Babylon 5 novels, short stories and comic books

Unique to the "Babylon 5" universe among virtually all other shared universes is the sanctioned canonicity of many of its offshoot novels and comic book stories; nearly all of the "Babylon 5" novels and novelizations to date having been based on outlines written directly by J. Michael Straczynski. The later Del Rey books are considered to be more canonical than some of the earlier Dell ones, although – per Straczynski's own remarks – canonical elements exist in every single book published to date; Straczynski's deeper involvement in the novel-publishing program from 1996 onward having ensured a greater level of canonicity within such works.

Additionally, the creator himself penned a number of short stories expanding on several key story-points from the television series, along with a number of other established authors, with all such tales considered as "real" as the TV show itself. The comic books published by DC are also fully endorsed, with Straczynski again either having directly written or contributed to all of the issues in one form or another.

As of 2007, J. Michael Straczynski is still writing the manuscript for a "Babylon 5" graphic novel, to be published on an as-yet-unknown date by Wildstorm Productions. The premise, characters, and plot have not been officially confirmed, but it has been reported that Straczynski originally planned to write a story that takes place before the season three two-parter "War Without End," featuring Sinclair and Sheridan, and involving Mars, Minbar, Babylon 5, and a conspiracy. It has also been reported that he has subsequently decided to tie in elements from the spinoffs "Crusade" and "Legend of the Rangers" into the book. [cite web | url=http://worldsofjms.com/projects.htm#b5book | title=Straczynski Project Watch | accessdate=2007-08-11] The graphic novel will be 100 pages long. The artist has not yet been announced.

Mongoose Publishing, the publisher of recent "Babylon 5" role-playing game (RPG) material, announced plans to release a line of "Babylon 5" novels and graphic novels, beginning in summer 2006. J. Michael Straczynski made it clear that he was not involved with this project, and considered the works to be "fan-fiction." [cite web | url=http://www.mongoosepublishing.com/home/series.php?qsSeries=28 | title=A Call to Arms ! | publisher=Mongoose | accessdate=2006-08-18] In spring of 2007, Mongoose announced that the project was cancelled.

Novels

"The seventh Dell novel has been described as 90% canonical, and the ninth novel is considered fully canonical by J. Michael Straczynski, with canon elements interspersed throughout the other books."
# "" by John Vornholt (1995, ISBN 0-440-22057-2)
# "" by Lois Tilton (1995, ISBN 0-440-22058-0)
# "" by John Vornholt (1995, ISBN 0-440-22059-9)
# "" by Jim Mortimore (1996, ISBN 0-440-22229-X)
# "" by Neal Barrett Jr. (1996, ISBN 0-440-22230-3)
# "" by S.M. Stirling (1996, ISBN 0-440-22234-6)
# "" by Jeanne Cavelos (1997, ISBN 0-440-22348-2; 2002 edition: ISBN 0-345-45218-6)
# "" by Al Sarrantonio (1997, ISBN 0-440-22351-2)
# "" by Kathryn M. Drennan (1997, ISBN 0-440-22354-7; 2003 edition: ISBN 0-345-45219-4)

The Psi Corps Trilogy

"All are considered canon: written by J. Gregory Keyes."
# "" (1998, ISBN 0-345-42715-7)
# "" (1999, ISBN 0-345-42716-5)
# "" (1999, ISBN 0-345-42717-3)

The Centauri Trilogy

"All are considered canon: written by Peter David."
# "" (1999, ISBN 0-345-42718-1)
# "" (2000, ISBN 0-345-42719-X)
# "" (2000, ISBN 0-345-42720-3)

The Technomage Trilogy

"All are considered canon: written by Jeanne Cavelos."
# "" (2001, ISBN 0-345-42721-1)
# "" (2001, ISBN 0-345-42722-X)
# "" (2001, ISBN 0-345-43833-7)

Novelizations

"All are considered canon: written by various authors."
* "Babylon 5: In the Beginning," by Peter David (1998, ISBN 0-345-42452-2)
* "Babylon 5: Thirdspace," by Peter David (1998, ISBN 0-345-42454-9)
* "Babylon 5: A Call to Arms," by Robert Sheckley (1999, ISBN 0-345-43155-3)

A novelization of "River of Souls" was also written but never released.

hort stories

"All are considered canon: written by various authors."
* "The Shadow of His Thoughts", by J. Michael Straczynski (Summer 1999, "Amazing Stories Magazine")
* "Genius Loci", by J. Michael Straczynski (Winter 2000, "Amazing Stories Magazine")
* "Space, Time, and the Incurable Romantic", by J. Michael Straczynski (Summer 2000, "Amazing Stories Magazine")
* "Hidden Agendas", by J. Michael Straczynski (May 2000, "The Official Babylon 5 Magazine")
* "True Seeker", by Fiona Avery (July 2000, "The Official Babylon 5 Magazine")
* "The Nautilus Coil", by J. Gregory Keyes (August 2000, "The Official Babylon 5 Magazine")

Comic books

"All contain canon elements (though issues 9 and 10 contradict other strictly canonical sources. [cite web | url=http://www.midwinter.com/lurk/comic/010.html | title=Lurker's Guide to Babylon 5 | accessdate=2007-08-17] [cite book | title=The Babylon File| author=Lane, Andy |publisher=Virgin| year=1997] ): written by various authors."

Monthly DC Comics series (1994-95)

# "In Darkness Find Me", written by J. Michael Straczynski (December 1994, DC Comics)
# "Treason", written by Mark Moretti, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski (January 1995, DC Comics)
# "In Harm's Way", written by Mark Moretti, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski (February 1995, DC Comics)
# "The Price of Peace", story premise by J. Michael Straczynski (March 1995, DC Comics)
# "With Friends Like These...", written by Timothy DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway (June 1995, DC Comics)
# "Against the Odds", written by Timothy DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway (July 1995, DC Comics)
# "Survival the Hard Way", written by Timothy DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway(August 1995, DC Comics)
# "Silent Enemies", written by Timothy DeHaas, story premise by J. Michael Straczynski and art by John Ridgway (September 1995, DC Comics)
# "Duet for Human and Narn in C Sharp", written by David Gerrold (October 1995, DC Comics)
# "Coda for Human and Narn in B Flat", written by David Gerrold (November 1995, DC Comics)
# "The Psi Corps and "You"!", written by Timothy DeHaas and art by John Ridgway (December 1995, DC Comics)

Comics 1-4 were published in the trade paperback "Babylon 5" (October 1995, Titan Books, ISBN 1-85286-646-2).
Comics 5-8 were published in the trade paperback "Shadows Past and Present" (September 1996, Titan Books, ISBN 1-85286-735-3).
Comics 1-4 and 11 were published in the trade paperback "The Price of Peace" (November 1998, DC Comics, ISBN 1-56389-467-X).

"Babylon 5: In Valen's Name"

# "In Valen's Name, Part 1", written by J. Michael Straczynski (February 1998, DC Comics)
# "In Valen's Name, Part 2", written by Peter David, story by J. Michael Straczynski (March 1998, DC Comics)
# "In Valen's Name, Part 3", written by Peter David, story by J. Michael Straczynski (April 1998, DC Comics)

All three comics were published in the trade paperback "In Valen's Name" (December 1998, Titan Books, ISBN 1-85286-981-X).

"Babylon 5" mini-comic

# A special ashcan-sized comic book was included with the DVD release of "Babylon 5: The Lost Tales," Volume 1.

References