What's With Book? by Werzbowski

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

What's With Book?

POSTED BY: WERZBOWSKI
UPDATED: Tuesday, January 6, 2004 15:50
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VIEWED: 4307
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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 4:06 AM

So my wife & I are watching "SAFE" last night and it happens to be her first time seeing that particular EP. Just after the Alliance checks Book's ident card and his status suddenly reverses my wife turns to look at me and says...

"What's with Book anyway?" "You've seen all the episodes do you find out what/who he is?"

I had no answer. Yes we have all seen Book demonstrate uncommon knowledge & skills for a preacher but no explanations ever saw the light of day.

I have my own pet theories of course ranging from him being a top Alliance figure trying to redeem himself to some kind of important criminal in the Alliance witness relocation program.

So I though that I would put the question to my fellow Browncoats and see if we could come up with some kind of consensus.

Have at it friends...

"We will rise again!"

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 4:22 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

It seems pretty obvious that Book was some sort of Alliance operative or perhaps former military officer. You see this w/ the ID card incident in "Safe", his handling the Alliance agent physically in "Serenity", his knowledge of nets in "Our Mrs Reynolds", and several other instances in various episodes.

I share the same thoughts as many others. Book must have done, saw something horrible, ordered something horrible done, or took part in something so terrible that he felt a need to repent. He leaves the Alliance and enters the Abbey and becomes a Shephard.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 5:33 AM

DUTCH

Wouldn't it be kinda funny if he was the commander in charge of taking Serenity Valley?

I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
--Stephen Hawking

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 5:49 AM

TASS

The other option is that the Abbey is actually a deep cover base, sort of like the HQ for MI-5 and anyone high enough up (or the Alliance Cortex) has flags for folks with Ident cards from there...

Tass - where you are is where you are meant to be.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 6:23 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

Quote:
Originally posted by Dutch:
Wouldn't it be kinda funny if he was the commander in charge of taking Serenity Valley?

I think computer viruses should count as life. I think it says something about human nature that the only form of life we have created so far is purely destructive. We've created life in our own image.
--Stephen Hawking

That has been touched on several times Dutch, and I think it is a possibility. It would definitely make life very interesting on Serenity if Mal & Zoe ever found out.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 7:33 AM

SHINY

Yes, Book could be the "General Richard Wil..." (interrupted by Zoe's entrance) mentioned in Simon's encyclopedia in the original unaired version of the pilot

RIVER
Purple elephants are flying.
MAL
Good. Thanks for the update.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 7:48 AM

HKCAVALIER

I think this part is from Serenity: there's a point where some kind of trouble is brewing and Simon is about to go out to meet it when Book very forcefully tells him, "You take care of her (River)." I couldn't help feeling that he gave that a little more weight than just "take care of your sweet, crazy sister." After all, in a life and death confrontation shouldn't the doctor be on hand? Naw, I think Book is very specifically interested in River's survival. That was why he was checking out all the ships in the first place--he was looking for the ship Simon was gonna load his big box onto. Book is on a mission specifically to ensure River's escape from the Alliance. That's why he doesn't hesitate to knock that fed out. Book is clearly not a rash man but he took that fed out as quick as Mal ever would. As I re-watch the ep's I keep seeing Book focused on River at every turn. He's keeping an eye on her.

Anybody else notice how focused Book is on River?

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 7:58 AM

BROWNCOAT1

May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one.

I had noticed it HKCavalier, but I am not sure if he is on some mission to watch over her so much as he may recognize the handiwork of the Blue Hands. He may see a chance at redemption in watching over her.

"May have been the losing side. Still not convinced it was the wrong one."

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 8:07 AM

WERZBOWSKI

I think I agree with Browncoat1 on the subject of Book's interest in River. I also think that his interest is purely to do with his "new" role as preacher and his apparent "quest" for redemption from whatever evils he has done.

"We will rise again!"

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 8:09 AM

ARP

>Anybody else notice how focused Book is on River?

I noticed but I'm not sure his intentions are benign. I think the biggest insight comes in Objects in Space, when River gives us a peek at each person's thoughts, and Book is something like this: "I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not. Now where does that leave us?" It's said in a very angry voice. It's at direct odds with what he says and how he acts in the entire rest of the series.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 8:39 AM

SAINT JAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by HKCAVALIER:
>Anybody else notice how focused Book is on River?

Nothing out of the ordinary. He was protective of Dobson, too, in Serenity. He's a kind and helpful person, and River just happens to need a lot of help.

My two cents worth...

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 10:41 AM

HKCAVALIER

I don't think the "half a hump" line is so much at odds with what he's said, but how he's said it. In my experience, people with strong moral character tend to have strong opinions and a lot of anger brought on by the extremes of injustice they see. Book is a very sensible and very controled person, he ain't gonna go antagonizing the muscle.

That Book would have very little care for Jayne's very anemic "change of heart" after Ariel makes perfect sense. Certainly Jayne is a fool and something of a softy deep down, but he's still plenty dangerous. If I was Book and had some real power in criminal matters, I might fantasize about bringing the big lug to justice myself. Also, in line with my interpretation, Jayne has shown himself to be a real threat to River and therefore to Book's plans, whatever they might be.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 10:42 AM

HERO

Quote:
Originally posted by arp:
>Anybody else notice how focused Book is on River?

I noticed but I'm not sure his intentions are benign. I think the biggest insight comes in Objects in Space, when River gives us a peek at each person's thoughts, and Book is something like this: "I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not. Now where does that leave us?" It's said in a very angry voice. It's at direct odds with what he says and how he acts in the entire rest of the series.

I agree. I think your all right.

Book is a Sheppard. But before he went to the Abby he was some kind of official.

As for his secret thoughts from 'Objects' it says to me he was innocent of whatever he was involved in, but still takes responsibility, much the way a military commander would. Thats why my new pet theory is that he was commander of Alliance forces in Serenity Valley, one of the ones who left both sides soldiers on the field for all that time they were negotiating. It broke his heart requiring entrence to the Abby.

But that doesn't seem to fit his love of ships from the pilot. Serenity hit him somehow. So my other thought is he is some kind of Alliance navy man.

All we know for sure is that something led him to the Abby and something made him leave.

Also don't forget he misses Serenity's only stop on a Core world.

H

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 11:32 AM

HKCAVALIER

This general in charge of serenity valley idea just doesn't sit well with me 'cause I think he'd be famous (or infamous). He'd have a name and his picture would be downloadable from the Cortex. Mal would know his face, or at least Book would have no reason not to think he would. Book would certainly know Mal if some green alliance cop knows of him. No, Book's breakdown in Inara's shuttle is sincere and a man with the kind of complicated relationship with Mal that being in charge of defeating the browncoat army implies wouldn't be all, "Oh, gosh, I think I'm in over my head." No, no, no previous knowledge or relationship with Mal, no general in the army.

HKCavalier

Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 11:36 AM

LADYJAYNE

I think this thread has come up before. I really enjoy Book's character because he makes me think of a character type that has almost risen to the ranks of archetype.

In the beginning of Victor Hugo's Les Miserable, we are introduced to a priest who was once a member of Napoleon's court. He was sickened by what lengths Napoleon went to in order to stay in power and what lengths his enemies went to in order to get him out of power. So he left his title behind and became a priest. He was assigned to a very wealthy district where the priest's home was opulent and the hospital tiny. He moved into the hospital and let the hospital take over the parish house.

Later in the story when Jean Valjean robs him and is caught, the priest does not demand the silver back, but tells Valjean and the authorities that it was a gift and that Valjean forgot to take the candlesticks as well.

I like to imagine Book's background being similar to this story. Born to wealth and power, but then disgusted with it, leaving it behind for a more spiritual life.

--Kala

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Tuesday, January 6, 2004 3:50 PM

ARCBEATLE

doesnt that bring a whole new meaning to the "faith fixes you" line if Book was said general Will-?

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