excerpt from SERENITY novelization is now up!

POSTED BY: KRAD
UPDATED: Thursday, August 11, 2005 19:54
VIEWED: 10877
PAGE 1 of 1

KRAD

Monday, August 8, 2005 1:05 AM

Chapter 1 of my novelization of Serenity is now available at Simon & Schuster's web site. Go check it out!

http://www.simonsays.com/subs/excerpt.cfm?areaid=288&isbn=1416507558

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

THRAWN

Monday, August 8, 2005 1:53 AM

That is FANTASTIC - a brilliant choice for an opening scene (note to people who haven't seen the movie yet - this whole chapter isn't in Serenity. At least, not the movie.) I love the language, and I particularly love Zoe's introduction.

By the way, I just finished reading Articles of the Federation, which was also fantastic. One of the best Star Trek books I've read. I can't wait for the rest of this novelization :)

KRAD

Monday, August 8, 2005 2:13 AM

Thanks very much!

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

DARKJESTER

Monday, August 8, 2005 2:14 AM

I like it, KRAD. I'm looking forward to reading the whole thing come September.

MAL "You only gotta scare him."
JAYNE "Pain is scary..."

SOONERTHEBETTER

Monday, August 8, 2005 3:45 AM

Quote:
(note to people who haven't seen the movie yet - this whole chapter isn't in Serenity. At least, not the movie.)

Thanks for saying that! I probably would've passed the link up for fear of spoilers.

And thanks to the author for letting us know it was there!

MOOSE

Monday, August 8, 2005 5:00 AM

That is just wonderful, KRAD!
I can't wait to read the rest of it!!!!
Thanks!

ALEX21

Monday, August 8, 2005 8:17 AM

Very well done, Krad.

PIE!

FORRESTWOLF

Monday, August 8, 2005 1:01 PM

Fantastic, Krad! I ordered my copy months ago - looking forward to it! I'm really glad you've been given permission to move that much into your own interpretations of things that aren't completely covered in the show - I must admit I was worried about a novelization, but I'm not anymore :)

NAKEDANDARTICULATE

Monday, August 8, 2005 3:08 PM

HEre it is---------------------------------------

SERENITY VALLEY, HERA

Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds's life had reduced itself to the critical imperative of running.

He pumped his legs as fast as he could through the uneven ground of Serenity Valley, his boots slamming down onto the rocks and dirt. With a determination born of faith and righteousness, he ignored the aching muscles, the fingers that desperately wanted to relinquish their grip on his weapon, and the bodies of so many of his fellow soldiers as he dashed back to base camp. Not to mention the mortar fire lighting up the night sky all around him.

"Base camp" was probably a more highfalutin name than the pile of sandbags in the dirt deserved, but that was what they had. The tattered remains of the Independent defense was headquartered there.

For five weeks, they had held the valley. Serenity Valley was the key to Hera, and Hera was the key to the war. Whoever controlled this particular ball of rock would be in position to do considerable damage to the other side.

Doing damage was a notion Mal Reynolds could surely get behind.

He stumbled up the incline that led to base camp, throwing his arms down at the last minute to cushion the impact as his body hit the ground. That, he thought, could've been ugly. Might've split my lip or something.

It was a weak joke, but such were powerful funny when you were watching Alliance aircraft mow down platoon after platoon after platoon.

To some extent, Mal was flattered by the attention. The Alliance calling in air support meant that they took the Browncoats' defense of Serenity Valley seriously -- something they probably commenced to doing after a month had passed without the Alliance taking Serenity in twenty-four hours like they planned.

So they sent in more troops. And more air support.

As Mal watched, an Alliance skiff took down dozens of his people, plowing through bodies like knives.

Stumbling into base camp, he wondered where the hell their own air support was. The Alliance had been too clever by half, and made sure to target officers instead of grunts. Mal wasn't all sure, but it seemed fair to certain that he was the highest-ranking Brown-coat left in this gorram valley.

And still we're holding it. He smiled. These Alliance folk were getting a hard lesson in the power of positive thinking -- in this case, the people were positive they didn't need some government completely taking over their lives. The Alliance was welcome to the central planets, but keep your grubby mitts off our outer worlds, thank you so much. Once our air support shows up, then you'll really see what we can do. Until then, though, that Alliance skiff out there was not going to let up until all the Browncoats were dead.

He went straight for the corporal whose name

he could not remember, but who he called "Grin"

on account of how he never once smiled. Grin was from Sergeant DeLorenzo's platoon, until Sergeant DeLorenzo -- and three-quarters of his platoon -- were wiped out by the first Alliance airplane to show up.

At Mal's questioning glance, Grin said, "Sergeant, Command says they're holding until they can assess our status."

Mal's jaw fell open. "Our status is, we need some gorram air support. Now get back online, tell 'em to get in here!" What is it about Command that they must insist on having their heads firmly implanted in their rectums?

Even as Mal spoke, Zoë Alleyne leapt in from above. "That skiff is shredding us, sir."

Zoë had been with Mal in the 57th from the beginning of the war, and it hadn't taken long for him to count on her as his right hand. Mal knew he was a decent soldier, all things considered, but Zoë was brilliant. There were times when Mal was convinced that, had Zoë been on the Alliance's side, this war would be over, and the Browncoats would be done for. And had there been more like Zoë, he suspected that a lot more of his people would be alive. As it was, only he, Zoë, Bendis, and McAvoy were left of the original 57th,

STILLSHINY

Monday, August 8, 2005 3:08 PM

KRAD,

Select to view spoiler:

I love this & I love the deeper dig into Mal's loss of faith. I definately plan on reading this. Are there other aspects of the show not "shown" in the movie that are fleshed out here?

If this is too spoilery of a question. Just e-mail me at stillshiny@gmail.com

By the way, any chance of getting signed copies? - yep. shameless that's me.

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - I'm thinkin we rose again

http://www.cafepress.com/stillshiny

BROWNCOAT1

Monday, August 8, 2005 5:02 PM

Shiny!

Excellent way to introduce new readers and non-Browncoats to the 'Verse Keith. I love the insights into Zoe & how she & Mal came to rely on one another so much.

Can't wait to get my hands on a copy of the novelization.

__________________________________________

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

Richmond, VA & surrounding area Firefly Fans:

http://tv.groups.yahoo.com/group/richmondbrowncoats/

http://www.richmondbrowncoats.org

SOULOFSERENITY

Monday, August 8, 2005 8:48 PM

That was incredible! It's one thing to watch those scenes on the DVD's, but it's something else entirely to actually be able to see inside the heads of those involved. Wonderful work, and now I really can't wait to get my hands on that book!!!!

______________________

Soul, Security Chief of the Sereni-Tree, Captain of Destiny.

Mantichorus: "So is there a reason they call you 'Soul'?"
Soul (after a long pause): "Yeah. Because I have one."

http://havenofsouls.blogspot.com/

XEROCKS81

Monday, August 8, 2005 9:23 PM

Ok I'm confused here. Is this a novelization of Serenity the movie, or Serenity the television pilot?

CONSCIENCE

Tuesday, August 9, 2005 2:10 AM

Thanks KRAD!

Remember, remember, the 5th of September.

ANACHRONITE

Tuesday, August 9, 2005 2:53 AM

love it! cant wait to read it!

KRAD

Tuesday, August 9, 2005 1:05 PM

Quote:
Ok I'm confused here. Is this a novelization of Serenity the movie, or Serenity the television pilot?

The movie. However, I novelized the Battle of Serenity Valley (and also bits of the flashbacks in "Safe") as preludes to help set up the action of the movie.

A novel has much more storytelling space than a movie, so stuff needs to be added when one is novelizing a film. Since I had 14 hours of material to play with, it seemed logical to include some of it as backstory for the characters....

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

KRAD

Tuesday, August 9, 2005 1:07 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by Stillshiny:
Select to view spoiler:
I love this & I love the deeper dig into Mal's loss of faith. I definately plan on reading this. Are there other aspects of the show not "shown" in the movie that are fleshed out here?

Maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaybe.

(What, you were expecting a straight answer? Silly human....)

Quote:
By the way, any chance of getting signed copies? - yep. shameless that's me.

Yes, actually. If you send a copy of the book and sufficient funds to cover return postage to me at PO Box 4976, New York< NY 10185-4976, I'll be happy to sign the book and send it back.

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

STILLSHINY

Tuesday, August 9, 2005 1:26 PM

Oh, yes I will. You are a true BROWNCOAT!

"We had ties that could not be broken, except by the passing of time. Like a rock. A broken time rock. And you're very special to me, my broken time rock people." - Nathan Fillion

Stillshiny's Shop - I'm thinkin we rose again
http://www.cafepress.com/stillshiny

BERNADETTE

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 2:19 PM

WOW, I WANT MORE !!!!

Thanks KRAD

Bernie

SUNYATSEN

Wednesday, August 10, 2005 5:22 PM

Outstanding. For those concerned about spoilers, this first chapter is essentially the novelization of the Serenity Valley scene in the two hour pilot for Firefly. A very wise decision for the novelization of Serenity, since it gives background for the uninitiated. ****/****

DARKENC

Thursday, August 11, 2005 3:01 AM

Excellent! I like how you worked in Mal's faith and convictions. And the addition of Zoe's last name.

KRAD

Thursday, August 11, 2005 7:54 PM

Quote:
I like how you worked in Mal's faith and convictions. And the addition of Zoe's last name.

Thanks! But I can only take credit for the first part. Zoe's last name came straight from the script.

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