Firefly book of short stories coming!

POSTED BY: Miraxian
UPDATED: Monday, January 18, 2010 01:11
VIEWED: 8682
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AURAPTOR

Thursday, January 14, 2010 5:21 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by jrnyfan:
Um...I'd rather "A Shepherd's Tale" be released since that goram thing has been promised for the past 3 years.

Still...won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Oh, but if horses were wishes.... right ?

The T.Rex they call JANE!

BYTEMITE

Thursday, January 14, 2010 3:26 PM

The thing is, comic books are going to feel different from the television series, just like the television series obviously felt different from the movie. It's different ways of writing, even if you have the same guy in charge of writing and/or production.

A movie has to fit into a smaller time frame than a television season. For sci-fi/action/adventure you have to keep up the pace to tell the story, so you lose a lot of little character moments and interactions that give you a breather from the main plot, which also tends to be more focused and have fewer subplots. Similarly, you have a shorter amount of time to really pull on people's emotions, so you have to hit people suddenly, often where it hurts.

Western comic books have their own style and history that they all draw on. They're inspired by old pulp novels and penny dreadfuls, which tended to have more focus on action than on character introspection. As a visual medium, this aspect has been exaggerated, because it's easier to illustrate action. Character introspection can really only be inserted over the action through whatever narrative is possible. That's not to say that you can't have poignant moments of character introspection through the narrative mixed with mood presented by the visuals, but it's difficult because by nature of the medium, the reader is distanced from the narrative. Which is why many people think that comic books lack depth or genuine emotion, and have to rely on convoluted but ultimately simple stories about good and evil (i.e. Superhero comic books).

But if you appreciate both the virtues and the limitations of the medium, Firefly has an action element that adapts extremely well to comic book form. You'll notice both comic books center around some sort of heist or caper and the subsequent consequences, and each story serves to bring insight to each character's choices and motives. Those Left Behind asks how the characters act and what they would do if things went really wrong (and also ties up some loose ends from the series), and Better Days asks what would happen if the crew had some good luck for once. I think both situations are illuminating, and I think the voices and dry, sometimes dark/off-colour comedy is pitch perfect with the characters and the show. Also, I appreciate that even though the action in the comic books is exaggerated and over the top, the characters and their situation keep Firefly down-to-earth and life-sized.

I've never really understood Joss Whedon's comments about how there isn't enough background for a serial. If there are ideas and interesting aspects to flesh out about the verse, that becomes background. And because there's plenty of potential both for other situations that could bring other insights to characters, and unexplored territory in regards to overarching plot, Firefly seems MADE for a comic book serial. But it's up to Joss, and that's his assessment.

Similarly, everything I said about narrative in comic books is the exact opposite in a novel. The narrative of a novel general isn't limited and doesn't distance the reader (unless it intends to or is poorly written), which means you can get a lot of feeling and emotional impact. Novels also provide the best opportunity for character introspection.

So, I'd like both. Surprise surprise.

JRNYFAN

Friday, January 15, 2010 5:48 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by AURaptor:
Quote:
Originally posted by jrnyfan:
Um...I'd rather "A Shepherd's Tale" be released since that goram thing has been promised for the past 3 years.

Still...won't look a gift horse in the mouth.

Oh, but if horses were wishes.... right ?

Then we'd all have a fry...at least I think that's how that goes

MER

Friday, January 15, 2010 10:42 PM

Short Stories, yes please! And also Shephard's Tale, thank you <3

Wait what? New Firefly Visual Companion? Which volume?

TECHTREKKER

Sunday, January 17, 2010 4:14 PM

Let us know when this comes out! I love reading the free fanfic on this and other websites, but I would really love to purchase a book that I could keep on my Firefly shelf.

ECGORDON

Sunday, January 17, 2010 4:30 PM

I've had a new Titan book about Firefly on my wish list at amazon.com for a long time. I wonder if this is what it is going to be. The release date is supposedly April 27.

http://www.amazon.com/Firefly-Flying-Celebration-Whedons-Acclaimed/dp/
1848565062/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1263745549&sr=1-18

And, techtrekker, there are plenty of other Firefly/Serenity books you can put on your shelf.

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_ss?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-
keywords=firefly&x=0&y=0

Please remember if and when ordering anything from amazon that fff.net is an associate member, and using the links Haken has provided on the homepage will net him a small commission.

wo men ren ran zai fei xing.

CHRISISALL

Monday, January 18, 2010 1:11 AM

OKAY, here we go! Read this!
http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/97531-Firefly-Writers-Compil
ing-New-Anthology

Quote:
The Firefly television show may still be dead for now, but this new anthology could breathe a little more life into the franchise.

Squee

That wasn't me
I do not "squee."

The laughing Chrisisall

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