| Title | : | Armies of Light and Dark (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, #2) |
| Author | : | |
| Rating | : | |
| ISBN | : | 034542719X |
| ISBN-10 | : | 9780345427199 |
| Language | : | English |
| Format Type | : | Paperback |
| Number of Pages | : | 272 |
| Publication | : | First published May 2, 2000 |
Centauri Prime has been infiltrated by malevolent allies of the Shadows, creatures known as the Drakh. While Centauri citizens continue to rebuild their war-torn planet, their secret masters work feverishly toward one ultimate goal: to crush the Interstellar Alliance once and for all.
As the Drakh carry out their horrific plans, Emperor Londo Mollari languishes on his throne, a puppet of the Drakh-bred keeper, an insidious creature that monitors his every thought, word, and action. While the emperor broods, the power-obsessed Lord Durla--an unwitting Drakh pawn--follows his own agenda.
But Drakh control is not absolute. Vir Cotto--a most unlikely hero--has begun a resistance movement, and Alliance President John Sheridan has sent his most trusted troubleshooter, Michael Garibaldi, to investigate. Yet this move may prove costly, and though the Centauri continue to build a new military machine, the Alliance avoids any overt confrontation, hoping the problem will go away.
Armies of Light and Dark (Babylon 5: Legions of Fire, #2) Reviews
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4.0 to 4.5 stars. Excellent sequel to
The Long Night of Centauri Prime. Peter David has done a great job of finding the "voice" of the characters, especially Londo, while providing an interesting, fast paced story. As a long time fan of Babylon 5, this series is an excellent read and well worth the time. Recommended!! -
It's good to fill in the missing time in the history of the Babylon 5 television show, but I don't like David's take on Vir or on what it takes to be effective against evil at all. The book reads like an attempt to save Vir from being the pathetic weakling he is in the series by hardening him up and making him callous and "cool" because there's no way a loser like Vir could ever become Emperor. Unfortunately, part of what I liked about B5 was the implication that Vir's basic goodness (which yes, some people would consider weak) would see him through. Writing Vir as a man willing to mind-rape a woman into loving him against her will and then whore her to another man for his political benefit means I no longer feel any particular sense of triumph on knowing he becomes emperor.
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I read this because I want to know what happens to the characters from the television show. The writing is pretty bland and full of clichés.
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I consider myself a fast reader. If the circumstances are right, I can finish 600 page novels in a couple of days. I used to read Lord of the Rings every summer for fun.
This book took me 2 years.
Never in my life have I encountered a more awful novel. It feels like Peter David has something against me and other B5-fans personally.
Every chapter offers a new form of torture.
You'd think I'd want to read it all in one go and just get it over with, like ripping off a band-aid. But the fact of the matter is, one chapter made me feel like I was racing head first into depression.
In the early 00s, we saw a lot of gritty superhero movies. I think this was a sci-fi attempt at that. Because Vir, the sweetest character on the show, slowly becomes a monster throughout this book. And over and over again, we are supposed to empathize with the tough choices he has to make, and laugh at how 'pathetic' his old, kind self was.
But he's not alone in this. It seems that everyone has decided that morals are optional.
There's no one to root for here. It's not a story where the end justifies the means. It's just you, locked in combat with awful sex jokes, hateful characters and introduction to new ones with no depth or real personality, because who needs that when you have exactly one personality trait to ride on?
I burned this book when I was done with it. Whatever you do, do not subject yourself to it. I didn't believe my friends when they told me to stay away, so I'm asking you to not make the same mistake I made. -
I first watched Babylon 5 about four years ago. It is still to this day my favorite tv show. This book(which is the fifth bab 5 book I’ve read) is by far the best book associated with the show.
I didn’t know just how much my respect for vir as a character was going to grow, but seeing his arc play out the way it does: the decisions that he had to make, my heart broke for him a few times.
But vir cotto is not the only beloved character who returns here. G’kar, Mr. Garibaldi, Galen the techno mage(from the spinoff crusade,which I haven’t watched yet) and a more obscure character who disappeared in season two, Lou Welch. We get great character moments from all of them.
I don’t really have any problems with this book( not even continuity issues like with the bester trilogy, and with “The Long Night of Centauri Prime”.) I would definitely recommend this to fans of the show. -
As readable and fun as the first, but if anything the sexism ramped up here; David really does treat his women characters terribly here (even the cameo of Delenn is AWFUL, turning maybe the strongest character with the greatest sense of duty in the franchise into an over-doting mom who is upset her husband (the President of the galaxy!) will not be home in time for the kid's graduation. This mistreatment of the women hurts some of the male characters to, most notably Vir.
Still, if you are a fan of the show, this remains mostly enjoyable and a must-read. -
While I enjoyed this book in the series, I would probably rate it a little closer to a 3.5 if I could. The pace seemed a little off..slow in some parts and extremely rushed in others. The characters seem a little less dynamic as well.
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The character flows perfectly from the series and the continuing story makes sense. It is great to hear the rest of the story which the series could only hint at.
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It was the dawn of the third age of mankind, ten years after the Earth/Minbari war. The Babylon Project was a dream given form. Its goal: to prevent another war by creating a place where humans and aliens could work out their differences peacefully. It's a port of call, home away from home for diplomats, hustlers, entrepreneurs, and wanderers. Humans and aliens wrapped in two million, five hundred thousand tons of spinning metal, all alone in the night. It can be a dangerous place, but it's our last best hope for peace. This is the story of the last of the Babylon stations. The year is 2258. The name of the place is Babylon 5.
If you've read my review of the previous book in this series, you'll know that along with Mass Effect, Babylon 5 is what I would consider the apex of science fiction storytelling.
I love this wonderful, funny, well written show with all my heart, and am always willing to delve into its expanded universe. The expanded universe, by the way, is terribly small, and is composed of the two TV shows, a couple of TV movies, a dozen-or-so novels, an RPG, and a couple of comic books. Dreadfully small compared to the expanded universes of Star Wars, Star Trek, and Doctor who.
Whereas the previous novel focusses on loveable bastard Londo Mollari, this on focuses on his former attaché, and future Emperor, Vir Cotto, with appearances from the familiar cast of characters, and even David, the half-human half-minbari whose mere existence is a bit of a no-no for the minbari.
Vir goes on a real journey in this book, from a bumbling, crying, frightened little man-child, to a resistance leader with a drop of self confidence.
We get yet more insight into Londo's mind, and for a character that I once despised, I really do feel sympathy for him. Despite how much he and G'kar rag on each other, you can tell that they genuinely care for each other and it really comes across in this.
I recommend it whole-heartedly for all B5 fans who thought that the show, and the one that came after it, ended all too soon, and didn't get enough press. -
The second book in the Legions of Fire trilogy is even better than the first one. It continues the story of Emperor Londo Mollari during his dark final years when he's being used by the Drakh as a pawn to avenge the Centauri's betrayal of the Shadows in 2261.
The first book of the trilogy "The Long Night of Centauri Prime" began at the end of 2262 spanning for five years. “Armies of Light and Dark” begins where the first one left off, reaching the year 2273. The focus is mainly on Londo's one time protegé Vir Cotto, while David still continues in the wake of the first book to explore Londo's multifaceted character. And while the first book was mere build-up for the story, this novel has a solid narrative structure, meaning the book is packed with twists and huge build-up that promises the story of your life, which, by the way, is what you get from reading the last book of the trilogy "Out of the Darkness".
The most impressive thing in this book, however, is the way Peter David, one of the most prominent Star Trek authors, and the writer of two Babylon 5 episodes, portrays the development and change of Vir. Mr. David does a remarkable job with holding the character together through the course of events depicted.
Yet again another definite must-read for anyone who ever liked the show. -
Vir Cotta was always a lighthearted and jovial personality in his own way. In this continuation of the the Legions of Fire trilogy that personality is not left behind. As in the series, as Vir grew to know and understand the ways of his superior and (ultimately) friend, Londo Mollari, Vir's character matured to recognize the evils inherent in the universe. This aspect is elaborated on in this second installment as Vir grows more into the person who will one day succeed Emperor Mollari to the throne of the Centauri Republic.
Further, the book is a fascinating look behind the closed doors of Centauri politics - and politricks - as Vir continues to learn to navigate the treacherous waters of his people's government and their quest to return to the past glories of the Centauri Republic. Book 2 picks up and flies away from where Book 1 left off, and does so splendidly. -
Armies of Light and Dark is the second part of a trilogy that expands upon the established universe of Babylon 5 and does so even more organically than the first book. While the first book weaves several scenes from the TV series/movies to cement this stories place in that universe, this book wastes no time with such preamble and tells a new tale in the Babylon 5 universe that is very enjoyable indeed.
It's not a book that stands completely on it's own in that you definitely would want to have seen the entire series and movies before reading it, but for those who have and want a bit more of the magic from that series, this book (and series to this point) delivers in spades. Highly recommended. -
As a huge Babylon 5 fan, I've appreciated the other books written from JMS outlines. I haven't been able to find the first book in this series yet, so the start of this was a little jarring as it looks like it starts right after an escape, then goes into even more action. Then, lots of quieter development over years through most of the rest of the book. I appreciate seeing how Vir starts to become the kind of person that can be Emperor. And I like how he begins to believe the vision and how that starts to play on him. And then, we get an end that's less dramatic than the beginning. So, all in all, OK. Nice to learn how more of the pieces fit together, and I'm looking forward to reading the final book of the trilogy. It is a joy to read a book and be able to hear the characters' voices.
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In the second book Vir Coto really begins to grow as a person and a character, heading in the direction of the prophecy while remaining very true to the Vir we came to love on the show.
As I said about the first book, aside from the fact that the author has a tendency to get in a character's head and have them go over the same thoughts just in slightly different wording two or three paragraphs in a row, which gets frustrating after a while and is hard to believe no one helped him edit out so many redundancies and duplications, it's also a well written book with a strong, driving plot and I'd recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the Babylon 5 television series. -
The second book of the trilogy depicting the reign of Emporer Mollari and the hidden occupation by the Drakh. This particular book deals with the further fall from grace of Emperor Mollari, and the beginning of the rise of Ambassador Vir Cotto to prominence as the leader of an underground revolution. The twists and turns of the plot continue to be well done. There are numerous mentions to the Babylon 5 series "Crusade" through the eyes of the TechnoMage Galen. A very good book that will keep you turning its pages throughout the night.
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The struggle of Centauri Prime continues as Vir begins to form a resistance to the Keepers and their hold on his home planet. A good story, but it does fall victim to the middle book syndrome with no real climax just a set up for the final in the series.
Read my full review at
Carstairs Considers. -
Another solid entry in the Babylon 5 novel series. A lot of well-handled character development for Vir Cotto. Also has the return of a not-used-very-often-in-show-or-novels character. It was nice to see that character pop up in this story. Has some other interesting character stuff, but I won't go into that (don't want to spoil it for anyone) Unfortunately, I don't have the third book yet so I'm having to read a different one while I acquire part 3.
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While reading this trilogy, I really started to care about Vir's story and development more. He really grows as a character, thanks to the technomages, of course.
G'Kar also makes his first appearance of the trilogy in this book. I knew he'd show up sooner or later - He and Londo can't seem to get away from each other for very long! -
Wow.... what a fantastic book... The development of Vir's character from a bumbling baffoon to leader of a resistence is amazing.... I also loved the exerpts of Londo's diary... It gives a real insight into what it was like for him having to sit and watch as people moved to send his world to war with his friends from before he was Emperor and not be able to do anything about it...
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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.
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The second installment to the ending sage of Babylon 5. This tells all, and an unlikely hero emerges. Great read.
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El protagonista absoluto es Vir Coto... y el autor da absolutamente en el clavo para mostrar su personalidad y transformación. Una serie absolutamente recomendable para los fans de Babylon 5.
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I just loved this series!
