Signs and Portents

Babylon 5 omniverse

by Jane Killick

Now in its fifth hit season, Babylon 5--TV's hottest interstellar science fiction phenomenon--has spawned its own series of definitive episode guides! Catch up on all the action, show by show, from the very beginning with the Babylon 5: Season by Season guidebooks.
Babylon 5: Signs and Portents, kicks off with a foreword by actor Michael O'Hare, better known to viewers as Commander Sinclair, and features a fascinating look at how series creator J. Michael Straczynski brought his ambitious vision to the screen.
Then launch into a comprehensive overview of the groundbreaking premiere season, including in-depth, episode-by-episode summaries of all of the first twenty-two shows--from the pilot, "The Gathering, " through the climactic season finale, "Chrysalis"--with analysis by author and B5 expert Jane Killick.
Veteran viewers or first-time fans, relive the adventure--or find out what you've been missing--with the complete companions to Babylon 5!

Genres: Babylon 5, Nonfiction, Media Tie In, Tv, Reference, Science Fiction Fantasy

188 pages, Paperback

First published March 3, 1997

Reviews

[Mark · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this booklet by accident, it was seriously not knowledgable about this kind of book which breakdance down every episode of season one starting with the pilot movie "The Gathering". It contains information about each of the 22 episodes which gives a short description of said episode and then some background information and series' plan.
It is in essence a very informative documetary but not in image but in a written form.
Essential for the fans of Babylon 5, which is easily one of the best scifi shows ever made.

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This excellent guide to the first series of Babylon 5 takes the reader through how the series was created & also looks at how each episode was made. There are excellent interviews with cast & crew & I really liked that the author also criricised some of the weaker stories along the way.
This is one of the best behind the scenes books I've read & more than makes up for the lack of extras on the Babylon 5 bluray box set I have been watching. It's also been good to read this book while listening to my copy of Christopher Franke's brilliant soundtrack to the series.

[Bill · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you enjoyed the series, you'll enjoy reading these slim volumes packed full of insights and behind-the-scenes information on the film and production of the series. It breaks down each episode, first with an episode summary, then with observations and revelations about aspects of filming/production that fans of the show will find very interesting.

[StephanieNicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book series is episode guides with comprehensive incites and interviews with the people behind the scenes of each episode. It's perfect.

[Jennifer Baratta · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please get this Babylon 5 book you get to read Michael O'Hare letter to the fans.

[Marie Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

A basic guide, omits the script writer, but very practical when trying to find a specific episode.

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember watching Babylon 5 in my teens and now that they are repeating it on one of the Sky channels, I thought it would be fund to read the season guide at the same time.

There are lots of snippets of info from each of the main actors and crew, a few coloured photos to enjoy and an introduction from the main man himself - J.Michael Stracynski. I did like reading this, although I do get bored by the - 'oh, this was so hard to get picked up because no-one could see how good it was' sort of conversations. Still, they are quickly read over!

My only other little niggle is that it didn't really stick to the firts season. There are odd little spoilers from the following series, which, although not truly spoliers for someone who has seen all the episodes, do spoil the immersion in just the season.

Still, it's been a good read and will join my TV-tie in bookshelf with the other SF series.

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

Season 1 episode guide, offers an excellent plot synopsis of each episode followed by a commentary detailing themes and cast & crew anecdotes. It does what it does very well but there are lots of things missing that I would like to have seen:
cast and crew listing for each episode
cast bios
alien/technology/planet info
stills from each episode (all we have are 8 colour plates for the whole season in the middle)

This is very much a book about B5 as a show, as opposed to the world within the series. The entries are all very interesting, but it is limited in its content.

[Daniel Kukwa · Rating 3 out of 5]

The first in a series, covering the behind the scenes of each season. Informative, with lots of fascinating & fun anecdotes...but not exactly the most interesting critical look at the series. There's far too much rah-rah-rah about the series for my liking. Andy Lane's guide books while not always perfect, tend to present a far deeper and more satisyfing analysis.

[farmwifetwo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dh's

[James Crawford · Rating 4 out of 5]

A guide to the first season episodes of the series. The book has no photographs, but does have summaries of the episodes and quite a bit of other information about them.