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Status: R Return-Path: <mdb@leicester.ac.uk> Received: from venus.le.ac.uk by typhoon.dial.pipex.net (8.7.4/) id SAA09686; Thu, 25 Apr 1996 18:32:17 +0100 (BST) Received: from hawk.le.ac.uk by venus.le.ac.uk with SMTP (PP); Thu, 25 Apr 1996 18:22:39 +0100 Message-Id: <20902.199604251716@hawk.le.ac.uk> Subject: The Babylonian Times Vol 0 Issue 38 To: mdb@leicester.ac.uk (M.D. Broadhurst) Date: Thu, 25 Apr 1996 18:16:47 +0100 (BST) From: Mike Broadhurst <mdb@leicester.ac.uk> X-Mailer: ELM [version 2.4 PL25] Content-Type: text Volume 0 Number 38 ,------------. | | | ________| | | ,-----. ,-----.,-----. ,-. ,-.,-. ,----.,-----.,-.,-----.,-----. | () | | () || () | | |_| || | | () || ,-. || || () || ,-. | | () )| ___ || () )(_. ,_)| |__ | () || | | || || ___ || | | | (______)(_) (_)(______) (_) (____)(____)(_) (_)(_)(_) (_)(_) (_) `. `. .-''| | | ,-----.,-.,---------.,----.,----. | | | | `-. .-'| || ,-. ,-. || ---'| ---' | `. .' | | | | || | | | | || __) `___ ) \ `---' / (_) (_)(_) (_) (_)(____)(____) `. .' `-_____-' THE UK BABYLON 5 NEWSLETTER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To submit an article, email mdb@le.ac.uk with the following text in your subject line B5NA: your subject title ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- To unsubscribe email mdb@le.ac.uk with the following text in your subject line. UNSUBSCRIBE B5-NEWSLETTER ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Volume : 00 Number : 38 Date : 25/04/96 Number of Subscribers : 762 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Today's Contents : Babcom Third season on Channel 4 - MOH Save Babylon 5! B5 Press Release - What the critics are saying B5 in Time Out Upcoming B5 conventions ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- From: The Editor (mdb@le.ac.uk) Subject: Babcom Warner Home video UK released the final tape of season 1 on Monday, 22nd April. Volume 10 - The Quality of Mercy/Chrysalis #10.99 If you purchase this tape at HMV, you will find included in the tape 3 free collector's cards. (B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5) From: Colin_Neal@msn.com Subject: Third season on Channel 4 - MOH Babylon 5's new season kicked off encouragably in the UK, thanks to Channel 4. Channel 4 appear to have acquired better prints of the show, this year, although the commentary over the end titles to promote merchandise annoyed me. It was reasonable to expect the new season to start with a recap of the situation for new viewers, and JMS successfully got this across. However, this episode had a lack of any great surprises. I'm used to JMS surprising me, so Morden on Earth, did not come as a great revelation, but as a satisfying twist to the plot. The new ship's nice, although, all of Babylon 5's money seems to be spent of those lovely computer graphics and not on the sets. The sets are still pretty terrible, walls seem to consist of purple perspex with a light behind it. The new title music, and title sequence are absolutely stunning, they are very forboding ! Overall, the episode was a good start, nothing special, but continuing to build on the magnificent finale from the previous season, and enticing enough to make us watch more. I only hope that Channel 4 could re show the program at night in widescreen, uncut as has been rumoured. I still think that the doctor is a spy for the shadows and the Vorlons are really the bad guys though. Colin. (B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5) SAVE BABYLON 5! --------------- Hello! This letter is being posted on Usenet, with the hope that it might spread further via e-mail. I'm Dan Wood <danwood@pobox.com> and I maintain the Babylon 5 FAQ list. I'm writing this because I'm trying to do what I can to help keep B5 alive. If someone else forwarded this note to you, it's likely for the same reason. As you are probably aware, B5's ratings are on the increase, but due to the disbanding of PTEN, it's up to the stations to decide whether to pick up the show next season, based on the bottom dollar and also based on viewer support. So viewer support is *critical* to the continuation of this rockin' show, and we need to show support NOW. It's time for a REAL campaign to keep B5 alive! and now we have a rallying ground, at Warner Bros.'s www.babylon5.com web site, and we have the means of getting the word out by encouraging as many people as possible to put the "shield" on their web pages (whether or not they're B5-related pages) to spread the word to anybody who is surfing the net. Or, if you have access to mailing lists, BBSs, the press, etc., you could get the word out there. The goal: to get as many folks as possible (including you, of course) to write letters to their local station. We B5 fans have been encouraging ourselves to write letters, but we've got to do more than that, and that's why I'm trying to help W.B. spread the word. Hopefully this letter will serve as a "kicker" to speed up the spreading of these shields -- maybe even to the level of success of the recent online free speech "blue ribbon" campaign. So if you have a few minutes over the next couple of days, *please* do the following: 1) GRAB the shield graphic from http://www.babylon5.com/support/ and put it on your web pages, B5-related or otherwise. 2) FORWARD this entire note to as many fellow web-page-owning B5 fans as you can. (Best to be polite and be sure that they haven't already put up the shield.) I would like to see this message propagate all over North America (appropriately -- no spamming please). 3) WRITE the letter, and encourage other people -- especially those who aren't online, or aren't web-connected -- to write. Guidelines and addresses are at the above web site -- print 'em out if you need to, to make it easy for them. (If you don't have web access, you can usually find your local station's address in the phone book.) Thanks! Let's make this a *successful* grassroots effort to KEEP B5 ALIVE! Dan [not affiliated with W.B., in case you were wondering], 4/19/96. -- ================= Dan Wood danwood@pobox.com ================= -- rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5.info <*> archive: http://ivory.ora.com/rastb5i/ another fine service submissions to: b5-info@callisto.pas.rochester.edu of ISN mars bureau comments to: b5-info-request@callisto.pas.rochester.edu (B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5) B5 PRESS RELEASE - WHAT THE CRITICS ARE SAYING... "'Babylon 5' portrays, with alarming realism and spectacular detail, a myriad of space-based cultures and their struggles to achieve common ground and mutual understanding. Paralleling many of the nuances of today's human relations, 'Babylon 5' offers a futuristic, yet stunningly contemporary view of political and social intermingling on a cosmic level. It is a 23rd century 'whodunit,' complete with spellbinding intrigue played out before a backdrop of interplanetary conspiracies and individual betrayals. "'Babylon 5' delivers a visual masterpiece and creates to the finest points life in the far reaches of time and space, made real with wondrous costumes, detailed makeup, prosthetics, industry-leading computer-generated graphics and astounding special effects.... "'Babylon 5,' a unique combination of state-of-the-art technology with all-out action and underlying passion, is home to both science fiction and dramatic storytelling." -- Delise Langford, The Huntsville Times * "'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' fans may take offense but 'Babylon 5' is the most interesting place to visit out of this world. 'Babylon 5' wins the weekly war of battling space stations with good stories, better characters and intense conflict. "'Babylon 5' is peopled by an inscrutable blend of aliens and humans, each with a hidden agenda. They interact in creator J. Michael Straczynski's complex five-year master plan, enabling writers to enrich this extraterrestrial tapestry. "'Babylon 5' is also much darker than any other sci-fi drama. In one episode, a race of aliens died of a '100-percent contagious, 100-percent fatal' plague before a cure could be discovered. Rest assured that, in the 'Star Trek' universe, an antidote would have been found in time to save everyone. "Writers refuse to succumb to the need to include every character in every episode, conveying the impression there's a lot more going on among the 250,000 inhabitants of 'Babylon 5' than viewers know. That's enough to keep this veteran science-fiction fan riveted to the couch. "WATCH IT? A visually stunning experience. "TAPE IT? It has all the makings of a classic." -- Charles Aukerman, Sun Banner Pride * "Forget 'Star Trek.' The best space opera on television is a show you've probably never heard of: 'Babylon 5,' an energetic, nasty and rousingly entertaining serial that combines grittiness with an almost childlike sense of wonder.... "'Babylon 5' resembles Isaac Asimov's 'Foundation' series in sheer scale, and some of the concepts -- underground railroads for victims of persecution through mind-control, independence movements for off-world colonies, prejudice among alien races -- are explored with unique freshness and perspective, without stooping to the preachiness and sanctimoniousness evident in so many 'Deep Space Nine' and "Voyager' scripts. "'Babylon 5' has struggled to find a wide audience, but it has lasted three seasons. There may be intelligent life out there after all." -- Alex Strachan, Vancouver Sun * "Babylon 5 has set the sci-fi TV world on end with the quality of its writing, method of production and revolutionary special effects........[The] stories are gripping....If you haven't checked ou Babylon 5 you owe it to yourself to do so. This is, without doubt, the best science fiction series ever produced. Give it the next six weeks. You'll be hooked." -- Tom Poston, Break Magazine * "Like any space opera worth its salt, the show comes with a full complement of weird-looking creatures and dazzling special effects. The difference is that 'Babylon 5' does them better than anybody else -- the show won a pair of Emmys for makeup and visual effects in its very first season....What really sets the show apart is its ambitious approach to storytelling." -- Mark Nollinger, TV Guide * "The station houses an array of aliens the equal of 'Star Wars' cantina." -- Brian Donlon, USA Today * "[Babylon 5's] computer-generated space scenes are spectacular and the plot is reminiscent of the golden age of space sagas. The show is the sci-fi equivalent of progressive rock...." -- Stephen Lynch, Orange County Register * "This is one space station you're likely to want to visit frequently." -- Barry Garron, Kansas City Star * "'Babylon 5' just keeps getting better and better. I highly recommend everyone watch it." -- Stephen P. Signorelli, Tri-Town News * * * (B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5) From: als24@cus.cam.ac.uk Subject: B5 in Time Out Two pieces in 'Time Out' magazine dealt with B5, and I thought that in light of the US media response, some sight into the way it's being handled here might prove interesting. This post will be the first of the two. Since it claims to contain a line from the opening narration of season 3, I'll insert a bit of Sp-space before that bit. Note: Any typos are mine and mine alone; I provide this for those who would not otherwise have access to 'Time Out' and no breach of copyright is maliciously intended, etc., etc. 'Deep space' Life, the universe and everything in 'Babylon 5'. [headline under a publicity still of Kosh behind Vir, Londo, Delenn, Lennier, and G'Kar] It is the year 2260, and on board a five-mile-long, totally self-sufficient space station called 'Babylon 5', Captain John Sheridan of the Earth Alliance uses his military and diplomatic expertise to mediate between various interstellar governments. It is the dawn of the Third Age of Mankind, 12 years after the Earth/Minbari war nearly wiped out humanity, and Babylon 5 has been established to keep the intergalactic peace. On board are representatives of the Minbari Federation, the Narn Regime, the Centauri Republic and the Vorlon Empire, who all sport the expected range of silly haircuts and OTT facial lumps--yet curiously still speak English with American accents. But after the first three Babylon stations were sabotaged or destroyed and the fourth mysteriously disappeared, Babylon 5 is our last, best hope for peace. Until now... The third series of the most intelligent sci-fi serial on telly starts this afternoon with a voiceover ^L from Commander Susan Ivanova (Claudia Christian) informing us that: 'As the war expanded, it became our last, best hope for victory.' Fans of 'B5' have always known that the third series would bring great change, for this is not like any other sci-fi show where the crew is back on board at the end of the hour to do the same thing, different planet routine in the next episode. Conceived by J 'Call me Joe' Michael Straczynski as five distinct series with a beginning, middle and mysterious end, 'Babylon 5' has a message to get across. Its fluid structure, fairy-tale inclusion of goodies, baddies and even angels, and Straczynski's /auteur/-like control over the series has drawn comparison with 'Lord Of The Rings', the 'Dune' series and even the Bible rather than rival shows like 'Star Trek: Voyager' or 'Blake's Seven'. Straczynski sees 'B5' as a televisual novel and promises that it's worth reading to the very last chapter. It is also one of the few sci-fi programmes that isn't exclusively watched by men who know how to dismantle and reassemble a phaser gun's transponder. Now that all of the setting-up of character, background, motivation and secret alliances is over, series three promises more action than its predecessors as Sheridan (Bruce Boxleitner of 'Scarecrow And Mrs. King' fame) is asked to co-ordinate a war against the evil Shadows. And given the show's reutation for the best computer-generated special effects on the small screen, you can expect the cosmic car chases and foreign body detonation in this 'space-opera' to look as good as anything from a Hollywood blockbuster. But just where Joe Straczynski is taking us is not clear--the conclusion of the fifth series is known only to him and a couple of Warner executives--but there are millions of fans worldide watching every episode religiously just in case Straczynski stuns us with the most resonant, allegorically moving universal truth about the human (and alien) condition. Odds on he will. /Josephine Monroe/ /'Babylon 5', 6:05pm, C4/ Okay, here's the second 'Time Out' article, entitled 'Ace of space' and centering on Claudia Christian/Ivanova. There is one spoiler in here, where Christian mentions one change in store for her character, so I'll put the obligatory blank lines before it. Below a picture of a smiling Christian in EA uniform with arms crossed, the article reads: Intergalactic space babe Claudia Christian blasts back on to TV in with the new series of cult sci-fi show 'Babylon 5', leading her crew into the sort of trouble that could change life as we know it... forever. Interview: Josephine Monros When you hear the sound of running water followed by a flushing noise, the chances are that the person on the other end of the phone has just gone to the loo. There aren't many people who would brazenly pee mid-interview, but Claudia Christian is the sort of woman who would probably pee even if this were a face-to-face chat. Of course, she may just have been filling the kettle and operating the waste disposal (well, would you ask?), but the star of C4's cult sci-fi series 'Babylon 5' seems to enjoy unsettling journalists. When she talks about visiting London, she mentions that she once got kicked out of London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, only later to say that she was 'just kidding'. And when she desribes what she was doing in her swanky LA apartment before our interview, she says, 'Taking a Jacuzzi', only to add later: 'No I wasn't, but isn't that what you wanted me to say?' You can tell she thinks she's funny, clever and very Sally Bowles-ish. Without the echo and time delay on the line her jokes might have seemed endearing and her manner divinely decadent, but the thought of her peeing was just a little too preoccupying. Fans of 'Babylon 5' would no doubt expect the actress behind ballsy Commander Ivanova to behave in this confident-to-the-edge-of-arrogance manner, for Ivanova is just about the brassiest, sassiest babe in space. For years, women in sci-fi were bikini-clad morons who got saved by Kirk and co in subplots. But with Ripley in 'Alien', Captain Janeway in 'Star Trek: Voyager' and 'B5's' Ivanova, women have been teleported to the future's front line. It's interesting that the men behind so many sci-fi stories have envisaged women in the future who don't just sport guns or support guys: they command not just ships, but respect as well. And in 'B5' it's not only the women who have been given rounded, fully developed characters--the aliens have too! The depth of characterisation, the moralistic plots, detailed computer-effects which create and convey other worlds, and the clear sense of a beginning, middle and end mean that this 'space oepra' has more frequently been compared with Tolkien, 'Dune' and even the Bible than other TV sci-fi programmes. 'I would say comoparisons with 'The Lord of the Rings' were astute', agrees Christian. 'Babylon 5' was conceived and is being executed by J. Michael Straczynski as five distinct series, heading inexorably towards an undisclosed but significant end. Straczynski swears all his cast and crew to a vow of silence on future happenings, and only he and two executives at Warner Bros know the outcome. He didn't even want to tell /them/ what happens, the story goes, but it was the only way they'd put money into the project. According to 'B5' legend, when these two execs learned the resolution, their mouths fell open. Just what this jaw-dropping conclusion can be almost defies imagination. Can it be that good triumphs over evil? That evil wins the day? That mankind is obliterated? That if we ever go looking for our hearts' desire, we need look no further than our own backyard? 'I try not to ask those questions,' says Christian. 'This is Joe's show and it's not for us to divulge his secrets. He has a plan and it's just for me to hit my marks and say my lines.' Certainly, the fans, who are being asked to watch every episode for five years, are looking for a big payoff. And if you haven't heard of 'B5' so far, you can bet you won't be able to avoid stories about it in two years' time. Next week sees the start of the third season on Channel 4, which has seen sense and moved the programme from a difficult-to-get-home-in-time-for-6pm slot on a weekday, to Sunday afternoon. We are promised that series three takes us on a different journey: instead of continuing its role as an intergalactic UN of 2260, the Babylon 5 space station finds itself at war with the ancient and mysterious Shadows. Mid-season, events take place that mean life--and the series--will never be the same again. The chagnes for Christian's Ivanova aren't so caraclysmic. A boyfriend will enter her sphere, which makes a novel change from last [it's safe to look now, but if you're here, that doesn't matter anyway...] season's girlfriend (a relationship with B5's resident telepath, Talia Winters, was introduced to teach us that those human quandaries that face us in the 1990s will trouble us for eternity). Christian's own love life is equally fluid. 'I was engaged to an Italian guy at 19 when I was young and stupid. I married at 23, got divorced a few years later have gone from relationship to relationship and now at 30 I am single for the first time in my adult life,' she confesses. But lasting fans (and there are many) who see their chance to help Christian let her hair down must be prepared to take second place to her ambition. 'I have an album of Eurodance music coming out soon. I'm not claiming I'm a good singer but I can carry a tune. It's very sexy, in-your-face stuff,' she promises, modestly. 'I wrote the lyrics and helped with the music. I was always writing poems as a kid,' she says. For her next trick Claudia will appear in a PlayStation live-action game, publish a series of children's books ('The Misadventures of Miss Emma Bradford') and appear in her own cookery show. Well, she has always been good at Italian cooking, you see. The lack of a publisher for the books or a broadcaster for the cookery show doesn't seem to bother her much. And if you're wondering whether there's anything Christian's not up to snuff on, she did conded that she's not very good at tennis. And she didn't sound like she was joking. /'Babylon 5' returns to channel 4 on Sunday April 14./ -- ------------A.L.-Shefl,-Clare-Hall------------------ cantor * dream dancer * albiness * academic -----------------University-of-Cambridge------------ (B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5) Upcoming Babylon 5 Conventions ============================== Updated - 25/04/96 --- Convention: Wolf 359/The Encounter - A Charity Event Venue: The Norbreck Castle Hotel, Blackpool Date: 7th to 10th June 1996 Confirmed Guests : Joe Straczynski (JMS) Bruce Boxleitner (Captain John Sheridan) Michael O'Hare (Commander Sinclair) Stephen Furst (Vir) Bill Mumy (Lennier) Ron Thorton (Foundation Imaging - B5 SFX) Rene Auberjonois (Odo from ST:DS9) George Marshall (Impressionist) Peter David (Novelist & Writer for Babylon 5) Greg Funk (B5 Optic Nerve) Fionagh Cush (B5 Optic Nerve) Jim Mortimore (B5 novelist) David Bassom (B5 writer) Jackie Edwards (Assistant to Patrick Stewart) Registration Fees: Adult - #40 full weekend, #17.50 one day. Child (5-14 yrs) - #25 full weekend, #10.00 one day. Cancellation details: Prior to 31st December 1995 - 50% refund 1st January 1996 onwards - No refund due to commitment of funds. Hotel Rates: Single ) Twin/Double/Triple/Quad ) Convention hotel is now Double Room/1 Person ) fully booked. See below Child under 14 with 2 Adults ) for more details For a registration form send an SAE to: Wolf 359 - The Encounter, 37 Branksome Road, Southend-on-Sea, Essex SS2 4HG Confirmed Guests: Worlds First Convention Appearance Together Of Bruce Boxleitner (Capt. Sheridan) & Michael O'Hare (Cmdr. Sinclair) First UK Appearances for Bill Mumy (Lennier) Stephen Furst (Vir) Rene Auberjonios (Odo DS9) Ron Thornton (Visual Effects Designer Babylon 5) J. Michael Straczynski (Creator & Executive Producer Babylon 5) Peter David (Novelist & Writer for Babylon 5) Jackie Edwards (Asst to Patrick Stewart) Optic Nerve Greg Funk & Fionagh Cush The event is held in aid of the NSPCC & The Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital. Bruce Boxleitner & Michael O'Hare will be making their first appearance at a Fan Convention any where in the world. The two part episode 'War with Out End'will have just aired and you will be able to ask them about working together on the show. Stephen Furst is now starring as a recurring character in Chicago Hope as well as Babylon 5 Bill Mumy will be joined by Peter David. He & Peter are the writers & Producers of the new show 'Space Cases' which has just started to air in the US. Rene Auberjonois, Odo Star of Star Trek's Deep Space Nine will be attending his first UK Convention. J. Michael Straczynski, Fresh from the completion of Season 3. Joe has just made TV history as the first person in US history to write an entire season of one show (22 Episodes). We hope he will bring his usual selection of unseen clips and Blooper reels. PLEASE NOTE NO VIDEO CAMERAS WILL BE ALLOWED IN THE MAIN HALL DURING THIS PRESENTATION. Ron Thornton, Ron is now the Executive Producer of the New Space series Hypernauts which has started to air in the US to rave reviews. He has been responsible for the visual effects for Babylon 5 since the Pilot. Optic Nerve to attend The Encounter. The emmy award winning make-up artist Greg Funk will be attend to transform Bill Mumy into Lennier as part of Saturdays presentation. Accompanying Greg will be another member of the Optic Nerve team Fionagh Cush who will be making a lucky attendee up as a Babylon 5 alien on Sunday. Wolf 359 are pleased to confirm that Mr David Bassom & Mr Jim Mortimore will be attending The Encounter in Blackpool 7-10 June. There will be a joint signing of their books with J, Michael Straczynski. Jackie Edwards, Jackie is asst to Patrick Stewart and should be able to give us an insight into Star Trek Generations II which is been filmed at the end of March-May. The Event starts Friday with an opening ceremony as well a dealers areas autograph signings and Video presentations. The Convention hotel is sold out however there are lots of alternative hotels and guest houses nearby a list of which is available on requests. Tickets are L17.50 per day or a fixed L40 for all 4 days. Please note you do not have to stay at the hotel to attend the convention. There are three parties held Fri , Sat & Sun evenings. Entry is free to those attending the Convention and Saturday evening includes the Fancy Dress Competition & Comedy act of George Marshall who has gained a reputation for his Super Trek comedy sketch. This year he will be performing some Babylon 5. Last years event was over subscribed four months ahead please book early. The Hotel has access for wheel chairs, as well as free parking for 800 cars. The Main Hall has an unobstructed view of the stage. The guests will all appear on Friday, Saturday & Sunday. If anyone requires further information email Brian at 100551.1656@compuserve.com or send a SSAE to Wolf 359 Conventions, 141 Waarden Road, Canvey Island, Essex, SS8 9BE. The Universe may be as vast as the mind of God, But the deeds of one person in the right place can tip the balance. ---- Convention: Babcom 96 Venue: Le Palais, Hammersmith, London Date: 22/23 June 1996. Confirmed guests: Jerry Doyle (Garibaldi) (subject to contract) Andrea Thompson (Talia Winters) Claudia Cristian (Cmdr Ivanova) Peter Jurasik (Londo) Richard Biggs (Dr. Franklin) Mira Furlan (Delenn) Jason Carter (Marcus Cole) plus more guests to be announced. Registration Fees : Privileged #30.00 per day Standard #22.50 per day 10% discount for booking the same type of tickets for both days. + #2.50 booking fee Contact : Stargazer Productions International Ltd, 4 Aspenwood House, Ipsley Street, Redditch, B98 7AR For more information, telephone 0891-517037 To book tickets, telephone 01527-65655 N.B. This convention is only TWO weeks after Wolf 359/The Encounter. Stargazer Productions International run these "conventions" for PROFIT only. Unconfirmed rumours report that hotel prices in London for 1 night's stay in a 3 star hotel start at 80-90 UKP due to the European Cup being held in the same month. ---- A MAJOR B5 EVENT WILL BE ANNOUNCED IN THIS SPACE SOON. KEEP READING THE BABYLONIAN TIMES FOR FUTURE DETAILS. ---- Babylon5 The Wrap Party August 21- 24 1998 Radisson Edwardian Hotel Heathrow *London* Welcome to The Wrap Party! The Wrap Party is a Science Fiction convention, to celebrate the conclusion of the Arc For such a unique series, we bring you a unique convention. Whilst a large proportion of the programme will be concentrated soley on Babylon5 itself - how the arc worked, what worked, what didn't, how it was produced, what it went through to get on air, what the people involved think of it - we shall also be looking at science fiction in general, and the influences on jms and all those who work and dream with B5. There will be talks, panels and debates on comics, radio drama, the Golden Ages of written sf, television production practises and cinema. We aim to celebrate the talents and skills of the great, and the lost and forgotten heroes, of SF. The Wrap Party will be an interactive convention. We invite you all to participate in constructing our programme, in watching your own dreams take form To date, we have four named and confirmed guests: J. Michael Straczynski - You all know who he is....but better blurb to come... Harlan Ellison - A writer of some note and Creative Consultant on B5 Jack Cohen - Putting the Science back into Science Fiction John Ridgeway - One of the most noted artists to work on the B5 comic. We are still negotiating with a variety of other guests, and will post information as soon as it is confirmed. The Programme After the guests, the most important element of a convention. We have five distinct strands of prgramming: Written Sf Radio drama Comics TV Drama Cinema The Millennium Ball We said it was a party, and we haven't forgotten that part of it! The Saturday evening in the Hotel will be dedicated to our largest single programme item, a Millennium Ball. A little early, to be sure, but we wanted to celebrate in style. The Ball will be a formal event, with a strict dress code. This isn't as bad as it sounds, so stop panicking! No one will be checking to see if you are being properly choked by a too tight collar, and there will not be a competition for the funniest attempt at a bow tie. You may choose formal attire from any historical period, or fictional setting. So if you always wanted to be Scarlett, or cut a vampiric dash, we have the perfect staircase for you. The awards cermony, and Masquerade will take place throughout the evening. We will attempt to have a live band in at least one of the ballrooms, and differing styles of music will be available for dancing. Dress hire facilities will be available to convention members on the weekend, so there is no need to panic yet. For those wallflowers who wish to lurk with the Shadows, a full video programme will run throughout the evening in the auxiliary halls. The Hotel - The convention hotel is the Radisson Edwardian Hotel, Heathrow, London. It is minutes from the main Heathrow terminals, is well served by coach, train bus and undergound links. There are few places in Britain easier to get to! The hotel is a five star conference hotel, and provides a relaxed and friendly atmosphere for fans. There are many small bars and comfy chairs for talking and drinking, and the convention suites are excellently appointed. The room rates are not quite settled, but will be in the order of 35 uk pounds per head, per night. Full breakfast is included in that price, and it is inclusive of tax. There are no single rooms at the Radisson, but we will be operating a room share scheme. Those sharing with stangers, will be assigned rooms from a pool of deluxe executive twins, which have larger rooms with more facilities than the standard. There will be no extra charge for either the larger room, or the sharing scheme. There are no tea and coffee facilities in either type of room at the moment, but we are working on it! There will be cheaper bars and cafe facilitites within the hotel for the duration of the convention. We can safely say, if you ever wanted to visit London, this is as good as deal as you will ever find! Membership Present date till the end of Eastercon 97 60 uk pounds plus 5 pound surcharge for installment payers eastercon 97 to eastercon 98 65 pounds 5 surcharge for installment payers eastercon 98 till July 98 75 pounds no surcharge (no install) door rate 80 The membership rate for the four day event now stands a 60 uk pouunds per person. This rate will increase at the end of Eastercon 1997. Those between the ages of 12 and 17, are 30 uk pounds. Please note that we operate a strict policy on the screening of 18 plus films. No one under the age of 18 will be admitted for these events, and this is reflected in the price. Children under the age of 12 will be admitted free of charge, but we ask to know of this in advance. Rates in America are 100 US dollars but this will be subject to change due to fluctuating exchange rates. We are aware of how much money 60 uk pounds is. We are also aware of how much supplying you with a quality convention will cost. We are operating an installment scheme for con membership. Payment will be by four, 15 uk pounds installments, and on receipt of the first installment, a membership number will be assigned, and you will be entitled to all convention information and materials posted to everyone. You can also book your room at this time, although the room will only be released to you on final payment. There is a single, one off chagre of 5 uk pounds for maintaining this scheme, making your first payment 20 uk pounds, with three 15 pound payments to follow. The Wrap Party. Please complete this form and either send it to wrap@sidhen.demon.co.uk and send the membership cheque (payable to The Wrap Party) to The Wrap Party Membership P.O. Box 505 READING RG1 7XR Berkshire or send both the completed form and the cheque to the P.O Box. American members may send the form to the above email address, the check should be send to the American Agent who's address will be formalised in the next few days. Name : __________________________________________ Address:_________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ _________________________________________ email: _____________________________________________ Room (Double/Twin/Triple) _______________ Who are you sharing with? _____________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________ Do you want a share arranged (Yes/No) ________ Do you want to pay by installments (Yes/No) _________ Under 12's free (please indicate how many) Under 18's 30 pounds Full membership (4 days) 60 pounds (plus 5 pounds supplement for installment payment - 20/15/15/15 cheques) We wish you to have a great time at this con. Please feel free to email the above address with any suggestions you may have for program items. The Wrap Party wrap@sidhen.demon.co.uk Come along, have a good time. ---- (B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5) e n d o f v o l u m e : 0 i s s u e : 38 (B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)-(B5)