As a general rule, I don't read fiction based on television series. I don't read fanfic and, with one exception, okay two, I don't write it*. I don't have anything against this stuff, mind you. It's just not (don't laugh) real to me. I guess if Joss Wheden sat down and wrote a Firefly novel(la), or approved a story line in advance, I might consider it. Until that day, I'm going to have to satisfy myself with the small collection of Firefly nonfiction. I thought I'd share the list.

• Finding Serenity: Anti-heroes, Lost Shepherds and Space Hookers in Joss Whedon's Firefly (A collection of essays. I don't like or agree with them all, but the book was worth it for the Firefly v. The Tick essay alone.)
  
• Serenity: The Official Visual Companion
  
• Firefly: The Official Companion, Vol. 1**

One exception: I would like to get my hands on the comics that were set between Objects in Space and the Serenity movie (Serenity: Those Left Behind), because Joss co-wrote it.

*For a Firefly swap, my partner asked for fanfic. I circumvented my policy by writing a letter from a passenger on a Firefly ship. Maybe Serenity, maybe not. The other fanfic I'm never, ever talking about.

**Volume 2 is due in May '07

Just wondering if anyone else feels the same way I do about this? I used to like Star Trek. I wasn't a "Trekkie," but I watched the original show, and the movies, and even some of the newer shows. But after Firefly, I really don't like ST any more. Reason? I keep thinking, "what if all those planets didn't want IN the Federation?" What if what we're seeing on ST is the equivalent of Alliance propoganda (how they'd see their world, minus the aliens and such). After coming to know & love Firefly, ST is all too pretty and clean. (I know it's fiction, and science fiction at that - I'm not losing my grip on reality or anything.) Firefly has totally ruined Star Trek for me. In my head, if I imagine a way distant future, the Firefly 'verse is much more "realistic" (possible).

Script for Unaired/Unfilmed Ep., Dead or Alive

As long as I'm rambling... I'm proud to say that I watched Firefly from the very beginning. Although I wonder sometimes if the folks that get to see it in the intended order, all the way through (via DVD) aren't having a better experience. Edited to add: Not that I'd trade being in on it from the beginning! We're a small group, the original Browncoats! If you didn't watch Firefly on TV, you might not know that the brain trust at Fox decreed that the pilot not be aired, and that they write another episode to kick off the series. The pilot was excellent, and had all kinds of twists and turns that weren't all that surprising if you'd seen all the other eps first.

I totally need some food and caffeine.

WWW.SHAWGAMES.COM

All done!

$45
Includes:

• 78-card deck of 3.25" laminated cards inspired by the "Shindig" episode of Firefly. This is a fantastic full-color, highly detailed art deck. There is a low-color, low-tech freebie download, here (not mine).
  
• Packaged in sturdy storage box with full-color label on lid
  
• 8-page rule booklet
  Tall Card is based on Long Pai (Dragon Cards) and is played similarly to Draw Poker (rules here).
  
• Generation One will be limited to twenty sets, and the boxes will be numbered (1/20, etc.) and signed. They'll be very similar to the set pictured here, but will measure 3.25" and have square corners. I'll have a sample set in a couple of days to show.

Extras
Wooden Box (includes extra shipping): +$5
Rounded Corners (288 corners, cut manually): +$7
4" Cards*: +$22.50 (total $67.50)

I'll take Paypal or money orders and ship anywhere.

Shipping
Will be as close to exact as I can get (I'll need your zip code). No matter what I'm selling, I'm never out to make a profit (hidden or otherwise) on shipping. I'll ship anywhere. (Can't stop the signal!)
Will include tracking & insurance (maybe US only?)

Email me (crazycatladymel (sign above 2) livejournal (period) com) to get your name on the list.

Working on the pricing. Once I have that set, I'll start taking commissions.

For 3.25" cards* (shown so far have been 4" cards). Reason for this is the 4" cards take 50% more paper and lamination costs (20 pages). I'll do them, at 50% more than whatever the 3.25" ones cost.

72 square cards, 6 round cards
Rule book
Box

What's involved:
2-sided printing on card stock (1 side color, 1 side b&w) - 13 pages
laminating - 13 pages (so far, averaging $1 per page)
cutting (rounded corners available for add'l fee)
box (sturdy, lidded, papier mache boxes standard, with wood available for add'l fee)
label (color print, decoupage)
packaging (sturdier cardboard box) & shipping (tracking # & insurance)
Rule book is simple: 2-sided b&w, cut, fold, stitch

Edited: .jpgs of letter added at bottom

Firefly Swap 1 Package - Outgoing 1 - Entire box The little scrap of red knitting was supposed to be a shawl for her penguin mascot, kind of like Saffron's. I don't know if it fit. In the back, two "glasses" (cut-down water bottles) inspired by the opening scene in "The Train Job." This was harder than it looks, because I can't cut a straight line, EVER. So I cut and then sanded. A lot. And had to do it more than I wanted, b/c the first glass disappeared. ( Read on to see what's inside. )

Firefly Swap 1 Package from Suzie - Pic1 This was so much fun to open! And it's not all pictured. Keep going to see the rest. In the tin: a collection of Firefly and Serenity magnets that are going on the fridge today; a Kaylee-inspired Serentiy necklace; a Zoe-inspired leather thong; a whole set of Inara-inspired jewelry in green: earrings, earcuff (right?), necklace, bracelet and ring. It must have rolled out of the way, but there is also a little rubber ball like the one in "Objects in Space." Immediately to the left of the tin, you see a bobble-headed geisha doll. Then, a pretty silk sheath that holds two sets of chopsticks. Then a decorated tin (more details to follow), and a little silk coin purse. It's all sitting on a wool vertical messenger bag that I'll be putting to good use pretty soon! ( Read more... )

Duh. ( Behind a cut, b/c it's WIDE )

Tall Card Deck Lid Not final, but probable. I found the boxes I want to use today, at Michael's. They didn't have many, but I only need two for sure.

Hey, it's a good day so far! I got a decent night's sleep and the pain in my leg is tolerable (left only now - the right leg is almost 100%).

Oh Firefly fans, there are podcasts to listen to here and here.

Two "countdowns" going on: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (theatres) and Serenity (DVD, Dec. 20).

Knit and Crochet Patterns...at Midnight Knitter. There is a really cute chunky hat with both knit and crochet directions. Actually, even the knit hat requires some crochet... maybe I can knit the hat and get saltnlt552 to crochet the edge for me? And make the flower?

I am feeling very crafty today. I have such a long list of things to do, but of course it's the new projects that I want to work on! I signed up for a Firefly swap on Craftster, and even though I don't have my partner yet (and therefore know what s/he would like), I want to start working on it! I have made a list of possible items, plus tracked down directions for a Tall Card deck (& rules for the game) which I'm probably going to make no matter what*.

Hope everyone is having a great weekend!

PS: Update for those I've discussed this with -- the letter was mailed Thursday, certified, and should have arrived.

*ETA: I am making the cards! I have lots of time for the swap, since the mail-out isn't until late in January, but I want a deck too, and I want them to be COOL. So far, it's going really well! John helped me modify the images I found so the style is similar, and I've done 1 card of each type for each of the 6 suits. The tall (trump) cards are round, and the other cards (number and face) will be square w/ rounded corners. The next step is to find the right box for them, if it exists, then start creating all the number and face cards. The plan is to print on cardstock - a cool background print on one side, and the cards on the other - and have them all laminated, then cut out. 78 cards per deck. Yowza. ( more, if you're interested )

New LJ Community: bigdamnknitters. Of course I joined! Now I feel like I must have a Firefly avatar. But what will I give up?

In brief: I liked it.

Longer version (don't read if you haven't seen it) ( behind cut )

Roll Call: Who's going to see Serenity tonight or this weekend?

via beatrizwench
Simple enough... if you are a fan of Firefly, paste a quote in your LJ.

My problem? How to pick one? Can't be done. Therefore...

"Well they tell you: never hit a man with a closed fist. But it is, on occasion, hilarious." (Mal)


"Do you know what the chain of command is here? It's the chain I go get and beat you with to show you who's in command." (Jayne, just before the drugs Simon gave him knocked him unconcsious)


"Sure. It would be humiliating. Having to lie there while the better man refuses to spill your blood. Mercy is the mark of a great man. (lightly stabs Atherton with the sword) Guess I'm just a good man. (stabs him again) Well, I'm all right."


"See, morbid and creepifying, I got no problem with, long as she does it quiet-like."


Mal: "Cut her down."
Villager: "The girl is a witch."
Mal: "Yeah, but she's our witch-" (cocks gun, points it at him) "-so cut her the hell down."


"A man walks down the street in that hat, people know he's not afraid of anything."


Wash: "Psychic, though? That sounds like something out of science fiction."
Zoe: "We live in a space ship, dear."


3 more days!