Browncoats discussion

I added a few more books to the group's shelves. So my question to the group is: which Firefly/Serenity books have you read and what did you think of them? I've read both volumes of the Firefly visual companion, the Serenity visual companion, and the graphic novel Serenity: Those Left Behind.

I think the visual companions are great - especially all the added information and pictures that go beyond what you would know just from watching the series and the movie. I didn't feel that I needed to read every word of the included scripts, but did read some of my favorite parts.

I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the graphic novel Serenity: Those Left Behind. I haven't read very many graphic novels, but reading this was ALMOST as good as watching an episode of Firefly. I loved getting some of the information that helped bridge that gap of time between the end of the series and the start of the movie.

Thought some of you might be interested in this information about upcoming Firefly graphic novels. It was posted at another website, but I was given permission to share it here:

There are more tales of the 'Verse available, canon stories written by Joss, in the form of comic-book miniseries. The first was "Those Left Behind," which was a three-volume series, now available as a single book. Then came "Better days," also a three-book set, though not yet available as a single volume. Both take place between the end of the series and the movie. Sometime down the line, the next three-book series will be "A Shepherd's Tale," presumably the long-awaited backstory to Shepherd Book.

Available to view online is another movie-prequel online comic, "The Other Half":
http://www.myspace.com/darkhorseprese...

It's short, but it's official, and gives us that much more of the 'Verse to enjoy.

Oh, and Serenity Volume 2: Better Days will be available on November 15.

Just read Serenity: Better Days, Volume 2 and thought I would post my review here. Have you read it? What did you think?

My review:
If I can't watch new episodes of Firefly, I'm happy to at least be able to read new adventures that are an official part of the canon and written by Joss. This second volume in the series of graphic novels is a lot of fun. The crew has come into a lot of money through a successful heist, and we get to see a "fantasy 'bout being filthy rich" from many of the crew members. Wash's fantasy was particularly sweet - and sad, since we know it doesn't happen. I also really liked River's which involved bunny rabbits, frogs, candy canes, hot air balloons, and a giant fish in a tuxedo.

Of course this isn't all sweetness and light. There are the usual types of villains coming after them providing action and explosions and gun fights. There is also a very fun introduction by Adam Baldwin.

I look forward to the NEXT graphic novel, which is said to be called "The Shepherd's Tale" and will be about Shepherd book. I'm hoping it contains MANY details of his backstory.

I'm currently reading Serenity: The Official Visual Companion. I read bits & pieces of it back when I first bought it - and looked at all the pictures! :) This time I'm reading the entire thing cover to cover. And once I'm done I'm going to have to pop the DVD in. It's been much too long since I last watched it.

Anyhow, I'm posting this because in reading the interview with Joss, I came across two books to add to our group shelves and which some of you might be interested in reading. Joss says that he came up with the idea for Firefly after reading The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara while on vacation with his wife in England. He read several other books that also influenced his ideas about Firefly, but the only other one he references by title is Tillie: A Mennonite Maid - which helped influence the "patois with which the characters speak." I had to look up patois. :) Click on it for the wikipedia article. It's basically the nonstandard language they use that we all love so much.

I recently purchased a copy of Finding Serenity Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly which was edited by Jane Espenson. I haven't had a chance to read it yet. Hopefully soon! Have any of you read it, and if so, what did you think?

I just barely read Those Left Behind a few months ago, and I really loved it. I haven't read any others though, but I'm looking! Can't seem to find them at bookstores near me...

Luann wrote: "I recently purchased a copy of Finding Serenity Anti-Heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly which was edited by Jane Espenson. I haven't had ..."

have you had the chance to read it yet? there's also a sequel of sorts Serenity Found: More Unauthorized Essays on Joss Whedon's Firefly Universe I got a copy, but haven't had the time to read it yet. Not fully anyway, I read one or two essays in there.

My first introduction to the 'verse was actually Serenity before I even saw the movie or the series.

I'm ashamed to say that I haven't read it yet! I was going to work it into a challenge I was doing in another group, and then didn't get to it before the challenge was over. And since I now own it, it ends up taking a back seat to library books that have a due date. Thanks for the reminder, though, Anastasia! I will try to get to it sometime in the near future.

I just got Finding Serenity and Serenity Found in the mail today, and can't wait to read them! I was looking at all the Firefly/Serenity merchandise on Amazon, and settled on these two because they have essays by Nathan Fillion and Jewel Staite. I've also ordered Firefly Still Flying, and it should be here soon. I'll probably order the visual companions and/or the graphic novels next time. ;)

Very cool, Hilde! You'll have to let us know how you like them.

I hadn't heard of Firefly: Still Flying, so I'll go add that to our group shelves right now. Thanks!

Firefly: Still Flying: A Celebration of Joss Whedon's Acclaimed TV Series arrived today, and I'm looking through it now. There are lots of shiny pictures, articles and interviews, and the main reason I bought it: 4 new stories from writers of the TV episodes.

Has anyone read Investigating Firefly and Serenity: Science Fiction on the Frontier ?

I haven't read it, Anastasia, but thanks for posting about it! I've just added it to our group shelves.

And here's another one I just found (and pre-ordered) on Amazon:

One Power in the 'Verse: Finding God in Firefly and Serenity

Very interesting, Anastasia! THANKS!

No problem! I periodically search through Amazon for any new Firefly/Serenity themed books. :)

Good idea! Although if I did that, I would be tempted to buy them. :)

Hehe. I buy them. they are good reads, usually. Although I've yet to read the latest couple. Too much stuff to do. >.< I'm wearing too many hats, can't find the time to just settle down and read a book anymore.

Feel free to post reviews of Firefly books you've read here, Anastasia. Or even just links to your GR review, if you like.

I've once again added Finding Serenity to my plans for a challenge in another group - so maybe this time I'll actually get to it!! I really do want to read it.

Anastasia wrote: "Has anyone read Investigating Firefly and Serenity: Science Fiction on the Frontier ?"

I bought it ages ago, and have skim read it, but never found time to go through cover to cover. I've been trying to keep up with academia since my BA graduation, and firefly was the way to go :D

This won't be out until September 16, but some of you may be interested in adding Buffy, Ballads, and Bad Guys Who Sing: Music in the Worlds of Joss Whedon to your TBR.

Ian, I see that you added The Rime of the Ancient Mariner to our bookshelf. Thanks!! I never even thought of that.

It was written near to where I live, there's a statue of him (the Mariner) and everything, so might be a slight bias . . . Glad you liked it though. :D

Luann wrote: "This won't be out until September 16, but some of you may be interested in adding Buffy, Ballads, and Bad Guys Who Sing: Music in the Worlds of Joss Whedon to your TBR."

Oh yes, I've pre-ordered that. I am *very* keen to read it when it comes out! :D

I've also gotten my hands on Faith and Choice in the Works of Joss Whedon (Nathan Fillion and James Marsters on the cover) , I'm currently reading Serenity Found (finally! ) and I'm enjoying it immensely.

K, this is kind of off-topic, but I had to share with everyone, don't know why I didn't think of this before.

I just watched Dr. Horrible's SingAlong Blog off of Netflix today with my 17 year old daughter. I had just watched again recently on my own and totally remembered how much I loved it and wanted her to watch it. Then I remembered this group and all the Firefly/Serenity/Buffy/Angel/Dollhouse/Joss Whedon/Nathan Fillion fans out there and had to share.

It is a movie/film that is in 3 acts and is only about 45 min total, but produced/directed by Joss and just as entertaining as the rest of his work. I totally love watching it, I even bought it off of iTunes so I could have it on my computer for trips when internet isn't available. It's got Neil Patrick Harris and Nathan Fillion in it and is, I think, totally hilarious!

Anyway, let me know what you think, some of you might already know and watched it, if not you need to - it's on Netflix streaming!

Zan

Suzanne wrote: "K, this is kind of off-topic, but I had to share with everyone, don't know why I didn't think of this before.

I just watched Dr. Horrible's SingAlong Blog off of Netflix today with my 17 year old ..."

Hey Zan :) There are several here that have seen that and there is a thread for Dr. Horrible's in which SPOILERS are welcome, so you should check it out and join the discussions :)

I haven't actually watched it though (but I've been meaning to check it out) so I haven't really been part of that discussion cause I don't want to read any spoilers! But I will watch it soon!

Suzanne wrote: "K, this is kind of off-topic, but I had to share with everyone, don't know why I didn't think of this before.

I just watched Dr. Horrible's SingAlong Blog off of Netflix today with my 17 year old ..."

I was one of those people who crashed the server when the first act was posted online two and a half years ago! I love it and "Commentary! The Musical" which is the cast singing a commentary on the DVD. (There is a regular commentary as well.) The songs written for the commentary are just as memorable as the ones for Dr. Horrible.

And, on topic, there is an online comic out in USA today (part 1 came out yesterday, conclusion today) called "Serenity: Downtime".

C.G. wrote: "And, on topic, there is an online comic out in USA today (part 1 came out yesterday, conclusion today) called "Serenity: Downtime". "

Oh, that was a nice little story. Thanks for the link!

Thanks, guys! I figured I was probably just late to the party on that one :) But better late than never, right? haha

It is just like everything else Joss and Nathan seem to do, every time I watch it is just as good if not better than the first time!

Zan

I sure wish there were Firefly novels out there, you know like the ones Star Trek and Stargate do?

I read the comic Serenity: Those Left behind and thought it was fairly good, though a little too short and it didn't really ad much to the story of the show. It was interesting, and fun just to see a little more of the characters, and the animation was good, but it was nothing special.

wasn't 'those left behind' meant to be a link from series to the movie?

Possibly. I haven't read the second one yet.

Allons-y! wrote: "wasn't 'those left behind' meant to be a link from series to the movie?"

Yeah, I believe it was. It sort of just explains why the other left the ship. I thought they were rather good and sort of answered some questions.

I so want to read these books!