Casting Shadows

Babylon 5: The Passing of the Techno-Mages #1

by Jeanne Cavelos

The spectacular space epic continues, as the techno-mages face the growing threat of the Shadows . . .

As Elric and his student Galen watch with taut anticipation, dragons, angels, and shooting stars rain from the sky, heralding the arrival of the techno-mages on the planet Soom. It's the first time Elric-a member of the ruling Circle-has hosted such a gathering, and if all goes well, Galen and the other apprentices will emerge triumphant from the grueling initiation rites, ready to embrace their roles as full mages among the most powerful beings in the known universe.

But rumors fly of approaching danger and Galen and his young lover, Isabelle, are chosen to investigate the dark tidings. An ancient race has awakened after a thousand years, thirsty for war, slaughter, and annihilation. Will the techno-mages be the deciding factor in the war ahead? Or the first casualties?

Genres: Science Fiction, Babylon 5, Fiction, Science Fiction Fantasy, Tv, Media Tie In, Fantasy

352 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published February 27, 2001

About the author

Jeanne Cavelos is a writer, editor, scientist, and teacher. She began her professional life as an astrophysicist and mathematician, working in the Astronaut Training Division at NASA's Johnson Space Center.

Her love of science fiction led her to earn her MFA in creative writing. She moved into a career in publishing, becoming a senior editor at Bantam Doubleday Dell, where she created and launched the Abyss imprint of psychological horror, for which she won the World Fantasy Award, and the Cutting Edge imprint of literary fiction. She also ran the science fiction/fantasy publishing program. In addition, she edited a wide range of fiction and nonfiction.

In 1994, she left New York to pursue her own writing career. She is currently writing a near-future science thriller about genetic manipulation, titled Fatal Spiral. Her last novel to hit the stores was Invoking Darkness , the third volume in the best-selling trilogy The Passing of the Techno-Mages , set in the Babylon 5 universe (Del Rey). The Sci-Fi Channel called the trilogy "A revelation for Babylon 5 fans. . . . Not 'television episodic' in look and feel. They are truly novels in their own right." Her nonfiction book The Science of Star Wars (St. Martin's) was chosen by the New York Public Library for its recommended reading list, and CNN said, "Cavelos manages to make some of the most mind-boggling notions of contemporary science understandable, interesting and even entertaining." The highly praised The Science of The X-Files , (Berkley) was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. Publishers Weekly called it "Crisp, conversational, and intelligent."

Her first published book, the Babylon 5 novel The Shadow Within (Dell), went out of print a few years ago and was reissued by Del Rey due to popular demand. Dreamwatch magazine called it "one of the best TV tie-in novels ever written."

Recent works include the novella "Negative Space" (which was given honorable mention in The Year's Best Science Fiction), in the anthology Decalog 5: Wonders (Virgin Publishing), and several essays: "Living with Terror: Jack Bauer as a Coping Mechanism in Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disordered America" in Jack Bauer for President , "Stop Her, She's Got a Gun!" in Star Wars on Trial , "Down the Wormhole: Cognitive Dislocation, Escalation, Pyrrhic Victory and Farscape" in Farscape Forever , and "Innovation in Horror," which appears in both On Writing Horror: A Handbook by the Horror Writers Association and The Complete Handbook of Novel Writing (Writer's Digest Books). She has published short fiction, essays, and reviews in many magazines.

The Many Faces of Van Helsing , an anthology she edited, was published by Berkley in 2004 and was nominated for the Bram Stoker Award. The editors at Barnes and Noble called it "brilliant. . . . Arguably the strongest collection of supernatural stories to be released in years." Berkley is releasing a mass market paperback edition in October 2008.

Jeanne also runs Jeanne Cavelos Editorial Services, a full-service freelance company that provides editing, ghostwriting, consulting, and critiquing services to publishers, book packagers, agents, and authors. Among its clients are major publishers and best-selling and award-winning writers.

Since she loves working with developing writers, she created and serves as director of Odyssey , a six-week summer workshop for writers of fantasy, science fiction, and horror held annually at Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. Odyssey allows developing writers to focus on their craft and receive detailed, in-depth feedback on their work. Guest lecturers include some of the top authors, editors, and agents in the field.

Reviews

[Stephen · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.0 to 2.5 stars. A decent, quick read but I was really hoping for better as I am a fan of B5 and was hoping for an interesting read providing more details regarding the Shadow War. Alas, I was pretty disappointed. I will probably read the net book in the series at some point and hope it is better.

[Dan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This series gives a depth of insight into Galen, and the Techno-Mages. Quite enjoyable.

[Jason Bleckly · Rating 3 out of 5]

A disappointing book given how much I liked Jeanne's 'The Shadow Within'. It's first problem is that it's extremely padded. The convocation, the annual technomage festival where new techno-mages are initiated takes up the first half of the book. Then the story starts. The next problem is Galen. This is a younger Galen as it's set before the Crusader series, but his character is simply nothing like the series Galen. I just can't reconcile this Galen becoming the TV series one in the time between when this is set and then.
Jeanne has also made the rank, and frankly offensive, decision to make the Techno-mages believe in God. Not all the techn-mages are even human. Knowledge and technology are the antithesis of belief in the divine.
The final problem is they frequently aren't TECHNO-mages, but straight out fantasy magicians. They use technology to create the illusion of magic, they don't use magic.
But it's not all bad. Her characterisation of Elric is good and true to how he appeared in the series. She also ties it in nicely to events from the TV, such as the destruction of the Narn outpost in sector 37 by the Shadows on Londo's behest. I'm going to read the rest of the trilogy, but he portrayal of the techno-mages is really a betrayal of their ideals and conception.

[Dan]

Cavelos has created the best B-5 trilogy yet. Her novels (Casting Shadows, Summoning Light, and Invoking Darkness) flesh out the background of the techno-mages and Galen's past. She meshes her material with the television series seamlessly and brings out nuances in character and situation. The relationship between the techno-mages and the Shadows is revealed in a striking manner that will satisfy any B-5 fan.

Though the most exciting B-5 trilogy I have yet read, Cavelos has a tendency to focus on emotional-turmoil and bringing the pacing of the plot to a complete and utter halt so a character can brood, mope, brood some more, mope again. Making matters worse, she repeats the same trite descriptions describing these feelings of melancholy and worthlessness over and over. But the rewards of completing this trilogy is worth the pitfalls in the prose. A must for any B-5 fan.

[Alyce Caswell · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't expecting this to be so slowly paced, which didn't help when I was already dealing with exhaustion. Cavelos did a good job of developing Galen into the techno-mage we all know and love (well, he was one of the more palatable parts of Crusade!), so I was happy with that. But this book could have been much tighter and much better.

[Peter De Kinder · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technomages are some of the coolest things in the Babylon 5 mythos, and learning about them through this book, has been quite the treat. The story is captivating, the characters are relatable. It was a very enjoyable read.

[George Brownfield · Rating 4 out of 5]

Decent read. A good backstory to fit around the things we already know happened in the related TV show.

[Gears · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's for Babylon 5 fans. It is a good book that aims to tell an interesting side story from the show. I think it was well executed.

[Kim Headlee · Rating 4 out of 5]

Tinker Bell won't expire on my watch. I do believe in fairies. And just once, I'd love to see angels and dragons descend en masse from the sky. Casting Shadows treats the reader to such wonders and more as the techno-mages gather to make the single most important decision in the thousand year history of their order. The Shadows will soon arrive, and the techno-mages must join them, oppose them or flee.

If you're reading this review, chances are you know the Babylon 5™ universe so well that you can recite the color of Londo's underwear. So I don't need to waste time explaining the Shadows, why they pose such a threat to the universe, or the choice the techno-mages ultimately make.

Cavelos knows you know all this, so Casting Shadows, thankfully, doesn't bog down in repetition. The book fills in gaps left unexplained in the television series, including why the mages acted the way they did. The book also covers, in heart-rending detail, the backstory of Galen, featured techno-mage in the firefly-like B5 spin-off, Crusade.

In November 2258, Galen stands on the verge of initiation as a fully empowered techno-mage. His teacher, Elric, one of the order's leaders, admonishes him to stretch his techno-magical wings and conjure spells to express his inmost self, since that forms the core of the mages' operating philosophy.

Still struggling to cope with the accidental deaths of his parents, 11 years prior, Galen nonetheless strives to please Elric, whom he loves as much as a father as a mentor. Galen's unique spell language, fueled by mathematical equations, leads him to discover a spell that indeed expresses himself -- and gives him the capability to wield vast destructive power. Which could come in quite handy against the Shadows. However, the rampantly pacifistic techno-mage leaders make Galen vow never to activate that spell again, upon pain of expulsion from the order and the certain death that would result.

The order sends Galen and Isabelle, another newly initiated techno-mage, to unearth incontrovertible proof of the Shadows' actions. The nature and extent of the Shadows' operations comes as much of a surprise to Galen as the fact that he finds himself falling in love with Isabelle. When their investigation puts Galen and Isabelle directly into the line of fire, his vow comes under fire, too.

I knock off a point for a key issue that remained unresolved at the end of the book, with no indication that it might be revisited in the next installment. But I judge that a relatively minor infraction compared with the sheer magical and emotional wonder conveyed by Casting Shadows, and I eagerly anticipate its sequel.

(Review originally printed in Crescent Blues. Used with permission.)

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so pleasantly surprised by this novel! On several occasions I laughed out loud or proclaimed, "Oh no!" And I don't think I can give a novel any higher praise than that.

I stumbled across Casting Shadows while doing a search on Amazon for the Babylon 5 spin-off Crusade. I was looking for reviews after watching Crusade because it was so terrible; I was curious if others thought it as bad as I did. While reading those reviews I saw an ad for this book.

Though I didn't like the series, I was intrigued with the idea of the Techno-Mages while watching Crusade. In fact Galen and the Techno-Mages were the only thing I really enjoyed about the series, and so my curiosity was piqued. When I also saw how many good reviews had been posted for this book, I reluctantly decided to give it a try.

The book was a quick, easy read, and well written. In fact, I didn't want to put it down. I enjoyed all the characters, and fans of Babylon 5 will find the Babylon 5 universe faithfully reproduced.

Casting Shadows tells the story of Techno-Mages leading up to the Shadow War. Those familiar with Crusade will recognize the main character Galen right away. The novel follows him as he completes his training and becomes a Techno-Mage in his own right.

My only disappointment as I write this is that the next novel in the series hasn't arrived yet in the mail. Sadly these books are out of print and so I've had to order them used. I don't mind ordering used books at all, but book dealers seem to recognize that they can squeeze the fans for a little extra cash here. I paid about $10 a piece for the 1st and 3rd book. For the second book I shelled out $25.

I think Babylon 5 fans will love this book; I highly recommend it. I don't know if those unfamiliar with the Babylon 5 story will enjoy it quite as much, though I do think it stands on it's own and is a good read regardless.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not quite as good as the Cnetauri books, this was still fairly enjoyable. It was nice getting more development on both Elric and Galen (though honestly, if I didn't see and hear them as Michael Ansara and Peter Woodward, I don't think I'd have enjoyed it as much). However, while and enjoyable enough read, it is not flawless.

There is a romance story in it that just. . . doesn't work. I think that's largely because the love interest never really has any character developed. She has a list of traits, and certain required beats are hit, but that is all. She ultimately serves as a plot device to spur on the protagonist.

And then the author spends way to much time on internal pseudo-monologues. Which are fine, they help us to understand the character in question, but she spends more time on them than is interesting, but never brings anything new with each one. Every time we visit a character's internal monologue, all we get is essentially the same thing we got in the last one. Over and over and over (and this continues in the second book of the trilogy unfortunately). Though in fairness, I think the editor can be faulted for this as equally as the author. It is the editor's job to deal with stuff like that, after all.

The only other real problem with the book is that everything is pretty telegraphed. Mostly because there are no original plot developments in it. Early on in the book, you can pretty well tell this character is going to do A, that character is going to do X, etc.

It's a credit to the author and editors that despite these issues, I still enjoyed the book for the most part.

[Steve Haywood · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Technomages are gathering on the planet Soom for their convocation, only held every few years. All mages will be present that can be, and all the apprentices too. Galen is one among them, and this time is very important for at this convocation he will take his initiation and become a full Technomage. But times aren t easy for the Technomages the Shadows have returned to their ancient home and ready themselves for war. Galen and his friend are sent on a task to bring back proof that the Shadows have returned...[return][return]This Babylon 5 book, the first in the Technomage trilogy, has very little to do with Babylon 5. The Technomages only ever appeared in one or two episodes of the series, and the main character appeared in the ill-fated Crusade. It does link in a little, for the mages are investigating the Shadows, and Morden appears on a couple of occasions, but I don t believe Babylon 5 itself is ever mentioned. Still, I found this to be the best Babylon 5 book yet written. The Technomages fascinate me, and the story grips me. I would highly recommend this book.

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

For Babylon 5 fans only. That being said, this was a very entertaining series that sheds light on some of the most fascinating beings in the Babylon 5 universe, who had very little screen time on the actual t.v. series. Techno-Mages are basically a clan of wizards who use technology to perform what amounts to magic. This series reveals that they had a very important but unseen hand in the major events of Babylon 5.

[Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a marvelous book, and I can't wait to get into the other two connected to it. Though from the beginning, I sensed tragedy, and not just because the Shadows would be involved...even so it is a magnificent story on one of the most interesting groups in the B5 Timeline. The sheer background on the old events coming from a new source in new ways is simply amazing, and pulls any B5 fan in for more.

[PresPetunia · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story has the intensity needed to place the mages as the Shadow craft their approach to three major groups within the story of Babylon 5: Narn, Centari & Minbari. It is the story of the making of Galen, the weaknesses of the Vorlons and the structure of the society of mages.

However, it is only the tip of the iceberg. I want to see how the mages' story fleshes out and what happens to them next.

Note: I waited too long and some details are too fuzzy so I'm rereading. Sep 2025

[April Helms · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this trilogy. Here, we see bits and pieces of Galen's childhood and training.

[Jodi McMaster · Rating 3 out of 5]

I generally don't read books based on series, but I did enjoy the Bab-5 books that J. Michael Straczynski plotted, and this particular series was my favorite.

[Juanfra Valero · Rating 4 out of 5]

Buen libro, pero sólo si eres fan de babylon 5. Da mucha información sobre los tecnomagos, especialmente sobre Galen y Elric, y de cómo se enteran de la llegada de las Sombras.

[Jake · Rating 4 out of 5]

Science/Magic

[John · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were many interesting bits of this book. It pulls back the curtain on some of the most mysterious characters in the B5 universe: the technomages.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

Was a little bit slow to start but picked up half way through the book.... After 3/4of the boom I couldn't put it down....

[Judith Paterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very gripping and explosive ending - sad

[Dale Rosso · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this series of stories about the techno mages and their origins make a lot of sense in the Babylon 5 universe.

[Devi]

A fun lite read or one of the more interesting, but unexplored, character groups of the Babylon 5 universe.

[Adi · Rating 4 out of 5]

My least favorite of the B5 trilogy books, but still a good read for B5 fans.