Serenity Found: More Unauthorized Essays on Joss Whedon's Firefly Universe

by Jane Espenson (Editor)

Paperback, 2007

Description

A lot has happened since Finding Serenity. We learned River's secret; Mal took on the Alliance. Our favorite crew became Big Damn Heroes. And the Browncoats proved that hard work, passion and a little fan coordination can do the impossible. Serenity Found takes the contents of Finding Serenity even further, exploring not just the show but the events of the film as well, to create an anthology that's even more thought-provoking, fascinating and far-thinking than its predecessor. * Acclaimed science fiction author Orson Scott Card lauds "Serenity" as film sci-fi finally done right * Writer and comedian Natalie Haynes reveals the real feminist savvy of the "Firefly" universe: the girls get the guns and the gags * Pop culture critic Michael Marano connects damaged, ass-kicking River to the other weaponized women of the Whedonverse * Multiverse executive producer Corey Bridges explains why the world of "Firefly" is the perfect setting for an MMORPG * Mutant Enemy's visual effects wizard Loni Peristere relates what he's learned from Joss about telling stories, and tells a story of his own about Serenity's design * Television Without Pity recapper Jacob Clifton frames "Serenity" as a parable about media: how it controls us, how we can control it and how to separate the signal from the noise * And Nathan Fillion, "Firefly" and "Serenity's" Captain Malcolm Reynolds, shares his affinity for Mal and his love of Mal's ship and crew.… (more)

Language

Original language

English

Original publication date

2007

Publication

Smart Pop (2007), 217 pages

ISBN

1933771216 / 9781933771212

Rating

½ (51 ratings; 3.9)

User reviews

LibraryThing member richardderus
The Book Report: Eighteen more essays about the moral, political, and ethical underpinnings, implications, and effects of the late, lamented "Firefly" TV series.

My Review: Last collection had yummy-yummy Jewel Staite, aka Kaylee, writing about her favorite things in each episode; this collection
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has the slurpsome Nathan Fillion reflecting on being the Captain! For that alone, it's worth the price of admission!

But wait! There's more! Loni Peristere (also a beauteous hunk of man-flesh, maybe Joss is a switch-hitter? All the men in the 'verse are so toothsome!), the f/x wizard behind the whole Whedonesque world, talks about the amazing and exacting Creator in terms of inspiring the best work from Loni and his minions, an essay that made me even angrier at the business-sound-but-aesthetically-idiotic cancellation of "Firefly". Then one Geoff Klock pulls apart and analyzes the brilliant, brilliant episode "Out of Gas", in search of storytelling genius and its telltale markers; there are many, and they are important for anyone interested in storytelling craft to study in depth. This essay makes that process almost easy, which is in itself a feat of storytelling.

Bruce Bethke's essay, "Cut 'Em Off At The Horsehead Nebula!", goes into the whys and wherefores of the SFnal aversion to Western tropes invading "its" territory, rooted in the pulp origins of SF, and its early competition with Western pulps for writers and readers. One can still hear nasty, condescending echoes of the war, which SF **won** and could and should drop, in the covert critical reception of "Firefly" as a damned Bat Durston story. Read the essay, I ain't explainin' that one. Too long, and also it pisses me the hell off.

My personal favorite essay is "The Bonnie Brown Flag", relating the "Firefly" underpinnings to the American Civil War's myth of the Noble Losers, the Gentleman Planters following the Bonnie Blue Flag. It's poignant, it's well crafted, and it's quite nicely argued.

The only essay that's a real flop is "The Virtual 'Verse", which was a waaay premature ad for the dead-in-the-water MMORPG of "Firefly" that was, at that time, being touted as forthcoming. Well, it never forthcame, and the essay looks like what it was: Blatant product placement. Ptui.

But then comes what I think is the most important essay: "The Alliance's War on Science" by Ken Wharton. Ten pages of keen observation on the nature of political propaganda masquerading as science. Again, if all you read is this one essay, your purchase price will be fully amortized. The subject is ever-more important, and this essay will sensitize you to the issue like never before.

Just like "Firefly" would have, had it survived intact to this good day. Next best thing is buying BenBella Books's essay collections. And, of course, reading them with the starved passion of a jilted lover. Or is it just me...?
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LibraryThing member verbafacio
It's amazing that a quickly canceled TV show and a single movie could spawn not one, but two essay collections. And even more amazing that the second batch is actually pretty good. Whether you are looking for a feminist take, or you are interested in the parallels between the Alliance and the Union
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in the Civil War, you will find something to interest you in this book. Plus, for all you fans out there, there's a short piece by Malcolm Reynolds himself, Nathan Fillion. Not all essays are winners, but there's more than enough to make the book worth it.
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LibraryThing member nesum
As I said in my review for the book, I thought Finding Serenity was hit-and-miss at best. There were several good essays, but those were almost all on feminism, and many of the others simply complained about the show being cancelled.

This book is what I wanted Finding Serenity to be. This collection
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of essays is first rate, almost without exception. There was only one essay I did not like (it was actually unreadable it was so bad), but the rest were interesting and informative.

Instead of all focusing on feminism, this collection addresses a very wide range of topics, touching on many of the complexities of the Firefly universe. Browncoats should be sure to grab this one!
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