"New" aliens unrealistic? JMS's answer:

[hypatia]

\"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

I thought you folks might be interested in this. Someone on the moderated group was asking about this new race that will appear in the "Rangers" tv-movie.

The comment was basically that all of the first ones had left, so how could this new race be around? Also, a comment was made that JMS can't keep making his aliens more and more powerful.

Anyway, here are bits of that post and also JMS's response:

>> So how can we meet ANOTHER more superior race of aliens? Are they more
>> First Ones? Are they the Firstest Ones? Did they come from another galaxy?
>> Did Lorien forget to mention them?

I would point out that the universe is billions of years old. If someone
thinks that we've met even a fraction of what's out there, someone is being
extraordinarily foolish.

As to why Lorien might not mention them -- or the several million other species
out there -- there's a logical reason which is implicit in what's presented in
the 2-hour MOW.
>
>> I love JMS's work, but if we keep escalating the ranks of aliens we'll
>> eventually reach aliens of God-hood...
>
>> Oh wait, we already did that...
>

Every time we do something new, somebody says it's the end of the
world...usually in a sarcastic way...until they see it, then they go "Oh, now I
see what you were up to." This is more of the same. This happens every single
time. I'm used to it by now.

jms



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"I do not believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."-- Galileo

 

[Mondo Londo]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Well, we'll just have to wait and see!

At least we'll have the next Techno-Mage novel to tide us over between now and whenever B5LR airs...

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"What's up, Drakh?"

Michael Garibaldi

 

[Shaal Mayan]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

I'm always interested in new things including aliens so it should be interesting show to watch

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[channe]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

I know he's gonna have an answer to those questions, 'cause he always does. There's gonna be a really good explanation in that movie, I know it. That's a part of the storytelling and backstory he's going to have to tell in order to make the movie sensible. He's gonna HAVE to have a good explanation for the Space Amoebas, or we're gonna feel cheated.

And somehow, from the actors' perspectives, I really don't think we need to worry.

And I also know that all the B5 governments and the Rim together... is only a small, insignificant dot in space. Just a dot. That's all... you have to remember that. Even Lorien wouldn't have known about the other places. Remember, he's not God, he's not Q.

...there are other things out there.

I'm not worried.

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Ranger Channe, the next JMS, who lives for the One and dies for the Chocolate Cheesecake.

 

[hypatia]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

I agree, I thought JMS's reply was the interesting part. I'm not worried either. About the Movie of the Week, that is.

It occurs to me now, however: is the title of this thread a spoiler? I try to be so careful about spoilers, and I am pretty sure the new aliens are common knowledge by now.

But did I goof?

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"I do not believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."-- Galileo

 

[hypatia]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mondo Londo:
Well, we'll just have to wait and see!

At least we'll have the next Techno-Mage novel to tide us over between now and whenever B5LR airs...

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Mondo Londo, that's a good new picture of you. It captures Londo magnificently! I do like the new pictures a lot.

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"I do not believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."-- Galileo

 

[Mondo Londo]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Thank you!

I'm afraid I'll have to take your word for it, though. My notebook only supports 800 x 600 resolution, and to me, the pictures are pretty muddy.

It looks like Londo is holding a goblet and laughing it up -- is that right? If that's correct, it is the perfect Londo shot!

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"What's up, Drakh?"

Michael Garibaldi

[This message has been edited by Mondo Londo (edited October 15, 2001).]

 

[channe]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Hypatia - No, it's not a spoiler. Anything that has been aired is not a spoiler, and we know through the trailer that there is a new enemy... an "ancient enemy."

So you're safe.

Now, give the *name* of that enemy and you'll be giving a spoiler.

Call them Space Amoebas for now.

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Ranger Channe, the next JMS, who lives for the One and dies for the Chocolate Cheesecake.

 

[tygirwulf]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Well, I didn't know there was a new alien race. I download the trailers at school to watch them, since they take mere minutes compared to the hours it would take at home. However, very few of the computers here even have sound cards, much less install them, so I have to watch without sound.

That's ok, though. A new alien race isn't that much of a spoiler. Heck, there's oodles and oodles of species out there we haven't met yet, so it's no surprise.

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"Medlab, this is Sinclair." -Bruce Boxleitner

We are all the sum of our tears - too little and the ground is not fertile and nothing can grow there; too much and the best of us is washed away. - G'Kar

 

[drakh]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Mondo Londo:
It looks like Londo is holding a goblet and laughing it up -- is that right? If that's correct, it is the perfect Londo shot!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>Actually, it's Li - the Centauri goddess of passion.


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You are not entitled to your own opinion. You are only entitled to your own informed opinion.
-- Harlan Ellison qouting Gustave Flaubert

 

[Galahad]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Anyone thinking space is not big enough for all this, should see the late great Douglas Adams explanation as to the size of the universe.

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"We Live for the One. We die for the One!"

 

[Galahad]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Sorry, meant to say from The Hitch-Hikers Guide to the Galaxy.

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"We Live for the One. We die for the One!"

 

[jgsugden]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

JMS may or may not explain everything in the movie. Especially considering these 'enemy' aliens. I hope he doesn't. There is a 5 year series coming ... I am sure he'll leave a lot of holes to be filled in over time.

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The views expressed in this posting do not reflect in a mirror.

 

[Jomar]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

I'm sure JMS will weave together an interesting story even if it does require some suspension of disbelief. After all, this is science fiction with "fiction" being the operative word.

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[hypatia]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Mondo Londo: Yes, your picture is of Londo holding up the goddess statue. I think its the shot right before he passes out. VERY appropriate!

Thanks, channe. I am trying to remember carefully about spoilers, and was hoping I had not blow in. tygirwulf: I'm pretty sure channe is right, it was in the voice-over to one if not both of the trailers.

But the NAME of this ancient race? Hey, some of you must have some REAL advanced information to know THAT already! I'll wait. As painful as it is, I would rather be surprised I'm sure.

I should have figured that if it had been too much of a "spoiler", it would never have made it on the moderated group site in the first place.

And yes, space is VERY BIG. And I think that Douglas Adams gave the best, most direct, explanation of just how big the universe it better than anyone else ever has.

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"I do not believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."-- Galileo

 

[hypatia]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

I'm taking the liberty of posting this here for RW. I accidentally openned two of these threads, and am hopin the other one will just be ignored.

Anyhow, this is from RW:

Thanks hypatia for sharing this with us.
One thought that I had about this subject that I wanted to share is that if the universe is supposed to be 8 billion years old, it's very possible that there are aliens even older than the First Ones. It could be that the younger races just thought that the First Ones were the oldest in our galaxy, but there could have been races living in other galaxies much longer than ones in our own that not even Lorien and the First Ones knew about. I think they might be one of the races living "beyond the rim". It could be that the Milky Way galaxy's residents weren't advanced enough to go beyong our galaxy or know what's out there in other galaxies, so to us the First Ones are the oldest.



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"I do not believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."-- Galileo

 

[hypatia]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

Good point, RW7427. For some reason I always thought that once you've gone beyond the rim you just didn't tend to come back. Whether you just dont' tend to want to, or whether you CAN'T I have no idea. But remember what Lorien said to a certain someone who asked if he could come back?

I like the idea of a "sleeping giant" who has been sleeping (or ignoring) for so long, even the First Ones didn't know about them.

I have no idea what JMS has in store for us, but it is sure to be fun! I was surprised to see his response to that post (it was NOT by me, BTW). It is the same old criticism he's always heard. But I'm glad he did respond to it, it gave me a reason to start a new thread about Rangers!

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"I do not believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."-- Galileo

 

[GKarsEye]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

One possibility: the new uber-powerful bad guy race is actually an illusion created by younger races (Drakh, technomages, renegade Minbari, other?) using holographic projections and bombs and the like.

I'm only typing this here on the very small chance that it's actually true so that I can say I predicted it when it is revealed.

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"You do not make history. You can only hope to survive it."

 

[hypatia]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by GKarsEye:
One possibility: the new uber-powerful bad guy race is actually an illusion created by younger races (Drakh, technomages, renegade Minbari, other?) using holographic projections and bombs and the like.

I'm only typing this here on the very small chance that it's actually true so that I can say I predicted it when it is revealed.

<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Hey, why not? Since we have such little information, I think speculation is the most fun we can have with this!

That is an interesting take on the whole situation, too. But once a holographic bomb hits you, won't you KNOW something funny is afoot?

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"I do not believe that the same God who has endowed us with sense,
reason, and intellect has intended us to forgo their use."-- Galileo

 

[**DONOTDELETE**]

Re: \"New\" aliens unrealistic? JMS\'s answer:

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, arial">quote:</font><HR>But the NAME of this ancient race? Hey, some of you must have some REAL advanced information to know THAT already!<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Just for info, their name...

<table bgcolor=black><tr><td bgcolor=black><font size=1 color=white>Spoiler:</font></td></tr><tr><td><font size=2 color=black>The Hand</font></td></tr></table>

...comes from a rather hastily written review by someone who had seen the almost-final cut. There are also two other names: "Space Amoebas" and "Snowflakes". So use the one you like.

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"We are the universe, trying to figure itself out.
Unfortunately we as software lack any coherent documentation."
-- Delenn