In some ways, spinoff novel authors have less freedom than movie writers. For example, we know Timothy Zahn is not going to kill off John Connor in “Trial By Fire” (July 2010). On the other hand, as “Salvation’s” John Brancato reveals in a blog post, screenwriters can be handcuffed, particularly on blockbuster movies, owing to the perception that simpler stories draw wider audiences. As such, his idea that John Connor be replaced with a Terminator/human hybrid at the film’s end was scrapped.
In “Trial By Fire, which as of now is the last “Terminator” book, Zahn doesn’t precisely resurrect Brancato’s idea (he can’t do anything that drastic), but he does delve much deeper into the hybrids – which he dubs Thetas, drawing from the T-H nomenclature – than “Salvation” itself does. And the author intriguingly reveals Skynet’s plan for luring Connor to its base in the movie: to make him into a Theta, which would become the ultimate infiltrator of the Resistance.
As Brancato points out, “Salvation” is like one big movie trailer under the direction of McG; there aren’t many character arcs. But there are character moments — for example, Barnes’ anger at Blair for tricking him in order to spring Marcus Wright. Zahn digs into that clash between two of Connor’s most trusted Resistance fighters. The author also gives us the next step in Kyle’s progress toward joining that select group, as he gets caught up in an adventure during the cleanup of the Skynet Central ruins.
Zahn gives us a gripping portrayal of the travails of post-apocalyptic life in the vein of “The Walking Dead.” With food and supplies limited, everyone in Baker’s Hollow – a small hunting town in the Sierra Nevada mountains – has a limited amount of time to prove their worth, otherwise they are forced to leave. It’s interesting to see that teenager Hope, who was born after Judgment Day, is a mentor to adults who have trouble adjusting to this new world.
A significant step up from Zahn’s previous novel, “From the Ashes,” “Trial By Fire” is an essential read for understanding the wider “Salvation” saga. In chapter 4, Zahn gives a clear explanation of what happened in the film, ironing out the confusing parts. Although we could infer Skynet’s goal with Marcus Wright – to make a perfect infiltrator – we didn’t know if there was only one of him, or perhaps many more, and whether these Thetas are necessarily tied to their human personalities.
In “Trial By Fire,” there are more Thetas, and it’s a versatile product line: Oxley and Susan believe they are scientists who worked for Skynet. Once they infiltrate the community, Skynet triggers them. Also in the mix is the mysterious Jik, who claims to be John Connor, much to Blair’s and Barnes’ surprise; this provides a page-turning mystery at the heart of the proceedings.
Between Zahn’s understanding and advancement of the “Salvation” saga, and the fact that it’s a good character yarn and mystery, “Trial By Fire” ranks among the elite “Terminator” books.
CHARACTERS
Sarah Connor: She’s not in this book, having died in 1997 of cancer.
John Connor: He’s recovering from his heart transplant at the end of “Salvation” in the Resistance camp that has been set up near the Skynet Central ruins in San Francisco.
Kyle Reese: He’s participating in the cleanup and salvage efforts in the Skynet ruins, specifically gathering up ammunition. In an impromptu adventure through what’s left of the underground part of the facility, he displays good teamwork with Zac and Callahan – who, like Kyle, come from Moldering Lost Ashes (“From the Ashes”). John says the trio will eventually become part of Echo platoon (chapter 26).
Barnes: An elite ground trooper, he wants to bury his brother, who was killed in the opening mission of “Salvation.”
Blair Williams: On John’s orders, this elite pilot flies Barnes to the ruins from the opening mission of “Salvation” so he can bury his brother.
The people of Baker’s Hollow: This hunting town in the Sierra Nevada mountains has become a commune of survivors.
Lajard: This Skynet scientist believes Skynet is a peacekeeping force that is misunderstood by the Resistance. He is the controller/observer of the experimental trial run of Thetas who infiltrate Baker’s Hollow.
TERMINATORS
Thetas: Taking their name from the T-H (Terminator-Human hybrid) series, we learn that this is the proper term for Marcus Wright from “Salvation” (14). Two of the three supposed humans (Oxley and Susan) who seek refuge at Baker’s Hollow are Theta infiltrators, and they had worked on Project Theta (either as their human selves, as Thetas, or both). Another Theta is the man who is pursuing Jik in the woods (1). Then Jik is revealed to be a Theta, thus explaining his claim to be John Connor (16). We also learn that Skynet is in the process of building a Theta modeled after Hope (26), a Baker’s Hollow teenager. It’s unclear if all Thetas are built from existing humans, or if they are all copies, but the presence of the Hope Theta reveals that copies are possible. We also learn that Thetas can be programmed with other personalities, explaining why Jik thinks he’s John Connor. But, as “Salvation’s” Marcus Wright proves, they can simply be an enhanced version of their human self. Even though their bio-engineered human organs heal quickly, Thetas can bleed to death; so although they are better infiltrators, they are easier to kill than T-800s.
T-800s: John, who of course is very familiar with this model, mentions this Infiltrator line to his allies (7). And when a Hunter-Killer attempts to force Blair’s helicopter to land rather than destroying it, she suspects Skynet is aiming to capture Resistance vehicles for its T-800 Infiltrators to use (7).
T-700s: Skynet’s primary infantry soldiers in this book, they are a notch above T-600s (which are featured in the movie), but below T-800 infiltrators, which are in the prototype stage at this point (as suggested by the appearance of a 101 model in “Salvation”). T-700s carry bigger guns than T-600s (4) and reflect more starlight (5) but have basically the same strengths and weaknesses. Although part of the Infiltrator series, the T-700s in this book are in endoskeleton form.
T-600s: Many of these classic models are among the debris of the Skynet Central explosion.
T-500s: Bulkier than T-700s (5), according to Skynet scientist Oxley.
T-400s: “The big walkers,” as described by Skynet scientist Susan.
T-1s: This mini-tank model was seen in “T3” and is mentioned here.
CONTINUITY AND CONTRADICTIONS
“Trial By Fire” takes place in 2018 soon after the events of “Terminator Salvation,” as John is recovering from his heart transplant in a Resistance camp next to the Skynet Central ruins in San Francisco. Resistance personnel are dispatching the still-functioning T-600s and T-700s while also salvaging ammunition and weapons.
Blair and Barnes visit the ruins of the underground Skynet facility from the opening scene of “Salvation,” somewhere in southern California, so Barnes can bury his brother (2).
Baker’s Hollow, in California’s Sierra Nevada mountains, is a commune of humans rather than a proper Resistance cell (3). We’ve seen similar groups before, including the Moldering Lost Ashes group in Zahn’s own “From the Ashes,” the sewer-dwelling group in “Sand in the Gears” and the mini-mart group in “Salvation.”
Relatively new Baker’s Hollow residents Oxley, Susan and Lajard had worked as scientists for Skynet on Project Theta (14). The first two turn out to be Thetas, but perhaps their original human versions were indeed Skynet workers, since Lajard is. Similar to the Luddites from Stirling’s “T2” trilogy, Lajard believes Skynet is not the enemy of the human race, but rather a peacekeeping force. “As long as it doesn’t perceive us as a threat, we’ll be fine,” he says (11).
Thetas are made from bio-engineered human organs (21). This calls to mind the T-800 Infiltrators that we see grown in vats in Dark Horse’s 1984 saga, and Cromartie giving himself bio-engineered skin in “The Sarah Connor Chronicles.”
Somewhat tying into screenwriter John Brancato’s original vision for the movie, we learn the full scope of why Skynet wanted to lure John Connor to Skynet Central in “Salvation”: It had intended to turn him into a Theta. “Trial By Fire” features its backup plan: Jik has false memories and a voice that will allow him to pass as John, at least among people who don’t know what the real John looks like (23).
TIMELINES AND TIME TRAVEL
There is no time travel in the book, although when Jik reveals himself to be John Connor, I considered the possibility that he is a John from a different timeline. I don’t know if Zahn intended for a reader’s mind to take that route, but it enriches the mystery.