I've
never read a script before. Will I be able to follow what's going on?
Absolutely. Scripts are written in a very straight-forward fashion: the
location, then what action takes place there, and what the characters
in that scene say. Look, these things were written for studio and network
executives to read, and if THEY can read a script, ANYbody can read a
script.
(None of
the foregoing was written by J. Michael Straczynski, who thinks studio
and network execs are cute as bunny rabbits with extremely high IQs and
pink bunny noses and jaws that bite and claws that catch, beware the jubjub
bird, and what were we talking about again?)
Why are the books discounted by $10 for a limited period of time?
The $10 discount is to reward the fans who want to get each edition as
soon as it's released. This is just our way of saying thanks and much
more time-efficient than coming to everyone's house in the middle of the
night to say it face to face.
Why
are these just the scripts from J. Michael Straczynski and not all the
Babylon 5 scripts?
We are only authorized to publish the JMS scripts. The good news is that
he wrote 92 out of a total of 110 episodes. That's 84% of them —
including all but one script from seasons three, four and five. (For our
International visitors who use the metric system and wish to convert that
84% to metric, good luck because we can't handle the math.)
Is
there a way to preorder all the volumes? Or set up automated billing so
that as each one comes out it's billed and shipped automatically?
If a genie granted us only one wish, a solution to this problem would
be it.
In fact we've been trying to solve this one for weeks, but a solution
continues to elude us. That's because while producing this 15-volume,
6,000-plus page series is a team effort, actually getting them out the
door by the thousands to over 40 different countries required partnering
with company that specializes in such matters. That's why we partnered
with Café Press. Since they handle all the heavy lifting, we have
to do things their way -- fair is fair -- and they don't have a mechanism
to handle pre-orders. It was a trade-off. So we traded pre-payments for
being able to actually publish the darned things...which was better than
last week, when we traded all our money for magic beans.
Can
I pay with PayPal, a check, money order...something other than a credit
card?
Unfortunately our publishing partner, Café Press, only handles
credit cards. (And the occasional water-fowl, but we've been asked not
to discuss that part.) We've talked to them about PayPal and they explained
that they get so few requests for non-credit card payments that they don't
offer the option because it's so much more cumbersome for them. We are
very sorry that we do not have a solution for this at this time. Deeply
sorry. The water fowl, however, are inconsolable.
Is
this a real book that I hold in my hands or an electronic file?
This is a real book. A top quality paperback with a thick, glossy cover,
weighty paper and genuine binding. A real book that you can read comfortably
and even jot notes in. Hundreds of trees willingly volunteered to be pulped
for these volumes. Fights broke out among those who wanted to go first.
Honest. Would we lie about a thing like that?
Why didn't you release the scripts as PDF files?
While there is certainly an allure to PDF files, they present two problems.
First, we couldn't issue a limited edition PDF and, second, 400-plus pages
(more than 6,000 pages for the entire set) is a lot to expect people to
print out. The material is better served on a page you could hold in your
hands than pixels on a screen. It's a different experience. Sometimes
the medium is the message. Sometimes the medium is called Madame Szovanova,
and she has wonderful news about your future.
What
about international orders?
International orders are welcome. Just about anywhere you are on the planet,
we ship there (with a list of 40 countries and counting). But you have
to be on the planet. (This should disqualify only about thirty percent
of you, or to put that in metric....)
What if I buy one of the books and I don't like it?
There is a 30-day money back guarantee on every volume. So if you don't
like one of the books, just send it back for a refund. Go ahead. Fine.
Break a mother's heart.
Can
I order by phone?
Absolutely. Just dial toll-free 877-809-1659. Be sure to have the product
number of the volume(s) you want to order and to tell them that you are
ordering from store ID TheJoeStore.
You can order
by phone Monday through Friday 7:00am–6:00 pm and Saturdays 7:00am–5:00
pm, Pacific time. Telepathic orders also qualify, but they may take a
very very long time to get to you.
When
are you posting the proof of purchase forms for Volume 15?
It is available now at http://www.babylon5scripts.com/proof
Is
Volume 15 also limited edition?
Very much so. You could think of it as a limited, limited edition. That's
because we are only going to print as many copies as there are valid proof
of purchase forms we receive by the deadline. In other words we promise
that everyone who buys all 14 volumes and sends their proof of purchase
in by the deadline will receive their free copy of Volume 15. That's a
guarantee. But once that cut off date passes, that's it. Never again.
At least for this millennium.
Will I be able to get two Volume 15s if I order two complete sets?
Yes. If you are ordering two copies at a time we will be able to verify
through your proof-of-purchase that your orders were for two copies each.
That said, you must indicate this on your proof of purchase. We also suggest
that you contact the captain of the scripts' team (jaclyn@babylon5scripts.com)
when you are ready to send it in. She is handling these special situations
personally. JMS is handling everything else impersonally. We don't understand
it either, but it seems to make him happy.
In order to apply for the 15th volume do all the orders have to
be in the same name? Or do you only need the proof of purchase? What if
one was brought by someone else and given to me as a gift, or something
similar? (or 2 friends splitting the cost and buying 7 each - will they
be eligible to get the 15th?)
No. You can read why and how to submit your proof of purchase
form when there is more than one name involved at http://www.babylon5scripts.com/proof
What proof of purchase, apart from the proof of purchase form,
will be required for the Volume 15 release? (In other words, what bits
of paper should I save?)
All you need are your order numbers.
There are five ways you can find your order numbers:
(1) In the electronic confirmation you get after your place an order;
(2) On the paper receipt that you get with your book;
(3) Calling
Café Press, (877-809-1659);
(4) Logging
into your Cafe Press account;
See the video on how to do this here.
I've just ordered. Will I get a reminder when next volume is released
Only if you have signed-up for our alerts mailings. You do not automatically
get added after your purchase. That would be too "spammy." (And
tell the truth, when was the last time you got to use the word SPAMMY
in a sentence?) Click here to sign-up: http://www.babylon5scripts.com/alerts-signup.htm
How
can I get a signed copy of each volume?
JMS will sign all your volumes during any of his public appearances. So
haul out that old Radio Flyer wagon, load it up with your 15 volumes and
head to the convention center when he comes to town. Just be sure to leave
behind anything that might cause trouble, such as garlic, crosses, or
silver...and turn all the mirrors to the wall. Just to be on the safe
side. The children of the night, how hey sing....
What
about the Crusade scripts?
There
are high-level plans to release the Crusade scripts as well. Note, that
this will be after the Babylon 5 fifteen volume edition is complete. JMS
is giving this his utmost concentration and thought. We know because every
time he calls now the phone turns black and explodes.
Can I email J. Michael Straczynski through this site?
Even though this is an official site for J. Michael Straczynski, he does
not have an email address associated with it. To reach him, just post
a message via the Usenet group. The odds are good that your messages there
will be read and responded to by JMS personally. (Over 17,000 and counting).
If you have a pressing personal matter that cannot be discussed publicly,
the email address at jmsatb5@aol.com can be used, but ONLY as a last resort.
Skywriting would be a good first resort. Palm Springs, we hear, is also
a good resort.
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