<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by superbob:
I need some help here, can someone help me out with the B5 movies and books
What I need to know is what their names are and where the fit in the timeline exactly. I'm sure that this has been asked before but i need to get my collection up to speed and B5 merchandise is more scarce than ducks teeth in my country. Amazon works in dollars which puts a serious dent in my budget. I do have other contacts and sources but I need exact info. I'm on my knees here people help me pleeasssssssssseeeeeeee!
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Superbob,
Bear with me here...thanks to a nasty injury, I'm typing one-handed, but hey...this is a pretty important question - it's about B5!
There are three trilogies - the Bester trilogy, the Centauri trilogy, and the Technomage trilogy; 3 movie/books - "In The Beginning," "A Call To Arms," and "Thirdspace"; 2 movies that have not been made into books - "Legend Of The Rangers" and "River Of Souls"; and 9 Dell books, most of which are not considered canon, but a few of which are must-reads. There are comics as well, but I know nothing of them. However, here are my thoughts on each of the books/trilogies/movies I've mentioned. Keep in mind, the ratings are in "B5" scale - meaning that "bad" ratings are still good material, unless I specifically say it's really, really, really awful.
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Bester Trilogy: as a whole - 4 stars
If you liked the episode, "The Corps Is Mother, The Corps Is Father," then this trilogy is for you.
Book 1: Dark Genesis: The Birth Of The Psi Corps
Timeframe: pre-Babylon 5
Rating: 4 stars
Some find it a difficult book due to interspersed news items.
Book 2: Deadly Relations: Bester Ascendent
Timeframe: pre-Babylon 5 to Ironheart episode
Rating: 3 stars
Not really my cup of tea.
Book 3: Final Reckoning: The Fate Of Bester
Timeframe: approx. 15 years after Objects In Motion
Rating: 5 stars
Classic Garibaldi, who is my favorite B5 character.
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Legions Of Fire (Centauri Trilogy): as a whole 5 stars
Book 1: The Long Night Of Centauri Prime
Timeframe: Starts with Londo getting his keeper
Rating: 5 Stars
**MUST-READ**.
Book 2: Armies Of Light And Dark
Timeframe: Starts at 5-year anniversary of Interstellar Alliance
Rating: 4 Stars
Book 3: Out Of The Darkness
Timeframe: Concludes 18 years after end of the Shadow War
Rating: 5 Stars
**MUST-READ**.
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The Passing Of The Techno-Mages: As a whole, 4 stars
Book 1: Casting Shadows
Timeframe: 2257-58
Rating: 3 stars
This book was slow reading for me.
Book 2: Summoning Light
Timeframe: Early 2259
Rating: 5 stars
Watch the episode with the Techno-Mages before reading this book!
Book 3: Invoking Darkness
Timeframe: Late 2260
Rating: 4 stars
Watch "And The Rock Cried Out No Hiding Place" and "Z'ha'dum" before reading.
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Movies:
A Call To Arms: 3 stars
Timeframe: 5 year anniversary of Interstellar Alliance
Thirdspace: 2 stars
Timeframe: 2260 or 2261
River Of Souls: 1 star
Timeframe: post-B5 season 5
Legend Of The Rangers: 4 stars
Timeframe: 2 or 3 years after B5 season 5.
In The Beginning: 5 stars
Timeframe: Earth-Minbari War
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Dell Books
1: Voices - 3 stars
2: Accusations - 2 stars
3: Blood Oath - 4 stars
4: Clark's Law - *BOMB* - no stars
5: The Touch Of Your Shadow, the Whisper Of Your Name - 2 stars
6: Betrayals - 4 stars
7: The Shadow Within - 3 stars
8: Personal Agendas - 2 stars
9: To Dream In The City Of Sorrows - 5 stars
Advice - read "The Shadow Within" before beginning the Techno-Mage trilogy. Read "To Dream In The City Of Sorrows" immediately (assuming you've seen the episode where Neroon challenges Delenn's choice as head of the Rangers). AVOID "Clark's Law," unless you just want to see how NOT to write the characters of Babylon 5. It's bad enough to call it heresy. Although only books 7 and 9 are considered in any part canon, other than minor details, all books except book 4 COULD BE considered canon without causing much conflict.
My advice is to start with the Centauri trilogy, then read "To Dream In The City Of Sorrows," then "The Shadow Within" followed by the Techno-Mage trilogy, followed by the Bester trilogy.
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