Poll: I buy/want the Script Books for....

[Jan]

A friend mentioned that she thought that most people who are buying the script books are doing so for the new material that JMS writes for them. I got to wondering about that, so I thought I'd see what you folks thought.

[AaronB]

A friend mentioned that she thought that most people who are buying the script books are doing so for the new material that JMS writes for them. I got to wondering about that, so I thought I'd see what you folks thought.

I would agree with that. If I were to buy the script books it would be for that reason as well.

[Spoo Junky]

At first I was getting them just because they are a limited edition. After reading the first one, though, I want to read the background stories, etc. JMS has made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion. I've perused the scripts themselves but it's what JMS writes about the show and its people that keeps me buying them. It's like an extra on a dvd but more personal and in depth.

[NotSoWize]

Well, I based my decision to purchase the first book based on JMS introduction and the "behind the scenes" notes that is included (so that's what I voted for.) Once I've read it, I'll know what stands out for me and whether or not it is enought to make me want to purchase the rest of the script books.

[Jan]

I actually ended up surprising myself with the books. Originally I thought that all I'd be interested in was the new material. Since JMS has included several different drafts from the ones I've already got, I find myself reading them, too so I voted for the whole package.

Jan

[SLerman]

I actually ended up surprising myself with the books. Originally I thought that all I'd be interested in was the new material. Since JMS has included several different drafts from the ones I've already got, I find myself reading them, too so I voted for the whole package.

Jan

Yeah, well some of us don't already have autographed copies of every script, so blah.

I don't really remember exactly why I started buying the books. It was probably just because they have "Babylon 5" on the cover. Since then, I've enjoyed every part of the books. It's interesting seeing scenes that were cut from the episodes and some of the process behind the show's production. The introductions have also been great. JMS is definitely one of the best writers I've read, especially since his sense of humor appears to be quite similar to mine (except that JMS is actually funny).

[Jan]

Yeah, well some of us don't already have autographed copies of every script, so blah.

But...they're NOT all autographed!! Yet.

Jan

[Joseph DeMartino]

"All of the above" plus the promise of the 15th volume as an added incentive. I could certainly never afford to buy all the scripts through cons (which I don't attend) or dealer's sites. Since I am very much interested in the art and craft of film and television writing I love comparing scripts to the finished works, and the scripts of one writer to another. (And the scripts of one writer to his other scripts, which can often be very different indeed.) So this lets me indulge that interest, which has been mostly limited to a few other published book collections or individual scripts (sometimes annotated) available through regular book stores.

Regards,

Joe

[JohnFourtyTwo]

I've got a silly question. How many B5 novels are there in print? I have no idea. I stopped buying scifi novels (Star Trek in particular) over 10 years ago because they weren't challenging enough for me.

One more silly question. Are the B5 novels better written than your garden-variety Star Trek novel? If so, then I look forward to some purchases in the future.

[SLerman]

There are a whole lot of B5 novels. Some are worth reading, some aren't. If you search the forum (or wait for someone to come along and post a link), you should be able to find a complete list that's been posted before. The ones you want to read are the Technomage trilogy, the Centauri Prime trilogy, the Psi Corps trilogy, To Dream in the City of Sorrows, and The Shadow Within.

[phazedout]

well I voted for the whole package.
I'm quite enjoying the book sand am eagerly (and impatiently) awaitng book 10 to come out.
Also of course the happiness of volume 15.
Phaze
on the "hoping CafÚ press don't screw that one up" ID

[Kloreep]

Introductions, which are always an interesting and entertaining read as JMS looks back on the B5 series, and memos/photos, which are interesting pieces from the series as it was happening.

Eventually I may make actual uses of the scripts - probably next time I watch the series through, then I can actually compare the script vs. completed episode. But at the moment I don't even read most of the scripts; I've only read one or two that JMS mentioned in the introduction as being a draft that was quite different from the finished product.

[Kevin]

You know, when I first saw this poll, before I had gotten in my first volume, I definetly voted for the intro/memos as being the determining factor to why I was buying them. But now that I've recieved it and read through it all cover to cover, I definetly have to say that all of my future purchases will be for the full package. I had no idea how much I would really enjoy reading scripts for episodes I had seen a thousand times; they're incredibly enjoyable to read through and really fascinating, not just for what's left out or mixed around (i.e. Parliament of Dreams Kosh scene being thrown into War Prayer and having half the dialogue looped over, something I had never noticed before until I watched War Prayer last night after having read the script the other day ) but also for how what gets written down is implemented on screen.

Overall, just a really cool package; I figured I'd enjoy them, but man... these things are a lot cooler then even the uber nerd in me thought they were

[NotSoWize]

My response now that I've actually had the first volume for a while is much like Kevin's above. I'm starting with season one and reading the script just after I watch an episode (I just finished "Soul Hunter" last night so I have a looooooooooong way to go) and I'm really enjoying the scripts themselves as well as all the supporting materials that I expected to love. It's great to see the changes (although so far I've really wished that the scenes that were cut had somehow made it into the final episode) and how much the actors bring to the dialogue with their choices of delivery, gestures, and facial expression. Now I have to decide whether to bite the bullet and order in the remaining volumes all at once or a couple a month. Decisions, decisions . . .