Slag Like Me (Alien Nation 5): Slag Like Me

Written by the author of The Change, even brining back Newcomer FBI Agent Paul Iniko, this book is a great addition to the Alien Nation universe. Leaps and bounds better than The Change, Slag Like Me takes a tough look at racism in the post Civil Rights era, showing how behaviors and practices once carried out in public are run underground and the personal nature of this more passive agrresive oppression. This novel is less about seeing Matt Sikes going undercover as a Newcomer and more about the demons that live in us all. It was a very enjoyable read that had some substance to it.

This was never an episode of the TV series but it deserved to be. The writing by Barry B. Longyear is excellent, he drifts between characters and time periods with ease. The idea of the newspaper colume appears over and over never letting us forget the focus of Matt and George's case even if they wander themselves. I loved the tv series and I love this book.

Meaning they are qualified stars. I like the premise of Alien Nation, usually better than I like the actuality, but that's common on series sf TV... The Alien Nation books tend to be better than what we saw on TVs. Besides this one I like, _Body & Soul_ and _Passing Fancy_. All are about what is to be Tenctonese and human, that's an interesting concept to me.The reporter in this one is a not very veiled Harlan Ellison, IMO, and I found that amusing. I also found a copy of _Black Like Me_ at a used bookstore after reading this. Telling _Black Like Me_ in a sf mode is interesting, well done, worth reading if you don't end up paying too much for it.

I love the "Alien Nation" characters, so sue me. I miss the show and find the books comforting. Unfortunately, the quality varies between authors; I approach each title with a janudiced eye. But when I saw "Slag Like Me", my first thoughts were, "that sounds like Longyear". And to our good fortune, it is. Barry's razor edged style is coated with poignancy. He's eloquent, articulate, and damned funny. Would that he could write more "Alien Nation"s, but at least he's written this one. Get it, you won't be sorry.