The Triumph of Babylon 5: The Science Fiction Classic and Its Long Twilight Struggles

by Baz Greenland

Overview

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 A Dream Given Form, a lengthy two-part interview with Peter Jurasik (Londo) and a chat with Patricia Tallman (Lyta) and others, this book gives insights into what it was like to be part of Babylon 5, chronicling the show's highs and lows and examining the legacy it left behind in genre television.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781476692401
Publisher:	McFarland & Company, Inc., Publishers
Publication date:	01/24/2024
Pages:	250
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.50(d)
Age Range:	18 Years

About the Author

Baz Greenland has written several published works and for numerous websites. He lives in Cardiff, United Kingdom.

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

Editorial Reviews

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

From the Publisher