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Mark and Gerry's Sci-Fi Reviews Continued
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Timely Babylon 5 Mysteries are Solved in the new book
Legions of Fire: Book III - Out of the Darkness
written by Peter David, and based on an original outline by J. Michael Straczynski
reviewed by Gerry
The years: 2274 - 2278, twelve to sixteen years after all of the principal characters had left the Babylon 5 space station. The place: Centauri Prime, homeworld of Londo Mollari. The questions: Who would live, who would die, and who might find redemption? This book resolves some of the important questions left dangling at the end of the Babylon 5 television series. (Warning: this review will NOT give away any new material provided by this book, but will refer to events seen during the five seasons of the TV series.)
As the B5 series ended, it was the year 2262, and Londo had become emperor of Centauri Prime. This book is the final installment in a three book series written by Peter David (and based on JMS's outlines) dealing with Londo's reign. This third book has been the most anticipated one of the series, because it was expected to fill in the details surrounding moments in the future glimpsed in War Without End ( a two-part Season 3 episode). Book III fulfills those expectations. In War Without End, Sheridan found himself on Centauri Prime, 17 years in his future. He and Delenn were imprisoned, there was concern over David Sheridan, Centauri Prime was in flames, Emperor Londo had a keeper, a one-eyed G'Kar was waiting nearby, and Vir was around as well. Peter David's book also ties in well with the B5 TV movie, In the Beginning, and with the Season 5 episode Objects at Rest (the show with Londo's "gift" for Sheridan's son). It ties in with details from many other episodes as well. Most notably, it discusses the true meaning of Lady Morella's prophesies (" the eye which doesn't see", "the one who is already dead", "your greatest fear"), and also covers Delenn's inner struggle with Sheridan's dwindling lifespan.
Like most TV and movie tie-in books, this one would be difficult for someone who has never seen Babylon 5 to enjoy. The main characters and alien races are not described; it is assumed that the reader is already familiar with them. Similarly, locations and ships are rarely described in any detail. For example, the Centauri are building a massive fleet of powerful new attack ships, but no description is provided.
Another problem with tie-in books is that sometimes the characters do not ring true. However, this is not the case here. Peter David has a good feeling with the Babylon 5 universe, and wrote two of the Season 2 episodes (including the one with Londo's three wives, and the one with the B5 teddy bear in space). Peter David does a particularly masterful job with Londo Mollari; it is easy to hear and visualise all of Londo's words and actions. Here's one example of a Londo line, as he talks ironically of his vile keeper:
"Very stylish, eh? Soon everyone will be wanting one, I think."
G'Kar's dialogue fits his character well too, although his actions are limited within the story. Vir has a major role in the book, and the story illustrates how Vir's character has changed. The roles of Sheridan, Delenn, and Garibaldi are all slightly disappointing. The most poignant and memorable moments involving Sheridan and Delenn are primarly the same ones already seen in War Without End, with a few more welcome details added. Earlier in the book, when Sheridan, Delenn, and Garibaldi are on Minbar, they joke around with each other much as they would have in episodes of the show. But somehow the exhanges are missing something, such as memorable actions or thought provoking comments or even surprising moments. And then there is David Sheridan. Peter David makes an effort to flesh out his character, but I found him to be two dimensional and predictable, and not as unique as hoped. Finally, some other new characters are introduced in the stories on Centauri Prime (and are well enough described in this book that it is not necessary to have read books I and II ).
This is a great book for fans of Londo and G'Kar (and yes, for fans of Vir too), and it is a good book for filling in some important blanks concerning Sheridan, Delenn, and David. It's too bad it wasn't the basis for one of the B5 TV movies; but then again perhaps someday it will be produced, and we'll get to see what those Centauri attack vessels look like, and see lots of things go "boom". Finally, I have to include one more Londo quote, describing how it's all about .... Londo:
"All of this ... has been one great epic story about the loss of a man's soul ... and its eventual recovery and redemption, but only at a terrible price. As an epic story, it has potential ... do you think?"
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