Scan barcode
ckeithjohnson's review
4.0
The picture of Bester on the front is wild to me now that I've read it, but I guess you have to sell this one with him on some level, he's only in the very end of the book, I won't spoil how, but if you're reading just for him you'll be disappointed.
With that out of the way, the book itself is a lot of fun. Really solid narrative of the early folks involved in the Psi-Corps and the Resistance. I really enjoyed the characterizations and the plot, even if there were literally no characters from the show involved, we did meet some of their predecessors.
With that out of the way, the book itself is a lot of fun. Really solid narrative of the early folks involved in the Psi-Corps and the Resistance. I really enjoyed the characterizations and the plot, even if there were literally no characters from the show involved, we did meet some of their predecessors.
faldor's review
3.0
Some really interesting ideas in this book. Almost a shame that it's confined to the B5 universe.
jfkaess's review
5.0
This is book 1 of the Psi Corp Trilogy, stories written in the world of Babylon 5. I've finished the trilogy, and this is by far the best of the three stories. It goes back about a hundred and fifty or so years before the time of Babylon 5 and sets the stage for how and why the Psi Corp was formed. It is very thought provoking, interesting and well told. It goes all the way back to discovering the first human telepaths and the time before we've found the existence of other races in the galaxy. The characters and the decisions they have to make are well formed and it really gives you an appreciation for the reason why the Psi Corp exists in Babylon 5 and why joining Psi Corp is mandatory for all telepaths unless they agree to take "sleeper injections" which removes their telepathic abilities. If you love Babylon 5, this entire trilogy is a must read, but in particular, this first book is even more so and is highly recommended. All the books in this trilogy are considered canon in the Babylon 5 universe.
crispyduck's review
5.0
Great book - expands the Babylon 5 universe. Great characters, gripping story.
thomasawaugh's review
adventurous
dark
emotional
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
ian_swallow's review
3.0
I first read this shortly after finishing Babylon 5, it was fascinating to discover the history of the Psi Corp as well as forgotten family ties between characters from B5. Now after my most recent re-watch of Babylon 5 I found the book once again. Now I can see it's imperfections clearer but also how Keyes works in themes from the show too that i missed the first time. Overall it's a good read for any B5 fan interested in learning more about the Psi Corp etc.
booksthatburn's review
adventurous
dark
reflective
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.5
This is the story of the origins of Psi Corps and the accompanying waves of genocide against telepaths over a span of around a hundred years. It's great as backstory for telepaths in general and the tangled family history of several telepaths who play major roles in the TV series. As a Babylon 5 fan I loved it!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Confinement, Death, Gun violence, and Violence
Moderate: Blood, Child death, Genocide, Misogyny, Murder, Racism, Sexism, Torture, and Xenophobia
Minor: Child abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Pedophilia, Rape, and Sexual assault
CW for major character death (graphic).dan1066's review
2.0
J. Michael Straczynski really fizzled when it came to sustaining a memorable story arc regarding the PSI Corps on the series Babylon 5. Getting the chance to have a fifth and final season, he creates an impending war between the PSI Corps and normal humans ("Mundanes") then never delivers. Fortunately, he allows J. Gregory Keyes to flesh out the full story, starting from its chaotic inception. The novels are dark and brooding. The first novel, Dark Genesis: The Birth of the Psi Corps ends with Bester's birth and deliverance to the corps (after the loss of his parents). While it is interesting, most of it is hack.
The trilogy really takes off with the second edition, [b:Deadly Relations: Bester Ascendant|715060|Deadly Relations Bester Ascendant (Babylon 5 Saga of Psi Corps, #2)|Greg Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320516266l/715060._SY75_.jpg|701312], delineating Bester's PSI Corps training and rise to the top. It is full of delicious details and insights. Unfortunately, it ends with Bester planning a visit to Babylon 5 to round up Jason Ironheart.
The third installment[b:Final Reckoning: The Fate of Bester|77251|Final Reckoning The Fate of Bester (Babylon 5 Saga of Psi Corps, #3)|Greg Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388720484l/77251._SY75_.jpg|74669] picks up the tale of Bester well after the telepath war is finished. He leaves the fate of Lyta Alexander to speculation and instead concentrates on Garibaldi's quest for revenge. Much of this novel is poorly written and hack. In the end Keyes manages to deliver a decent resolution which ties his trilogy together. I will not provide spoilers, but this novel is certainly a must for anyone interested in whatever happened to Mr. Garibaldi and Mr. Bester.
The trilogy really takes off with the second edition, [b:Deadly Relations: Bester Ascendant|715060|Deadly Relations Bester Ascendant (Babylon 5 Saga of Psi Corps, #2)|Greg Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1320516266l/715060._SY75_.jpg|701312], delineating Bester's PSI Corps training and rise to the top. It is full of delicious details and insights. Unfortunately, it ends with Bester planning a visit to Babylon 5 to round up Jason Ironheart.
The third installment[b:Final Reckoning: The Fate of Bester|77251|Final Reckoning The Fate of Bester (Babylon 5 Saga of Psi Corps, #3)|Greg Keyes|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1388720484l/77251._SY75_.jpg|74669] picks up the tale of Bester well after the telepath war is finished. He leaves the fate of Lyta Alexander to speculation and instead concentrates on Garibaldi's quest for revenge. Much of this novel is poorly written and hack. In the end Keyes manages to deliver a decent resolution which ties his trilogy together. I will not provide spoilers, but this novel is certainly a must for anyone interested in whatever happened to Mr. Garibaldi and Mr. Bester.
bibliostatic's review
3.0
I generally don't read books based on series, but I did enjoy the Bab-5 books that J. Michael Straczynski plotted, including this one.
More...