"The Passing of the Techno-mages" concludes, as Galen is, at last, released by the Circle to act against the Shadows. But there's a catch--though the Spell of Destruction he wields might help bring an end to the conflict ravaging world after world, he is to kill three and only three key enemies...Elizar and Razeel, the two techno-mages that betrayed their order to work for the enemy, and Morden, the Shadows' human agent. Galen's mission begins on Babylon 5, helping out some old friends and giving John Sheridan a vital clue to follow; it eventually leads him to a discovery about himself he might rather not have made, a monstrous truth about the enemy, and a final confrontation on Z'ha'dum itself. The novel dovetails quite well with events in the series' third season, giving the reader the sense of layers within layers in a rich tapestry of character, plot, and action. Even the characters we already know gain an added dimension to them, as even the vile Morden is revealed to have a deeper motivation for what he does...and just wait until you learn what HE wants. Jeanne Cavelos, working from J. Michael Straczynski's original outline, once again expands upon what we've seen on the screen, delivering a terrific read that, even as it ends the story (and how!), leaves the reader wanting more time with these characters. One hopes that more can be done with the mages; their order may be on the wane, as the overtitle suggests, but their story is far from over.
Title: Invoking Darkness |
1/6/05
