Apparently, the increasing value of the Babylon 5 scriptbooks keeps causing a ruckus, and The Script Books Team is doing something about it, while they can.
That’s why they’re holding a Script Books Series Lottery — to make available as many full sets of the script books as they have left.
Yes, that’s right… FULL sets of the original 15-volume collection. At the original prices:
1) By “complete set,” we mean Volumes 1-14 as well as the coveted Volume 15, signed by J. Michael Straczynski.
2) So that we can guarantee all books shipped, we are only picking a few winners at a time, so we can handle any issues that might occur during shipping by dipping back into our reserves to replace a damaged volume. This way, we can assure fans there is no risk of getting a damaged book without us being able to replace it.
3) Each lottery winner will have their set of books specially packed to avoid damage. All the books will be packed in the white bumper boxes used for our current book releases. These bumper boxes will then be surrounded in bubble wrap before being placed in a larger cardboard box. Each set of books will arrive in two boxes: one will contain 7 books; the other will contain 8 books. When we’ve shipped this way in the past, we’ve had a zero-damage rate. All shipments will be tracked.
4) These books are pristine and still in their original shrink-wrap. They were printed years ago specifically to replace defective volumes, so we had to make sure they were perfect before the “plates were destroyed.”
5) The books are US$39.99 each — the price for which they originally sold. Volume 15 remains a gift from J. Michael Straczynski; there is no cost for Volume 15 itself or its shipping. The total price for all 14 books is $559.86. Shipping for the U.S. is $39; International is $83.
And if you’re only missing a couple of the original books, your chance to fill in the holes is also coming up — in February 2011, when all of the full sets that they can make have been sold, whatever leftover single volumes will be made available.
So, if you’re one of those fans who’s been cringing at the high prices you’ve seen for these books on eBay and at Amazon.com, your last chance is here.
Dang, only 83 in shipping? Cheap to be that much heavy paper:) I would try the lottery, but I still got my complete set wrapped and is kiiiinda low on money atm…
I am so glad you guys posted the link for this lottery. I got away from the online B5 community after LOTR and never knew about these books by JMS until they had stopped being published. I was a lucky winner of this lottery and now are waiting for these books to be delivered. Thankfully at this time of my life, I could afford all these books at once.
Thanks again to the Babylon Podcast!
Wow, that’s awesome! I almost feel like Santa!
You can be Santa if you pay for the books too…
OK, that was just a joke, but I would imagine you more as Santa’s Helper Elf. 😉 🙂
I won the lottery too, and feel so fortunate because back when the books were selling, I didn’t chase up on them as I was still paying off debts. Now, I don’t have to go find Mr Morden to get him to ask me what I want for the holiday season! hehehe
Steve and Rob, congrats on your ability to make purchases!
…which sounds kinda, i dunno, weird.
Plus, Summer is definitely not Santa’s Helper Elf. She’s more like The Real Power at The North Pole, propping up Santa’s weakening empire.
I agree Tim that it is sort of weird that by “winning,” I have to purchase something. But the alternative is to way over pay for these books on auction sites. I don’t have much B5 memorabilia except for the DVD sets and these books were something that I was upset about that I had missed getting them when they were released.
As far as the Summer, comment, I can only go by her voice. You have the knowledge of her outside the podcast and I will bow to your superior knowledge in this regard. 🙂