What's With Book?
POSTED BY: Werzbowski
UPDATED: Wednesday, January 7, 2004 01:50
VIEWED: 5231
PAGE 2 of 2
Quote:
Originally posted by HKCAVALIER:
>Anybody else notice how focused Book is on River?
Nothing out of the ordinary. He was protective of Dobson, too, in Serenity. He's a kind and helpful person, and River just happens to need a lot of help.
My two cents worth...
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I don't think the "half a hump" line is so much at odds with what he's said, but how he's said it. In my experience, people with strong moral character tend to have strong opinions and a lot of anger brought on by the extremes of injustice they see. Book is a very sensible and very controled person, he ain't gonna go antagonizing the muscle.
That Book would have very little care for Jayne's very anemic "change of heart" after Ariel makes perfect sense. Certainly Jayne is a fool and something of a softy deep down, but he's still plenty dangerous. If I was Book and had some real power in criminal matters, I might fantasize about bringing the big lug to justice myself. Also, in line with my interpretation, Jayne has shown himself to be a real threat to River and therefore to Book's plans, whatever they might be.
HKCavalier
Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.
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Quote:
Originally posted by arp:
>Anybody else notice how focused Book is on River?
I noticed but I'm not sure his intentions are benign. I think the biggest insight comes in Objects in Space, when River gives us a peek at each person's thoughts, and Book is something like this: "I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not. Now where does that leave us?" It's said in a very angry voice. It's at direct odds with what he says and how he acts in the entire rest of the series.
I agree. I think your all right.
Book is a Sheppard. But before he went to the Abby he was some kind of official.
As for his secret thoughts from 'Objects' it says to me he was innocent of whatever he was involved in, but still takes responsibility, much the way a military commander would. Thats why my new pet theory is that he was commander of Alliance forces in Serenity Valley, one of the ones who left both sides soldiers on the field for all that time they were negotiating. It broke his heart requiring entrence to the Abby.
But that doesn't seem to fit his love of ships from the pilot. Serenity hit him somehow. So my other thought is he is some kind of Alliance navy man.
All we know for sure is that something led him to the Abby and something made him leave.
Also don't forget he misses Serenity's only stop on a Core world.
H
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This general in charge of serenity valley idea just doesn't sit well with me 'cause I think he'd be famous (or infamous). He'd have a name and his picture would be downloadable from the Cortex. Mal would know his face, or at least Book would have no reason not to think he would. Book would certainly know Mal if some green alliance cop knows of him. No, Book's breakdown in Inara's shuttle is sincere and a man with the kind of complicated relationship with Mal that being in charge of defeating the browncoat army implies wouldn't be all, "Oh, gosh, I think I'm in over my head." No, no, no previous knowledge or relationship with Mal, no general in the army.
HKCavalier
Hey, hey, hey, don't be mean. We don't have to be mean, because, remember, no matter where you go, there you are.
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I think this thread has come up before. I really enjoy Book's character because he makes me think of a character type that has almost risen to the ranks of archetype.
In the beginning of Victor Hugo's Les Miserable, we are introduced to a priest who was once a member of Napoleon's court. He was sickened by what lengths Napoleon went to in order to stay in power and what lengths his enemies went to in order to get him out of power. So he left his title behind and became a priest. He was assigned to a very wealthy district where the priest's home was opulent and the hospital tiny. He moved into the hospital and let the hospital take over the parish house.
Later in the story when Jean Valjean robs him and is caught, the priest does not demand the silver back, but tells Valjean and the authorities that it was a gift and that Valjean forgot to take the candlesticks as well.
I like to imagine Book's background being similar to this story. Born to wealth and power, but then disgusted with it, leaving it behind for a more spiritual life.
--Kala
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