"The Veiled Threat", Revenge of the Fallen prequel Novel Excerpt

i think i might read this one when it comes out

Reads a bit like fan fiction, but I guess it'd be weird if it didnt. I might have to pick up a copy.

Reads a bit like fan fiction, but I guess it'd be weird if it didnt. I might have to pick up a copy.

I think Alan Dean Foster also wrote the novel for Ailen
I might just have to pick this one up also

*whistles* Wow, that's heavy. They're surely in for it now.

i_amtrunks wrote:Written by Alan Dean Foster, who was responsible for the final release of the first Transformers Movie tie in novel "Ghosts of Tomorrow", "The Veiled Threat" will follow some well known human character from the first film.

"Ghosts of Tomorrow"? I thought it was "Ghosts of Yesterday".

Sabrblade wrote:"Ghosts of Tomorrow"? I thought it was "Ghosts of Yesterday".

So it is, thanks for catching that. All fixed now.

Veiled threat = phantom menace.

Bumblebeast wrote:Veiled threat = phantom menace.

By the Matrix, does that mean Wheelie is going to be voiced by Ahmed Best?

Bumblebeast wrote:Veiled threat = phantom menace.

"At last we reveal ourselves to the Autobots, at last we will have revenge."

Oh dear mother of buttered toast (trying not to cuss so much), NOT ANOTHER ONE!

Jeez, am I the only one who remembers how acutely painfully agonizingly BAD the first novel was? I picked it up all full of hope and stuff because back in the '80s ADF was a decent writer. Was that memory shattered! _Ghosts of Whenever the F***_ (I said 'trying' not to cuss, not necessarily succeeding) read like someone who had never ever had any exposure to any continuity. I strongly suspect he was given a one page guide with a few names (Nemesis, Barricade, etc). For a movie *prequel* it was entirely inaccurate: Frenzy is enormous, as is Barricade, Bumblebee can speak until ooops he can't because ADF just read his cheatsheet, the Ice Man hasn't been held in the Hoover Dam since it was built.... I could go on.

So, it didn't carry on with any continuity we knew, NOR did it accurately set up anything for the Bay movie. Add to that it was so poorly written I almost clawed my eyes out. Adverb heavy, no characterization, stilted dialogue, a plot so thin it's not even street legal.... My Intro Creative Writing students do better than that (well, by the end of the semester at any rate).

I can't imagine what sort of Satanic ritual took place to give him a contract to write another one. Unless his 'prequels' are all part of the vast insidious Bay conspiracy of misinformation.

And suckage.

HK, One skill: Literature evaluation.

I remember the first novel--I was actually one of the first to write a review of it for one of these sites (either seibertron or tformers, can't remember which) and create the Wikipedia page. It was indeed total suckage. ADF is well known for churning movie tie in books out that are easily forgettable, but make money based on the name of the movie. He even said in an interview that he did not know anything about Transformers, didn't care about Transformers, and if anyone didn't like it, he didn't care, as it was just another of his hundreds of books that he was paid a commission to write. I, for one, will not be giving any of my money to the purchase of it.

Black Bumblebee wrote:I remember the first novel--I was actually one of the first to write a review of it for one of these sites (either seibertron or tformers, can't remember which) and create the Wikipedia page. It was indeed total suckage. ADF is well known for churning movie tie in books out that are easily forgettable, but make money based on the name of the movie. He even said in an interview that he did not know anything about Transformers, didn't care about Transformers, and if anyone didn't like it, he didn't care, as it was just another of his hundreds of books that he was paid a commission to write. I, for one, will not be giving any of my money to the purchase of it.

I know, I know. You did your best to warn us. But sometimes I have to see for myself. Latent masochism, I suspect. I also drink bad milk to see if it's really sour.

HK, how do I get a gig churning out crap like ADF?

I'm so going to get this book. I absolutely loved the previous Transformers novels that Alan Dean Foster wrote.

Black Bumblebee: "He even said in an interview that he did not know anything about Transformers, didn't care about Transformers, and if anyone didn't like it, he didn't care, as it was just another of his hundreds of books that he was paid a commission to write."

What I said was that I didn't know much about Transformers. The rest is bullshit and slanderous, and you either need to find the interview and quote me or clam up. I always care, because I'm a fan too. Even when novelizing a turkey like The Black Hole. As to my novelizations being "easily forgettable", I'll match your opinion against those on Amazon, for example, or anywhere else. Or against the opinions of George Lucas, Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, Ray Harryhausen, and a few others who were more than happy with how I adapted their work.

Hellkitty: Ghosts of Yesterday was a necessarily hasty rewrite of a manuscript that had been rejected. I was compelled to adhere to the basic plot, characterization, Bot descriptions, dialogue, etc. That said, it's more than obvious you didn't like anything about the book.

Read SAGRAMANDA. Or MAORI, or PRIMAL SHADOWS, or the forthcoming FLINX TRANSCENDENT. Or for that matter, the upcoming STAR TREK novelization. Note also that something like THE VEILED THREAT is a work-for-hire and is therefore subject to, um, revisions and adjustments by others. As are the novelizations themselves. Sometimes, as in the case of STAR WARS or ALIEN, the writer's work is left untouched. Sometimes it is not. The end result is therefore what might be deemed a corporate product. I have no control over the finished book. As just one example, in VEILED I did not write a single word of the opening pirate sequence.

[quote="hellkitty
HK, how do I get a gig churning out crap like ADF?[/quote]

Here's how you do it: Write over a hundred books and hundreds of other stories and articles. Never miss a contract deadline. Get published in more than fifty languages. Win writing awards in Russia and Spain in addition to the U.S. Sell over fifteen million books in the U.S. alone. Sell consistently for nearly forty years.

That's how you do it.

Here's how you do it: Write over a hundred books and hundreds of other stories and articles. Never miss a contract deadline. Get published in more than fifty languages. Win writing awards in Russia and Spain in addition to the U.S. Sell over fifteen million books in the U.S. alone. Sell consistently for nearly forty years.

Sounds like the way to go...


OK...whether you REALLY are Foster, not sure. I did pick up the book on Tuesday when it came out, and I am already halfway through it. It is pretty good, keeps the action going. However, I hadn't gotten to any parts with Bumblebee with Sam...are they even in it?

As for Ghosts of Yesteday, hellkitty, I must disagree. I liked the story.

Rodimus;
Glad you're enjoying the book. If I didn't care about fan or reader reaction I wouldn't have bothered to register to write on this forum, much less have taken the time to do so, since I am currently heavily into the second book of THE TIPPING POINT trilogy for Del Rey and have just returned from the western Indian Ocean.

I don't know how to convince you that I'm me...though I can say that as far as Bumbleebee and Sam are concerned, wait for the novelization of REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. Look at the update date page on my website and you'll see similar commentary in re THREAT. And I'll give you a key word to FALLEN that few will understand the significance of until they can read that book.

The key word is: mayonnaise.

Alan Dean Foster wrote:Rodimus;
Glad you're enjoying the book. If I didn't care about fan or reader reaction I wouldn't have bothered to register to write on this forum, much less have taken the time to do so, since I am currently heavily into the second book of THE TIPPING POINT trilogy for Del Rey and have just returned from the western Indian Ocean.

I don't know how to convince you that I'm me...though I can say that as far as Bumbleebee and Sam are concerned, wait for the novelization of REVENGE OF THE FALLEN. Look at the update date page on my website and you'll see similar commentary in re THREAT. And I'll give you a key word to FALLEN that few will understand the significance of until they can read that book.

The key word is: mayonnaise.

LOL, I get that. I can't believe he freaked out about something so stupid. It's a pride thing, I guess.

Well, I can believe it's you, that's fine. It just caught me off guard a bit. I have to confess I haven't read any of your other books, though these TF novels are likely to spur me to do so. I have always been interested in space travel and the like, but not as much about Star Wars kind of space, more about space in regard to us as Earthlings. That's why I liked Ghosts of Yesterday, because I am also a big 20th Century history buff, and tying in the launch to the Moon was a pretty cool concept. Anyway, it's pretty cool of you to register here. It does show you care about this stuff, not just doing it for the cash. I don't know what others said, and don't care. I am saying this based on what i read here in this thread. If only Michael Bay had it in him to do the same...but he's probably exrtremely busy.


So far, I've gotten to the 13th chapter (p. 232) of the book. And seems to move so fast, it's really a good read. Anyone else contemplates getting it, I highly recommend it. TF action galore.

Well, I finished it, and I must say it was a pretty good read. The story wasn't deep, but it was action-packed from cover to cover. If RotF is what I think it is about, then this is a real nice setup for it. Overall, I give it a Thumbs up.

And here's a bit of a spoiler, in case you didn't know...






























Agent Simmons saved Frenzy's head from Hoover Dam. Frenzy will be back.

Okay, I read The Veiled Threat. I got it on the 28th and finished before I went to bed on the 29th. I don't read books, I devour them I did the same thing when Ghosts of Yesterday came in 07.

Overall, I would say it was pretty good. I am not a big Sci-fi reader, my book tastes lie more in the horror genre. The book obviously kept my attention from start to finish which is a good sign. I cannot make it through a bad book.

I like the way he writes Captain Lennox and Sargent Epps and the interactions between veteran Long Arm and rookie Knockout are done well. My main criticism would be the same one I have for the Bay movies: more robots. I understand that it's the human interactions that keep people interested who are not big TF fans. My opinion is based on what I would like to read not what others would so my criticism is purely selfish and I am okay with that.

If you are still reading this forum, Mr. Foster, I am curious how the names for the Decepticons were chosen. I believe that Macerator and Blade Master are new to the franchise.

Also, when someone wants you to write a prequel, how much guidance do you get? For example, do you get a script or an outline? I am just curious and a writer wannabee.

Alan Dean Foster wrote:The key word is: mayonnaise.

I adored that bit of the book!




I finished the book last night and I have to say it was an enjoyable read. Kami kind of annoyed me though. I loved Petr though. Awesome character.

And Epps ate Cui. *dies laughing*

Ah, poor Epps. If he watched Bizzare Food he would have known better.

Neko wrote:

Alan Dean Foster wrote:The key word is: mayonnaise.

I adored that bit of the book!

That's the exact picture I had in my head when I read that part!

I finished the book last night and I have to say it was an enjoyable read. Kami kind of annoyed me though. I loved Petr though. Awesome character.

I liked Kaminari Ishihara. Petr was alright, he didn't do that much. Kaminari was actually in the middle of the action.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Neko wrote:

Alan Dean Foster wrote:The key word is: mayonnaise.

I adored that bit of the book!

That's the exact picture I had in my head when I read that part!

I finished the book last night and I have to say it was an enjoyable read. Kami kind of annoyed me though. I loved Petr though. Awesome character.

I liked Kaminari Ishihara. Petr was alright, he didn't do that much. Kaminari was actually in the middle of the action.

True, but she smelt vaguely of 'Mary su' to me.

Neko wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:I liked Kaminari Ishihara. Petr was alright, he didn't do that much. Kaminari was actually in the middle of the action.

True, but she smelt vaguely of 'Mary su' to me.

Excuse my ignorance, but I don't get the reference...

Also, I wonder if the Simmons/Frenzy part will come to fruition in RotF. I know we saw Simmons in the trailers, but it would be cool if they said he saved Frenzy. Because I (and I am sure many others) thought Frenzy offed himself.

Rodimus Prime wrote:

Neko wrote:

Rodimus Prime wrote:I liked Kaminari Ishihara. Petr was alright, he didn't do that much. Kaminari was actually in the middle of the action.

True, but she smelt vaguely of 'Mary su' to me.

Excuse my ignorance, but I don't get the reference...

Also, I wonder if the Simmons/Frenzy part will come to fruition in RotF. I know we saw Simmons in the trailers, but it would be cool if they said he saved Frenzy. Because I (and I am sure many others) thought Frenzy offed himself.

I don't think I've ever come across someone on the net who didn't know what Mary Sue means. lol

wikipedia wrote:A Mary Sue (sometimes just Sue), in literary criticism and particularly in fanfiction, is a fictional character with overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors or readers. Perhaps the single underlying feature of all characters described as "Mary Sues" is that they are too ostentatious for the audience's taste, or that the author seems to favor the character too highly. The author may seem to push how exceptional and wonderful the "Mary Sue" character is on his or her audience, sometimes leading the audience to dislike or even resent the character fairly quickly; such a character could be described as an "author's pet".

"Mary Sues" can be either male or female, but male characters are often dubbed "Marty Stu", "Gary Stu", or similar names.[1] While the label "Mary Sue" itself originates from a parody of this type of character, most characters labeled "Mary Sues" by readers are not intended by authors as such.

While the term is generally limited to fan-created characters, and its most common usage today occurs within the fan fiction community or in reference to fan fiction, original characters in role-playing games or literary canon are also sometimes criticized as being "Mary Sues" or "canon Sues," if they dominate the spotlight or are too unrealistic or unlikely in other ways. Examples of this are Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation[2][3][4] and Bella Swan from Twilight.[5]

As for Frenzy, I'm curious to see how that pans out as well. The book seemed to leave that hanging a bit.

Neko wrote:
I don't think I've ever come across someone on the net who didn't know what Mary Sue means. lol

What's to laugh about? I'm glad I didn't know what it meant after reading the definition.

Neko wrote:

I don't think I've ever come across someone on the net who didn't know what Mary Sue means. lol

First time for everything.

wikipedia wrote:A Mary Sue (sometimes just Sue), in literary criticism and particularly in fanfiction, is a fictional character with overly idealized and hackneyed mannerisms, lacking noteworthy flaws, and primarily functioning as wish-fulfillment fantasies for their authors or readers. Perhaps the single underlying feature of all characters described as "Mary Sues" is that they are too ostentatious for the audience's taste, or that the author seems to favor the character too highly. The author may seem to push how exceptional and wonderful the "Mary Sue" character is on his or her audience, sometimes leading the audience to dislike or even resent the character fairly quickly; such a character could be described as an "author's pet".

"Mary Sues" can be either male or female, but male characters are often dubbed "Marty Stu", "Gary Stu", or similar names.[1] While the label "Mary Sue" itself originates from a parody of this type of character, most characters labeled "Mary Sues" by readers are not intended by authors as such.

While the term is generally limited to fan-created characters, and its most common usage today occurs within the fan fiction community or in reference to fan fiction, original characters in role-playing games or literary canon are also sometimes criticized as being "Mary Sues" or "canon Sues," if they dominate the spotlight or are too unrealistic or unlikely in other ways. Examples of this are Wesley Crusher from Star Trek: The Next Generation[2][3][4] and Bella Swan from Twilight.[5]

Really. Never knew that. I recently wrote a TF fanfic, and it appears Grimlock is my "Gary Stu."

As for Frenzy, I'm curious to see how that pans out as well. The book seemed to leave that hanging a bit.

Yeah, really. He went into it in only one chapter, and never even explained other than when Frenzy gets pissed, all the lights go out.

The novel did include spoilers indirectly about the revival of Megatron though;

The decepts are going to be split into two factions, followers of Starscream, or followers of the Fallen/loyal followers of Megatron....

Since Megs is the Fallen's pet puppet, the decepts are gathering random radioactive materials and harnessing enough energy to revive him, but they need a vessel (or vessels) to carry the combined energy and jump-start him.

There was also this interesting bit with a crab-former that infiltrated a NEST camp, who returned to another offshore being.....

All in all it was a story of its own, but fairly interesting at best.

Oh and many greetings and thanks to Mr. Foster, I have read this and also Ghosts of yesterday.

I am a fanboy of the original series, but have evolved with time unlike my predecessors. I dig what you were doing with those books, and appreciate the story you revealed beside the story that was hidden the entire time.

My only complaint is that there weren't any references to the Fallen.

After reading this book anyone else wondering about some of the "new" Decepticons? I had heard that the writer of the book tried to work with the makers of the Alliance comic to make the stories mesh. In Alliance we saw characters like Incinerator (Osprey), Reverb (Helicopter) and Gunbarrel (anti-aircraft tank) seemingly arrive and then die in issues 3 and 4. In the Veiled Threat we saw Ruination (Osprey), Blademaster (helicopter) and Payload (anti-aircraft tank) among the Decepticon forces. Anyone else just thinking the book messed up the names?

Barricade doesn't die in The Veiled Threat or in the Alliance comics. I'm not sure what you read.

In Velied Threat Barricade was burried alive in the fight, and when workers arrived the next moring they found a tunnel there, where he had dug his way out.

http://tfwiki.net/wiki/Barricade_%28Mov ... quel_novel

In Alliance they just make a vague reference to Barricade getting away from them.