Customer Reviews

Armies of Light and Dark (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, Book 2)

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4 star:		(12)
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The Long Night Of Centauri Prime was a great continuation of the story that started during the last season of Babylon 5. The Armies Of Light And Dark continues on that story and explains some things about characters in the series. This part of the story centers around Vir Cotto and the changes that he has to go through in order to save his people. After reading this book, it easy to see why the character is so different in Sleeping In Light (the last episode of the B5). You also start to see how he could become emperor. One last thing you find out is what Galen was doing all the times he wasn't onboard the Excalibur. A must read for any Babylon 5 fan.

This book is a gem. I recommend it - period.

This is thesecond book in a trilogy dealing with what befalls Centauri Primebetween the end of the series Babylon 5 and the forseen death of LondoMollari.

The first book tells the tale of Mollari's falling under the shadow of the Drahk, old servants of the Shadows.

This book tells the story of his one time aide, Vir Cotto, who is his foreseen heir to the throne. Others have seen this part of the story as the corruption and degradation of Vir - his transformation into a shadow of his enemies. I don't see it that way - for Vir or Londo.

Vir is put through the wringer in this book. He learns things that no one would want to know - and you feel all of his pain with him! When he learns of what has happenned to Londo, your heart breaks with his. When he learns just what he must sacrifice of himself to save his people and his world, you share in his heartache and anguish. All of this is not the story of his corruption, but of his growth and his resolve to truly save his people. He comes face to face with the fact that if his people continue as they are, that they are doomed as surely as is Londo himself. And not for such selfless reasons as Londo has, but out of blind ignorance and herd mentality. You cry with Vir as it is brought home to him that some of the very people he wants to save, must die so that more of his people will live - and some must die by his hand! Vir tranforms from the naive confused Pollyana of his youth to the determined yet sorrowful hero that his people need him to be. And as you watch him grow, you know that you would not wish his fate on your worst enemy.

Londo and Vir are to be pitied for their fates, but admired for their devotion to their people and their homeworld. Each is willing to lay down his life for love of Centauri Prime as many times as it takes. Londo through the course of the five year series lost his soul in a misguided attempt to bring Centauri Prime the respect that he felt she deserved. It took him a long time to learn his mistake and longer to regain his soul. Yet he gives it up again to save his people, knowing that they will never know, knowing - this time - exactly what he is doing and exactly why he must do it. He gives up his soul so that his people might just have a chance to live. If he had not made that sacrifice of himself, millions would have died. Vir is making the same bargain, but there is the dim hope that he may succeed and retain at least a small part of his soul. Make no mistake, Londo lost himself unknowingly the first time, doing what he thought best. But the second time he gave himself away, knowing that what he did was the best awy to save his beloved Centauri. In these two books, we are not seeing the corruption of two good men. We are seeing the sacrifice that enobles these two ordinary men who leave room for hope for their people in a future filled with hatred and doom. As for the technical side of this book, Peter David has these characters down to the smallest detail. It is frightening how I heard the voices of the actors from the show speaking his words inside my head! Londo speaks with Peter Jurassic's voice! Andreas Katsulas is there as G'kar. Jerry Doyle is thoroughly there as Michael Garibaldi. Stephen Furst is onscreen fulltime as Vir. Even a minor character like Lou Welch is there as portrayed by David Crowley! It is simply amazing. It is like watching the show in my head.

My hat is off to you, Peter! I do not miss any book that you write. BUY THIS BOOK. END

Once again, as in the previous book in the series, I had absolutely no trouble seeing this played out in my mind's eye. The characters and dialogue are again very consistent with the TV series. The book moves swiftly and there are several striking scenes, impressive even if I had never seen the series. I was fascinated by the growth and the depth of Vir Cotto, who I always thought was an underused character on B5. Unlike other reviewers I thought that the treatment of Vir Cotto, and the changes he goes through here, were entirely consistent with the character and with the B5 storyline.

One of Straczynski's recurring themes (and his imprint is all over this book) is that sometimes good people must do horrible things in order to accomplish what must be done for the good of all. This book explores that theme deeply. Vir's interior dialogue and the conflict between his heart and mind, as he does what most be done to save Centauri Prime, are well written. The book is darker and more sober than the first volume in the series, but the subject matter deserves the treatment. There are parts of the book where the action seems a bit hurried, but this does no damage to the overall storyline.

As with the first book, I ripped through it; I couldn't wait to find out what was going to happen next. This book is entirely worthy of the Babylon 5 imprint, and like the first in the series, it's probably one of the best spinoff-of-a-TV-series novels I've ever read, if not the best. I highly recommend it for B5 fans, and even for those who are not familiar with the series, it's a great page-turner.

This book picks up from the first and continues the story of Londo Mollari and his captivity under the mysterious aliens called the Drakh.

Peter David does a wonderful job of portraying the character of Londo Mollari as he tries to fight as best he can against what appears to be unwinnable odds. Each character in the book sounds and acts like their TV counterparts, and the original characters are equally compelling.

I won't spoil any of the plot, but I can say that it is one of those reads that keeps you on the edge of your seat. It's a worthy addition to the Babylon 5 universe and a great followup to the first novel. This is an absolute must have for both Babylon 5 fans and people who want to be drawn into a fascinating world of intregue and danger.

It's like watching a train wreck and knowing there is nothing you can do. In "Armies of Light and Dark," Book II of the "Legions of Fire," the reader gets an inside view of the struggle for the soul of the Centauri people. The book concerns the battle between the forces of evil that are manipulating the Centauri government for nefarious purposes and the resulting good guys who secretly mobilize to fight against them.

The most interesting development is the leader of the "army of light." It's no other than the always affable, but rarely weighty, character of Centauri Ambassador Vir Cotto. In typical Babylon 5 fashion and somewhat reminiscent of his mentor turned unhappy Emperor Londo, Vir slowly evolves from meek and lovable to bold, manipulative, and fairly cold. This is not the same Vir of old. With the help of some other Centauri and a few Technomages, Vir shows he has the mettle to fight, if not the resources to win.

Peter David spins another strong tale that neatly incorporates many elements and characters from the television series and the short-lived sequel Crusade. As the novel takes place in roughly the same time period as Crusade, fans of the series will appreciate the background that the novels lay, including some important details about the forces arrayed against Earth.

"The Armies of Light and Dark" is a strong effort and a must read for "Babylon 5" fans.

Picking up where the first book in the trilogy left off, this book focuses on Vir. At the end of THE LONG NIGHT OF CENTAURI PRIME, Vir had been banished from the palace by Londo. This book opens as the techno-mages find him and they set off to find the truth behind the excavation at K0643. But that is not the end of the evil influence of the Drakh over Centauri Prime. Slowly, Vir realizes he must start taking action if he is to save his world.

Peter David continues to shine as a writer in this book. Once again, the characterizations from the series are perfect, and the references to events in both Babylon 5 and Crusade make the book lots of fun for the devoted fan. Vir changes dramatically in this book into a leader. Yet he powerfully retains his innocence and soul. The book leaves you anxious to pick up the last book in the series to get the full picture of the events from WAR WITHOUT END.

That is my main problem with the story, however. After the build up of the first book, this one seems to drag in spots. It's like it knows it's just the placeholder between the opening and ending of the trilogy. It's still worth reading; I was just expecting a bit more after the excellent first book.

Once again, the devoted Babylon 5 fan will enjoy this look into the story hinted at but never told in the series itself. Readers not familiar with the series will still enjoy the story without being lost, but they won't fully grasp everything happening. Either way, it will leave the reader anxious for the conclusion to the story of Centauri Prime.

`Legions of Fire' provides a wonderful sci-fi perspective on the rise of fascism in a war-torn society. For this reason, I would recommend the story to one unfamiliar with Babylon 5. Peter David does an excellent job developing provocative, complex characters within an interesting story. The several new characters are intriguing and complex. Other, old friends, are true to their original incarnations and develop in interesting and believable ways.

The first book of the series focuses on Londo Mollari; the second book, `Armies of Light and Dark', concentrates on Vir Cotto. Vir is an affable, reluctant hero, reminiscent of the hobbit Bilbo Baggins, whose integrity compensates for his naivete. `Legions of Fire' puts Vir in truly maturing situations, from the opening action sequence, to the overall situation on his home world, to the inevitable fate of his friend Londo. Vir cannot win, but can only minimize the damage. Vir is honed in fire. He is burned in love, burned by his friend Londo, and is constantly put in danger by the few beings to whom he gives his trust. It's now Vir's time to burn. Vir becomes politic; he plots and schemes and yet retains his integrity. Vir is reluctant, not always dignified, yet he is heroic, and manages to retain his heart-of-gold.

It should be made clear that `Armies of Light and Dark' is not book II of a trilogy. Unlike the Psi Corps trilogy by J. Gregory Keyes, `Legions of Fire' is a single story divided into three parts; `Armies of Light and Dark' is the second part. Also, unlike the Psi Corp Trilogy, `Legions of Fire' is an integral part of the complete Babylon 5 story. `Armies of Light and Dark' does not end in a narrative sense but instead lays the groundwork for part three of the story. I look forward to the final installment and hope to learn the details behind the events first revealed in episode one of Babylon 5.

This is the second chapter in Peter David's trilogy Legions of Fire, based on Babylon 5. The first book was really great sci-fi literature; now let's have a look at its continuation. As you can see, there is Vir on the cover of this book. The reason for him being there is the fact that in "Armies of Light and Dark" he plays the most important role and not Londo as it was in the previous novel.

To summarize the plot, it's enough to say that it deals with Vir's development. We know him as the somewhat clumsy attaché of Londo Mollari on Babylon 5. Then again a prophecy says he is destined to become Londo's successor on the throne of the Centauri Emperor. But to become the most powerful man in the entire Centauri Republic, one has to grow up, and this process is shown in this novel. Vir, supported by techno-mages, discovers the evil influence of the Drakh on Centauri Prime, and he is determined to free his world from the intruders. As a result, he creates a resistance movement, consisting of disillusioned people who aren't happy with the current nationalistic regime led by Durla and maintained by the Drakh. While Vir's resistance is gaining strength, Durla and the government are about to complete the rebuilding of the armed forces and are willing to throw their military might upon the Interstellar Alliance. The galaxy is on the brink of war...

The Legions of Fire is a truly epic story, and I am not sure if it can be possibly compared to any other novel based on Babylon 5. The second book is, as stated above, centered around Vir. David's psychological insights which explain Vir's change are really amazing and make the novel very believable. (Reading it you often get the impression you are a citizen of Centauri Prime, and the events described are occurring next door.) I really recommend this book to all of you out there who claim to be sci-fi fans.

The second book in the Legions of Fire-trilogy is even better than the first one. It continues to tell the story of Emperor Londo Mollari, who's being used by the Drakh as their pawn to avenge to the Centauri their betrayal of the Shadows in 2261.

The first book of the trilogy "The Long Night of Centauri Prime" began at the end of 2262 spanning for five years, telling us the tale of Londo, and giving us insights of the character never seen in the TV-series.

This second book of the trilogy begins where the first one left off, reaching the year 2273 by telling mainly the story of Londo's one time protegee Vir Cotto, while still continuing in the wake of the first book to explore Emperor Londo Mollari. And while the first book was a mere grounding for the story, this novel has a solid story-structure, meaning the book is packed with twists and huge build-up that promises the story of your life, wich, by the way, is what you get from reading the last book of the trilogy "Out of the Darkness".

The most impressive thing in this book, however, is the way Peter David, one of the most prominent Star Trek authors, and the writer of two Babylon 5 episodes, portrays the growth of the character of Vir Cotto.

'Growth' isn't actually the right term. 'Change' is.

Vir changes dramatically during the course of this book, and Mr. David does a remarkable job with holding the character together through it.

Yet again another definite must-read.

I have read 10 of the 14 B5 novels (ignoring the novelizations of the TV movies). This is the best of the lot, in my opinion. There are suprises and excellent action. Vir starts to make much more sense as a character in the B5 universe with the growth you observe in this novel. His growth in this book lends credibility to the notion of Vir as Emperor, something that was much more difficult to believe before this work. I read this in one sitting-just a heck of a lot of fun for a B5 fan. Strongly recommended.