Technomage Novels

Iz, OOOOh, hadn't thought about.

There were 2 Technomages I saw (missed ep#4 Path of Sorrows). The first one was Alwyn in the 2nd episode (a good guy) and the other one was in a later episode, don't remember which one and the Lurkers guide didn't have the answer readily available. I don't remember that Technomages name, but you may have a point there.

When I finish reading the first book I'll have to drag the tapes out and check on that if the series isn't airing before then.

OK, went to SCIFI Vine and dug up Memory of War. That was the episode I was thinking of. From there I got the name John St. Ryan who played the Technomage, so I looked him up in the Database that the highlighted names in Lurkers guide takes you to and it credits him as Technomage (no Name). So other than re-watching Memory of War, don't know how to get his name.


[This message has been edited by sindatur (edited March 13, 2001).]

on elizar and morden

well, the narrative doesn't specifically say that morden had anything to do with the confrontation between elizar and galen and isabella; however, elizar was extremely agressive with the other two, and it seems to me he may have felt "pressure" to perform well in front of a shadow agent. also, if morden already has his body guard of three invisible shadows at this time, then elizar would actually be performing in direct view of his "masters."

to some extent both here and in future scenes it seems like elizar is trying to both serve the shadows and protect fellow mages. apparently he feels that if he can get galen and isabella to ally with him, he will be able to protect them from direct contact with the shadows; he appears to be attempting the role of "middleman" the same way that justin tried to be a middleman with sheridan.

elizar, when we last glimpse him on board the narn ship, is also a meaner and nastier mage than in previous scenes; possibly he was "disciplined" for failing to secure galen and isabella.

sindatur--if elizar was one of the mages in a crusade episode, i would expect him to be "unnamed," same as senna was not named in "in the beginning." probably the character wasn't developed enough at the time of the series.

iz, I have no doubt that Elizar was performing for Morden, trying to demonstrate how he could lead the others. Elizar could very well ahve been instructed to goad Galen in such away that Galen would perform the spell of destruction so that the Shadows could see what Galen could do. (shrugs)

I do not know about the Technomage who appears in Crusade, I don't have the episodes taped so I cannot review them.

My one question is this, did Galen try and kill the Mage in question? If not, I would say that it is not Elizar. From what I read in the Lurker's Guide, the virus that was found was left there 100 years ago by a Mage, meaning not Elizar.

I suspect that Elizar had a thing for Isabel and his nastier attitude is a result of her dying at his hand.

He was trying to kill Galen, not her.

Elizar was casting am image, which Galen saw too late. The image was of Elric's stones broken and covered with Moss because the Mages are destroyed. He was telling the truth when he testified before the Circle.

Well, well, well...Michigan State, huh? Graduated Morden, haunted by ProfCrash, and in the astronomy division we have Jeanne Cavelos teaching there at the beginning of her career.
Next time I'm there, I'm gonna have to look around, I tell ya. See if the "eerie glow" isn't just the street lights.

LOL Wizz. I guess that explains why Prof Crash liked the book so much. It's not just the street lights that glow, you should see the river. PC claimed it was farm chemicals that gave it its lovely glow, but I wonder...

hehe Actually that is the haze still left over from the riots three years ago. The left over tear gas vapors make the night air glimmer.

OK, I guess it is time for me to chime in here. I'm with Prof Crash and Azziz. I liked the book, expecially the beginning.

I thought that the stuff with Elric and Galen was meant, not mearly to show us a "day in the life" of Soom, but to show us something of the real charaters of Elric and Galen. When Elric is on B5 and Galen is part of the action in Crusade, we see their public personae - the ones that they use to evoke awe. Here we see that they are actually involved in the lives of the people on their planet. I like that. It makes it all the more poinient when Elric agrees to leave the entire Galaxy to muddle through the Shadow War. It must have been a heck of a wrench. We know that to some extent because he argues against it, but the evidence of what he does when he can do whatever he wants, speaks louder.

And Galen has the patience to befriend a small child. He remembers what it was like to be a child and lonely. He has empathy. I want to know that.

I must say that I also really enjoyed the Breen Cook-off. The idea that technomages sometimes use quite ordinary methods of deception not requiring tech. You use your power when you have to, but reserve it for those times. And the sheer joy of Galen and Isabelle at that time. To think what happiness they might have had together had they had more time.

Other stuff I like? That the mages regularly communicate by a kind of mental e-mail, Galen's spell of destruction and the burden he carries because of it, the description of the insertion of the tech (yikes that hurts), the general political machinations of the technomages as a group. As for the political stuff among the technomages, I guess I don't literally "like" it, but I think it rings very true. The mages aren't a species, they are a collection of individuals that share a type of power. They take seriously their resposibility to be sure their own members are worthy of the power, but they don't speak with one voice or even agree with each other a lot of the time. That is what people are like.

Somehting I could easily have lost? The image of Bruce Boxleitner's face on a body builder's torso clad in a tiny bathing suit like thing. Ew.

Perhaps more at another time.

-Polly

heheheh I liked Johnny (evil grin)

the Breen cook off was fun although I had not thought about that aspect of it. When you think about it, Galen shows us how the Mages are able to fool others by being prepared. For example the sack of rocks he keeps under his desk so that when Fe visits he can trick her. A nice reminder that the Mages are not able to rely on their tech for everything.

Ummm, I hate to drag an old topic back up (no, really!), but why was there an argument over what a "Cloistered Mage" was?


As far as I can remember, that term was invented by Vir when he learned that they were not full mages. It wasn't meant to be an Technomage term.

On top of that, the Mages in question were initiaited at the same time as Galen, so why would they have more restrictions then Galen?

Galen's previous experience with the Shadows/Drakh, his WEAPON, his combined knowledge of himself + Isabelle + Burrell, but most likely that Elric was currently leader of the Circle. Remember how much extra leeway Kell gave Elizar?


As for "Johnny"?! Oh dear! That seemed such a bad case of name dropping by the author. Now, if you replace him with an image of a young Matthew Gideon then that would at least give extra reasons as to why Galen save Gideon after the Shadows destroyed his vessel, and why he risked helping Gideon in Crusade.

I have to agree with Ian on this one.

Due to his unique experiences, his incredible and destructive power, his dealings with Shadows and having Eldric as his mentor, Galen is givin more free reign.

Also as Elizar points out in book one, there are two classes of initiates and he considers, himself, Galen and Isabelle in the higher class...

I thought that the Mages themselves used it. (shrugs)

There is a difference in what some of the Mages could do and what Galen could do. It was clear that all of the Mages where out of the Chrysallis stage (no one was wearing a weird looking hat). From the Techno mage novel I got the impression that once a Mage was initiated, they culd use all the tech with no real limits. There still was a three year period of training, but that struck me more as time to get some helpful guidance as the Apprentice became independent of the Teacher.

On top of that, the Mages in question were initiaited at the same time as Galen, so why would they have more restrictions then Galen?

I hadn't thought about that from the Centauri trilogy. Hmmmm. Makes sense though. The shadows had become Galens puppy and is more apt to be given more free reign.

Boy, here we go again with timelines. Elric was moving the troops out of harms way in <u>The Geometry of Shadows</u>, which was 2258. Based on last nights <u>Crusade</u> episode, Galen went with the troops, but Alwynn stayed back. Galen would have been a full mage in 2260. That's if Elric had lived long enough to finish, and the migration to the outer reaches didn't disrupt the training. But, I have to think that the training sequence has changed a great deal, now with the cloistered mages floating around, somewhat unsupervised. Maybe there was a serious depletion of mages during their migration. Hopefully, the next two novels help explain what happened.

Yeah Wizz, same here.

Agreed, Galen has more experience then the others but he is also more feared by the Circle.

My other problem with it was that the Technomage novel said that this last period of training lasted for three years.

OK then, the Galen and comp are initiated at the end of 2257, meaning their final three years of trianing should be over in 2260, at the end of season 4. Now, the first Centauri Prime book takes place 5 years after B5 ends (2266), way past the end of that three year period.

ie something fishy is happening here. Anyone in Galen's initiation group should be a full fledged Mage by this point in time. That is not what is indicated in the Centauri Prime books.

I am guessing that something changes when the Mages go beyond the rim in order to hide. Since there are so many in one place, they change the rules of behavior a bit.

The Second Techno Mage novel is scheduled to be released July 3rd. Below is the description of the book found at Amazon.com

Anyone care to speculate?

Editorial Reviews
Book Description
The explosive space epic continues, as the techno-mages come face-to-face with the devastating evil of the Shadows . . .

War against the Shadows is inevitable, and the ruling Circle has ordered the techno-mages into hiding. Many are unhappy with this decision--none more so than Galen, the only mage who has faced the Shadows and lived. But the Shadows aren't Galen's only enemy--he is driven to hunt and kill Elizar, the traitor who murdered the beautiful mage Isabelle while Galen stood by helplessly, his hands tied by the Circle's sacred code he had sworn to follow.

Now a new mission awaits as the Circle contrives a plan that may enable the five hundred mages to escape without leaving a trace. Dispatched to the Shadow's ancient capitol to uncover the enemy's plans, Galen will find everything he so desperately seeks--including a shocking legacy that threatens to consume his very soul.

*Whine* I want the new novel!

"*Whine*"???
When will you Libra types get it together?

<font size ="+7">I WANT THE NEW TECHNOMAGE NOVEL!</font>

I agree...it either way won't make it happen any sooner. But, as an Aries, there's a sense of satisfaction from yelling at the world when things aren't right.

http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/biggrin.gif

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Do not tempt the patience of Wizzards, for they are subtle, and quick to anger.

Hey Wizz! What aboiut us Geminis???? http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/confused.gif

hehehehehe I just want new reading thats all

Hmmmmm....dunno, Nommy. Discuss it amongst yourself?
http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/cool.gif

For those of you who don't know, the second Techno Mage novel is out.

Really, really good stuff. (grins)

I am putting in spoiler space just inc ase people reading this post have not read the book yet...

OK, spoilers so you are warned....

In book one the Circle seems baffeled by the fact that Tilar has a Chrsyallis as his was destroyed three years ago. They talk about investigating every Mage to make sure that no one gave Tilar his/her old chyrsallis.

In book 2 we learned what most of us had already figured out. The tech the Mages use was created by the Shadows. We also learn that every member of the Circle knows this. Additionally we learn that the Circle does not create the tech but that the tech is delivered by a Drahk representative.

So why are the Mages baffeled by the fact that Tilar has a Chrysallis? Especially when they have recieved evidence that the Shadows are back and that the Shadows will expect the Mages to ally with them?

It seems to me that Circle should have seen Tilar's having a Chrysallis as a sign that the Shadows were back and were recruiting Mages, in this case a cast away Mage.

I realize that if the Circle revealed that they knew where Tilar's new Chrysallis came from it would remove some of the punch in book two, but lets face it, most of us knew where the Shadow tech came from.

Actually, I had no idea that the tech came form the shadows. I DID think it came from one of the First Ones, but not the shadows. If they were destroyed 1000 years ago, who destroyed them? The Minbari? Guess I need to get the book.

Thanks PC,

You got my mouth watering. I actually have book 2 ready to read, but I started on Harry Potter Book 4 and am 200 pages into it (out of 733), so I have to wait until I finish, before I can start reading the Technomage book.

What is the title, author, etc, so I can call my bookstore and order? Thanks for the info!

Hi Syc,

The 1st book is called The passing of the Technomages Book 1 - Casting Shadows and the 2nd one is called The Passing of the Technomages Book 2 - Summoning Light. Both are written by Jeanne Cavelos.

Thanks, Sind!

I have the first book already. I'll have to order the second one! I'm afraid I "hoard" my B5 books like good chocolate since there just isn't enough of it!

<font face="Georgia" font size="+4">***SPOILERS*** </font>

(Just can't provide any better spoiler-protection than that)</p><font face="verdana">


Read the second book. Good story! Explains a lot about Galen's dour attitude. I remember a quote from "Crusade" where he claims that he doesn't have grudges against anyone alive. Looks like Elizar has until book three at this point. And Kosh...good ol' Kosh. Willing to sacrifice himself to determine if the fabulists could control what they were. Nice way to do it, too. If Kosh goes out, the rest of the Vorlons will take out the technomages to keep them from joining the Shadows. Well, all but one technomage, I guess.
There was one continuity glitch, I think. When the mages headed out from Babylon 5, I don't recall the series showing a ship blowing up when they left. Sad ending for Carvin, too. While not being a replacement for Isabelle, I think she could have provided a bit of levity(sp?) for Galen. At least they seemed to play well together.
I have to wonder about the Circle's decision to run off and hide had they understood the serious detriment of leaving their places of power. I get the impression that they had no idea of the physical cost to themselves, Elric especially. If they knew then, what they know now...
I also find it ironic that the circle will take Galen to task over his use of his weapon. Tell him not to use it, but thankyouverymuchforsavingourbutts! I can't help but wonder if Galen's interfacing with Anna gives him some clue on how to defeat the Shadows "off-button" for the future. I'm sure the Drakh have some inkling of how that works, and in the future, could be used against the mages (that have returned) as long as the Drakh remain around.
So, it would appear that the Shadows have their secret modified people, the technomages, like the Vorlons had theirs...telepaths. Oy! Can you imagine a technomage telepath? Probably something the Vorlons and Shadows would run from!</p>

Now, just have to wait for the next book to arrive, sometime in November. BTW, anyone have the book, "The Shadow Within"? Actually, I should ask "have it and can lend it out"? I've tried all the resources I know to buy it, and it appears out of print. Or, if anyone knows where I can buy it, let me know, too. Thanks, <font color="88ff00">Wizzard </font></p></font>

The mages had to leave. Since they are dependant on the Shadows, when it came down to war and push came to shove they would have had to aid the Shadows. Something that went against what they stood for. So they left.

I think they had some clue what would happen when they left their power bases, but I think they overestimated thier recovery abilities.

Book 2 was very interesting and I am still po'd that they killed off Carvin. Even the fact that they iced Tilar doesn't make up for that. Dag nabit, they are killing off all the nice chicks. *grumble*

Yup. They had to leave. Thinking about it some more, the Shadows controlled the tech. They made the implants, the chrysalis, and knew how to turn it off. Just like when Galen went into the room with Elizar...oops! No telling what other means of control the Shadows had up their sleeves.

It appears that the ones who had to leave their places of power lost their chrysalis, if Elric's departure is any indication. But for some odd reason, he chose to destroy his things rather than disengage them. I know he had his reasons, but if he knew the cost to himself and the other mages, I would have expected him to do differently. Then again, maybe Soom would have suffered too much. However, it's in the script that way...

Carvin is a sad loss, IMHO. However, you can appreciate the Shadows who got taken out by Galen. I'm surprised that they didn't turn out his lights when the tech was turned off, but as long as they controlled the on/off switch, I guess it was worth the risk to try and turn him. Still, knowing they were being taken out and having no recourse must've rattled their collective cages a bit. Wasn't what they had intended originally, that's for sure. The long road for Galen is going to be one of maintaining control. Now he knows how strong it is once it gets moving. Now, if he can get together with a healer, and work out his equations to the first element for healing, then he'd really be on to something. Ah, more to come in November.

Well, I'm still only 2/3 of the way through it. Watched Geometry of Shadows again today, now that I've gotten through most of the pertinent stuff in the book on that epsode (Elric just had his Great hand conversation with Londo.

Wizz,

I re-read The Shadow Within while waiting for Technomage book 2 to come out, it worked very well for me. I'm only in Sacramento, so mailing shouldn't take more than a day travel time. Send me an email at [email protected] with your RL addy and I'll shoot it off to you, although it may take me several days to actually get it in the mail.

Can't wait until I finish the other 100 pages.

Well, I finished book 2. Really good stuff.

Spoilers Below:
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

I've read the spoilers in this topic, but I wasn't surprised at all when I read PC saying the Tech came from the Shadows. I had already come to that conclusion in the first book. The thing that did take me by surprise though is that the Circle still had an active relationship with the Shadows (or their Dark minions)and they were well aware of this continued relationship.

Galen, poor ripped apart tortured soul of a man. I cringed everytime he brought the fire upon himself. In Crusade we thought he was such a moody wretch (BTW I loved his character in Crusade) but now we see, that he has actually recovered quite well by the Crusade timeline.

The TV ep. Geometry of Shadows had so much going on in it behind the scenes that we never saw. It was great pulling out that episode and watching it while reading the book. Picturing the Drazi who started the fight as Alwyn (The televised fight in the bar is the one he started wasn't it). Reading TM book two versus watching Geometry of Shadows was another of those seeing both sides episodes (ala B4 and WWE or Sky full of Stars and In The Beginning).

Elizar almost has me convinced that he really does believe he's doing the right thing and that he could get away with trying to fool the Shadows into believing he's loyal to them but really only using them. The Shadows are far too advanced for him to get away with that and discuss it as openly with Galen, Blaylock and Kell as he did. So I gotta believe he's still just messin' with Galen's head. Next book Galen and Elizar gotta either mend their fences or Elizar is toast, because in Crusade (Well of Forever?) Galen very specifically states that none of his enemies are alive (or something to that effect).

Azziz, Carvin broke my heart as well. But at least G'leel survived although who knows for how long, she's on a mission to say the very least, plus the Narn Centauri war still isn't in full swing yet, is it? I just about threw the book against the wall after seeing in POsts that Carvin died and then read in the book that G'leel had benn blasted, I thought she was dead until they said she had recovered. I didn't trust that Galen knew she was still alive when he kept worrying about getting her out.

Eagerly awaiting book 3 (due in November?). According to the snippet, looks like he does come back out of hiding in book 3 to fight the shadows afterall. Will the battered mages who destroyed their Places of power recover now that their hiding? If not who will the new circle members be and what will be their Philosophy and how does that tie into the Mages in the Centauri Prime Trilogy in their Cloister stage?

[This message has been edited by sindatur (edited July 31, 2001).]

Wizz--Try the University Bookstore (in Seattle). 800-335-READ. (No shipping, no tax.) If they don't have it, they are very good at getting hard to locate books!

Good luck!

Thanks, Sycamore. Kimball has offered to loan me his as well, but I'll give them a call. If they can find one, that'd be great.

I have at last received and read book 2 http://www.hostboard.com/ubb/smile.gif Here are my random musings in no particular order LOL..... ...SPOILERS...

Someone was asking why Carvin had to be killed off. Very simple answer to that one - had the only mages to die been those barely even mentioned (other than Ing-Radi) would you have posted to ask why they had to die? A mage who you had gotten to know throughout the book had to die to get the reader more envolved in that aspect of the plan. Plus it screws up Londo some more LOL!

Will the mages cease to exits after the Shadows have gone? They left the Drakh and some planet-killers behind, and it was Drakh who delivered the tech, so there is still a chance for them. Perhaps that's why Galen and the cloistered mages were about in the Centauri trilogy of novels.

Are the Shadows stupid? Or do they just not care what Elizar's true plans are? I cannot believe that they are unable/unwilling to evesdrop on his conversations and messages. How often is he going to have to say that he intends to save the mages and fight the Shadows before they get the idea that he's not just saying this to gain the trust of others?

Last question - Why did Bunny (a P12) have such trouble with Galen and Anna combined? We know much lower level teeps can block Shadow vessels (aka humans merged with Shadow vessels) from a much greater distance. Oh well, back to waiting for book 3 now I suppose .........

If I recall correctly, even a normal human can merge with a Shadow Vessal.

I'd have to reread that tho.