Destinies fullfilled...
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`The Shadow Within' is described as a prequel to `The Passing of the Techno-Mages' trilogy and is written by Jeanne Cavelos, who has very quickly become for me a force of the sci-fi genre, following three of the best sci-fi books I've read in recent years- `Casting Shadows', `Summoning Light' and `Invoking Darkness'.
Although (with great intelligence and skill) describing the events that took place before the beginning of `The Passing of the Techno-mages' trilogy and also revealing precisely how it was that Anna Sheridan fell into the nightmarish hands of the shadows, in no other way does this book compare to that outstanding trilogy, which detailed Galen the techno-mage's fraught journey across the universe and through the years, as he came to terms with the loss of loved ones and the loss of innocence.
There isn't a techno-mage in sight here. But more than that...there's an inescapable quality that pervades this story of destinies being fulfilled, because any Babylon 5 fan will know what eventually became of Anna and learning how much of a decent, adventurous and loving individual she once was, only makes the knowledge of her eventual demise (in the season three finale `Z'Ha'Dum') all the more horrific and consequently- this book slightly less enjoyable (at least for this reader who knew what was coming even before beginning this book). Because let's face it- Melissa Gilbert's portrayal of Anna Sheridan in that episode was far from sympathetic- not that it was meant to be, she brought a sinister, seductive quality to a very difficult role, considering she was the human embodiment of the evil that the Shadow race represented. So to get to know the character here as she truly was, as she was before she underwent that irrevocable transformation into a living CPU is disturbing to say the least.
Let me be clear though...Jeanne Cavelos is an extremely talented author, her style is tremendously gripping and for any B5 fan this is a must-read. But were it not for the John Sheridan/Agamemnon story-arc, which is much shorter in comparison to his wife's story-arc, but much more compelling in my view (perhaps because I didn't know what was coming) this wouldn't even be in the same universe as `The Passing of the Techno-mages' trilogy. An engrossing and informative read nonetheless.
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Utterly Chilling
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When i read this book i wasnt expecting not to be able to put it down! but the two story lines pull you in, the Sheridan storyline isn't so important as that that is taking place abord the Icarus. No going to spoil but read carefully and watch out for references to the series suchj as the improperly translated Question What is Desired?
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Excellent Prequel to the Technomage trilogy.
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Firstly this book is absolutly fantastic, its not only well written but its also extremely engaging. Normally I like to savour books, taking my time while I read, but this one I could not put down. It really fleshes out the character of Anna, adn allows us to see the vertitable malestrom of emotions that drove Mordern to chossing his dark fate. The book does have a realted story and Id be lying if I said it was even half as interesting as the main plot, still it provides a better insight into John's character and his past. Overall I cant fault the novel, and moreover one can now appricate the maturity of Cavelos' writting in the later trilogy, espically in the all too brief pages where Kosh and the Shadows appear. The talent of Cavelos should not be underestimated, she is an excellent writer, and I strongly recommend her novel.
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