<*> VOICES <*>

This is the first of the Babylon 5 books. The year is 2258. The place is Babylon 5, which is hosting a Psi Corps conference. Four hundred of Earth’s most powerful and important telepaths and telekinetics are gathered for four days of commercial telepathy applications panels and workshops. As Babylon 5’s resident telepath and conference liaison, Talia Winters comes to the attention of Arthur Malten, Chief Executive of the Mix, the Psi Corps Section for commercial telepaths. In recognition for facilitating such a successful conference, Mr. Malten offers Ms. Winters an important staff position at the Mix. It’s a career dream come true for Ms. Winters, until her conference briefing data crystal explodes, wounding, even killing, several Psi Cops.


Upon regaining consciousness, Psi Cop Alfred Bester declares that Ms. Winters is a "rogue" telepath. Mr. Bester issues a an order to shoot Ms. Winters on sight. A news bulletin is also released to all the Earth Alliance worlds. Captain Sheridan, the Babylon 5 commander, challenges Mr. Bester’s authority to take charge of the incident, because the crime took place in B5 jurisdiction. Mr. Bester argues that the Corps will take care of the "Winters problem"; after all, the Psi Cops Section was created to capture and deal with outlaw telepaths, such as Ms. Winters.

Captain Sheridan is aware that Mr. Bester is planning Ms. Winters' execution. In the interest of justice and friendship, Captain Sheridan orders Security Chief Garibaldi to bring Ms. Winters back to Babylon 5 to stand trial. Ms. Winters is already on Earth, searching for Emily Crane, the corporate aide, who had given her the explosive crystal. Ms. Winters is desparate to prove her innocence before the Psi Cops can catch her. During her quest, she is aided by Deuce, a gangster, and Isabel, a guiding "voice" that had been given to her by Kosh, the Vorlon ambassador.

Following up on some leads, Chief Garibaldi heads for Earth to find and question Ms. Crane. He is assisted in his investigation by Harriman Grey, Mr. Bester’s Psi Corps aide. Together, they uncover a plot by the Mix to disenfranchise; and then, take control of the Psi Cops Section. The Corps may be Mother and the Corps may be Father, but the Corps is just as dysfunctional as any other family. And like most families, the Corps doesn’t like outsiders mixing into their business, so the Corps sends out a hit squad. Ms. Crane, Garibaldi’s star witness, is gunned down in the streets of Boston and Chief Garibaldi might be next, unless he can expose the plot and clear Ms. Winters of the bombing.

The action in this fast-paced book supposedly takes place between the television episodes "Points of Departure" and "A Race Through Dark Places." I disagree. I believe this story could only have happened between "Points of Departure" and "The Coming of Shadows," because Mr. Bester addresses Susan Ivanova as "Lieutenant Commander." Lt. Commander Ivanova is promoted to full Commander in "The Coming of Shadows." Mr. Bester is too uptight about protocol and too proud of his ability to "know things" to have missed her promotion.

It’s nice to see the Corps tripping over itself with especially byzantine dance steps and political intrigues. Harriman Gray (B5 episode "Eyes") is back as Bester’s new aide; and then, as Chief Garibaldi’s sidekick on the journey to Earth and Mars. Mr. Gray still can’t get a date with Lt. Commander Ivanova, but his attempts have a sort of weak charm. Kosh is mysterious, abrupt and incoherent, but this is normal. As usual, Chief Garibaldi is glib and witty, and too smart for his own good. His character and attitude is reminiscent of the B5 episode "Soulmates", when he decided Talia needed to be protected from her ex-husband. This isn’t a stand alone book; but, if you have a good imagination and aren't picky about the characterizations, it shouldn’t matter. Let the games begin!

<*> Ariann <*>