Customer Reviews

The Babylon File (Virgin)

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As a fan of many tv scifi series, I am usually skeptical of unauthorized guides. They typically contain little behind the scenes information and are often riddled with factual errors. However, this one makes for a fun read and is crammed with trivia, minutiae and all sorts of wonderful details for the avid b5 nitpicker. My only complaint is that, because it was written before the 4th season had concluded, some of the speculation on the arc and certain of the series' many signs and portents now seems superfluous. If you want a guide you can page through while sitting in front of your tv, this one has everything.

Against:
Reference only until the beginning of the 4th season. It was up to date when released but now a new version should be writed.
It has some episodes number quotations wrong but its not any problem for a B5 fan reader and the others will not notice.

For:
Do you want to know the name off all ships that appear in the episodes ?
Do you want to cross check episodes ?
"Koshtations" and the Yvanova "life lessons" are a must read.
It focus not only the good parts of the serie but also the "bugs" it had (That's why is "Unauthorised")

Overall:
A fan choice if no full independent reference source is available.

Not much to say. Just a superb job. It covers eve- rything a fan would like to know. This book makes the best sidekick and combined with the "A-Z Guides" should be the BABYLON 5 bible. Only a small complain Mrs. Lane: You could have waited a little bit more for the release of the book in order to have a full Season 4 guide, since now that Season 5 kicks in and with the new bias of the series the book would be something more than a required reading: it would be the ultimate purcha- se. What about a new updated version ?

I thought this was a really great guide. I love Babylon 5 and enjoy reading anything I can find about it. Andy Lane did a really great job. If you had to stop somewhere, right after they won the Shadow War was the perfect spot. I have found a few errors, but those are only in the beginning where you can see what episodes each character was in. For example: The book says Delenn wasn't in episode 311, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark." In truth, episode 311 was almost totally about Delenn. If you are a really dedicated fan like I am, you can catch these mistakes. I still thought it was a great book. I really liked the Ivanova's Life Lessons and Koshisms part of the book. The book really helps illustrate how great the series realy is. I give it two thumbs up.

I thought this was a really great guide. I love Babylon 5 and enjoy reading anything I can find about it. Andy Lane did a really great job. If you had to stop somewhere, right after they won the Shadow War was the perfect spot. I have found a few errors, but those are only in the beginning where you can see what episodes each character was in. For example: The book says Delenn wasn't in episode 311, "Ceremonies of Light and Dark." In truth, episode 311 was almost totally about Delenn. If you are a really dedicated fan like I am, you can catch these mistakes. I still thought it was a great book. I really liked the Ivanova's Life Lessons and Koshisms part of the book. The book really helps illustrate how great the series realy is. I give it two thumbs up.

The best Babylon 5 episode guide ANYWHERE, plus a whole lot more. I only wish it didn't stop in the middle of the fourth season.

This is the best Babylon 5 referance book I have read yet. Gives detailed information on seasons 1 through part of season 4. My favorite part is the memorable quotes part for each episode. We all know there have been some great quotes on Babylon 5. This is a must have book for any Babylon 5 fan.

Andy Lane's unauthorized guide is a book that covers a wide spectrum of interests: plot breakdowns, references to history, mythology, religion; who's who with both characters and the people portraying them; not to mention occasional opinions or behind the scenes tidbits only insiders know about.

The book covers not just the TV show but related novels and the comic series as well, intertwining all the information and cross referencing when needed. It has over 400 pages of easy to read information, and even has a 14 page index (very small print). I don't think I have read through a book so quickly that still kept my interest on each page.

So whether you are a die-hard Babylon 5 fan, or are just curious as to what the upcoming hoopla is all about, this is a very good choice for reference material. Makes a better gift!

I believe that this book is a book for anyone. If you're just starting to watch the show, or if you have been a fan from the begining, this has fun facts for all. However, there are a few mistakes in the episode descriptions, but that's it. It is a book that has a purpose, to enlighten any B5 fan with new facts, and a different outlook on the arc.

This book gives you summaries of episodes divided by plotline, plot A, B, C. It also gives you the Koshisms of that episode! Tells you what, if anything, concerned the arc in that episode. Only problem, doens't go through all seasons. I literally couldn't put this book down!