My theory on Shepherd Book's 'secret' past by Algus

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

My theory on Shepherd Book's 'secret' past

POSTED BY: ALGUS
UPDATED: Sunday, March 12, 2006 06:11
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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 10:00 AM

Spoilers for like everything? Dont read if you havent watched show/movie, read comic, and so forth

Alright, this kind of goes along with the "Book's line in Objects in Space" but I decided to devote my own thread to it since I've been working on this for a couple days now and thought it might be able to use its own thread. I'll probably post it in my blog later after I modify it from some feedback.

First I ask what we know about Shepherd Book? The obvious, he claims to be a Shepherd, a sort of futuristic Christian Priest. We also know he has some sort of secret past. That secret past, is of course, the primary concern of this little analysis.

First, we have his combat training. He's a highly trained individual, not only with firearms, preferring notably a rifle in War Games. Not, I suspect, because it is useful for shooting out kneecaps. No, he favors this weapon because he knows it. He is also very well trained in the martial arts. In this, and I believe this to be a very important comparison, he resembles the Operative from Serenity. Obviously, to an American-Sino Alliance, the Martial Arts would be very important. They are still considered important in Asian countries to this day, and the Chinese influence upon the Verse would make this just as important, if not moreso. So, Book is a trained assassin as it were. This, I presume, all fans of the show know, right from the first episode when he skillfully takes down the Federal Marshal.

Now for his Alliance clearance. This is from the episode Safe and should be familiar to most viewers as well. His clearance is so high that the Captain of the Alliance Cruiser immedietly allows him access to their medical bay, no questions ask. Does this not resemble the Operative? His clearance changes the tone immedietly from one of agitated hostility to a FEARFUL respect. People fear this level of clearance, they fear what the people who possess it can do to them if they are displeased.

Now you might be guessing where I'm guiding this argument, and rolling your eyes because it is one that has been made before. I will say this now. I do not believe Shepherd Book is an Operative with the Alliance. Nor do I believe he was an Operative with the Alliance. There are several reasons for this. To keep with the Alliance clearance for a moment, it is worth noting that he still HAS Alliance clearance, so whatever he was a part of, he was able to make a clean break from. I have yet to determine fully how important this is. Could it be that he is from a powerful family? But as I mentioned, there are other things I suspect besides him being an Operative.

Let us take a moment to look at his history. He is a Shepherd, there can be no question as to this. Things he does, in the show, especially in the comic, do not question this. Whatever he was in the past, he was a Shepherd. When he says that he has been out of the Abbey for only two days in Serenity, he is telling the truth. If you know the comic, considered canon, you know that he strikes Captain Reynolds in a moment of anger. That is when things begin to change. At first he can't bare to even think of what he is "Calling me that just makes this harder," he says at one point. Later he decides to leave the ship. Because he knows Mal doesn't care that the Shepherd struck him, but the Shepherd does. He cares that since he's joined Serenity, he's given into violence. At first it was justified, disabling the lawman, and so forth. But as time has gone by, it has changed from justified, to anger. He struck Mal with anger and that knowledge was so painful to him, he could not bare it.

This tells me that he is more then just a Shepherd. Yes, we know this, but it is important to lay out regardless. Supposing he had been a Shepherd his entire life, it is my belief that had these things begun to occur, he would have reacted to them in a different manner. He would never have known true evil, he would not have felt the loss of his vows so keenly. No, there is something in his past so terrible that the thought of losing all that he is as a Shepherd is so terrible to him that he is willing to turn his back on his friends, his good friends. And I believe he does look at Serenity's crew as good friends. They've been through to much for him to look at them in any other way.

This is where I come to the most damning part of my analysis. I love Shepherd Book but now I must condemn him as a monster. Why you say? What is it? What is it that is so painful about his past? So painful that he has tried with everything to abandon it. Even to close friends like Mal, he refuses to speak of it. Telling him, as sternly as you'll ever here him, that he doesn't have to tell Mal anything. It's because he's tried to forget it. He is responsible for some sort of atrocity. I don't know what that atrocity is but I am confident it is surely as bad as, if not worse then the creation of the Reavers. It is something horrible and horrific and the only way he was able to retain his sanity was to swear off his evil ways and embrace the complete opposite, that of a Shepherd. In this manner his death was justified. Why else would his life be so thrown away?

From a technical and stylistic standpoint we know that Whedon will kill his characters for the sake of drama. But Whedon is not a bad writer, he never kills his characters without letting us see all there is to see. The initial reaction is that we have not seen all of Shepherd Book, but upon reflection, I don't believe this is true. Whedon has killed Book, not simply for the sake of giving the audience a thrill and making them wonder who might be next, he has killed Book because HE HAS given us Book's story. He has killed Book because Book deserved death for the horrible crimes he has committed. Simply because we do not know the nature of those crimes does not mean he does not deserve this punishment.

Is this a stretch? Think to Objects in Space, think to what River reads from Book. Book wasn't just someone well trained in arms, a high ranking Alliance official, he was a man who HAD evil thoughts and as repentant as he might be now, has he truly atoned for his misdeeds?

Thus I conclude. You didn't need me to tell you Book was more then just a Shepherd, if you hadn't figured it out by Objects in Space then Early told you, "That ain't know Shepherd." But I stand by this analysis of Book. I stand by my belief that his death was a deserved one, as much as we might love him for what he became, if we knew what he was, we never could have embraced him. And that might very well be the brillance of Joss Whedon, presenting a monster in a way that would make us embrace him.

To further discuss the way I perceive Book I will say a few more things about him. Whatever his "secret" was, if my analysis is wrong, it was something that would have been revealed to us. Book was fated to die, yet another reason I believe as I do. His story was a major part of the first season, even if no one episode focused on him, virtually each one gave us some insight into his "secret past" and unlike Inara's past, which was very barely hinted at, Book's was one that was evidently very important to the season one writers. If the show had continued, he would have been revealed to us, and he would have met justice.

I still love Book, I still think of him as a good man, but I am sure of this, the secrets he holds are terrible indeed. He is no saintly devil as Serenity's the Operative. He did not commit horrible deeds for the sake of a better tomorrow. He was simply a monster, comparable moreso to the blue gloved men then any Operative. I hope only that his true nature is never disclosed to us, because I am sure it will damn him completely. That, at any rate, is my take on Book and his "secrets"

---
Where's the KABOOM?! There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom! *sigh* Delays...delays...

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 10:33 AM

MATTCOZ

Very well thought out theory, can't say I disagree with any particular point. I'm not convinced he's quite the monster you made him out to be though.

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 10:44 AM

MALICIOUS

In my opinion, he cannot be a monster if he is sorry. Monsters aren't sorry for anything. That's what makes them monsters.

One point that has always struck me as strange is that when he meets Kaylee in Persephone, he says "I'm called Book" not "My name is Book." It's just a little thing, but it always makes me think he is aware that his name could be known to others and/or that he doesn't want to be associated with his true identity (who he truly is--The Real Him?).

Mal-licious

I'm going to add cursing and the hurling about of things to my repertoire.

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 12:16 PM

SAINTANDEOL

i agree that he was part of something horrible, that involved mass death. at first i thought he might just be some secret agent, but then i noticed something while watching "Bushwacked", during the scene where Book, Simon, and Jayne are cutting down the Reaver victims.

Both Simon and Jayne, who have had cause to be around death a'pleanty in their lives, are wearing those surgeon's masks for the stink of corpses. Book is not. How much death do you have to smell to be more accustomed to it than both a trauma surgeon and a cold blooded merc?

"This is our concern, Dude."

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 1:26 PM

THEPISTONENGINE

Good pick up, Saint.

Personally, I think Book is guilty of stealing the tooth fairy's money from under childrens pillows. Heinous.

I just wanted to point out, contradicting what was said in the original post, that martial arts aren't strictly an eastern tradition. I know you didn't mean to limit it, so I'm not being overly critical, but there is a distinction to be made.

I'm not talking about Dojo's and Sensi's in America and Western Europe, I'm talking about where we can find a western practical usage of martial arts: the military. It's not what you see in "Kung Fu, the Legend Continues." It's quick, dirty, and meant to seriously harm people. Go for the eyes, go for the throat. Pick up anything that can be used for a weapon. This isn't touch fighting like in karate tournments, we're talk UFC fighting, except quicker, nastier, and deadly.

_____________
Carry the Nuttin'

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 1:31 PM

ANNA

I'm left with the same question I have about Book being an Operative: why would the Alliance just let him go?

He's obviously still on good terms with the Alliance, what with his cushy free healthcare - he's obviously not hiding from them either. If Book was part of something big, if he knew Alliance secrets, do you think they'd just let him walk out the door?

I like your theory though! Although I'm still set (momentarily, at least) in my, "He was an Operative! He was an Operative!" ways

But I like your thinkin'!

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Wednesday, March 8, 2006 4:15 PM

ALGUS

Thank you for the interesting feedback. Book is one of my favorites and as is probably obvious I enjoy speculation about him. You've all helped me to refine my theory a bit.

Mattcoz - I was almost tempted not to post this because I was afraid I might get some heated backlash from ardent Book supporters. It can be a lot to stomach, thinking of the Shepherd as a "bad" man. Anyway, maybe I did demonize him a bit, used some stronger language then I meant. I believe what makes him so interesting is that he DID see evil. He DID do evil. And that is what has made him into the good man we know.

Malicious - Oh this is going to sound like a dig and I dont mean it that way but I call semantics. Alright, so we don't want to use "monster" to describe him, villain then, "bad man" more simply. I think he was, at one time, almost as evil as one could conceivably be, but something happened to him, something happened that made him repentant. If monster is too evil then another word.

Loved your comment about his true identity, I guess I didn't mention it in my analysis but I think "Derriel Book" is indeed an alias, would expect him to do no less then live under a false name.

Saintandeol - Excellent observation. Were this any other series I would suspect it was some sort of costume glitch (In fairness Firefly did have one or two, remember Wash "holding" the steering wheel towards the end of the pilot?) I just don't like the "secret agent" idea at all, I think it cheapens him somehow, very high military yes. Yet, he still has his Alliance clearance...this is something I just haven't been able to clear up, how could he have made a clean break? Still, the Alliance was never depicted as "an evil Empire" as the Operative puts it, just a government willing to do evil things.

Thepistonengine - To be honest, I wasnt thinking about that and I THANK you for giving me the benefit of the doubt and making me look smarter then I really am ;) After reading your post it has got me thinking that perhaps he may have been VERY high military at some point. Something that he could have conceivably left, and still had benefits. Veteran's benefits? Sounds crazy, but again the Alliance is supposed to be just a government...who knows.

Anna - I think we're really on the same page in the book so to speak, except for the Operative part. I just don't think he was an Operative, I really don't. Maybe I'm just saying that because I'd be really dissapointed if he was. I like him so I want to make him out to be more even if that is evil. Who knows though, our Operative was willing to do sadistic things for a better tomorrow but maybe other Operatives simply like doing sadistic things for their sake. So maybe that is all that needs to be said about Book.

I am reminded of something from the movie though "Knowing secrets isnt my business, keeping them is" Somehow he's made a clean break and still enjoys the benefits of being a high rank Alliance citizen, so whatever has gone down they do not care that he left. I think this really bolsters the argument that he wasn't necessarily some sort of secret operative. Though that might instead make him a public figure that could be recognized. (Mayhaps there was more to River screaming at him in that one scene where he had his hair all crazy then meets the eye?)

Anyway, once again, thanks for the interesting comments guys.

---
Where's the KABOOM?! There was supposed to be an earth-shattering kaboom! *sigh* Delays...delays...

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Thursday, March 9, 2006 12:41 AM

ANNA

Quote:
Originally posted by Algus:
I guess I didn't mention it in my analysis but I think "Derriel Book" is indeed an alias, would expect him to do no less then live under a false name.

I always thought "Book" was kind of, too obvious a name for a shepherd (you know, the good Book, har har). When I first heard it I thought it was a bit of an easy name for someone who believes so deeply in the bible, maybe that's another hint to it being an alias. Maybe I'm just overreaching though.

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Thursday, March 9, 2006 12:40 PM

BROWNCOATGHOST

Quote:
Originally posted by Anna:
I'm left with the same question I have about Book being an Operative: why would the Alliance just let him go?

He's obviously still on good terms with the Alliance, what with his cushy free healthcare - he's obviously not hiding from them either. If Book was part of something big, if he knew Alliance secrets, do you think they'd just let him walk out the door?

Who said he ever left the Alliance?

He might have been let go officially, but kept on unofficially. Why would they allow this? Simple: can you think of a better spy than one who would be immediately trusted and welcomed anytime and anywhere because of the trappings of his faith?

This is not to say that I think he isn't really a shepherd now, that he means anyone harm, that he doesn't have something to hide, or that he didn't do something so awful in the past it warranted a new identity. But when it comes to knowing exactly who your enemies are, how many of them there are, where they are and what they know about you, there is no better way to discover the information than to wear the veneer of someone who is above reproach -- someone who can easily make themselves essential to everyone around them -- and go sauntering boldly into the lion's den as though the secrets of your soul were written on your face. It's part of the rules of warfare.

Hell, it's what I would do.

As to who I think he is: he definitely is/was high-ranking military at some point. He knows his ships, he knows his guns, he knows field trauma surgery; and he is known to not only the likes of Jubal Early, but that peon captain whose ship they approached for medical aid in 'Safe' -- a random captain in the middle of gorram nowhere. In 'War Stories', he moved and shot like a seasoned soldier -- very calmly and deliberately -- and noted exactly how poorly Simon was shooting in all that fray. Another thing that stuck out for me during that episode was when Zoë asked him if he was good during their prep to go in, his response was an emphatic, 'Yes, ma'am!', as though he was accustomed to saying it. He was also very, very upset about the death of the fed Dobson in the 'Serenity' episode: I noticed he placed particular emphasis on 'the man I swore to protect' when he was weeping to Inara. Now, that could mean he just casually followed Dobson onto Serenity while looking like a simple passenger himself. This leads me to speculate that they were a team sent to retrieve River, but differed on the subject of how to go about it. When Dobson shot Kaylee in his agitation, Book put him down hard and without hesitation -- yet refused to let Jayne touch him. I figure he stayed with Serenity after Dobson's death if only to keep tabs on River and collect more info, since the crew travels a lot and it would have looked almighty suspicious if he'd asked to be let off immediately after the incident. Perhaps, after that, the crew kind of grew on him and he developed another reason to stay. Or not.

Just my stray thoughts.

(Was in the middle of editing the post for more thoughts when the board went down for maintenance. Fixed now.)

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Thursday, March 9, 2006 4:49 PM

LEEBO

But would you blow the whole plot by patching your spy up right quick in your infirmary while your "sheep" watch?

No, it doesn't make any sense that he's a spy because that would just give the Alliance one more reason not to treat him when Serenity siddles up to the cruiser asking for help. Better to leave him dead then to spoil the whole plot then and there.

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Thursday, March 9, 2006 5:40 PM

JAYNESBUNKWOMAN

Quote:
Originally posted by ThePistonEngine:
Personally, I think Book is guilty of stealing the tooth fairy's money from under childrens pillows. Heinous.

he's going to that special hell reserved for child molesters and people who talk in theatres...

But Seriously, my personal opinion is that he is not an opeative but has very high connections in the alliance. Whether that's military or political or family. They let him go with an understanding. And yes, he's starts sliding so he takes the higher road for the sake of his beliefs a a shepherd, even when that means leaving his loved ones behind. Maybe his bad in the past has to do with past loved ones and maybe a revenge killing lust....

I'll be in Jaynes bunk

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Thursday, March 9, 2006 7:28 PM

BROWNCOATGHOST

Quote:
Originally posted by Leebo:
But would you blow the whole plot by patching your spy up right quick in your infirmary while your "sheep" watch?

No, it doesn't make any sense that he's a spy because that would just give the Alliance one more reason not to treat him when Serenity siddles up to the cruiser asking for help. Better to leave him dead then to spoil the whole plot then and there.

He's obviously valuable enough that they want/need him alive. It could be there's some sort of failsafe in place that they would know if he spilled anything sensitive; River had a trigger in Serenity, so maybe Book has something similar. Better to leave people wondering what the guy's about and confident they'll never know without you knowing about it. As it is, Book did say he'd tell the crew 'someday', but didn't offer any more criteria for that eventuality. Maybe he meant a day when he could tell them the truth and not have to worry about his brain literally imploding, I don't know. Just speculation on my part.

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Thursday, March 9, 2006 8:01 PM

MATTCOZ

I wonder if River knows his secret, maybe we'll find out about him through her.

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Friday, March 10, 2006 3:44 AM

BROWNCOATGHOST

Could be it's just my very tired brain reading too much into things, but Book saying that he and River had developed a special bond (only to find his bible in shreds later) sticks out in my mind right now. Had to wonder what he meant by that since I didn't recall him spending any significant length of time with her.

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Friday, March 10, 2006 4:44 AM

ISAACSHEPHERD

One thought I don't think has been mentioned so far is maybe Book is retired? Perhaps he spent 20 or 30 years working his way up the chain in the Alliance. There are some moments in the series that surprise me that about Book.

In the Train Job I noticed Inara and him talk about praying for Mal. Book says "I don't think the Captain would much like me praying for him."
That doesn't sound like a Shepherd, or at least much of an expereinced one. Asking a companion about faith, as he does in the pilot I believe and about life in space.

Another instance is in OoG. When he is reading his Bible and River comes in, he is scared out of his mind that he is going to die. I'm not saying I wouldn't be concerned but I would think he'd find comfort in his bible if he really has a strong developed faith.

I have a few theories that maybe he had something to do with Unification, or maybe he was in command playing chess against Mal in the Battle for Serenity. Who knows? I'm thinking maybe after he found out about Reavers, or maybe helping create them he retired from the Alliance. A long shot maybe but still possible.

As for his fighting skills and such, I can't really see Book being a blind believer, like the Operative. He has the fighting skills and intelligence. And when he died he took down an Alliance ship. Not bad for a Shepherd huh?
IS

The Bible's a bit fuzzy on the subject of kneecaps.

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Friday, March 10, 2006 7:39 AM

FITZ

ok quickly to sum up wat i think and have read, although admittadly i skipped some so forgive me. He is either:

1) Creator of the reavers - Nice idea, plenty of hints; repenting for great attrocities an the like. Mal decidin to find Miranda (an the truth of Books past?) just after his death on haven. There is a very quick change in Mal's oppinion on Miranda after this (supernatural suggestion? -no probably not). However begs the question y was he allowed jus to go (think to the operative killin the scientist for lettin river go, wouldnt explain jis weapon skills.

Most likely wrong.

2)An ex-torturer - would explain the repenting theory, an possibly the weapon skill, think Niska. Would also explain his knowledge of Shan - Yu in war stories (thanx anna and mattcoz)

ok i need help thinkin cons for this idea but personally i believe its wrong

3) An operative - would explain A LOT! weaponskill, repenting theory

operative: "I am a monster"

also cleverly links with sheperd idea. Sheperds guide there flock across to better places:

The Operative: I'm sorry. If your quarry goes to ground,leave no ground to go to. You should have taken my offer. Or did you think none of this was your fault?
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: I don't murder children.
The Operative: I do. If I have to.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: Why? Do you even know why they sent you?
The Operative: It's not my place to ask. I believe in something greater than myself. A better world. A world without sin.
Capt. Malcolm Reynolds: So me and mine gotta lay down and die... so you can live in your better world?
The Operative: I'm not going to live there. There's no place for me there... any more than there is for you. Malcolm... I'm a monster.What I do is evil. I have no illusions about it, but it must be done.

the operative believes he is helpin the 'verse get to this world without sin.

surely this passage from the operative sums up wat book could have been?

Later the opertative says somethin like their is nothin left for me, i am nothin, blah blah

is this not how Book feels?

an finally on the "the alliance jus wouldnt let him go" issue...

does the operative say im jus gonna fade away into nothing, iam nothing blah blah blah. I cant remember an im really rushin this so sorry for any mistakes bnut i want to get it down before i forget.

on this point it would make sense. It is a similar way for book.

Finally He was either able to jus fade away or more likely the alliacne granted him freedom after he had to do something terrible for them. Would explain still being reputated among them an the high lvl clearance

Thats probably a load of bull shit an i still not 100% on any of it but its the three views summed up. If you reply to me with any changes i will and will also update it to make it better layed out with real English. I'm tryin not to be biased because there still many cons against the operative idea. If you guys want to comment on it i could make it like a sort of HANDBOOK OF BOOK for all new commers to read an get the general consensus with all the ideas fopr an against laid simply rather than forcing them to traul through threads and threads of ideas and thoeries like i had to. Input would be graciously accepted as i am jus one man with one view point.

Men of Honour - Just keep walkin preacher man...

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Friday, March 10, 2006 7:57 AM

ANNA

Quote:
Originally posted by BrowncoatGhost:
Who said he ever left the Alliance?

Ah, excellent point. I'm sure I had some sort of reason and basis for thinking/saying that, but unfortunately I cannot for the life of me remember it, heh. I'll post it if it comes to mind though.

Quote:
Originally posted by Fitz:
2)An ex-torturer - would explain the repenting theory, an possibly the weapon skill, think Niska.

He's also familiar with the works of Shan Yu. Although I personally don't go for this theory, it's still interesting to bear in mind.

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Friday, March 10, 2006 7:58 AM

MATTCOZ

Quote:
Originally posted by Fitz:
2)An ex-torturer - would explain the repenting theory, an possibly the weapon skill, think Niska.

Supported by the episode "War Stories" and his familiarness with the works of Shan-Yu.

edit: heh, I guess Anna and I think alike

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Friday, March 10, 2006 8:05 AM

ANNA

Quote:
Originally posted by mattcoz:
heh, I guess Anna and I think alike

Great minds think alike!
Or fools seldom differ

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Friday, March 10, 2006 9:14 AM

CTHAWK

I think we're over analyzing the complexity of Book's story (if not the interestingness). I mean we all know Mal's past. It's not very complex but it is still compelling and makes him a good character.
I just think Book is a retired operative (perhaps not an operative like The Operative). Sort of like a retired CIA undercover agent. When he retired he wanted to leave his old life behind after becoming increasingly disillusioned with the Alliance. He became a Shepherd to believe in something pure again.
I'm sure there would've been many interesting stories which we would have learned over many seasons. But that doesn't necessarily mean Book was anyone especially cruel or devious. (It also doesn't rule it out.)

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Friday, March 10, 2006 10:04 AM

RABBIT2

I wonder if Book was possibly the Operative/Alliance Commander responsible for the destruction of the Shadow colony?
That has a lot of neat possibilities as far as Mal`s backstory is concerned.

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Friday, March 10, 2006 11:51 AM

WHOME

I thought at first that he may have been a judge, or a legislator of a sort that punishes criminals, and that he had been especially harsh and unfair on people. (A "hanging judge".) Later, I figured that he must have been some sort of Alliance war hero.
As a decorated veteran, he would have access to treatment at military medical facilities. This would also explain why the bounty hunter and Saffron both knew he was someone other than a Shepherd, but didn't call him out on it.
A military connection would help explain why he is so drawn to the crew of Firefly- he is as tortured by his wartime experiences as Mal is, but is trying to forget and atone for them, rather than living in the past as Mal is. He may feel that by helping Mal with his issues he can somehow gain forgiveness for atrocities committed in the name of the Alliance during the war.
I know the reaction to this theory will be, "So why doesn't anyone else know who he is?" but (this is aimed at Americans) can you name the last recipient of the Medal of Honor? Or even the last soldier whose picture was published in your local paper? They're celebrated as heroes, and then quickly forgotten, unless someone makes a movie about them. So, Saffron (if she really was a companion) and others might remember him because they attended a ceremony honoring him, or were introduced to him when he was the hero of the month, but everyone else would have forgotten his face.

I can kill you with my brain!

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Friday, March 10, 2006 11:56 AM

WHOME

"Both Simon and Jayne, who have had cause to be around death a'pleanty in their lives, are wearing those surgeon's masks for the stink of corpses. Book is not. How much death do you have to smell to be more accustomed to it than both a trauma surgeon and a cold blooded merc?"

There was an episode of ER where a janitor said that he wasn't squeamish about cleaning up vomit and blood and such because he believed that god made all of us, so anything that came out of our bodies must be all right. Following the same logic, maybe Book just felt that the smell, while unpleasant, was just part of god's creation.

I can kill you with my brain!

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Friday, March 10, 2006 12:37 PM

ANNA

Quote:
Originally posted by WhoMe:
Following the same logic, maybe Book just felt that the smell, while unpleasant, was just part of god's creation.

But on the other hand, whatever the Reavers did to them, god knows it would NOT have been natural.

I think now would be an appropriate time to use this hideous and pointless emoticon:

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Friday, March 10, 2006 1:13 PM

TH1RT3EN

There are some great theories here.
My 2 cents:
I liken Book to a retired high ranking military commander for the Alliance who perhaps during the war committed what the Independents would consider war crimes. Perhaps he was the Alliance Commander during the battle of Serenity and made the decision to leave those who had survived to die. Maybe he did worse things in the name of unification. Being on the winning side of a war, his war time decisions/atrocities might be generally recognized by the Alliance as heroic decisions for the cause. As a man, maybe he saw them for what they were and could no longer be part of this. Thus resigning from his position and path of life; and in seeking a way to forgive himself, or make ammends he sought the path of a Shepherd.
anyway, maybe one day it will be revealed...

A little suffering is good for the soul...

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Saturday, March 11, 2006 10:46 AM

LEEBO

So he's important enough to get fixed up by the Alliance amid their enemies but not to call off a strike on Haven?

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Saturday, March 11, 2006 6:58 PM

BROWNCOATSANDINISTA

I don't think that Shepherd Book ever left the Alliance. That isn't to say that he was High Military, or something to that end, but he is so importan that the Alliance can't kill him, but he can't be entirely free. He has leverage, but only to a point, as shown that only when the only way to slow River's escape was to kill him that they did. Also, Joss said in the Commentary that Shepherd Book's story hasn't been told, and it may not be until Ron Glass is literally dying.

If anyone gets nosy...Shoot em.
Shoot em sir?
Politely.

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Saturday, March 11, 2006 7:41 PM

JOHNBOY

A minor point, but one that I don't think anyone has considered - everyone knows that Book's ident card gave him instant access to the medical facilities aboard that Alliance cruiser, but how do we know that this is a genuine ID? After all, if Book does have a sinister past then it's not beyond belief that he carries any number of fake ID's with him.

Or, perhaps, it carries a built-in bribe - insert it into an Alliance ident-reader and it might say: "the bearer of this card promises to grease your palm to the tune of 20,000 shineys, no question's asked".

Why not? It's as likely a theory as any other.

And his real name? The Dread Pirate Roberts, of course.

Cheers,
Johnboy

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Saturday, March 11, 2006 8:54 PM

KWICKO

"We'll know our disinformation program is complete when everything the American public believes is false." -- William Casey, Reagan's presidential campaign manager & CIA Director (from first staff meeting in 1981)

Quote:
So he's important enough to get fixed up by the Alliance amid their enemies but not to call off a strike on Haven?

Short answer? Yup.

Long answer? I posted a while back that I thought Book was probably NOT an Operative of the Alliance, but more likely a high-ranking military official, quite possibly the one in charge of Alliance forces at the Battle of Serenity Valley. As such, he's seen and done things that no human would ever want to recall - yet in the eyes of the Alliance, he's a hero! As such, he'd be allowed to retire and go on his way, with full Alliance benefits, and of course having been sworn to secrecy. Think of someone like Norman Schwarzkopf; highly-decorated war hero, yet no one tried to disappear him when he decided to retire.

Now, since he wasn't a full-fledged Operative, his secrets will tend to be more military than political. I get the distinct impression that Operatives of the Alliance don't retire. Ever. They get killed in action, or they die by "accident". They know too much, they're too unstable (being self-confessed "monsters" and all). I don't think an Operative was going to be allowed to just walk out, become a Shepherd, and still have the juice to get the best trauma care the military can provide, no questions asked. If it were that easy to leave such a nepharious, underground job, they wouldn't have been after River in the first place. As Stalin said, "Two can keep a secret, if one of them is dead." :)

As for why Book wouldn't have gotten a heads-up about the hit on Haven: Why would he? If he's a retired military officer, it's not like he'd be under constant surveillance. It's entirely possible that the Alliance didn't know he was there, OR that they deemed the Operative's mission as having priority over Book's life. In other words, for the Alliance, it's a case of "it sucks to be Book, but it's out of our hands."

When you're talking about someone like the Operative, and things like Black Ops, you're dealing with a VERRRRRYYY shadowy world, where rules and ethics are deemed expendable under the right circumstances. The CIA definitely DID try to assassinate Castro, at least once... but if he'd shown up in Washington DC with an illness that we had the cure for, he'd have been welcomed with open arms. Just because you'll save a person in one set of circumstances doesn't mean you wouldn't kill them just as quickly in another. It's all about situational ethics and putting on a good diplomatic face - as long as anyone might be looking! When they're not looking and the situation is more... "fluid", then you can slip the knife in. :)

Mike

A baby seal walks into a club...

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Saturday, March 11, 2006 10:58 PM

PIRATENEWS

John Lee, conspiracy therapist at Hollywood award-winner History Channel-mocked SNL-spoofed PirateNew.org wooHOO!!!!!!

Quote:
ALGUS wrote:

My theory on Shepherd Book's "secret" past

Roger that. Joss loves turning monsters into allies you want to pal around with.

Ron's secret past was that he really was a shepherd:

Quote:
Ron Glass is one of the famous alumni of Saint Francis Seminary. Ron says his most memorable experience at the seminary is the time he had to sing his solo for the clerics at St. Leonard College.
www.franciscan-alumni.org/stories/glass.html

Now that's downright creepifyin.

But Book ENJOYED his death, bragging to Mal: "I shot down the ship that killed us!" Firing that AA gun like a career soldier, just like Mal.

That must have been tough, killing his old asshole-buddies, in self-defense. So Book did have a 2nd paradigm shift, thanks to Serenity. First, restitution as a shephard - for his crimes against humanity. Then redemption with Operation Miranda - saving River (CIA MK-ULTRA Manufacturing Killers Utilizing Lethal Tradecraft Requiring Assassination), and whistleblowing re Alliance crimes against humanity. So Mal, who turned his back on God, ironically gave Book the redemption Book sought from God. But Nathan did play a priest on BTVS, tho an evil one.

If Book wanted to die a comfortable death, surrounded by a wife and kids, then he woulda been a Granpa.

Quote:
MATTCOZ wrote:

I wonder if River knows his secret, maybe we'll find out about him through her.

BROWNCOATGHOST wrote:

Could be it's just my very tired brain reading too much into things, but Book saying that he and River had developed a special bond (only to find his bible in shreds later) sticks out in my mind right now. Had to wonder what he meant by that since I didn't recall him spending any significant length of time with her.

Perhaps Book is NOT retired Alliance, but active duty for a rival Alliance Intel agency, spying on whatever covert group is running River's mind-kontrol project. That would explain why he picked Serenity, not its destination. Was he tailing Dr Tam? Not to arrest him and River, but to spy on River once she woke up? Jesuit priests are notorious spies, skilled in the art of torture since the Inquisition. Confessional was a great scam to gather Intel for the Papal State.

Quote:
BROWNCOATGHOST wrote:

He was also very, very upset about the death of the fed Dobson in the 'Serenity' episode: I noticed he placed particular emphasis on 'the man I swore to protect' when he was weeping to Inara. Now, that could mean he just casually followed Dobson onto Serenity while looking like a simple passenger himself. This leads me to speculate that they were a team sent to retrieve River, but differed on the subject of how to go about it. When Dobson shot Kaylee in his agitation, Book put him down hard and without hesitation -- yet refused to let Jayne touch him. I figure he stayed with Serenity after Dobson's death if only to keep tabs on River and collect more info, since the crew travels a lot and it would have looked almighty suspicious if he'd asked to be let off immediately after the incident. Perhaps, after that, the crew kind of grew on him and he developed another reason to stay. Or not.

Spooks are always spying on their own spooks. River was certainly a primo target. So maybe Book was spying on Dobson, not working with him.

Quote:
Lawman, it's Shepherd Book.

He opens the door --

BOOK (cont'd)
I believe you're in more danger
than --

That sounds like they were probably not working together, or he would have just called him Dobson. They did swap punches, and Book nearly got his head caved in with a fire extinguisher, with extra malice.

Quote:
I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not! So where does that put you?
-Book

When River read his mind, it sounds like he's tailing River on purpose. Maybe. Or perhaps River was just being psychotic, not psychic.

Interesting character. And Joss even picked a funny actor to play him.

FYI - Affidavit of CIA director Bill Casey, attorney at law, the month of his "stroke" to prevent testifying to Kerry's Iran-Contra Committee in Congress, re CIA dealing coke in USA (Operative's ice-cold "justification" of Alliance warcrimes):
www.nexusmagazine.com/articles/beast2.html

Quote:
My actions may be recorded as criminal, condemning countless american's (sic) to drug dependency. I don't care. All wars produce casualties. Generally the more violent the war, the shorter the length. My choice was either to stare down a protracted cold war guerilla insurgency in Latin America or use the means' (sic) available to finance and wage a violent war of short duration for democracy. I stand by my decisions. The tool is cocaine. The trick is to understand that the drug user had the freedom to make a choice. They chose the drug. I chose to use their habit to finance the democracy that all american's (sic) enjoy. To keep those american's (sic) safe from the communist threat knocking on our back door in Latin America. For a change the drug user will contribute to society.

I declare under penalty of perjury that the above facts are true and correct to the best of my knowledge and belief.

Executed this 9th day of December 1986 in McLean, Virginia, (signed) William J. Casey

I don't think it would bother anyone too much if we laid you to rest in the bottom of one of these canyons.
-Book

Casey conveniently "died" within a few months. Some say he retired incognito... Kids, just say NO to CIA's drugs. And stay off the PAXILon HCl - it'll turn you into a Reaver - FOR REAL.

FIREFLY SERENITY PILOT MUSIC VIDEO (VERSION 2)
Tangerine Dream - Thief Soundtrack: Confrontation
http://radio.indymedia.org/news/2006/03/8912.php

http://home.att.net/%7ethe11thhour/

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Sunday, March 12, 2006 6:11 AM

MALECOMPANION

New member, new to the series, just bought it and only have 3 shows left I have 2 points to make that I am surprised no-one has picked up on.

A) Maybe he IS a shepard, but was attached to the army like the army of today has a chaplin etc but he would have had basic combat training etc.

B) He choose Serenity before Simon come on so he could not be tracking them, also he was looking at the ships themselves so he knew what type of transport he wanted, only someone who knew ships would do that, again points to him maybe being a member of the alliance BUT as a shepard.

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