Please Introduce Yourself Here

[NotSoWize]

I am just a plain old fan of B5. I really haven't read or watched anything else by JMS yet. In reading posts here over the past week or so, it is apparent that there are several folks on this board who have a much deeper relationship with JMS or B5 or Hollywood or some combination of those. I would love to get a better idea of what the various regulars' backgrounds/interests are.

A very brief bio of me would be that I am the co-founder of a medium sized business in Western Montana. I have been a big SF/Fantasy fan since I read the Narnia books as an eight or nine year old 30+ years ago. The current run shows that I follow are -- Lost, 24, and Battlestar Galactica.

[OmahaStar]

Well, let's see ... I'm known online as OmahaStar (or just Star). I don't live in Omaha anymore .. I'm not about 25 miles north of there. But since no one's ever heard of this small town, I keep it as OS for simplicity.

I've been a B5 fan since the beginning. I was a fan of Trek first, and thought Ambassador Tomalak was "kewl" (what did I know? I was young then). At a convention, they talked about an upcoming movie with him in it, playing a lizard guy. I tuned in ... and am still around.

My favorite characters tend to be bit parts ... Usually the blink-and-you'll-miss-them roles, played by strong, powerful women. On StarGate, my favorite character was Dr. Barbara Shore.

On Babylon 5, that character is Jane, the ISN Anchor. Honestly, for the first 2.5 years in the role, I didn't notice her. I was concerned with Susan, and Valen, and Zathras, and all the others. It wasn't until the Severed Dreams trilogy, where Clark's forces invade ISN - presumably killing her - that I stood up and took notice.

And then she came back, a little over a year later, in "Endgame" ... I've been a fan of the character ever since. And I'm Maggie Egan's biggest fan. I might be her only fan, but that's ok, cuz she gave me the title herself. :D

Around here, I'm pretty much the cheerleader for her character - and the rest of ISN, for that matter. I try to look at all the characters and see that none are one-dimensional. Even that bitch Alison Higgins (Titanic's Diana Morgan).

I'm also a fan of both StarGate series, The 4400, Kyle XY, Lost, and others.

Following Jan's lead, I now attend the Dragon*Con convention in Atlanta. Strangely, the year I started was the first year she skipped. And she's skipping this year again too. Coincidence? You be the judge. ;)

Anything else ya wanna know, just ask.

[AaronB]

Following Jan's lead, I now attend the Dragon*Con convention in Atlanta. Strangely, the year I started was the first year she skipped. And she's skipping this year again too. Coincidence? You be the judge. ;)

Anything else ya wanna know, just ask.
And we have never seen you and Jan in the same room at the same time either... hmmm. The mind boggles.

[Jan]

And we have never seen you and Jan in the same room at the same time either... hmmm. The mind boggles.

Ssssshhhhhh! Sheesh, you're gonna start a rumor! ;)

Okay, I'll take a turn...

I've been a science fiction fan and fantasy fan for as long as I could read going from Dr. Seuss (don't tell me that's not fantasy! :) ) to Tom Swift to Burroughs to Heinlein to McCaffrey and Lackey and Robinson. When it comes to TV, I've been a (capital F) Fan of only 3 shows-Dark Shadows (a late 60's gothic soap), the original Star Trek and of course, Babylon 5. While I like to watch other shows, most of them are what I think of as 'watch once' shows while my faves I can (and have!) watch over and over.

These days I'd have to call myself a JMS fan more than a B5 fan. I'm lucky that I've enjoyed practically everything he's done and loved a lot of it. I enjoy going to SF and Comic conventions all over the States. While JMS doesn't have to be a guest for me to attend a con, generally if has to have a good representation of B5 guests.

My 'claim to fame' in fandom is my script collection. At least until JMS starts churning out Lost Tales scripts, I have a complete collection of *all* of the B5 and Crusade scripts including some unproduced episodes and the Movies of the Week-every one legitimate, no bootlegs. I'm really glad JMS is publishing the script books because now lots and lots of fans can discover what I've known for years now-scripts are great fun to read and give a new insight into the episodes. Looks like I'll be on the hunt again soon...what a lovely 'problem' to have. :)

Jan

[SmileOfTheShadow]

Hey everyone, my name's Jon and I'm a big sci-fi tv fan, and I pride myself in collecting sci-fi dvds, as Jan collects scripts (though I think maybe the scripts are cooler). Right now I'm living in Berkeley, CA where I just graduated...but I'm moving to Orange County mid august.

I've been a B5 fan since about season 2 when it was airing, and I'm currently watching through Enterprise, so I can say I have watched through all of star trek. After that, I'm going to restart B5 again and follow it through with the scripts..which I've been convinced to get recently. That's about it :)

[phazedout]

Ok a hello thread, right here goes
I was born (today) 35 years ago in Dublin, Ireland. I'm a jms fan in the traditonal sense of the word, as in fanatic. I'll buy rpacticaly anything JMsy and ahve been into scifi since before I can remebmer, watched Dr who as a child and read majick books (kids series about a chap calle dbilly) until I found asimov, gemmel and tolkien around age 9.
I have everything B5y on DVd EXCEPT legend of the rangers, I've never been able to sit through the whole thing, I'll pick it up when I'm next in the states for like 5 bucks or something. I'm also a fan of Farscape, Firefly and other cancelled sci-fi shows beginning with F.
Currently watching fargate sg1, atlantis, lost, 24, dark angel, american gothic space:above and beyond and blade the TV series (ah the joys of friends in the states ending me DVDs.
Oh yes and the phaze thing came from a Piers Anthony novel called phaze doubt. since certain boards limit you to 8 chars I go by phaze and am also known as phazedup, down and in.
Phaze
on the "methinks I was a tad long-winded" ID

[AmyG]

Amy, indeterminate age, birthday around Halloween time, displaced New Yorker living in the Phila. suburbs, musician/writer/creative person, practicing pagan, teacher of shamanic journeying, day job as a web designer specializing in creative professionals (composers, authors, directors, etc.) and new age businesspeople, former career (and continuing interest) as a copyright professional in the serious music publishing industry, married, two cats (Psyche and Beowulf), B5 fan since the beginning, science fiction fan since I was a tot...lessee, does that about cover it? Oh, as to B5 fandom:I'm also a poster on the moderated newsgroup, had my car wrapped in 2001 by the SciFi Channel as a promotion for "The Legend of the Rangers" (http://www.fjordstone.com/gcar.html), and am somewhat known for an overt fondness for the great, late, lamented Andreas Katsulas.

[strashiLOL]

I'm a mere russian fan of JMS and B5. 3D graphics programmer, sci-fi writer, vocalist and guitar player. When I'm not busy doing things listed above, you can see me passing myself off as a brit, because everyone hates russians (western people think that we live in tanks, drink vodka, eat borsch, ikra and blinys, and enjoy talking to bears and dancing kazachok).

I've been a fan of JMS since 1998 - the year B5 first aired on TV6, one of the major russian TV channels. Astonished by the depth and scope of the show, I tried hard not to be blown away together with my chair, and from that time on became lost to the sane part of the world.

"Cheers!" <drinks vodka>

[Joe Nazzaro]

I’ve been a genre geek since I was old enough to read, which apparently was before I could walk, or so I’m told. Read everything in the kid’s section of my local library and graduated to an adult library card when I ran out of stuff to read. Favorite TV shows as a kid were Batman and Lost in Space. Spent my teenage years listening to my mother tell me, ‘You’ll never make a living out of science fiction.’ She was wrong.

Started doing fan interviews, mainly Doctor Who and Blake’s 7 in the mid eighties. Sold my first professional assignment a couple of years later, and went freelance full-time in ’91 and haven’t taken a real job since. Written books on Star Trek, Red Dwarf, Blake’s 7 and Farscape. Worked for 40 or 50 magazines over the years and lost count after my two-thousandth interview. Sheelagh and I have been happily married for 13 years now. She’s just finished almost a year on season two of Doctor Who, so we can now have a married life again.

My dubious claim as far as Babylon 5 is concerned is I’ve done more B5/Crusade interviews than anyone in the world, over 200 if I’m not mistaken. I discovered the series when a Warners publicist sent me a rough cut of the pilot and asked if I was interested in covering it. I spent the next couple of years trying to get the series a bit of attention when nobody wanted to know. Hard to believe it now, but in seasons one and two, it was definitely the best kept secret in SF television.

Personal B5 highlights? Going to the cast and crew screening of The Gathering. Watching Bill Mumy and Bruce Boxleitner try to get recognized in London’s Forbidden Planet- and failing miserably. Taking Mira Furlan and her husband to the Butterfly House in Syon Park (and no, the significance wasn’t lost on me). Sheelagh and I being given permission to attend the filming of Sleeping in Light, and being sworn to secrecy for the next year. Being on hand for Day of the Dead, and getting to talk to all those favorite characters who came back for a day’s filming. Watching a sunset behind the studio with Andreas Katsulas, still in full costume and makeup. Interviewing Michael O’Hare and Bruce Boxleitner together. Trying to run an interview with the entire cast around a giant conference table early in season four; also a first. I could probably come up with a hundred more, but those are the ones that leap to mind.

As a journalist covering the genre, you pretty much have to watch everything that comes out, whether it’s good or bad. But over the years, the list of crap gets pretty long, while the list of personal favorites remains staggeringly short. Babylon 5 is still number one on that list, and I don’t see anything coming along to replace it any time soon. Judging from the comments I’ve been reading on this board over the last several months I’ve been stopping by, most of you seem to feel that way as well. Which is pretty cool.

[DGTWoodward]

First off, Joe N...you win hands down!

Hello, my name in Daron Woodward (no relation to Peter, ah well! :mad: ) and I live in Warwick in the UK - just a stone's throw, or should that be a catapult's throw, from the famous castle.

I work in Warwick as a Pharmacy Technician and BOY! Is it dull!! :(

I am getting married in November this year to my fiance Sharon (who occasionally posts here as FIREBIRD) in Lav Vegas. :)

I like reading (If factual then biographies and autobiographies usually. If fiction than definately SF, but some main stream thrillers too) and I like to write poetry, but I am also in the middle of a George A Romero 'Living Dead' tribute script :eek: which I hope to film some time next year, when I can get time to work out how to do all the FX! :confused:

I have been a fantasy and SF fan for as long as I can remember. I have really clear memories of watching on TV (without even touching on cinema) George Pal's WAR OF THE WORLDS, LOST IN SPACE, VOYAGE TO THE BOTTOM OF THE SEA, STAR TREK (the REAL Trek and NOT the pathetic dilutions that followed), BLAKE'S SEVEN and on until of course BABYLON 5 came into my orbit. I was, what you'd call, a slow burner...I recall being somewhat less than 'blown away' by season one, but there was something that kept me watching it all the same. Now, I love all five seasons equally. Their brilliance of cohesion, story telling, character developments, all have grabbed me by the throat and have not let go since! :D

My, purely personal, claim to fame as well as good fortune is that I have been lucky enough to meet ALL of the main cast more than once, most of the co-starring cast, costume designers, make-up FX people, at least one director and of course, both JMS and John Copeland. I am very happy to have met both Rick and Andreas more than once. My prized memory is attend the BIGGEST B5 convention EVER - in the the whole world, right here in the UK! And from that, we have a signed cast photo with so many autographs on it, it is hard to count them all! :D :D :D :cool:

[Bonehead]

Ok, so no wonderful stories from me, no cons, fests, meetings with the cast or crew. No industry insight or connections, no Andreas fetishes (sorry Amy)

I'm just here to make up the numbers. :rolleyes:

Watching Star Wars in the Cinema for the first time when I was 4 years old, (back in '77), was the single most influencial event in my childhood.

Watching Babylon 5 for the first time (all the way through) on TV about 7 years ago, was the single most influencial event of my adulthood.

Everything else is a blur......

[AaronB]

I'm just a soul who's intentions are good. Oh lord, please don't let me be misunderstood.

[Joansie]

I'm just a "Fat bottom girl" :D who loves Babylon 5. I am a late lover of B5. Have lived in British Columbia for the past 29 years, originally from Toronto, Ontario. I work for a gum Manufacturer as a rep. I am also a bookkeeper for 3 business. (I know I'm a workaholic)

I became interested in B5 about 5 years ago during the reruns on our Space Station. So, I started to tape and retape and retape all the episodes. I couldn't get enough. I now have all the DVD's. I have watched then so much that I can just about repeat the dialogue along with the actors.

I am looking forward to all the good things that are happening in the JMS world.

[Circular Reason]

Well I am currently in the employ of a Surface Treatment company as their Quality Manager. I am basically responsible for making sure the company complies with the Bs En ISO standards. It sounds boring - and it is....

I am married to Trish and we have 2 kids - 1 lad ( Russ ) of 12 years, and 1 girl ( Alice ) of 5 years. Alice has Cerebal Palsy so we spend most of our time looking after her. Russ is an avid B5 fan and can't wait for the new stuff.

B5 influenced the whole way that Myself and Trish go about getting the things for Alice we think she deserves. We are always fighting city hall ( or local city councils ) - and guess what - they may be arseholes - but you can win. That is the one single thing that if I met JMS tomorrow I would thank him for.

[byong]

Married with two kids. Youngest ones name is Delenn. I am a fan of B5 and admire and respect JMS for his work. I am glad stuff is working out for him. It seems every month hollywood is putting out several junk movies, (not all but a lot). And I wonder all the time why there isn't a B5 movie. With all this money spent on junk movies why not spend it on B5 instead and get a great movie from a great writer?

[Shadow-Sentient]

Some extremely interesting people here ... Let me bring down the curve a little bit.

I am a California native and live in El Dorado Hills, near Sacramento. I grew up however, in Southern California. I'll be 35 this August and have always been a Science Fiction fan of one type or another. It all started with Robotech. I would race home to watch it everyday after my Gran's soaps. She couldn't understand why I would want to watch a saga and why I couldn't miss an episode. I guess she didn't see the irony in her soaps. I also loved the yearly Twilight Zone marathons.

Anyway, Blade Runner & Brazil came along in the early 80's and Sci Fi was something that would always fascinate me. I enjoyed your usual run of Doctor Who and Trek, but truly fell in love with Babylon5. It took me a while, I didn't really get into it until Season 3 of it's first run on television and had to do a catch up on reruns. G'Kar was always the character I identified with most and Andreas passing hit me almost as the loss of a good friend. sadly, I never had the chance to meet him. Babylon 5 spoiled me. I am unable to sit through most Star Trek now because I am always left wanting for 'something more' than quick fixes and improbable characters.

I am currently engaged and we should be hitching in November of next year, provided everything works out. I am relocating back to Southern California for the marriage. She is a Business Systems Analyst for A Medical Center.
I am a Guitar teacher by trade and studied music and classical voice at Citrus College in Southern California but changed my major to film later on oddly my degree is in a completely different field. I guess I was bad at making up my mind.

Currently, I am writing a novel based on 16th Century Ireland and went there last year to do research. History is a passion of mine. I run a 16th century historical reenactment guild that participates at Celtic festivals and Renaissance Faires.

BTW: Shadow-Sentient came from the action figure. I had an entire collection of Babylon5 action figures that I recently sold on eBay. The most rare was the Shadow Sentient. Creepy little buggers. Anyway, that one figure alone upped the value of my collection. The entire thing sold for something like $450. So, I use it as a handle on a couple of chat-boards.

[Spoo Junky]

I live in a town northwest of Toronto, along with my husband and a cat and dog. I paint as a hobby and I enjoy reading, mostly sci fi right now.

I watched a few episodes of B5 when they originally aired but with the times changing all over the place I couldn't keep up. When it was shown on the Space Channel here in Canada I was finally able to watch the whole thing, over and over and over. When it went off the air I was very disappointed. That's why I was so glad to be able to get the DVD's when they came out. I thought I was happy with just that, but then I wanted to get all the canon stories regarding B5. I managed to pick up the comics last year and I'm currently getting the script books. Someday I'll get the B5 stories that were in various publications.

I'm grateful that my husband understands my need to collect these B5 things. Anyway, he owes me - we once drove 10 hours, almost to Philly, in order to see Renee O'Connor from Xena. We stayed overnight and then drove back. :)

[WorkerCaste]

Well, I live in New York State, not the City, in a big, turn-of-the-century house with my wife and dog. I make a living working on large software systems. I, like Jan, started with things like “Suess” and “Tom Swift” along with “Hardy Boys” and the like. In the early 70’s I really started getting into science fiction and fantasy in a big way. While speculative fiction remains my first love, I have come to the point where character and thought-provoking plot are more important than genre. I am also a big fan of American history (primarily 1600’s through 1800’s.) I seem to have more hobbies than time.

My wife and I watched B5 from the beginning, though I can’t remember how we heard about it. Starting in the second or third season we gathered a group of friends together to watch the new episodes about every two weeks. (We all promised not to watch until we got together. Sometimes that actually worked! :D ;) ) B5 was responsible for getting us to the one and only fan convention we’ve ever attended – Michael O’Hare was a guest. Would love to go and see JMS at a con, but it never works out :(.

Current TV shows include: Battlestar Galactica, NCIS, Bones, Veronica Mars, Cold Case and Numbers.

[DeMonk]

My name is Marie Christine, live in Brussels, am 49 years old, secretary.
I have been a fan of SF ever since the teacher gave me Rendezvous with Rama (Arthur C. Clarke).
I came across Babylon 5 by sheer coincidence last august: a collegue lent me his box of season I. It blew me away and I immediately bought all five, plus any books and comics by JMS I could (and can) find.
I watch Lost, Stargate, Judge John Deed and Waking the Dead.
Still keeping an eye out for Jeremiah.
Other hobbies are reading and walking (between 20 and 25 km at least once a week).

[Radhil]

Allright, I might as well...

Lesse, my fake name is Radhil (one L), which is a name I've had for ten years and have yet to really live up to. The real me is a single white guy living in the vanishing border between New York City suburbs and upstate farmland. I'm (for the moment) a computer operator for a newspaper company, and I've been doomed to be a tech head since I discovered BASIC programming at age 8. I'm largely a mental guy and relentless thinker, and this has been an annoyance as much as an assett. Have lots of things I've wanted to be, and have gotten to maybe two of them. So far.

As far as geekery goes, I've got a lot of it. Video games were my life when I was younger, and I still have several addictions I'm trying to stamp out (never, ever, bring up Civ). I was a loose genre fan for movies, you know the usual cheeseball 80s classics (Tron, Willow, Labrynth, Star Wars), but it was a friend who started me on Terry Brooks that I can really blame for days, weeks, months of my life spent reading. I think by the time B5 rolled around I was chest deep in Tolkein, or maybe Eddings, and promptly dimissed such cheesy looking graphics from a Star Trek wannabe (god, I was a fuckin' idiot :D ). Somewhere and sometime afterwards, after I stopped escaping to fantasy and started learning it, I started looking into stories I'd missed for one media or another, and I eventually ran back into B5 on SciFi repeats. And I was floored, blown away.

Since then I'm not quite as obsessive about scifi and fantasy, but I am just more obsessive about finding the Good Stories. The ones that reflect, not just entertain. I've hit up a bunch of stuff I overlooked earlier in that search (Buffy, Farscape, Twilight Zone, lots of classic novels) I'm probably trying to Figure It All Out somewhere in my head, and aware that I'll likely Never Get Close.

And people that capitalize odd things should probably be examined and dissected, but I'm just that way. :)

[Dr Maturin]

¡Escuchame! My name...es ARMANDO...ALEJANDRO...ESSSSSSTRADA!

I am a tortured soul (AKA clerical worker) who is trying to finish a criminal justice degree. I don't want the degree for money as I am well taken care of in that department; I want it so that I can fight the good fight. Freelance journalist, aspiring fiction author and amateur restaurant critic are all terms that could be applied to me. I'm the type of guy who'd drink beer from a can at a wine tasting party. I'm the type of who HAS done such a thing. I want to start a group called the Meatans, who only eat meat.

I first learned of B5 in an issue of TV Guide (which I still own) that previewed several upcoming sci-fi series. Captains Sisko and Picard were on the cover. I read about the various series, some of which made me cringe (Space Rangers) and some of which seemed quite interesting (DS9 and B5). I watched The Gathering, and I believe I fell asleep about halfway through. I liked the look of it enough to want to see more, but we didn't have a PTEN affiliate. I would have to wait until TNT began replaying episodes. I taped several, including TIoT, but I never really WATCHED the series until the DVDs came out.

[Joe Nazzaro]

Meatan: at last a cause I can stand behind. Carnivores of the world unite!

[B5_Obsessed]

Meatan: at last a cause I can stand behind. Carnivores of the world unite!

Pleased to meat ya. :)

I'm a long time self-professed sci-fi and genre geek, trivia and music fanatic, and occasionally unapolagetic punster. I have never dressed up as a Klingon, however. Born in NYC, I got married 20 years ago and moved to Florida (where it's cooler). I hold an MBA and work as a government accountant, and believe me, it's not as exciting as you might think. :eek:

I'd much rather be a writer and actually I have three novels mapped out in my head, yet I seem to lack the energy to put the words on paper. It might have something to do with the fact that I have two teenagers.

I love beer and black licorice..... together.

And Joe N, you're living the life, man.

[Shadow-Sentient]

B5_Obsessed:

Black Licorice rocks!!

I love it. However, I have read that if you eat too much it will abnormally increase your estrogen levels. How true this is ... I dunno. Mixing it with beer probably helps though ;)

[B5_Obsessed]

B5_Obsessed:

Black Licorice rocks!!

I love it. However, I have read that if you eat too much it will abnormally increase your estrogen levels. How true this is ... I dunno. Mixing it with beer probably helps though ;)

Did I mention I also have pouty breasts?
Just kidding, the rampant testoerone in my body kills any estrogen on sight.

[Lunan]

Indtroduce myself, hmmm

I AM ME

oh more details, hmm

loved joes work since i was a little tiny kid(though didn't realize he did anything for he-man and she-ra till just recently)

i'm 24 born on groundhogs day (look nothing like bill murry, thank the light)
scifi came to me in the form of anne mccaffrey's pern and ST:TNG in 89, about the same times actully though anne was first.
i spread to annes other works love Crystal Singer the most of all her work
and my authors of influence have spread to list a few of the major ones
Anne Rice
Elizabeth Moon
Frank Herbert
Heinlein
Arthur c. Clarke
Dick Francis
Tom Clancy
Robert Jordan(just found him, read WOT in june, yes all 11 of them)
C.S. Lewis
and many more but those are the majors

ah yes tv shows.
My tv shows are Doctor Who(all 28 season and looking foward to 29), SG-1, Altantis, Real Time with Bill Mahr, Smallville, Farscape, Thundercats, and a very suprising new comer Eureka(its been amazing) oh and of course B5
i am and have always been a RABID Yankee fan (and growing up in the 80's i remember 15000 fans in the park when the only reason to come was to see donnie baseball, just incase we have band wagon type people here)

i am a major audiobook listener, i have a good 150gb of mp3/mp4 on my comp for my ipod, i play M:TG, i am currently single
i have a suprising memory for visual info to the point that i have had 4 or 5 hour arguments about various points in movies and tv shows with friends, bit of a geek, live in ny work in The City ba in psych looking into taking masters possibly in school psych
anything else you wanna know drop me an e-mail and maybe i'll respond

edit: as to my name LUNAN i have been using this since the dawn of the current internet age and before, if its diablo, if its d&d, if its something where i need a name, Lunan is the one i use and i have for longer then i can remember at least 20 years and maybe before

[StarHarper]

Hi everyone!

I'm a secretary from Michigan. Married 31 years, two Shetland Sheepdogs (Shelties) named Cory and Ducan. I've played one instrument or another all of my life (could read music before I could read words) and currently play the harp. My Sheltie website, "Scotland's Littlest Warrior, the Shetland Sheepdog" is at www.sheltie-stories.com, where I have inspirational stories based on lessons I've learned from my dogs. I've also written some Trek fanfics.

I've been a scifi fan for as long as I could read. My older brother left Asimov, Heinlein and Bradbury books lying around the house, and I would pick them up and read them. I believe that I was the youngest in my school to read sci fi and I was a girl! We watched the very first ep of Star Trek together (yes, I'm older than dirt...) and I've watched most of the Treks since then.

I didn't watch B5 when it first came out because I took one look at Lando thought it was a show for kids. Somehow I started watching in the fourth year and got hooked! Thank goodness that the cable channels were already doing reruns so I could catch up.

I am now in awe of JMS. I still watch my DVDs and marvel at how relevant the stories are to today's politics. This show is timeless in it's message, and I wish I could get more people to watch it. My husband and I just look at each other and throw our hands in the air when we see an ep where Earth gov does the same things our own government is doing today! :(

[johnb uk]

Well, who am I?? ;)

I live in the UK, some 30 miles north of the centre of London. Married, no kids, no pets. I'm the wrong side of 60years old and have loved scifi ever since I was a kid and my father introduced me to the works of Jules Verne.
I work in IT in technical role.
I found B5 about halfway thro' the first season and had taped many of the shows, but now of course superceded by the DVDs. I have all five seasons and have not tired of running them yet.

Other scifi, well I read a lot, Asimov, Clarke, McCaffrey and the others and some fantasy as well. It's a terrific relaxation after a busy day to get lost in another world.

Other than that, well I'm a fairly ordinary sort of guy, well I think that I am!!!

[ljg702]

I've been a scifi fan ever since I saw that original star destroyer in the opening minutes of Star Wars (Aged 4).

First saw B5 when it started in the UK (92?), lucky for me I got to see a lot of the 1st series on an almost cinema sized projection TV in a university campus students union. Have been reading JMS' newsgroup musings since arround that time as well.

Live in Birmingham, UK and am a CRM consultant for one of the large IT consultancies.

Have not really looked at any other JMS stuff except B5, although I presume I must have watched the He-man episodes he wrote at some point during my childhood.

[Karachi Vyce]

I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Karachi Vyce, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a GOD.

[OmahaStar]

I have existed from the morning of the world and I shall exist until the last star falls from the night. Although I have taken the form of Karachi Vyce, I am all men as I am no man and therefore I am a GOD.

So, what? You're like Jeff, the god of Biscuits? or Steve, the god of Hair-does?

[phazedout]

Weelll, if we're handing out divinities can I be God of Guinness?
I can make commandments upon the settle and surge, ban the heathen brew that is extra cold and people can worship by buying me a pint wherever I go.
Thus speaks GoG
Phaze
on the "Nice acrynom methinks" ID

[Jan]

I'm already both the 'Eep Goddess' and the 'Script Goddess' on the moderated newsgroup. :D

Jan

[white_star25]

I know my username here sucks, but when I tried to think of one, my mind was blank, so I just took a white-star and added the number of my street address. Silly, I know. My usual nickname online is Arwyn. ;)

What else... I'm 30 years old, I live in Greece and as a profession I chose to take care of people's teeth, making them all nice and shiny. I've been a sci-fi fan for as long as I can remember, starting with cartoons and then tv-series and movies. My first major sci-fi addiction was the original Star Trek and then Star Wars 4-5-6, heck I've learned better English by listening to all that stuff!

As for Babylon 5, I watched it curiously from pilot/episode 1 way back when and then with passion from season 2 and on. It wasn't an easy ride I tell you, because season one was shown by one tv station, then switched to another and that other tv station gave us Greek fans one very hard time! We just didn't know whether the whole season would be shown, let alone all the seasons! I remember reading spoilers for season 4, then season 4 ending in the US and then starting a whole campain with phone calls to the station to gets us season 4 too! Crazy, frustrating times, lol ! And actually, season 5 was never shown over here, making me get video tapes all the way from England and then of course all the DVDs.

For me, Babylon 5 is unique. I have the outmost respect and admiration for JMS and all the people involved in the show. To quote Ivanova, "Babylon 5 was the last of the Babylon stations. There would never be another. It changed the future, and it changed us." I'm really glad and grateful to have shared and still share this fandom!

:)

[Dr Maturin]

What else... I'm 30 years old, I live in Greece and as a profession I chose to take care of people's teeth, making them all nice and shiny.

I think you're more needed in the realm of England than Greece...

[Karachi Vyce]

With a name like "Arwyn", I'm going to assume you're a chick.

[white_star25]

I think you're more needed in the realm of England than Greece...

LOL! Yes, I've seen ads in dental magazines prompting dentists to go to work in England, and with a good salary too! British really have that bad teeth?? :eek: :o :)

With a name like "Arwyn", I'm going to assume you're a chick.

Yes, "Arwyn" is obviously a female nickname for a female Internet surfer. ;)

[Andrew_Swallow]

LOL! Yes, I've seen ads in dental magazines prompting dentists to go to work in England, and with a good salary too! British really have that bad teeth?? :eek: :o :)

The problem with dentists in England is that they can get more money if they charge their clients directly rather than via a government grant.

[Karachi Vyce]

Yes, "Arwyn" is obviously a female nickname for a female Internet surfer. ;)

omg pix plz

[white_star25]

omg pix plz

I beg your pardon? :confused:

[Jan]

I beg your pardon? :confused:

TranslationL "omg pix plz" = Oh my (pick one: gosh/golly/goodness/god), post some pictures please.

Apparently Vyce is utterly overwhelmed by the fact that you're female or maybe that you're a female from Greece? Whatever.

Welcome aboard, Arwyn/White_star25!

Jan

[white_star25]

TranslationL "omg pix plz" = Oh my (pick one: gosh/golly/goodness/god), post some pictures please.

Apparently Vyce is utterly overwhelmed by the fact that you're female or maybe that you're a female from Greece? Whatever.



I see! Well, if that's the case, then thanks Vyce, but I don't think that this is a place to post any pictures, unless they are related to the works of JMS.

:)

[Dr Maturin]

I especially like the Greek part...

[Jan]

And we will now return this thread back to folks who want to introduce themselves.

Jan

[Karachi Vyce]

TranslationL "omg pix plz" = Oh my (pick one: gosh/golly/goodness/god), post some pictures please.

Apparently Vyce is utterly overwhelmed by the fact that you're female or maybe that you're a female from Greece? Whatever.

Welcome aboard, Arwyn/White_star25!

Jan

Wow do you people just not get comedy.

[Jan]

Wow do you people just not get comedy.

Emoticons are your friend.

Jan

[AmyG]

Wow do you people just not get comedy.

FWIW, I got it! (And I'm also a female! Who posts a picture every time she posts!) ;-)

[SmileOfTheShadow]

FWIW, I got it! (And I'm also a female! Who posts a picture every time she posts!) ;-)


Yup, and I thought it was funny too. But...then again, I'm the one who made the myspace profile for the newsgroup that no one thought was funny other than me, so don't trust my sense of humor :)

[OmahaStar]

FWIW, I got it! (And I'm also a female! Who posts a picture every time she posts!) ;-)

Wait ... AmyG's a girl? :eek: :eek: :eek:

[AmyG]

Totally off topic, but were there always only two threads in this section...?

[vacantlook]

Totally off topic, but were there always only two threads in this section...?

Doesn't that have to do with one's "Display Options" as listed toward the bottom of a forum? Mine say (I'm assuming it's the default setting because I don't remember changing any settings):

Sorted By Last Post Time
Sort Order Descending
From The Last Month

[AmyG]

Possibly, but since I didn't change any settings, I'm suspicious.

ETA: Yep, that did it -- thanks much! I'm curious how it could have happened, because I was away all weekend and completely off line. Apparently the shoemaking elves at my house changed my settings... :-p

[enjo]

Greetings from The Rural Wilds of Virginia. Married, no children (by our choice), 3 cats (by their choice).
Hub & I both retired between 10-15 yrs ago so no, my online name -- which I’ve used for about 10 years -- has nothing whatsoever to do with what it might or might not possibly happen to mean or at one time to have meant in Japanese…

We’re very new admirers of B5 & JMS. Somehow we’d managed to miss almost all of B5/Crusade/tv movies in original broadcast & any reruns. Several months ago on a whim hub bought all the DVDs.
We’ve watched everything only once, though, so no experts on the subject here. It’s definitely some amazingly awesome stuff experienced straight through that way.

Lately I’ve been trying to piece together at least some the tv history of B5/Crusade from various online sources but it’s really confusing, and the ways&means of tv in general never did make much sense to me anyway -- considerably stranger than (science) fiction! -- so I’m afraid I can’t even pretend to understand most of it.

At least, though, we're delighted to find out about the upcoming TLT.
We might be among the relatively few people who hope it will be & forever continues to be direct-to-DVD rather than (or in addition to) broadcast -- unless maybe by some small miracle it went immediately to SciFi channel, for example.
On DirecTV satellite we can’t get WB/CW or whatever it calls itself these days, nor whatever ‘PTEN’ is (?), nor for that matter even NBC. Not that we normally care, but for something we really want to see that wouldn’t or couldn’t be shown on the 1001 ‘other’ stupid channels we get, direct-to-DVD is ideal.

After our DVD marathon, hub kindly set out in search of some sort of continuation-type books for me & came back with the Technomage trilogy. Nicely written and in some ways very illuminating background-wise.. just somehow not quite what I’d hoped for.
Maybe TLT will be a bit closer to whatever I think I may have had in mind. What DID I have in mind, exactly? hmm… I dunno! [alas, that sort of thing does tend to happen more and more with age].

Hub got only the mage books because first, he knew I’d be much more interested in them than in the rest -- personally, I was more upset about no more Crusade than about anything else re the tv history of B5 -- and second, I’m a good candidate for World’s Oldest Living Sex-crazed Female Fan of Galen.
Where ‘has’ that adorable Peter Woodward been all my life? Guess I might oughta have at least one grandkid.. everyone else seems to have ‘em.. even if it would have to be an ‘honorary’ one.. anyone know if Peter might be in serious need of a cute lil ole grandmama?

Anne..
who recently discovered that if pronounced with a's as ah's & a Frenchish gargle-y r and the accent on the last a, the word grandmama doesn't sound half bad..

[phazedout]

Hello Anne (aka enjo)
I'd like to be the first to welcome you to both our little community and Bab5 in general. There's so much to dicsover. Can I suggest if you're looking for additional reading material you give the script books a whirl? There are various copouns posted for money off and Café press are offering 5 items for $5 shipping (within the US anyway).

Other than that wander around and rewatch the DVds often.
Phaze
on the "nice to see new poeple" ID

[Jan]

Hi Anne/enjo!

Welcome aboard! Now you'll want to watch it all again to see all the foreshadowing that you missed the first time. :) Not a requirement, of course, but B5 is a show that rewards repeat viewings.

Of the novels, the Centauri Prime trilogy is probably my favorite. Some of the books are getting hard to find, I hear.

While there's a chance that TLT will be broadcast, you don't have to worry about PTEN (Prime Time Entertainment Network), as it doesn't exist any longer. It almost took B5 along with it but thanks to some incredible machinations by JMS, Doug Netter and John Copeland, we got the entire story.

Welcome again! Hope you enjoy it here.

Jan

[AmyG]

Hi, Anne,

I'm also jumping on the get-the-Centauri-trilogy bandwagon. It was, by far, my favorite of the three. Highly recommended.

And, welcome!

Amy

[enjo]

Thanks for the warm welcomes!

Re other B5 books :
If Galen (oops pardon me while I wipe away the drool, heehee) is in any of them I might give em a try. Otherwise, probly not.


I think what I was expecting in book form was whole new stories, not more-in-depth versions....?

Don't know quite how to explain that any better. Maybe something like that veritable slew of reasonably- to totally-canonical 'Trek' paperback novels (most, if not all, written by fans, no?).
[[edited to include the word Trek.. sorry, I'm sure the comment made no sense at all without that word.. but hey it was in my head, dern 'puter shoulda printed it]]

With B5 & especially Crusade, I was also surprised to find no unofficial, canonical-or-not fan fiction 'online.'
Anyone remember, from oh I guess maybe 10 or so years ago, all the Trek fiction on the rec/alt/etc bbs?
[yes some of it was genuinely abysmal, lol -- but every so often I'd stumble upon something both well-written and more interesting than the published stuff. Haven't looked for Trek-anything in ages though, bookstore or online -- might still be lots of stuff out there, for all I know].

Perhaps the absence has something to do with different ownership or rights? i.e., all that 'by-now-ancient history' of B5/Crusade that I didn't manage to piece together or to understand!
Anyway, that's why I'm looking forward to TLT, maybe at least parts of it will be brand-new.

[Jan]

JMS has always been wary about merchandising and the first novels from Dell weren't up to standard. There *are* going to be new novels coming out from a company called Mongoose but last we heard there was friction between JMS and the company and JMS has declared them 'licensed fan fiction', completely non-canon.

There are sites for fan fiction online but I'm not familiar with them since I only care about canon stuff.

I'm not sure what you were asking/saying about ownership rights? Ownership for the entire B5 universe rests with WB but by contract, JMS has to be involved to some extent in whatever's done. There's huge amounts of Trek stuff still being published but Trek never had a regorous canon the way B5 does.

Jan

[enjo]

Thanks Jan, that helps some -- however, please keep in mind that I myself am often at a loss as to what I mean by anything :)
Doubtful I was ever what anyone would consider a huge Trek, it's just that for quite a while that was about all the sf there was on tv (well, all we happened to be able to see on a regular basis). I was kinda under the impression, though, that there was some pretty straightforward 'canon' for the Trek universe. What's considered 'canon' for B5?

[Jan]

Thanks Jan, that helps some -- however, please keep in mind that I myself am often at a loss as to what I mean by anything :)
Oboy, do I ever resemble *that* remark! ;)

Doubtful I was ever what anyone would consider a huge Trek, it's just that for quite a while that was about all the sf there was on tv (well, all we happened to be able to see on a regular basis). I was kinda under the impression, though, that there was some pretty straightforward 'canon' for the Trek universe. What's considered 'canon' for B5?

Anything that showed up onscreen is considered canon (B5, Crusade, the movies). After that, volumes 7 & 9 of the Del Rey novels, the three trilogies and the 6 short stories. There are a few things that have shown up that are considered canon, such as things that showed the fates of a few B5 characters in the Crusade writer's bible, but since they haven't actually been written, JMS might well decide on something different.

With Trek, I was never terribly worried about canon because it was designed to be anything but episodic. Some discrepancies would annoy me but only momentarily. With B5, though, if it's not canon, I'm not at all interested because I know how the universe was designed in detail by JMS.

Jan

[enjo]

From Jan: With Trek, I was never terribly worried about canon because it was designed to be anything but episodic. ... ... With B5, though, if it's not canon, I'm not at all interested because I know how the universe was designed in detail by JMS

That seems to make sense -- so maybe in other words there shouldn't evvvver be a Nitpickers Guide to B5...?! :) ...

But could you possibly offer a small example or two of something situational or something character-related that would be egregiously, unacceptably non-canon to you for B5? Just something off the top of your head, nothing fancy or complicated.

My apologies in advance, and no problem at all if you don't have the time or inclination to bother with that. Funny, I completely understand canon in regard to Trek but am struggling with the concept of it in regard to B5.
Don't really know why that should be, except that to me it seemed an even vaster universe filled with even more possibilities&potential than the Trek universe did. So I guess I'm just not seeing/just not 'getting' much canon limitation -- the original er 'arc-ical' nature of the series notwithstanding.
Not at all meaning that I didn't enjoy tv/movie Trek, or at least some of it, starting right off with the original, even though that was part of my young adulthood rather than part of my childhood... but, and jmo, I did kinda feel that the B5 universe somehow 'deserved' -- in fact still 'deserves' --continuations/spinoffs/ books/etc etc rather more than the Trek universe did. Or maybe I'm just very easily bored ... oh yeah after geez what some *40 years* of Trek? :eek: :D

[WorkerCaste]

Welcome, enjo! While I'm not Jan, I can offer my feelings on B5 canon. I think the difference is that JMS has planned out a great deal of his universe and had done so from the very beginning. B5 was designed like a novel in that it was a story with a beginning, middle and end. Characters and plots went somewhere. Most episodic TV, Trek included, operates under the "put everything back where you found it" discipline. There were elements that you had to respect, but you couldn't upset the apple cart too much because the episodes had to be available for rebroadcast in part or in full, and in any order. Now, when the story has an arc, a writer can easily run afoul of the arc if he or she isn't fully aware of it. For example, JMS had definite ideas on where Crusade was going -- when the cure would be found, what would happen next. If another writer, not privvy to JMS's plans, wrote a story that had the cure found in a different way it would be non-canon. It's not the "real" story if you will. And given that JMS hasn't released all his thoughts and history of the universe, the only way you could make sure it was canon would be with JMS's help. That's why the non-canon stuff doesn't interest me so much -- I'm holding out for future JMS projects! :D

[Spoo Junky]

For me canon is important because it's like reading a biography of the Babylon 5 universe. Things happen in the actual B5 story like they happen in a person's life. Reading something that never actually happened in that universe takes away from the true story. It doesn't mean it's not good and exciting, but it's not true to the story. I don't know if that's a good analogy or explaining it well, but that's kind of the way I see it.

[AmyG]

There's plenty of B5 fan fiction online. Clean, and naughty. Just keep looking. <g>

As for the legality and ownership issues, no fan fiction is authorized or licensed or permitted in any way. If it were, it wouldn't be fan fiction. Having said that, some copyright owners are more tolerant of fan fiction than others.

Editing to add something about the canon vs. non-canon question. Maybe I don't understand what you're saying, enjo, but I think the answer is: canon is simply what JMS says is canon. It doesn't have anything to do with what we feel, or like.

[enjo]

Hi and thanks to all three of you! Unfortunately, the way my brain works these days (or doesn't?!), guess I better drop the attempt to figure this thing out, as it seems I'm starting to understand it less (if that's even possible, lol) rather than more ... and in fact even starting to dislike the whole idea.

Oh well, at least it's lovely to find such a friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, civilized place to hang out and chat. That's 'canon' enough for me! :)

Anne

[arius]

resurrecting a bit of a dead thread, but when it was originally going, I never got around to signing in.

Well, my name is Mike, watched the original pilot when I was really young liked it alot, but lost track of it, rediscoverd the show when it was in its 3rd or 4th season, only watched occasionaly. Didnt get really into the show until it debuted on dvd, once it did .. spent alot of time watching all of the episodes. B5 is now a favorite of mine, followed closely by Firefly.

I hope to be posting here now and then, trying to get discussions going on anything I can dredge up.

[David Panzer]

I'm Dave. I was born and will eventually die.

:p

I have the unfortunate pleasure and joy of residing in Memphis, TN- the new homicide capital of the US and A. As for when I got into B5, it was only half of Season 1 in college when the dude responsible for my B5 fix decided to finally graduate.

B5 then slipped to the backburner until I finally ran across the first Rising Stars tradeback in '01 or '02, which was that pesky Top Cow comic my roomie get going on about. I then noticed that Season 1 of B5 was already out. I picked up a copy and became an addict.

As for other Sci-Fi, I recall being in single digits and watching the Original Trek, Twilight Zone, Outer Limits, Star Wars (the original uncorrupted versions :) ), Westworld, Deathrace 2000, The Andromeda Strain, The Day The Earth Stood Still, and some other stuff I can't recall.

I enjoy drinking beer, reading, playing video games, Chicago Cub baseball, Chicago Bears football, Pittsburgh Steelers football, Michigan Wolverine footbal, Memphis Tigers basketball, sleeping, Chicago-style hot dogs (relish, mustard, tomato, onion, pickle, sport peppers, and celery salt on a steamed poppyseed bun), sarcasm, cynicism, mocking elected leaders, questioning authority, metal (thrash, speed, death, doom, power), techno, blues, classic rock, jazz, big band, classical, old school rap, trip-hop, Reese's Pieces, Dots by the Toostie Roll company, Chocolate Reisens, Chocolate Malts, and the sound deadlines make as they whizz by my head to the consternation of my boss.

[Talwyn]

Greetings everyone,

I’d just thought I’d sign in first and say hello to the community here.
I’ve been a fan of B5 since 1994 when it first started screening here in Australia and have enjoyed JMS writing and other projects.
I was drawn to this site when I heard the exciting news about B5 The Lost Tales.
Anyhow, glad to be here.

Be well everyone
:cool:

[Jan]

Welcome, Talwyn!

Feel free to join a conversation or start one on your own. Which of JMS's other projects are you familiar with? All of us are excited at all the good things going on for JMS lately.

See you around the forums!

Jan

[Talwyn]

Thanks for the warm welcome :)

Well, mostly I was into JMS's writing when he was in comics. I was an avid comic reader way back in the day. I also liked Jeremiah as well but I'm a science fiction enthusiast foremost and B5 was just something that is STILL mindblowing in all aspects. I've often thought there will be academic discussions about B5 in a 100 years time, maybe like the discussion we saw in "The Deconstruction of Falling Stars" which is one of my all time favourite episodes.
Heh, perhaps JMS will appear to smack down the arrogant panel of academics who have completely missed the point like Delenn did? :p

[Rikhard]

Greetings!

After lurking around I decided to register in order to participate the intelligent discussions that take place in this forum.

About 22 years ago I was Born in Mikkeli, Finland. At the moment I am studying in National Defence College ( americans have West Point, brits have Sandhurst, we finns have National Defence College ).

Once upon a time ( the fall on 1997 , I can't believe how young I was then ) I saw a trailer for a new series, Babylon 5. It looked interesting and I gave it a chance. I watched the pilot and liked it a lot. I remember that I was hooked quite fast, I find it curious that I enjoyed all the "heavy-drama-episodes" ( "Believers" for instance ). Since then I have seen everything related to Babylon 5 and I have also read JMS' Rising Stars and Midnight Nation. For long I have had two different things that I want to do, be an officer or a diplomat. A B5-influence? I think so, it's probably significant. Former dream is becoming a reality and the latter is within the realms of possibility. As JMS has said/written it, never surrender dreams.

I hope that I can contribute some ideas and opinions to different topics and enjoy the extraordinary spirit of community you have here.

Constantem Decorat Honor

[Jan]

Hi, Rikhard, welcome aboard! As you can see from my sig, I'm rather fond of JMS's 'Never Surrender Dreams' advice, too. :) Best of luck with yours.

Jan

[Shadow-Sentient]

Welcome aboard Talwyn and Rikhard! Nice to see new handles here. We have the Lost Tales to look forward to. I Look forward to your input here!

[JohnFourtyTwo]

Hello everyone!

My name is John and the FourtyTwo part is part Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy, some personal history, and just trying to get an e-mail name that wasn't taken already. The personal history was just a couple interesting dates of my dad. He joined the Merchant Marines in 1942 and was 42 years-old when I was born. There were also a couple football-themed t-shirts I had as a little kid that had 42 on them also. I've also noticed that 42 comes up a lot in books, movies, news, .etc. I noticed there was a lottery in California about 18 years ago that had combinations of twos and fours in the winning numbers for about $60,000,000, unfortunately that was before I started playing. I guess me and 42 are pretty much a pair.

I retired from the Navy last year and have been having a time trying to get a real job since then. I won't bore you with the details but it's been quite interesting the last year. Hopefully I'll get picked up by the Military Sealift Command which is the Navy's version of the Merchant Marines because I'm getting tired of delivering pizza.

As for Babylon 5, I never saw it when it first came out because I was stationed overseas in Japan and by the time I got back to the States it was already over. The SciFi Channel was playing two or four episodes every afternoon when I got off work but since I didn't catch it at the beginning, it was very hard to get into. I finally gave up.

A couple years ago I started renting the SG-1 series on DVD because it was another series I had a hard time getting into because I caught it after it began and was lost. After the first few episodes I was hooked because I understood what was happening then.

Then I remembered Babylon 5. I wanted to give it a try from the beginning. Again, just like SG-1, after a few episodes I was hooked and this time I bought the entire series because I got tired of Netflix sending them to me in the wrong order. In addition to the complete series, I also have all the movies except for the last one, just found out a couple days ago it was released on DVD earlier this year. Unfortunately I was working out of the country and wasn't aware of it. Hopefully it's still on the shelves somewhere or I'll just get it online like I've gotton some of the series.

I'm also looking forward to the new direct to DVD movies that are in the works, can't wait!

[AmyG]

Hi, John! Welcome -- it's a good time to get into B5 fandom. We have all kinds of nifty stuff to be thankful for. :-)

[I love Lyta]

WOW! Took me quite a while to stumble over this thread...

I'm a System Engineer who fell for Sci-Fi and Fantasy at about 8.
Loved the old Dr. Who series, Ufo, Buck Rogers and all that.
When I saw the first couple of B5 episodes for the first time I thought:"Great! A soap opera in space...". Then, when I accidentally zapped into the final episode of season 2 I got hooked instantaniously. I was so curious that I even got me a keycard to our university's SGI room to watch the trailer for the upcoming episode online.
I condemned myself for not having watched the episodes I missed later on, until finally they broadcasted the re-run.
Now I own all the DVDs and canon books but never met any of the cast (:().
The rest is history.

Currently I like Eureka (especially since my first idea was to study either astro-, nuclear-, or quantum physics :D), the New BSG (though it took me a while to grow accustomed to it), and the final season of SG-1.

The nick -as stated before- stems from the fact that I really liked Lyta's character and consider Pat to be damn hot. Also it's a reference to the old TV show "I love Lucy".

[sagepowder]

I am new here, just saying hello :)

[phazedout]

Hello :rolleyes:
Phaze
on the "first to greet, think there's an introduce yourself thread in off-topic discussion" ID