Book of G'Kar
Encyclopedia
In the Babylon 5
science fiction
saga, the Book of G'Kar was a book that was written by the former Narn
Ambassador G'Kar. The book is considered one of Narn's most holy books. It also became one of Narn's most popular books, along with other works such as the Book of G'Quan
.
G'Kar began writing the book in 2260 while serving a sixty-day prison sentence for his physical and telepathic assault on Centauri
Ambassador Londo Mollari. During the course of the assault, G'Kar had an epiphany when the Vorlon
Ambassador, Kosh, connected with him telepathically. The experience changed G'Kar forever. He came to realize that some must be sacrificed for all to be saved - that the Narn must fight the larger fight even if it killed them all.
So while in prison, G'Kar began writing down what he had experienced during his revelation. G'Kar wrote how he and his people got to where they were, and what had to be done. What he thought would take a few weeks to finish wound up taking a large part of his life to complete. When G'Kar got out of prison, he continued to add to his book. He did this because of the additional things he had learned, and to correct some earlier chapters that he felt were written in anger.
G'Kar loaned the book to Michael Garibaldi
for a time, but when Garibaldi returned it, it had a coffee stain on it. Narn holy books are copied exactly from the original - every line and every mark is exactly copied. As a result, those making the copies included a copy of the coffee stain ring on every copy of the book of G'Kar. When G'Kar confronted Garibaldi about the stain, Garibaldi replied that it was the best part of the book.
When G'Kar accompanied Mollari to Centauri Prime as his bodyguard, the Narn government took the book home to make copies because of fears that G'Kar would not return. The number of copies increased greatly with mass printing, as did G'Kar's popularity among his own people. So many people came to see him that G'Kar felt a cult of personality
had developed. When the Narn government wanted him to either return home to lead them, or return home to give his blessing for others to lead Narn, G'Kar decided to go away for a time. As he put it to his hand-chosen successor, Ta'Lon, G'Kar explained that he felt he had become more priest than warrior, at a time when he felt their people needed a warrior more than a priest in order to find a balance and move forward, hence choosing Ta'Lon as his successor. He and Lyta Alexander
decided to go out and explore the galaxy for a few years until the fervor over him and his book subsided.
Babylon 5
Babylon 5 is an American science fiction television series created, produced and largely written by J. Michael Straczynski. The show centers on a space station named Babylon 5: a focal point for politics, diplomacy, and conflict during the years 2257–2262...
science fiction
Science fiction
Science fiction is a genre of fiction dealing with imaginary but more or less plausible content such as future settings, futuristic science and technology, space travel, aliens, and paranormal abilities...
saga, the Book of G'Kar was a book that was written by the former Narn
Narn
The Narn are a fictional alien race in the universe of the Babylon 5 television series. Their homeworld is also called Narn.-Homeworld:Narn is the homeworld of the Narn and the Narn Regime. Its day is 31 hours long. Prior to the Centauri's first invasion, Narn was a healthy green planet. Now it...
Ambassador G'Kar. The book is considered one of Narn's most holy books. It also became one of Narn's most popular books, along with other works such as the Book of G'Quan
Book of G'Quan
In the Babylon 5 science fiction saga, the Book of G'Quan is a Narn holy book. Each book is copied painstakingly by hand, exactly reproduced from the original version...
.
G'Kar began writing the book in 2260 while serving a sixty-day prison sentence for his physical and telepathic assault on Centauri
Centauri (Babylon 5)
The Centauri are a humanoid species in the fictional universe of the Babylon 5 television series. They were the first alien species to make open contact with the human race. Their homeworld is Centauri Prime, a small Earth-like planet consisting of two large continents and several smaller islands...
Ambassador Londo Mollari. During the course of the assault, G'Kar had an epiphany when the Vorlon
Vorlon
A Vorlon is a member of a fictional alien species in the Babylon 5 television series and fictional universe. The Vorlon species is a member of the First Ones, a group made up of the earliest species to gain sentience in the galaxy...
Ambassador, Kosh, connected with him telepathically. The experience changed G'Kar forever. He came to realize that some must be sacrificed for all to be saved - that the Narn must fight the larger fight even if it killed them all.
So while in prison, G'Kar began writing down what he had experienced during his revelation. G'Kar wrote how he and his people got to where they were, and what had to be done. What he thought would take a few weeks to finish wound up taking a large part of his life to complete. When G'Kar got out of prison, he continued to add to his book. He did this because of the additional things he had learned, and to correct some earlier chapters that he felt were written in anger.
G'Kar loaned the book to Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi
Michael Garibaldi is a lead fictional character in the universe of the science fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Jerry Doyle.-Overview:...
for a time, but when Garibaldi returned it, it had a coffee stain on it. Narn holy books are copied exactly from the original - every line and every mark is exactly copied. As a result, those making the copies included a copy of the coffee stain ring on every copy of the book of G'Kar. When G'Kar confronted Garibaldi about the stain, Garibaldi replied that it was the best part of the book.
When G'Kar accompanied Mollari to Centauri Prime as his bodyguard, the Narn government took the book home to make copies because of fears that G'Kar would not return. The number of copies increased greatly with mass printing, as did G'Kar's popularity among his own people. So many people came to see him that G'Kar felt a cult of personality
Cult of personality
A cult of personality arises when an individual uses mass media, propaganda, or other methods, to create an idealized and heroic public image, often through unquestioning flattery and praise. Cults of personality are usually associated with dictatorships...
had developed. When the Narn government wanted him to either return home to lead them, or return home to give his blessing for others to lead Narn, G'Kar decided to go away for a time. As he put it to his hand-chosen successor, Ta'Lon, G'Kar explained that he felt he had become more priest than warrior, at a time when he felt their people needed a warrior more than a priest in order to find a balance and move forward, hence choosing Ta'Lon as his successor. He and Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander
Lyta Alexander is a character from the fictional universe of the science-fiction television series Babylon 5, played by Patricia Tallman.Lyta was introduced in the pilot episode "The Gathering" as a telepath assigned to the Babylon 5 space station by the Psi Corps, a fictional organization...
decided to go out and explore the galaxy for a few years until the fervor over him and his book subsided.