What about this past for Book? by jayduck

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What about this past for Book?

POSTED BY: JAYDUCK
UPDATED: Saturday, April 15, 2006 08:55
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Friday, April 14, 2006 2:34 PM

We know that Book has a past that allows him some status with the Alliance. I think it's assumed that he was on their side during the war.

But what about this idea for Book's past?

What if he was actually fighting for Independace, just like Mal, only he was a high ranking official?

In one of the deleted scenes from the series, Zoe is telling Simon how both sides let them die in Serenity Valley, while they were negotiating their surrender.

What if Book was among those who had to negotiate unification?

He would have likely been considered an important citizen, by the alliance, once Unification happened.

He also would likely have much guilt over the situation, as he was fighting for Independance. Perhaps feeling like he betrayed so many people, like Mal. Perhaps even a loss of faith, like Mal, or maybe that's what pushed him in the other direction SEARCHING for something to believe in.

It's just an idea I had. I don't really believe that's what Joss has in mind, just a thought on something that it could be.

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Saturday, April 15, 2006 1:27 AM

DONCOAT

Well, it's an interesting idea -- I can't say I've heard it before. Most theories tend to fall into the "former Operative", "former Alliance general", or "former Alliance lawman" categories.

Okay, so let's say he was the Robert E. Lee of the Independents. I'm not sure that's going to earn him an ident card that gets him instant no-questions-asked medical care from the Alliance, but maybe it would. For example, imagine that in 1870, Jefferson Davis was brought into a hospital in Albany with a gunshot wound. He might have been treated well, just because nobody would want to earn the reputation as the place/person that let him die.

A more serious objection would be that someone like that would likely be at least as well known to Mal and Zoe as any high Alliance official would be. It's not like these guys would have been faceless and nameless. They do have the Cortex, after all, so any person of high rank will have been seen and become familiar to the rank and file -- if not during the war, then afterward.

One possible variant on your idea is that Book was a somewhat lower-ranking Independent official, one not so well known but in a key position. Let's say he had influence over the decision to give up the fight at Serenity, and did so -- either because he was bribed, blackmailed, or coerced, or perhaps out of a sense of compassion for the outnumbered and outgunned troops there. But he in turn was betrayed by the higher-ups, who left the grunts in place without support while negotiating the peace terms. Book saw the terrible result of his (possibly) well-meaning actions, and it drove him into the cloister.

That works pretty well with what we know. He may have been rewarded by the Alliance for his role in ending the standoff in Serenity Valley (though it's hard to imagine him accepting that reward). He'd have a very good reason for becoming a Shepherd. Mal and Zoe might not know him by sight, especially if his role was kept quiet. If Early knew about it, he would certainly consider him "no Shepherd", whichever side he took in the war.

Some interesting possibilities there. It sure would be nice to know what Joss had in mind.

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I don't disagree on any particular point.

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Saturday, April 15, 2006 8:55 AM

SADLITTLEKING

What about when River read him in Objects in Space. He said, "I don't give half a hump if you're innocent or not. So where does that put you?", and the way he said it made it look like he was enjoying torturing someone. Anybody ever make sense of that? I think that's a clue into what Book was doing before he became a Shepherd. To me, that would be a sign that he was an Operative or a bounty hunter like Early.

Also, in War Stories, he was likened, in a way, to Niska in that he was knowledgable in the art of torture just as Niska was. So I get the idea that Book was a really bad guy in the past. I don't think he would've been someone who cared about ending a war or had any compassion for people, for that matter.

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