Found on Ebay / Etsy / Redbubble, Etc...

[Ubik]

Things like the colour sketches of the Vorlon angel, the first drawings of the Narn, Minbari and Centauri home worlds or the colour sketches of the early Starfury designs on black stock are amongst the stuff Steve Burg has sitting around. Things like Ron’s colour sketches of the Minbari cruiser and Shadow vessels will blow a few folks away if they ever come out. The only one I’ve ever shown is a really badly degraded sketch of the Vorlon transport, and that was only because Ron didn't have a scanner close at hand, so sent over an old jpeg he had on file.

But I think the thing here is never say never.

Yep, this would be so cool!

[Triple F]

Well……. You never know about a book….. But one thing is for certain, I wouldn’t be involved with it other to perhaps promote the hell out of it.

There’s a LOT of artwork out there you haven’t seen. For example, there’s a pile of Peter Ledgers work that has never been published in any of the previous books, calendars, etc. To be honest I don’t know the reason why, but it’s sitting there in a box. You’d be surprised at what video is kicking around as well. That stuff I put up from Everett Burrell is just the tip of a rather large iceberg.

What I’ve seen of the B5 at 20 book is gorgeous. Though I did feel it was a bit of a missed opportunity. Having contacted some of the artists for input, personally, having even just a couple of lines from them describing what was being used would have added a nice layer of detail. Difficult to have a visual celebration if you don’t know what you’re looking at. I’ve read the editors descriptions beside some of it and…… well, it made the thing read a bit like a fan site containing speculations rather than facts. But that’s just me, and what comes from talking with the guys.

One of the issues is that the artists don’t have a lot of their work scanned in, remember, these guys have literally thousands of sketches drawn up for the various projects they’ve worked on over the years. These days 98% of it is done on the computer, but they still have box loads dating back to the 90’s. I know speaking from Luc that his stuff that ended up in B5 at 20 was actually photocopied and sent over. It’s kinda surprising that access to a A3 scanner and finding the time to clean up the scans is one of the reasons a major kick arse book has never been produced by the artists themselves. It takes time and they all work pretty constantly. IMDB is a terrible resource when it comes to finding out what folks work on – half of it never gets up there.

Things like the colour sketches of the Vorlon angel, the first drawings of the Narn, Minbari and Centauri home worlds or the colour sketches of the early Starfury designs on black stock are amongst the stuff Steve Burg has sitting around. Things like Ron’s colour sketches of the Minbari cruiser and Shadow vessels will blow a few folks away if they ever come out. The only one I’ve ever shown is a really badly degraded sketch of the Vorlon transport, and that was only because Ron didn’t have a scanner close at hand, so sent over an old jpeg he had on file.

But I think the thing here is never say never.

[Ubik]

Then there’s things like why is it going to take another TWO books to go with the one already released to describe jms’s version of events with regard to Crusade!?

I tend to agree here. I have Crusade WTHH Vol.1 and it felt very padded out to me. Too much repetition of the same material and tiny variations on the same script / pitch.

It was the same with Vol 2.5 of the script book series. A whole book based on a small deviation from the established scripts. It was a lot less interesting or radical than the blurb led me to believe. However, can't really complain as I was refunded in full because I felt that way.

If there's a demand, B5 Books will definitely continue to release material. I do think it could sometimes be better condensed though. It really depends what kind of fan you are. Some love that level of minute detail!

On the whole I love the script books, and the Echoes series was also great. B5 20 was another lovely luxury object that had the production values that I'd always wanted to see.

I still really want to see an Art / CGI / Visual focused book. B5 Scrolls already goes a great job of representing that area, and I can't help but think it would make a great hardcover book.

[Triple F]

OK. It’s open to interpretation. Isn’t it always. But the impression I got was that the B5 script books were going to be the last word as far as B5 went. Here’s the quote. I’ve underlined the main bit at the end.

http://www.jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-3957

After the 14th volume goes up, we will keep the site open for an as-yet
undetermined period...most likely about 90 days, give or take, to let
folks jump in and flesh out any volumes they're missing, and put in the
info for the free 15th volume.

At the end of that period...the site comes down. No more copies will
be made. There will be no inventory, no back-orders, ONLY the ones
that have been actually bought will exist. This will help to ensure
that the books have collectible value for the fans who buy them. We
may do Crusade thereafter, or Twilight Zone, but insofar as the B5
script books...that's the end…………..

<snip>

This collection is really the Rosetta Stone of the Babylon 5
universe...and I wanted that to get out there in full, to kind of
finish the job properly. Here's the scripts, here are the stories
behind the scripts, the arc, the production, here are the photos and
the memos, so that when it's done...it's really done.

The site is still up 10 years on and there’s been more books involving memos ,photos and production information. BTW. What happened to that thing about not using cafe press anymore. Was that just as far as the printing went.

and as for that bit about they’d be “no inventory, no back-orders, ONLY the ones that have been actually bought will exist.” Well, that didn't happen did it.

http://www.babylon5scripts.com/lottery.htm

[Jan]

jms once said that once the script books were done, that was going to be it…

I'd be interested to see where you're quoting that from because I never saw it. What he said is that they'd never be offered again. Quite a difference.

Jan

[Triple F]

500 bucks for a pile of out of print paperback script books that cost 420 new (with discount), isn’t that great a price – selling them individually might be a better option, and certainly wouldn’t have such a scary price tag to them.

The “value” of anything is in the eye of the beholder. Most fans who would be prepared to pay that kind of lump sum for the books already have them. A few late comers scrambled about for a while to purchase over priced sets, but that wasn’t going to last forever. Others would like them, but as jms established a policy of limited release in order to add some “collectible value” to the books, it’s unlikely anyone who purchased them as an investment would go down to a point where the next tier of interested fans would commit to a purchase. At least not a bulk purchase in the $500 ballpark.

And I’m not saying this as some kind of outraged ranty thing. It’s just an observation. Individually the 14 script books were a bit pricey, but certainly not over priced for what you got. Because you got a lot for your money. But I think there’s an element of book fatigue slipping in and effecting those fans round the edges who purchase those kind of collectables.

jms once said that once the script books were done, that was going to be it… Though maybe the Crusade scripts might be sold as well…. Now here we are a few years later, and that’s what, 47 books released and priced from 39.99 to 159.99. That’s over 2 grand to have purchased the full set….. and the “value” of some of them are a bit questionable. Then there’s things like why is it going to take another TWO books to go with the one already released to describe jms’s version of events with regard to Crusade!? Hardcore fans will love it. That’s what hardcore fans do, collect stuff. But once you get away from that core group….. I dunno. There’s a risk of alienating some folks. I’ve seen a few who have purchased books in the past questioning the price, content and artificially created limited selling period as bordering on exploitation of a group desperate to keep hope of the franchise alive.

I couldn’t care less one way or another, as I don’t collect merchandise. But when you start selling things like forty dollar paperbacks that just contains quotes from the show or something like “jms encounters” which is a collection of online interview transcripts…….!

[timk519]

Not one bid, and a good price too. Gone are the days of these going for silly money. I was half considering selling my set, but I think I'd rather hold onto them than get so little back! And, I still haven't exactly read them cover to cover!

That's too bad. Once the B5 movie comes out, there may be interest in them once again.

[Ubik]

This makes me think that if you want a script book collection, now is a good time to do so!

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/321943198251?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

Not one bid, and a good price too. Gone are the days of these going for silly money. I was half considering selling my set, but I think I'd rather hold onto them than get so little back! And, I still haven't exactly read them cover to cover!

[Jan]

Claudia's got some cool stuff on auction to raise money for the C3 Foundation. This one's extra cool - a cast & crew jacket with autographs:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/-/252184781001

Here's everything that's up so far.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/cac8102012/m.html?item=252184781001&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2562

Jan

[babylonlurker]

This may interest some people. It was only available for a VERY short time when the B5-20 book was coming out. Captain Jaclyn gave out a few at the Phoenix Con as prizes, too. They're quite well made and I think this price is less than they sold for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B5-20-SATCHEL-NEW-/161840153773?hash=item25ae6cc4ad

Jan

I got one, used it for carrying my FreeB5 stuff. Not much left of it by now. But yes they are nice.

[Jan]

This may interest some people. It was only available for a VERY short time when the B5-20 book was coming out. Captain Jaclyn gave out a few at the Phoenix Con as prizes, too. They're quite well made and I think this price is less than they sold for.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/B5-20-SATCHEL-NEW-/161840153773?hash=item25ae6cc4ad

Jan

[Ubik]

Hmm... i just sent out money for my cast reunion stuff.. not sure i need more... but they look like fun little books.

Agreed. I think B5 Books has by now covered almost every conceivable angle. Once we get the book on art/design/cgi, it'll be pretty much complete. Then again, B5 Scrolls exists and I've not seen a more complete document of the FX end of things.

[Milkman]

Hmm... i just sent out money for my cast reunion stuff.. not sure i need more... but they look like fun little books.

[Jan]

Huh, I wonder if they'd add anything if you already own the script books and Echoes series?!?

That is my question...

Keeping in mind that they're thin little books, they did have snippets of interviews from people other than JMS. I'd have to look but I think one book had an introduction that focused on CGI, for instance.

I can look at mine a little further if y'all would like. Bear in mind that they were done while the show was in production so there won't be any tell-all info (not that much has ever shown up for B5 anyway).

Jan

[Milkman]

That is my question...