Something else to consider under the "buy stuff" heading...
Awhile back I made a small contribution to Titan Books for their Companion volume, “Firefly: Still Flying”. Instead of reimbursement, I asked for a copy of the book. Well, Christmas came in May and I’m here to tell you that “Firefly: Still Flying” is a fitting wrap-up to the Companion series.
Let me start by saying that I consider the Titan Companion books to be essential reading for even a casual Browncoat fan. Firefly: Volumes One and Two and the Serenity Companion volume contain the original shooting scripts for the shows and the BDM. As often happens, there are little bits taken out or added in as the filming actually takes place. So, the Companion volumes offer little tid-bits of info and insight in addition to a hardcopy version of the stories fans love so much. The Companion volumes offer excellent and often unreleased photos of the actors, sets, props and behind the scenes artists that made Firefly and Serenity the amazingly realized vision they are.
Everyone involved in the latest volume deserves to be congratulated for a simply wonderful job.
I long ago sent an email to Titan Books listing what my expectations/ hopes were for "Still Flying".
They have done a fantastic job of balancing everything I hoped to see in the book.
I don't mean “Firefly: Still Flying” was able to include literally everything.
But they struck a great balance of touching on all the aspects of the show I hoped to see covered.
I mentioned behind the scenes info on the sets, locations, props and CGI city-scapes and ships.
The section on the stunt work was a neat and unexpected bonus.
I mentioned that I thought it was necessary to include sections on the principle actors,
but that I thought that would be a tough thing to pull off because we fans have heard it all before.
I think the info the “Still Flying” team presented and the way it was done was an inventive, informative solution to a tricky problem.
I loved the varied insights culled from various sites, sources and time periods.
I think they avoided the sense of rehashing old ground.
They touched on fan activities, fan films and for-fan merchandising.
Given the breadth of Browncoat activities, they didn’t hit it all, but they gave a nice introduction that points folks in the many directions Firefly fandom points.
The inclusion of four new stories by Firefly story contributors will give fans a little bit of new content to enjoy and discuss.
The presentation of photographs and artwork in the book is beautiful.
The quality of the shots and the lay-out is top-notch!
I appreciated the use of a significant enough quantity of the storyboards to "feel" their usefulness.
And, now I have another amazing picture of Inara to frame.
And-on-and-on-and...
I highly recommend the Firefly and Serenity Companion volumes and “Firefly: Still Flying” meets or exceeds the standard of the first three.
Mike
http://fireflydvd.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=3541
