ATTN JMS AND ALL: Interesting article in Chicago Tribune

[B5JMS Poster]

Subject: ATTN JMS AND ALL: Interesting article in Chicago Tribune
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 No. | DATE        |  FROM
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s  1: Oct  8, 1996: Brent Schmidt <TVsBrent at MCS.COM>
+  2: Oct  8, 1996: jeana at ihgp15.ih.lucent.com (Jean Airey)
*  3: Oct  9, 1996: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)

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From: Brent Schmidt <TVsBrent at MCS.COM>
Lines: 22

In light of all the recent posts about the SFFWA and Trek, an article
in the mornings Chicago Tribune is right on target.  It discusses the
effects of mass media science fiction books on so called traditional
science fiction books.  Star Trek and Star Wars are mentioned the most,
but B5 is mentioned a couple of times, and not exactly in a favorable
light.

  You can find the article on the Chicago Tribune's web site:
          http://www.chicago.tribune.com/
  And search for the article title, "Science Friction".

  BTW, I tend to agree with the article, traditional science fiction is
being pushed out by the TV tie-in books, but I think they should do more
then cry about the fact.  They should try and help shape the media that
effects them, not be controlled by it.  I have no idea how to do this,
or if it's even reasonable, that just seems like a way to do it.
-- 
------------------------------------------------
Visit Docking Bay 13 -
        http://www.mcs.net/~tvsbrent/
Brent Schmidt                   TVsBrent at MCS.COM
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From: jeana at ihgp15.ih.lucent.com (Jean Airey)
Lines: 34

In article <325A769C.357D at mcs.com>, Brent Schmidt  <TVsBrent at MCS.COM> wrote:
>In light of all the recent posts about the SFFWA and Trek, an article
>in the mornings Chicago Tribune is right on target.  It discusses the
>effects of mass media science fiction books on so called traditional
>science fiction books.  Star Trek and Star Wars are mentioned the most,
>but B5 is mentioned a couple of times, and not exactly in a favorable
>light.

I agree with the previous comment that the inclusion of B5 was the decision of
the author - expecially as the B5 books are included in the list of 
"top selling" books.  I was just glad to see some recognition that B5 
*is*  on television along with the other shows.  and I guess being 
classified as a show that spawns best selling books is not a bad 
perception to pass on to the reader.

I found it most interesting as an indice to the mind of the author that
the two lists of books which were compared were "SF author's favorite
SF books" versus "What's selling in your local book store this week."
I didn't recognize too many on the first list that are even carried in
a book store on the "what's current" racks -- I'm not at all sure that all
of them are even in print.  Sort of comparing apples to Swedish Meatballs.

And I find it interesting that there was no mention that many of the 
books being published are "fantasy" (Unicorns and dragons and elves 
-- oh my!) and the really big thing seems to be sequels - not as 
common with the books on the "other" list.

(Division of "fantasy" and "Science Fiction" my own, 
subjective one.  Your mileage may vary.)

Jean




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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Lines: 26

Re: places where B5 isn't mentioned and should be...here's another, which
came out this week, and it's hit that point now where I just have to
laugh....

The current issue of Cinefantastique has a whole two or three page article
about how Voyager is now using story arcs across episodes.  They consider
it a new kind of storytelling for them, but cite the notion that it *has*
been used here and there.  The magazine (not the folks at the show)
enumerate such examples as Hill Street Blues, NYPD Blue, LA Law...of which
2 out of 3 shows are no longer on the air...but what's the one they
*don't* mention?  The only one really doing this in SF until lately?

Yup.  I think the magazine deliberately pre-censored themselves on this,
because they suspect that the folks at Paramount grind their gears bigtime
if B5 is EVER mentioned as in any way having an influence on their shows. 


Here's JMS's rule of journalism, which you'll see repeated in 90% of the
articles on SF out there: if it's an article on B5, ST is almost always
mentioned somewhere; if it's an article on ST, you almost *never* see B5
mentioned.


 jms


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