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3.82 AVERAGE
3.82 AVERAGE
After reading the first three, authored by Lovegrove, I was hoping for something more than a redone version of an already filmed episode.
Lebbon absolutely delivers!
The tension within the story is felt - even in spite of knowing our beloved Serenity crew would survive (we’ve all seen the movie, no spoilers here).
There had been something off in the way the characters were portrayed in the previous novels, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. In this one (with the exception of missing “Captain” and “Sir” coming from Zoe and Kaylee when addressing Mal) I felt as if I were reading a script and could easily visualize the episode being played out before me.
The antagonist(s) were a great nod to a plot line from the TV series that I think all true Browncoats would appreciate and be grateful that we got more of!
I love to collect books, especially having full series, but after the disappointments from Lovegrove, I will probably do a library check of any of his Firefly novels released after this point, but I will happily buy Lebbon’s Firefly novels sight unseen!
Lebbon absolutely delivers!
The tension within the story is felt - even in spite of knowing our beloved Serenity crew would survive (we’ve all seen the movie, no spoilers here).
There had been something off in the way the characters were portrayed in the previous novels, but I couldn’t pinpoint what it was. In this one (with the exception of missing “Captain” and “Sir” coming from Zoe and Kaylee when addressing Mal) I felt as if I were reading a script and could easily visualize the episode being played out before me.
The antagonist(s) were a great nod to a plot line from the TV series that I think all true Browncoats would appreciate and be grateful that we got more of!
I love to collect books, especially having full series, but after the disappointments from Lovegrove, I will probably do a library check of any of his Firefly novels released after this point, but I will happily buy Lebbon’s Firefly novels sight unseen!
I have enjoyed all the Firefly novels but this was my favorite. The author has a solid understanding of our beloved characters and their speech/vocab and personalities. It also gave me, an avid sci-fi reader for 35 years, a new sense and understanding of the perils of space travel and being in the Black.
"Two by two, hands of blue.."
- River Tam
**SPOILER-FREE ** (I do solemnly swear!)
This was not only my first outing with something by Lebbon, it was also my first FIREFLY novel from his pen. And, yes, while I know hardly anyone writes stories with a pen, it still sounds more pleasing to the ear to say that, rather than "..from his keyboard". Now, enough of that bibble-babble, we got a review to get written..
One of the aspects of the book (or, in my case, e-book) that really won me over was the author's grasp and total understanding of each of the Serenity's crew. I had no problem hearing Nathan Fillion for all of Mal's dialogue, or Summer Glau as River.
That said, only two characters were noticeably absent, having been written out of the story, off-shore doing their own character-specific thing(s) to do. Those characters were Shepherd Book and Inara. Either Lebbon had too many characters to write for in this particular story (understandable) or the story was conceived without either of them having any role in this story (again, understandable).
River's character really goes far in this one, at least as far as further character development and backstory. The movie SERENITY will always be considered one of the best sources for River-centric info, but this book comes in with a ridiculously tight second place as far as that!
By this point, if you have watched both the FIREFLY series, as well as the SERENITY movie, and you don't think the Alliance are total dicks, then GTFO! Go, run along now!
Haha.. Just kidding, but seriously, their the series' bad guys! It's like watching SW: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and cheering n' rooting for Darth Vader and the bloody Empire!
But, yeah, man! The stuff the Alliance did in the name of science and creating their own "super soldiers" in characters like River or Silas (not really a Spoiler per se, as this is all found out in the beginning) was just despicable and morally questionable! The children experimented on, including the aforementioned Silas and River, deserved a proper childhood, granting them time to play and not grow up to be pawns of a mega-corrupt governing body! Ugh!
Hey, as I said earlier in this review, Lebbon was killing it as far as totally getting the characters. And to evoke those kinda feelings in me, as far as fictional characters and getting angry at their treatment, that, my friends, is some solid writing right there!
Someone, maybe someone else as well, wrote that this episode could have been an actual episode, and that is something I could not agree with more! From beginning to end, this felt like a part of what-could-have-been Season Two! Ah, if only...
Final thoughts...
It wasn't a Harlan Ellison novel/novella, nor was it something like Orson Scott Card's ENDER'S GAME. However, it should not be viewed as such as it was what it was: a further previously-undocumented adventure of the crew of the Serenity! Thinking/expecting it to be something like the examples I gave, go to McDonald's (or any other fast food joint) and trying order prime rib and a baked potato as your side! And don't forget to make sure they bring a nice wine, too! #facepalm
Read this, or don't, choice is yours! All I will say in closing, is if you decide not to read it, you're missing out of a hell of a good ride with all kinds of goodness and suspense within! You're welcome!
- River Tam
**SPOILER-FREE ** (I do solemnly swear!
This was not only my first outing with something by Lebbon, it was also my first FIREFLY novel from his pen. And, yes, while I know hardly anyone writes stories with a pen, it still sounds more pleasing to the ear to say that, rather than "..from his keyboard". Now, enough of that bibble-babble, we got a review to get written..
One of the aspects of the book (or, in my case, e-book) that really won me over was the author's grasp and total understanding of each of the Serenity's crew. I had no problem hearing Nathan Fillion for all of Mal's dialogue, or Summer Glau as River.
That said, only two characters were noticeably absent, having been written out of the story, off-shore doing their own character-specific thing(s) to do. Those characters were Shepherd Book and Inara. Either Lebbon had too many characters to write for in this particular story (understandable) or the story was conceived without either of them having any role in this story (again, understandable).
River's character really goes far in this one, at least as far as further character development and backstory. The movie SERENITY will always be considered one of the best sources for River-centric info, but this book comes in with a ridiculously tight second place as far as that!
By this point, if you have watched both the FIREFLY series, as well as the SERENITY movie, and you don't think the Alliance are total dicks, then GTFO! Go, run along now!
Haha.. Just kidding, but seriously, their the series' bad guys! It's like watching SW: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK and cheering n' rooting for Darth Vader and the bloody Empire!
But, yeah, man! The stuff the Alliance did in the name of science and creating their own "super soldiers" in characters like River or Silas (not really a Spoiler per se, as this is all found out in the beginning) was just despicable and morally questionable! The children experimented on, including the aforementioned Silas and River, deserved a proper childhood, granting them time to play and not grow up to be pawns of a mega-corrupt governing body! Ugh!
Hey, as I said earlier in this review, Lebbon was killing it as far as totally getting the characters. And to evoke those kinda feelings in me, as far as fictional characters and getting angry at their treatment, that, my friends, is some solid writing right there!
Someone, maybe someone else as well, wrote that this episode could have been an actual episode, and that is something I could not agree with more! From beginning to end, this felt like a part of what-could-have-been Season Two! Ah, if only...
Final thoughts...
It wasn't a Harlan Ellison novel/novella, nor was it something like Orson Scott Card's ENDER'S GAME. However, it should not be viewed as such as it was what it was: a further previously-undocumented adventure of the crew of the Serenity! Thinking/expecting it to be something like the examples I gave, go to McDonald's (or any other fast food joint) and trying order prime rib and a baked potato as your side! And don't forget to make sure they bring a nice wine, too! #facepalm
Read this, or don't, choice is yours! All I will say in closing, is if you decide not to read it, you're missing out of a hell of a good ride with all kinds of goodness and suspense within! You're welcome!
adventurous
dark
funny
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
I had been looking forward to 'Generations' for a few reasons. As much as I've enjoyed Lovegrove's take on the 'verse, I wanted to see what another author could do, and I really, really wanted to hear more about Earth That Was and the ships that brought humanity away.
This book should have been a perfect fit, but something felt a little off. There was a little trouble with most of the characters not sounding distinct and I think the plot was hampered by the demands of staying in-continuity. All of the novels takes place between the end of the television series and before the 'Serenity' film. The subject of this book is a map leading to one of the generation ships that brought humanity to the 'verse 500 years ago. This is mythic. This is huge....this has to resolve in a way that doesn't effect the status quo at the beginning of 'Serenity'. Yikes. No wonder the book had to be delayed, it probably took several 'final' drafts to pass continuity standards.
Hampered as the story was, I could still appreciate the setting and the chunks o' lore that 'Generations' offers up. It just wasn't as satisfying as the others have been.
Firefly Novels
Next: 'Life Signs'
Previous: 'The Ghost Machine'
This book should have been a perfect fit, but something felt a little off. There was a little trouble with most of the characters not sounding distinct and I think the plot was hampered by the demands of staying in-continuity. All of the novels takes place between the end of the television series and before the 'Serenity' film. The subject of this book is a map leading to one of the generation ships that brought humanity to the 'verse 500 years ago. This is mythic. This is huge....this has to resolve in a way that doesn't effect the status quo at the beginning of 'Serenity'. Yikes. No wonder the book had to be delayed, it probably took several 'final' drafts to pass continuity standards.
Hampered as the story was, I could still appreciate the setting and the chunks o' lore that 'Generations' offers up. It just wasn't as satisfying as the others have been.
Firefly Novels
Next: 'Life Signs'
Previous: 'The Ghost Machine'
mysterious
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
If there’s one thing this series of books does right, it is portray/write the character voices accurately.
adventurous
mysterious
medium-paced