Free B5 fan novel

[Fordy]

Hi

Ranger Dawning was originally going to be published by Mongoose Publishing, but since they're no longer producing B5 novels it is now available here http://www.lulu.com/content/822014 for FREE!!

Cheers

Fordy

[Shabaz]

Well, that's something I guess, for the folks who were actually really waiting for these. Although it's basically just fan fiction now, isn't it?

So err... Fordy == Richard Ford?

[Fordy]

Yes it is, and yes I am.

[Jan]

Thank you for coming over to let us know, Fordy. That's generous of you.

Jan

[Shabaz]

Yes it is, and yes I am.

Ok, thanks for clearing that up. Now I'm tempted to pry about what went on behind the scenes with this somewhat troubled project, but I'm not going to.

I admit that I usually avoid fan fiction, and most tie-in fiction unless I hear it's really good and the main canon universe actually feels bound by it to some extent. But since this is B5 and this project has been floating around for so long I am kind of curious, so I'll see if I can give it a read next week. I just read a few pages, and while I don't want to be a big meany where the author can read it, nothing particularly connected with me. But I'll give it a fair shot and read the entire thing later.

[daddytodd]

Thanks!

I was wondering just yesterday of any of these would turn up online. I'm looking forward to reading your novel. I'm sorry it never got published!

I'm hoping Claudia's will turn up somewhere as well. Wonder if it ever got written?

[iamsheridan]

Ok, thanks for clearing that up. Now I'm tempted to pry about what went on behind the scenes with this somewhat troubled project, but I'm not going to.

I too would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing this with us! It must have been really tough to spend all this time with the book and then just giving it away for free! Thanks a lot!

But I don't suffer from Shabaz's inhibitions (?) - please tell us all you can about the process!! How were you selected for the project? What input did you get? Was the book edited (I'm really interested in this one) and if so - how much?

l hope I'll be able to read it before summer.

Best regards

[Fordy]

But I don't suffer from Shabaz's inhibitions (?) - please tell us all you can about the process!! How were you selected for the project? What input did you get? Was the book edited (I'm really interested in this one) and if so - how much?

Essentially I was selected for the project because I'm an editor at Mongoose (worked their for the past 3 years), I've had previous writing experience (I've written short fiction for the Black Library and I'm currently working on a spin off novel for Joe Dever's Lone Wolf series) and I have a good knowledge of the B5 universe having worked on a number of B5 RPG projects. The other writers of the series were all either writers by trade or famous actresses

I was given the basic premise for the book: to detail the first human Ranger. After that I was given pretty much free rein. A lot of the story was dictated by canon from To Dream in the City of Sorrows, and obviously chronological events in the series, and there are little bits and pieces taken from some of the RPG sourcebooks.

The novel was given an initial edit, but since we eventually reached a point where we didn't know whether we'd actually be able to see any return from them, they were never given a final thorough going over, and as you all know, nobody official has ever approved them. Consequently, as they stand, they are merely fan fiction.

As far as I know, the majority of the books advertised (I think there were 5 or 6 in all) have been written. Whether anyone else decides to post theirs, or whether they will eventually see print, I don't know.

Cheers

Fordy

[iamsheridan]

Thanks a lot! Very interesting.

After my last post I made some research and came to beleive that you are the same guy who won the Pulitzer price with Independence Day, but I guess you would have found a way to mention that if you were.

There are a few webpages where that mistake is made.

Regards

[B5_Obsessed]

Pulitzer price

How much are they going for nowadays?

[AmyG]

Essentially I was selected for the project because I'm an editor at Mongoose (worked their for the past 3 years),

Oh, dear. This sentence is just begging for a snarky comment about Mongoose and the quality of their editing, but since I have to give you huge props for giving away the book I'll instead just smile and chalk it up to an honest typo.

[Joe Nazzaro]

Only slightly off the topic at hand, Roger Ebert wrote a wonderful introduction to his new book, where he talks about Rob Schneider taking a critic to task, basically telling him because he hadn't won a Pulitzer Prize, he had no right to trash Deuce Bigalow 2. But of course Ebert HAD won a Pulitzer, so he was happy to tell Schneider, 'Your movie sucks!'

[vacantlook]

Oh, dear. This sentence is just begging for a snarky comment about Mongoose and the quality of their editing, but since I have to give you huge props for giving away the book I'll instead just smile and chalk it up to an honest typo.

Since I feel no such compuction at this time, I'll make such a snarky comment in your stead.

The difference between their, there, and they're is taught in, what, 4th grade English?

[Fordy]

The difference between their, there, and they're is taught in, what, 4th grade English?

Ah, puerile forum pedants! Now I remember why I rarely post on these things.

[AmyG]

Hey, I hope you didn't mean that I was puerile -- I merely gave you a gentle jab over it, and I'd think that someone who is an editor would, upon having that pointed out, at least have a laugh with all of us over it.