Description
Book Synopsis Babylon 5 revolutionized genre television. First aired in 1993, the space opera series is highly respected for everything it was trying to achieve on television at a time when Star Trek was king. Its use of story arcs and long-form storytelling in science fiction can be felt in everything from Battlestar Galactica to Lost and The Expanse.Much of its legacy has been about its struggle to survive. From the rivalry with Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, to the collapse of the Prime Time Entertainment Network, the cancellation of spin-off series, and the failed big screen attempts--the behind-the-scenes details on Babylon 5 are as fascinating as anything we have on screen.
This work explores the complex history of Babylon 5, the career of showrunner J. Michael Straczynski, and the behind-the-scenes drama to stay on the air, with many attempts to continue the franchise. Featuring interviews with cast members from the podcast <
Trade Review
This book from Baz Greenland promises to be a love letter to the series I was so fortunate to be a part of. Babylon 5 was a wild and wonderful ride; full of friendships, drama, lots of laughter, confusion, astonishing performances, network nightmares, and a lifelong indelible association with a world both looking forward and over the shoulder. One of the biggest gifts from Babylon 5 is the creative endeavors it has sparked, like this book. If you want more insights into what it took to create and produce this groundbreaking show, you'll devour this book. Thank you to Baz, and to all the fans that have loved Babylon 5 and been so embracing to all of us from the show."—Patricia Tallman, actress, stunt performer and studio executive
Table of Contents
- Table of Contents
- Introduction
- 1. The Legacy of Babylon 5
- 2. Science Fiction Story Arcs
- 3. The Development of Babylon 5
- 4. Babylon Prime
- 5. A Chat with Peter Jurasik (Part 1)
- 6. From Star Trek to Babylon 5 … and Back to Star Trek Again
- 7. Making "The Lord of the Rings in space" a Reality
- 8. The Great Publicity Machine
- 9. JMS's Character Trapdoors
- 10. The Diversity That Almost Was
- 11. A Chat with Marshall Teague
- 12. Season One: A Master Class in World-Building
- 13. Season Two: The Changing of the Guard
- 14. Season Three: Tearing Up the Television Rule Book
- 15. Season Four: The Race to the Finish Line
- 16. Season Five: Epilogues and Opportunities
- 17. A Chat with Patricia Tallman
- 18. The TNT Movies: Looking Back Before Moving On
- 19. The Crusade to Save Earth—and Babylon 5
- 20. To Live and Die in Starlight
- 21. The Lost Tales and What Could Have Been
- 22. The Memory of Shadows: The Big-Screen Babylon 5s That Never Were
- 23. A Chat with Peter Jurasik (Part 2)
- 24. The Canonization of Novels
- 25. The Babylon 5 Community
- 26. Objects in Motion and the Possibilities to Come
- Chapter Notes
- Bibliography
- Index
