Babylon 5 novels, short stories and comic books

Unique to the Babylon 5 universe among virtually all other shared universes is the sanctioned canonicity of many of its offshoot novels and comic book stories; nearly all of the Babylon 5 novels and novelizations to date having been based on outlines written directly by J. Michael Straczynski. The later Del Rey books are considered to be more canonical than some of the earlier Dell ones, although – per Straczynski's own remarks – canonical elements exist in every single book published to date; Straczynski's deeper involvement in the novel-publishing program from 1996 onward having ensured a greater level of canonicity within such works.

Additionally, the creator himself penned a number of short stories expanding on several key story-points from the television series, along with a number of other established authors, with all such tales considered as "real" as the TV show itself. The comic books published by DC are also fully endorsed, with Straczynski again either having directly written or contributed to all of the issues in one form or another.

As of 2007, Straczynski was still writing the manuscript for a Babylon 5 graphic novel, which was to be published by Wildstorm Productions. The premise, characters, and plot have not been officially confirmed, but it has been reported that Straczynski originally planned to write a story that takes place before the season three two-parter "War Without End", featuring Sinclair and Sheridan, and involving Mars, Minbar, Babylon 5, and a conspiracy. It has also been reported that he subsequently decided to tie in elements from the spin-offs Crusade and Legend of the Rangers into the book.[1] The graphic novel was to be 100 pages long.

When asked by a fan during the "Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski" panel at the 2010 New York Comic Con, Straczynski said no new Babylon 5 comics were in the works.[2]

Mongoose Publishing, the publisher of recent Babylon 5 role-playing game (RPG) material, announced plans to release a line of Babylon 5 novels and graphic novels, beginning in summer 2006. J. Michael Straczynski made it clear that he was not involved with this project, and considered the works to be "fan-fiction".[3] In spring of 2007, Mongoose announced that the project was cancelled.

Contents

Novels

The seventh Dell novel has been described as 90% canonical, and the ninth novel is considered fully canonical by J. Michael Straczynski, with canon elements interspersed throughout the other books.[4]

  1. Babylon 5: Voices by John Vornholt (1995, ISBN 0-440-22057-2)
  2. Babylon 5: Accusations by Lois Tilton (1995, ISBN 0-440-22058-0)
  3. Babylon 5: Blood Oath by John Vornholt (1995, ISBN 0-440-22059-9)
  4. Babylon 5: Clark's Law by Jim Mortimore (1996, ISBN 0-440-22229-X)
  5. Babylon 5: The Touch of Your Shadow, the Whisper of Your Name by Neal Barrett, Jr. (1996, ISBN 0-440-22230-3)
  6. Babylon 5: Betrayals by S.M. Stirling (1996, ISBN 0-440-22234-6)
  7. Babylon 5: The Shadow Within by Jeanne Cavelos (1997, ISBN 0-440-22348-2; 2001 edition: ISBN 0-345-45218-6)
  8. Babylon 5: Personal Agendas by Al Sarrantonio (1997, ISBN 0-440-22351-2)
  9. Babylon 5: To Dream in the City of Sorrows by Kathryn M. Drennan (1997, ISBN 0-440-22354-7; 2003 edition: ISBN 0-345-45219-4)

The Psi Corps Trilogy

All are considered canon[5]: written by J. Gregory Keyes.

  1. Babylon 5: Dark Genesis - The Birth of the Psi Corps (1998, ISBN 0-345-42715-7)
  2. Babylon 5: Deadly Relations - Bester Ascendant (1999, ISBN 0-345-42716-5)
  3. Babylon 5: Final Reckoning - The Fate of Bester (1999, ISBN 0-345-42717-3)

The Psi Corps Trilogy hardcover. Published January 1st 1999 by Science Fiction Book Club. ISBN 0739406566 ISBN13: 9780739406564

The Centauri Trilogy

All are considered canon[6]: written by Peter David.

  1. Babylon 5: Legions of Fire - The Long Night of Centauri Prime (1999, ISBN 0-345-42718-1)
  2. Babylon 5: Legions of Fire - Armies of Light and Dark (2000, ISBN 0-345-42719-X)
  3. Babylon 5: Legions of Fire - Out of the Darkness (2000, ISBN 0-345-42720-3)

All three books are collected in Legions of Fire, 2000 by Science Fiction Book Club. ISBN 0739414852 ISBN13: 9780739414859

The Technomage Trilogy

All are considered canon[7]: written by Jeanne Cavelos.

  1. Babylon 5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages - Casting Shadows (2001, ISBN 0-345-42721-1)
  2. Babylon 5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages - Summoning Light (2001, ISBN 0-345-42722-X)
  3. Babylon 5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages - Invoking Darkness (2001, ISBN 0-345-43833-7)
  4. Babylon 5: The Shadow Within prologue to the trilogy (2001, ISBN 0-345-45218-6)

Hardcover omnibus The Passing of the Techno-Mages collects the trilogy. ISBN 0739423959 Published 2002 by Science Fiction Book Club.

Novelizations

All are considered canon: written by various authors.

A novelization of River of Souls was also written but never released.

Short stories

All are considered canon: written by various authors.

Comic books

All contain canon elements (though issues 9 and 10 contradict other strictly canonical sources.[8][9]): written by various authors.

Monthly DC Comics series (1994-95)

  1. "In Darkness Find Me", written by J. Michael Straczynski (December 1994, DC Comics)
  2. "Treason", written by Mark Moretti, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski (January 1995, DC Comics)
  3. "In Harm's Way", written by Mark Moretti, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski (February 1995, DC Comics)
  4. "The Price of Peace", story premise by J. Michael Straczynski (March 1995, DC Comics)
  5. "With Friends Like These...", written by Timothy DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway (June 1995, DC Comics)
  6. "Against the Odds", written by Timothy DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway (July 1995, DC Comics)
  7. "Survival the Hard Way", written by Timothy DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway(August 1995, DC Comics)
  8. "Silent Enemies", written by Tim DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway (September 1995, DC Comics)
  9. "Duet for Human and Narn in C Sharp", written by David Gerrold (October 1995, DC Comics)
  10. "Coda for Human and Narn in B Flat", written by David Gerrold (November 1995, DC Comics)
  11. "The Psi Corps and You!", written by Timothy DeHaas and art by John Ridgway (December 1995, DC Comics)

Comics 1-4 were published in the trade paperback "Babylon 5" (October 1995, Titan Books, ISBN 1-85286-646-2).
Comics 5-8 were published in the trade paperback "Shadows Past and Present" (September 1996, Titan Books, ISBN 1-85286-735-3).
Comics 1-4 and 11 were published in the trade paperback "The Price of Peace" (November 1998, DC Comics, ISBN 1-56389-467-X).

Babylon 5: In Valen's Name

  1. "In Valen's Name, Part 1", written by J. Michael Straczynski (February 1998, DC Comics)
  2. "In Valen's Name, Part 2", written by Peter David, story by J. Michael Straczynski (March 1998, DC Comics)
  3. "In Valen's Name, Part 3", written by Peter David, story by J. Michael Straczynski (April 1998, DC Comics)

All three comics were published in the trade paperback "In Valen's Name" (December 1998, Titan Books, ISBN 1-85286-981-X).

Babylon 5 mini-comic

A special ashcan-sized comic book was included with the (Best Buy only) DVD release of Babylon 5: The Lost Tales.

References

  1. ^ "Straczynski Project Watch". http://worldsofjms.com/projects.htm#b5book. Retrieved 2007-08-11. 
  2. ^ Karl Keily - Comic Book Resources (2010-10-15). "NYCC: Spotlight on J. Michael Straczynski". http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=28907. Retrieved 2010-10-17. 
  3. ^ "A Call to Arms !". Mongoose. http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?qsSeries=28. Retrieved 2006-08-18. 
  4. ^ "JMS Newsgroup Post June, 09 1997". http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-2953. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  5. ^ "JMS Newsgroup Post May, 05 2000". http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-370. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  6. ^ "JMS Newsgroup Post May, 05 2000". http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-370. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  7. ^ "JMS Newsgroup Post May, 05 2000". http://jmsnews.com/msg.aspx?id=1-370. Retrieved 2009-07-22. 
  8. ^ "Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5". http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/comic/010.html. Retrieved 2007-08-17. 
  9. ^ Lane, Andy (1997). The Babylon File. Virgin. 
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Category:Babylon 5