My Theory Vindicated: SPOILERS For BOOK 9 (To Dream in the City

[B5JMS Poster]

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From: Laura Appelbaum <l-appelbaum at usa.net>
Date: 15 Jun 1997 19:22:43 -0400
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Spoilers below for the ninth B5 book, To Dream in the City of Sorrows. 
jms claims it is 100% cannon -- buy it, read it, then read below ....
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A few weeks ago on this newsgroup, I explicated my theories about
Sinclair, Valen, his likely return, the whole notion of "The Ones", etc,
with specific reference to various myths that have been alluded to
during the series; in particular, the Jewish myths about Elijah the
prophet and the coming of the messiah, and the legends of King Arthur.

Well, I spent yesterday reading through the book written by jms' wife;
"To Dream in the City of Sorrows," and was quite pleased to find myself
fully vindicated.  On not one, but two occasions, Sinclair refers to
Valen as an analogue to King Arthur; p.126 "It was as if he'd been told,
oh yeah, the last person to live here was King Arthur, but now it's
yours," and more extensively on p.255, almost perfectly paralleling my
discussion of the Babylon Project as a Round Table, Sinclair describes
"Valen's" organization of the Grey Council thusly: "I think of him more
as King Arthur.  He set up a sort of Round Table in the Grey Council;
improved Minbari society rather like Camelot; fought off an invasion
like King Arthur; the circumstances of his death are unknown and there
is no body or tomb, leading most to believe he didn't actually die but
would return one day at the time of his people's greatest need to lead
them to victory once again."  Significantly, he states these words to
Marcus, whom I've argued as his Ranger, serves in the role of Galahad to
Arthur -- Knight to King.

Other elements of my thesis were discussed as well -- Sinclair refers to
that ceremony in "The Parliament of Dreams," and asserts that he always
felt he married someone during the course of the ceremony, tho' he
claims to Catherine that he doesn't know to whom (p.216); we of course
know it was Delenn.  And the mystery of Valen's ... departure from
Minbari history is also dwelled upon; "'So Before Valen traveled
beyond...' Sinclair noted the strange phrase, often used with Valen, but
with no one else.  It was not a euphemism for death, and the Minbari
never spoke of Valen dying." p.78.  This crops up again in the very
structure of the book, which begins with Marcus determined not to allow
the myth of Valen to overshadow (so to speak) the man he knew as
Sinclair, yet ENDS with Marcus recalling those very prophecies that most
mythify him and speak of Valen's eventual return.  Why would jms allow
this to be reiterated time and again (pun intended) if he didn't want to
ENCOURAGE the very speculation I proposed here -- that we WILL see
Sinclair/Valen again -- at a time of great need -- like, say, when The
One Who Will Be, Sheridan dies and the beginning of a new age requires
the anointment of a new leader?  Stay tuned folks, I haven't led you
astray yet!

LMA (Who has learned to think like jms)

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From: jmsatb5 at aol.com (Jms at B5)
Date: 15 Jun 1997 20:02:23 -0400
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"LMA (Who has learned to think like jms)"

You have my deepest and most sincere condolences.


 jms




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