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Babylon 5 #9
To Dream in the City of Sorrows
THEY CALLED THEM THE FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE. THEY CALLED THEM RANGERS.
Ambassador to the alien world of Minbar, former Babylon 5 commander, Jeffrey Sinclair, is one of the first to learn the truth about the Shadows, the ancient race pursuing the destruction of the galaxy. Sinclair also discovers a startling secret: he is the linchpin in the plan to stop them. Now, Sinclair is asked to revive the legendary Minbari warrior group, the Rangers. But it may cost him his one chance to love... and his life.
TO DREAM IN THE CITY OF SORROWS
Catherine Sakai, commercial pilot and planetary surveyor, has lost her heart to Jeffrey Sinclair. Not even an attack by the Shadows can stop her from getting to Minbar to join him... and the Rangers. As she trains with other pilots, including the mysterious Marcus Cole, the time is coming when their skills will be tested on their first mission. Led by Sinclair, they will venture into deepest space, into a battle of stealth and might, and toward a fate none but the bravest can face... and none but the luckiest will survive...
Ambassador to the alien world of Minbar, former Babylon 5 commander, Jeffrey Sinclair, is one of the first to learn the truth about the Shadows, the ancient race pursuing the destruction of the galaxy. Sinclair also discovers a startling secret: he is the linchpin in the plan to stop them. Now, Sinclair is asked to revive the legendary Minbari warrior group, the Rangers. But it may cost him his one chance to love... and his life.
TO DREAM IN THE CITY OF SORROWS
Catherine Sakai, commercial pilot and planetary surveyor, has lost her heart to Jeffrey Sinclair. Not even an attack by the Shadows can stop her from getting to Minbar to join him... and the Rangers. As she trains with other pilots, including the mysterious Marcus Cole, the time is coming when their skills will be tested on their first mission. Led by Sinclair, they will venture into deepest space, into a battle of stealth and might, and toward a fate none but the bravest can face... and none but the luckiest will survive...
352 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 9, 1997
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328 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
July 11, 2012
This was the final novel to be published under the original book contract, and it is by far the shining jewel of the collection. In a very real sense, this book presages the kind of tight continuity that marks the trilogies that followed. The story of what happened to Sinclair between his arrival on Minbar and his eventual return to Babylon 5 in “War Without End”, this is a gift to any dedicated Babylon 5 and Jeffrey Sinclair fan.
The author spends a great deal of time reconciling some apparent contradictions within the series proper: specifically, the political changes in Minbari society and the rise of the Rangers, a force consisting of Humans and Minbari. Why would a Grey Council, dominated by an isolationist warrior caste, agree to fund and foster a group of warrior-priests with a Human leader? This book makes the case fairly well, and explores Sinclair’s personal development in the process.
Two other topics are explored along the way: the personal history of Marcus Cole and the fate of Catherine Sakai. It’s always been odd to imagine that Marcus could undergo such strenuous training, substantial enough to make him an effective fighter and teach him so much else, when it had to happen in less than a year! It’s still a stretch of the imagination, but this novel does make a bit more sense of the notion.
Seasoned “Babylon 5” fans know that Catherine Sakai was originally meant to fulfill the role that Anna Sheridan ultimately held, had Sinclair remained the central character of the series. This book adjusts the overall story to give Catherine’s later absence a reasonable explanation, and even alludes to her ultimate fate.
The author was given the daunting task of repairing some of the damage done when the original plans for the series were altered after the first season by network intervention and the realities of syndicated television. The only complaint one might have is that the novel simply isn’t long enough or detailed enough. The reader is left wanting more. Is there any better compliment that can be made?
The author spends a great deal of time reconciling some apparent contradictions within the series proper: specifically, the political changes in Minbari society and the rise of the Rangers, a force consisting of Humans and Minbari. Why would a Grey Council, dominated by an isolationist warrior caste, agree to fund and foster a group of warrior-priests with a Human leader? This book makes the case fairly well, and explores Sinclair’s personal development in the process.
Two other topics are explored along the way: the personal history of Marcus Cole and the fate of Catherine Sakai. It’s always been odd to imagine that Marcus could undergo such strenuous training, substantial enough to make him an effective fighter and teach him so much else, when it had to happen in less than a year! It’s still a stretch of the imagination, but this novel does make a bit more sense of the notion.
Seasoned “Babylon 5” fans know that Catherine Sakai was originally meant to fulfill the role that Anna Sheridan ultimately held, had Sinclair remained the central character of the series. This book adjusts the overall story to give Catherine’s later absence a reasonable explanation, and even alludes to her ultimate fate.
The author was given the daunting task of repairing some of the damage done when the original plans for the series were altered after the first season by network intervention and the realities of syndicated television. The only complaint one might have is that the novel simply isn’t long enough or detailed enough. The reader is left wanting more. Is there any better compliment that can be made?
April 22, 2008
This is a B5 spin off, and really is more like an episode of the show (or several) in print form. Since JMS and his wife, Kathryn Drennan, wrote it, and since he created and wrote almost the entire show there is a conspicuous lack of the inconsistencies in plot and characterization that annoy me when I read this type of thing.
It explains a lot about what went on with Sinclair, Marcus, and a lot of other characters, and there is also a good bit about Neroon, who I like.
It explains a lot about what went on with Sinclair, Marcus, and a lot of other characters, and there is also a good bit about Neroon, who I like.
February 22, 2008
I understand now why this is considered not only one of the best of the B5 tie-in books, but also the only one to be 100% part of the series canon. I've been fascinated by Sinclair's destiny for almost as long as I've known about it, and this provided a much-needed "missing chapter" in his journey to accepting that destiny.
November 27, 2024
From the introduction by J. M. S. himself:
"To Dream in the City of Sorrows is not simply a licensed book set in the BABYLON 5 universe. While most of the Dell books to date have contained some elements that are considered canon, this is the very first one that is considered canonical in every small detail. What you hold in your hand is an official, authorized chapter in the BABYLON 5 story line. This is the definitive answer to the Sinclair question, and should be considered as authentic as any episode in the regular series."
"...this is the first real attempt to stitch together massive amounts of continuity from the series itself into one book ..."
"Sinclair's development into Entil'Zha, the head of the Rangers . . . Marcus's months being trained for his own duties as a Ranger ... the fate of Sinclair's fiancee Catherine Sakai. . . and the ceremonies that prepared Sinclair to take up the role of Valen, one of Minbar's greatest leaders, a Minbari not born of Minbari. All those threads have now been tied up in this one book."
And I'm not going to add anything at all to that. I think it says enough. Get on this one book lovers.
"To Dream in the City of Sorrows is not simply a licensed book set in the BABYLON 5 universe. While most of the Dell books to date have contained some elements that are considered canon, this is the very first one that is considered canonical in every small detail. What you hold in your hand is an official, authorized chapter in the BABYLON 5 story line. This is the definitive answer to the Sinclair question, and should be considered as authentic as any episode in the regular series."
"...this is the first real attempt to stitch together massive amounts of continuity from the series itself into one book ..."
"Sinclair's development into Entil'Zha, the head of the Rangers . . . Marcus's months being trained for his own duties as a Ranger ... the fate of Sinclair's fiancee Catherine Sakai. . . and the ceremonies that prepared Sinclair to take up the role of Valen, one of Minbar's greatest leaders, a Minbari not born of Minbari. All those threads have now been tied up in this one book."
And I'm not going to add anything at all to that. I think it says enough. Get on this one book lovers.
June 22, 2014
Loved this book! I would highly recommend it to any Babylon 5 fan; and I'm a bit embarrassed to admit that I've been a fan of the show since it originally aired in the 90s and I'm just now reading this book.
That being said, I think that a reader should have at least a passing knowledge of the world of Babylon 5, and the character of Jeffrey Sinclair, to really appreciate the story. The book begins at the end of the third season of Babylon 5, right after Delenn is installed as the new Entil'Zha (in the episode "Gray 17 is Missing.") It's sort of a flashback/reflection by Marcus, as he reflects on the events that led up to Delenn taking on the role of Entil'Zha of the Rangers. The bulk of the story takes place during the second season of Babylon 5, and details what happened to Sinclair after he left the Babylon 5 station at the end of the first season.
For someone who may not have followed all 5 seasons religiously, the episodes that are most important to see for an understanding of this story are: "Babylon Squared," "A Voice in the Wilderness," and "War without End." (And perhaps "Chrysalis," for information about Delenn's transformation and Sinclair and Sakai's relationship, and "Mind War," for details about the Walkers of Sigma 957.) This book is basically an episode (or maybe movie) that should have been made - and B5 creator JMS says as much in the introduction to the book.
The three separate tales of Jeffery Sinclair, Catherine Sakai, and Marcus Cole not only add detail to these characters established in the show, but their tales converge midway through the book to complete the overall story arc. The book was an easy and fun read, and I enjoyed this new (to me) story from the Babylon 5 world.
That being said, I think that a reader should have at least a passing knowledge of the world of Babylon 5, and the character of Jeffrey Sinclair, to really appreciate the story. The book begins at the end of the third season of Babylon 5, right after Delenn is installed as the new Entil'Zha (in the episode "Gray 17 is Missing.") It's sort of a flashback/reflection by Marcus, as he reflects on the events that led up to Delenn taking on the role of Entil'Zha of the Rangers. The bulk of the story takes place during the second season of Babylon 5, and details what happened to Sinclair after he left the Babylon 5 station at the end of the first season.
For someone who may not have followed all 5 seasons religiously, the episodes that are most important to see for an understanding of this story are: "Babylon Squared," "A Voice in the Wilderness," and "War without End." (And perhaps "Chrysalis," for information about Delenn's transformation and Sinclair and Sakai's relationship, and "Mind War," for details about the Walkers of Sigma 957.) This book is basically an episode (or maybe movie) that should have been made - and B5 creator JMS says as much in the introduction to the book.
The three separate tales of Jeffery Sinclair, Catherine Sakai, and Marcus Cole not only add detail to these characters established in the show, but their tales converge midway through the book to complete the overall story arc. The book was an easy and fun read, and I enjoyed this new (to me) story from the Babylon 5 world.
August 2, 2013
Well written and with a lot of attention to details that tie in to the show. Altogether a good, in-universe, canonically correct book.
October 3, 2017
It's not often that you come across a novel in a series of this kind that the creator of the series declares to be canon, but this is one of them. It ties up an untold part of the story fairly well.
May 21, 2021
It was nice to get some more insight into the origins and fates of some characters from the show, but the in-between placement of this novel in the overall narrative of Babylon 5 means that there's never much tension. Interesting new information, sure, but not exactly action-packed.
December 17, 2017
Jeffrey Sinclair is a soldier, a decorated fighter pilot and station commander. To his surprise, he has been reassigned to the Minbari homeworld as the Earth Alliance's first ambassador afforded permanent residence there. But his post is treated as a joke back home and the Minbari are unwilling to explain to him what is going on. Eventually he learns the truth, which will completely transform his life.
Meanwhile, Sinclair's fiancee Catherine Sakai is on a five-month surveying mission to the rim of known space, unaware of Sinclair's change in circumstance. Out on the rim she finds evidence that something very disturbing is happening, entire planets destroyed and strange shapes moving through hyperspace. One planet to fall victim to this force is a remote Earth mining colony, Arisia III. Its sole survivor, Marcus Cole, finds his way to Minbar, planning to avenge his brother's death and find out what is going on.
To Dream in the City of Sorrows is the second Babylon 5 novel (after Jeanne Cavelos's The Shadow Within) to be accepted as fully canon by franchise creator J. Michael Straczynski. He came up with the basic story arc and assigned it to the writer, who was also his then-wife, Kathryn Drennan (who also wrote the decent episode By Any Means Necessary).
Work-for-hire novels are often awful, written to tight deadlines and with little opportunity for rewrites or thorough editing. Not in this case, though. Like The Shadow Within, To Dream in the City of Sorrows fleshes out a vitally import part of the overall Babylon 5 story arc that the TV show couldn't get around to because real life interfered, in this case actor Michael O'Hare (Commander Sinclair) leaving the show due to mental health issues. In the TV show, Sinclair was sent to the Minbari homeworld to set up the Rangers whilst Captain Sheridan took command of Babylon 5 and the focus remained squarely on the station.
A novel, however, can continue this storyline and this one does with aplomb. The book works well with a tight focus on three characters: Sinclair, his lover Catherine Sakai and Marcus Cole. Fans of the TV series were mystified when Catherine Sakai was just dropped from the series, feeling that her character needed a better plot resolution. The introduction of Marcus Cole in the first episode of Season 3 also felt a bit abrupt, with a major new character introduced at a moment when there was a lot going on in the storyline. This book gives us a better understanding of his backstory and the events that led to him joining the Rangers.
Unlike The Shadow Within, To Dream in the City of Sorrows doesn't work as well as a stand-alone book. It intertwines with the second season of Babylon 5 (and flashes forwards to the end of the third) and references events from the comic books as well as the TV show, featuring cameos and mentions of characters which will be meaningless to those who haven't seen the series. This is very much a companion to the TV series rather than a self-contained prequel (like The Shadow Within), and should be read as such. Drennan is a very good writer, having worked extensively in animation as well as writing for B5, and she nails the "voices" of the characters superbly. You can imagine the actors saying this dialogue, which isn't always the case in spin-offs.
The story is pretty good and is fleshed out by a ton of new background details on Minbari culture, history and religion. The Minbari are one of the more interesting Babylon 5 races but their focus on honour did occasionally make them a bit Klingon-like. This novel gives them much more depth, especially to the very-underserved worker caste, and makes their attitudes to life, death and war a bit more understandable.
By its nature, though, the book is a little episodic. Sometimes months pass between chapters and this isn't always spelled out very well. The ending is also a little unsatisfying, lacking the resolution that is still to come in the TV story War Without End and the comic book series In Valen's Name. But the book is well-written, ties up a lot of character arcs and answers a whole host of unanswered questions from the TV show.
To Dream in the City of Sorrows (****) is a good read for established Babylon 5 fans but isn't as welcoming a place for new readers. For those invested in the story of the series, it's good stuff which expands on the background as well as tying up some niggling plot threads the series itself couldn't address. The novel is available now in the UK and USA.
Meanwhile, Sinclair's fiancee Catherine Sakai is on a five-month surveying mission to the rim of known space, unaware of Sinclair's change in circumstance. Out on the rim she finds evidence that something very disturbing is happening, entire planets destroyed and strange shapes moving through hyperspace. One planet to fall victim to this force is a remote Earth mining colony, Arisia III. Its sole survivor, Marcus Cole, finds his way to Minbar, planning to avenge his brother's death and find out what is going on.
To Dream in the City of Sorrows is the second Babylon 5 novel (after Jeanne Cavelos's The Shadow Within) to be accepted as fully canon by franchise creator J. Michael Straczynski. He came up with the basic story arc and assigned it to the writer, who was also his then-wife, Kathryn Drennan (who also wrote the decent episode By Any Means Necessary).
Work-for-hire novels are often awful, written to tight deadlines and with little opportunity for rewrites or thorough editing. Not in this case, though. Like The Shadow Within, To Dream in the City of Sorrows fleshes out a vitally import part of the overall Babylon 5 story arc that the TV show couldn't get around to because real life interfered, in this case actor Michael O'Hare (Commander Sinclair) leaving the show due to mental health issues. In the TV show, Sinclair was sent to the Minbari homeworld to set up the Rangers whilst Captain Sheridan took command of Babylon 5 and the focus remained squarely on the station.
A novel, however, can continue this storyline and this one does with aplomb. The book works well with a tight focus on three characters: Sinclair, his lover Catherine Sakai and Marcus Cole. Fans of the TV series were mystified when Catherine Sakai was just dropped from the series, feeling that her character needed a better plot resolution. The introduction of Marcus Cole in the first episode of Season 3 also felt a bit abrupt, with a major new character introduced at a moment when there was a lot going on in the storyline. This book gives us a better understanding of his backstory and the events that led to him joining the Rangers.
Unlike The Shadow Within, To Dream in the City of Sorrows doesn't work as well as a stand-alone book. It intertwines with the second season of Babylon 5 (and flashes forwards to the end of the third) and references events from the comic books as well as the TV show, featuring cameos and mentions of characters which will be meaningless to those who haven't seen the series. This is very much a companion to the TV series rather than a self-contained prequel (like The Shadow Within), and should be read as such. Drennan is a very good writer, having worked extensively in animation as well as writing for B5, and she nails the "voices" of the characters superbly. You can imagine the actors saying this dialogue, which isn't always the case in spin-offs.
The story is pretty good and is fleshed out by a ton of new background details on Minbari culture, history and religion. The Minbari are one of the more interesting Babylon 5 races but their focus on honour did occasionally make them a bit Klingon-like. This novel gives them much more depth, especially to the very-underserved worker caste, and makes their attitudes to life, death and war a bit more understandable.
By its nature, though, the book is a little episodic. Sometimes months pass between chapters and this isn't always spelled out very well. The ending is also a little unsatisfying, lacking the resolution that is still to come in the TV story War Without End and the comic book series In Valen's Name. But the book is well-written, ties up a lot of character arcs and answers a whole host of unanswered questions from the TV show.
To Dream in the City of Sorrows (****) is a good read for established Babylon 5 fans but isn't as welcoming a place for new readers. For those invested in the story of the series, it's good stuff which expands on the background as well as tying up some niggling plot threads the series itself couldn't address. The novel is available now in the UK and USA.
September 8, 2023
Everything you wanted to know about V..I mean Jeffrey Sinclair
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 9, 2012
by Kathryn M. Drennan, published in 1997.
This Babylon 5 novel, ‘To Dream In The City Of Sorrows’, is considered, in every way, canonical to the Babylon 5 Universe. So says J. Michael Straczynski in his introduction to this novel, and so it is. All the other novels to date are simply licenced products in the Babylon 5 Universe.
‘To Dream In The City Of Sorrows’ answers and explores those nagging questions I’m sure we were all asking after the start of Season 2 of the TV show. What happened to Sinclair and what is up with the Rangers? Well ‘To Dream In The City Of Shadows’ answers those questions very well and reads like a slice of Babylon 5 TV.
And is should as the author also wrote scripts for the TV show and spend considerable time with J. Michael Straczynski working out every detail for this work - and it really shows in this novel.
We also get a more complete picture of Marcus Cole and Catherine Sakai. If you are going to read any Babylon 5 novels then this should be included as one of them for sure.
It is a little light on action and concentrates more on the feelings and political machinations of Sinclair, but no less entertaining or enlightening for that. It does answer the question nicely of what happened to Sinclair after he left for Minbari and fills in all the gaps of how the Rangers came to be.
There are several crossovers to actual episodes in the TV show as well which is pretty sweet and ties everything in nicely. Overall a great read that should be required if you are serious about your Babylon 5 experience.
If not, well you can just watch the 5 seasons on DVD and not miss too much.
But you do what to know, don’t you?
I did and was glad to find out.
Worth the read.
This Babylon 5 novel, ‘To Dream In The City Of Sorrows’, is considered, in every way, canonical to the Babylon 5 Universe. So says J. Michael Straczynski in his introduction to this novel, and so it is. All the other novels to date are simply licenced products in the Babylon 5 Universe.
‘To Dream In The City Of Sorrows’ answers and explores those nagging questions I’m sure we were all asking after the start of Season 2 of the TV show. What happened to Sinclair and what is up with the Rangers? Well ‘To Dream In The City Of Shadows’ answers those questions very well and reads like a slice of Babylon 5 TV.
And is should as the author also wrote scripts for the TV show and spend considerable time with J. Michael Straczynski working out every detail for this work - and it really shows in this novel.
We also get a more complete picture of Marcus Cole and Catherine Sakai. If you are going to read any Babylon 5 novels then this should be included as one of them for sure.
It is a little light on action and concentrates more on the feelings and political machinations of Sinclair, but no less entertaining or enlightening for that. It does answer the question nicely of what happened to Sinclair after he left for Minbari and fills in all the gaps of how the Rangers came to be.
There are several crossovers to actual episodes in the TV show as well which is pretty sweet and ties everything in nicely. Overall a great read that should be required if you are serious about your Babylon 5 experience.
If not, well you can just watch the 5 seasons on DVD and not miss too much.
But you do what to know, don’t you?
I did and was glad to find out.
Worth the read.
September 1, 2014
This book fits well with the B5 story, mostly explaining what happened to Sinclair and his Sakai, his fiancee. It does well in reminding us of many of the sayings of various Minbari. It also does well in reminding us of the themes for which I enjoyed B5: workers rights, equality, compassion.
"delight, respect, and compassion" : Christian-Jewish Deut.4:24 views via shared struggle, as portrayed using Minbari and 'Earth' religions (I am reminded of the episode in which Sinclair lines up all of the 'dominant religions' of earth, as represented by an alphabetically ordered line of people stretching all the way down the main corridor. That was brilliant. And while this book may not be the best in literary style, it is certainly worth reading, if only to remember that duty and honor are based in respect and compassion.
Peace,
ShiraDestinie
William-James-MEOW Date: 1 September 12,014 H.E. (Holocene/Human Era)
"delight, respect, and compassion" : Christian-Jewish Deut.4:24 views via shared struggle, as portrayed using Minbari and 'Earth' religions (I am reminded of the episode in which Sinclair lines up all of the 'dominant religions' of earth, as represented by an alphabetically ordered line of people stretching all the way down the main corridor. That was brilliant. And while this book may not be the best in literary style, it is certainly worth reading, if only to remember that duty and honor are based in respect and compassion.
Peace,
ShiraDestinie
William-James-MEOW Date: 1 September 12,014 H.E. (Holocene/Human Era)
October 27, 2018
A wonderful companion to the show. It's kind of funky structurally, given that it necessarily doesn't have a proper intro and conclusion, because those are in episodes of the show, but it still offers a much needed fill for a hole in the Babylon 5 narrative. Marcus is given a good deal of backstory, Sinclair gets the gradual progression necessary to make his characterization in War Without End believable, and, well, Cathryn might have been shortshrifted a bit, but her arc is pretty good too. I would have loved another sequel to this that continues to follow Sinclair (and potentially Cathryn) after the events of War Without End.
Drennan's prose is simple and accessible, she manages to make a "middle piece" narrative flow smoothly, and her sense of voice and personality for all the characters is solid. It was nice to actually spend some more time in Sinclair's head, more at least than we ever got to get on the show.
Drennan's prose is simple and accessible, she manages to make a "middle piece" narrative flow smoothly, and her sense of voice and personality for all the characters is solid. It was nice to actually spend some more time in Sinclair's head, more at least than we ever got to get on the show.
January 17, 2020
I thought I had read this before but I think I only had a friend tell me the important plot points. It was enjoyable. Sinclair was SO Sinclair and it was nice to read about his Minbar adventures. Marcus I find a bit dull and so not as interested in his back story but it was good character development. Catherine also had more to do than in the show, and a much better storyline than the one in the original draft of the arc! But still not much happened. It felt all background without much substance. If it had all been leading up to Sinclair's realization that he was Valen that would have been good. But it seems JMS wouldn't let anyone else have that moment, which is what it really needed. As it was it felt a bit flat and a bit filler. But I did enjoy all the bits with Neroon and Minbari culture and the way the rangers developed. So I'm glad I went back and read it.
January 22, 2011
I watched maybe the first three seasons of Babylon Five, and really, really liked this book. I was always curious about the Sinclair character, especially given his eventual (past?) destiny. This book did a great job of continuing his story (and filling in some backstory) after he was shipped off to Minbar. I even find that I've reread it a couple of times, even though I didn't stick with the television series itself.
July 2, 2025
I came onto the Babylon 5 scene only recently and it left me wondering what the heck took me so long! It’s an incredibly well written universe that was planned out in detail from the very beginning, with only a few minor changes along the way. I was also surprised to learn that aside from the series there’s also a sizable expanded universe with TV movies as well as comics and books. While I don’t currently plan to read all the B5 books, I felt compelled to at least pick up this one because of JMS’s personal endorsement that TDitCoS is to be considered accurate to what he intended for his continuity, and that he and Drennan collaborated heavily when writing this.
With all that out of the way, I was happy to have some of the gaps left by the show, for one reason or another, filled in with this book. Was Sinclair welcomed with open arms as Minbar’s first human ambassador? How were the Rangers as we knew them on the show restarted? It was all fairly well told and made me want to rewatch a few episodes it was directly related to… in part because I felt the need to clarify a few sections of the book with the show.
Did Marcus talk about how he ended up with the Rangers during one of the episodes? He may have, I don’t recall, but regardless it seemed a bit too convenient for the story, the way he was thrust into the Shadow War instead of choosing on his own. It was also a bit too predictable what was to happen with Catherine; I want to say it was better not knowing or coming up with your own head-canon but maybe that’s just me.
Even though I only watched the show a couple months prior, it was nice to revisit this world that JMS so intricately weaved. I will be checking out more of these books, hoping they fill in even more details than this one did. Cheers
With all that out of the way, I was happy to have some of the gaps left by the show, for one reason or another, filled in with this book. Was Sinclair welcomed with open arms as Minbar’s first human ambassador? How were the Rangers as we knew them on the show restarted? It was all fairly well told and made me want to rewatch a few episodes it was directly related to… in part because I felt the need to clarify a few sections of the book with the show.
Did Marcus talk about how he ended up with the Rangers during one of the episodes? He may have, I don’t recall, but regardless it seemed a bit too convenient for the story, the way he was thrust into the Shadow War instead of choosing on his own. It was also a bit too predictable what was to happen with Catherine; I want to say it was better not knowing or coming up with your own head-canon but maybe that’s just me.
Even though I only watched the show a couple months prior, it was nice to revisit this world that JMS so intricately weaved. I will be checking out more of these books, hoping they fill in even more details than this one did. Cheers
September 19, 2021
I’ve been a fan of Babylon 5 since it’s first airing. I polished off the three canon series in the early 2000s, namely the Psi Corps, Technomage, and Centauri Prime trilogy.
I’ve always known there were two more canon novels that I picked up on eBay this year. My copy of this novel had a Star Wars bookmark inside it, and the pages of the inner cover were entirely darkened aside from the shape of the bookmark. No one had opened this particular novel in many, many years.
I feel like Babylon 5 towards the end, with the echoes of all of the past conversations, when everyone else has moved on. It’s clearly not the case. The series has new life with the HBO Max up scaling and hints from JMS that the story isn’t over yet.
And yet here I am, reading a canon tale that is so long out of print.
In effect, it was wonderful. It couldn’t not be. Drennan, married to JMS during the writing, had her own ties to the source, and everything written here was described as fully true to the plot line. We get backstory to Marcus, and most importantly, the untold story of Jeffrey Sinclair. It ends cryptically, and I also read the In Valen’s Name comic, which provides more clarity, although what I read here can stand on its own. It was a joy to be back into the universe, and know what I read really happened by the rules of that universe.
Five stars. Go find it.
I’ve always known there were two more canon novels that I picked up on eBay this year. My copy of this novel had a Star Wars bookmark inside it, and the pages of the inner cover were entirely darkened aside from the shape of the bookmark. No one had opened this particular novel in many, many years.
I feel like Babylon 5 towards the end, with the echoes of all of the past conversations, when everyone else has moved on. It’s clearly not the case. The series has new life with the HBO Max up scaling and hints from JMS that the story isn’t over yet.
And yet here I am, reading a canon tale that is so long out of print.
In effect, it was wonderful. It couldn’t not be. Drennan, married to JMS during the writing, had her own ties to the source, and everything written here was described as fully true to the plot line. We get backstory to Marcus, and most importantly, the untold story of Jeffrey Sinclair. It ends cryptically, and I also read the In Valen’s Name comic, which provides more clarity, although what I read here can stand on its own. It was a joy to be back into the universe, and know what I read really happened by the rules of that universe.
Five stars. Go find it.
November 16, 2018
According to J. Michael Straczynski, the show runner, writer, and producer of the Babylon 5 TV series, the contents of this book are canon. The book is the story of Jeffrey Sinclair from the time he leaves Babylon 5 to become the Ambassador to Minbar until the key event of his taking Babylon 4 through the time rift 1,000 years into the past to enable the defeat of the Shadows in the past and the founding of the Rangers and the Grey Council. It's an interesting story and it does fill in many holes about things you likely had wondered about. At the same time, it left me unsettled. I wanted to know much much more about Sinclair's activities in the past after he took Babylon 4 back into history. There is so much that could have been told, but isn't. That's why this is a 4 star book and not a 5 star book. However, if, like me, you love Babylon 5, you will like this book.
October 6, 2018
A must for Babylon 5 fans. Even though it's the 9th in the series of B5 novels, it's the only one declared by B5 creator J. Michael Straczynski to be completely canon. The novel is a bit dry, but it really works hard to fill in the gaps in the story from what we saw on the show and in the various spinoffs and movies. Recommended for B5 fans for sure, but I'm not quite sure who else would find in interesting. Understanding the plots and subtexts relies heavily on having watched the show.
October 25, 2019
I remember watching Babylon 5 in my college days on a snowy television screen with tin foil flags on the UHF rabbit ears. The first to second season changes were bit of a mystery to me for several years until I found and read this book. I recently rewatched the entire series on Prime Video and was impressed by how well this book filled all those old gaps. if you are a fan of the series and if you can find a copy you should read this book.
December 10, 2021
JMS himself says that this book should be considered canon, as canon as any broadcast episode, and after reading this, I can completely respect that endorsement. This book was recommended to me as a story that expands a bit on the topic of souls. While not as much content on that topic that I hoped, it's certainly there, consistent with the content of the broadcast episodes. Anyone who has watched the series, will enjoy this book.
May 31, 2024
The first 100% canon novel. To say I loved it would be an understatement. I was so fond of Sinclair during my first - and hopefully not last - viewing of Babylon 5. I especially enjoyed his gravitas (Sheridan is great, but he didn't have that) and I was pleased to see that very gravitas mentioned in this book. So many loose threads are tied together here... it's quite satisfying and as best a resolution as anyone could have hoped for, given the real-life complications.
June 7, 2025
"They avoided the first few rounds easily enough, but as they drew closer and the barrage increased, it became increasingly more risky for three ships than just one." (p. 308)
While the lore and connective tissue surrounding on-screen events is really enjoyable, I found the execution a bit underwhelming. The overall narrative seems to be lacking a definite shape, being instead rather a patchwork of scenes.
While the lore and connective tissue surrounding on-screen events is really enjoyable, I found the execution a bit underwhelming. The overall narrative seems to be lacking a definite shape, being instead rather a patchwork of scenes.
January 14, 2024
A fantastic insight into what happened to Sinclair during season 2 of Babylon 5 and ties up lingering story threads that were left open with his departure. It also gives more backstory to what brought Marcus Cole to the Rangers. And answers the question of who was the friend who gifted him the old Minbari fighting pike.
January 4, 2018
"To Dream in the City of Sorrows", както виждате от грозната корица, е книга по култовия сериал от 90-те, ВАВИЛОН 5 (или както аз го наричам: по-добрият Стар Трек). Една от малкото книги (поне сред по-ранните), които Дж. М. Стразински (създателят на сериала) искрено харесва и одобрява. Я, тоже.
December 29, 2025
A wrap-up of the loose ends and enigmas surrounding Jeffrey Sinclair, Catherine Sakai and Valen, as well as to a lesser extent Marcus Cole. It's great to see what was missing from the episodes themselves brought together in a novel's storyline.
May 6, 2017
B5 4ever.
April 12, 2018
I'm not weeping, you're weeping.
Also: THIS WAS SO GOOD FOR MEEEEEEEE.
Also: THIS WAS SO GOOD FOR MEEEEEEEE.
August 17, 2019
Excellent read adds depth to Sinclair, Sakai and Cole. If your a fan of the show it's a must read and JMS considers it canon!
May 20, 2021
Outstanding story from Marcus Cole and Jeffrey Sinclair perspective. Takes place between season two and three of Babylon 5.
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