Now THIS is more like it!
Yesterday, I finished reading the 2nd "Firefly" novel, The Magnificent Nine by James Lovegrove, and I loved it!
This rollicking tale has our band of merry misfits flying into town to be the Big Damn Heroes they are. Of course, it doesn't go smooth, because when does it ever? But, as always, they prevail in the end. It's the getting there that makes this story so fun.
This is a Jayne-centric story, and other than making him a little bit too stupid, imo, about an early plot point, the author did a good job of capturing his "voice". The author also did a better job with Simon this time around, as well as with Zoe & Wash's relationship. And his Mal continues to be a work of snarky goodness. I only wish I could write him that well.
This story takes place between the show and the movie, and I didn't notice any glaring errors this time. There were a few moments of foreshadowing for the movie that were woven into the story fairly well, but overall it didn't depend on any pre-existing canon. Which probably has something to do with the lack of errors. ;)
We are introduced to several new characters, 3 of whom could easily be incorporated into fanfic (more of that below, behind a cut), and all of whom were very believable and fairly well-written.
All in all, I'd give this book an A rating. Only reason it's not A+ is because of a few tiny things like the previously mentioned "too stupid" characterization for Jayne. If you have a chance to read this book, do so. You won't regret it. :)
So, the first two characters we meet are Temperance "Temp" Jones/McCloud and her daughter, Jane. Temp is an old flame and partner-in-crime of Jayne's, and Jane is her daughter. She calls on Jayne for help when her town is under attack from a gang who want to steal their water. Very old-west tropey there. :) Anyway, Jane may or may not be Jayne's daughter, we don't know til the end, but having Jayne not even pick up on the possibility right away is where I think the author made Jayne too stupid. He may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but he can put two and two together fairly quickly. Anyway, I really like both Temp and Jane, and am going to think about incorporating them into one of my WIPs, and maybe even write something new with them. We shall see.
HOWEVER, the other new character is DEFINITELY setting off plot bunnies! His name is Stanislaw L'Amour (doncha just love that name!) and he is a former client of Inara's who realized for sure he was gay when he couldn't get it up for her. *eyeroll* Whatever. I'm going to include his description and other information here so I won't have to go hunting for it later, but I encourage you to read it...
p 149 Kaylee's POV: "Standing haloed by the down-glow of a streetlight was one of the most beautiful men Kaylee had ever clapped eyes on. He was tall, broad-shouldered, slim-waisted, with a chiseled chin and swept-back collar-length hair. His outfit was immaculate, from the tailored double-breasted suit to the silk cravat to the patent leather shoes, the ensemble accessorized with diamond cufflinks and matching lapel pin. In a town like Whiteplains Edge, he stood out like a handsome, well-coiffed, expensively attired sore thumb."
He's obviously from the Core, and turns out to be a successful businessman who calls himself a billionaire. (Another one of those tiny details that kept this book from getting an A+. Not sure in a system that uses credits and platinum as currency that "billionaire" would be apt, but moving on...) He's also extremely adept at martial arts, as shown in a passage after the one quoted above. He owns a Seraphim private cruiser that Kaylee's not impressed with, mechanical-wise, but it does come equipped with a lap pool and sauna, as well as a "couch so large and sumptuously upholstered it could have doubled as a king-size bed" so... :D He owns a controlling share of Whiteplains Salt Co. on Thetis, among many other businesses, including Dragonwing Protection Services.
p 316 Mal's POV when 1st seeing Stansilaw: "Now a man sashayed over from one of the Dragonwing skiffs towards Inara and Mal. He was tall, well dressed, and exceedingly handsome, and moved with a grace a ballet dancer might envy. Mal didn't know whether he admired him or resented him."... "The two men shook hands. L'Amour's grip was firm and dry, and he smelled terrific, like sandalwood and cloves." (Oh, Mal, admit it, you definitely admire him! LOL)
Stanislaw & Mal have a conversation:
S - Mr. Reynolds, Inara's told me... well, nothing about you.
M - Oh.
S - I jest. She mentions you all the time in her waves.
M - She does?
S - Fondly, for the most part. Sometimes with exasperation.
M - I have that effect on people. (See?! Snark!)
S - What she never mentioned was quite how good-looking you are.
M - Uh, thanks, and you, er, are wearing a nice cologne. (LOL! Oh, Mal! You've got it BAD!)
A bit later S and Inara walk off, arm in arm, and...
"Zoe ambled over to Mal's side. 'Why are you looking at him like that?'
M - At who?
Z - The beautiful man.
M - He so great? I mean, what does he with his perfect haircut, chiseled chin, and hefty bank balance have that I don't have?
Z - Nothing, sir. Nothing at all.
Mal scowled. 'Him and Inara look like just friends to you? They don't to me.'
Z - If Kaylee is to be believed, you needn't feel threatened by him. Not where Inara is concerned.
M - Who's threatened?
Z - Not you, plainly." (Oh, no, not threatened at all. At least not on account of Inara. LOL)
So, yeah, plot bunnies are hopping around in my head like mad. :D I almost wish there was a better description of S, but I get it. I've got an OC in the fic I'm working on now, and describing her is just... Ugh. At least with this minimal description, I guess I can go wherever I want with eye and hair color, etc. Hmm... :D
This rollicking tale has our band of merry misfits flying into town to be the Big Damn Heroes they are. Of course, it doesn't go smooth, because when does it ever? But, as always, they prevail in the end. It's the getting there that makes this story so fun.
This is a Jayne-centric story, and other than making him a little bit too stupid, imo, about an early plot point, the author did a good job of capturing his "voice". The author also did a better job with Simon this time around, as well as with Zoe & Wash's relationship. And his Mal continues to be a work of snarky goodness. I only wish I could write him that well.
This story takes place between the show and the movie, and I didn't notice any glaring errors this time. There were a few moments of foreshadowing for the movie that were woven into the story fairly well, but overall it didn't depend on any pre-existing canon. Which probably has something to do with the lack of errors. ;)
We are introduced to several new characters, 3 of whom could easily be incorporated into fanfic (more of that below, behind a cut), and all of whom were very believable and fairly well-written.
All in all, I'd give this book an A rating. Only reason it's not A+ is because of a few tiny things like the previously mentioned "too stupid" characterization for Jayne. If you have a chance to read this book, do so. You won't regret it. :)
So, the first two characters we meet are Temperance "Temp" Jones/McCloud and her daughter, Jane. Temp is an old flame and partner-in-crime of Jayne's, and Jane is her daughter. She calls on Jayne for help when her town is under attack from a gang who want to steal their water. Very old-west tropey there. :) Anyway, Jane may or may not be Jayne's daughter, we don't know til the end, but having Jayne not even pick up on the possibility right away is where I think the author made Jayne too stupid. He may not be the brightest bulb in the box, but he can put two and two together fairly quickly. Anyway, I really like both Temp and Jane, and am going to think about incorporating them into one of my WIPs, and maybe even write something new with them. We shall see.
HOWEVER, the other new character is DEFINITELY setting off plot bunnies! His name is Stanislaw L'Amour (doncha just love that name!) and he is a former client of Inara's who realized for sure he was gay when he couldn't get it up for her. *eyeroll* Whatever. I'm going to include his description and other information here so I won't have to go hunting for it later, but I encourage you to read it...
p 149 Kaylee's POV: "Standing haloed by the down-glow of a streetlight was one of the most beautiful men Kaylee had ever clapped eyes on. He was tall, broad-shouldered, slim-waisted, with a chiseled chin and swept-back collar-length hair. His outfit was immaculate, from the tailored double-breasted suit to the silk cravat to the patent leather shoes, the ensemble accessorized with diamond cufflinks and matching lapel pin. In a town like Whiteplains Edge, he stood out like a handsome, well-coiffed, expensively attired sore thumb."
He's obviously from the Core, and turns out to be a successful businessman who calls himself a billionaire. (Another one of those tiny details that kept this book from getting an A+. Not sure in a system that uses credits and platinum as currency that "billionaire" would be apt, but moving on...) He's also extremely adept at martial arts, as shown in a passage after the one quoted above. He owns a Seraphim private cruiser that Kaylee's not impressed with, mechanical-wise, but it does come equipped with a lap pool and sauna, as well as a "couch so large and sumptuously upholstered it could have doubled as a king-size bed" so... :D He owns a controlling share of Whiteplains Salt Co. on Thetis, among many other businesses, including Dragonwing Protection Services.
p 316 Mal's POV when 1st seeing Stansilaw: "Now a man sashayed over from one of the Dragonwing skiffs towards Inara and Mal. He was tall, well dressed, and exceedingly handsome, and moved with a grace a ballet dancer might envy. Mal didn't know whether he admired him or resented him."... "The two men shook hands. L'Amour's grip was firm and dry, and he smelled terrific, like sandalwood and cloves." (Oh, Mal, admit it, you definitely admire him! LOL)
Stanislaw & Mal have a conversation:
S - Mr. Reynolds, Inara's told me... well, nothing about you.
M - Oh.
S - I jest. She mentions you all the time in her waves.
M - She does?
S - Fondly, for the most part. Sometimes with exasperation.
M - I have that effect on people. (See?! Snark!)
S - What she never mentioned was quite how good-looking you are.
M - Uh, thanks, and you, er, are wearing a nice cologne. (LOL! Oh, Mal! You've got it BAD!)
A bit later S and Inara walk off, arm in arm, and...
"Zoe ambled over to Mal's side. 'Why are you looking at him like that?'
M - At who?
Z - The beautiful man.
M - He so great? I mean, what does he with his perfect haircut, chiseled chin, and hefty bank balance have that I don't have?
Z - Nothing, sir. Nothing at all.
Mal scowled. 'Him and Inara look like just friends to you? They don't to me.'
Z - If Kaylee is to be believed, you needn't feel threatened by him. Not where Inara is concerned.
M - Who's threatened?
Z - Not you, plainly." (Oh, no, not threatened at all. At least not on account of Inara. LOL)
So, yeah, plot bunnies are hopping around in my head like mad. :D I almost wish there was a better description of S, but I get it. I've got an OC in the fic I'm working on now, and describing her is just... Ugh. At least with this minimal description, I guess I can go wherever I want with eye and hair color, etc. Hmm... :D