Customer Reviews

Invoking Darkness (Babylon 5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages, Book 3)

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I wish I knew where Jeanne Cavelos learned to weave such wonderful tales, and I would send all potential science fiction authors to drink from the same well of wisdom. `B5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages' trilogy is probably one of the finest science fiction works I read this past year, and having it as a tie-in to the Babylon 5 universe is an added bonus. And a `tie-in' here is not just a reuse of characters created in the original series-it literally ties in to episodes that span the entire life of the series, in ways that are enlightening, entertaining and sometimes surprising.

'Invoking Darkness' picks up with the Shadow War raging, the Vorlon Kosh cut down on the B5 station, and the remaining techno-mages sequestered in their place of hiding. Seeds sown by Morden at the last techno-mage convocation several years previous have begun to come to fruition for the Shadows. Not only are Elizar and Razeel helping to wreak havoc wherever they can, some of the techno-mages at the hiding place now are beginning to think they should join the shadows as well. In an unexpected turn of events, Galen is given a mandate by the Circle to leave the hiding place and to locate and destroy the three people who threaten the techno-mages existence: Morden, Elizar, and Razeel.

Unexpected revelations are made about Anna Sheridan in her role as shadow servant, the role of "the First One" Lorian, and the fate of Wierdan-the first techno-mage. This is a tale not only of revenge, redemption and good over evil-but a wonderful examination of the human condition through each characters motivations and subsequent actions. Filled with tension, suspense and adventure, 'Invoking Darkness' gets my highest recommendation.

Jeanne Cavelos comes through with a stunning end to her "Passing of the Technomages" trilogy. Secrets first introduced in the first two books, Casting Shadows and Summoning Light, are brought to the surface and revealed; and Galen, the principal character, undergoes an unforgettable personal transformation.

Character development has been one of the trademarks of the trilogy, and Invoking Darkness is no different. Not only are past questions about some of the characters answered, new ones are raised as a result, all with the ever-present Shadow war as a backdrop. For those who've read the first two books, Invoking Darkness is a sure must-read. If you're a newcomer to the Babylon 5 universe, this trilogy is an excellent starting point.

Most sci-fi and fantasy TV series that get translated to books -- from Star Trek to Smallville -- suffer greatly because the writer is not allowed to make any major changes or developments since the story has to fit seamlessly between episodes. With the more recent books, the Babylon 5 series has avoided that trap and told some great stories, "Invoking Darkness" being one of the best.

The reason the B5 books are working when so many others fail, I think, is because the series is over and the writers are allowed to tell real stories and not just filler. Peter David's "Legions of Fire" trilogy, for instance, showed the final fate of Londo Mollari. Jeanne Cavelos' "Passing of the Techno-Mages" trilogy, of which this is the last part, uses some of the lesser-explored but most intriguing characters in the B5 universe and journeys into the dark places the show never went.

Galen, the techno-mage, is in hiding with the rest of his order, avoiding the Shadows and, with them, their own responsibility to the outside universe. Without giving away too much of the story -- especially for those who have read the first two books but not this one -- Galen is sent back out into the galaxy to eliminate a threat to the mages, ultimately becoming wrapped up in the events of some of the best episodes in the run of the television series, but always behind the scenes.

For someone who's practically got the show memorized, as I do, this is a really great story. You know the fate of many of the characters, but there are plenty of minor characters and enough ambiguity left in the major ones to keep you anxious... you know Galen will survive since he went on to appear in the "Crusade" spin-off series, but when you realize where Cavelos is going with the story the question of HOW he's going to survive becomes just as gripping as any question of "if."

You also get to peek into the minds of characters from the show to explain why they were doing what they did -- the things that were done to Anna Sheridan, for instance, and how dark Morden's heart really was and how much was the influence of the Shadows. The book offers no easy answers, but instead leaves you asking eminently satisfying questions.

People unfamiliar with the show many not latch onto these books the way I have, but for those of you who've loved B5 since the beginning, this helps fill in some incredible gaps in an incredible epic.

One of the many questions that the TV series left unanswered is how Sheridan was able to destroy Z'ha'dum in the episode of the same name. As the Lurker's Guide puts it,

"Why weren't the Shadows vigorously protecting their homeworld? Obviously they left the White Star alone while it was in orbit because of their guarantee to Sheridan, but once it started plummeting toward one of their cities, it's odd that they didn't shoot it out of the sky. "

This novel answers that question, and many others raised by the TV show and the first two installments of the trilogy. The reader is treated to a retelling of the significant events of the third season of B5 from the perspective of the most powerful beings of the B5 universe, and in this fashion, an already complex story is given additional layers of complexity. In order to not spoil the story, it will suffice to say that there are significant events involving the Vorlons, the Shadows and the Technomages that make the established B5 storyline play out as it does.

Besides filling in some of the blanks of the B5 storyline (some of which we didn't even know existed), this book also fills in some of the blanks with regard to characterization. We learn what went on in Kosh's mind before, during and after his death, we gain a deeper understanding of Morden and Anna, and, naturally, we find out how Galen came to be the character we know from Crusade.

All in all, a thoroughly enjoyable work that wets the appetite for a continuation and conclusion of the Crusade storyline from the same author.

The story concludes in fine fashion. Readers of the first two books of the trilogy will be quite satisfied with the conclusion, which wraps things up for the Technomages thru the end of the Shadow War. However, it is not an easy read - most of this book is extremely dark, as the title implies. And the continuity doesn't quite fit as well as in the last book,though there are no direct clashes with pre=established story. The end, however, provides a quite appropriate conclusion to Galen's struggles. Babylon 5 fans interested in the Shadow War and the Technomages will definitely enjoy the whole trilogy.

Jeanne Cavelos has written a very fine trilogy on the passing of the technomages. The characters are fleshed out and believable. The plots are interesting, well-paced, and integrated into the B5 universe. There are some moments of philosophical and even theological reflection that I very much appreciate in a sci-fi novel. I don't care for mere bang-em-up alien zapping!

Some folks complain that this third novel covers too much "old ground" from the series. Bravo, I say. It takes us into some very dramatic, intense, and poignant moments from a completely new perspective. I have always loved Kosh, and I especially like Ms. Cavellos' treatment of his involvement with the technomages and other events. When a book gives me an "aha!" moment when I think about my favorite characters and episodes from TV, it's done a great job.

I hope Jeanne Kavellos does a follow-up based on Galen's later adventures in "Crusade," or perhaps turns her creativity to the time of Valen. More, please!

Now that the Techno-mage trilogy is complete I can say that this in one of the best Sci-Fi series of all times. As I said in a review of an earlier book in the series the Techno-mages had been one of my least favorite aspects of the Babylon 5 universe. However, Jeanne Cavoelos brought them alive, placed them in perfect context in the sweep of Bablyon 5 history and wrote an exciting narrative. With all we now know about Galen and the Techno-mages I hope they play a role in the new Rangers series and I hope that the story arc started in the short lived Crusade series is somehow continued (in book form, written by Jeanne Cavoelos?).

The final episode in Jeanne Cavelos' techno mage trilogy is well written, and contains the same high quality of character development exhibited by the first two books. Be warned that the mood of the book is extremely dark. However, the action is fast paced and imaginative and Galen's story is captivating. The ending left the reader hanging a little; a fourth book is going to be required to get the same level of completion that was achieved in the previous B5 trilogies (about Londo and Bester).

I liked Ms. Cavelos' books more than the previous B5 trilogies. This book is a must read for any B5 fan. My only regret is that I've now read all three of the books and there won't be any more to look forward to.

This series has to be the best B5 novel ever written! Gripping and compelling from page one, I devoured all 3 books in a week. This last book is a thrilling climax to the Technomages series, and offers a deep sense of satisfaction at the last. The pages called to me in my sleep; I flipped the pages in heightened anticipation and finished this book in less than 12 fleeting hours.
All the pieces fall together as the frustration is finally, finally stripped away with Galen's hell-bent journey to Z'ha'dum.
Jeanne Cavelos' writing is engrossing, breathes, trembles. The reader is sucked into the world of her novels and the minds of her fully-fleshed-out characters like a ship into Hyperspace. No flat or cardboard creations here! Each one of her characters lives and breathes uniquely. Fabulous!

This series of books fully expands on the mystery that is the Technomage. If you've enjoyed the exploits the Galen on Crusade or the Geometry of Shadows from Season Two of Babylon 5 you'll love these books. Two thumbs up Jeanne Cavelos who's done a marvelous job of capturing the spirit of the B5 universe.