"Shadow of His Thoughts"

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski

Published: Amazing Stories, #597

"The dream was the same. It was always the same."

This story could well have been a chapter in one of the Centauri Trilogy books (the clairvoyant girl is rather Senna-like), the only difference is that JMS isn't as keen on jokes as Peter David. There's quite a bit of exposition but that doesn't make the story any less readable. However, since we've already had four books worth (In the Beginning and the Centauri Trilogy) of Londo's misery, there isn't really anything in the story that we haven't heard already.

Notes:

  • Set in late 2262 (a few days after Londo's coronation)
  • There was a character named Minister Vole in the episode "In the Kingdom of the Blind" (played by Francis X. McCarthy) but if I don't remember wrong, he died after trying to kill Londo.
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"Genius Loci"

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski

Published: Amazing Stories #599

"And where would you like to go now, Lyta?"

Crusadeish little story about the adventures of Lyta and G'Kar after they leave B5. Rather predictable (if you know what 'genius loci' means, you can more or less guess what happens) and clichéd stand-alone that doesn't bring much new to the overall story.

Notes:

  • Set somewhere in 2263 (about a year after Byron's death)
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"Time, Space and the Incurable Romantic"

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski

Published: Amazing Stories, #602

"Much to his own surprise, Marcus Cole breathed deeply."

The much debated 'timetravel' story. Some people love it, some people hate it. I find it hard to decide which group I belong to. It's well written but the problem is the quite un-B5-like main premisis of the story. I can't say much about it without spoiling the story, but I will say that when you read the story you are quite likely going to find it either incredibly romantic or disgustingly unethical.

Notes:

  • Set somewhere in the 26th century (about three hundred years after Marcus's 'death').
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"Hidden Agendas"

Written by: J. Michael Straczynski

Published: The Official Babylon 5 Magazine, #22

A solid story that throws in more or less all the major human characters of the fifth season plus a long expected visit from Ivanova. Not much philosophy, but momentarily you can catch glimpses of true B5ish sense of wonder.

Notes:

  • Set in early 2262 (before "The Paragon of Animals")
  • For some reason or another I always assumed that the ships that attacked Ivanova and Marcus in "Between the Darkness and the Light" were Warlock-class like Ivanova's new command. However, since this story states that Ivanova didn't know of her ship's shadowtech until after she took command of it, her ship cannot be similar to Clark's shadowships - she would had to have been blind to miss the shadow-tentacle thingies sticking from the hull of the ship.
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"True Seeker"

Written by: Fiona Avery

Published: The Official Babylon 5 Magazine, #23

I prefer Fiona Avery's description of Narn over that of John Vornholt (see Blood Oath) and she has an interesting writing style, but storywise there wasn't much to get exited about. Nevertheless, it was interesting to find out what hapened to Alisa Beldon and Na'Toth after we last saw them in the show.

Notes:

  • Set in 2269
  • Alisa was originally seen in the the first season episode "Legacies" where she was played by Grace Una.
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"Nautilus Coil"

Written by: Gregory J. Keyes

Published: The Official Babylon 5 Magazine, #24

Rather un-B5like story, but nevertheless easily the best one of the short stories. I've said this a hundred times before, but I'll say it again: Keyes is a good writer and doesn't neglect his backgroundwork, and I'd rather take one book by him than dozen Peter Davids.

Notes:
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