Favorite non live action B5 canon?

[JesseW]

Hello everyone! I'm new to the forums, but not B5. The station has been a part of my life for about a decade now. I've only recently (about the past year) started collecting and reading all the non live action canon, i.e. the novels, comics, scripts, etc. etc. I must say this new material (well, new to me at least) has rejuvenated my love and excitement for B5! The novels I've read so far are superb! And the Crusade script books have really satisfied my hunger for a more complete season of that show. I can't wait for the final few volumes of those books to be released.

I'm interested to know, what are some of your favorite canon B5 publications?

Oh and thanks for having me on your forums!

[KoshN]

From the subject line, I initially thought you meant pure CGI sequences.

Novels:
Dell#7 The Shadow Within
The Technomage Trilogy
and
The Centauri Trilogy

[DaveNarn]

You might consider Michael Garibaldi's Babylon 5 Security Manual.
(Updated by the new Security Chief, Zack Allan, on January 1, 2262.

It's 11 by 8.375 inches, 160 pages of full color. published by Del Rey.

Basically everything you to know about maintaining security aboard the Babylon 5 space station.

Station tech illustrations and maps.
Emergency procedures.
Profiles of key personnel and dangerous inhabitants
Comm codes and previous case notes

A fun read and a handy reference.

[Ubik]

Welcome Jesse!

Good to see some new blood on the forums. I’ve only been posting here a number of months, but I got the B5 bug again after a recent re-watch (brought on by a biking accident). My injury left my stuck at home for a number of weeks, so I had ample time for a full re-watch. At the time, I started posting here and got sucked back into the B5 universe big time. I hunted down all the script books second hand and also some of the novels. I think I need another biking accident so I have the spare time to read all the script books! 

In terms of the novels, I think the best is definitely Peter David’s Centauri Trilogy.

I also enjoyed the Psi-Corps trilogy, but felt it diminished in quality a bit after the first book. It actually worked far better when covering relatively uncharted territory, i.e. Bester’s childhood and origins, than it did when it clicked into present B5 continuity. All that said, I don’t expect great literary feats from tie in novels, and on that basis they were definitely up to a good standard. It was nice to have more B5. The whole trilogy is also available very cheaply on eBay / Amazon.

I’ve not tried Jeanne Cavelos’ Technomage trilogy, mainly due to the high price of entry. If I remember correctly, it’s the third book that’s expensive because it had a lower print run. Although, I imagine if you’re vigilant on eBay you could probably score a bargain. The same was true of the script books.

I think I got the most enjoyment out Joe’s forewords in the script books. I love reading about the process of getting B5 made and all the challenges, joy and heartache that brought with it.

[KoshN]

IÆve not tried Jeanne CavelosÆ Technomage trilogy, mainly due to the high price of entry. If I remember correctly, itÆs the third book thatÆs expensive because it had a lower print run.

It was the third book of Peter David's Centauri trilogy ("Out of the Darkness") that is expensive, but, strangely, it's the SECOND book of Jeanne Cavelos' Technomage trilogy ("Summoning Light") that's expensive.

[Garibaldi's Hair]

It was the third book of Peter David's Centauri trilogy ("Out of the Darkness") that is expensive, but, strangely, it's the SECOND book of Jeanne Cavelos' Technomage trilogy ("Summoning Light") that's expensive.

Well, B5 was never noted for its capacity to follow well established traditions ...

[KoshN]

Well, B5 was never noted for its capacity to follow well established traditions ...

And here I thought it was that Del Rey was just NUTS. Like Warner Brothers, Del Rey didn't know what they had. While other mass market paperbacks had end cap displays (which drew attention to those books), B5 books were always presented spine out on densely packed shelves. You had to be dedicated and go looking for the B5 books to find them. They weren't something that would catch your eye while browsing. I routinely put B5 books on face out display whenever I went in a book store.

[Jan]

Hi JesseW, good to see you here!

I think my two favorites (or perhaps four, depending on how you look at it ) would be 'To Dream in the City of Sorrows' and/or the Centauri Trilogy. I love how Kathryn Drennan linked lots of elements together and told a fitting story that covered what happened to Sinclair after he left the station and I love how Peter David brought Vir to the point where he'd be a great emperor to his people.

All of this after my script collection, of course. My Preciousesssssssssssssss!

ETA: Hey, I only just found out in the past week that there was a B5 Tech Manual - I could have sworn that there hadn't been! Anybody got a spare copy they're willing to part with?

Jan

[pascalahad]

My favorite is heads-on the Technomage trilogy. I fell literaly from my chair by the reveals contained in there. Make sure you see The Geometry of Shadows and Z'ha'dum before reading them!

Not to say the other trilogies (Psi-Corps and Centauri) are bad, far from it, but I was less surprised by them.

[JoeD80]

Take a look at the comics, issues #5 - #8 particularly (compiled into Shadows Past and Present). It's stuff about Sinclair and Garibaldi that ties directly into the arc. The "In Valen's Name" comic mini-series is interesting too.

[Sinclair's Fan]

I fondly remember 'Voices' by John Vornholt, (follow this link to see why; http://jmsnews.com/forums/showthread...4560#post74560 ), although I don't think it's considered 'canon' these days.

And here are some 'Sinclair-centric' comics and a novel I've mentioned before.

Here's a post I wrote elsewhere on the forums. I realise you may not be in the UK/Europe postal region(!) but at least these pictures will help you find the ones you're looking for

You might like to try reading some of the graphic novels, (I think they were just 'bind-ups' of previously printed comic issues). I have three of them, and I was pleased to find them referred to in actual tv episodes, as well as the novel 'To Dream in the City of Sorrows.'

I can't remember 'off the top of my head', but I think Garibaldi mentions several comicbook incidents during the tv show, including his first meeting with Sinclair before leaving for B5, his and Sinclair's journey across the Martian desert on foot, and the two of them finding evidence of the Shadows and the Psi-Corps, also on Mars.

Here's a few links to help you get more of an idea;

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babylon-5-J-Michael-Straczynski/dp/1852866462

'In Darkness Find Me!' Sinclair leaves B5 for Earth and later, Minbar. This adventure is mentioned in 'To Dream...'

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babylon-5-Shadows-Past-Present/dp/1852867353

Garibaldi's adventure!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Babylon-5-Valens-Name/dp/185286981X/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1370981112&sr=1-1&keywords=Valen%27s+Name

Valen!

I know these aren't everyone's cup of tea, but I highly recommend them.

And 'To Dream...' has been released a couple of times..., here's what the two covers look like!

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/search/ref=sr_nr_scat_274081_ln?rh=n%3A274081%2Ck%3AValen%27s+Name&keywords=Valen%27s+Name&ie=UTF8&qid=1350464514&scn=274081&h=2896a19585447af7d46ab5db4e55e807035348a6#/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=To+Dream+in+the+City+of+Sorrows&rh=n%3A266239%2Ck%3ATo+Dream+in+the+City+of+Sorrows

Cheers!

I hope that helps!

[JesseW]

You might consider Michael Garibaldi's Babylon 5 Security Manual.

Oh man, this sounds awesome! I will definitely try to hunt one down! So far, I have managed to acquire everything except two of the short stories. Those pesky old magazines sure are hard to find... but I will definitely have to add this to my want list. Thanks!

In terms of the novels, I think the best is definitely Peter DavidÆs Centauri Trilogy.

I completely agree! I've finished the second book in the Centauri trilogy, and have just started the third. So far, I'm really digging this trilogy. I haven't read the other ones yet, but I see why you like this one so much. Oh and thanks for the warm welcome!

Take a look at the comics, issues #5 - #8 particularly (compiled into Shadows Past and Present). It's stuff about Sinclair and Garibaldi that ties directly into the arc. The "In Valen's Name" comic mini-series is interesting too.

I was pleasantly surprised by the comics. The artwork was suspect at times, but story wise, I love how they tied into events in the series, especially the Shadows Past and Present series, like you said. The only comics I haven't collected yet are issues #9 and #10, but as I understand it these are not canon. Is that correct? Are they worth the read anyways?

Thank you all for your input and suggestions. I'm really excited to finish collecting and reading everything! Oh yeah, one more thing.. Does anyone consider the un-produced Garibaldi segment from 'The Lost Tales' canon? I mean, Joe did say he planned to save this story for the next Lost Tales disc, before he decided not to make anymore...

[NotSoWize]

I read all three trilogies several years ago and was quite impressed by them all. I held on to the Techno Mage trilogy though, so I guess it was my favorite!

I have a full run of the comic books, which I have not read yet. When I'm done, I'll probably be selling them so if any of you are interested in buying them let me know.

I've seen the tech manual on eBay a few times. Now that I've heard good things about it, I'll have to track it down some day.

[JoeD80]

The only comics I haven't collected yet are issues #9 and #10, but as I understand it these are not canon. Is that correct? Are they worth the read anyways?

I think #9 and #10 are kind of fun. They're not really tied into the arc that much like the Shadows one though. Originally David Gerrold wrote the story as an outline for a season one episode, but Joe had him do it as a comic instead.

[Jan]

Is that the Laser/Mirror/Starweb story? I've got the outline but I don't remember the comics at all. Sounded fun but IIRC, there were a bunch of low-gravity scenes that would have made it unfilmable.

Jan