The Babylon 5 SF References List
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Babylon 5 SF References List
This is a list of perceived references to other shows within Babylon 5. Not
every perceived reference actually exists:
"Not everything in this show is a reference to some other show. We do have
some interest in doing our *own* story, rather than nodding to every series
on the face of the planet, and not all concepts started in the other shows
that used them."
jms
Where jms had made an explicit comment on a reference it is included (except
where the response is just "Yes, this is a reference.").
Warning: This guide contains information up to episode 402.
The Gathering (Pilot)
2257 AD
The pilot movie is set in 2257 AD. the classic 1956 movie
Forbidden Planet is also set in 2257 AD. jms has not commented on
whether this is deliberate.
See Also A Voice in the Wilderness and The Long Dark.
The Soul Hunter
Arrival of the Space Liner Asimov is announced over the tannoy. This
liner appears in the episode Believers.
This is obviously a homage to Isaac Asimov, one of the
acknowledged masters of the field of written SF.
See Also Confessions and Lamentations.
Infection
"Stephen? Stephen, there's a Martian wat machine parked outside. They'd
like to have a word with you about the common cold." said by Vance
Hendricks to Dr Franklin.
A reference to the novel The War of the Worlds by H.G.Wells. The
1953 movie War of the Worlds contains this ending but the famous
Orson Welles radio play did not.
The Parliament of Dreams
"See you next Wednesday" said by Sinclair.
This is not a reference to John Landis movie trivia:
"The line, 'See you next Wednesday,' was basically an offhand line,
slightly but not significantly based in the idea that in most
markets, B5 airs on Wednesdays. It was never meant to be a John
Landis reference, and if I'd known it was (I'd never heard it
before), I would have changed it.
Not all of us in Hollywood have forgotten Vic Morrow."
jms
Mind War
Psi Cop Bester (played by Walter Keonig).
This is a reference to Alfred Bester, author of The Demolished Man
(a book about psis with telepathy) and The Stars My Destination (a
book about psis with the power to teleport themselves) [alt.
title Tiger, Tiger].
"Be seeing you," said by Bester.
This is a reference to the TV show The Prisoner. Bester also makes
the appropriate hand sign - the thumb and forefinger circled, the
other fingers slightly bent, making a 6 shape, and saluting with
that hand.
"The 'Be seeing you' is a kind of nod to The Prisoner, yes."
jms
See Also And the Sky Full of Stars, Signs and Portents, A Voice in
the Wilderness, and Revelations.
And the Sky Full of Stars
Knight One and Knight Two.
This is just a subtle nod, really. The names of Knight One and
Knight Two are never spoken on-screen, merely listed in the
credits. The names are reminiscent of The Prisoner, as is the
whole interrogation process.
See Also Mind War, Signs and Portents, A Voice in the Wilderness,
and Revelations.
Deathwalker
"I'm a twenty-three myself, a good number." said by Abbut [to Talia].
Fnord.
The first League spaceship to appear and threaten Babylon 5.
This ship bears a marked resemblance to the Blakes 7 ship The
Liberator, although it only has two forward pointing bits instead
of three. The general shape and particularly the green bulb at the
back are very similar.
See Also A Voice in the Wilderness and Points of Departure.
Believers
Garibaldi and Sinclair discuss a request by the Shakespeare Corporation
to transport a load of pfingle eggs to Babylon 5.
Pfingle eggs and the Shakespeare Corporation are both references
to David Gerrold's work (David wrote this episode and habitually
includes references to his own work in later writing). These are
both references to the Tracker books: Under the Eye of God and A
Covenant of Justice.
Signs and Portents
"Six to One", said by a Raider on the station when contacting his ship.
Another Prisoner reference to Patrick McGoohan's character (No. 6)
whose quest throughout the show was to find out who No. 1 was.
See also Mind War, And the Sky Full of Stars, A Voice in the
Wilderness, and Revelations.
Grail
Wide-eyed aliens, in court with a man seeking damages following
abduction of his great-grandfather.
People claiming to have seen alien visitors to earth have commonly
described them with large black eyes, white triangular heads and
long thin fingers. These have appeared in a number of SF books.
This is not a reference to Whitley Streiber's Communion:
"Whitley Streiber. Aliens like that in 'Communion' have been shown
and drawn a LOT longer than Streiber has been talking about them.
No relation."
jms
See Also All Alone in the Night.
TKO
Ivanova is reading Working Without a Net by Harlan Ellison in her
quarters.
Harlan is a well-known SF author and editor and creative
consultant for the show.
"The book is Harlan's autobiography, which he plans to write around
the year 2000, and yes, that's his photo. (He borrowed the prop
when we were finished and casually carried it with him to a few
places, just to make people nuts thinking there was a book out
they'd missed....)"
jms
A Voice in the Wilderness
Gigantic technology.
The scene in which Ivanova and Sinclair cross a chasm filled with
technology on a gigantic scale is extremely similar to scenes from
the classic 1956 movie Forbidden Planet, which contains equivalent
technology seen from a similar viewpoint.
"Forbidden Planet...the script called for a chasm. I got three
different storyboards from Ron. The best looking was that one, and
that's the one we went to, though I knew it would resonate."
jms
See Also The Gathering and The Long Dark.
"EYE AM KNOT A NUMBER AYE AMA FREE MAN" appears on the computer screen
when the shuttlecraft initially sent to explore Epsilon III was
damaged.
Yet another reference to The Prisoner, where this line is said
during the opening credits by Patrick McGoohan (No. 6).
See Also Mind War, And the Sky Full of Stars, Signs and Portents,
and Revelations.
A Voice in the Wilderness Part II
A language database which appears on-screen briefly lists sets of words
with no apparent connections other than the list:
+ ORAK
+ SKYNET
+ NOMAD
+ FORBIN
References to:
Blakes 7
Orac was the box of flashing lights that was the most
powerful computer within the federation.
The Terminator (T2) films
Skynet was the defence computer that became self-aware and
tried to wipe out humanity.
Star Trek
Nomad was the eponymous probe which wanted to wipe out
biological life.
Colossus: The Forbin Project
Another US Defence computer that tried to take over the
world. Similar to Skynet it attempts to control rather than
destroy humanity.
Babylon Squared
"SECURECAM XXIII" appears on the computer scren scanning the Starfury
returning from initial contact with Babylon 4.
Not a reference to the TV show Max Headroom.
Securecam is NOT a reference to Max Headroom. It is a word formed
out of Security and Camera, which is the function of the ones
mounted on the station, as Maintcam goes on the maintainance bots.
jms
The space suit.
The suit worn by Sinclair to protect him during the time journey
of Babylon 4 is almost identical to those featured in 2001: A
Space Odyssey.
"Yeah, I guess there are some similarities, aren't there?"
jms
See Also The Quality of Mercy.
"Babylon Four has come unstuck in Time." said by Major Krantz,
commander of Babylon 4.
This is how the character of Billy Pilgrim describes his condition
in the Kurt Vonnegut Jr. novel and film Slaughterhouse Five. It
is, in fact, the very first line of the novel, and explains the
discontinuity in the storytelling.
See Also War Without End.
The Quality of Mercy
Londo takes Lennier to the club The Dark Star.
A reference to the 1974 film Dark Star, a cult spoof SF movie
loosely parodying 2001: A Space Odyssey.
See Also Babylon Squared.
Chrysalis
"Expect me when you see me." said by G'Kar in a message to Na'Toth.
This is the same phrase as used by Gandalf to Frodo in The Lord of
the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (bibliography and FAQs available).
See Also Revelations, The Geometry of Shadows, The Coming of
Shadows and Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi?.
Points of Departure
Sheridan is called Star Killer by the Minbari.
The Blakes 7 episode Trial features an admiral nicknamed Old Star
Killer, but this is not an intentional reference:
"This is just a coincidence. Sheridan destroyed the Black Star.
Hence, Star Killer."
jms
The Jupiter 2 is listed as being docked at the station.
A reference to Lost in Space, in which the ship is called the
Jupiter 2.
Revelations
"Be seeing you!" said by Jack (Garibaldi's Aide).
This is a reference to the TV show The Prisoner. Jack also makes
the appropriate hand sign - the thumb and forefinger circled, the
other fingers slightly bent, making a 6 shape, and saluting with
that hand.
See Also Mind War, And the Sky Full of Stars, A Voice in the
Wilderness, and Signs and Portents.
Z'Ha'Dum.
First named by G'Kar in this episode, the name of the Shadow's
homeworld has a name similar to the dwarves' name for Moria
(Kazad'dum) in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
(bibliography and FAQs available).
See Also The Geometry of Shadows, Chrysalis, The Coming of Shadows
and Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi?.
The Geometry of Shadows
Elric the Technomage.
This is a reference to Michael Moorcock's Eternal Champion in a
specific incarnation: the albino sorceror Elric of Melnibone.
"It is said `Do not try the patience of wizards, for they are subtle
and quick to anger'" said by Elric the Technomage.
The latter part is a direct quote from a phrase said by Gildor the
Elf to Frodo the Hobbit: "Do not meddle in the affairs of wizards,
for they are subtle and quick to anger" in The Lord of the Rings
by J.R.R. Tolkien (bibliography and FAQs available).
See Also Chrysalis, Revelations and The Coming of Shadows.
A Distant Star
Mr Orwell, the "fixer" who get Garibaldi the ingredients of bagna
caude.
A reference to George Orwell, an early SF author most noted for
1984 and Animal Farm.
See Also In The Shadow of Z'ha'dum.
The Long Dark
Monsters from the id.
The Soldier of Darkness, an invisible killer, is made visible by
white outlines when shot with an energy weapon. This is a
reference to the monster from the id seen in the classic 1956
movie Forbidden Planet.
See Also The Gathering and A Voice in the Wilderness.
A Spider in the Web
The Cruiser Pournelle is the ship that destroyed Abel's ship.
A reference to the SF author Jerry Pournelle, most famous for The
Mote in God's Eye, which he co-authored with Larry Niven.
Ms. Carter (from Mars) has an ancestor called John Carter.
A reference to Edgar Rice Burroughs' second most famous character,
John Carter of Mars.
The Coming of Shadows
Sinclair's Rangers.
This organisation displays a marked similarity to the Rangers led
by Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien
(bibliography and FAQs available).
See Also Chrysalis, Revelations, The Geometry of Shadows and
Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi?.
All Alone in the Night
Streibs.
These are aliens that abduct members of other races and torture
them. Probaly a reference to Whitley Streiber, an SF author who
has written about such aliens and also claims to have been
abducted by them himself. The physical appearence of the Streibs
is similar to those described in alien abduction stories, though
the ones in Grail are closer.
"Streibs, actually. Similar to, but not quite the same as the Grail
bunch."
jms
See Also Grail.
Hunter, Prey
Agent Cranston.
"What evil lurks in the hearts of men? The Shadow knows." Lamont
Cranston is the real name of one of the earliest superheros, the
star first of radio, then of comics and pulp magazines: The
Shadow. First broadcast in 1931 as a radio show, there is also a
recent film: The Shadow.
There All The Honor Lies
"This isn't some kind of Deep Space franchise, this place is ABOUT
something." said by Ivanova.
Obviously a sideswipe at Star Trek - Deep Space Nine, and the Star
Trek `franchise' in general.
"So after I'd read Peter's script, and decided to go with it, he
asked about Ivanova's line, 'This isn't some kind of Deep Space
franchise, this place is ABOUT something.'
'Are you really going to use that?' he asked.
'Absolutely,' I said. 'It's fall-down funny.'
'You people really ARE dangerous over there, aren't you?'"
jms
See Also Voices of Authority.
And Now for a Word
Subliminal message: 'The Psi Corps is your friend. Trust the Corps.'
Not a reference to the RPG Paranoia, which has a commonly
occurring phrase: 'The Computer is your friend.'
"The Psi Corps line in the commercial is not a reference to
Paranoia."
jms
The Gaim.
These creatures first appear in the background in this episode.
They are later seen as members of the League of Non-Aligned
Worlds, and signatories of the Babylon 5 Defence Treaty. They wear
encounter suits whose helmets are extremely similar to the helmet
of Neil Gaiman's Sandman, and the name also suggests a link.
"It's mainly an extrapolation on an alien breather based on WW II
style gas masks."
jms.
In The Shadow of Z'ha'dum
Minipax.
Newspeak for the Ministry of Peace, from George Orwell's dystopian
SF novel about oppresive government, 1984.
See Also A Distant Star.
Dr Franklin is a member of a new religion The Foundationists
Probably a reference to Isaac Asimov's Foundation Trilogy.
See Also The Soul Hunter.
Voices of Authority
"It looks like you're about to `go where everybody has gone before',"
said by Ivanova.
A sideswipe at Star Trek: The Next Generation's introductory
voice-over which ends with "Where no-one has gone before".
See Also There All The Honor Lies.
Passing Through Gethsemane
Brother Edward was previously called Charlie Dexter.
There is a short story by H.P.Lovecraft called The Case of Charles
Dexter Ward, in which the title character fights for his sanity
against the spirit of his murderous past life, Joseph Curwen. The
paralells are obvious, and JMS is known to be an H.P.Lovecraft
fan.
War Without End
"Unstuck in Time." said by Zathras.
This is how the character of Billy Pilgrim describes his condition
in the Kurt Vonnegut Jr. novel and film Slaughterhouse Five. It
is, in fact, the very first line of the novel, and explains the
discontinuity in the storytelling.
See Also Babylon Squared.
Shadow Dancing
"Who wants to live forever?" said by Ivanova to Marcus.
Although this is a general quote said by people going into
extremely risky situations, it is also the name of a Queen song
from the album A Kind of Magic, the soundtrack from the film
Highlander.
Whatever Happened to Mr Garibaldi?
Lorien
The name of this character is an obvious reference to The Lord of
the Rings by J.R.R. Tolkien (bibliography and FAQs available), in
which Lorien is one of the names of the woods ruled by Galadriel
and Celeborn. See Also Chrysalis, Revelations, The Geometry of
Shadows and The Coming of Shadows
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Acknowledgements
These are people who've pointed things out to me in e-mail or on
rec.arts.sf.tv.babylon5 / uk.media.tv.sf.babylon5. They're in no sort of
order, and they don't mention which references people provided since various
people provided duplicates or amendments. Thanks to all who provided
information. Further information is always welcome: send e-mail to me.
* J Michael * Raj Rijhwani
Straczynski * Sion Arrowsmith * M. A. Simmons
* Jeanette Simpson * Mike Schueller * Damien Ryan
* Robin Bornoff * Bruce Goatly * Derek L.
* jere7my tho?rpe * Mike Hopkins * Leigh Blake.
* Michael Zecca * Eric Huber * Loki Carbis
* Katherine Teague * Cad Delworth * John Cletheroe
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