For starters: Marcus Cole fans - PICK UP THIS BOOK RIGHT NOW! YOU'LL HATE YOUR LIFE AFTERWARD, AND TV COMPANIES IN GENERAL, BUT DARN IT, YOU WON'T REGRET IT!

-Ahem-

BB5 fans - pick up the book, because it rounds out a number of loose ends. At least most of this book is considered canon for the series, so it's a good guide to go by.

The writing was pretty good, although I have read better fan works. Part of the problem was probably some of the more threadbare bits of the BB5 universe that I already knew about, glaring at me as I read, and I cannot blame the author of the book for that. She did a pretty good job with what she had.

I loved hearing more about Marcus' backstory, especially about his brother and his time before he was a Ranger. I felt that he spent a little too little time training before he (presumably) went to BB5 - it didn't feel like he had all that much time to become the experienced, hardened person he was - but that was about the only nitpicky thing I remember popping out. Well, some of the climax didn't sit right with me, but I'll live with it. It explains things, and it leads to nice things down the line (even if they don't really make sense), and that's all that matters to me. ( )

From the prologue: Marcus Cole walked with a limp, a fact that did not go unnoticed by the young Minbari acolyte as Marcus entered the small temple. Marcus didn't recognize the rather chubby Minbari and briefly wondered where Sech Turval was, but as he was not in the mood for conversation, he simply made a note to seek out the venerable Minbari teacher at a later time.

From chapter one: "Alpha 7 to Alpha Leader, I'm hit!"

Premise/plot: So the framework of To Dream In The City of Sorrows--the prologue and epilogue--take place shortly after season three's "Grey 17 is Missing," and are narrated by Marcus Cole. (I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Marcus Cole!) But most of the book focuses on what was happening with Jeffrey Sinclair after he left Babylon 5. (The gap between the last episode of season one, "Chrysalis," and the incredibly intense two-part episode "War Without End" of season three.)

IN the first episode of season two, viewers learn that Jeffrey Sinclair has been suddenly removed from his position on Babylon 5 and reassigned to Minbar. Officially he is the "ambassador from Earth" on Minbar. The FIRST human ambassador to Minbar. Unofficially, well, he's out of favor with Earth Alliance. But that may just prove to everyone's advantage.

In the introduction, J. Michael Straczynski writes, "What you hold in your hand is an official, authorized chapter in the Babylon 5 story line. This is the definitive answer to the Sinclair question, and should be considered as authentic as any episode in the regular series."

My thoughts: This is my fourth time to reread To Dream in the City of Sorrows. (2011, 2012, 2015, and 2023). I love it so much. Every time I start a rewatch of the show Babylon 5, I always make plans to reread this one. It is a "must" to include in the timeline of the overall show.

Read To Dream in the City of Sorrows

If you want to know what Sinclair was doing in season two and three
If you want to know what became of Catherine Sakai, to learn if these two were able to make their troubled relationship work...with the added drama of Shadows and Rangers
If you want to know more even more about the Shadows' movements during this time
If you want to learn about how Sinclair became Ranger One and re-energized the Rangers (first started by Valen)
If you want to learn more about Minbari prophecies (also their culture and caste system)
If you want to learn more about the Vorlons; in particular readers are introduced to Ulkesh. (Loved Sinclair's first impression of him! And his insights about the Vorlons in general. How Kosh may not be the most representative of his race.)
If you want to learn more about Marcus. Readers meet William Cole AND Marcus Cole. Two brothers with an imperfect relationship. William is an eager ranger-in-training trying to get Marcus to join him, but, things don't always go as planned. ( )

According to J. Michael Straczynski, the show runner, writer, and producer of the Babylon 5 TV series, the contents of this book are canon. The book is the story of Jeffrey Sinclair from the time he leaves Babylon 5 to become the Ambassador to Minbar until the key event of his taking Babylon 4 through the time rift 1,000 years into the past to enable the defeat of the Shadows in the past and the founding of the Rangers and the Grey Council. It's an interesting story and it does fill in many holes about things you likely had wondered about. At the same time, it left me unsettled. I wanted to know much much more about Sinclair's activities in the past after he took Babylon 4 back into history. There is so much that could have been told, but isn't. That's why this is a 4 star book and not a 5 star book. However, if, like me, you love Babylon 5, you will like this book. ( )

This book fits well with the B5 story, mostly explaining what happened to Sinclair and his Sakai, his fiancee. It does well in reminding us of many of the sayings of various Minbari. It also does well in reminding us of the themes for which I enjoyed B5: workers rights, equality, compassion.

"delight, respect, and compassion" : Christian-Jewish Deut.4:24 views via shared struggle, as portrayed using Minbari and 'Earth' religions (I am reminded of the episode in which Sinclair lines up all of the 'dominant religions' of earth, as represented by an alphabetically ordered line of people stretching all the way down the main corridor. That was brilliant. And while this book may not be the best in literary style, it is certainly worth reading, if only to remember that duty and honor are based in respect and compassion.
Peace,
ShiraDestinie
William-James-MEOW Date: 1 September 12,014 H.E. (Holocene/Human Era) ( )

This book fits well with the B5 story, mostly explaining what happened to Sinclair and his Sakai, his fiancee. It does well in reminding us of many of the sayings of various Minbari. It also does well in reminding us of the themes for which I enjoyed B5: workers rights, equality, compassion.

"delight, respect, and compassion" : Christian-Jewish Deut.4:24 views via shared struggle, as portrayed using Minbari and 'Earth' religions (I am reminded of the episode in which Sinclair lines up all of the 'dominant religions' of earth, as represented by an alphabetically ordered line of people stretching all the way down the main corridor. That was brilliant. And while this book may not be the best in literary style, it is certainly worth reading, if only to remember that duty and honor are based in respect and compassion.
Peace,
ShiraDestinie
William-James-MEOW Date: 1 September 12,014 H.E. (Holocene/Human Era) ( )