Name: Zoë Schaefer's review of Firefly - Big Damn Hero by Nancy Holder
Item: Firefly - Big Damn Hero
Rating: 1
Author: Zoë Schaefer

Nancy Holder

The first original novel tying into the critically acclaimed and much-missed Firefly series from creator Joss Whedon. The Battle of Serenity Valley was the turning point that led the Independents to their defeat at the hands of the Alliance. Yet the Browncoats had held the valley for weeks against all odds, before being ordered to lay down their arms. Command stated they refused to send in airpower because the ground war was "too hot." But the soldiers who were there insist that was not true... While picking up a new cargo on Persephone, Captain Malcolm Reynolds is kidnapped by a bunch of embittered veteran Browncoats who suspect him of sabotaging the Independents during the war. As the rest of the crew struggle to locate him, Mal is placed on trial for his life, fighting compelling evidence that someone did indeed betray them to the Alliance all those years ago. As old comrades and old rivals crawl out of the woodwork, Mal must prove his innocence, but his captors are desperate and destitute, and will settle for nothing less than the culprit's blood.

Firefly - Big Damn Hero

Zoë Schaefer

Vilandra

I waffled between giving this 3 or 4 stars. But since most of it was 4 star, and only the ending making me think it should get 3, I went with 4. This was a lot better than I had expected. Novelizations are not usually that good in my opinion. The author has the characters’ voices down well, and my only complaint for the first 36 chapters was too many callbacks to the show in the beginning. I was interested in the story and in finding out what would happen next. But then the ending happened. It didn’t feel genuine in a lot of ways, and I thought several characters acted out of character. I think it needed another draft and some revision. Overall, if you like Firefly and like adaptations, I think you would enjoy this for the most part, but I was let down by the last 2 chapters.

So here's how it is...

This book was tricky. As much as it's nice to have a light, fun read once in a while, I just couldn't get over all the cliche tropes and annoying dialogue. Using the word "gorramn" twenty-eight times in a book doesn't make it catchy. It makes it a pain.

(view spoiler)[The one interesting part of this was Simon's POV. Instead of reading the childish antics of Mal for the entire book, I got some respite with Simon's grounded personality. The way the author dealt with River's disability/mental illness (PTSD or otherwise) was surprisingly mature. Simon's reactions to his sister's outbursts were realistic and kind. But even though we received a couple dozen pages with Simon, he had no character arc, was completely forgotten about in the ending, and had no resolution with Kaylee. I would have loved to read the entire book from Simon's (and/or River's) point of view rather than... whatever the mess that Mal had going on. Heck, even Shepherd's and Inara's slim chapters had more going for them. (hide spoiler)]

Hanna

Honestly, most of the four stars is from nostalgia. This is a solid tie in novel, but no more. It coasts on the mushy feelings from the TV show but doesn't bring any of it's own in my opinion. It could have been a nice episode of the show, and a revealing one at that, where we get some insight into Mal's, and also a tiny bit Book's, pasts. I was very happy to sink into the 'verse once again, and will most like acquire the rest of the novels in this series. But ask me about the plot of this book in two days and I will probably have forgotten most of it.

Dani

The perfect dose for this nostalgia. This crew will always be the best in the ‘Verse.

Zoë Schaefer &
Firefly - Big Damn Hero by Nancy Holder

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Zoë Schaefer &Firefly - Big Damn Hero by Nancy Holder

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Zoë Schaefer &
Firefly - Big Damn Hero by Nancy Holder