{"product_id":"babylon-5-signs-and-portents-isbn-9780345424471","title":"Babylon 5: Signs and Portents","description":"\u003cb\u003eA comprehensive episode-by-episode guide to the first thrilling season of \u003ci\u003eBabylon 5\u003c\/i\u003e! \u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003ci\u003eBabylon 5: Signs and Portents,\u003c\/i\u003e kicks off with a foreword by actor Michael O'Hare, better known to viewers as Commander Sinclair, and features a fascinating look at how series creator J. Michael Straczynski brought his ambitious vision to the screen.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eThen launch into a comprehensive overview of the groundbreaking premiere season, including in-depth, episode-by-episode summaries of all of the first twenty-two shows—from the pilot, “The Gathering,” through the climactic season finale, “Chrysalis”—with analysis by author and B5 expert Jane Killick.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVeteran viewers or first-time fans, relive the adventure—or find out what you've been missing—with the complete companions to \u003ci\u003eBabylon 5\u003c\/i\u003e!Working on Babylon 5 was quite an experience. Although I have worked on \u003cbr\u003eBroadway, in movies, and in TV, this was my first full-time TV series and \u003cbr\u003emy first venture into science fiction. What little I knew about the genre \u003cbr\u003ewhen I began the show, I learned from my son, Ben. For years he'd taken me \u003cbr\u003einto comic-book shops and bookstores, looking for all the items children \u003cbr\u003ecollect--books, cards, caps, etc. What I discovered on Babylon 5, however, \u003cbr\u003ewas quite different.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eWorking in TV is not all that dissimilar to working on stage. You \u003cbr\u003efollow the instructions of the director, learn your lines, hit your mark, \u003cbr\u003eand do the best job you can with the material. You try to discover who the \u003cbr\u003echaracter is that you are portraying and make that character come to life, \u003cbr\u003efor you and the audience. With Babylon 5, however, computer graphics are a \u003cbr\u003elarge part of the overall production. While standing in front of a blue \u003cbr\u003escreen, you must use your imagination to \"see\" the creature in \"Grail,\" \u003cbr\u003ethe massive machine on Epsilon 3 in \"A Voice in the Wilderness,\" and the \u003cbr\u003edestruction of Babylon 5 in \"Babylon Squared.\" You can get some idea of \u003cbr\u003ethe image from the director, but it's still very much up to you to make \u003cbr\u003ethe scene believable.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDuring that first year of Babylon 5, I was fortunate to work with some \u003cbr\u003etruly talented people--including David Warner in \"Grail,\" Theodore Bikel \u003cbr\u003ein \"TKO,\" and Morgan Sheppard in \"Soul Hunter.\" They were generous with \u003cbr\u003etheir insights and advice about the acting profession.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eI learned a lot while working on Babylon 5. Joe Straczynski has put \u003cbr\u003etogether a wonderful story, and working with people like John Flinn, Mira \u003cbr\u003eFurlan, Richard Biggs, and Bill Mumy made the experience a very enjoyable \u003cbr\u003eone. When I returned to the set to make \"War Without End,\" the cast made \u003cbr\u003eme feel right at home, and I very much enjoyed working with Bruce \u003cbr\u003eBoxleitner.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMy favorite episodes are \"By Any Means Necessary,\" \"Babylon Squared,\" \u003cbr\u003eand \"And the Sky Full of Stars.\" I like these episodes not only because I \u003cbr\u003ehad a lot to do in them, but also because each had a significant part to \u003cbr\u003eplay in the overall story. While \"By Any Means Necessary\" is not truly an \u003cbr\u003earc story, it gives you a lot of insight into the character of Commander \u003cbr\u003eSinclair.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eGoing back to Babylon 5 for \"War Without End\" last year was somewhat \u003cbr\u003elike completing a journey--Sinclair's return from Minbar, taking Babylon 4 \u003cbr\u003eback in time to fight the Shadows, transforming into Valen. Joe \u003cbr\u003eStraczynski has worked very hard to tell this story, and I am happy to \u003cbr\u003ehave been a part of it.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003eMichael O'Hare\u003cbr\u003e(Commander Sinclair)","brand":"Random House Worlds","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":46302627954917,"sku":"NP9780345424471","price":15.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/1842\/7735\/files\/9780345424471_3d4bff92-4093-4fea-890a-1cb4bfd39b17.jpg?v=1742928419","url":"https:\/\/k12savings.com\/products\/babylon-5-signs-and-portents-isbn-9780345424471","provider":"K12savings","version":"1.0","type":"link"}