Fiona Avery's `Crusade' Scripts Debut on Bookface.com.

Business Editors/Entertainment Writers

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--July 24, 2000

Renowned Science Fiction and Fantasy Author Provides Previously Unreleased Scripts for Fans to Explore Online for Free at Bookface.com

Bookface announced today that online users can now read selected Fiona Avery scripts from the popular Science Fiction television show, "Crusade", directly on the Internet at www.Bookface.com. Both Bookface and Avery plan to promote the availability of these scripts and Avery's short stories on the Bookface.com website throughout the summer.

The most highly anticipated script, "Value Judgements", didn't have the chance to get produced before "Crusade", the sequel to the Emmy award-winning series "Babylon 5", was taken off the air. The episode features guest villain, Alfred Bester, a popular character from the successful "Babylon 5" series (played by Walter Koenig, also known to Star Trek fans as Mr. Chekov). "Value Judgements" provides Bester's point of view on many of the events that took place during the timeline of "Babylon 5". The episode also pits Bester against strong "Crusade" characters like Lieutenant Matheson and presents an ethical quandary typical of "Crusade" story lines.

J. Michael Straczynski, the Emmy-award winning creator of both "Babylon 5" and "Crusade", comments, "When Value Judgments was finished, Walter Koenig drove clear across town to tell me that he thought it was the best piece written for Bester to date. I think that is probably the best compliment anyone could pay a Psi Corps script. He has read parts of what follows at conventions, but this is the first time the whole script has become widely available. The next chapter in the story that is Bester and the Psi Corps."

"Bookface.com is offering something no one else has offered in the electronic publishing industry that's making reading simple and effortless for readers. No gimmicks -- just log on and read what you want. In this atmosphere of ease and relaxation, I feel that my work can reach fans all over the globe in the best way possible. It has been a long wait for many fans of `Crusade' and `Babylon 5' overseas, but now they can finally read `Value Judgements' and my other Crusade scripts, and even my short stories with minimal effort," said Avery.

"We are delighted to be working with Fiona Avery," said Lou Anders, Executive Editor, Bookface.com. "Her work spans the gauntlet from stories that are incredibly poignant in their humanity to tales of outright comedy. She also boasts a loyal and ardent fan base. Her presence on Bookface.com lends terrific depth to our Science Fiction and Fantasy book offerings."

In addition to her "Crusade" scripts, Avery is also showcasing her short stories, "Mankind's Greatest Invention" and "Philberta the Bold" on Bookface.com.

Additional Avery works will premiere on Bookface.com in the near future.

Bookface.com offers the best online access to a range of Science Fiction selections including additional "Crusade" scripts and short stories from J. Michael Straczynski; "The Year's Best Science Fiction: 17th Annual Collection", edited by Gardner Dozois, which features a collection of top Sci-Fi tales from leading authors including Greg Egan, Stephen Baxter, and Ben Bova; and full-length books from such authors as Ben Bova, Paul J. McAuley, Michael Swanwick, Peter F. Hamilton, and Susan Matthews.

Bookface welcomes readers to read, browse, explore, and buy these titles starting today at www.Bookface.com.

About Bookface.com

At Bookface.com, readers have unprecedented access to full-length book content, short stories, scripts, and excerpts. Bookface's streaming text technology allows online users to read simply and directly from their Internet web browsers for free and with no special software or hardware. Readers can sit down at any computer and read -- just like one can sit at a bookstore and freely read, browse, and buy books. Bookface technology also gives readers the opportunity to use powerful Internet tools to create new and enhanced reading experiences. Make personal book notes to keep track of your thoughts while reading; use a book note as a bookmark after putting a book down for the evening; or search "Value Judgements" for all mentions of a certain character. Bookface can be found at http://www.Bookface.com.

About Fiona Avery

Fiona Avery is a freelance scriptwriter, as well as the Reference Editor for the hit SF TV series "Babylon 5", and its follow-up series, titled "Crusade". In addition to working as the Reference Editor on season one of "Crusade", she wrote four episodes for the show, two of which aired on TNT in June and July of 1999. Fiona Avery attended Indiana University, graduating with degrees in the field of anthropology and archaeology with specializations in pre-history, Medieval European weaponry, palynology, forensics and comparative religious studies. Her educational background is a key element in her writing. Avery is also a journalist. She's internationally published in magazines such as Starlog, Indiana Alumni, Visions, and The Official "Babylon 5" Magazine. She has two regular columns entitled "The Great Machine" and "Illuminations" in The "Babylon 5" Official Magazine. She has just been commissioned to write a short story on Narn for the magazine. It is due out in Issue 23. Projects in the works? Avery recently finished a full-length feature screenplay set in Feudal Japan. She just finished a novel set during the reign of St. Louis IX (1245). She has a new comic book which will appear soon in stores; and just finished a radio drama adaptation for the Seeing Ear Theater on www.scifi.com/set/. The radio drama is due out July 21 and is an adaptation of Kim Stanley Robinson's "The Lucky Strike". Fiona has just finished another adaptation of Ursula K. Le Guin's "Buffalo Gals, Won't You Come Out Tonight". Her latest gig: writing an episode for Earth: Final Conflict's Fourth Season.