Based on his knowledge of criminal activity, apparent unknown but important status with The Alliance, and hand to hand combat abilities, I think Book may have been an Operative. It said on wikipedia that his first name (Derrial) is actually the name of a man Book killed, which would indicate that he lacks a real name much like The Operative in Serenity. He also seems to know very well what an operative is and that beleif is very important, and Book sertainly believes.
So is Shepard Derrial Book a former operative? or does anyone have another theory?
Posted by TomDavidson (Member # 124) on :
I think the universal consensus is that we're meant to assume, by the end of the film, that Book was either an Operative or something very close to one.
Posted by Marek (Member # 5404) on :
okay cool, glad I wasn't the only one thinking he was one
Posted by scholar (Member # 9232) on :
I am hoping they delve more into this in one of the comics.
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
According to Ron Glass, there is another Serenity coming along after this next one called "A Shepherd's Tale."
Dunno if Whedon will give it all away there, but ya never know...
During last year's Browncoat Cruise, Glass said he was allowed to reveal 5 secrets about Book. I posted them here, if you're interested. His actual history is not revealed, but some significant things are.
Posted by plaid (Member # 2393) on :
quote:Malcolm: It's of interest to me how much you seem to know about that world. Book: I wasn't born a shepherd, Mal. Malcolm: You have to tell me about that sometime. Book: [pause] No, I don't.
Posted by adfectio (Member # 11070) on :
So what it boils down to is if we ever find out exactly what happened in his past, it's in a part of the story that Malcolm, or really any of the Firefly crew are around for.
Posted by Marek (Member # 5404) on :
knowing those secrets I am even more conviced that he is a former operative
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
What exactly is an operative?
Also -- Book is probably not his real name either. Why doesn't it mention that?
And how many of these comics are out? Am I missing something?
Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
A three-comic miniseries called "Those Left Behind" came out the summer before the movie, meant to take place in the gap between "Firefly" and "Serenity." Each issue had three different covers, so every crewmember got his or her own cover. All of them have been collected in a trade paperback.
This March, a new Serenity comic mini-series called "Better Days" will begin.
Both sets of comics were written by Joss Whedon and Bret Matthews (writer of the "Firefly" episode "Heart of Gold").
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
*bump*
So on a scale of 1-10, how worth it is it to buy "Those Left Behind"? (It was $20 at B&N, which seems like a lot for a small book that may or may not be good).
Posted by lem (Member # 6914) on :
quote: Based on his knowledge of criminal activity, apparent unknown but important status with The Alliance, and hand to hand combat abilities, I think Book may have been an Operative.
Well........Given the fact that he is black, I would have to say he was either an Operative or an assassin. Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tara:
So on a scale of 1-10, how worth it is it to buy "Those Left Behind"? (It was $20 at B&N, which seems like a lot for a small book that may or may not be good).
3
Posted by adfectio (Member # 11070) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tara: So on a scale of 1-10, how worth it is it to buy "Those Left Behind"? (It was $20 at B&N, which seems like a lot for a small book that may or may not be good).
I'd rate it somewhere more at a 5 or 6. It's not incredibly important, but it does a great job of tying together the series and the movie. It's different from both in the same sort of way they are different from each other, but it's still firefly. Amazon has it for $14 plus shipping. Or paperback for $10.
Posted by Tara (Member # 10030) on :
Ah! Paperback! I might get that. The reviews on Amazon were not good enough to warrant a $20 purchase.
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
quote:What is Book's past?
As a younger man he travelled for many years under the name of Vellum Scroll, but he was originally born Oral Tradition.
--Enigmatic
Posted by Joldo (Member # 6991) on :
I suspect it involved folk dancing.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
I wouldn't be surprised if he was in the military when he was younger and then was a member of Parliament. Parliament were the ones who sent the Operatives on their missions, it's possible that's how he knows.
The Operative just seems like the obvious answer now, if they are going to make it any sort of surprise at all, I think a member of Parliament with a military history, but I too really lean towards Operative, just because that's what they've been pushing us towards.
Posted by Noemon (Member # 1115) on :
quote:Originally posted by Tara: Ah! Paperback! I might get that. The reviews on Amazon were not good enough to warrant a $20 purchase.
You might see if your library has it or can get it through interlibrary loan before you plunk down anything at all for it.
Enigmatic, if I'd been drinking my morning coffee when I read your post you'd owe me a new monitor and keyboard right about now. Posted by Chris Bridges (Member # 1138) on :
If you just want the story, go buy it from TFAW.com, they have "nick and dent" versions on sale for five bucks.
[ January 24, 2008, 11:00 AM: Message edited by: Chris Bridges ]
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
Noemon, then clearly I must work on my comedic timing.
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