Beyond the rim - Discussion?

[JoeD80]

The closest galaxy is much much farther away than ours is big (about 25 times the distance). Any place that didn't have a jump gate needed an Explorer Ship. That's probably too far even for that. Maybe hyperspace only exists in the Milky Way?

[LaserEyes]

My thoughts remain the same... Beyond the 'galactic' rim mind you

Many of the first ones disappeared into the darkness millions of years ago, so what do they do? How are they sustained?
And why cant we undertake some kind of expedition to go and find them?

[Ubik]

I can never quite utter the phrase 'beyond the rim' without smirking like a teenager. I have a dirty mind.

I wonder if Delenn and Sheridan ever went beyond the rim?

But, on a more serious note. I always took 'the rim' to be uncharted space, at the outer reaches of what is know territory, much like the high seas in the early days of naval exploration.

[LaserEyes]

I definitely appreciated the little nod to G'Kar and dr franklin about going beyond the rim.
But even Lorien said that over time most of the first ones died and other passed beyond the rim to whatever lies in the darkness between galaxies. So it was established in canon that there is a physical place beyond our knowledge and understanding.

Which goes back to my original questions, about whether we would be able to see for ourselves what is there where the first ones dwell

[WorkerCaste]

I always took the First Ones' reference to beyond the rim to be moving on to the next stage of existence, rather than the rim of the galaxy. Just as the Minbari had "going to the sea", I think for the First Ones it was more of an existential concept.

Not that exploring beyond the rim of known space (or the galaxy) isn't a worthwhile goal, and was likely pursued by the younger races over time.

[Jan]

Lost Tales comic? What comic is that. I had never heard about that one before.

When the Lost Tales came out, there was a mini-comic, only six pages, that were included in some of the Lost Tales cases sold by Best Buy. The only other way to get it that I know of was at a couple of signings JMS and the cast did around the time of San Diego Comic-Con that year. It was a tribute to Franklin/Biggs and G'Kar/Katsulas and the back cover says:

Dedicated to
the loving memory
of Richard Biggs and
Andreas Katsulas

In it, G'Kar joins Franklin on a private ship to go exploring 'beyond the rim' and become known on many worlds that had been previously undiscovered. It was a nice little tribute.

[Satai with Punsch]

Well, inside the show's canon, G'kar and Franklin do go beyond the rim and come back in Franklin newly bought ship (The lost tales comic).

Lost Tales comic? What comic is that. I had never heard about that one before.


I agree that there is two kinds of "rim" in the story. The simple "beyond our present knowledge". The Explorer ships map parts of the Rim and thus push the border of it further away.

But we also have the metaphysical, some would even say theological, Rim which serves the same purpose at the Sea, or the West, in Tolkiens stories for example.

[Jonas]

While it does refer to an actual location in the story, I think it would be wrong to take "beyond the Rim" too literally. It serves far more as the show's metaphor for death and/or transcendence.

[LaserEyes]

Well, inside the show's canon, G'kar and Franklin do go beyond the rim and come back in Franklin newly bought ship (The lost tales comic).

However, Stephen seems to imply that no one dared to try before them because it's dangerous.

Ah but in the show 2 different rims were stated. The rim of the galaxy and the rim of known space.

[flobo]

Well, inside the show's canon, G'kar and Franklin do go beyond the rim and come back in Franklin newly bought ship (The lost tales comic).

However, Stephen seems to imply that no one dared to try before them because it's dangerous.

[LaserEyes]

The thing that always draws me back is what it means to go beyond the rim. In terms of space travel its the act of travelling beyond the boundaries of our galaxy and into intergalactic space, to whatever lies there.

But now we know this is what happened to the first ones and they have been dwelling there for millions of years, never to return, what is preventing the younger races from mounting some kind of expedition there?

The younger races can traverse hyperspace because of a network of beacons, many attached to jump gates so why not establish a line that leads out of the galaxy to see whats there? Or maybe use such an advance to reach another galaxy?

Could it be there is some kind of hyperspace terminator at the edge of the galaxy (much like how hyperspace terminates at the galactic rim in star wars) which is impossible for the younger races to go beyond? Could it be part of earning the right to be called one of the first ones is to be able to cross this threshold?

I know this little mystery remains as enchanting as it is because no answer has ever been posed, and I as a member of the younger races I wouldnt be able to comprehend...

But... I need to explore this little piece of wanderlust and see whats there!
And since I am not alone in my desire to learn what lies beyond the rim, I am curious what others may think!