by Marc Sumerak

Titan, out now

Ever wondered how every component of a Firefly-Class Series 3 ship functions, in such exhaustive detail that you would feel confident building one with your bare hands?

If so, you need The Serenity Handbook! Composed of manufacturer’s reports, publicity material for successive Firefly models and annotated by Serenity’s crew, the technical aspects of a Series 3 Firefly provided are so in-depth that fascination with the mechanics of space travel is overwhelmed by tedium. The effect is reminiscent of revising from a physics textbook.

However, as all good Firefly fans know, it’s not just the ship, it’s those who sail in her. The Handbook is somewhat redeemed by profiles of Serenity’s crew, sharing their history and their character, and the affection they bear for Serenity comes through strongly in the wisdom they impart about their role the ship, be it mechanic or passenger/shepherd/chef. In addition to this, the ‘Verse of Firefly is broad and richly varied, and Serenity has visited some of its best and worst locations; the tales told of barren moons and bustling metropolises vastly improve the interest of the Handbook.

Verdict: Though doubtlessly enthralling to a hardcore superfan, The Serenity Handbook is too much like a Haynes Manual to appeal to those who watched Firefly for the plot, the characters, or any reason other than seeking guidance to build their own spacecraft. 6/10

Sophie Simpson