Babylon 5 Scripts: Other Voices, Volume 1

Front Cover of Babylon 5 Scripts: Other Voices, Volume 1
Front Cover
Back Cover of Babylon 5 Scripts: Other Voices, Volume 1
Back Cover

 

Publication Date: May 15, 2008
Retire Date: September 30, 2008
Pages: 405
Format: Softcover

SCRIPTS

  • "Born to the Purple" by Larry DiTillio
  • "The War Prayer" by D.C. Fontana
  • "DeathWalker" by Larry DiTillio
  • "Believers" by David Gerrold
  • "Survivors" by Marc Scott Zicree
  • "Grail" by Christy Marx

PLUS A SPECIAL BONUS:
David Gerrold's complete outline for "Laser-Mirror-Starweb," a never-produced, never-seen episode of Babylon 5.

All scripts include an introduction/commentary by the writers written exclusively for these volumes revealing how the stories came to be, why these writers made the choices they did, what it was like to write for the Babylon 5 universe, and, most important, what you didn't see.

A sample of what you'll discover in Volume 1:

  • Why "dust" was originally introduced in "Born to the Purple," but then taken out.
  • What novel inspired Garibaldi's cat and mouse game with Ivanova in "Born to the Purple."
  • The identity of Londo's real alter-ego.
  • What mistake was made in "Born to the Purple" that was corrected in "TKO."
  • Which character originally had six gill-like slots at the base of their back.
  • Revealed -- the real reason the Romeo and Juliet lovers appear in "The War Prayer."
  • Why DeathWalker is female.
  • Who was originally supposed to play Abbutt in "DeathWalker."
  • Why, while writing "Believers," David Gerrold called J. Michael Straczynski in the middle of the night to tell him "You son of a bitch."
  • What Andreas Katsulas confided to writer Marc Scott Zicree.
  • Why the director of "Grail" spent most of his time fuming during the filming.

Volume 1 also includes four photos from Christy Marx's private collection, taken during the filming of "Grail."

Even better, most of the included scripts are early drafts that include never-before-seen dialogue and action that were later cut from the episodes.

Because there are so many differences, you also get the Script/DVD Variations inventory, which catalogues all the changes, deletions, additions and extras that were in the script but you never actually got to see in a handy, easy-to-reference grid. If you are one of the lucky ones with a Volume 15 from The Babylon 5 Scripts of J. Michael Straczynski, you'll recognize this as being nearly identical to Joe Cuts.

Volume 1 has a total of 20 pages detailing 165 of these B5 Script/DVD variations you probably never knew.

Hidden plot details, secrets of the production finally revealed along with never-before-heard stories of the cast....and what it is really like to work with series creator J. Michael Straczynski.

COLLECTORS TAKE NOTE: All the volumes in the Other Voices series are designed to aesthetically complement your J. Michael Straczynski 14-volume series.

Volume 1 is part of a 3-volume limited edition release that will be only be available through September 30, 2008.

EPISODE SYNOPSES

"Born to the Purple" by Larry DiTillio
Londo's affair with dancer Adira Tyree jeopardizes his status on Centauri Prime; Garibaldi doggedly tracks unauthorized transmissions back to Ivanova; Sinclair gets to know Talia better while negotiating a settlement between the Narn and the Centauri in the Euphrates sector.

"The War Prayer" by D.C. Fontana
An attack on a Minbari poet highlights continuing anti-alien sentiment on the station; Londo assists a Centauri Romeo and Juliet; Ivanova's ex-boyfriend tries to recruit her and Sinclair for a radical organization.

"DeathWalker" by Larry DiTillio
Kosh hires Talia for a business matter but scans and records her mind for her most upsetting memories; Dilgar war criminal Jha'dur offers the major races an immortality serum that requires the death of one person for each dose manufactured.

"Believers" by David Gerrold
An alien couple and their son who needs life-saving surgery cause Franklin to struggle with an ethical dilemma of an alien religion; Raiders threaten a starliner headed for Babylon 5.

"Survivors" by Marc Scott Zicree
An advance security team scouts Babylon 5 in preparation for President Santiago's visit, which includes an old friend of Garibaldi's who brings back hard memories; Garibaldi is framed for sabotaging the station. These two events drive him to drink again.

"Grail" by Christy Marx
Seeker Aldous Gajic comes to Babylon 5 in his ongoing quest to find the Holy Grail; Lurkers fall prey to an unknown menace DownBelow, mistakenly believed to be Ambassador Kosh.

Index

Abba Four – page 137

Abbai – page 137

Abbott, Bud – page 138

ABC (American Broadcasting Company) – page 351

Against the Odds (TV series) – page 135

Aicha – page 138

Alcoholics Anonymous – page 279

Alexander, Lyta – page 14

Aliens (film) – page 278

Amiga – page 67

Balos – page 138

Balosian – page 138

BBS (bulletin board system) – page 345

"Believers" – Commentary (page 195)

Big Dipper – page 70

Biggs – pages 68-69

Bixby, Bill – page 135

Booker, Tom – page 350

"Born to the Purple" – Commentary (pages 11-17)

Brakiri – page 137

Brakos – page 137

Brown, Julie Caitlin – pages 140-141

Burrell, Everett – pages 136, 138

Butz – page 15

Cable Ace Awards – page 12

California – page 70

Captain Power and the Soldiers of the Future (TV series) – pages 12, 278, 345

Cascor – page 138

Centauri – pages 15-17

Centauri genitalia – page 16

Centauri Republic – page 13

CGI (computer-generated imagery) – pages 67, 350-351

Chon'Kar (Narn blood oath) – page 142

Christian, Claudia – page 14

Christian Science – page 195

Compton, Richard – page 350

Conquests of Camelot: King Arthur and the Search for the Grail (computer game) – page 349

Copeland, John – pages 12, 278

Costa, Cosie – page 139

Costello, Lou – page 138

Cotto, Vir – page 16

cyperpunk – page 13

DC Comics – page 257

"DeathWalker" – Commentary (pages 135-142)

DeathWalker's anti-agapic – pages 139, 142

DiC Entertainment – page 12

DiTillio, Lawrence G. – Commentary (pages 11-17), pages 67, 71, Commentary (pages 135-142)

DiTillio, Robert – page 15

Dodgers (baseball team) – page 17

Douglas, Sarah – page 141

Doyle, Jerry – pages 14, 17, 69

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (TV movie) – page 12

Drazi – pages 136-137

Dust – pages 12-13

Earth Alliance – page 135

Ellison, Harlan – pages 67, 71, 139, 195

fan newsletter (Babylon 5) – page 345

"Far Beyond the Stars" (Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode) – page 280

Filmation Studios – pages 11-12, 277

Flinn, John C., III – pages 348, 350

Fontana, D.C. – Commentary (pages 67-71)

Foundation Imaging – pages 67, 350

Furlan, Mira – page 347

Furst, Stephen – page 16

G'Kar – pages 69, 257, 279, 348

Gajic, Aldous – pages 346-347, 349-350

Gajic, Goran – page 347

Garibaldi, Michael – pages 13-14, 17, 69, 142, 257, 279-280, 348

Gerrold, David – pages 67, Commentary (195), Commentary (257)

Gibson, William – page 13

Gilden, Mel – pages 277, 281

Golian – page 138

Golus Three – page 138

Gottfried, Gilbert – pages 138-139

Goyokin (film) – page 15

"Grail" – Commentary (pages 345-351)

Greegil – page 257

Green, Bruce Seth – page 16

Greymouth, New Zealand – page 70

Gromahk – page 137

Grome – page 137

Gyor – page 138

He-Man and the Masters of the Universe (TV series) – page 277

Hitchhiker, The (TV series) – page 12

Hitler, Adolph – pages 135-136

Holy Grail – pages 346, 349-350

Homeguard – page 69

"Hooch" (The Hitchhiker episode) – page 12

Hugo Award – page 280

Hurr – page 137

Huxley, Aldous – page 347

Hyach – page 137

Hylak Seven – page 137

Hypernauts (TV series) – page 351

Ikos – page 138

Iksha – pages 136, 138

Ivanov, Andrei – pages 13-14

Ivanova, Susan – pages 13-14, 17, 68-69, 142, 280, 346, 348

"Jake-the-Explainer" – page 17

Jehovah's Witness – page 195

Jha'dur (DeathWalker) – pages 135-136, 139-142

Ji'v – page 138

Jinxo – pages 346, 349-350

"Joker's Wild" – page 12

Jurasik, Peter – page 13

Katsulas, Andreas – page 279

Kemmer, Ed – page 279

Kemmer, Lianna – page 279

kicker (computer hardware) – page 67

Ko D'ath – page 15

Kosh – pages 138, 142, 346, 348

Larry DiTillio's Alien Guide – page 137

"Laser-Mirror-Starweb" – Commentary (page 257)

League of Non-Aligned Worlds – pages 136-137

Ledger, Peter – page 345

Little Dipper – page 70

Llort – page 137

Los Angeles, CA – pages 17, 70

Magic Time (unproduced pilot) – page 280

Mako – page 15

Marie Celeste – page 348

Markab – page 137

Marx, Christy – Commentary (pages 345-351)

Marx, Groucho – page 277

Mary Celeste – page 348

Mattel – page 278

Mayan – page 69

Melat – page 137

Mila – page 137

Mollari, Londo – pages 12-14, 16-17, 68, 279, 348

Molly Dodd (TV series) – page 12

Na'ka'leen Feeder – pages 350-351

Na'Toth – pages 140-141

Nadel, Arthur – page 277

Napoleon – pages 135-136

Nebula Award – page 280

Netter, Douglas – pages 12, 278

New York – pages 17, 139

New Zealand – page 70

Norris, Chuck – page 15

Norris, Mike – page 15

O'Hare, Michael – page 141

Ock – page 137

ombuds – page 346

Onteen – page 138

Optic Nerve – pages 136, 138

Pa'ri – page 137

pak'ma'ra – page 137

Perry Mason (TV series) – page 195

Real Ghostbusters, The – pages 12, 277

Reaves, Michael – pages 277, 280

Revill, Clive – page 15

Riar – page 138

Riga Two – page 138

Romeo and Juliet (play) – page 68

San Fernando Valley, CA – pages 70, 136

Septis – page 137

Serling, Rod – pages 277, 280

sets – pages 68, 279

Sheridan, John – page 14

Shon – page 195

Sierra On-Line – page 349

Sinclair, David – page 135

Sinclair, Jeffrey – pages 14, 16, 69, 135, 141-142, 257, 346

Sliders (TV series) – page 279

Smurfs, The (TV series) – page 277

Southern Cross (constellation) – page 70

Space Patrol (TV series) – page 279

Star Trek (franchise) – page 195

Star Trek: Deep Space Nine – pages 67, 70, 280

Star Trek: The Next Generation – page 70

Star Trek: Phase II (fan-produced web series) – page 280

story editor (title) – pages 13, 15, 139

Sturgeon, Theodore – page 280

Superfriends (TV series) – page 277

Superman – page 257

Superman 2 (film) – page 141

"Survivors" – Commentary (pages 277-281)

Ta Manir – page 137

Takei, George – page 280

Tallman, Patricia – page 14

Thompson, Andrea – pages 14-15

Thornton, Ron – pages 67, 278, 350-351

"TKO" – page 14

Trakis – pages 15, 138

Triad (Hypernauts) – page 351

True Seeker – page 346

Twilight Zone, The (1985 9 TV series) – pages 12, 345

Twilight Zone Companion, The (book) – page 277

Tyree, Adira – pages 13, 15, 17

Udenio, Fabiana – page 15

Ursa (Superman 2) – page 141

Vartas – page 137

Vicker – page 139

Video Toaster – page 67

Vree – pages 137-138

Vulich, John – pages 136, 138

War of the Worlds, The (TV series) – page 67

"War Prayer, The" – Commentary (pages 67-71)

Warner, David – pages 347, 349-350

Warner Bros. – page 13

Wellington, New Zealand – page 70

Winters, Talia – pages 15, 138

"World Enough and Time" (Star Trek: Phase II episode) – page 280

Woronov, Mary – page 15

writers' bible (Babylon 5) – page 279

Wyt – page 138

Yashima, Momo – page 15

Yolu – page 137

You Bet Your Life (TV series) – page 277

Yugoslavia – page 347

Zhabar – page 137

Zicree, Marc Scott – Commentary (pages 277-281)