lurkers-guide/ftp/CompuServe/cs96-08

JMS CompuServe messages for August 1996.  Collected by John Hardin
<jhardin@wolfenet.com>.


Date: 01 Aug 1996 12:12:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Eng Lit & B5

 (blocked) asks:
> I am curious to know what else is your favourite
> poetry/literature?
>  - but I am interested to know what else it is you like, or has
> influenced you?

       My interest in poetry is fairly eclectic, and eccentric.  I go
from the classics to the obscure, but I'm not *really* as informed
about poetry as I should be.  My favorite stuff comes from the
Shelley/Byron period of English literature.  Tennyson is also obviously
a favorite.  Coleridge.  But then I jump right over into e.e. cummings
and Lawrence Ferlinghetti (no, I never really recovered from beat
poetry, some of it still works for me).  I tend to go for the more
structured poetry; free verse is okay to a point, but often gets
misused or used as an excuse for sloppy writing.

                        jm(look upon my works ye mighty and despair)s

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 12:12:05 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Larry Rosenblum <72122.1555@compuserve.com>
Subject: Kosh/Sinclair-WWE

 Larry Rosenblum <72122.1555@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is my memory incorrect, or am I missing something?

       No, you're correct...but he could only recognize him once he
actually saw him, and that didn't happen until he arrived at B5, after
which he wasn't in any condition to talk to anyone until after things
were over.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 12:12:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com>
Subject: Old Archives

 Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com> asks:
> This would certainly explain why a lot of info is 'missing' that
> one might think should be around, but why didn't the info
> survive? If the Vorlons/Minbari fought the shadows a thousand
> years ago, and had the FTL ships they obviously had, why don't
> they have records from that time?

       It was also a very devastating war, and one of their mistakes
was that their were those who were entrusted to keep the past, sort of
a more advanced version of storytellers, who put all their data in one
basket, as it were...very possessive and jurisdictional.  When they and
that center of data were taken out, a lot was lost.  One drawback of a
very rigid and structued society.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:39:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

{original post had no questions}

      We don't know who did or didn't receive stuff until we hear
back; send email to jplb5@aol.com...he's sending out batches of stuff
all this week to those whose deliveries got screwed up.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Old SciFi series

{original post unavailable}

      That would be telling.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:17 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
Subject: Kosh & Kyle/pilot

 Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
> Kyle's reactions?

      No, from where I sit, he looked and spoke pretty awed.  So I
can't account for your interpretation; certainly I think the general
concensus was that he was massively impressed.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:20 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Eng Lit & B5

 Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> Lewis and Tolkien's cronies) "Taliesin Through Logres?"

      Yes, I'm very fond of William Blake's work.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:22 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brent Barrett <70530.2521@compuserve.com>
Subject: Voice in the Wilderness

{original post had no questions}

      Who can say...?

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 20:51:24 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Voices of Experience

 Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do you find it more of a challenge to write from the perspective
> of one (individual, society) who is less experienced than
> yourself (regain lost innocence) or one who is more experienced
> (project 1,000 to 1,000,000 forward), or is there no difference?

      I don't think there's really a difference.  (Also,
philosophically, I think one can be experienced and still retain a
certain measure of innocence, but that's another discussion for another
time.)  I think we all have that part of ourselves which wishes to
believe, needs to believe in a cause or in other people , however many
times experience slaps us in the face with the contrary position...and
there is always the part which is tired and weary and burned out and
refuses to trust again.  We are all these things at different moments. 
The difference with writers is that we must be those different things
on command, and articulate those feelings through the voices of our 
characters as they experience them in new contexts.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 01 Aug 1996 21:01:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 New Season

 (blocked) asks:
> Can someone fill me in?

      Expect new eps around the first week of October, at which point
there will be 9 new shows aired in a row.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 00:21:30 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com>
Subject: Old Archives

 Jeff Smith <76702.2572@compuserve.com> asks:
> One follow up though, would such an event as described above have
> to occur well after the war to have such an effect, since if
> happened while there where still Minbari alive with personal
> experience in the war the records could still be mostly
> reconstructed?

      Certainly it would've occured in the last days of the war.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 00:21:32 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Al Lipscomb <75204.2225@compuserve.com>
Subject: IaE in UK

 Al Lipscomb <75204.2225@compuserve.com> asks:
> The first question that needs to be asked is why did _most_ of
> the first ones leave? Were they tired of thousands of generations
> of war with the Shadows? Tired of this small galaxie?
> Or was there a general agreement to leave this place to the
> Shadows? Could the Shadows be higher levels of natural selection?
> If the clues we have about the death of a Vorlon support Minbari
> theology then what do the Shadows want? What is my bet?

      Some of the first ones just got bored after millions of years,
and went off in general.  The rest, for the most part, went beyond the
Rim for the same reason you cut down old trees to make room for new
ones.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 00:24:55 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: All 
Subject: John Copeland on SFC

      Babylon 5 Producer John Copeland will be on "Vortex," a new show
on the Sci-Fi Channel, tomorrow evening, along with Majel Barrett
Roddenberry.  Time you got to seem some of the other friendly folks
involved in making this show.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 New Season

{original post unavailable}

       Haven't heard anything yet.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com>
Subject: Doom and Despair

 Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com> asks:
> Have we only reached the tip of the Iceburg of despair?

       There's always light at the end of the tunnel...but things have
got to get REALLY bad first, there has to be some major stuff for
everyone to overcome to make the light mean something.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

 (blocked) asks:
> Have all the Membership kits been sent yet?

       They're going out.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 Tech & Other Stuff

{original post unavailable}

       I don't think the diagram has been posted anywhere; and as for
trouble coming in threes...most definitely.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 14:49:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Info please!

 (blocked) asks:
> I hate to be a bother, but could you explain some stuff to me?
> What is the relation of these episodes to each other?

       It'd be hard to explain in a few paragraphs...may I commend to
you the lurker's guide on the internet: http://hyperion.com, which will
bring you wonderfully up to speed.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:41 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: TV GUIDE article

{original post had no questions}

      Yup...well said.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:43 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: IaE in UK

 (blocked) asks:
> What's beyond the Rim?

      A really, really, really MASSIVE Baskin and Robbins....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:45 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Robert Pierce <76752.717@compuserve.com>
Subject: JMS: Offbeat Qd.

 Robert Pierce <76752.717@compuserve.com> asks:
> Could the Soul Hunters out there sense when Kosh "died"?

      It's not that easy a question, or that straightforward a
situation, as you'll see soon enough.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 02 Aug 1996 21:13:47 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: WWE-Sinclair

 (blocked) asks:
> What I mean to say is, how was it originally written?

      The Valen aspect was set up in the first season, long before
anything was decided about Michael.  Also, I won't be at
Fantasticon...gotta write....

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: TV GUIDE article

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> Did you say WB was interested in a spinoff?

      Yes, they seem interested.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: John Copeland on SFC

 Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> For those of us beknighted souls whose cable companies don't see
> the value of the Sci-Fi Channel, how about getting B5 movers and
> shakers a gig on "Politically Incorrect?"

      Actually, Harlan's been on Politically Incorrect twice so
far....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com>
Subject: Have a slice <G>

 Neil S. Turkenkopf <102664.3532@compuserve.com> asks:
> Zen Buddhism: What is the sound of cake baking?

      Now that's comedy....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Track12 B5 CD different?

{original post unavailable}

      Listen to how the final track fades out; one has the strings in
dominant form, the other has percussion.  The early version of the
European disk came out only briefly, so if this is a recent purchase,
it's probably the same as the US version.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 03 Aug 1996 15:08:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: IaE in UK

 Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com> asks:
> How many flavors?
> Seriously though, what is meant by "The Rim"?

      The rim of the galaxy.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 03 Aug 1996 23:02:34 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Shadow Theory.(ATTN JMS)

{original post unavailable}

      It's an interesting theory.  Got nothing to do with where the
story's going, but an interesting thought nonetheless....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 03 Aug 1996 23:02:36 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Shadow Motives & Stuff

{original post unavailable}

      Er...well, no, actually, it's not in the ball park.  But a good
thought.

      And yes, Sheridan has doubltess noticed by now that Delenn is
holding stuff back from time to time...may even mention this in a few
episodes.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 03 Aug 1996 23:18:09 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Responsibility/Forgive

{original post unavailable}

      That was really excellent.  Let me explain to you how excellent
it was: I was taking a break on CIS because I was trying to work
through the heart of a scene between Delenn and Sheridan in script 403.
It was a little fuzzy there in places, and I usually log off and putter
around rather than trying to write it when it isn't all there yet in my
head.  Your analysis helped me clarify something in my own mind which
was there in the first place but hadn't yet racked into focus yet.  It
would've done so eventually, it always does, but you may have saved me
an hour or two of going back over their relationship in my head and
pulling out the emotional and thematic undercurrents of what's been
established over the last couple of seasons.

      Good stuff.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 04 Aug 1996 14:57:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: TV GUIDE article

{original post had no questions}

"I figured everybody in Hollywood would be rooting to get you out of
television"

Well...*almost* everybody....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 04 Aug 1996 14:57:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: IaE in UK

{original post had no questions}

      Jump gates go where gates have been constructed by long-range
explorer vessels.  Nobody near our tech has ever built anything outside
the known galaxy, or frankly through about 80% of what IS known.  Going
beyond is a one-way ticket.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 04 Aug 1996 14:57:17 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: JMS : WWE1: Sheridan

 Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
> When lady Morella told Londo not to kill the one that is already
> dead, was she referring to Sheridan? IF this is so, do the words
> of Arkady in "Second Foundation" have significance to Sinclair?

      Unfortunately, I've forgotten what Arkady said, so it's kind of
an open question.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 05 Aug 1996 00:17:03 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
Subject: IaE in UK

 Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com> asks:
> Crossing from here to say the Adromada galixy probably would take
> a great deal of time though even in hyperspace huh?

      For one thing, it's a long, LONG trip outside the known
galaxy...it takes 3 days to go to Earth from B5, it's not
instantaneous...so you can well imagine how much time is involved in
getting outside the galaxy.  Second, a ship like the Aggy isn't
configured or capable of constructing a jump gate, that's up to the big
Explorer-class vessels.  Finally, the further you range afield from the
established series of hyperspace beacons, the greater the odds of
getting permanently lost out there, since points of reference outside 
aren't on a one-to-one basis with hyperspace.  (And outside the galaxy
you'd have little in the way of more conventional references as well.) 
So any trip would be a one way trip, at least at this point in our
technology.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 05 Aug 1996 12:32:42 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: JMS : WWE1: Sheridan

 Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
> She said 'A circle has no end'?

       No...the notion that a circle has no end is a lot older than
that.

       And the line re: Sinclair was "he is the closed circle, he
returns to the beginning."

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 05 Aug 1996 12:32:43 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com>
Subject: JMS : WWE1: Sheridan

 Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com> asks:
> The ship that Zathras hooked up to whitestar in looked helluva
> similiar to one of the ships you can get in 'Privateer' - I have
> heard that you are a bit of a Wing Commander buff, was this a
> deliberate homage?

       Nope.  Only coincidence.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:34 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Eng Lit & B5

 (blocked) asks:
> How about books?
> Just curious - many thanks (will you ever write a book of How B5
> Came to Be, and What Went Into It - people, books, skills, etc.?

      Mentioning or referencing books is tougher, because any segments
are less concise in general, less instantly recognizeable and
self-contained. And half the fun of the poetry references is the
lyrical aspect of it.

      As for a book...maybe someday, down the road.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:36 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Possible later projects

 (blocked) asks:
> How do you plan to change TV in these new projects?

"How do you plan to change TV in these new projects?"

   To quote Sinclair, "That is a far more interesting question than
you might suspect."

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:38 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Bill MacIntosh <70275.1372@compuserve.com>
Subject: Shadow suit

 Bill MacIntosh <70275.1372@compuserve.com> asks:
> When we see a "Shadow" are we seeing an encounter suit, a
> projected imaged like a Vorlon does or a "naked" Shadow?

      Well...all of the above, I suppose, would apply in various ways.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:43 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Babylon 5 , CC Game

{original post unavailable}

      I can't look at ANYthing related to B5 products unless and until
they're licensed; if you're doing these without WB licensing, you're
going to get into a heap o' trouble.  If you're serious about a game,
then you have to get it licensed; otherwise I can't look at it, or I'd
be spending 18 hours a day looking at possible proposals that go
nowhere.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:46 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com>
Subject: The Ranger Belt Buckle

 Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com> asks:
> What are the figures which make up the Ranger belt buckle?

      Er...I don't remember offhand....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:48 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: War Without End

 (blocked) asks:
> There are a few little bits, like the repaired time stabliser
> that The One gets from Zathros (in Babylon Squared), that's
> Sheridan's isn't it? Did you sit down and write these episodes at
> the same time?

      Actually, that would've been Delenn who finally got the repaired
time stabalizer.  And no, I didn't write them at the same time, but I
did a basic outline of what the follow-up (WWE) would be, so it'd all
match up when the time came to show that half of the story.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 06 Aug 1996 21:30:50 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Valen questions

{original post unavailable}

      Valen did not have any children.  And there's some difference of
opinion over exactly what Valen's final fate was.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 07 Aug 1996 19:40:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com>
Subject: Just some thoughts.....

 Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do they skip over those and just release 418, or do they reprint
> them?????

"Think of how annoying it will be, in ten years time, when this stuff
will be a valuable collector's item, and having to explain that there
was never any issues 1-4, THEY STARTED ON 5!!!!!!"

      That's *exactly* what I was thinking of....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:50 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Eng Lit & B5

{original post had no questions}

      What books I like....

      I generally recommend the dark fantasist Jonathan Carroll to
anyone who'll listen, his work is superb.  Beyond that, these days I
mainly read nonfiction.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:51 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Babylon 5 , CC Game

{original post unavailable}

      You would contact Warner Bros. Licensing in Burbank.  But they
don't deal with individuals, it would have to come through a company
that was prepared and capable of doing the licensing.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:54 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Kosh/Lyta/Kyle Question

{original post unavailable}

      Being seen by one person is automatic, no strain involved, it's
almost an autonamic reflex...it's extending the influence to more than
one person that's difficult.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 07 Aug 1996 20:13:56 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: War Without End

{original post had no questions}

      When there's a time-flash, everyone has a vision forward or
backward. The vision of Lise Hampton long AFTER the one we saw
nominally from Sinclair's POV.  We never saw specifically what
Garibaldi saw at that same moment.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 07 Aug 1996 23:47:29 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5: The Sequel?

{original post unavailable}

      NO!  NO, no, no, no, no....NO GUESSING ABOUT THE SEQUEL, because
guesses about the sequel is basically putting out reams of story ideas.
If someone comes up with an interesting notion...guess what?  I CAN'T
USE IT BECAUSE OF THE POSSIBILITY OF LAWSUIT.  So this discussion could
kill any hope of doing a sequel along any interesting lines.

      I've already said...the sequel would be built to some degree
around the rangers.  Let it go at that.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 07 Aug 1996 23:59:22 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Your Anticipation

{original post had no questions}

      I'm definitely looking forward to the reaction.  Today, for
instance, we did the final audio mix of "Z'ha'dum," our third season
ending episode. All of the EFX were in place, the sound, the
music...and after we did the piecemeal mix, layering in things in a
stop-and-go fashion, we did our playback, watching it straight through.
I don't think anyone was breathing for the fourth act.  Everyone was
just wog-boggled.  The emotional impact of it all is quite strong.

      When the lights came up, and I looked around to the stunned
faces in the room, the only thing I could say was, "Welcome to history,
gentlemen."

      Looking forward to reactions?  Oh, yeah, I suppose you could say
that....

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 08 Aug 1996 16:37:53 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: War Without End

 (blocked) asks:
> Sinclair: What...What was that?

       Hey, who're you gonna believe, Krantz or me?

       Besides, it could've been a sequence from the fall of B5, but
not that exact MOMENT, so it WOULD be different, so NYAH.

       (suddenly I'm five years old)

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 08 Aug 1996 23:29:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com>
Subject: Your Anticipation

 Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com> asks:
> Out of interest, who was there watching it?

      No, the only people in the room are those involved in the mix,
this isn't a screening, it's part of post-production.  It's me, John
Copeland, co-producer George Johnsen, the sound editors, mixers, sound
supervisor, a few others on the periphery.

      At one point, one of the mixers was working on putting in the
sounds as he went, hadn't yet gone through it all...and kept telling
the sound supervisor (who was asking questions about how we wanted to
handle some later scenes) "don't let me hear this, I don't want to
know, I just want to see what happens next, this is great."  Which in
this town, from folks who work on a lot of shows, is a good reaction.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 08 Aug 1996 23:29:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
Subject: Your Anticipation

 Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
> Are there any of the episodes that we particularly avoid the
> spoilers on??

      Certainly avoid any spoilers on the last two episodes of year
three.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:51 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Day in the Strife

{original post unavailable}

       Nope.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:53 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 : Writing is Art?

 Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is this intentional in your work, or just something odd that I am
> feeling when I encounter it???

       It's definitely intentional.  The purpose of any kind of art
should be to make you feel something.  If it's created with passion,
then the work mirrors the intensity of emotion felt by the creator,
passing it along to the viewer, who may not even recognize what's
happening, or be able to pin it down...but it's there.  I write very
passionately, and the show needs to feel passionate to be what I need
it to be.  Otherwise what's the point?

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:54 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

 Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
> Any other suggestions for checking on the status of an order?

       He's dancing as fast as he can, another 1,000 went out this
week.  We have 5,000 members now and just two people manning the club. 
We hope to expand that soon.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:51:56 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Eng Lit & B5

 (blocked) asks:
> any titles?
> is he available in the UK????

       If by "he" you mean Jonathan Carroll...yeah, he's actually
bigger in the UK than the US.  Start with "Bones of the Moon" or "The
Land of Laughs" and take it from there.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:52:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Toby Johnson <104305.1442@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

 Toby Johnson <104305.1442@compuserve.com> asks:
> Any other suggestions for checking on the status of an order?

       It's coming....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1996 16:52:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Kevin P. Kenney <104102.352@compuserve.com>
Subject: DS9's Homage

{original post had no questions}

       I see...and this, by you, is a good thing.

       Well, we have very different views of the universe, that's for
sure.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1996 20:48:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com>
Subject: Promoting B5

 Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com> asks:
> Could you direct me to someone who could help me go about this?
> Also, I attended Fantasticon this past weekend and wondered if
> you'd consider attending next year, if invited (as if you need
> one more thing to do)?

      I'll try to attend next year; I was just in writer hell this
weekend, and had to focus on the work.

      Your best bet locally is to contact the program director or,
above him, the station manager of the station you're after.  They make
the decisions.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 09 Aug 1996 20:48:18 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Soul Hunters

 (blocked) asks:
> Does any race beyond the Soul Hunters know the Soul Hunter's
> motives?

      Definitely.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 10 Aug 1996 21:36:49 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Eric Rochkind <70671.302@compuserve.com>
Subject: X Men on Babylon 4!

[Reply to message #556812, which is no longer available]

      It's a door wheel which has been on that particular wall since
year one.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:42 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com>
Subject: Promoting B5

 Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com> asks:
> Like, is there a promotional pack that can be mailed to the
> station, or someone who handles new stations? Or do I just direct
> them to Warner if they are interested?

      No, we don't have any material like that at all.  That's all
handled by WB, we're not in any way involved in distribution.  If
they're interested, they'll know who to contact.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:44 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
Subject: Vorlons & Minbari

 Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
> What is the relationship between the Vorlons and the Minbari ?
> We have seen a couple of Vorlons on Minbar, is their relationship
> like ours and the Narn for example ? We get the impression that
> the White Star is not as powerful as the Vorlon ships, but surely
> as well as having Vorlon shielding wouldn't it have the powerful
> Vorlon weapons & flower propulsion thingies (those petals) ? Why
> is there a Minbari crew, not one vorlon insight and why do they
> let Sheridan be the captain ?

      The Minbari built the White Star, borrowing some Vorlon tech, so
it's primarily Minbari, and built with their sensibilities, all the
controls are in Minbari, and so on.  They allow Sheridan to command it
because Delenn said to do so, and in battle an unpredictable human
might have options that a more regimented Minbari might not.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:51 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Disbarring a doctor

{original post unavailable}

      Bear in mind, though, that we're talking Earthforce doctors, who
are part of the military establishment, and we don't know the full
structure of how that exists 200 years from now...certainly if
someone's actions caused the death of 250,000 sentients and a major
Earthforce base, I'd suggest that that could be sufficient grounds for
ending somebody's career....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:52 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Alcohol & Minbari

 (blocked) asks:
> In "Matters of Honor", Marcus makes a comment to Delenn and
> Lennier about the effects of alcohol on Minbari and I was
> curious: What are those effects?

      Makes 'em paranoid, and psychotically violent.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:14:53 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: All 
Subject: New Cast Addition

      Just a general announcement: Patricia Tallman, also known as
Lyta Alexander on B5, will be joining the regular cast in year four,
appearing in the main title sequence.  We're extremely pleased to have
her on board.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:20:22 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
Subject: Worst B5 Episode

{original post had no questions}

      Actually, the White Wolf paperback version of Harlan's "City on
the Edge of Forever" book is *now out*, with an even further expanded
introduction.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 10 Aug 1996 22:20:23 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Valen questions

{original post unavailable}

      Theo was named for Vincent van Gogh's brother.  Hence, Brother
Theo.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:46 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 : Writing is Art?

 Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
> Don't you think there are very few passion those days?

      Passion, as I've noted elsewhere, has become passe.  It's old
fashioned; the proper attitude now seems to be detatchment and
cynicism.  It doesn't help that so much of TV is done by rote,
recycling the same stories from place to place.  Interestingly, I think
we're seeing *less* of that in the last few years than in the entire
decade preceding, so maybe this is a good turn.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:51 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Darran Williams <101656.2143@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Cast Addition

{original post had no questions}

      No, the item referred to Lyta.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:53 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Grey Council Ship ??

 (blocked) asks:
> Do all the members of the Grey Council live permanently and
> exclusively on that ship? Do they ever take vacations?
> Does the ship have a name and a class?

      They stay on the cruiser almost entirely during their tenure in
the council, only leaving for personal family crisis/situations and the
like.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:55 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Alan P. Biddle <73260.1450@compuserve.com>
Subject: EA Civil War

 Alan P. Biddle <73260.1450@compuserve.com> asks:
> Can you say when we will get some additional info without
> compromising anything?

      I'd say you can expect that thread to pick up again after about
the first third of year four.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:23:58 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Disbarring a doctor

{original post unavailable}

      Nope.  Actually, I don't think I've ever heard of his work
before, let alone ever read anything.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:24:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Antony Jackson <100025.2004@compuserve.com>
Subject: More UK Media Articles

{original post had no questions}

      Well...sort of backhanded compliments, but I'll take them.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 11 Aug 1996 14:24:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Neville White <101352.1023@compuserve.com>
Subject: No Kosh's body?

 Neville White <101352.1023@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is this because she knows something about the nature of Vorlons,
> or is it because she knows something of the nature of Shadow
> attacks? Do the shadows consume their victims?

      More about the Vorlons than the shadows.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 12 Aug 1996 17:25:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 Comic

 Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com> asks:
> Has there been any plans to start another run of B5 comics?
> Can we expect another one of those anytime soon?

       Several companies are circling around the rights to the B5
comic, and are currently in negotiations.  And after some initial
problems with the contract between WB and Sendai, they hope to begin
putting out more issues of the B5 magazine, yes.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 17:25:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: 1st season questions

{original post unavailable}

       No word yet on tapes, and no, none of the cloaking suits are
still in anyone's hands on B5.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 17:25:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Bill Hirst <104106.431@compuserve.com>
Subject: New Cast Addition

 Bill Hirst <104106.431@compuserve.com> asks:
> Pat Tallman is back?
> Joe, do you have to make many adjustments to the story line to
> work her in?

       You just gotta learn to dance while life is throwing chainsaws
and chickens at you...after the first few cuts and pecks, it's easy.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:36:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Worst B5 Episode

{original post unavailable}

      "Dream Corridor" is still coming out, as new graphic novels; the
next one should be out shortly, as all the pieces are now in.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: 1st season questions

{original post unavailable}

      It's a question without a stated answer for now.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: JMS on Newsgroups

 (blocked) asks:
> Are you also available on the B5 newsgroup for questions, etc??

      Yes, you can find me over on rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.moderated. 
It's a fun place to hang out.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:17 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 Fan Club Mailing

{original post unavailable}

        Will do.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:43:19 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Hart Trevor <100705.1222@compuserve.com>
Subject: Shadow Tactics.

{original post had no questions}

      No, that's not it, not at present, certainly.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 12 Aug 1996 23:48:21 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Little "one Liners"

{original post unavailable}

      Red Five is not from Star Wars...it's standard Air Force
designation on various teams, Red One, Blue Three, others in some
cases, Alpha One, Bravo Two in others.  People in and out of the
military have been color coding fighters and the like long, long before
there was a Star Wars.  There's a danger in assuming that the first
place you heard it was the place that invented it. There are some ST
fans who *insist* that ST invented the term tachyon, since that's where
they heard it first, and even have given me and other shows a hard time
when we use this actual scientific notion.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com>
Subject: Your Anticipation

 Ray Pelzer <70475.1263@compuserve.com> asks:
> On a lighter note....the music comment reminded me: Any timeframe
> yet for the release of the second CD?

       I think Chris is going to time the second CD to coincide with
the new season, so he can piggy-back on the PR.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: PW Notes Screenwriting

{original post had no questions}

       That's good to know, thanks, I'll go get it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Composition

 (blocked) asks:
> That makes me curious,since Babylon 5 is actually shot in a
> widescreen format how do compose your outer space shots? Come to
> think of it, how do you compose shots in general? Do you have to
> make compromises so a scene will look good on a regular TV now,
> as well in the future when the show is out on laser disk and
> HDTV?

       That's more a Foundation question, I suspect...basically, I
think they all just sorta do what looks cool....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:21 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com>
Subject: Little "one Liners"

{original post had no questions}

       There were initially some throwaway lines to reference outside
SF, but soon it became a hunting expedition, with people paying more
attention to that than was correct.  It got in the way, and this show
has to define itself in its own terms...so the practice stopped.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:22 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com>
Subject: Worst B5 Episode

 Tom Knudsen <72347.1626@compuserve.com> asks:
> BTW, does Harlan have YOU writing anything for it yet??

       Yeah, I'm supposed to adapt "Someone is Hungrier" for the book,
when I have the time (insert crazed, manaical laughter here).

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 12:00:24 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: War Without End

{original post unavailable}

       It's too hard to synopsize here...try the Lurker's Guide.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com>
Subject: Something big out there?

 Mark Sloan <100407.3462@compuserve.com> asks:
> Was it a Shadow ship he saw?
> Are there types of Shadows ships as yet unseen?

      At least one, yes.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:17 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Arwel Parry <100336.623@compuserve.com>
Subject: Eeek!

{original post had no questions}

      But what the heck does it mean...?

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:19 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
Subject: More Vorlon Questions !

 Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
> Are their different sexes of Vorlon ?
> Do Vorlons have babies, if so...how ?
> How long can the Vorlon keep his Psychic shield up ?
> And how did Kosh get to the Garden, to save Sheridan...did he
> just pass through walls..? And finally, did Vorlons "invent" the
> Angels in the different races ? oh BTW - Is there a technical man
> from B5 on the Net whom I may contact about general tech
> stuff....a tech advisor ?

      Kosh was right there in the garden when Sheridan fell, so that's
how he got there.  And the only tech person on B5 is me.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 13 Aug 1996 21:56:21 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: ATTN: JMS <Kosh>

{original post unavailable}

      It's likely a matter of both, choosing an element which is
strongest in the other person, which for Sheridan and G'Kar would be
their respective fathers, who would also be authority figures to
them...so it's both manipulation and emotion.
                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 14 Aug 1996 12:19:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5: Time to kick butt

{original post unavailable}

       Yes, Peter, that's very good, now sit back down and finish your
broccoli or you can't have any Neapolitan ice cream.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:34 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: New Cast Addition

{original post unavailable}

      Bringing actors in and out, and changing their characters, is
more or less always a story issue, so it's never a problem.  Londo,
which you mention, was always intended to go on his arc from comic
relief to something darker and more tragic.  That's his story; it was
his story long before any actors were ever hired.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:41 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: TV Guide Letters

 SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Did you read the Letters section of next week's TV Guide?

      Yeah, it was great...the "Babylon Edging Out Trek?" column is
quite a bit away from their initial reaction to B5, to wit: "...they
hope will become a series.  Fat chance."

      I have this suspicion people are finally starting to figure out
what we're doing here....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:43 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com>
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..

 Martin Shaw <101642.505@compuserve.com> asks:
> But how could you leave Garibaldi in the lurch like that?

      Thanks, the Sinclair material was very moving, I thought.

      As for the kiss...I knew everyone would be waiting for that
first kiss, so I made sure it was different, that it was a first kiss
for one of them, but not the other, that it was natural and totally
unforced and surprising. So for Sheridan, his first kiss of Delenn was
actually his second (by a long ways), and his second, when it comes,
will be her first.

      Just can't do anything the conventional way on this show....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:02:47 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com>
Subject: Lyta--Season 4

 David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com> asks:
> How you get to those milestones is dependent on who you have to
> play with at the time, true or no? Do you look with anticipation
> these unexpected opportunities? Do they make your work more
> exciting because it keeps you on your toes? But I wonder if you've
> experienced the same thing you've experienced in writing your
> novels, that is new characters ask to be born, others ask to die
> and others ask to have their fates changed? I assume that is the
> case with adding Sheridan and killing off Kosh, but was that the
> case with Marcus? Was he planned all along?
> Did Lyta's appearances in Season 3 and Patricia's availability
> make Lyta's character *demand* more time? Finally, has it ever
> gotten to the point where you literally have to rein in your
> characters before they make a shambles of your carefully designed
> and laid-out plot?

      Actually, the progression of the B5 story has been almost
exactly the same as the way I write my novels.  I start off knowing
where the story has to go, what benchmarks I need to hit en route to
the end, what my repertory group of characters consists of, and then I
start writing.

      As someone said of a battle, an outline never survives contact
with the enemy, which in this case is the actual writing.  The outline,
for me, is a safety net whose purpose is to keep me nominally on track
while allowing me the freedom to bounce around the landscape, adding
new threads, broadening out the storylines, fleshing out the
characters, and reorganizing how the characters move in and out of the
story.  That makes the work organic.  I still end up exactly where I
wanted to end up, but the road there is much more interesting than if
I'd just hewed to a very rigid structure.

      It's like driving from LA to San Diego...you can just jump on
the freeway, or knowing the freeway is there, jump off from time to
time to grab lunch at Pea Soup Anderson's or a quick ride or two at
Disneyland.

      And yeah, sometimes I have to work to keep the characters in
line. Londo's the worst.  He's always going off and pulling me in one
direction or the other, he's very peripatetic...and getting him talking
for dialogue is never hard...getting him to shut the hell UP for two
minutes so somebody else can get a word in, tha's hard.

      Writing is a very schizophrenic business.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 14 Aug 1996 23:08:48 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Babylon TV Guide Letters

 (blocked) asks:
> Now if the show was all about cute kids, or a cute kid or robot
> saved the day consistently (whoops, did I say Star Trek?

      Two quick notes...what I said was that we wouldn't have cute
kids (or for that matter ANY kids) in as regular characters a la a
Wesley or the kid from SeaQuest.  We have, on rare occasions, had cute
kids in one-shot episodes...of course, they've generally ended up
shipped off or conveniently deceased....

      Also, just a correction: David Gerrold wrote "Believers," not
me.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:09:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout Cast

 Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
> I just wondered, is Michael really in Walkabout?
> Or have the Radio Times made a mistake with their cast listing?

       It's a typo.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:09:09 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
Subject: WWE - Hot damn!!!

 colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
> JMS, well, what can one say???
> The thing that really came across was how much 'face' acting
> there was, close ups where one or two words and an expression
> carry a scene, there were so many instances, it's hard to say
> which really had the most impact, how did Bruce manage to look so
> hateful / disgusted with Londo? How do you manage to get the
> performances so consistenty high from your cast and crew?

       Thanks; all the characters are great in that one, and the line
was "never use this."

       Re: "face-acting"...this is something I've been working on a
bit lately in my scripts, letting the actor have a moment visually
without words to carry it.  When you're starting out in a show, and
everyone's new, you have a tendency to make sure that the emotions are
expressed in dialogue, in case the acting doesn't carry it off.  Then,
over time, you learn to relax and start playing the silences, using
only a word or two here and there.  A few scenes in some year 4 scripts
play almost like haiku.  You learn to trust your cast, and they respect
that trust and return it.

       I can't think of any of the cast who doesn't strongly believe
in the show, and the story...they know, on whatever level, that we're
doing something of value here, something that's going to be remembered
and talked about for a long time after we're gone.  Lord knows it ain't
the money, none of us are getting rich here.  They believe in the
story, and that's truly extraordinary.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:10:01 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
Subject: Shadow Question

 Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do you, however, also think that once we find out what the
> Shadows want, we shall agree that the methods by which they go
> about it are justifiable? To put it another way, is the manner in
> which the Shadows are attempting to achieve their objective the
> only way in which they can do so, or is there another method they
> could have chosen?

       I don't think we'll find the methods appealing, but the motives
behind it may have some justification.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:10:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..

{original post unavailable}

       Thanks...a devious mind is a good thing....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 12:10:03 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Lyta--Season 4

{original post unavailable}

       No, you can see Pea Soup Anderson right from the freeway, going
down the 5 south.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com>
Subject: Comics as a medium...

 Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com> asks:
> I thought that while I was passing that along to you, I'd ask
> what you think of comics as a medium to tell *your* stories? Do
> comics give you the same range that a novel or a TV script does,
> or do you find them too limiting?

      In general terms, a comic allows you to do things that you could
never afford to do in a TV series or movie.  There's the constraint of
the artist you choose...a great artist can elevate a book, a bad one
can sink it no matter how good the storytelling...and having grown up
on comics all my life, and enjoyed the work of Miller and Moore and
Gaiman and David and others, I think they're a terrific form of
expression and storytelling.

      In regards the Legion...setting aside the reality that after the
situation with the B5 comic, which I felt wasn't being done correctly,
and said so vociferously...if there's any book I'd love to do (after
any of the Superman titles), it'd be the Legion of Superheroes.  It's
gone through some tough times, mainly in the Giffin days which were as
much a screwup of the concept as Byrne's Superman, but I have a lot of
loyalty to the characters, having come into the title back at its
formation out of the pages of Adventure Comics.  I'd do it in a hot
second, but I'd want to take it a bit back to its roots, and I'm not
sure they'd go for that.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:19 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Imran Naqvi <100533.273@compuserve.com>
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..

 Imran Naqvi <100533.273@compuserve.com> asks:
> How exactly does the triluminary thingy come into existence?
> Paradox, no?

      It originated on Epsilon 3.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:21 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Lyta--Season 4

{original post unavailable}

      Yes, there's also one on the SD/LA route; I wouldn't have said
so otherwise.  (I know, I've eaten there.)

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:23 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout Cast

 Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
> I was just wondering, do you consider the posters to this forum
> 'friends' in the same sense you consider those on GEnie friends?

      I try to follow as much of the general conversation as I can,
but it's a lot to track.

      Re: the CIS/GEnie thing...I was one of the first people around
town to go on-line in the entertainment business.  I was logging onto
Compuserve back in 1984, when you could only get 300 baud access, off
the back of a Kaypro II computer with 128k floppy disks.  This was my
first online network, and I've known a lot of the people here for 12
years.  So there's a certain kinship here.

      With GEnie, that was the first online network to give B5 a real
chance of being anything; a topic, then two, then a whole category,
then two whole categories were set aside for it, and they've believed
in the show for a long time.  It took a lot longer for CIS to come
around and even note the show, or do some of the things that GEnie was
already doing.

      Those are pretty much the main distinctions in how I see the
two.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 15 Aug 1996 23:52:26 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Season 4 Title?

 (blocked) asks:
> Have you announced the overall title for season 4 yet?
> If so, can you share it with us?
> Have you begun filming the next season yet?
> And how's the writing coming along?

      When I can announce the overall year 4 title, I will.  Filming
starts August 26th.  The writing is coming well.  Actually walked the
sets today for the first time since we wrapped in May; it's just too
depressing to walk on a dead set.  Lots of work going on now, new sets
being built, noise and energy and enthusiasm...much better now.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:51 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
Subject: Magazine Article

 colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
> maybe", flattery will get you anywhere eh??
> It goes on, but hey, pretty damn good PR I think nes pas??

       Thanks, I'd seen the article, and it's a great thing.  We're
starting to pick up more positive articles and reviews
lately...basicallly, I think journalists are starting to get past their
preconceptions of what we should be, and what SF is, to see the show
for what it is.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:53 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com>
Subject: Comics as a medium...

 Michael Beemer <71551.1670@compuserve.com> asks:
> I trust you won't object if I pass your comments back to the
> mailing list?

       Yeah, I've read the books during the rebuilding period, though
I haven't had time to indulge my comics habit for about six months or
so.  For some reason, though, it still feels wonky to me.  I confess
that as far as names go I still prefer Sun Boy to Inferno, and some of
the other renamings have been kinda dopey.  If you're going to change
it (and objectively I know Sun Boy is a bit goofy), you should go for
something a little better than, for instance, Lightning Lad to
Livewire.  Livewire is just an awful name.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:53 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: The Dark Is Rising

{original post unavailable}

       No, I haven't read it; will confess I hadn't heard of it until
now, my head being entirely in the show; when I'm done with the show,
and have some time, I will try and take a look at it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:56 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Triangle on Minbari head

{original post unavailable}

       Let me hold off on this for a bit.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 16 Aug 1996 15:08:57 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
Subject: The Copernicus ???

 Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
> Copernicus* Earth's first and only Sublight Interstellar
> "freezer" ?

       Nope.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: New Cast Addition

{original post unavailable}

      I haven't heard anything about how KVOS will be handling the
show yet, so we'll have to see.

      "Who are you for starters?"

      I work craft services at the Babylon 5 stage.  I make the hot
dogs. It's a small job, but I'm proud to be there.

                                                                  jms

(don't read credits, do you...?)

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:18 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Magazine Article

 Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> And isn't it also possible that journalists skipping their
> browsers across the WWW like stones across a pond will inevitably
> run into "cool" B5 sites, which, again, might direct their focus
> in a more desirable direction?

      I dunno...don't think enough journalists are online yet to make
an impact that way, but who knows?

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:20 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Magazine Article

{original post unavailable}

      Nothing about the show ever gets easier...it's just the nature
of the beast

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:23 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com>
Subject: Snow White

 Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com> asks:
> Queen: "Mirror, mirror on the wall; who's the fairest of them
> all?" Miror: "How about a weather report instead?"

      I hate you...I hate you...I really, really, really hate you....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:25 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Triangle on Minbari head

 (blocked) asks:
> No call yet - to be borne in mind??

      The call will come eventually.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:27 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com>
Subject: Day in the Strife

 Craig M. Bobchin <102354.3246@compuserve.com> asks:
> Should that have been the Blackstar the ship he destroyed?

      Yes, it was called the Black Star.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:29 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Goodbye Old Friend..

{original post unavailable}

      Well, I think it's safe to say that Franklin will finally get
the point later this season....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:31 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com>
Subject: Lyta--Season 4

 David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do you know of any others that might take the stage as late as
> Season 5, or haven't they let themselves be known to you yet<G>?

      Thanks...and yeah, it happened again.  I'm writing 405, "The
Long Night," and there's something that one character was supposed to
do in the script, that had been the plan all along, that was my intent
even as near as 1 page from where it was going to happen...then just as
I got to that scene, another character stepped up and said, "no, let me
do it."  I was kinda flummoxed.  "You?!  You're the LAST person anyone
would think to do this." The character nodded.  "Exactly."  And the
symmetry was perfect, the impact would be greater...so that's who did
it.

      On one level, it's always wonderful when this happens; on
another, it scares the hell out of me....

      It's at the bottom of act two, you'll figure it out when you get
there.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 16:55:34 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout Cast

{original post had no questions}

      Yup...I was here at the dawn of the SF forum....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 17 Aug 1996 23:19:59 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 at WorldCon

 SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do you know if the "A1" room will be Big Enough?

      We'll have to see....

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com>
Subject: Comics as a medium...

 Richard M. Perry <76461.2737@compuserve.com> asks:
> So I guess this means you haven't read the Kingdom Come series
> yet?

      Kingdom Come is about the only comic I've made it a point to get
lately; great stuff.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
Subject: Vorlons & Angels

 Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do Vorlons just *use* the images of angels from the races, or did
> they actually *create* the idea of Angels on each of the
> homeworlds ?

      In some places they may have expoited what was already there,
and created it in other places.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Centauri Home World ??

 (blocked) asks:
> Am I recalling the sense of your words approximately correctly?

      No, the Centauri Republic is where they're from.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:17 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com>
Subject: C4 B5 announcement

 colin heaps <100622.3610@compuserve.com> asks:
> This week however went one better, now I wouldn't like to say
> what they were hinting at but the announcement at the start of
> the program this week was "Special effects WITH a plot, Babylon
> 5, science fiction as it should be", not biased or anything eh??

      I hadn't heard that, that's great, thanks.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:19 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Fan Club Site

{original post unavailable}

      It's a feature of not using netscape (assuming there wasn't an
operating glitch)...you're presented with your own Babcom screen, which
is you launch point into the rest of the site.  Again, it's still being
added to and worked out, we haven't officially put the darned thing up
yet.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:23 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: David Cerreta <72630.3433@compuserve.com>
Subject: Lyta--Season 4

{original post had no questions}

      Thanks.  A lot of people are looking back at season 1 and
finding it better than they remembered, now that they know the
characters.  They also now see the little touches here and there
pointing forward in the storyline.

      The plot-recap stuff is difficult to pull off without being
obvious; you have to slip in the backstory a line at a time, here and
there, so new viewers can follow it but without annoying the constant
viewer.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:15:24 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

 Simon Pallett <101523.507@compuserve.com> asks:
> I found myself wondering if Franklin shall eventually find what
> he seeks, or if has he already discovered it, and just needs to
> realise that for himself? And as for the songs...well, Joe, what
> can I say? Is it pure co-incidence that all Vorlon suits shown so
> far, with the exception of that belonging to Kosh, are similar in
> design? Why is his the only encounter suit that I have seen so
> far, that is predominantly green?

      Actually, the new Vorlon's encounter suit is more purple/red
than green. The design is a matter of form following function.

      And yeah, I figured it might be cool to continue the song over
the credits.  That happens one more time this season.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:41:19 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Snow White

{original post unavailable}

"Maybe if someone can get the script a production could be put on at
one of the big cons?"

don't...

you...

dare....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:41:20 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

 Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
> Quickie question : What did Kosh2 see on the door behind Lyta?
> They sure looked like Shadow warriors to me, but what are they
> doing following _her_? And why did Kosh2 ignore them?
> Surely they also followed her onto the White Star....why not
> wreak havoc then?

      They weren't following Lyta.  We were in Kosh's old quarters,
and those images were burned into the wall when Kosh died.  Bear in
mind that she doesn't actually meet the new ambassador until the next
scene.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 18 Aug 1996 21:41:22 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

 (blocked) asks:
> Did you notice Lyta was wearing her gill dress when she first
> came on board? Who did the music?
> Where did the Narn heavy fighter come from?

      "Who did the music?"

      I wrote the lyrics, Chris Franke did the music.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 19 Aug 1996 01:55:29 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
Subject: Rerun Order

 William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is this something that disturbs you as well, or do you take part
> in the decision making process as to which episodes will air
> when?

      It's WB that decides on the rerun order...it's beyond my control
or influence.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 19 Aug 1996 02:01:32 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

{original post had no questions}

      I don't suppose I could ask that synopses of the episodes that
are this detailed be kind of not-done?  Brief ones, sure, but a
blow-by-blow breakdown of every scene is rather disheartening to see in
a public forum, even one set aside for spoilers.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:51:55 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

{original post had no questions}

       Chris Franke did the music.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:51:57 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

{original post unavailable}

       No signicance to the eyepiece color; no reason to assume
Vorlons only have one encounter suit their entire life.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:51:58 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

 Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is that fine to you?

       Nothing to apologize for; nothing wrong with asking for a
synopsis, it was just the extent of it that brought me up short.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

{original post unavailable}

       My concern about detailed synopses comes from a number of
elements. One of the foremost...a not as detailed synopsis leaves some
room for surprises. Even if you want to know what happens, to have
every breath, every line given to you ahead of time diminishes the
*impact* of what you're seeing.  If someone says, "In this episode,
Kosh dies," then okay, you know it's coming...but you don't know *how*
it's coming, and that's half the fun.

       Second, when someone attempts to recreate a scene, inclusive of
dialogue and action descriptions, the episode itself becomes a hostage
to how well that's presented.  I can't tell you how many times I've
gotten email from people who said, "I read a detailed synopsis of this
episode before I saw it, and from the way it was described, it felt
really stupid...but then I saw it, and I liked it a lot better than the
way it was presented in the synopsis." It can mitigate against the
impact, and the quality, of an episode if it's not well presented.  A
simple by-the-numbers, blow-by-blow synopsis can flatten out any of the
drama.

       Will they watch it?  Likely yes.  Will the impact be
diminished? Yes. Can people approach the episode from a prejudiced
perspective thanks to a too-detailed synopsis?  Yes.  There are other
concerns even beyond this, but those will do for now.

       (And my problem with the other fellow wasn't so much the
synopsizing, as that was all he ever did, moments after the show, just
to be first, and never took part in anything else.)

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:05 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

{original post had no questions}

       Again, you don't have to apologize, and I'm not looking for
one.  You can synopsize all you want...I was just encouraging a briefer
one that leaves some room for surprises here and there.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
Subject: The Rim anyone ?

 Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
> Anyway, in a post once you said to me that the races had only
> explored as far as they did because they need Navigation Beacons
> for Hyperspace, did they get to the Rim, is the rim the edge of
> explored space or the edge of the galaxy ? & why don't they go
> into hyperspace, keep going for a month then come out ?

       It's the Rim of the galaxy, and once you come out of hyperspace
past the galactic rim, all your points of reference are gone, and
getting back is tough, if not impossible...and you can't just "keep
going" in a straight line in hyperspace, as it's not a one-to-one
corrolation to normal space.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Still waiting...

{original post unavailable}

       Will check into this.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: 2 Q's on Walkabout

{original post unavailable}

       They're not that far apart in age, but yes, Kosh would be a bit
older

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Snow White

{original post unavailable}

       I'll think about it....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Snow White

{original post unavailable}

       Oh, I didn't really do it for the money, there wasn't much
involved at the time...it's not that I wrote it for money, it's that I
wrote it when I was *18* and when you look back at ANYdamnthing you
wrote at 18 the impulse is to shriek and run away.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:19 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Hart Trevor <100705.1222@compuserve.com>
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!

{original post had no questions}

       It wasn't that I disliked the responses...most of them were
quite funny in response to my (in jest) offer to come by and see
them...but others said it was kinda mean (mainly in email) and as I
pulled back and looked at it objectively, I saw that it could've
potentially been a UM, and Unintended Meanness.  So I had to rectify
it.  And the only way to do that was to turn the in-jest offer to come
to my office and see them into a real offer.  You gots to do what's
right....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:22 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Detroit problem

{original post unavailable}

       Best if the local fans get together en masse...that tends to
work.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:25 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Rerun Order

 Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> But have they ever given you any justification for their
> scheduling?

       It's all a matter of running new eps during sweeps.

       What's interesting -- when some fans of ST shows look for
something to badrap B5 about, using the ST ratings as a bludgeon -- the
ST ratings have been consistently sliding.  For the last several
quarters, the quarterly rating on DS9 has gone from 7.1 to 6.7, 5.9 and
as of July 4.6.

       B5's ratings per quarter have gone from 2.7 to 2.9, 3.0 and
3.1.  Why do I bring this up?  Because lately, in reruns, DS9 hit a 3.9
rating for the first time in reruns that I can think of (usually
they're in the 4s or low 5s) at about the same time we hit a 3.1 in
reruns, where usually it's a bit lower. So now there's only .8 between
us and DS9 in reruns, where the gap used to be huge.  So it should be
*very* interesting to see what happens when new episodes hit the air. 
I imagine they'll still be ahead, but the gap will, I suspect, be much
smaller.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:28 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com>
Subject: Characters' Ages on CD-R

 Toni Muller <75223.1575@compuserve.com> asks:
> Are these accurate?

       I'll have to check this and get back.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:30 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: walkabout questions

{original post unavailable}

       "You OWE me an explanation."

       No I don't.

       The series has to stand on its own, for starters, and most of
the questions you've asked here will be addressed by the last episode
of this season.  Suffice to say he has to trust Delenn...he knows she's
been holding back information (even says so later this season), but
until now, has held her in trust, that she must have her reasons.  This
may or may not change soon.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 13:52:31 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout propaganda

{original post unavailable}

       There's really no need for propgaganda.  By about now,
everybody out in this part of space knows the situation...and what's
going on back home is secondary to winning the war.  Also, you can be
sure that if they set up a network -- and who has time in the middle of
a war -- you can be sure Earth would find some way to jam it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 14:25:04 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Joe vs. Bears

{original post unavailable}

       Actually, I've been remembering the script, and I'm reasonably
sure the teddy bear was added by the director, I don't think it was in
the script.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:09:29 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Comics as a medium...

{original post unavailable}

      Though I've fallen out of my comics habit over the last 6-8
months, I followed Cerebus since very early in its run, and enjoyed it.
It's great.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:09:31 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Fan Club Site

{original post unavailable}

      The problem as I understand it is that using Netscape will let
us do more of the cutting-edge stuff we plan to introduce over the
course of the coming year than the other systems...avatars, residences,
other nifty stuff. If we go for a less sophisticated interface, we
won't be able to do this stuff.  At least, that's what we're being told
by the designers.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:09:32 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!

 SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> I wonder why?

      It's that parrot, man, I keep telling you....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 20 Aug 1996 21:28:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout propaganda

{original post unavailable}

      Okay, John, lemme ask you a question, since you keep harping on
this issue of propaganda.

      You're the leader of an isolated space station with a quarter
million inhabitants, who need air, food, supplies, space, support.  You
no longer have ties to Earth, no support from there, no money, so you
have to rely on whatever docking fees you can get from other worlds. 
You're in the midst of a war in which you have few resources, little
money, allies that have a tendency to turn on one another, nobody's
giving you a break, your position is tenuous as hell, you're constantly
undermanned, shorthanded....

      Now you tell me where the heck you're going to get the time,
resources, money and manpower to launch a propaganda operation, which
if you're going to broadcast (and what's the point otherwise?) on an
interstellar basis is going to require extensive and expensive
facilities, broadcast repeaters, tacyhon carrier wave generators to get
around the time-delay aspects, writers, directors, broadcast engineers,
spokespersons, propaganda specialists, psychologists, technicians,
camera equipment, space in which to PUT all of this stuff...on and on
and on.

      You keep beating this particular horse, but your objection has
nothing to do with the reality of their position.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 02:39:58 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 Merchandise in London

 Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
> I thought it quite odd that the availability of such merchandise
> has not been mentioned around here before, which made me wonder
> if it is not fully legitimate...do you have control over such
> things? Before I splash out $120 on a uniform, I would like to
> know if these things are legit?

      If the uniforms are from Janet Lawn, they're legit; no Psi Corps
pins have been approved for anyone at this point.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 02:44:40 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post unavailable}

      One doesn't have to believe in the existence of something to
write about it effectively...there aren't really Minbari or Vorlons,
y'know...you just decide to write about it as though it were a True
Thing.  And that's about how I approach religious characters.  As a
writer, you can choose to be honest in your characterization, or you
can use the medium for propaganda and the advancement of personal
agendas.  The latter holds no appeal for me.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:23 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Snow White

{original post unavailable}

      At 18 I was trying to get the hang of my craft.  I knew some
stuff, but not a lot.  I'm a little closer to that goal now, though
there's still a long road ahead of me.  B5 is something I'm proud of
now, and will be in future.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:26 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Fan Club Site

{original post unavailable}

      Should work with Netscape 3.0 no problem.  And thanks.  We do
want it to be cool...once it's fully operational, with all the final
parts and pieces added in, it should be nifty indeed.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:28 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rob Carr <73200.2754@compuserve.com>
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

 Rob Carr <73200.2754@compuserve.com> asks:
> Yeah, but how come you do so much better a job than those that
> do? There...there AREN'T?
> You mean, B5 isn't real life?

      Never took it *as* criticism....

      To the question of why more folks don't do it, or as much or "as
well" (the last in that list being subjective and self-serving for me
to repeat), I think a large part of the problem may be that very often,
if you deal with religion in TV, ten gazillion pressure groups from
either side of the political spectrum jump up and down on your head
until it's reduced to guava jelly.  So folks get very tentative about
the area.

      Me, I've been on computer nets for 12 years, I'm used to people
jumping up on down on my head until it turns into guava jelly...no big.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:32 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post unavailable}

      I commend C.S. Lewis to you as a writer first, and a theologian
second. As a writer, he does some nifty stuff...the Screwtape Letters
alone is worth his having walked among us.  The Perelandra (sp?)
books...are okay, but a bit dry sometimes.  His strength was in more
fantasy than SF.  As a theological writer, he had a tendency to set up
straw man arguments a bit too often and too easily for my tastes, but
he's certainly worth the read.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:38 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: The Rim anyone ?

 (blocked) asks:
> So when Delenn states that some of the first ones went exploring
> beyond the rim does that mean they went off expolring the
> billions of other galaxies in the universe or different
> dimensions, realms etc ? Is the B5 arc painted on a Galactic sized
> canvas (specifically the Milky Way) or does it hold consequences
> for the known Universe ?

      No, the events take place only in our own galaxy, and only in
portions of that...it's just too big a place.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:39 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
Subject: Voltayre WWW Page

 Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
> Have you visited "Encyclopedia Xenobiologica" (B5 page) on the
> World Wide Web ? Would you consider it to be accurate ?

      Dunno, I haven't seen it...will investigate.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:42 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
Subject: Patricia Tallman

{original post had no questions}

      Well, she's in the main title sequence with all the other cast
members starting next season, how's that?

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:45 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

 Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com> asks:
> Who was that?
> Not me????

      No, that ain't you, don't worry, that's old news.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:47 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

 (blocked) asks:
> Do you see what I'm getting at?

      So where is the problem with, let's say, a person putting up a
spoiler that says what basically happens in the episode, adding, "If
you want a more detailed analysis, email me and I'll send it along."

      But bear in mind, again, folks can post here whatever they want;
I'm not in a position to stop anyone.  If I have any moral authority on
an issue -- dubious since I'm not sure where I left my morals anyway --
that's fine, but I'm not going to pressure anybody to do
anything...that ain't how I work.  How people perceive me is beyond my
control, and when the poster here apologized for the long synopsis, I
told him he didn't have to do so.

      This really ain't a big issue, folks...I saw something, had a
gut reaction to it, and said what was on my mind.  I can't start
censoring what I think because someone might take it too much to
heart...yes, the person has a right to post what they want, and I have
an equal right to respond as I feel is appropriate.  I'm being as
honest in my reactions as anyone else.  Who in this room has a problem
with that?

      Unless you're saying I should just shut up when I see something
I feel strongly about...which seems to me just as bad as anything else
being discussed here.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:09:50 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout propaganda

{original post unavailable}

      John...you're getting too wrapped up in this.  For starters,
having just had a MAJOR WAR with the Minbari, which nearly wiped out
Earth, and many folks back home *hating* the Minbari...do you think for
one second that they're going to believe a word of what the Minbari say
to them?  Do you think the government would allow this to go through
unjammed?  Hell, EarthGov would have a field day with this..."See? 
It's all alien propaganda, just like we told you, they're trying to
destabalize Earth."

      Second, I don't think the Minbari have the propagandists,
writers, directors, and others needed to put together a propaganda
network, and would find the whole idea immoral to begin with...and a
couple of paragraphs of text are meaningless...Earthgov says "it's not
true," and it's your word against theirs.  That's why you must have
absolute, unvarnished PROOF, otherwise it blows up in your face, which
any journalist worth his or her salt knows.

      Again your suggestions don't touch reality at any two contiguous
points.

      Also, I can't keep track of, or answer, 15 or 20 questions in
one message; if you've got a point to make, do so concisely.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 21 Aug 1996 21:23:28 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Snow White

{original post unavailable}

"But he's considering letting me live"

      The night is young.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Scott Miller <70562.3656@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

 Scott Miller <70562.3656@compuserve.com> asks:
> Wouldn't this image have been worth mentioning?

       Watch the scene again; the first time the new Vorlon looks at
the wall, he sees nothing; the next time he looks at it, the lens wide
open, the image is somewhat distorted around the edges, and now he's
seeing the afterflash. Only certain types can see it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post had no questions}

       Good point.

       It can sometimes be annoying...I know there was a fan meeting
of a certain group in the UK at one convention last year where they
insisted, in NO uncertain terms, that my statement about being an
atheist was just a cover, and that I was in fact a religious person
using that as a blind so I could get my views across.

       Language is a precise thing; if you do not say what you mean,
you can never mean what you say.  What I stated in this regard is the
simple truth. Anybody who can't handle that...should just have a little
faith.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:14 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Snow White

{original post unavailable}

       The night is never young on that side of the Atlantic.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post unavailable}

       Yes, but almost always in terms of *alien* religions.  ST
frequently addresses religious issues, and yes, mostly in a negative
light...but when was the last time you saw this about a human religion?
See, that's the easy out. You can say whatever you want about the
stupid religious beliefs of the blue-furred Erzani of Cromethiom
Nine...take a shot at the Pope, and you get letters.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:28:18 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com>
Subject: Travel times

 Richard Wakefield <100534.504@compuserve.com> asks:
> Or, is the *3 day* figure just to get to the "Earth Solar System"
> ? If yes, then what roughly *is* the length of time *in*
> Hyperspace (outside observers) ?

       Three days is the time to the jumpgate off Io.  Once you're
within our solar system, it takes another several days or more to reach
Earth itself. It's fairly common to keep your jump gate a bit removed
from your "core" planet so you have warning if any agressors come out
of it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 12:41:01 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Arline Williams <102551.2346@compuserve.com>
Subject: Stealth Production?

 Arline Williams <102551.2346@compuserve.com> asks:
> Or are you guys just shy?

       We're not on the lot.  We couldn't find facilities big enough
for our needs, and if you're on the lot...you're more accessible, and
people have a tendency to wander in and give you notes.  So we're well
off the lot, and nobody bothers us.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 20:31:42 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

{original post unavailable}

      Stuff is still going out; another 1500 zipped out the door
today.  It's coming....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 20:31:43 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post had no questions}

      Also, I think we're sufficiently low-profile that they just
haven't noticed us yet....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 22 Aug 1996 20:31:45 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Meryl Yourish <103470.2703@compuserve.com>
Subject: Patricia Tallman

 Meryl Yourish <103470.2703@compuserve.com> asks:
> Joe, is Ivanova in the main title sequence next season?

      All of our regular characters are in our main title sequence for
the year in which they appear.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Michael Grabois <74737.2600@compuserve.com>
Subject: New episode airdates?

 Michael Grabois <74737.2600@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do you have any closer idea as to when the end of Season 3 is
> going to be shown in the US besides "sometime in October"?

       Starts the first week of October, straight through.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Richard Hatch

 (blocked) asks:
> Did Richard Hatch of Battlestar Galactica read for the part of
> Sheridan?

       Trying to remember...Bruce was our first choice, but we had to
have some backups in case he wasn't available...yeah, we saw Hatch, and
felt he wasn't right for the role, though he's a good actor.  Saw a
bunch of actors, most of whose names have fallen out of my head.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout propaganda

{original post unavailable}

       Yes, they do...but bear in mind that the Minbari are currently
having their own problems.  The Grey Council has fallen apart, the
Military Caste (as we'll see in one of the next episodes) is having
some serious doubts about how the Religious Caste is handling things,
and that much of the support given Earth (by way of B5) has been
covert; the White Star program was launched in secret, and the greater
amount of the Minbari population aren't aware they're so much "in bed"
with the humans (as it were).  As far as they're concerned, we're
apparently necessary to the plan, but not much more than that.  So I 
think they wouldn't be warm to the notion of extending their services
overmuch to Earth.

       You keep trying to make everything cut and dried, but in the B5
universe, there ain't no such critter.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 23 Aug 1996 11:47:18 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com>
Subject: Quakers on B5?

 Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com> asks:
> With tounge (sp?) firmly in cheek I must ask "What?
> No Quakers?
> What civilized society wouldn't still have the Society of
> Friends?" I guess I do have to ask, seriously, "How fair the
> Friends in the B5 universe?"

       Well, if Quakers choose not to use mechanical means of
transportation, only horse-drawn carriages...then I would suggest that
this may hinder their progress in interstellar travel.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:08:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Fan Club Site

{original post had no questions}

      That's odd, since it doesn't happen when I checked it out a
little bit ago...will check again.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:08:17 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com>
Subject: Quakers on B5?

 Chris Croughton (UK) <100014.3217@compuserve.com> asks:
> Or have they been forcibly supressed by EarthGov?

      Yeah...ten minutes after I sent the message I did a Simpson
"D'oh!" and realized I was talking about the Amish.  Ah, well...we're
all entitled to one screw-up...

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:16:35 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

 Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
> Just out of curiousity, how long ago did you get the newsletter?
> last week receiving the kit?

      Jim has sent a public response to the Usenet about the delay,
and the Zocalo has also published a letter from him about it.  In
addition, I've gone at some length here about what's been going on. 
You may not have seen them, but there have been public replies.  The
email list is too hideously huge to reply to individually.  But stacks
and stacks are going out the door as fast as can be.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:16:36 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!

{original post had no questions}

"I'll show you my Dupa."

      And the fifteen people on CIS who know Polish found this
extremely funny.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 00:16:39 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post unavailable}

"Roddenberry was an athiest and very anti-religious."

      And therein lay the key.  One can be an atheist for oneself, and
not anti-religious when it comes to others.  The two need not go hand
in hand.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

{original post unavailable}

      We figured we'd get an initial membership of about 1,000-1,500,
and staffed accordingly.  We got about 6,000, so all our planning has
gone straight to hell in that regard.  Last I heard from Jim, the last
batches of stuff should be out by mid-week.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Fan Club Site

 SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Some of us may want to "roll our own" species, have you given
> thought of how that could be done? Are there plans for that using
> security "certificates" or plain old passwords?

      Yes, there will be security once it's all officially online.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com>
Subject: Lyta--Season 4

 Batman <104635.1044@compuserve.com> asks:
> Ever consider doing a "recap" show, ala the X-Files two "Secrets
> Of" episodes?

      We suggested it to WB, and were turned down, on the grounds that
as a network, Fox can just go ahead and program what the want in those
hours, if it's a secrets-of special or something else; but PTEN isn't
really a network, it's a syndication division, and in syndication you
have to sell each item separately, so they'd have to go out and sell
that one hour special the same way they'd sell a series, and they were
loathe to do that.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

 (blocked) asks:
> Would it be possible (and not too much typing) for you to post
> those lyrics here? Maybe upload them as a library file, so that
> they wouldn't go away? Pretty please?
> With a virtual (no calories) hot fudge sundae?

      Will try to remember to do that soonish....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 15:36:15 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com>
Subject: Questions

 Alan Mulvie <100566.1444@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Shadow?
> Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Vorlon?
> The war that Dellan refers to (17 years in the future) where the
> enemies The Shadows? The war that Dellan refers to (17 years in
> the future) where the enemies The Vorlons? In the Babylon 5
> storyline do the Vorlons become a bigger enemy that the Shadows? 
> Do you think the Vorlons are cheats using time as a weapon?

"Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Shadow?"

No.  One of their dark servants, a leftover from the war.

"Is the "keeper in Londo, 17 years in the future, a Vorlon?"

No.

"The war that Dellen refers to (17 years in the future) where the
enemies The Shadows?"

No.

"The war that Dellan refers to (17 years in the future) where the
enemies The Vorlons?"

No.

"In the Babylon 5 storyline do the Vorlons become a bigger enemy that
the Shadows?"

Depends on your definition.

"One that you can answer non cryptically : Do you think the Vorlons
are cheats using time as a weapon?"

No.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:44 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Richard Hatch

 (blocked) asks:
> Were these people you were just "considering" in your head, or
> had they actually read for the part? Wasn't John Rhys Davies on
> Sliders at this time or was this just prior to that? You say Bruce
> looked like how you pictured Sheridan but just how well defined
> was the character at this stage? Is there any chance A Martinez
> might guest star in the future?

       Many of the names we were considering don't audition; you know
their work or you don't.  Some did.  (It's bad form to indicate which
did what.)

       While I had a certain idea of the look for Sheridan in my head,
the one thing you learn as a producer is to keep an open mind when it
comes to casting, because sometimes something will happen that you
hadn't anticipated and you go with it.

       While I had the name Sheridan, I hadn't locked down his ethnic
background yet, and instructed our casting director accordingly.  I
wanted to see a range of people.  So we saw not just Caucasian actors,
but hispanics, african american, asian...I felt strongly after the
first season that we didn't have enough ethnic diversity, which is one
of the reasons we changed casting directors to one that had a wider
background in this area. As it turned out Bruce was the best person for
the role, but we went into the process open to whoever walked in the
door.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:47 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com>
Subject: Questions

 Juanma Barranquero <100044.2131@compuserve.com> asks:
> His definition of "bigger," or that of "enemy"??

       Well...yes, I suppose.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:50 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
Subject: WWOR in NY

{original post had no questions}

       I don't know specifically what's going on for Sunday...but I do
know that the station group to which WOR belongs has stated it will
keep the second airing, and they are working to move the show into
better time slots. So going from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. gives us a prime time
slot, which is *much* better for us.  I don't know if they'll keep the
Sunday rerun where it is, but there will be a rerun somewhere.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:51 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com>
Subject: Questions

 Brian A. Thomas <75231.1122@compuserve.com> asks:
> Why do the Vorlons hate the Shadows so?
> Will this be ansered later in the show?
> I suppose the mystery of what the old ones are so upset with one
> another won't be known until year 5?

       After "Z'ha'dum," I think you'll have your answer to this.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:53 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

 Rebecca Eschliman <76072.2345@compuserve.com> asks:
> Do fan club applications still continue trickle in, flow in or
> downpour in?

       The flow of applications have slowed a little, in large measure
because we've stopped putting the information out there until we get
caught up on what we've got.  Once we've caught up -- and I think
virtually everything has either gone out last week or will be out this
week -- then we'll go out and start beating the drum again.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:56 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: More pics here?

{original post unavailable}

       No reason...just the upload time involved to do it all. 
Anything there can be reposted here.  I keep meaning to do it, but end
up tying up my computer with writing.  The folks at WB do the uploads
to AOL and the WB B5 site; here it'd have to be me, and it's just a
question of finding the time.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:20:59 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
Subject: First Day of Filming

 Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
> So, how was the first day of filming?
> Are you still alive?

       It's frenetic, nuts, lots of running around and little fixes,
we all get a little crazy on first days...but it'll be okay.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:21:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

 Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
> once the email address was published, someone should have been
> ready to respond (why else publish it?

       Lemme ask you a question...did your check get cashed?  Because
I just went down the hall and asked Jim what the status was on Jonathan
Kass' membership, and it wasn't in any of the files, so what I'm
wondering is if it just never got to us.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:32:00 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Elyse M. Grasso <70302.3304@compuserve.com>
Subject: SF as it should be

{original post had no questions}

       All of them wanted to work more after ST; very few did, many of
the cast couldn't get arrested.  They deeply resented it.  It's not as
if they said, "oh, well, I'm old now, I can retire."  At the time, most
were in their 40s, with Kelley being the oldest one there.  One doesn't
retire at 40 as an actor; you go on.  They've all talked about it.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:49:46 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Newsletter

{original post unavailable}

       Yes, the first three volumes, as noted in the newsletter, were
destroyed at the printer's; the fourth mysteriously vanished.  Who
knows, perhaps in years to come, the fourth one will make a
reappearance....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 26 Aug 1996 17:49:47 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Chris Franke

{original post unavailable}

       I think he's decided to time it to come out at the same time as
the November debut of season 4, so he can piggyback the publicity.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:06 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Joseph Coulter <75272.3005@compuserve.com>
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post had no questions}

       Thanks.  I think in that kind of situation you have to deal in
the straight emotions of the belief, the honest feelings of those
involved, and how they view their lives, and that will keep you on the
heart's true magnetic north...when you diverge into the more doctrinal
stuff, you will always go astray.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:07 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

 Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com> asks:
> Now what?

       Now I go back to Jim and tell him to look again...thanks.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:08 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Fan Club Site

{original post unavailable}

       I think you can change it, yes.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:10 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
Subject: Richard Hatch

{original post had no questions}

       Nope.  Those were some of the folks we were considering.  We
also looked in the direction of Bruce Campbell (who had just had his
show shot out from under him, and whose agent said he wasn't doing TV
for a while) and several others.  Basically, you look around for who's
available, who might be good for the role, might bring something
interesting to it...and then pick the best person.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:11 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Laurence Moroney <100546.50@compuserve.com>
Subject: Walkabout

{original post had no questions}

       Since I didn't write Gropos, it didn't happen there....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:12 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com>
Subject: Quakers on B5?

 Jonathan Hoopingarn <73172.1065@compuserve.com> asks:
> Now that all the mistaken identities have been cleared up, and as
> the final arbiter of all things Babylonian, would the Quakers
> have made it?

       I don't know...maybe...it's something that I'll have to
consider.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 14:57:13 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Robin L. Small <76640.2012@compuserve.com>
Subject: Rogue Teeps

 Robin L. Small <76640.2012@compuserve.com> asks:
> franklin helped out?

       Yep, we'll be hearing about this again quite soon.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 21:51:27 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

{original post had no questions}

      I went to Jim's office again after your last note, and had him
check the database again by hand; it's definitely not there.  So I've
copied your email to him, and he should be in touch soon, or he'll go
ahead and add it to the list.  It's conceivable that if your check got
caught up in a bundle it might've missed being processed by us.  As far
a I know this is the only time it's happened; but we never know about
it until and unless someone tells us about it.  Thanks for bringing it
to our attention.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 27 Aug 1996 21:51:29 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

{original post unavailable}

      Yeah, I kinda wear my heart on my sleeve more than I should;
sometimes even I'm appalled at what I find my subsconscious has given
away once I can step back and look at a script objectively.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:22 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

{original post unavailable}

      That's the question that's hard to answer, because stuff is
going out the door as fast as possible.  One batch of 1500 went out on
Thursday.  Was yours in there?  I don't know.  Part of the consistent
problem we're having is the Post Office.  They told us what the postage
should be for each packet and newsletter, first class (we sent the
first batches off bulk, and they got dumped, lost, delayed...never
again, we'll just take the loss and deal with it).  So we use that, and
turn it in at the post office.  Depending on which postal worker takes
the parcels, it goes through, or they send them back for more.  So now
we're increasing the postage to make sure they don't do this to us
again.  It's making Jim crazy.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:25 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!

 (blocked) asks:
> By the way, do you have a cat?

      Well, there's a neighborhood cat who comes around, sort of a
rent-a-cat that gets fed and tolerated, but that's all.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:27 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Philip Hornsey <74053.2101@compuserve.com>
Subject: Quakers on B5?

{original post had no questions}

      Just increased your insurance policy, didn't you?  I can
tell....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 15:46:31 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Richard Hatch

 (blocked) asks:
> What was it about Bruce that made him your first choice?
> Was it a particular quality or characteristic he expressed in a
> previous role, or did he just have "the look"?

      It was a number of things.  He looked like what I thought
Sheridan would look like, and had the right attitude.  He had a
reputation for being an actor associated with lightweight dramas
(though he was capable of much more), and I knew this would play in my
favor in that people would be set up for one thing, and then I'd yank
it in the other direction; even made sure that I gave him lightweight
dialogue, had a jolly attitude, for most of his first few episodes on
the show (exempting "Revelations").

      So when the first eps aired, and people were going on about
"smiling jack," I knew I had them set up for the whack-upside-the-head
that was coming down the road at them, and the character.

      (It's sometimes like an elaborate game of chess...I try to
anticipate the viewer reaction so I can, well, turn this on them and
use it to my own advantage.  Look at folks' initial reactions to Londo
and Vir as another example of this.  I've said before that I'm not
averse to taking aspects of the actor -- Mira's background in
Yugoslavia -- and using them for the benefit of the story, so you can
bet I'd be willing to do that with the audience as well.  I say if
people are going to apply their preconceptions to a character or an
actor, then it's perfectly fair game for me to turn this around on
them. So those who saw depth in Londo or Vir -- and were ploinked for
it -- got to see their suspicions confirmed (good result) and those who
thought they were just buffoons got to have their brains splattered
when they saw the depths that emerged (also a good result).  So why not
do this with Bruce?)

      Other reasons...Doug and John had worked with Bruce before, and
knew him to be a stand-up guy, loyal and honest and hardworking, a team
player, and a genuinely nice man who was far more talented than the
roles given to him before had let him show, more range and more colors
than he had previously had a chance to display.  He's also a stone SF
fan, both in media and literary SF, so I knew he'd have a great respect
for the story.

      I've been remembering some of the other choices we were
considering for Sheridan...James Earl Jones, John Rhys Davies, Barry
Bostwick, Michael York, Michael Moriarity, A. Martinez...but for me,
Bruce *was* Sheridan, and when it came time to make a decision, it was
him, hands-down.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 19:56:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

{original post unavailable}

"Our great government efficiency at work again!  Do you think THEY
think it's coming FROM Babylon 5?!"

      Dunno about that...but it sure looks to me like the Post Office
is being run by the Shadows.

      (Hmm...I wonder if they saw "Avalon" and are still smarting over
the Post Office humor...?)

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 19:56:19 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Won Bin . Lee <76770.162@compuserve.com>
Subject: Christianity in Babylon5

{original post had no questions}

"...he preaches all day on why religion should be eliminated, his
future goals of ruling the world and wiping out such religion, and not
only that, but arts as well, thinking they are "useless"."

      Mr. Stalin, meet Mr. Hitler.  Mr. Hitler, meet Mr. Stalin.

      "his future goal of ruling the world"

      First though he has to stop living in his mom's basement and
collecting balls of string and wrapping aluminum foil around his head
to keep out the Martian death rays....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 24 Aug 1996 19:56:21 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
Subject: War Council

 Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com> asks:
> One question: I was under the impression that Sheridan was the
> military leader of the Army of Light, is this not correct? Is this
> to be a war by committee? How exactly is the Army of Light
> organized?

      Sheridan commands the Army of Light, Delenn as second.  If the
AOL speaks with one voice on something of importance, they have to be
listened to. When Sheridan put himself on the front lines, he was then
taking on the role of soldier, not commander.  They also felt it risked
leaving them without said commander if it went wrong.

      Bear in mind that their orders in *no* way compromised his
actual mission, or over-rode his decision.  They were sending along a
secondary mission to keep an eye on the primary mission.  I don't see a
conflict here.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 00:53:41 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Fan Club Site

 SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com> asks:
> Is the area affiliation (Earth Force, PsiCorp, etc.) going to do
> more than affect the graphical gizmos on the BabCom window?

      We'll do more with the affiliations later on once more parts of
the station go on line.  For instance, we'll have various chat areas
set aside. If you're Earthforce, you can get into Earharts...if you're
a Centauri, you can't, but you'll have another area you can get into. 
When you get your quarters set up on B5 (you'll be able to actually
rent a residence on the station), if you're a Narn it'll be in the
alien sector, if you're Psi Corps it'll probably be Red
Sector...basically, we'll try, as much as possible, to replicate what
it would be like to actually live there.  Eventually we hope to 
introduce avatars in the chat area so you can appear visually in the
room as the species of your choice...with the thought that, in time,
people will be able to upload images of themselves and use those in the
chat area with the avatars...it's going to grow into something very
elaborate.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 00:53:45 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com>
Subject: Richard Hatch

 William H. DiPaola <76521.1751@compuserve.com> asks:
> Wait a sec ...you wanted Bruce first???
> Nevertheless, what made you go with O'Hare?
> The two are like night and day for a variety of reasons, and was
> Bruce unavailable initially? How did you learn that he was
> interested in coming aboard?

      Let me clarify, so I won't be misunderstood...Bruce was our
first choice after the change-over from Sinclair.  Bruce would not have
been right for the choice of Sinclair, but was right for Sheridan. 
Michael was right for Sinclair, would not have been right for Sheridan.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 01:03:28 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: SysOp Dupa T Parrot <70040.104@compuserve.com>
Subject: Private JMS Viewing!!!!!

{original post had no questions}

"It'd be a whole lot funnier if Ed Wasser hosted the flight."

      Tell that to the crew of the Icarus....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 25 Aug 1996 01:03:30 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Brent Barrett <75063.3305@compuserve.com>
Subject: War Council

{original post had no questions}

      Just some comparisons to illustrate...during WW II, the head of
naval operations for the Japanese fleet insisted on being on board
during several of their more pivotal missions.  His subordinates
insisted that additional ships be sent as escorts given his importance
to war strategy.  That's a very rigid military structure, but when
*all* the subordinates get together on something, to go against it
causes more problems than it's worth.

      Even within the context of a conventional military situation,
there's flexibility.  If a commanding officer gives an order which is
immoral, illegal, or against the rules of engagement, a subordinate can
refuse to implement that order, even give a countermanding order which,
depending on the situation (such as a nuclear missile firing) would
take precedence over the CO's order (though you'd first have to relieve
the CO of command, and if you do that, you'd darned well better be
prepared to back it up with every legal and moral means at your
disposal, or it's mutiny).  Heck, it was just this kind of dilemma that
was at the core of the movie "Crimson Tide," and was brought up in the
recent war crime trials going on investigating what happened in Bosnia,
with a soldier being asked why he didn't refuse to carry out an order
to kill civilians.

      Ain't a lot of black-and-whites in the world, but a whole lotta
greys.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 28 Aug 1996 11:58:38 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Jonathan Kass <74130.443@compuserve.com>
Subject: B5 FAN CLUB INFO!

{original post unavailable}

       Jim's just done a hand-search of applications, and still can't
find anything on your membership.  He's asked if you could send a xerox
copy of your canceled check (both sides) to him at the fan club
address.  Once we have that in hand, we'll zip everything out the door.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 28 Aug 1996 15:56:34 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: B5 on tape.

{original post unavailable}

       In the fullness of time, they'll be out here....

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 28 Aug 1996 16:05:36 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Valerie Williams <104047.2451@compuserve.com>
Subject: Richard Hatch

{original post had no questions}

       That's good to hear, and I'm sure a number of other folks
started with the show when Bruce came on.  Whatever the cause, I'm
pleased with the effect.

       And don't feel bad about your initial attitude (assuming you
did); lots of folks had the same initial resistance, often out of a
sense of perceived loyalty to ST.  We learn by doing.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 28 Aug 1996 23:20:37 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: Valerie Williams <104047.2451@compuserve.com>
Subject: Richard Hatch

 Valerie Williams <104047.2451@compuserve.com> asks:
> If you get asked to come back next year, will you?
> Truth to that?
> Any thoughts as to also releasing videos of the episodes?

      Thanks.  To your questions...I haven't yet been invited back to
Marcon (I don't know if they've finalized their list yet), but if that
should happen, work schedule allowing, I would likely be there; and
yes, B5 has been sold to TNT for runs after the show has gone its
course, which will be the first time we'll have had a national timeslot
and a big network.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


Date: 29 Aug 1996 12:06:16 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Walkabout

{original post unavailable}

       Not coincidences, no, but not quite asx tightly linked as you
suggest. Thematically indicative more than anything that points to
story specific elements.

                                                                  jms

------------------------------

Date: 29 Aug 1996 12:06:17 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644@compuserve.com>
To: (blocked)
Subject: Richard Hatch

{original post had no questions}

       S'okay...that generally happens on the show.  When we brought
in Vir, lots of folks moaned about what a mistake it was, "flounder in
space," they said...same with Walter Koenig...there were any number of
messages suggesting we lose Londo, and others...and after a while, when
they see what we're doing, they turn around.  Vir is now many folks'
favorite character, and Bruce has hit it as Sheridan for most everybody
now.

       Doesn't bother us anymore.

                                                                  jms


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