Browncoats will love this Firefly language guide and dictionary
Titan Books does a great job compiling books that complement all kinds of film and television fan favorites, and their latest look into Joss Whedon’s sci-fi/western crossover classic is an essential bookshelf addition for every Browncoat. Firefly: The Gorramn Shiniest Language Guide and Dictionary in the ‘Verse reads like an encyclopedia of slang thrown around by the folks in the show, and I had a lot of fun flipping through the pages and re-acquainting myself with the flowery dialect Whedon gave his characters. Whether you’re a die-hard fan, a new convert, or someone who hasn’t quite taken the plunge yet, the book is an excellent way to fall in love all over again.
Take a peek inside and read a little more about Firefly: The Gorramn Shiniest Language Guide and Dictionary in the ‘Verse after the jump.
Titan Books has done this kind of thing before. Their Buffy: Demons of the Hellmouth book reads like Buffy herself was writing journal entries about each episode and creepy crawly in the series (with snippets from friends and foes thrown in for flavor). Firefly: The Gorramn Shiniest Language Guide and Dictionary in the ‘Verse is a little less “like oh so teen girly,” and it’s more dictionary (as advertised) than diary. That said, real brown-to-the-soul fans won’t be disappointed, because there’s plenty of colorful commentary and behind-the-scenes info. Even though it’s a little dry within the dictionary format, the dialect and unique word blending Whedon is known for is on full display, so there’s still plenty of Firefly flavoring to gobble up. The book is divided into sections by letter, but there’s also brief character bios for the main cast that acquaint us with the PowerPoint highlights of who each person is and what kind of words they use.
Overall, the book is pretty straightforward format-wise, but it works. For fans who always have the show ready to watch, The Gorramn Shiniest Language Guide and Dictionary in the ‘Verse would be a fun permanent coffee table staple, with the occasional pause and flip through for looking up an odd word. Not sure what a “palaver” is? Want to learn a little more about the Battle of Serenity? Curious about a Chinese phrase thrown out as an insult? There’s explanations and definitions aplenty within the book’s pages. From encyclopedic entries to close up looks at kitsch, maps, wardrobe, and accessories, I was pleasantly surprised with everything that’s packed into this relatively small book. I can’t imagine all of the diagrams and sketches were scrounged together just for the book, but for me this was the first time seeing stuff like the extended universe maps and really taking a closer look at blink-and-you’ll-miss-them props that helped fill out the world Whedon imagined. Granted, it’s not an official behind-the-scenes art book, but there’s a lot of stuff here I didn’t expect to see and that’s kind of cool.
There’s really not a lot that needs to be said for a book like this simply because it’s a very specific product aimed at a very targeted market. If you’re a Firefly fan, you’ll be one until the day you die. For you, this book is a must. I can’t recommend it enough, and you’ll absolutely love it. Got a friend who can’t get enough of the show and cries every time you say say the word “wash” in casual conversation? Firefly: The Gorramn Shiniest Language Guide and Dictionary in the ‘Verse is an excellent gift idea and a great “shhh, shhh, it never happened” consolation (as the book only covers the first season of the show and not the follow-up movie material from Serenity). Sure, there are probably more exciting, flashier companion pieces for the series, but this book is the only one that’ll detail the language used so thoroughly.
Final thoughts – A must-own for fans and a fine dictionary of everything Firefly. Reading through Firefly: The Gorramn Shiniest Language Guide and Dictionary in the ‘Verse will make you want to immediately re-watch the show. The book moves through each episode and gives us all kinds of great information to fill in the cracks. That said, it’ll most likely inspire as many sad thoughts as it will informed “huh, whaddya know” head tilts, because Firefly was a show rich with detail and character that died before it really got a chance to fly. Hyperbole? Possibly. Will a foolish fan face you in a sword fight if you say otherwise? Probably. If you haven’t seen the show, give it a watch. If you love Firefly, do yourself a favor and pick up the new book!
