Battlestar Galactica wrapped production here in Vancouver earlier this year, ending a four year run that has not only transformed the landscape of science fiction, but garnered repeated critical acclaim both from mainstream news organizations and the blogisphere alike. As a special commemorative, the production published a beautiful, hardcover tome this summer in which cast & crew recounted their experiences working on the series.

Only intended as an internal publication for those who worked on the show (don't bother looking for it on Amazon, you won't find it), the book is filled with wonderful, intimate anecdotes from producers Ron Moore and David Eick, to almost every member of the production personnel and, of course, the cast.

CinemaSpy was fortunate enough to get our hands on a copy of the yearbook, and since most of you will never get a chance to see it, we thought we'd share a few excerpts and photos from it herewith so that devout fans can partake in some of the wonderful behind-the-scenes thoughts and memories experienced by those who happily toiled on this grand project.

A few notable names surprisingly escaped the publication, among them Concept Illustrator Eric Chu, who was responsible for designing the new Galactica, Centurions, Raiders and Basestar, along with CG Supervisor Lee Stringer (Zoic) who worked on the miniseries, and Digital Effects Supervisor Emile Edwin Smith (Zoic).

Those omissions aside, however, it's a fascinating examination of the inner workings of a series, told through the ruminations of those who brought it to life. Broken into several sections, it also includes story summaries for each of the four seasons.

One of the more interesting extracts comes from Ronald D. Moore, who below cogitates over his first experience directing (the forthcoming episode "The Oath"), which is where we begin:

Ronald D. Moore, Director
It was at Legendary Noodle, on Main Street, listening to Robin's twenty-third question regarding the nuance of design between the Mark V and Mark II Vipers that I realized what I had done.

Over seven days, the universe I imagined and the world which gave it life had merged in a way they had never done before, giving me to understand fully for the first time the true sweep of the show I had created both within the confines of the frame and without, and...

It was all going to end.

I picked up my takeout dinner, answered queries from my son about the reasons why the old Cylons had handguns and our Cylons had guns built into their arms and wouldn't that be weird to have guns back in your arms although they're robots and they probably can't feel that unless they do, so why would that be? on the way home.  I walked in the door, kissed my wife and daughter, walked out onto the bluff behind the house that will now forever be a sense memory for this lovely city, stood there...

And cried.

Knowing what I know now about working among you as you create this show day after day, I now know that if I had known it earlier, I would've known enough to have done it long before now...

You know?

Not only did it give me an incredible appreciation for the professionalism with which you apply your crafts and genuinely touch me with your good humor and warmth, directing this episode gave me a new appreciation for the world we have created on the screen.

I got to see the pure story and fantasy of what we're doing through a nine year-old's eyes and as I sat in that empty restaurant, listening to his questions over the soft patter of the Chinese soap opera playing on the set atop the fridge, I found no disquiet to follow my soul.

Thank you.

So now, you must enjoy this dream, this experience, this show.

It's yours and mine and it'll be ours forever.

Or until the actors go out on strike.

Whichever comes first.