speculation on book (mentions events in serenity!)

POSTED BY: tintin220
UPDATED: Monday, October 17, 2005 19:04
VIEWED: 6930
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TINTIN220

Sunday, October 16, 2005 3:13 AM

i remember a time in safe that book was shot and when the feds looked at his id tag, they took him onboard and saved him, which means that he was/is valuable to the alliance.

in serenity, book says to mal all this stuff about how an operative was coming and how the operative thinks, approaches etc.

so i wondered how book knew so much about that.

was he once an operative or some other figure like that.

when he and mal speak, he says, "i wasnt born a shepherd, you know"
and mal says "youve got to tell me about that sometime"
after a pause, book replies "no, no i dont"

just my thoughts
tinman

im knew here, luv the show, luv the movie

YTINERES

Sunday, October 16, 2005 3:23 AM

I was thinking along the same lines Tinman, something about the mannerisms of The Operative had similarities with Book. It is something I mentioned to friends on my first viewing. Especially as the Operative at the end says he is empty with no beliefs. You can see that a broken operative could easily turn to God to fill that void.

SHINYOBJECT

Sunday, October 16, 2005 3:33 AM

Maybe he was the Operative's Father

Although before the movie came out I had a theory that book was the founder of the alliance and distinced himself when it turned into something more twisted form his vision.

hmmm.... i guess both could be true....

MONTANAGIRL

Sunday, October 16, 2005 3:46 AM

While it wasn't spelled out, I think it was pretty obvious that Joss was telling us that Book used to be an operative. Someone who's ident card gets them unlimited access, even without "name and rank". And Book never actually had a name. When he introduces himself in Serenity the pilot, he says, "I'm called Book," not that his name is Book. It's a subtle distinction, but given that operatives don't have names it fits.

I think the Operative's story in Serenity the movie is supposed to mirror what happened to Book. Something caused him to lose faith in the Alliance, and with men like that the only options are to fall on their swords or find something else that they can believe in that strongly. Book chose God.

I still want to get all the details about Book's history though!

-------------------------------------------------
"Do you accept gifts from strange men?" -Brisco
"Well, strange is no problem, but I draw the line at men I don't know." -Dixie

CACTUSBROWNCOAT

Sunday, October 16, 2005 7:37 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by montanagirl:

I still want to get all the details about Book's history though!

At first i thought i would want all Book's background history too...maybe even comic book format...but then again, isnt just speculating so much more fascinating? I agree with you guys thinking he was an operative, that would explain him becoming a shepherd to atone for his sins as an operative...but what if Joss wrote a comic or novel explaining he was just some high ranking Alliance officer...wouldnt you be disappointed? I just like making my own conclusion about Book's past...but that's just me :)

DONCOAT

Sunday, October 16, 2005 10:48 AM

(*Mild spoiler warning*)

I think Book ranked higher than an operative. Indeed, he might have been on a level with those "key members of Parliament" who were brought to see River Tam at the "academy". Another possibility is that he was a high-placed general in the Alliance military, or someone in an intelligence role -- the sort of person who gives Operatives their orders.

Here's a thought: maybe Book *was* actually one of those VIPs who came to see River, then left the government (possibly *because* of River) to take his orders at the abbey. We have to assume that a fair amount of time elapsed from that point until Simon got River out. This could explain River's ongoing fears aboard Serenity: Book was right there... waiting...

Not likely, but fun to think about anyway.

RABBIT2

Sunday, October 16, 2005 12:25 PM

I dont think that realy works, it takes years to train a priest and I doubt that Simon and River could have survived if the time between the escape and the boarding of Serenity is more than a couple of weeks.
I used to think that Book had either been some sort of high ranking Alliance Pollitician, Military Man or member of the judiciary but the idea that he was an operative is so good it has to be the right one.

DONCOAT

Sunday, October 16, 2005 1:11 PM

No reason that both things can't be true. He could have been an operative who moved on to higher posts.

RABBIT2

Sunday, October 16, 2005 6:19 PM

Could be, Chief operative maybe?

SMOKE

Sunday, October 16, 2005 7:51 PM

Well what ever Book's past is, he definatley had some training of some sort. There is in almost every episode and the movie an idea or just something he says that makes you think how could a shepard know that.

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