B5 Highlights Script Books

[nottenst]

New announcement at http://www.cafepress.com/b5books and in email about sampler books.

"In the six years since The Babylon 5 Scripts of J. Michael Strazynski limited edition series was retired on June 30, 2008, the B5 Books Team receives weekly (sometimes daily) emails from new fans about the availability of this limited series.

While we would never re-issue the books, the sheer volume of requests warranted our consulting with our Babylon 5 Fan Board -- great arbitors of what is fair to the fans and what isn't -- to get their feedback about a compilation that surveys a snippet of content from each of the 14 volumes.

In honor of the 20th anniversary of the series (January 26, 2014), the idea is to give fans an abbreviated experience of the full set. This highlights volume would solve several issues:
a glimpse for the fans who never could have afforded the original investment
a preview for fans who are now paying hundreds of dollars per volume for copies on eBay
a "loaner" edition to friends for people who own the complete set "

If you are interested in these -- in the newsletter there is a coupon that is good for the next 48 hours if you buy both.

[Jan]

Thanks, Nottenst! The coupon code is

ann0207

I have to admit, I'm interested in what they've chosen for the samplers!

Jan

[Ubik]

Even though I already own all this material, let me be the first to say, I think it's a fine idea. I expect there may be some voices of dissent from ‘collectors’ who never expected this material to be reprinted, but I’m not amongst them!

Personally, I don’t buy things because they are limited or collectable, I buy them because I want to read them. The limited nature of the original books was the one thing I found very frustrating as a new comer to the script book phenomenon, and I had to search high and low to find my own copies (okay, I actually enjoyed that part!). I do hope these are kept in print indefinitely to help negate that kind of thing.

The content looks great and these books represent very good value for the more casual fan. I know for sure these would have appealed to me had I not hunted down my own set of script books last year. (Surprisingly, not that expensive from second hand book vendors, and in many cases I paid well under the original cover price. The only volume that cost me more was Vol. 15, which still fetches very healthy prices on eBay!) However, my search did represent a year’s worth of diligence to find them all.

For newer fans who want a taste of the script books this is absolutely ideal. It’s not something I’ll be buying, but I applaud the sentiment. Well done B5 Books!

[glindros]

As a collector who owns 3 copies of the script books, I was a bit shocked when I first read about these sampler books.

"It will never be published again"

This phrase has been said so often, that an announcement like this made me a little mad at first. I had dutifully ordered during every volume release because if I didn't get it then, I would never be able to see this wonderful material. Why should others benefit now?

Then the other side of my brain slapped some sense into me. B5 needs any help it can get to live, if we cordon it off into some sacred museum wing of pop culture, how will it endure (faith not withstanding)? If these books with their limited content can help to rekindle, or inspire love for Babylon 5, they should be printed.


I applaud Jaclyn and the Script books team for omitting volume 15 content and limiting each product to a single book worth of material. I imagine they'll catch a little heck for these products, but as an owner of several complete series of these books, I am fine with this sampler. I hope you are too.

P.S.- I ordered my copies. I think this sampler will be my travel edition.

[babylonlurker]

As a collector who owns 3 copies of the script books, I was a bit shocked when I first read about these sampler books.

"It will never be published again"
. . .
Then the other side of my brain slapped some sense into me. B5 needs any help it can get to live, if we cordon it off into some sacred museum wing of pop culture, how will it endure (faith not withstanding)? If these books with their limited content can help to rekindle, or inspire love for Babylon 5, they should be printed.


I applaud the Jaclyn and Script books team

P.S.- I ordered my copies. I think this sampler will be my travel edition.

If my memory serves me well, the words were "not in this (complete) form".

I welcome these, and I think these samplers should be available "indefinitely" .

I have my entire set (still not completed reading) and will welcome having a set or two of the samplers for loan. I am reluctant to lend out my "real copies", as they are irreplaceable (for all intents and purposes)

[Ubik]

As a collector who owns 3 copies of the script books, I was a bit shocked when I first read about these sampler books.

I'm genuinely curious - why three copies?

One to read, one as a back up, and one as an investment? (to sell on the open market at a profit when demand spikes?)

The only comparison I have would be owning an album on CD and vinyl, but they do genuinely sound different on both formats and I limit it to classic albums I really like. With some comics, I own the TPB and the single issues, but only if the quality of the TPB justifies it.

That's about as 'collector' as I get. So I'm just curious as to the reasoning behind it.

[glindros]

I'm genuinely curious - why three copies?

You're right, a reading copy and a backup. The third set, I plan to donate to a library or similar institution, once I find a good fit for them.

The shows wonderful story, acting, etc.. aside, the books give a rare insight on what it took to produce a late 20th/early 21st century television show. I like to think future historians will have interest in the topic, and I can think of no more complete body of information.

In a little way I will help the show live on.

[Ubik]

The third set, I plan to donate to a library or similar institution, once I find a good fit for them.

That's a genuinely great (not to mention generous) reason for owning that third set. I applaud the sentiment!

The shows wonderful story, acting, etc.. aside, the books give a rare insight on what it took to produce a late 20th/early 21st century television show. I like to think future historians will have interest in the topic, and I can think of no more complete body of information.

In a little way I will help the show live on.

And yes, it does offer a genuinely unique view into getting a TV show made, against great odds!

[glindros]

If my memory serves me well, the words were "not in this (complete) form".

Yes, that particular phrasing has always hinted to me that we would see some product of this sort. Thankfully it is this sampler, and not a complete deluxe hardcover omnibus edition, that looks like the book of G'Kar, which might be considered " a different form".

[Garibaldi's Hair]

For me, the most interesting snippet of the email was the part where they admitted that it wouldn't have been a limited edition if they had known at the start what they learned over the first several books, but having committed to making them limited edition at the start they didn't feel they could go back on that subsequently.

That doesn't really explain why every set since has also been limited edition, but I though it was an interesting insight.

[Ubik]

For me, the most interesting snippet of the email was the part where they admitted that it wouldn't have been a limited edition if they had known at the start what they learned over the first several books, but having committed to making them limited edition at the start they didn't feel they could go back on that subsequently.

That doesn't really explain why every set since has also been limited edition, but I though it was an interesting insight.

Fair point.

I suppose there's a subtle difference between 'limited edition' (a set number of copies), and 'time limited' (as many as will sell in a certain designated period of time). Whilst the black script books were indeed limited, I do not find them to be particularly scarce, so perhaps 'limited edition' is the wrong term here!?' (bar perhaps Vol. 15). I wasn't aware of them when they were originally solicited and sold, so my analogy may be incorrect. But there's still a lot of them floating around second hand for reasonable prices if you look hard enough.

With the Echoes books, they were limited by the number of signed pages available for each volume, but they could have been kept in print sans signatures if the demand was there. Depends how much you value the signature as part of the package!

[Looney]

I just ordered mine. WOW! Thought I missed out on the coupon code. It took several tries to get it accepted. Thankfully it worked.

[Jan]

Sounds like KY (home of CafePress) has had some winter issues, too. Captain Jaclyn has extended the Debut Discount to 2/21 and there's a new coupon code: ann0214

As always, check out B5Books.com for full info (yeah, like you didn't know that!)

Jan

[Looney]

Yeah, I used ann0207 this morning. I was passed the deadline, which I didn't see until this morning. Thankfully it still subtracted $15 from my order, but like I said it took several tries for the code to register. Good thing they came up with a new one.

[Ubik]

Yeah, I used ann0207 this morning. I was passed the deadline, which I didn't see until this morning. Thankfully it still subtracted $15 from my order, but like I said it took several tries for the code to register. Good thing they came up with a new one.

Looney, if I remember correctly, you don't own Script Books and Echoes books do you?

If so, would be fascinating to get your feedback / reaction to these 'Highlights' books. They strike me as wonderful for those who never picked up (or couldn't pick up) the originals.