Question on B5 books

[Elmo]

I have read all of the B5 books that have came out and thought it completed the story greatly. But I am disappointed that nomore books are being written. Someone could have written a book on Lanier finding redemendtion. Or one on G'Kar and Lita's travels.

I would think that people still turnout books or the first generation StarTrek show, why aren't more books written on B5? or are more coming out?

[Jan]

I would think that people still turnout books or the first generation StarTrek show, why aren't more books written on B5? or are more coming out?

That's not as easy a question as you might think, Elmo. There aren't any more books planned by a major publisher like Del Ray. That's because the sales figures simply weren't what they wanted. Because of that, used copies of the last two trilogies are getting harder and harder to find.

There ARE going to be several new books coming out this summer, though, from Mongoose Publishing which has primarily done roleplaying game books. Claudia Christian is supposed to be writing one but none of the other authors were names I recognized. JMS isn't involved with these in any way.

You can read some previous discussion about the Mongoose books in this thread.

Jan

[vacantlook]

Someone could have written a book on Lanier finding redemendtion.

Based on what jms has told us about what Lennier eventually went on to do after his act of betrayal, I would imagine that that portion of Lennier's story is off-limits to any canonized writer* of the B5 universe since it coincides with a certain story of the B5 universe that jms has said he has reserved for telling in a specific medium.

*I imagine that someone writing under appropriately legal means could still write the story of redemption of Lennier without jms's involvement, but I would also imagine that it would gather a growl or two from jms and never be canonized.

[OmahaStar]

I'm working on group 3 of the B5 podcasts right now (they're automatically downloaded, then I listen to them in blocks of about 4 at a time. I'm on podcast #10 right now).

The guest for this one is Julie Caitlin Brown, who played the first Na'Toth. One of the first things she said is she is ALSO writing a book for Mongoose. She was over in England with Claudia, and Claudia talked about a book she's writing about Susan after she left the station.

Julie had an idea that she was thinking about, with Peter David, about what happened to Na'Toth, from when she left the station, to when she reappeared on Centauri Prime in season 5. How did she get captured, what about her family, etc.

Mongoose asked for a sample chapter. She sent it to them, and is now under contract. This is the second actor I've heard about writing their character's story and coming out this year.

They are apparently putting out 2 books each month.

Now, back to the podcasts.

[Shadow-Sentient]

That 'certain medium' that JMS wants to tell the story in despite all of the struggles should be pursued heavily now, while it's still possible. I followed the disappointments and the reason for the indefinite postponement ... but the cast size is seriously diminishing. I hate to be morbid and I am certainly not trying to be disrespectful but fact is fact.
I just can't imagine the story without G'Kar in it ... simply can't imagine it (it literally hurts my heart to think of it) ... Franklin too, but it seems that another attempt should be made while there is still time ... before the chance is gone altogether.

As far as books. I have read a few of them. I liked the Centauri Trilogy. The Psi-Corps trilogy was much harder to get through because of the story pacing but it was still good. I read a short story about G'Kar and Lyta that appeared in an SF magazine ... it's in storage somewhere. I also read one that followed Sinclair's life after his departure from Babylon 5 ... can't remember the title. It was pretty good ... explained the scar and sort of tried to handle the disappearance of Catherine Sakai ...
If the stories aren't sanctioned by JMS, I worry about the integrity of the Babylon 5 world though. I guess we'll see if they hold true or not. Whatever the case, B5 could use some serious rejuvenation so new stories are welcomed.

[frulad]

Julie had an idea that she was thinking about, with Peter David, about what happened to Na'Toth, from when she left the station, to when she reappeared on Centauri Prime in season 5. How did she get captured, what about her family, etc.

Mongoose asked for a sample chapter. She sent it to them, and is now under contract. This is the second actor I've heard about writing their character's story and coming out this year.

Is Peter David working on the book with her?

[OmahaStar]

Is Peter David working on the book with her?

Don't know, as she didn't say.

[Jan]

JMS had some things to say about the upcoming Mongoose books last night:

Title: Re: ATTN JMS: Short Stories
Author: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 21:44:29 +0000 (UTC)
Message-ID: <[email protected] .com>

Jan wrote:
> Here's part of a post from Mongoose Publishing
> about them:
>
> ----------------------------------------
> <<The first month of releases (I am waiting to hear back for exact confirmation
> of date, but assume June/July for now) look like this;
>
> Ranger Dawning by Richard Ford
> Actions of Many by MJ Dougherty
> Visions of Peace by Matthew Sprange (ahem)
> No Rest for the Wicked by Claudia Christian
>
> Second month (July/August);
>
> Ashes of the Past by Bruce Graw
> Birth of Heroes by Bryan Steele
>
> And more are in the works, from a variety of authors. I am looking at tackling a
> Crusade trilogy that wil wrap up that timeline but the work, is, frankly,
> daunting with my schedule.
>

Just to confirm, however: these books have nothing to do with B5
continuity or history from a canonical point of view. They are
operating totally outside the loop of what has been authorized before
from a creative perspective, and any claim that these "wrap up" any
sort of timeline within B5 is rather grandiose at best. That timeline
can't be "wrapped up" by anyone who doesn't know what was coming, and
the only person who knows what was coming is me.

As far as I'm concerned, these books have nothing to do with the show.

jms

then:

Title: Re: ATTN JMS: Short Stories
Author: [email protected]
Date: Tue, 16 May 2006 23:21:48 +0000 (UTC)
Message-ID: <[email protected] .com>

Laura Appelbaum wrote:
> So basically, they're WB authorized fan fiction?

At best, yeah, which is why I in all good conscience cannot endorse
them.

jms

and later:

Title: Re: ATTN JMS: Short Stories
Author: [email protected]
Date: Wed, 17 May 2006 07:20:39 +0000 (UTC)
Message-ID: <[email protected] .com>

Lance Corporal "Hammer" Schultz wrote:
> On Tue, 16 May 2006 23:21:48 +0000 (UTC), [email protected] wrote:
>
> > Laura Appelbaum wrote:
> >> So basically, they're WB authorized fan fiction?
> >
> > At best, yeah, which is why I in all good conscience cannot endorse
> > them.
>
> I think what is "needed" (as much as anyone needs good fictional
> books) is a "Babylon 5 Universal Encyclopedia," something like the
> Dune Encyclopedia, which isn't a story at all but a "future history."
>
> I've read that you had the "history" of the B5 universe outlined for a
> million years after the events of B5. An encyclopedic "reference" of
> the entire universe and major events would be something I would buy in
> an instant.
>

Unfortunately it would require an infinite number of pages....

jms

I've posted a question whether there was anything Mongoose could do that would bring JMS into participation and get future novels into canonicity.

Jan

[OmahaStar]

Listen to the podcast when they've got the guy from Mongoose on there. He claims they're doing a line of Crusade books, and that "all the books" are being done from outlines by JMS.

Sorry, but I've got zero reason to distrust JMS. I have no reason to trust this newbie from Mongoose. Something's fishy here.

[Jan]

Listen to the podcast when they've got the guy from Mongoose on there. He claims they're doing a line of Crusade books, and that "all the books" are being done from outlines by JMS.

Uh-oh...If so (and I only say that because I'm not able to access the podcasts), I think we can count on JMS *never* endorsing these. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Sorry, but I've got zero reason to distrust JMS. I have no reason to trust this newbie from Mongoose. Something's fishy here.

Amen. I understand his claiming before that the books would be 'canon' since they're licensed by WB. After all, a good many of his potential customers simply won't be interested without that assurance. But to flat out lie about JMS's involvement? Not very bright at all!

Jan

[Garibaldi's Hair]

Given WB's many and varied shenanigans with respect to B5 over the years, Mongoose (a company I know almost nothing about) may well be under the impression that info given to them by WB having granted the licence originally came from JMS? Where Warners are concerned I think just about anything is possible.

It just doesn't seem to me that Mongoose would take such a stupid step as flat out lying in public in order to try and give their product more credibility. Particularly when they read this board (and occasionally post) and would surely be aware that there are people here who also frequent the NG and any info of this kind will surely get back to JMS pretty quickly.

Everything I have seen posted by Mongoose about these books smacks of massive naivety, not least their derisory offer to JMS to get involved in the first place. For their sake, I hope that naivety doesn't bite them in the backside.

For our sakes, as fans, I also hope the books are at least reasonably successful (and don't p*** off JMS too much) as a failure of this licence would most likely discourage WB from granting any more licences for B5 books anytime soon ... as well as discouraging other publishers from wanting to jump in.

[Jan]

Given WB's many and varied shenanigans with respect to B5 over the years, Mongoose (a company I know almost nothing about) may well be under the impression that info given to them by WB having granted the licence originally came from JMS? Where Warners are concerned I think just about anything is possible.

I'm sure that Mongoose was assured that whatever they put out would be official, which it *is* since it's legitimately licensed. Canon, however, is a different story and I think they should be familiar with the concept.

It just doesn't seem to me that Mongoose would take such a stupid step as flat out lying in public in order to try and give their product more credibility. Particularly when they read this board (and occasionally post) and would surely be aware that there are people here who also frequent the NG and any info of this kind will surely get back to JMS pretty quickly.

Ninjrk is the one I recall who said s/he'd worked with Mongoose as well as AoG in the past. I don't know of anybody actually working with/for Mongoose posting here.

Everything I have seen posted by Mongoose about these books smacks of massive naivety, not least their derisory offer to JMS to get involved in the first place. For their sake, I hope that naivety doesn't bite them in the backside.

For our sakes, as fans, I also hope the books are at least reasonably successful (and don't p*** off JMS too much) as a failure of this licence would most likely discourage WB from granting any more licences for B5 books anytime soon ... as well as discouraging other publishers from wanting to jump in.

I have to wonder. Mr. Sprange seems to be doing everything in his power to make fans think that these books are canon and will officially tie up the Crusade story. I don't blame him for wanting to put a good face on things but any actual falsehoods can only come back on them. Given the number of posts I've seen where fans say they don't care whether they're canon or not, I imagine they'll probably meet with a modest success.

Jan

[Joe Nazzaro]

It's interesting what is said, or more accurately, what is not said. It may well be true that the Crusade books are being written from JMS's outline. It does not say JMS gave them them outlines, or that he approves or their plans. What that tells me is the literal truth here is that Mongoose was probably given the outlines as part of their licensing agreement. That does not mean Joe necessarily has any say in the matter, and the folks at Mongoose can easily claim they never said he did. They just have the outlines.

[frulad]

Hmmm, if that's the case Joe, I would suggest that they change their name from Mongoose to Weasel.

[Jan]

It's certainly possible.

I think I'd need some kind of verification to believe that, though. Knowing how JMS professes to hate outlining as well as having read the outline JMS turned in for 'A Call To Arms' (named 'Eve of Destruction' at that point), I'm dubious about there being numerous others for Crusade.

Jan