JMS on AOL: 04/09/96 to 04/22/96
Kevin P Mooney
kpmooney at acsu.buffalo.edu
Sun Apr 28 19:01:05 EDT 1996
The following is a compilation of the posts of JMS on AOL. If you have
comments or suggestions, please e-mail me at <kpmooney at acsu.buffalo.edu>
WARNING: Possible spoilers may lurk below.
ObSpoiler space:
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Subj: Re:The rim of known space
Date: 96-04-22 22:43:20 EDT
From: Jms at B5
Who's behind the shadows? Nobody. The shadows are the shadows (though
that's not the name by which they call themselves), a race of their own.
Question is, why are they doing what they're doing?
You'll find out by season's end.
jms
Subj: Re:If I were Sherridan:I wou
Date: 96-04-23 03:11:40 EDT
From: Jms at B5
"I would round up all the destroyed EA/centauri/narin hulls/ships I could
find.(Especially the burned out Agrippa) to intimidate others who come with
hostile intent. Also it would serve as a parts depot."
What's there are burned, blackened husks, which you do NOT want floating
around as they become hideous dangers to navigation, and the "spare parts"
would eventually start banging into your station, hitting incoming ships and
starfuries. What can be salvaged, has been.
"I would construtively use my communication command athourity to send letters
to the families of the dead."
EA has cut off access to Earth; they don't want Sheridan getting information
from back home, or relaying instructions to forces there.
"I would rig the jump gate to explode on my command."
Good idea; cut off the only means of escape for the quarter million people
there who don't have jump capable ships. You won't stop an invasion by
hostile ships which can make their own jump points, you just end up killing
all your civilians.
"Make a deal with Drall on the defences, and learn of all his capabilities
also the Minbari's."
This is already in process, as has been established.
"Arrange an accident to happen to one of the shadow creatures on board and
get it to Dr. Franklin or Drall."
You have to find them first.
"Start a propagada campaign against Clark."
Better to tell the truth. And, again, home-communications are down.
"Unite the renegade ships and offer a home to the missing Narin ship."
This is an obvious step already in process.
"Have the Minbari make a clone of Morden."
They don't have that technology.
"Start a spy network."
They're doing all they can to get info.
"Start propaganda working the non-aligned worlds."
See above.
"Get some answers from Kosh or kill him(information is everything)."
Yessir, that'll work out great. The vorlons are important to winning this;
let's torture or kill their ambassador, REAL good idea.
"Have Lyta scan all the crew members for spyes and loyalties."
When you become obsessed with the enemy, you become the enemy. This would be
a Bad Thing.
"Move the minbari ships out of sight(behind the planet)."
Another good idea; let's put them where they have to come all the way around
the planet, by which time B5 is a burned cinder.
"Start gathering intelegence on the shadows ships. How many, were are they
made, how long to make"
Where would you get that information? The only real source is on Z'ha'dum.
Basically, everything that can be done, *is* being done. But people have to
have some moments to live, or there's nothing worth fighting for. And
sometimes a relationship can remind us what we're fighting for.
jms
Subj: Re:JMS: Harlan Ellison
Date: 96-04-23 03:12:09 EDT
From: Jms at B5
Harlan's doing much better; up and around and walking and in general in great
spirits.
jms
Subj: Re:Status reports
Date: 96-04-23 23:37:47 EDT
From: Jms at B5
"So, JMS... how are *you* doing through all this (Harlan, renewal, season's
end, taxes, etc.)."
I'M FINE! ABSOLUTELY FINE! COULDN'T BE BETTER! I'VE ALWAYS WORN A RABBIT
ON MY HEAD! IT'S A FASHION THING, OKAY? I'M FINE! YOU HEAR ME? FINE!!!
jm(thud)s
Subj: Re:In A Glass, Darkly
Date: 96-04-23 23:40:37 EDT
From: Jms at B5
Yes, there's a certain Jungian influence in the shadows, in that the shadow
as Jung referred to it was unbridled want, unbridled need, and that's what
they appeal to.
jms
Subj: Re:JMS: A few questions
Date: 96-04-23 23:43:42 EDT
From: Jms at B5
Thanks. As far as visual EFX, animators and visual artists are
concerned...it's a world apart, one I barely understand. I don't know what's
really required or designed to hep succeed...though I suspect the ability to
converse freely with squirrels is partly involved. I couldn't advise you on
this and have that advice mean much of anything, I'm afraid.
For the rest, I can only offer my thanks.
jms
Subj: Re:JMS - Battle of Camlan
Date: 96-04-25 00:28:41 EDT
From: Jms at B5
I dug through a number of recent Arthurian texts, and that date come out the
most often; I've heard the other date, which was about 20 years later, but
the one most often used is the 515 date, at least in what I researched.
jms
Subj: Re:Wide-screen and fan club.
Date: 96-04-25 00:30:36 EDT
From: Jms at B5
I believe that France will be showing S3 in widescreen, and the episodes are
being transferred to that format even as we speak.
jms
Subj: Re:Hugo
Date: 96-04-25 00:31:18 EDT
From: Jms at B5
I wasn't given the vote counts, but it was my understanding that "Coming of
Shadows" had received the larger number of vote counts.
jms
Subj: Re:question
Date: 96-04-25 03:46:44 EDT
From: Jms at B5
The cold, hard and rather ruthless answer is...if you're not sure, if it's
just something you're kinda thinking about...don't do it.
The only ones who have a chance of making it as writers are those who can't
*not* write.
"I am trying to find out what I can do with my life and writing sound like
fun." It's not fun, as you mean it. It's agony. It's the hardest thing I
do. It takes *years* of work, every single day, day in and day out, before
you get any good at it at all. It takes suffering and pain and paying your
dues and fighting every single day first to prove you have talen to yourself,
then to prove it to others, then to finally begin making a living at it.
It's not a case of, "Well, look over there, *that* looks interesting, maybe
I'll do that."
Either being a writer means everything to you, or it doesn't. If it doesn't,
you shouldn't do it. It's not a question of knowing "what you want to do."
You *know* it. It's just a matter of the will and strength required to *do*
it.
Unless that describes you...try something else.
jms
Subj: Re:Earth history and B5
Date: 96-04-25 03:51:37 EDT
From: Jms at B5
"What period of history interests you the most?"
All of them, really, for different reasons. The Middle Ages, the Victorian
period, the Renaissance, pre- and post-numerical wars and a time in which we
didn't have to number them...the present, the cruellest half of the cruellest
century...right down to the earliest civilizations. We can learn something
from all of them.
jms
Subj: Re:SD Questions
Date: 96-04-09 04:35:32 EDT
From: Jms at B5
"Why was it impossible to jump into hyperspace (in the beginning of the show)
and not take the Starfuries with the ship? We've seen it done before."
No, I don't believe so. You've seen a jump GATE used, but that's different
from a jump POINT which basically closes right behind the ship like a rabbit
pulling its hole in after it. If the ships stayed behind to protect its
rear, they'd be left behind. Ships coming out of a jump point into normal
space sometimes will let their fighters zip out AS they're coming out,
alongside the main ship.
jms
Subj: Re:B5 Merchandising?
Date: 96-04-09 04:36:41 EDT
From: Jms at B5
1) ALL of the B5 models currently being advertised are 100% illegal and
unauthorized, and we are taking aggressive legal steps to shut them down.
2) There will be a B5 RPG out sometime late this year/early next year.
jms
Subj: Re:2 parter Title Change?
Date: 96-04-09 04:37:14 EDT
From: Jms at B5
"Wasn't the upcoming 2 parter once entitled "World Without End" instead of
"War Without End?""
Nope.
jms
Subj: Re:JMS: SD, All Alone / Nigh
Date: 96-04-09 04:38:58 EDT
From: Jms at B5
"Hmmmm....I'm not really sure I want to know the answer to this...."
Darn, and I was just about to spill the beans...ah, well....never mind.
jms
Subj: Re:JMS:RE:Grey Council & Duk
Date: 96-04-09 04:40:41 EDT
From: Jms at B5
"Why was the Grey Council always to be found on a cruiser? Were they ever
located on Minbar itself? Or was the cruiser orbiting Minbar? Was it for
their protection, or secrecy? Or has this already been answered?"
We've hinted at it...the Grey Council always stays on its ship, being part of
the universe, giving it an exotic, distant feel for its people...as though
among the gods.
jms
Subj: Re:SD:How did Delenn know?
Date: 96-04-09 04:44:47 EDT
From: Jms at B5
She already knew that civil war had broken out between EA ships and forces,
and that B5 had already faced one takeover bid, and that whether or not it
happened today or the next day, it was definitely coming. That was
unmistakeable. Also, bear in mind that Lennier stayed behind. She would
have checked in with him en route and found out what was going on, or picked
up the radio broadcasts of the battle in progress. I could've shown this,
but that would''ve blown the surprise of her arrival.
jms
Subj: Re:ATT JMS: Renewal situatio
Date: 96-04-09 04:45:46 EDT
From: Jms at B5
I responded in both forums. I doubt any such memo exists. And nothing has
been said.
jms
Re:JMS-Morden & Videos Quest
Date: 96-04-09 19:55:37 EDT
From: Jms at B5
Folks have already tried writing WB to change their minds about videos;
hasn't worked. We're working at it from this end.
jms
Subj: Re:JMS-What a great guy!
Date: 96-04-18 04:35:14 EDT
From: Jms at B5
Gordon: thanks. As for the promos...the usual time allocated for B5 promos
was taken by the contest, which ends this week. The promos will return
shortly.
jms
Subj: Re:Severed Dreams
Date: 96-04-18 04:37:26 EDT
From: Jms at B5
Basically, the Marines burned through the outer hull, moved into the inner
hull (like any good vessel, this one is double hulled), then came up at a
right angle, looking for a good wall to come through. You *don't* want to
come up through the floor, because then you have to climb out one or two at a
time, which makes you a sitting duck. Better to move off a few feet, and
come up via a section between walls and blow your way through so you can come
out en masse.
jms
----
End Compilation
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