Serenity

~by Keith R. A. DeCandido

I've not really read any movie novelizations before, sensing that they should generally be avoided. However, being a huge fan of Firefly and Serenity, I made an exception in this case. While not completely worthless, I did find the book to be rather disappointing.

DeCandido stays true to the film while adding in some scenes that had been cut from the final version of the film. Also included were scenes from and references to the series, which I found to be be good but not always handled very well. Most of his interpretations were very straight forward and didn't add much to the 'verse although there are a few additions that I've not seen in any other Firefly/Serenity source. Unfortunately, some aspects of his writing style in this novelization are absolutely atrocious and quite frankly irritating.

For a Browncoat completist (which I am) this book is worth investing the seven dollars or so to purchase. Most fans might also appreciate it to some extent, although I know of some who were absolutely horrified by it. Other readers should probably just skip it and stick to the movie.

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Finding Serenity: Anti-heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly

~edited by Jane Espenson

Finding Serenity is a collection of twenty essays, a glossary of Chinese used on the Firefly television series, and an introduction by the editor Jane Espenson, who wrote the episode "Shindig" for the series. Most of the essays, which cover a wide variety of topics, are quite humorous and all of them are interesting, especially if one is familiar with Firefly.

Essays include: The Reward, the Details, the Devils, the Due; The Heirs of Sawney Beane; Asian Objects in Space; The Rise and Fall (and Rise) of Firefly; Who Killed Firefly?; "The Train Job" Didn't Do the Job; Serenity and Bobby McGee; Firefly vs. The Tick; We're All Just Floating in Space; More Than a Marriage of Convenience; "Thanks for the reenactment, sir"; Whores and Goddesses; The Captain May Wear Tight Pants, but It's the Girls Who Make Serenity Soar; I Want Your Sex; Just Shove Him in the Engine, or The Role of Chivalry in Joss Whedon's Firefly; Mirror/Mirror: A Parody; Star Truck; Chinese Words in the 'Verse; Listening to Firefly; Kaylee Speaks: Jewel Saite on Firefly; Unofficial Glossary of Firefly Chinese.

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Serenity: Those Left Behind

~by Joss Whedon and Brett Matthews
~art by Will Conrad

Serenity: Those Left Behind contains the first three issues of what may be a continuing comic series set in the Firefly/Serenity 'Verse. To me, it seems to be set up very much like a Firefly episode, jumping right into the action and story line. These three comics form a bridge between the Firefly television series and Serenity, doing a nice job of explaining how the crew got to the point we find them in the movie. The art is great (mostly) without being exceptional, likewise with the story itself. Overall, the book is great fun, although very short. A definite read for fans.

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Serenity: The Official Visual Companion

~by Joss Whedon

I will admit it now: I am a huge Firefly/Serenity fan.

That being said: The Official Visual Companion was a little disappointing and very satisfying at the same time. Being a "visual" companion, it had plenty of shiny photographs. Most of the text was made up of the original shooting script (the final release of the movie remained very close to the original script), and an interview with Joss Whedon, the creator and writer. (If you happen to watch the movie with commentary, you will recognize some of the same material.) Also included was a handful of vignettes about lighting, music, costuming, etc. I found the book to be very interesting, and gorgeous to look at, however, I wish there were more vignettes covered in greater detail.

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