'Serenity: Those Left Behind'.... is it any good? by Lissa37

GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

'Serenity: Those Left Behind'.... is it any good?

POSTED BY: LISSA37
UPDATED: Monday, July 24, 2006 13:19
SHORT URL:
VIEWED: 3731
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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 5:39 PM

I've been trying to figure out what to give my best friend for her birthday. She's a huge Firefly & Serenity fan (she's also the one who introduced them to me). She has the movie and the TV series (of course), but I still thought it'd be cool to get her something relating to either Firefly or the BDM.

Well, I discovered a book -- "Serenity: Those Left Behind" -- that's supposed to be a bridge between the two (the series and the movie).

I've read some online reviews from people who said it was awful and others that said it was great. I can't say that I really trust online reviews too much... besides, those people may or not even be fans.

So, I thought I'd ask all of you -- the Browncoats, the ones who'll know best -- if you know anything about it and if it's any good.

Here's a link to some info. about it on Amazon.com for anyone who hasn't heard of this book.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1593074492/sr=1-1/qid=1152761414/ref=
pd_bbs_1/104-4578423-6847128?ie=UTF8&s=books

**Any other recommendations for a gift for my Firefly friend would be appreciated, too.

*****
"Define interesting." - Mal
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die." - Wash

"I'm a leaf on the wind..." - Wash

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 6:07 PM

SILENCE

I liked it!
Explains a few things. Not you know, a lot, but enough.

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"Listen, if you got guests I can come back later."

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 6:12 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

It's not a book, but a comic book. Actually, three comic books in one. It's alright. Fills a few gaps in the story, and anyone who loves the 'verse should read it at least once just so they know a few things that happened. It's very canon because Joss wrote it. I also highly suggest "Finding Serenity" - a book of essays - and the Visual Companion to the movie, because there is a lot of history in it, some gaps filled in, plus the original shooting script and pretty, pretty pictures.

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Wednesday, July 12, 2006 6:26 PM

ANONYMOUS1

Lissa37,

Unless your friend hates comic books, I would
recommend it. I loved the comic books (3 issue 9 covers) and Serenity: Those Left Behind
is the collection of the 3 issue set and has all 9 covers inside.

And Joss is going to write more, so every
Browncoat will want to keep up.

Here is www.serenitystuff.com write up on it.
http://www.serenitystuff.com/2006/01/05/serenity-comic-book-mini-serie
s-v1/#more-33

pics of individual covers from www.serenitystuff.com

All these covers show up as individual Artwork pages in Serenity: Those Left Behind

You want more ideas:

Books:

Serenity by Keith R.A. DeCandido (novel based on the motion picture screenplay)
Finding Serenity Edited by Jane Espenson (essays about Firefly)
Serenity the Official Visual Companion
Serenity Role Playing Game -book not just for RPGers-
Serenity: Out in the Black by Tracy & Laura Hickman New RPG
Serenity: Those Left Behind the Graphic Novel.

Music: Serenity soundtrack CD music by David Newman

Comic Books: Serenity 1,2,3 (3 comics - 9 different covers - or the graphic novel)

Firefly the TV show: Firefly the Complete Series DVD box set

Music: Firefly soundtrack CD music by Greg Edmonson Theme by Joss Whedon

Universal Official Serenity T-Shirts at the mall Hot Topic stores.

Hot Topic employees can look up these numbers on their computers and see if
any of there Region stores have these shirts. They can transfer the shirts
to your store.

Serenity My Turn 250169-004 XL
Serenity Logo 272754-004 XL
Serenity Browncoat/I AIM TO MISBEHAVE 211458-004 XL

-001 means small, -002 means medium, etc.

http://www.hottopic.com/store/searchSKU.asp?LS=0&DOIT=YES&SSTR=serenit
y

Serenity Movie Poster --you can buy on-line at allposters.com Link available on home page
of www.fireflyfans.net

Serenity Crew Poster --you can buy on-line at allposters.com Link available on home page
of www.fireflyfans.net

Serenity Zippo Lighter from Dark Horse Comics

Serenity Ornament (model) from Dark Horse Comics
coming in August 2006

pic from http://www.tfaw.com/Profile/Serenity-Ornament___217120

And this pretty September 2006:

pic from
http://www.serenitystuff.com/

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 4:36 AM

LISSA37

WOW.

Thanks for the input, everyone!

And, thanks for the suggestions, Anonymous1.

I'll definitely have to look into the rest of those ideas and see what I like best.

Thanks so much!

*****
"Define interesting." - Mal
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die." - Wash

"I'm a leaf on the wind..." - Wash

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 5:45 AM

EVILDINOSAUR

I thought it was good, explains why shepard book left and ties up some loose ends from the series. Its the same thing as the 3 comic books that came out if you're familiar with those, it's just put into one package. It's a good buy for any firefly/serenity fan.

"Haha, mine is an evil laugh."

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 5:50 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

I made suggestions too! I made some of the same suggestions and in fact made them first! Are people just skipping over my posts lately or something?

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 5:52 AM

GWEK

Although it's a little rushed in some places, it's essentially another Firefly episode (story by Whedon, no less!), and the "season finale" at that. You'll have to decide if it's the best choice for a gift yourself, but it's a definite must-have for any true Browncoat.

www.stillflying.net: "Here's how it might have been..."

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 5:58 AM

LISSA37

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
I made suggestions too! I made some of the same suggestions and in fact made them first! Are people just skipping over my posts lately or something?

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Aw, PhoenixRose, I'm sorry! My apologies. I did read your post, I promise. I didn't skip it. I think I was just overwhelmed with Anonymous1's suggestions -- what a list! -- and I forgot you had made several suggestions, too. Forgive me?

By the way, you all were right - "Serenity: Those Left Behind" is not just a book, it is a collection of comic books. However, that's even better and it might make it the right choice for my friend. She's a fan of manga, which are Japanese comic books if you aren't familiar with them (I had never heard of them until she showed me one).

But, I still want to look at some of the other suggestions (from both Anonymous1 AND PhoenixRose,

) before I make my decision. I hope the bookstore has some of these in stock so I can look at them first. I'd have to order the comic book set, at least, not sure about the others. But, even if they have none of them, I have some great advice from all of you. Thanks again!!

*****
"Define interesting." - Mal
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die." - Wash

"I'm a leaf on the wind..." - Wash

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 6:06 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Awww, it's okay. Sorry I'm a little snarky.
Most bookstores have the visual companion, not so much the novelization; you have to order that. Also most comic stores or large bookstores with a comic section will have Those Left Behind. Finding Serenity is kind of hit and miss.
If she enjoys Manga I would say the comics are an excellent choice. They're not too expensive though; I bet you could swing Those Left Behind and the Novel to Serenity

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 6:16 AM

LISSA37

Nah, you're not snarky. I've been ignored (sometimes you just feel invisible... lol) on message boards before and I know it isn't fun, so I felt bad for doing it to someone else.

You're right, they aren't very expensive. The novel looks nice, too (from what I can tell without actually seeing it). Descriptions for the visual companion look good, too, though. Wow, I had no idea there was all this stuff! This is shiny, very shiny.

*****
"Define interesting." - Mal
"Oh God, oh God, we're all gonna die." - Wash

"I'm a leaf on the wind..." - Wash

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 6:38 AM

RUGBUG

Hrmmmm, thought I would give my perspective as I just bought a bunch of stuff on Serenity Day.

1. Firefly soundtrack = EXCELLENT! I absolutely love this. It's been on continuous loop at home and work for days.

2. Serenity soundtrack = not so good. I just can't get into it. The levels seem off as I'll have to turn it quite loud to even hear anything and then some chase music comes on and blows you out of the water. Also, sadly missing is the reworking of the Ballad of Serenity. I REALLY wanted that piece of music and it's not there.

3. Visual companion = fun. There's nice information and some really beautiful pictures. Also the official shooting script is cool. Reading what was intended and how it ended up being edited is really neat.

4. Serenity: Those Left Behind = good buy if for nothing else than Nathan Fillion's introduction. I read that and was happy that I bought it. He has a great way with words. Also, it is nice to have an idea what was meant to take place between the series and movie. And some of the artwork is really cool. I, personally, LOVE Wash's cover. That's amazing. River's is nice. Inara's...not so much. But it's still a good buy.

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 6:42 AM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

Hee, just wait til the Visual Companions to the show come out!

I cannot wait!
I can't imagine not gobbling up any information you can get; it feels like it's the only way this thing keeps flying!

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 7:30 AM

HANS

Frankly, I was left rather unimpressed with "Those Left Behind". The dialogue was pure Whedon, and you could really imagine the characters speaking those lines. However, the story did not really draw me in, and at times it felt both a little far-fetched and a little rushed. The art ranged from okay to rather shoddy - some of the images were cartoony or over-the-top. I don't regret buying it but I'm not going to be rereading it any time soon.

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 2:41 PM

NOBLEGRAPE

IMHO as a Firefly fan of 6 months and comic reader of 25 years, it is unbelievably lousy. Recommended only for completists.

The plot goes incoherent by the third book. I'd spoil it pointing out all of the plot holes and storytelling mistakes. Joss' name is on it but I can't believe he'd make such glaring errors. Where was an editor?

I think the other guy really wrote it. IIRC, he also wrote Heart of Gold - an episode I seem to like more than most fans. Too lazy to doublecheck right now.

If this is the form in which FF will continue, I'd rather the franchise end.

Some of the covers are very nice though.

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 4:36 PM

ANONYMOUS1

Quote:
Originally posted by PhoenixRose:
Hee, just wait til the Visual Companions to the show come out!
I cannot wait!
I can't imagine not gobbling up any information you can get; it feels like it's the only way this thing keeps flying!

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Yeah!!!! And look at those Shiny covers!!!

pics from the publisher http://www.titanbooks.com

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 6:47 PM

PHOENIXROSE

You think you know--what's to come, what you are. You haven't even begun.

. . .

Sorry, lost track of my thoughts for a second there.
I liked Heart of Gold. I really did. A lot of people didn't, but I thought it was very good.

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Thursday, July 13, 2006 7:30 PM

DAVESHAYNE

Quote:
Originally posted by NobleGrape:
If this is the form in which FF will continue, I'd rather the franchise end.

Ouch.

I think maybe you're being a little too harsh on these. Are they the best comics ever? No. But they are fairly well written and drawn and they serve their purpose - conecting the series to the movie - rather well. I certainly wouldn't call the plot incoherent nor did I notice any particular holes in it. As a stand alone piece I would say it lacks somewhat but as a piece of the canon I found it enjoyable enough.

David

"Not completely as well as the series of Firefly..." - From a review of Serenity at amazon.de

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Monday, July 17, 2006 4:27 AM

WISHUPONAWASH

Alot of people we're unimpressed with the Serenity Comic (including myself). It wasn't long enough, and it doesn't have the details of the charcters that the cast brought to them.

However I can suggest very strongly that you check out the Virtual Firefly Project at www.stillflying.net. The season one finale was based upon the comics. It's worth a read just for that.

Here's how it might of been http://www.stillflying.net/

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Wednesday, July 19, 2006 12:24 PM

CHRISISALL

Serenity Ornament (model) from Dark Horse Comics
coming in August 2006

...seein' lights, like little angels....can it be true?....this is beautiful...

*Chrisisall gets bendy and falls over*

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Monday, July 24, 2006 1:19 PM

LISSA37

Hey, everyone.

I just wanted to thank you all once again for all of your help, tips, advice, opinions, etc. It was much appreciated!

I decided to go ahead and order the "Serenity: Those Left Behind" comic book for my friend along with another book (not related to Firefly/Serenity).

I hope she likes it! I think she will, though.

Thanks again for all of your help!!

*As a side note regarding the brief mentions of "Heart of Gold": I love it; I thought it was a great episode.

*****
"I'm a leaf on the wind..." - Wash

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