It is an alternative sequel to his 1983 science fiction television miniseries V, which depicted an advanced race of carnivorous reptilians known as "The Visitors".

[1] Set 20 years after the original miniseries, The Second Generation depicts an Earth still under Visitor domination with the Resistance fighting a losing battle.

An alien race called the Zedti, who are long-standing enemies of the Visitors reinforces the Resistance in their time of need and soon the war is turned in their favor.

In an interview with the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, he said the idea for a sequel was born during the production of the Original Mini-Series DVD in 2001, particularly while remastering the final scene where Julie Parrish and Elias Taylor send the distress signal.

[2] In a press conference at the 2007 San Diego Comic-Con, Johnson revealed that the novel has been written and negotiations were taking place with NBC regarding the production of its film version, a four-hour TV movie.