We heard you are involved in two SF Books?
Yes, I've been given a two book deal with Berkeley press, co-authoring
with Ed Gorman who's normally involved in the Mystery Western and Horror
genres. The books are a t combination of the western genre and Science
Fiction. They are currently undergoing the editor's revision. It's a hared
-back deal, which is a great presentation for a book. Artwork also is important,
helps to catch your exe in a bookstore (I love browsing for books) The
most colorful section of a bookstore is the display of SF books, with art
by people like Wayne Barlow, who is a terrific artist.
How does the co-authoring work?
Ed does the first draft, gets it over to me, I go through and add my
notes, it goes back and forth. I am trying to base it in historical fact.
It's interesting if your character is involved in a lot of true events,
just so happens history didn't actually record his existence. We're trying
for Unforgiven meets Terminator! There's going to be some dark and bloody
stuff. Right now the first book is called Pursuit but that's just a working
title. I'm excited about it. I was originally approached because of my
involvement with B5. Will Shatner, Jonathan Frakes of Star Trek have already
put novels out. I have undertaken to do as much promotion as necessary,
so I guess I'll be back at Forbidden Planet again for a signing sessions
before long!
You're a long-time fan of SF?
Yes. Since being on B5, I've re-read loads of SF classics such as Arthur
C. Clark, Philip Dick, and I've just finished reading Iain Banks (Excession)
what a s.o.b. that was to get through! I read H.P. Lovecraft. I also like
Sword and Sorcery stuff, Arthurian legend.
We hear that you learnt how to Rodeo? Friday's line dancing party
was in honor of that, I think!
Yeah, well I didn't make it to the line dancing! I've rodeoed, I managed
to learn all about being a cowboy for my role in How the West Was Won.
That's the great thing about being an actor, you get to try out lots of
things for your roles.
You also have a Ranch?
Yes, I've just bought a new horse, named Jedi. But of course I have
to be careful, you can get hurt riding horses, and that could wreck B5's
schedule.
Are you currently involved in any other Film/TV Projects?
None at present. B5 is my whole life, well not quite as much of my
whole life as it is of Joe's!
What do you think 250 years the future will be like, or what do you
hope it will be like?
Well, right now we have a presence, a probe, on Mars! Two months ago
I went to NASA, I was given a nice tour there by fans of B5, they have
a large B5 Fan Club there called Code / R. I was lucky enough to get to
see the Atlantis, up on the gantry, and actually witnessed a shuttle launch.
I'd say we're getting there, to the stars, and in 250 years time we'll
be there. B5 is a reality; they have the technology and know how to do
that right now. What's so exciting is that all countries are involved in
the space program, all mankind. For example, a probe to Titan launched
by NASA was watched by many Italian and French scientists. I'm so excited
to see that Space is in the news right now. Mir is having problems, right,
but it's heroic, space is a place not for the faint hearted. It needs funds,
more work. NASA has so many bright minds, I think they are the positive
side of humanity - the last best hope. I was able to attend a lunch and
press briefing before the shuttle launch and saw Dan Goldin (head of NASA),
the first woman in space, many other members of the Russian Space Program,
and of course the British Astronaut that has just gotten down (he was just
about to go up). Space is our positive side to the future of humanity,
our big deal. As Sheridan sys our salvation is to raise our eyes to the
stars, space brings out the best of mankind rather than the usual petty
wars, murder, polluting our own ground. I've got a baby son, I wonder what
his life will see. The next century will change so rapidly, just like the
beginning of this century, with the rapid development of technology.
Like the Wright brothers declaring flight was possible, but probably
not in THEIR lifetimes!
Right, just a few years before they managed it! ...At NASA I was so
in awe of these bright people. I wondered why they were so into meeting
me, after all I only pretend to go into space! But they explained that
B5 is a big part of the inspiration to make real-life space advances possible.
By creating the vision of a space station, manned space travel, it helps
to make 'fantasy' become a reality. SF is good for doing that. We've even
kind of usurped Star Trek's role in this (the first space shuttle was called
the Enterprise). The emphasis now is on a manned Space Station, just like
Babylon 5! From there we can push off into the rest of Space...
Thank you Bruce!
Thanks Nicky & Janet!
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