Babylon 5 Novel Thread

Since we have threads for other scifi series novels, might as well have one for the best!:

I love how they are all (save the early ones) based on JMS's storyline notes to fill in stuff not shown in the series or telefilms.

So far, I've read the EXCELLENT Legions of Fire aka Centauri trilogy, which follows Londo after the end of season 5, leading to the timeflash sequence from warwithout end, and covering things inbetween, such as the source of the Shadow Planet Killer utilzied by the Drahk in A Call to Arms (interesting note- there was a second one that was intended to be used against Minbar). Vir really shines here as a character also, becoming tainted like Londo did in the series, but making the right decisions in the end. Definately shows how he has what it takes to be Emperor.

I've also begun the Technomage trilogy, which is well written also- and Galen was always such a fanastic character that it's great to read more about him. The way he taps into the technomage abilities and gaisn the power he does is quite interesting, yet seems so simple. Looking forward to getting around to reading the second book- judging by the excerpt at the end of book 1, we get a few scenes from Kosh's perspective , can't miss that:
The big thing thats been great about those 4 books is they really nail the characteriszations, you can easily mentally picture and hear the characters saying and doing what you're reading.

I also managed to find a copy of the comic series "In Valen's Name", but I haven't read it yet, again, interesting premise (discovering the thousand-years-derelict Babylon 4).

Looking forward to the reprintings if "The Shadow Within" and "To Dream in the City of Sorrows" (which I've been dying to read but could never find a copy) that are coming out soon.

Anyone read the Psi Corp trilogy? I've only found the first book I think, but curious what other people have to say about it.

Belongs in the Ampitheatre.

 

>> Do these coun't as B5 continuity? If so how many are there?And the same with the comics. <<

They are pretty much absolute-canon since they are all based on outlines provided by and reviewed by JMS.

The only exceptions are the early "numbered" books which are not canon (except for "The Shadow Within", which is about 80% canon, the above mentioned TDITCOSis also 100% canon- it better be, afterall, it was written by JMS's wife ).

In Valen's Name is canon too. I'm fairly certain the others are too.

 

>> And the numbered ones as well. As for those being none continuity, do they contradicte stuff, or is there some other reason?<<

Contradictions, piss-poor characterizations, no input by JMS.

>>Thats cool, how many books over all are there?<<

The main ones are:

Psi-Corp Trilogy:
- Dark Genesis: The Birth of the Psi Corp
- Deadly Relations: Bester Ascendant
- Final Reckoning: The Fate of Bester

Legions of Fire Trilogy (aka unofficially referred to as the Centauri Trilogy):
- The Long Night of Centauri Prime
- Armies of Light and Dark
- Out of Darkness

Passing of the Technomages Trilogy:
- Casting Shadows
- Summoning Light
- Invoking Darkness

The numbered ones are:

#1 Voices
#2 Accusations
#3 Blood Oath
#4 Clark's Law
#5 The Touch of Your Shadow, The Whisper of Your Name
#6 Betrayals
#7 The Shadow Within
#8 Personal Agendas
#9 To Dream in the City of Sorrows

There's also novelizations of In The Beginning, Thirdspace and A Call to Arms. Of note, the ITB novel has the "humanshield" sequence where the Minbari stop the Soul Hunters from getting to Dukat's body that was cut from the film.

The Babylon 5 comics are available in 3 TPB collections:

-Babylon 5
-Shadows: Past & Present
-In Valen's Name

>>Are they all still in print and buyable?<<

The three trilogies should be fairly easy to obtain- the technomage ones came out over the last year, so those'll be the easiest.

Centauri trilogy is a little older. Psi-Corp trilogy would probably be the toughest to find on bookshelves, but amazon and such should ahve them still.

The numbered ones are out of print and will probably never be seen again- except for TSW and TDITCOS, which will be reprinted, and are basicly considered to be the only ones worth checking out.

The comic TPB's are from the UK, so are a little tricker to track down.

EDIT-

>>Narn? Gikar? Whatever his name is<<

G'Kar

 

Crap. And here I was scouring ebay for those.

Thanks for those links :

 

>>but gives us a WHOLE lot more questions about Lyta...<<

Like we need more?

I really hope JMS manages to get a B5 theatrical film made one day soon like he's promised. It would supposedly deal with the Teep War.

Man, I really hate NFL football at this point in time- if it wasn't for that one frelling game, Legends of the Rangers would have had higher ratings, and we would probably be looking forward to a new series this fall...and based on the success of that, scifi could have theoretically continued Crusade and gotten that running by the end of Ranger's second season, which, IIRC, would mean both shows would have been taking place at the same chronological time in the B5 universe. That would have been so grand... ::

Frelling football...

 

>>We saw the aftermath -- just not how she went about doing it, or how she died (spectacularly, I'm assuming)...<<

Well, originally, it was going to be Lyta in the one flashback sequence in the Crusade episode "Path of Sorrows" instead of the other telepath female. BUt Pat's schedule had a conflict and so it was made into another Teep. If one was to stcik to the original concept, it's possible Lyta was still there, just offscreen. The explosion was supposed to be Lyta's doing. I think. Lennier was supposedly with her also.


>>as it reveals many secrets about the Shadows and the Technomages that were due to be revealed during the course of Crusade (and would've tied in with the mysterious Shadow-like ship that destroyed Gideon's ship while he was on EVA maneuvers).<<

Yeah, they were going to deal with that in the next episode of Crusade that would have been filmed had TNT not cut off the production, I think. Two unfilmed screenplays were made available at some point, as an e-book I believe, but the site shut down and as such, are no longer available.


I'm hoping we'll get a series of novels detailing the actions of Valen, Catherine, Zathras and Babylon 4 during the last great war with the Shadows. JMS has hinted there were some great adventures there. Be nice to explore that backstory, and tie together War WIthout End, In Valen's Name and To Dream in the City of Sorrows.

 

Not sure, I haven't read the teep books yet- in fact, I just ordered books 2 and 3 off of amazon- I'm send that 10% off thing to everyone whose posted in the thread (whose e-mail was listed in their profile) for those of you who are looking to buy them (I already have book 1, so obviously I'm not ordering it so you'll have to get that one at normal price).

 

You know what? I didn't realize until now that The Shadow Within was written by the same author as the Technomage trilogy.

And, judging by the reprinting cover art here, it looks like the Technomage trilogy built off of some of what the author started in TSW.

[image=http://images.amazon.com/images/P/0345452186.01.LZZZZZZZ.jpg]

Also, it seems To Dream In The City Of Sorrows will be reprinted sometime next summer.

Man, I can't wait for that one- as much as I look forward to reading about Morden in TSW, I'm much more interested in following what Sinclair was doing on Minbar with the rangers- I hear there's a sequence where they stop the Shadows from trying to use the time portal where Babylon 4 was, so anything that ties into Babylon Squared/War Without End has my immediate attention :

 

Valen novel? Most excellent.

 

Some interesting, minor notes, on some slight changes to the reprinting of The Shadow Within, as posted by someone else on scifi's B5 board...


----- Original Message -----
From: "Jeanne Cavelos"
To: "KoshN"
Sent: Tuesday, July 30, 2002 7:33 AM
Subject: Re: Regarding the Del Rey publication of "The Shadow Within"

KoshN,

Hi. Nice hearing from you. Gee, that rumor sounds very
tantalizing. Unfortunately, the changes being made between the Dell edition and the Del Rey edition are extremely minor. There were four things that I asked Del Rey to change from Dell's first printing of THE SHADOW WITHIN, and they agreed to all four.

First, I asked them to change the first page of the book (p. i) from an excerpt (which gives away part of the plot) to a page of review quotes. I think review quotes (if they're available and if they're good) are more helpful in selling a book than an excerpt. The book received many really strong reviews, so I asked Dell to make this change in their later printings, but they refused, since it costs extra to make changes.

Second, I asked Del Rey to correct the T. S. Eliot quote (on p. 1), which I'd screwed up in the Dell first printing. Later Dell printings had this corrected.

Third, I asked them to correct a small error on p. 20, where I mentioned Donne's name before Anna Sheridan (the point-of-view character) learns Donne's name. This error probably arose as I revised the manuscript before turning it in to Dell. It was pointed out to me by a reader, and I've been waiting for an opportunity to fix it ever since.

Fourth, my bio was supposed to be included in the Dell edition and it never was, so I asked Del Rey to add that.

Those are all the changes I requested. The Del Rey edition will have a new cover, of course. They sent me a copy a few weeks ago and it looks really cool. I'll try to get that up on my website within the next month.

Best,

Jeanne

 

bump

 

Another B5 book on the horizon-

A B5 quote book, compiled from online suggestions submitted through the usenet boards he frequents, will be released in February, marking the 10th anniversary of Babylon 5.