that SHADO experts were eventually able to confirm that the magnification of the pictures taken of the alien planet were indeed correct (finally exorcising that silly plot-device at the end of the 'Close Up' episode where it is insinuated that the pics maybe of some alien's thigh etc). Also the writer thankfully disregards the theory suggested by Dr Jackson ( as does the Countdown comic strip) in the awful 'Cat with 9 lives' episode that the aliens could be 'formless beings' who takeover human bodies (a really stupid & unnecessary take on the Captain Scarlett series IMHO).
The only flaw I could find with the 'How it Ended' story is the quality of the grammar & writing used in part 1. The author was too busy writing the story down that he did not seem concerned with editing or proof-reading which results in a bit of a challenging read at first (especially when really unusual and sometimes unnecessary subplots literally just 'jump into the narrative' etc). But I would definitely recommend that the reader perseveres as there is great imagination in the story that is definitely worth reading. Thankfully part 2 has better editing & writing (and also has a nice summary of the events of part 1 in the introductory chapter) and is overall superior to part 1. The only disappointment is that the ending in part 2 is a little bit rushed (that could mean that the author is still working on part 2 and this is just a 'rough version' or that there is hopefully a 'part 3' somewhere in the works etc)
All in all I would definitely recommend any UFO fan (either newbie or veteran) to read 'How it Ended parts 1 & 2' to see exactly how the UFO series could have closed etc (or indeed 'should have closed'? )
link to part 1 of 'How it Ended' :
https://www.shadolibrary.org/library/anthony/ended.htmlink to part 2 of 'How it Ended' :
https://www.shadolibrary.org/library/anthony/end2.htmI hope you guys read & enjoy the story as I did. Right now I am going to check other UFO fanfics (such as the 'Shepherd' etc :)