"Finding Serenity": Pretty Damn Hard To Find!

POSTED BY: FilmCritic3000
UPDATED: Thursday, April 28, 2005 14:41
VIEWED: 20133
PAGE 1 of 1

FILMCRITIC3000

Saturday, April 9, 2005 2:56 AM

Well I've spent all day around town looking for this book. Not at Waldenbooks, not at Barnes & Noble, and the computer at Media Play stated they had two copies but the guy couldn't find them. They had them labeled in the computer as a BARGAIN BOOK and it puzzled him as the release date was noticed. So after looking in the FILM/TV section and said BARGAIN BOOK section, he offered to call me if he finds it.

So I will be ordering this from Amazon. You know, I live in Savannah, GA and I thought that a newly released book would be alot easier to find since this is a decent-sized city. Might this be a good sign for us Browncoats if I can't find the book?

In any case, I can't wait to read it. :)

"The first thing I do in the morning is brush
my teeth and sharpen my tongue." -- Dorothy Parker

FRSCPE1

Saturday, April 9, 2005 3:55 AM

I know what you mean, I'm up here in north Georgia and I can't find the book anywhere.

"Well, other than being shot at by the Electric Mayhem, I'm fantastic."

JARED

Saturday, April 9, 2005 7:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by FilmCritic3000:
So I will be ordering this from Amazon. You know, I live in Savannah, GA and I thought that a newly released book would be alot easier to find since this is a decent-sized city. Might this be a good sign for us Browncoats if I can't find the book?

i hope it is. the thought of this being a good sign is the only thing keeping me sane. i preordered, waited, waited, others had their for a week when amazon changed status to 1-2 weeks, yesterday it said 2-3 weeks and today it's 12-14 days. well, at least they update it frequently, even though my orders still claim it would be shipped march 31 (hmmmm).

http://festini.device-zero.de

YT

Saturday, April 9, 2005 9:17 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by FilmCritic3000:
Well I've spent all day around town looking for this book. Not at Waldenbooks, not at Barnes & Noble, and the computer at Media Play stated they had two copies but the guy couldn't find them.
...
Might this be a good sign for us Browncoats if I can't find the book?

A good sign, @a real live bookstore, is that the staffperson can direct you to the book you want, or can say authoritatively that they've sold out & are ordering more.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Phil Lesh & Friends, "Midnight Train", from "There & Back Again"

ZOL

Saturday, April 9, 2005 1:03 PM

Ordered it through Amazon, arrived dy after it was released - have`nt read it all, but there`s some good stuff in there, weel worth tracking down.

Darin (Zol.)

EMBERS

Saturday, April 9, 2005 1:57 PM

actually it is great that you went to the bookstores and asked about it,
now they will order them, and be more aware.

It is always good to make big bookstore chains know when they have failed to order something you (the public) wants!

I live in the middle of nowhere in Iowa where we don't have actual bookstores (a used bookstore w/coffee shop, but they don't get in new books...except Harry Potter, and even those orders they mess up), so I started and stopped by ordering through Amazon

TOMANTA

Saturday, April 9, 2005 5:16 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Jared:

i hope it is. the thought of this being a good sign is the only thing keeping me sane. i preordered, waited, waited, others had their for a week when amazon changed status to 1-2 weeks, yesterday it said 2-3 weeks and today it's 12-14 days. well, at least they update it frequently, even though my orders still claim it would be shipped march 31 (hmmmm).

I ordered mine from Amazon on April 2nd, with free shipping, and it shipped yesterday...

"Strange women lying in ponds distributing swords is no basis for a system of government."

LEEH

Saturday, April 9, 2005 8:50 PM

Wow--I advance-ordered a copy from Amazon, and it got here several days ago. I have to say, though, that it's proven disappointing so far. The level of commentary just hasn't been very good. The first two pieces in particular struck me as quite weak, and the essay on cultural diversity missed a key element, I thought. Anyway, I'll keep on plugging away, but at this rate, someone can buy my copy off me. . . .

"Well, my days of not taking you seriously are certainly coming to a middle. . . ."

ZOL

Saturday, April 9, 2005 9:15 PM

I flicked through it when I 1st got it, and I disagree, what`s been put forward is someone elses views - but the run through of the episodes by (Jewel Staite (Kaylee) is good. Of course there is going to be bits that have already been said, this is a collection of works which dates back from a couple of years to present day.

btw, check your issue number, good chance that you will have a 1st edition which will help you re-sell it later - try eBay if you do plan to sell it, not everybody will be aware that it`s out.

Darin (Zol.)

YT

Monday, April 11, 2005 12:44 AM

Borders Hollywood, across the street from the Dome, had three copies. Now has two, and @least one of the staff knows exactly where it is. Btw, it's in the Media section, which makes sense to me, but if you go into a bookstore, ask a staffmember. If nothing else, @least that person will then know about the book, but if they see you walk in the door & immediately ask for it, it may dawn on them that the only reason you entered the store was that one book.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Stillwater, "Tiny Dancer", from "Almost Famous" special edition

BROWNCOAT1

Monday, April 11, 2005 2:50 PM

I think that most stores will not order a great many copies of the book to begin with. The best thing to do is ask for it. Take the ISBN # with you when you go in as the booksellers can more readily find it by this #. That # for those of you that wish is 1932100431. If the store does not have it, ask for it. As Embers said, if they think there is interest, they will order it. The more of these there are on the shelf, the better the level of buzz they will create.

I know when I went into the local Barnes and Noble they looked up the ISBN # and said they had two copies. The lady looked in the Tv/Entertainment section, but could not find it. We looked in the science fiction area and found it there in the "W's", probably for Joss Whedon, instead of being under Jane Espenson who edited it. It took some looking, but we found it and it has been more than worth the effort.

I have pointed all of my converts to the book and suggested Barnes & Noble or Amazon.

__________________________________________

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

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Meet Up:
http://firefly.meetup.com/9/boards/

KRAD

Monday, April 11, 2005 3:48 PM

Quote:
Of course there is going to be bits that have already been said, this is a collection of works which dates back from a couple of years to present day.

Um -- huh???? All the essays are new ones that were commissioned for this particular book.

Keith R.A. DeCandido
keith@decandido.net
www.DeCandido.net | www.AlbeShiloh.com
www.livejournal.com/~kradical

ZOL

Monday, April 11, 2005 3:59 PM

Yes but some of what is said in those essays has been talked about before, don`t get me wrong, I am enjoying the book in this form, it`s nice to get this information in one place.

Darin (Zol.)

MANWITHPEZ

Monday, April 11, 2005 4:36 PM

I was prepared to actually dislike KRAD's entry about The Train Job. And, while I disagree with him about some of the things he said, its a work of opinion, and very objective. I ended up liking it a great deal in the frame of critical writing. To me, its a call to what if? What if Fox had left Firefly alone to develop as it should have? A different Mal, for instance. A less comical show. I mean, the pieces were there for an occasional bit of comedy, but it would have fallen less on our intrepid captain. (But, I thought his reaction on opening River's cryochamber was so very funny.)

Before I get too far and spoil something, what I mean to say is that if people are having trouble finding the book, they should order it from somewhere. Its worth it, I think.

God, I'm scatterbrained.

Kaylee: "What's so damn important about being proper? It don't mean nothing out here in the black."
Simon: "It means more out here. It's all I have..."

ZEEK

Monday, April 11, 2005 6:31 PM

The thing I often wonder is whether we would have loved the show so much if Fox hadn't messed with it. I mean the show is obviously a work of art. So what if it was different? Would it be better or worse? I guess the movie will be a good way to judge. Once that comes out, we'll know what Joss would have done if given free reign.

I look into picking up this book just to support Firefly in all it's forms, but I'm really not expecting much.

FILMCRITIC3000

Monday, April 11, 2005 11:39 PM

Well gang, I found the book. A guy who works at Media Play who's as big a Firefly fan as me (okay, he's a Whedonite also) had told me that he ordered one for me last week. He comes in the video store I work at fairly frequently. My mother went down to Media Play while I was at work today and picked it up for me. He said the weekend people must have moved it because he'd put it on hold for me and she said he apologized, that they should have seen it.

In any case, I kept trying to sneak peeks at it at work today. I just started reading Jane's introduction and I can't wait to delve into this Firefly goodness!

"The first thing I do in the morning is brush
my teeth and sharpen my tongue." -- Dorothy Parker

CLARRY

Tuesday, April 12, 2005 9:42 AM

I'm enjoying the book, but have to say with the title, I feel a bit like I'm reading a "self-help" book on public transport!

FILMCRITIC3000

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 1:59 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Clarry:
I'm enjoying the book, but have to say with the title, I feel a bit like I'm reading a "self-help" book on public transport!

I'll say!

My manager gets it because we have Firefly for rent at work but other people must think that I'm reading a self-help tome! I'm finishing up Serenity and Bobby McGee. This book is awesome, very intelligent, literate, and quite passionate. I love it!

"The first thing I do in the morning is brush
my teeth and sharpen my tongue." -- Dorothy Parker

CLARRY

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 9:52 AM

Yep, I'll give a short criticism when I've finished.

HAN

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 10:36 AM

I just envy all of you guys in the US - I'm not even sure when the book will be released in Aus, and I don't have access to a credit card so I can't buy it online.

Until then, though, *waits (not so) patiently* :-D

LOCHRAVIN

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 2:21 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Zol:

btw, check your issue number, good chance that you will have a 1st edition which will help you re-sell it later - try eBay if you do plan to sell it, not everybody will be aware that it`s out.

Darin (Zol.)

Well, I got my book...Amazon certainly helps out because I'm over here in Korea. How do I find which edition I have? I've scoured the main page of credits just inside the front cover and can't find anything at all...

Mike

Well maybe I'm not a fancy gentleman like you, with your...very fine hat. But I do business...we're here for business.

ZOL

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 3:43 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by lochravin:
Quote:
Originally posted by Zol:

btw, check your issue number, good chance that you will have a 1st edition which will help you re-sell it later - try eBay if you do plan to sell it, not everybody will be aware that it`s out.

Darin (Zol.)

How do I find which edition I have? I've scoured the main page of credits just inside the front cover and can't find anything at all...

Mike

Check the inside of the front cover, where it`s got the numbers counting down from 10 (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1), As I understand it, if the numbers go all the way down in the correct order, then that is 1st edition/printing - Maybe I`m wrong but I`ve have seen 1st editions before with the same numbering.

Darin (Zol.)

SAKRYSTA

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 4:53 PM

I found it a couple days ago while out of town in Greenville, SC. Sat down with it in the store to skim and see if I really wanted to add a book with the word "hooker" on the cover to my library.

Still haven't decided. There's some good stuff there, but ... I dunno. I did LOVE the guy who compared Firefly to The Tick, and the hypothetical memos from Fox to Joss were highlarious, but ...

*still mulling it over*

...still a little whimsical in the brain pan...

LOCHRAVIN

Wednesday, April 13, 2005 9:37 PM

Well, don't read the "I want your sex..gender in firefly" essay first. It has one or two interesting thoughts but is a long-winded way of delivering them.

Mike

Well maybe I'm not a fancy gentleman like you, with your...very fine hat. But I do business...we're here for business.

KAYLEE4SIMON

Thursday, April 14, 2005 1:38 PM

Read the Rise and Fall and Rise of Firefly, I love those little letter essay the best.

The numbers on mine go all the way down (10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1)

Keep shiny!

LOCHRAVIN

Thursday, April 14, 2005 2:53 PM

Okay, I'll give that a try next...nice dolls by the way.

Mike

Well maybe I'm not a fancy gentleman like you, with your...very fine hat. But I do business...we're here for business.

GETUPKID

Friday, April 15, 2005 3:00 AM

I got it the day it came out, and no joke I have read this book twice so far and I'm workin on time no.3 it is one of the best books I have ever read.

PRINCESSBIJOU

Friday, April 15, 2005 3:29 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by Han:
I just envy all of you guys in the US - I'm not even sure when the book will be released in Aus, and I don't have access to a credit card so I can't buy it online.

Until then, though, *waits (not so) patiently* :-D

Hi Han,

You can order it from Angus & Robertson which I prefer to do rather than order direct from the US. It will take about 2 weeks because it has to be sent from their US supplier, but I think its worth the wait! Im sure someone instore would be able to order it for you. Check out http://www.angusrobertson.com.au/products/detailed.asp?bookid=19321004
31

Hope this helps!
Caitlin

Oooh! Mangoes!

HAN

Friday, April 15, 2005 4:34 AM

Hey, thanks so much! You've just made my week ... Hell, possibly even my month . I can't believe I didn't even think of asking at A&R. I'm definitely ordering it right now!

Thanks again,
Han

FORRESTWOLF

Saturday, April 16, 2005 11:24 PM

Well, I got my hands on a copy - bought it nice an' local at Barnes and Noble - my store also had 2 copies in stock (I shoulda bought both!).

Yes, two of the first three essays are a bit weak - though getting an essay by Larry Dixon was interesting for me as an ex-Okie! I'm looking forward to seeing what Mercedes Lackey has to say, too. The spoof on Fox is very fun, too.

I think it's going to be good, though - the later stuff looks really interesting, and I'm particularly looking forward in seeing what KRAD's writing is like (Hi, Keith!), since I haven't before!

Do your duty, Browncoats. Buy it! Buy often!

SOUPCATCHER

Monday, April 18, 2005 7:51 AM

For those who are still trying to find a copy, keep persevering. It's well worth the trouble (at least IMHO).

On a side note, I'm having the hardest time composing a review for Amazon. The two that are up there currently aren't as glowing as I would've expected.

---------------------
Next up: Early "Nutcrusher" Jubal and the Firebuggers

FORRESTWOLF

Monday, April 18, 2005 2:49 PM

Well, I'm about halfway through, and I love it! Disagree strongly with various essayists at various points, but that's fine. Great stuff - Mercedes Lackey was really, really insightful, and the Early Jubal stuff was hi-larious.

I'll toss a review up on Amazon - remember, folks - this is how we make Firefly get noticed.

YT

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 12:27 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SoupCatcher:
I'm having the hardest time composing a review for Amazon.

I know what you mean. Haven't felt compelled to review Firefly, since Amazon already has 1,269 of those, and the average customer rating is five stars out of a maximum possible five. But I have written one review of another film, for IMDB. Took me four hours, & countless revisions, to apply close reasoning to my adulation.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Hendrix, "Burning Desire", from "Live @the Filmore East"

FROGGER

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 1:02 AM

I found it at B&K. I have read the first four and then jumped ahead to the one on Wash and Zoe. I think these writters are fairly well on the money. Even the ones who I disagree with. I appreciate a devils advocate or two, and it is interesting to look at things from another point of view. The one I particularly enjoyed was the train job. I know....don't hurt me....but I watched and fairly well dismissed firefly the first time based on this episode. The essay writer (don't have it with me right now, so i can't remember who) hit the nail on the head for why it didn't reel me in on that first viewing. It comes down to motive. Not to spoil.....so I will try and keep it vague. If a person was to watch train job with out the back ground history and motives of the characters, they (in this case I) could get the wrong impression of why the crew did that they did......vague enough?

Anyway, I am really liking this read. Incidentally, I found mine in the SF/fantasy section. They had stocked it really weird though. We had to dig for it and eventually got have the staff looking before we found it, so don't be afraid to ask for LOTS of help.

frogger

"There's obeying going on RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE!!!"

"It shall be loquacious to a fault!"

EMBERS

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 1:23 AM

I'm enjoying the book a lot
(I got it right away through Amazon but I was in the middle of another book at the time)
I enjoy reading the essays in the same way I enjoy the commentaries,
anything that might give me an insight,
or a different POV, is always good in my opinion.
It deepens my understanding and appreciation of the show I already love.

KRAD

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 2:16 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by frogger:
The one I particularly enjoyed was the train job. I know....don't hurt me....but I watched and fairly well dismissed firefly the first time based on this episode. The essay writer (don't have it with me right now, so i can't remember who) hit the nail on the head for why it didn't reel me in on that first viewing.

That was my essay. Glad you liked it!

Keith R.A. DeCandido
keith@decandido.net
www.DeCandido.net | www.AlbeShiloh.com
www.livejournal.com/~kradical

FROGGER

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 8:06 AM

I was really good. You put into words my jumbled rambling thoughts concerning why firefly didn't exactly grab me at first glance!

BTW....who are you and how did you get in this book??????

What do you know?
Who do you know?

LOL...hehehehe........Just kidding!

frogger

"There's obeying going on RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE!!!"

"It shall be loquacious to a fault!"

KRAD

Tuesday, April 19, 2005 5:25 PM

Quote:
BTW....who are you and how did you get in this book??????

Er, well, among many other things, I'm the guy who wrote the novelization of Serenity......

Keith R.A. DeCandido
keith@decandido.net
www.DeCandido.net | www.AlbeShiloh.com
www.livejournal.com/~kradical

FROGGER

Wednesday, April 20, 2005 12:18 AM

HEHEHEHE....

After I wrote that, I looked up your website. You've written many things apparently. I will have to read more.

Frogger

"There's obeying going on RIGHT UNDER MY NOSE!!!"

"It shall be loquacious to a fault!"

BOBTAYLOR

Thursday, April 21, 2005 12:10 PM

Trust me when I say that you did not have to be the official "Serenity" novelist to get in this book. (Although I'm sure it certainly didn't hurt!)

I was asked to submit when folks at Ben Bella saw a piece I did about the death of "Angel"/rebirth of "Firefly" around the time that the WB axed the former and Universal greenlit the movie version of the latter.

The process was pretty much what you'd expect. First, I needed to get an essay idea approved by Ben Bella. (The essay that appears in the book is actually my second suggestion. I originally wanted to focus on how "Firefly" was made up of an entire cornucopia of genres -- not just sci-fi and western. However, the book's editors decided that this was a topic already well documented.)

After the publisher okay'd my humorous take on why the women of "Firefly" were so much more capable than the men, I went through the usual first-draft/essay-officially-accepted/publisher-suggestions/second-draft process. It all worked out pretty smoothly.

It's nice to read that everyone's enjoying the book.

And, by the way, I believe that, in the past, Ben Bella has openly asked for essay topic submissions for upcoming Smart Pop books on their website. So while the "Firefly" train has left the station, there could be other opportunities down the road for you writerly types.

www.robert-b-taylor.com

ICCLEDAMES

Saturday, April 23, 2005 5:35 PM

I'm having huge problems finding the book. I've looked in as many bookshops as I can find and there's no sign. Now, worrying, I have once again returned to amazon.co.uk (I'm in the UK) and have now seen that the availability of the book has been reduced from 1-2 weeks to 'limited availablity'. There's one on the Marketplace but it's second-hand and costs £60.60 which, I'm sure you'll agree is a little steep! Plus, in my experience, once books on Amazon go to 'limited availability' it's rare that they get them back in stock...though that's just my limited experience...

In any case, I'm really keen to get my hands on the book and just wondered if anybody knows of a UK retailer that does have them in stock?

UNCHARTEDOUTLAW

Saturday, April 23, 2005 8:05 PM

I lucked out and found a copy at the Barnes and Noble less than two miles from my house. I've not had much time to peruse it since yesterday and I have essays to correct here in a moment, I'm hoping to zip through those and get down to some Serenity readings. :)

-Taylor

The Uncharted Outlaw!
Captain of Prosperity (99-K64)

Read My Words:
http://norcalriviera.blogspot.com
See my Firefly Store (new items! 1/05): http://www.cafepress.com/NorCalRiviera

DECKROID

Saturday, April 23, 2005 11:16 PM

Ok... so. In the Pacific Northwestern town of Portland, Oregon, there is a bookstore. Its a full city block warehouse converted into a store.

Its awesome!

www.powells.com

I found my copies there. Yes, I said COPIES. Pluarl. In stock. Ready to ship.

Will they ship to the UK? Yup. 7-21 days.

Amazon.who?!?

SOUPCATCHER

Sunday, April 24, 2005 7:44 AM

Ah yes, Powells! They actually have a bunch of buildings spread out around the city but the main one is truly spectacular. Any time I get within two hours driving distance of Portland I take a detour to go browsing.

---------------------
Next up: Early "Nutcrusher" Jubal and the Firebuggers

YT

Monday, April 25, 2005 1:31 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by SoupCatcher:
Ah yes, Powells! ...snip... Any time I get within two hours driving distance of Portland I take a detour to go browsing.

You mean anytime you have @least eight hours afore you have to be somewhere else?

Good coffee, too, as I recall.

Keep the Shiny Side Up . . . (wutzon) Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers, "I Won't Back Down", from "Anthology"

PERIDIDDLE

Monday, April 25, 2005 2:44 AM

I was lucky and there were two copies at my local Barnes & Noble. It was shiny.

The book is grand. I haven't read it all, but what I have read is lovely.

"Bwaa...it's kind of a warrior...strikes fear into the hearts of..."

SOUPCATCHER

Monday, April 25, 2005 8:35 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by YT:
You mean anytime you have @least eight hours afore you have to be somewhere else?

Good coffee, too, as I recall.

No doubt. I like to make a day of it, if I can. The first time I saw the sci-fi/fantasy section I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. One time I realized that I'd just spent a whole hour browsing the arts and crafts section in an area of the store I'd never been before. Why? Because I could

.

Oh, and to kind of get things back on topic, if you are still looking for a copy and live in SE Wisconsin you're in luck. Check out the really neat packages suinegagpf put together for an upcoming PBS auction (three of them contain copies of Finding Serenity ): http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=9411

---------------------
Next up: Early "Nutcrusher" Jubal and the Firebuggers

BOBTAYLOR

Thursday, April 28, 2005 3:25 AM

A warm and fuzzy review of the book:

http://www.sfsite.com/~silverag/firefly.html

www.robert-b-taylor.com

FRAY101

Thursday, April 28, 2005 1:42 PM

Having dragged my friend across Manhattan in search of the book while we were on holiday, must really make the effort to read it now!

Incidentally, finally found it in Borders, having failed in Barnes & Noble, although that could have been because the store was so darned big I got lost...but what surprised/disappointed me was being greeted by a blank face in Forbidden Planet when I asked whether they had the book. Isn't this the kind of thing they're supposed to know/care about??

http://disneypix.tripod.com/destiny

ASH

Thursday, April 28, 2005 2:28 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by iccledames:

In any case, I'm really keen to get my hands on the book and just wondered if anybody knows of a UK retailer that does have them in stock?

I'm having the same problem. I get the feeling its not actually been released in the UK, and Amazon are just getting it from their US site.

FRAY101

Thursday, April 28, 2005 2:41 PM

I originally had it ordered from Amazon.co.uk but cancelled it when my "ships in 24 hours" turned into "usually available in 2-4 weeks". I probably would have kept in order and waited but I was going on holiday to New York the week after it was published anyway so figured I could easily pick it up (although as I mentioned above I still had trouble).

If you're really desperate you might want to think about ordering it from Amazon.com. OK, the postage is higher but if the exchange rate's good you don't end up paying that much more and items usually come in a week to 10 days.

http://disneypix.tripod.com/destiny