Blue Sun Room FICTION - GENERAL
The Treasure of Lei Fong Wu -- Author's Backwards, no epilogue
Friday, October 6, 2006
Last Call! The Author's Backward. The Epilogue has been cancelled due to popular request.
CATEGORY: FICTION TIMES READ: 5203 RATING: 9.0 (G) SERIES: FIREFLY
The Treasure of Lei Fong Wu
Author’s Backward
Just over a year ago, I had an itch to write a story – a character sketch, really, about a prematurely cancelled TV show. It started as a whim, something to while away the nights after the kids were in bed. I found a fanfic site, posted it, and much to my amazement, people liked it.
So I wrote another chapter. And another. Thirty days later, more or less, Kaylee’s Lament was finished and I was hooked. And like any other addict, I had to increase my dosage. I started writing Treasure, figuring it would be a hair longer than Kaylee’s Lament.
That’s some gorram hair.
What is it about the ‘verse that compels us, so? There’s nothing particularly unique, here, after all: a sci-fi show with a Western feel, down to the quaint 19th century-tainted English, mixed up with enough Chinese (as opposed to an alien language) to make it exotic yet believable. You have a roguish captain, faithful sidekick, the wisecracking pilot, the heavy, the honey, the gifted engineer, and the wise old mystic. Throw in a telepath and a doc, put it on a cool spaceship, add some colorful villains, stir up some plot, and you have a soup that, on the surface, should be fairly unremarkable.
Only . . . it’s remarkable in every meaningful way. You wouldn’t be reading this if it wasn’t. The background is enchanting, the characters are tortured and compelling, and the plots are well thought out, filled with snappy dialog and meaningful insights. Take all the same ingredients and put them in the hands of any competent cook and you might get another hackneyed space opera damned to mediocrity.
But we didn’t. We got Joss. We got Firefly.
Try to distill that down to its essence and you will find the reason that our BDH are so compelling. They have that indefinable characteristic that made Kirk and Spock, Luke and Han, the Doctor and Romana, and all the other great sci-fi shows a success:
Firefly has a soul.
I’ll leave it to you to define it further than that – it’s a subject for
Comments
Friday, 06 October 2006 16:38
I honestly have to say, the stuff taken right out of Star Wars totally ruined this epilogue for me and tossed me right out of the Firefly 'verse.
Friday, 06 October 2006 16:44
I can appreciate that, and if you would like you can ignore the epilogue. I debated mightily over how to do it, and in the end I gave in to temptation. But Joss said something in one of his interviews that stuck with me, and I thought it might be fun to explore it a bit. Sorry for the inconvenience.
StA
StA
Friday, 06 October 2006 16:51
> But Joss said something in one of his interviews that stuck with me, and I thought it might be fun to explore it a bit. Sorry for the inconvenience.
No need to apologize. It's your work, you are entitled to write it how you want. But I just couldn't sit on my disappointment over this epilogue and decided to be honest rather than say nothing at all.
I hope you continue writing in the Firefly 'verse (minus the deluge of SW refs!:) and have another wonderfully crafted story for us to read in the future.
No need to apologize. It's your work, you are entitled to write it how you want. But I just couldn't sit on my disappointment over this epilogue and decided to be honest rather than say nothing at all.
I hope you continue writing in the Firefly 'verse (minus the deluge of SW refs!:) and have another wonderfully crafted story for us to read in the future.
Friday, 06 October 2006 16:54
I do, and thank you for understanding. That will be the LAST Star Wars reference . . . ever. I just loved the irony, though . . .
StA
StA
Friday, 06 October 2006 17:46
Really wished you had left all the references to Star Wars out of this epilogue. If you wanted to send our crew to Tatooine and put in all those references a different story would have been the perfect vehicle. This just takes the shine off what was a wonderful and fabulous story. Spoilt something that was shiny left alone.
Ali D
You can't take the sky from me
Ali D
You can't take the sky from me
Friday, 06 October 2006 17:48
Fine. Concensus of opinion seems to be that this is unacceptable. I withdraw the story, leaving only the Backwards. Sorry for the inconvenice.
StA
StA
Friday, 06 October 2006 18:15
I usually don't comment on your stuff, mainly because I'm too busy digesting how all the pieces fit together, and then the dog throws up on the rug or something and I forget.
What always gets me most about your work is the way you make the characters more real. We only got about 15 episodes to see what these people were like, and beyond a few minor quibbles here and there, I think you do a fine job of extending them into actual folks you'd meet in your travels.
But most of all, I have to give you accolades for Inara. You did something not even Joss did a lot: you made her useful. Not only did she save the Galaxy, but she did it on such a massive scale that no one on the ship - except maybe Simon at one point - had an inkling of what was going on. Her education and training finally piad off, but in such a subtle way you get the feeling that she really is well trained at manipulation.
Please write more. I love trying to guess where you're going with something.
P.S. I thought the Star Wars was kinda funny, myself.
What always gets me most about your work is the way you make the characters more real. We only got about 15 episodes to see what these people were like, and beyond a few minor quibbles here and there, I think you do a fine job of extending them into actual folks you'd meet in your travels.
But most of all, I have to give you accolades for Inara. You did something not even Joss did a lot: you made her useful. Not only did she save the Galaxy, but she did it on such a massive scale that no one on the ship - except maybe Simon at one point - had an inkling of what was going on. Her education and training finally piad off, but in such a subtle way you get the feeling that she really is well trained at manipulation.
Please write more. I love trying to guess where you're going with something.
P.S. I thought the Star Wars was kinda funny, myself.
Friday, 06 October 2006 18:23
Hmmm guess I missed the story, damn me for not checking this every single day. Now as for the rest I am happy your writing a new story, if i had my way you would never stop and you could never write fast enough. I love your work and have read it over and over again. I have had almost no critics of your stories, mostly when I do see things diffrently it is something that is more of a oppinion and I respect your artist oppinion to do things your way. now with that said their is one thing I do think you got wrong. Zoe's gun i am 99% sure is not a shotgun like most people seem to think it is, I am fairly certian it is a cutdown winchester rifle. Since it looks just like one with a cut down barrel and stock, plus the barrel looks a tad small to be a shotgun. Not saying I am right on that but I think that is what she used in the series and movie. I just remember you made refernce to her carring a shotgun in TW. Anyways look foward to Unfinished bussines and wish i had got to read your SW/FF cross over story, long as you didn't try to make it cannon I think I would have liked it. But alas I was to slow to find out.
Friday, 06 October 2006 18:33
Sometimes irony is fun. We don't have to be serious all the time. I liked it.
Friday, 06 October 2006 18:34
You should leave it up, StA. Just so that people can make their own decisions whether to treat it as an epilogue or let the last chapter you wrote stand on its own.
You'll certainly have lots of people curious now.
I'd definitely love to know what Joss said, I assume concerning star wars?, that made you want to write the epilogue this way.
All I ever remember Joss saying regarding SW was that his 'verse had no aliens and that made it different.
You'll certainly have lots of people curious now.
I'd definitely love to know what Joss said, I assume concerning star wars?, that made you want to write the epilogue this way.
All I ever remember Joss saying regarding SW was that his 'verse had no aliens and that made it different.
Friday, 06 October 2006 19:19
(*SIGH*)
OK, look, anyone who wants to read the epilogue as I wrote it, email me at tmancour@gmail.com and I'll send it to you.
I have to admit, I'm a little . . . I don't know . . . (author at loss for words . . . brain melting . . . reboot) I wish that I hadn't gotten the reaction that I did, is all. I was trying to be a little funny, running with some irony at the tail end where it wouldn't impact the story at all. But I clearly irritated some of my readers, and that's not my intention. I wasn't trying to ruin the book -- those who did get to read it, apart from the dialog and a few tongue-in-cheek references I didn't break canon at all.
And that was kind of my point. In the Joss interview in question, he remarked that Firefly was what would have happened to Han Solo had he not taken the charter from Kenobi to Alderaan and gotten involved with politics -- an exploration of the rogueish nature of the character. He has said on more than one occasion that Han is the spiritual father of Mal, and the Falcon is the spiritual mother of Serenity (I'm paraphrasing) and I wanted to show that in a very blatant way.
I also wanted to point out that there were several similar elements between the SW saga and Treasure, but that with these same ingredients the soup turned out completely differently. It was little more than a piece of candy, an amusing entertainment to sandwich my Author's Backwards and give everyone a chance to let me know how they felt about the book as a whole. It wasn't meant to be taken overly seriously. I guess my ironic take on things was too much for some of my readers. Never intended it to cause that reaction -- who would? So I withdrew the piece.
I have to admit, the negative reaction to the piece was enough to make me reconsider investing the time and energy into Unfinished Business that I had planned -- it's a big deal, after all.
In the last thirteen months I've started three books and finished four, and that's a LOT of writing -- well over half a million words. Committing to another book for no money was a risky proposition in the first place, but I was enthusiastic about it because of the story.
Needless to say, my enthusiasm has dampened somewhat. I may yet decide to go forward -- the positive comments certainly helped -- and I do have two chapters of the book already written, so we'll see. Likely my hurt feelings will fade with the application of a little ethanol tonight and I'll be able to shrug it off by Monday. A lot will depend upon further comments.
Anyway, if you missed it, drop me a line. I'll shoot it to you and you can decide what you think.
And, for the record, Mal DID shoot first. Damn straight.
ScrewtheAlliance
OK, look, anyone who wants to read the epilogue as I wrote it, email me at tmancour@gmail.com and I'll send it to you.
I have to admit, I'm a little . . . I don't know . . . (author at loss for words . . . brain melting . . . reboot) I wish that I hadn't gotten the reaction that I did, is all. I was trying to be a little funny, running with some irony at the tail end where it wouldn't impact the story at all. But I clearly irritated some of my readers, and that's not my intention. I wasn't trying to ruin the book -- those who did get to read it, apart from the dialog and a few tongue-in-cheek references I didn't break canon at all.
And that was kind of my point. In the Joss interview in question, he remarked that Firefly was what would have happened to Han Solo had he not taken the charter from Kenobi to Alderaan and gotten involved with politics -- an exploration of the rogueish nature of the character. He has said on more than one occasion that Han is the spiritual father of Mal, and the Falcon is the spiritual mother of Serenity (I'm paraphrasing) and I wanted to show that in a very blatant way.
I also wanted to point out that there were several similar elements between the SW saga and Treasure, but that with these same ingredients the soup turned out completely differently. It was little more than a piece of candy, an amusing entertainment to sandwich my Author's Backwards and give everyone a chance to let me know how they felt about the book as a whole. It wasn't meant to be taken overly seriously. I guess my ironic take on things was too much for some of my readers. Never intended it to cause that reaction -- who would? So I withdrew the piece.
I have to admit, the negative reaction to the piece was enough to make me reconsider investing the time and energy into Unfinished Business that I had planned -- it's a big deal, after all.
In the last thirteen months I've started three books and finished four, and that's a LOT of writing -- well over half a million words. Committing to another book for no money was a risky proposition in the first place, but I was enthusiastic about it because of the story.
Needless to say, my enthusiasm has dampened somewhat. I may yet decide to go forward -- the positive comments certainly helped -- and I do have two chapters of the book already written, so we'll see. Likely my hurt feelings will fade with the application of a little ethanol tonight and I'll be able to shrug it off by Monday. A lot will depend upon further comments.
Anyway, if you missed it, drop me a line. I'll shoot it to you and you can decide what you think.
And, for the record, Mal DID shoot first. Damn straight.
ScrewtheAlliance
Friday, 06 October 2006 22:15
One of the—maybe six—times I’ve logged on to this site was to bemoan that vacation you took back in July or so. Not that you didn’t deserve it, if only just for what you’ve done for me.
My bookmark to FireFlyFans.net takes me directly to your Blue Sun room.
I have, as no doubt you do, many thousands of books, literally stacks. Every available space is full and over full. How many different ways can you fill a space with paperbacks to increase its volume by a book or two? Every nook, every cranny, except one.
You know that shelf: Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the unbound Heinlein omnibus, Dune… that shelf still had space.
The three three-ring binders that now house Kaylee’s Lament and The Treasure of Lei Fong Wu parts one and two (that I copied and pasted and reformatted and printed, odd pages first—flip—even pages second) are bulky, unwieldy, difficult to read in bed, and right where they belong.
Thank You.
In my capacity as lurker, I have read many upon many a delightful fanfic. And two truly superior novels. The thought that you might choose to forgo the next brilliant installment saddens me in ways I lack the vocabulary to convey. Looking for your next chapter has become, essentially, a daily tradition for me, one I’d rather not break.
Besides, leaving that tale untold, like just another bit of unfinished business, is not the good kind of irony.
If you decide to do so, then thank you for what you’ve done. You, more than anyone, have given me back the ‘verse, even if just for a year-and-a-halfish. I hope you continue.
You, my friend, are a leaf.
I will be emailing you for that epilogue, it has a space reserved in my home.
---MwaHaHa
My bookmark to FireFlyFans.net takes me directly to your Blue Sun room.
I have, as no doubt you do, many thousands of books, literally stacks. Every available space is full and over full. How many different ways can you fill a space with paperbacks to increase its volume by a book or two? Every nook, every cranny, except one.
You know that shelf: Lord of the Rings, The Chronicles of Thomas Covenant, the unbound Heinlein omnibus, Dune… that shelf still had space.
The three three-ring binders that now house Kaylee’s Lament and The Treasure of Lei Fong Wu parts one and two (that I copied and pasted and reformatted and printed, odd pages first—flip—even pages second) are bulky, unwieldy, difficult to read in bed, and right where they belong.
Thank You.
In my capacity as lurker, I have read many upon many a delightful fanfic. And two truly superior novels. The thought that you might choose to forgo the next brilliant installment saddens me in ways I lack the vocabulary to convey. Looking for your next chapter has become, essentially, a daily tradition for me, one I’d rather not break.
Besides, leaving that tale untold, like just another bit of unfinished business, is not the good kind of irony.
If you decide to do so, then thank you for what you’ve done. You, more than anyone, have given me back the ‘verse, even if just for a year-and-a-halfish. I hope you continue.
You, my friend, are a leaf.
I will be emailing you for that epilogue, it has a space reserved in my home.
---MwaHaHa
GGCRONO
Friday, 06 October 2006 23:41
What can I say what ain't already been said? This is, as you said, Art, and you, sir, are an Artist.
Saturday, 07 October 2006 00:10
Want more!
*sniffle* Didn't get to read the epilogue ... */sniffle*
*sniffle* Didn't get to read the epilogue ... */sniffle*
KITTYKAT26
Saturday, 07 October 2006 03:19
Depressed I didn't get to read the epilogue as well, *sniffles also*
Wish I had your talent for storytelling:)
Wish I had your talent for storytelling:)
DOLL
Saturday, 07 October 2006 04:56
I am very sad to see that you are considering abandoning this amazing talent you have. I read the epilogue this morning before work and though it was not what I expected I enjoyed it immensely.
I find that one of the thrills of everyday is logging on and seeing if you have posted anything that allows me re-enter the Firefly verse. Your stories are works of art. Please please please don't stop writing/posting. I may not always post notes but know this, I look forward to finding something by Screw The Alliance everyday, and I have yet to be disappointed by anything you have written.
I find that one of the thrills of everyday is logging on and seeing if you have posted anything that allows me re-enter the Firefly verse. Your stories are works of art. Please please please don't stop writing/posting. I may not always post notes but know this, I look forward to finding something by Screw The Alliance everyday, and I have yet to be disappointed by anything you have written.
Saturday, 07 October 2006 04:59
Oh, all right.
Ethanol is a wonderful thing. So are supportive fans. I'm over my snit -- expect to see the first chapter next week. Thanks to everyone who wrote, and a double thanks to everyone who bought Spellmonger, too. If you like it, tell two friends and write a review. And I'm not mad or anything at anyone. This is an ego-intensive exercise, and a few bruises are to be expected.
Thanks again,
ScrewtheALliansh
Ethanol is a wonderful thing. So are supportive fans. I'm over my snit -- expect to see the first chapter next week. Thanks to everyone who wrote, and a double thanks to everyone who bought Spellmonger, too. If you like it, tell two friends and write a review. And I'm not mad or anything at anyone. This is an ego-intensive exercise, and a few bruises are to be expected.
Thanks again,
ScrewtheALliansh
NEILEI
Saturday, 07 October 2006 05:57
Hi STA. I am a Firefly fan who just ran into a post about Kaylee's Lament a few days ago, tracked it down and finished it yesterday. Very shiny! I have read the first 10 chapters of The Treasure of Lei Fong Wu and am hooked. Since I saw that you had just finished this novel today, I stopped in to say a big thanks! This is the best readin in the 'verse. After reading KL I feel like it is part of the FF tv stories. I own the tv and BDM dvd's so I am getting my FF fix through your fanfic. I read your afterword and will take a look at your other books too. You and Jayne are my heroes. I have grabbed my body armour and am ready to read the next 80 chapters of TTOLWF. Many thanks again for finding me another piece of the 'verse to take my vicarious ride.
Saturday, 07 October 2006 06:26
Dude...I have said it a zillion times here (the BSR, for clarification;D) and I will say it again: Joss needs you on his team! When (and it's a when in my mind) the rights get sorted out for 'Verse-oriented ficiton, "Kaylee's Lament" and "The Legend of Lei Fong Wu" need to be a part of the initial wave of novels. Cuz they are:
a) Brilliant as all Hell and equal to the top entries for books based on things like Star Trek, Star Wars and D&D;
b) Spot on for the kind of existence Joss was aiming for...or damn close enough if Joss wants to get quibbly;
c) Definitely worth of a person's time and energies (though I will...respect the opinions of those who were less than shiny about their thoughts on the length of either KL or TLOLFW)
You have both amazed me and humbled me in the level of quality, complexity and creativity you put forth in the works submitted to this site and elsewhere. I can only wait in supreme anticipation for "Unfinished Business" to appear in the Blue Sun Room, so that I and others may praise your mind-boggling talents:D
Oh...and I am seriously disappointed that you took down/had took down the Epilogue to "...Lei Fong Wu" before I (and others) could read it, in that it doesn't given everyone a chance to read and critique it fairly. I totally wanna read it, just to see Mal have at least one blatant Han Solo moment to see how Nathan (cuz Nathan = Mal, dontcha know;D) would riff on something like the Han/Greedo conversation or suicide charge into a contingent of stormtroopers:D
BlueEyedBrigadier
a) Brilliant as all Hell and equal to the top entries for books based on things like Star Trek, Star Wars and D&D;
b) Spot on for the kind of existence Joss was aiming for...or damn close enough if Joss wants to get quibbly;
c) Definitely worth of a person's time and energies (though I will...respect the opinions of those who were less than shiny about their thoughts on the length of either KL or TLOLFW)
You have both amazed me and humbled me in the level of quality, complexity and creativity you put forth in the works submitted to this site and elsewhere. I can only wait in supreme anticipation for "Unfinished Business" to appear in the Blue Sun Room, so that I and others may praise your mind-boggling talents:D
Oh...and I am seriously disappointed that you took down/had took down the Epilogue to "...Lei Fong Wu" before I (and others) could read it, in that it doesn't given everyone a chance to read and critique it fairly. I totally wanna read it, just to see Mal have at least one blatant Han Solo moment to see how Nathan (cuz Nathan = Mal, dontcha know;D) would riff on something like the Han/Greedo conversation or suicide charge into a contingent of stormtroopers:D
BlueEyedBrigadier
Saturday, 07 October 2006 12:49
Like some others, I've clearly missed something. I'll be putting in my request to see it soon-ish.
I've loved these stories, they are almost the only reason I come to FFF.Net these days. I think they capture the feel and the spirit of the series and the movie like pretty much nothing else does, while expanding on the dark, untold corners of the Verse that have only previously been mentioned in passing or glossed over.
KL and TTOLWF are Firefly's favorite children, as far as I am concerned, and I hope more sparkling yet shadowed offspring come our way very soon.
P.S. What about a spin-off: Rel Fexive, Super Spy And Mathematician? ;)
I've loved these stories, they are almost the only reason I come to FFF.Net these days. I think they capture the feel and the spirit of the series and the movie like pretty much nothing else does, while expanding on the dark, untold corners of the Verse that have only previously been mentioned in passing or glossed over.
KL and TTOLWF are Firefly's favorite children, as far as I am concerned, and I hope more sparkling yet shadowed offspring come our way very soon.
P.S. What about a spin-off: Rel Fexive, Super Spy And Mathematician? ;)
Saturday, 07 October 2006 13:05
Well i sent my email yesterday and got it this morning and read it. I replied by email to you but will as well here too.
I thought it was great, yes it was very very obvious take from Star Wars. But I felt personally you did it in a very Joss way, similiar to how he did Dracula in Buffy. A sorta of homage and poking fun at it, at the same time.
I won't repeat all i said in my reply email but I will add something else. I agree BlueEyedBadger and will even go a step further. I and my friends are some of those weird Role Players, anyways we have a Serenity game going on. One in which we uses your fanfic novels as cannon filler to help fill out the verse. We feel it fits very well and really helps flesh out things.
Ok I think I have flattered you enough now. *s* Can't wait for you to start Unfinished bussiness.
I thought it was great, yes it was very very obvious take from Star Wars. But I felt personally you did it in a very Joss way, similiar to how he did Dracula in Buffy. A sorta of homage and poking fun at it, at the same time.
I won't repeat all i said in my reply email but I will add something else. I agree BlueEyedBadger and will even go a step further. I and my friends are some of those weird Role Players, anyways we have a Serenity game going on. One in which we uses your fanfic novels as cannon filler to help fill out the verse. We feel it fits very well and really helps flesh out things.
Ok I think I have flattered you enough now. *s* Can't wait for you to start Unfinished bussiness.
SALAMANDER
Sunday, 08 October 2006 12:03
I like many others have your Blue Sun room list bookmarked on both my home and work computers. I shall be most dismayed if there is no further new wonderful reading to be had, although I suspect that I shall be re-reading both novels several times.
Thankyou so much for sharing your talents and enlarging the firefly 'verse so well I can only think of your words as canon. You've fleshed out the characters further and the 'verse even more and you wield them in such a pretty dance.
If my vote counts please add me to the "I will read anything you write and love it" list. Off to prod the download link and see if it will cope with UK credit cards.
Thanks you again
Salamander
Thankyou so much for sharing your talents and enlarging the firefly 'verse so well I can only think of your words as canon. You've fleshed out the characters further and the 'verse even more and you wield them in such a pretty dance.
If my vote counts please add me to the "I will read anything you write and love it" list. Off to prod the download link and see if it will cope with UK credit cards.
Thanks you again
Salamander
Saturday, 23 December 2006 20:44
personally, i find star wars shiny in any context. it's just so damn funky!! with fwhoom-fwhoom and the beep-beep and the...y'know what? i'm gonna shut up.
b
b
BEATLEJESSIE
Thursday, 29 March 2007 00:10
I just discovered your novels, and have spent the better part of a week reading "Kaylee's Lament" and "Treasure" and have been blown away by your talent! I think you did an amazing job bridging the series and the BDM, and stayed true to the 'verse. Your characterizations are spot-on, and your original characters are outstanding. I can't wait to start reading "Unfinished Business"!!!
THANK YOU!!!
THANK YOU!!!
Friday, 20 July 2007 06:07
I wanted to be long winded and wax poetical about the coolness and greatness of the series, but I'll put it like this:
I almost can't read anymore Firefly fanfic, or fanfic in general, or even certain novels, because they pale in comparison to the shininess of this!
Go studly Chinese men by the way! Wooo!
I almost can't read anymore Firefly fanfic, or fanfic in general, or even certain novels, because they pale in comparison to the shininess of this!
Go studly Chinese men by the way! Wooo!
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