Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday Book

Have you ever wondered what happened to the Transformers before they landed on Earth in the Michael Bay films? Me neither, but via various means I have found out anyway. Having played the Cybertron games I was aware of the mythos behind the robots in disguise, so what did 'Transformers: Ghosts of Yesterday' have to offer? Firstly, a new book by Alan Dean Foster, a great author in his own right, but also one of the best tie in novel specialists ever. Secondly, this is not a tale that tries to explain the entirety of the Transformer's past, but instead takes a glimpse back into the late 60s to a couple of days that would prove an future echo for Earth.

When Armstrong, Aldrin etc. set off for the moon, did you know that another advanced spaceship was being sent up in a hidden Alaskan location? Using tech found on the remains of a sleeping mechanical beast the US fired a covert rocket into space. What are the chances that the crew of this ship would stumble across the intergalactic conflict between the Autobots and the Decepticons? If 'Ghosts' is anything to go by, it is a 100% chance.

The mistake that Foster would have made is to go into too much detail in 'Ghosts', therefore it is a relief that he decided to write a contained action adventure. The story is split between the mysterious base on Earth and a skirmish between the Transformers in space. There is plenty of action on offer; the conflict in zero gravity is especially well written. There is also a surprisingly nuanced look at how the two races of Transformers differ. The Decepticons bickering and disloyalty really plays a role in their downfall.

'Ghosts' is certainly not great fiction and non-fans of the series will get next to nothing from reading the book. However, fans of the Transformers themselves, or science fiction, will get some good military sci fi as well as a few interesting questions about how a long living mechanical race see the Universe. If this does not float your boat, there are also plenty of explosions and action. A fun, if forgettable, read.