Finding Serenity

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If you miss Firefly ... - Rated
This book contains essays by various people, including Jewel Staite (Kaylee) on her favourite moments from the series. Since the film Serenity came out, it makes these even more interesting, particularly the take on the Reavers. All in all, a good addition to any Browncoat's library.

This post mortem on "Firefly" is really a mixed bag - Rated
Unlike "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and "Angel," Joss Whedon's television series "Firefly" only last fifteen episodes. Of those three were never shown and the two-part pilot aired as the eleventh and twelfth episodes. FOX had cancelled "Dark Angel" after two seasons to spend its limited special effects budget on "Firefly," and then decided halfway through the season to cancel the show. In retrospect it is clear that while "Firefly" had a small audience it was extremely loyal, which explains why Whedon was able to reunite his cast for the theatrical film "Serenity" and provide some sense of closure regarding the ship and its crew. Consequently, with only those fifteen episodes to consider it seems unlikely that "Firefly" will receive the same sort of critical attention that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" has received, which is why "Finding Serenity: Anti-heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's 'Firefly'" may be one of the few to do so and why it is ultimately geared more towards fans than academics. In other words, the twenty-one pieces in this volume edited by Jane Espenson constitutes a mixed bag of deep thoughts and biting humor.

The first essay, "The Reward, the Details, the Devils, the Due," in which artist Larry Dixon looks at how the "Firefly" universe was fleshed out in terms of set design, set dressing, and cinematography, gets the book off to a good start. Author Lawrence Watt-Evans critiques the Reavers from the perspective of an earth legend regarding cannibalism in "The Heirs of Sawney Beane." Leigh Adams Wright's "Asian Objects in Space" critiques the use of Asian culture with context in the series (i.e., what is the point of the curses in Chinese?). The title of "'Serenity' and Bobby McGee: Freedom and the Illusion of Freedom in Joss Whedon's 'Firefly'" gives away Mercedes Lackey's thesis in her look at the politics of the show. Philosophy professor Lyle Zynda explores the emotional truths of Whedon's show in "We're All Just Floating in Space," where Whedon gets treated on the same level as Camus, Nietzsche and Sartre.

In the humor department Glenn Yeffeth makes up a series of memos from Early "Nutcrusher" Jubal, Vice President of FOX Programming to explain, "The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of 'Firefly' (the behind-the-scenes story)." Ginjer Buchanan's "Who Killed 'Firefly'?" provides a more reasoned explanation for what happened. But Keith R.A. DeCandido makes a compelling case for why skipping the pilot was a big mistake in "'The Train Job' Didn't Do the Job: Poor Opening Contributed to 'Firefly''s Doom." Don Debrandt offers an analog between "'Firefly' vs. 'The Tick'," a comparison few people would make. Michelle Sagara West explores the Zoe-Wash marriage as "More Than a Marriage of Convenience." Other pieces look at single characters, with fantasy author Tanya Huff's "'Thanks for the reenactment, sir.' Zoe: Updating the Woman Warrior," and therapist Joy Davidson's "Whores and Goddesses: The Archetypal Domain of Inara Serra."

"The Captain May Wear the Tight Pants, but it's the Gals Who Make 'Serenity' Soar" by Robert B. Taylor explores gender roles on the series, while Nancy Holder talks about the hope that Whedon's fans brought to the show in "I Want Your Sex: Gender and Power in Joss Whedon's Dystopian Future World." Then there is retired attorney John C. Wright's "Just Shove Him in the Engine, or The Role of Chivalry in 'Firefly,'" which actually argues that Whedon does not have a feminist agenda and is merely being politically correct, included as proof that Espenson is a fair minded editor. "Mirror/Mirror: A Parody" is Roxanne Longstreet Conrad's comedic comparison of the worlds of "Firefly" and "Enterprise," which argues that only Phlox could take their "Serenity" counterpart. Then "Star Trek" writer David Gerrold's "Star Truck" speculates on what might have happened down the road in the "Firefly' universe. Gerrold is able to question the feasibility of the terraforming the universe assumptions of the series with the need to tell stories on a science fiction television series, which I found quite interesting.

At the end of the book the concern of the fans takes over, starting with "Kaylee Speaks: Jewel Staite on 'Firefly,'" in which the actress shares her five favorite moments from each episode of the series. For many readers it may well be that the best piece in the book appears last, which is where Kevin M. Sullivan provides the "Unofficial Glossary of 'Firefly' in Chinese." Being able to both pronounce and translate the phrase "Ta ma duh" (neutral tones apply) might be worth the cost of the book all by itself and it is why I decided to round up on the rating.. The curses are all arranged chronologically by episode, so keep this book handy as you watch the shows again on DVD so that you can finally find out what sort of obscenities Mal and his crew were getting away with on the show.

So there is a little bit of everything here, which I do not think is a bad thing since "Finding 'Serenity'" is likely to be one of the few books that will end up publishing either the fan humor or the academic speculations (although the number of reviews here would, to my mind, suggest it should not be and there are plenty more topics to explore, such as the religion of Shepherd Book and the decentralization of the Alliance). Espenson mixes and matches the pieces well, so you are never reading all of the heavy analytical pieces or the hit-and-miss humor ones all in a row. I think that if you pay special attention to the pieces Espenson picks to begin and end the collection, since these simply emphasize the fact that a lot of viewers loved this series and that one of the reasons is that Joss Whedon always provides depth to his creative endeavors. Basically anybody who watched "Firefly" will find food for thought here worth consuming, even if there are some courses you only pick at to get to the deserts at the end.

You can't take the Sky from me ... since I found Serenity ! - Rated
Referring to some of the remarks of "robertmasella":

- Personally, I laughed my guts out when I read the "Mirror, Mirror" parody:
Based on the well-known "Star Trek Classic" episode "Mirror, Mirror", the "Firefly" Crew got stuck on the dustfree, antiseptic "Enterprise NX-01" while Archer & Co had been simultaneously transferred to the dusty and untidy "Serenity". While Mal and his folk manage this situation easily, the "Enterprise" Crew seems totally helpless - e.g. Hoshi panics to that extend that she even cannot translate basic chinese signs on "Serenity" anymore...
But I admit - humour is a very personal thing!

- And the chapter consisting of (imaginary) letters of a FOX executive to Joss Whedon, which explain why FOX had left this brillant series to die ... that was probably too close to the truth to be REALLY funny... ?!

- But the rest?!
OK, this product is not a glossy big format book with many nice photos of Serenity, Mal, Zoe or Inara in it. Considering that, it is indeed a bit pricy - hence 4/5 stars!

But the articles are extremely interesting (what is so bad about A-level essays???) and give the "common fan" a good insight of the psychology of how characters in a TV series are "built", how they "come to life" - and why it is that they eventually "work" so exceptionally well on "Firefly" ... and why "Firefly" nevertheless was eventually destined to die after only a few episodes!

And what`s so bad about a "mixed bag"?
It`s a bit like a box of chocolates... (but I will not get any further into this "Forrest Gump" quote) ... at least, if you didn`t like one of the essays, you`ve got a "whole bag" of other essays, which you might enjoy a lot more!

And I believe, Star Trek Fans would have to say something about that "little known sci-fi authors" remark, because one of the most celebrated Star Trek authors, David Gerrold ("Trouble with Tribbles", remember?!), had also made a (fine) contribution to this book!

Summary: A bit over-priced, but highly interesting and funny.
"Browncoats": You`ll love it... ;-)

Just what we needed to tide us over.... - Rated
I discovered this book by accident - looking for information on the upcoming movie version!

We are a family of Firefly fans and, although it wasn't quite what I expected, this book is just a great compliment to the series.

I thought I had bought a glossy, interesting puff-piece with cast and crew biogs thrown in for good measure. What I actually got was a series of excellent, insightful and intelligent articles on what really should become a major sci-fi classic, given time.

With analysis of Firefly's takes on gender roles, relationships and what might happen if Serenity met the Federation, this isn't just for hard-core fans. It could work as a media-studies resource for the sociological relevance (and shortcomings) of modern sci-fi - without being anywhere near as dull as your average text book!

It'll help stave off the cravings until the film is out, at the very least! :)

Take My Love, Take My Land... - Rated
If you haven't seen any of 'Firefly' yet, the last TV series from Buffy and Angel mastermind Joss Whedon, you're missing out. An unusual western / sci-fi hybrid, with fantastic characters, 'Firefly' is, in my opinion, one of the best TV series ever created, and easily the best sci-fi series ever. Unfortunately, the FOX Network didn't agree and cancelled the show halfway through its first season.

So when I found out about a new book featuring essays about 'Firefly', I was intrigued. Unfortunately, the book was really disappointing. Mostly written by little known sci-fi authors, the whole thing is a real mixed bag. On one hand, theres some good articles on the background of the show. On the other, theres some fairly awful ones that purport to talk about the feelings of the characters, but end up reading like A-level English Lit. essays I used to write. And as for the funny articles, they just aren't.

A few of the essays I particularly enjoyed include one about cannabilism and the Reavers by Lawrence Watt-Evans, and another by Lyle Zynda looking at the existential themes in the excellent final episode 'Out of Space', which persuaded me into ordering some more books on the subject. But elsewhere there is some real retreading of ground, with seemingly half the articles looking at the role of women in the 'Firefly' universe and how great a character Zoe is (she is, but so are the other characters dammit.)

Overall then, one for obsessive fans only.