JMS CIS Digest: 22-Dec-99 20:45 through 22-Dec-99 20:45 (2 msgs)

[John D. Hardin]

RFC 1153 Digest of messages from
J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
22-Dec-99 20:45 through 22-Dec-99 20:45 (2 messages)

WARNING: This digest may contain information about shows
         you haven't seen yet ("spoilers"). Proceed with caution.

Subjects in digest:
        Unauthorized books?

Administrivia:
  South Park fans may wish to visit:
    http://www.infinicorp.com/babylonpark/

  Well, everybody, thanks to your kind letters (and a new job)
  I'm reconsidering my decision to discontinue the Digest. Stay
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obSpoiler-space...
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Date: 22 Dec 1999 15:07:00 -0700
From: Graham Smith <74010.764 at compuserve.com>
To: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Unauthorized books?
Message-ID: <forum.babylon5.73289 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.babylon5.73261 at compuserve.com>

> The Lane books fall into the "may not always be more objective"
> category stated above, especially the second one, ... 

I found the first book to be quite informative (particularly the
inclusion of your essay from Foundation) and reasonably objective. 
Thus I was glad to see the second edition come out.

But, like you, I was rather taken aback by the attitude of the author
in the second book.  He was clearly miffed and allowed that to color
what could otherwise have been a well done second book.  Clearly, the
objectivity was gone.

Still, he did manage to put in a couple of things worth seeing.  In
particular, he quoted the entire 'Declaration of Principles' from
'Paragon of Animals'.  Which, by the way, I showed to a minister friend
and had the pleasure of watching his eyes mist over as he read it.

But, on the whole, I could not recommend the second volume to any but
the die-hard fan who is willing to gloss over some of the sour grapes
to get to the few good parts.

 --Graham

------------------------------

Date: 22 Dec 1999 20:45:02 -0700
From: J. Michael Straczynski <71016.1644 at compuserve.com>
To: Graham Smith <74010.764 at compuserve.com>
Subject: Unauthorized books?
Message-ID: <forum.babylon5.73293 at compuserve.com>
References: <forum.babylon5.73289 at compuserve.com>

"But, like you, I was rather taken aback by the attitude of the author
in the second book.  He was clearly miffed and allowed that to color
what could otherwise have been a well done second book.  Clearly, the
objectivity was gone."

      Yup.

"Still, he did manage to put in a couple of things worth seeing.  In
particular, he quoted the entire 'Declaration of Principles' from
'Paragon of Animals'."

      Which a) he didn't write, b) I did, and get nothing for the
reuse of my material, c) is widely available online, and d) can be
transcribed by anyone from the episode, so you don't need the book to
do that.

                                                                  jms


------------------------------


End of JMS CIS Digest 22-Dec-99 20:45 through 22-Dec-99 20:45
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