Whedonesque : Comments on 10567 : Serenity: Dark Mirror novel announced.

Maybe it's written by Ace Underhill.

The artwork used here is based on one of the Universal onesheet designs...

Funny, Forbidden Planet also have it: http://www.forbiddenplanet.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=31245

"Simons & Schuster, paperback, 304 pages, published July 2006
Author: Keith R.A. DeCandido"

So, uhm, krad is writing this one, too -- but nobody has told him.

It's also got a different publisher assigned, definitely. No clue what's happening.

gossi | June 10, 21:55 CET

It is strange that they don't state who the author is. Also strange that I was excited about the ten percent off for pre-orders.

holymother | June 10, 21:58 CET

This imaginary version of krad sure does like writing imaginary Serenity novels with what sound like bad rejected Star Trek titles.

The One True b!X | June 10, 22:02 CET

This reminds me of the "Dark Willow" series where nothing made sense and the author was in total denial. I think we know which authors we can trust to carry a proper story.

Madhatter | June 10, 22:10 CET

Are you sure that title was rejected, theonetruebix? I could've sworn I've seen a Trek novel with that title before.

Gag.

The damn thing's probably just sooty, anyway. Clean it and be done.

pat32082 | June 10, 22:16 CET

I'd like to take this opportunity to announce my own Serenity novel, The Double Who Dribbles.

The One True b!X | June 10, 22:27 CET

Bix - I thought you were writing The Search For Wash?

My own novel, Serenity: The One At Companion Camp is due out tomorrow.

gossi | June 10, 22:29 CET

It was confirmed last week that this book "Firefly's First Flight" will be the first book to be set in the Firefly 'verse (20th Century Fox reasserting its marketing rights). Universal apparently were not happy about this seeing as they still have tentative plans to expand the Serenity 'verse novels.

Simon | June 10, 23:00 CET

Thanks for the needed laugh, Simon. :)

Also this is my official Whedonesque de-lurking! *Waves*

valgal | June 10, 23:09 CET

I am just finishing my book with Kaylee as the main character who, it turns out, writes drabbles (very short pices of fanfic)about her flights around the verse. It is called The Drabble Travels.

Lioness | June 11, 01:03 CET

I believe this has already been posted here, and didn't Krad say this book won't exist and Amazon is on crack? Seems I remember something like that.

electricspacegirl | June 11, 04:13 CET

Welcome on board Valgal, and this is kinda funny, hey!
They probably get high school kids to write them.

nixygirl | June 11, 04:28 CET

I believe this has already been posted here

No, what was already posted here was the OTHER mirror-titled book which gossi referenced later in the post, along with krad's denial.

The One True b!X | June 11, 04:44 CET

*beats head against wall*

This book does not exist. Whoever listed it is on crack.

Back in the real world, Joss is still sitting on the dozen or so proposals that Pocket sent to Universal, and Universal passed on to him, a year ago. We're still waiting.

There will be no 'verse novels unless and until Joss responds to those proposals.

Dark Mirror and Mirror Image do not exist as Serenity novels, by me or anyone else. Reflections in My Mirror is the title of a book I wrote on construction paper at the age of six, and it doesn't exist anymore, nor is it a Serenity novel (seeing as how I wrote it in 1975).

*goes back to beating head against wall*

krad | June 11, 04:58 CET

Inspired by the thread here, I'd also like to announce my second Serenity novel, Mirimani! Image.

The One True b!X | June 11, 05:14 CET

krad, do you have any idea why the publisher (it isn't Pocket) has put this info out? They've sent it to a load of book retailers, you know, with your name on it. I *think* it's based on data shared with Amazon, or possibly ISBN registrations...

By the way, with regards to the waiting on Joss thing - I've heard along the grapevine that Pocket aren't sure about doing them now, but I don't know how true that is.

gossi | June 11, 06:12 CET

Maybe it's a self help book on the Serenity 'verse actually titled: Serenity: Dark Mirror. "A self help guide to fighting away the reavers in your head." I can see it now...

escapist_dream | June 11, 06:23 CET

"I'd like to take this opportunity to announce my own Serenity novel, The Double Who Dribbles."

Someone needs to take my 'Official Geek' card away, because it actually took me a minute to get that. *rollseyes*
Funny.

I for one wouldn't mind some 'verse books, but only if the stories were approved by the very cuddly Joss Whedon and writers from the show wrote them... kinda like how the first Star Trek spin off books were. The best ones IMO were written by the same people who worked on the show.

Also, I have no witty Serenity/Firefly book title. Sorry.

NYPinTA | June 11, 06:28 CET

I call dibs on Serenity United: The Last Stand, Reloaded and with Revolutions.

UnpluggedCrazy | June 11, 07:43 CET

The link doesn't seem to work anymore ... maybe somebody realised it was bogus.

jynnantonnyx | June 11, 07:58 CET

Link still works fine for me.

TamaraC | June 11, 08:10 CET

I wonder why Simon gets most of the cover space.

escapist_dream | June 11, 08:13 CET

Thanks to the activity here, I've now confirmed the publication of my third Serenity novel, Cobb's Women. Alas, it does not appear they have picked up the follow-up, I, Cobb.

The One True b!X | June 11, 09:19 CET

*snorts at bix*

I'd crack a joke about writing an unofficial followup, Cobb's Passion, but . . .

janeway216 | June 11, 11:31 CET

And then there is the popular Rorrim Image which I believe has gone back for second printing.

Lioness | June 11, 15:30 CET

After seeing it last week (and after checking with krad who confirmed that a) it wasn't his and b) someone was on crack) I contacted my rep at TFAW who checked with her buyer to make sure that the info did indeed come from Diamond (and it did, you can see it listed in the June Previews, pg 384). They're checking with Diamond to find out where the info came from. She'll keep going till she finds out -- they want to know what to tell their customers, and moreover she's a fan -- and I'll let you know. Anybody with contacts at Diamond is encouraged to ask WTF. I'll post updates here as I get 'em.

Personally I think the Internet as a collective force is trying to spontaenously generate Serenity novels.

C. A. Bridges | June 11, 18:15 CET

I for one wouldn't mind some 'verse books, but only if the stories were approved by the very cuddly Joss Whedon and writers from the show wrote them... kinda like how the first Star Trek spin off books were. The best ones IMO were written by the same people who worked on the show.

Er, well, no. The first Star Trek spinoff books were written by Mack Reynolds, James Blish, Alan Dean Foster, Sondra Marshak, Myrna Culbreath, Joe Haldeman, Kathleen Sky, and the like. The first Star Trek novel to be written by someone who wrote for the show was The Galactic Whirlpool in 1980, at which point Trek novels had been published steadily for twelve years.

Of the hundreds of Trek novels that have been published, the only ones written by people who wrote for the show prior to having their novels published are The Galactic Whirlpool, the novelizations of Encounter at Farpoint (also by Gerrold) and Unification (by Jeri Taylor), the Voyager novels Mosaic and Pathways (also by Taylor), as well as any recent novels by David Mack, who cowrote two episodes of DS9, and David R. George III, who wrote the story for a Voyager episode. None of those qualify as "early" novels. (Some people went on from writing novels to writing for the show, including Melinda M. Snodgrass, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, Michael Jan Friedman, and Kevin Ryan.)

Just settin' the record straight. Nice to know that my own Trek novels aren't worthy because I didn't choose the obviously-much-more-relevant-and-worthy career of screenwriter for the hackwork of prose.

krad | June 11, 18:47 CET

krad, I'm sure they are way worthy :) Some of my favorite novels have come from people who have nothing to do with the television shows.

"My own novel, Serenity: The One At Companion Camp is due out tomorrow." -still my favorite.

Harmalicious | June 11, 23:11 CET

Krad, I really enjoyed your novelization of Serenity, and I'll happily pick up any future novels you might write set in the 'verse. :)

After my experiences with the works of one Buffyverse writer who shall remain unnamed -- and let me add that I really, really tried to enjoy her work -- I'm pretty into finding out as much as I can about the individuals hired to write tie-in novels.

It's kind of weird this site appears to be accepting money for a book no one knows anything about. In my ideal world, plans for a 'verse novel by a very good writer have already been made, and the news just hasn't trickled down through the proper channels just yet. And oh, the cover art is pretty darn unappealing. I'm supposed to buy it because I'm supposed to think it's a Simon/Kaylee story, I guess.

WhoIsOmega? | June 12, 00:52 CET

This is available to be ordered through this month's Previews catalogue as well (the gigantic ad-thing through which you can order comics, graphic novels, magazines, art, and other comic book and sci-fi/fantasy-related merchandise), for shipping in August. Orders are due this week. I passed on it for a few reasons--the ad didn't have any info about what it's about, just the general overview of the TV series was included. I don't think there was a writer attached either. Also doubt I'd be interested unless I heard confirmation first that it was a plot idea approved by Joss. If not planned as canonical, then at least an "okay maybe" from the creator might get me to take a look. Otherwise it's just glorified fanfiction that you have to pay for (though yes, having a book to carry around away from the PC might make it worth the cash for some...unless you're lucky enough to have a laptop).

Woops, Chris Bridges already covered the Diamond/Previews info.

[ edited by Kris on 2006-06-12 00:52 ]

Kris | June 12, 02:46 CET

I may have gotten the chronology wrong on when some of the shows writers wrote a Trek book, but that doesn't change the fact that they ended up being some of my favorites... of The Original Series, of which I don't think you wrote any. But I'm sure you'll correct me if I'm wrong about that too, and hey, thanks for just assuming I meant to be insulting.

Just so that I'm not wrong again, maybe you should clarify just what this means:
"Nice to know that my own Trek novels aren't worthy because I didn't choose the obviously-much-more-relevant-and-worthy career of screenwriter for the hackwork of prose."

NYPinTA | June 12, 03:20 CET

NYPinTA, that sounded like a toungue-in-cheek comment, nothing to stress over.

WhoIsOmega? | June 12, 03:30 CET

I hope so, because I don't like people thinking I mean to be insulting when I don't. I'm very picky about when I insult someone and I like those instances to really stand out.

Also: it has been a very very long time since I've read any spin off books from any show and I only used Star Trek as my example because IMO they were the only ones that were consistently successful in capturing the tone of the characters from the show. (And that I do mean for all the series, not just the original, regardless of who worked on what and when.)
The fact that I was wrong about just who wrote what gives me a bit of hope that if they do decide to do any Firefly 'verse books, there is a chance they won't suck. So I don't mind being wrong. This time.

[ edited by NYPinTA on 2006-06-12 01:42 ]

NYPinTA | June 12, 03:41 CET

Nice to know that my own Trek novels aren't worthy because I didn't choose the obviously-much-more-relevant-and-worthy career of screenwriter for the hackwork of prose.

Nobody said your Trek novels weren't worthy. But as a fan of a series -- whether it be Star Trek or Firefly -- I'd rather have someone with show/film experience than a novelist dabbing in the universe.

The Dark Shape | June 12, 03:44 CET

"Alas, it does not appear they have picked up the follow-up, I, Cobb." - theonetruebix

That's because they think it's a knockoff of my upcoming novel, _I, Wash_, which features Wash as a robot being chased down by an Operative (played by Will Smith).

On a different note, I'm pleased to announce my upcoming novel, The Bridge Over River Tam, a drama about several captured Alliance soldiers forced to build a bridge to River Tam for their captors. Plus it has really cool humming.

DavidB | June 12, 05:59 CET

I may have gotten the chronology wrong on when some of the shows writers wrote a Trek book, but that doesn't change the fact that they ended up being some of my favorites... of The Original Series, of which I don't think you wrote any.

Oh, okay. If you're talking about TOS, then you're talking about precisely two novels: The Galactic Whirlpool by David Gerrold and Vulcan's Glory by D.C. Fontana. Those are the only TOS novels written by TOS scripters.

I apologize for not making my facetiousness clear.

But as a fan of a series -- whether it be Star Trek or Firefly -- I'd rather have someone with show/film experience than a novelist dabbing in the universe.

Okay, that is an insulting statement, regardless of whether or not you meant it as one. First of all, writing scripts and writing novels are not the same thing; they are different skills. Some people can do both -- to name three examples, Peter David, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, and Doris Egan. Some can only do one. I've seen several excellent screenwriters attempt to make the shift to prose and been incredibly bad at it. Would this happen with, say, Jane Espenson? Dunno. But if I want to hire someone to write a novel, I'd rather hire someone with experience in the medium.

I also resent the fact that my own work, which I've spent the last decade-plus doing, which includes over 30 novels, all but one of which are in a media universe, and which I do for a living just like anybody who gets their credit on a TV show or movie, is being dismissed as "dabbling," as if, because I write only prose, I'm just some dilletante.

krad | June 12, 06:39 CET

Random thing. Krad, why is your profile in third person? Haha

escapist_dream | June 12, 09:04 CET

Okay, that is an insulting statement, regardless of whether or not you meant it as one. First of all, writing scripts and writing novels are not the same thing; they are different skills. Some people can do both -- to name three examples, Peter David, Judith & Garfield Reeves-Stevens, and Doris Egan. Some can only do one. I've seen several excellent screenwriters attempt to make the shift to prose and been incredibly bad at it. Would this happen with, say, Jane Espenson? Dunno. But if I want to hire someone to write a novel, I'd rather hire someone with experience in the medium.

My apologies if that came off as an insult, and dabbing definitely isn't the word I should use (I considered an edit, but I hate the Edited by... tag that reads under posts. Am I vain or what?). To clarify, in my mind, prose and screenplays are incredibly different formats -- that I can agree with. But I also think someone with experience writing in the visual universe, with actors reading their dialogue, will have a better understanding of what the characters might say. Does that make any sense?

And personally, with screenplay experience myself, I can't imagine a writer not wanting to write prose, at least occassionally. The idea of getting inside a character's head opens up so many possibilities.

Again, krad, I'm sorry if that came off as a put-down. I didn't intend it as such.

[ edited by The Dark Shape on 2006-06-12 09:04 ]

The Dark Shape | June 12, 11:03 CET

To add to what I said a bit, my bias with reading so many screen/teleplays might be impacting my opinion here. So many novels I've read in established universe -- especially film novelizations -- read like scripts re-written into a past-tense format with occassional character thought. Bland writing isn't so much a concern (which I think is what you were getting at with your "writers with no prose experience" point), as long as the characters are dead-on and the plot is intriguing.

The Dark Shape | June 12, 11:08 CET

In another example of a Trek novel writer with some show experience, Diane Duane started off writing TOS novels, did the story for "Where No One Has Gone Before" [TNG] with Michael Reaves, and then penned more Trek books . . . including Dark Mirror, mentioned upthread.

I believe A.C. Crispin mentioned once that the Star Wars novel shop is a closed shop, invitation only, which I read to mean that you have to have earned your stripes, in original fiction or elsewhere, before they'll ask you. I have nothing to do with Star Wars fandom and no comments on the quality of the line.

I'd like to echo krad's comments and say that the fallacy in a statement like "I'd rather have someone with show/film experience than a novelist [dabbling] in the universe" is that it assumes that a knack for screenwriting is a knack for novel writing. I haven't found that this is always the case. Given a choice between Jeri Taylor's Pathways and Christopher Golden's The Lost Slayer, I'll take Lost Slayer anytime.

janeway216 | June 12, 11:28 CET

Hopefully, noone has plagiarized Firefly Undisclosed : Brokeback Spaceship", my ultimate slash follow-up dealing with how Simon and Jayne finally made up after sharing a drink, and how Zoe came to Inara for hugs and puppies (becaus hugs and puppies are always nice).

pir2 | June 12, 15:33 CET

Random thing. Krad, why is your profile in third person? Haha

Habit from writing author bios. *grin*

But I also think someone with experience writing in the visual universe, with actors reading their dialogue, will have a better understanding of what the characters might say. Does that make any sense?

Perhaps, but the reality doesn't always work that way. In fact, I've noticed with some screenwriters who try prose, that their dialogue is awful, far worse than a skilled prose writer's, and I suspect it's because they rely on the actors to get the "voice" right, where in prose you don't have that net.

And personally, with screenplay experience myself, I can't imagine a writer not wanting to write prose, at least occassionally. The idea of getting inside a character's head opens up so many possibilities.

Yeah, lots of them do until they realize a) how much time it takes and b) how much less money they make. *laughs*

krad | June 12, 21:50 CET

June 10 2006