Which of the books would make a good tv movie?

[Dr Maturin]

<<You can't help but imagine the actors saying those lines.>>

Zack: All that and a bag of chips.

[Capt.Montoya]

Originally posted by Gkar4ever
Capt. Montoya, if you read the way Lord of the Rings was written and screenplayed, you'd be amazed that they came from the same source. The jumpiness would all be taken care of in movie format, and I would personally *love* to see "to Dream..." in movie format.....

I have read Lord of the Rings... I actually like much better how "Two Towers" is shown on screen than the two completely separate books on the novel (and I don't mind that some parts had to be taken out for the movies).
So maybe you're right, a good screenplay could make the material of "To Dream in the City of Sorrows" work just fine.

But that book, and "The Shadow Within," seem to me stories that would have made good TV movies only while B5 was in reruns on TNT or Sci-Fi, since they are of more interest to the fans than to the general public. Without the series as the back-up and background to them I think it would be very hard to make them work.

I liked all three trilogies, since the Technomages always interested me and I liked Galen I liked the Technomage trilogy quite a bit. The demystification and of the technomage "magic" was quite good.
The Centauri trilogy was quite good too, great to fill in the blanks on the descencion of Centauri Prime into the hands of the Drakh and how it's ended by the ascencion of Vir.
The Telepath trilogy was good, but the less cohesive of them, due to the material covered. Still, the birth of the Psi-Corps is a good story, the books on Bester beginning and end were good too (and that little tidbit with the statue at the end of Bester tying up the three books was good).

[Sigma]

I have read 3 trilogies and "To Dream in the City of Sorrows".

First B5 book i read was "To Dream...", it was good and as i liked Sinclair character it was very interesting book. Very B5-ish. 9/10

Telepath trilogy is my favorite. Could be even best B5 ever (including series). 10/10
- First two books i would rate 10/10 and last 9.0/10. Bester and Vacit are my all time favorite B5 characters.

Centauri trilogy. Sometimes a little dull and slow but as a whole its good read. Must read for every B5 fan. 7/10

Technomage trilogy. I have only read 1 and half books. Lets only say that i don't like Technomages and Cavelos writing style. 2/10

[elver]

Re: Which of the books would make a good tv movie?

Originally posted by Shr'eshhhhhh
I don't read tie in books, I have tonnes of dvds and videos to watch, books to read and lots creative dibs and dabs on the go. (not to mention an active social life....ok that was a lie folks) I quite like the comics but I still want my B5 to be an audio, visual experience. Ive heard alot of good about some of the spin off B5 books though and was wondering, which are best, which are the most in keeping with the feel of the show and which would you recommend be filmed should the magic fairy of fundingland drop a huge pile of cash at WB's and JMS?

About the books, then.

I've read the first 2 trilogies and "The Shadow Within." The 3rd trilogy is winking at me from my bookshelf, waiting for me to finish Mumon's book on buddhism and Pratchett's "Mort" first.

So, anyway, the books.

Psi-Corps trilogy.

First book was about the founding of the Psi Corps and it covers a vast period of time, so it's a very dense book. It also tells of how telepaths became to be on Earth. Some people have said previously that the book is way too fast and you need to make notes to understand each character's lineage, but I dunno -- didn't need to do that. I enjoyed it greatly, myself. Personally I disliked the whole telepath aspect in the series, they always felt like a "deus ex machina" bit of the show. To beat the shadows, to spy on others, etc. Telepaths are given a face in this book. I'd say if you're a B5 fan and want to know about what happened before, then you must read it

Second book was about Bester growing up and his life. I'm not a telepath myself, of course, but I could really relate to his childhood, so the book was awesome. Bester really grows during this book. The people who said that Bester's character never changed in that other thread should read this one

Third book was very slow compared to the first two. It tells of Bester's last few months. Not much to say about this one, really. It was relatively good.

I found the Psi Corps trilogy to be inspirational -- nice, clean style that motivated me to write myself, heh. The characters were captured, but weren't all that true to the show, in my humble opinion. Oh and even vorlons made an appearance

Second trilogy then. Centauri one. By Peter David.

The three books were similar in style, so there's really no point in discussing them separately. Peter David captures the characters perfectly. You can't help but imagine the actors saying those lines. I'd say if you're going to read one trilogy, read this one.

"The Shadow Within" at first feels like the exercises of a literature student, but about 1/3 through, it settles into one style and follows it faithfully to the end. Sheridan isn't captured as vividly as I would have liked, but Morden is certainly true to the Morden of the series.

[Gkar4ever]

Capt. Montoya, if you read the way Lord of the Rings was written and screenplayed, you'd be amazed that they came from the same source. The jumpiness would all be taken care of in movie format, and I would personally *love* to see "to Dream..." in movie format.....

[Capt.Montoya]

I think the trilogies could make good miniseries, too vast for a single movie.
To Dream In the City of Sorrows is a bit wandering from what I remember, jumping back between Marcus and Sinclair too much to make one coherent movie.
Don't get me wrong, I liked it, it filled in the blanks quite well, but it didn't "feel" like a uniform novel or movie narrative to me.

Or maybe that's just my dimly remembered impresion from reading it a few years ago...

[WorkerCaste]

Bakana, I agree that there is very little chance that the books would be done, for any number of reasons. Still, it's fun to think about.

Amy, the codpiece just got such mileage on the other thread, I couldn't resist! I'm completely with you on Andreas' skills as an actor. Before B5, I had really only noticed him in "The Fugitive" where I thought he did a great job as the one-armed man. His work on B5, though, blew me away. Now he's definitely one of the actor's I keep an eye out for. I'm with ya on not understadning why he isn't around more. Maybe he's not what hollywood would consider lead material, but I have no doubt he could carry a show or film, too, if given the chance and the rightvehicle. For me the joy of Andreas is all about the acting, I can't say that the codpiece does anything at all for me.

[Dr Maturin]

<<Especially not in the middle of a Shadow War...

And then they were probably thinking "Where the fuck did she get this tech?"

[AmyG]

Maybe even a little work for Andreas (or at least a shot of G'Kar's codpiece to keep certain individuals happy )

WorkerCaste, as much as I appreciate the codpiece, what I really want to see is Andreas getting more work. Anywhere. He's completely brilliant, and I can't understand why he isn't cast all over the place. The dial is loaded with great dramas with character roles aplenty. He'd be brilliant on any of them. I'd particularly love to see him on The Sopranos; he has a great resume of mafiosos to his credit, and as a super bonus, it would bring him to the east coast for a period of time (thinking about east coast cons!).

(hasn't Michael O'Hare got just the sexiest voice. oooooooh shiverz)

No, actually Shr'eshhhhhh, that would be Andreas.

Amy

[bakana]

I doubt that JMS would want to film any of the novels.
They are complete and fine as they are.
When there are so many Other parts of the story that haven't been told yet, why go over the same material Twice?

The book I'd like to see is a Followup for To Dream in the City of Sorrows.

I'd like to Know how Sakai coped 1000 years in the past.
Where she went, who she met, what she did, how she and Sinclair/Valen were finally reunited...

Think about it.
She got dumped 1000 years into the past in a Damaged ship built using tech which no one except the Vorlons understands.
And the Vorlons are not exactly the Friendliest guys around, particularly with Strangers.
Especially not in the middle of a Shadow War...

[Dr Maturin]

<<(hasn't Michael O'Hare got just the sexiest voice. oooooooh shiverz)>>

He sounds like he is from a 1920's gangster movie. If that is sexy to you, then yes, he has the sexiest voice.

"We found Capone's hideout, but for right now, I want to hide in you..."

[Shr'eshhhhhh]

Of those mentioned I have only had the pleasure of (the exeption tie in book to my self emposed but possibly breakable rule ) was To dream of.......
For obvious reasons this could not be filmed which is a shame because along with the first B5 graphic novel story, (the name of which escapes me) and In Valen's Name. would have given us alot more pay off to the sterling work done by the gorgeous Mr O'Hare and the various writers of season one.
Thanks to your answers I shall almost certainly give at least one of the other books a try, but if I get addicted and end up walking around try to find myself, on your own heads be it.
(hasn't Michael O'Hare got just the sexiest voice. oooooooh shiverz)

[WorkerCaste]

In answer to the original question, I would enjoy seeing the Centauri Prime series come to life. I just love the chemistry between Peter Jurasik and Stephen Furst, plus you still get Technomage action! Maybe even a little work for Andreas (or at least a shot of G'Kar's codpiece to keep certain individuals happy )

[Satai Delenn]

I would like to see the passing of the technomages come to life.

[WorkerCaste]

Originally posted by spacehermit
I haven't read any B5 books since To Dream in the City of Sorrows, how many are there now?

Three trilogies have come out, and the quality of the trilogies is, IMO, much better than the first set of books.

============
The Legions of Fire by Peter David
"The Long Night of Centauri Prime"
"Armies of Light and Dark"
"Out of the Darkness"

These 3 deal with Centauri Prime from around the time Londo becomes Emporer.

============
The Psi Corps Trilogy by J. Gregory Keyes
"Dark Genesis: The Birth of the Psi Corps"
"Deadly Relations: Bester Ascendant"
"Final Reckoning: The Fate of Bester"

These 3 deal with Psi Corps and the fate of Bester (as the titles imply )

============
The Passing of the Techno-Mages by Jeanne Cavelos
"Casting SHadows"
"Summoning Light"
"Invoking Darkness"

These 3.... well, you get the idea!