The Mule is just gorgeous.

QMx has produced the first ever exact scale model replica of the Flying Mule as seen in the movie Serenity. Measuring 14.5" x 10.75" x 4.5," the Mule replica is a highly detailed model, hand-painted to match the movie vehicle exactly, right down to the emblems and decals. Using the studio-supplied blueprints and AutoCAD model, plus extensive photographic reference, this Mule replica is the last word in accuracy.

Included with the Mule replica is a cast-resin diorama measuring 15.5" x 10.75" x 1." This hand-painted base simulates the sandy surface of some Border moon perfectly.

The QMx Mule can be displayed in one of two modes: CGI mode, where two heavy-duty acrylic posts are used to hold up the Mule, simulating the hover effect. And Backstage mode, with a replica of the dolly used to store the Mule between shots that you can set your Mule on.

Mules don't come cheap; retail is $349.95. But pre-order from TFAW.com and you can get it for $314.95 instead. Limited to 1,000 made, due October 27th.

Then there's the River maquette:

QMx has dedicated our first Big Damn Heroes animated maquette to the awesome that is River Tam. The Big Damn Heroes line of maquettes feature more mature anime-style designs, including realistic wardrobe, props and settings. Significantly larger than our best-selling Little Damn Heroes, the new line adds a serious edge to it's subject matter, offering a sexier, more heroic take on Big Damn Heroes.

River is captured in the midst of battle with the Reavers, her pose showing a dancer's grace while her expression (and a copious spattering of her enemy's blood) shows she means business. Great pains were taken to study both River's prop sword and axe as well as her dress and boots, all of which are recreated in precise detail. Even the detailed, hand-painted base invokes the lived-in quality of Whedon's Firefly and Serenity Verse.

Each River Tam maquette is cast in polystone resin and hand-painted, reflecting the high standards you've come to expect from a QMx maquette. River measures 6" tall by 6" wide without the base. The separately sculpted and painted base measures 5"x7"x1". River Tam is being offered in a limited edition of only 1,500.

River runs a bit more reasonable like, just $69.95 (or $62.95 if you preorder). Hits the streets running August 25.

I have to admit I'm not as excited about the River maquette as I should be, largely because I already have a statue of her from that scene. Granted, the pose, anime-ish style and (I'm certain) quality will be far superior to Diamond Select's doomed series, but I would have preferred to start this new line of maquettes with Mal or, hey, maybe one of the 4 characters who haven't gotten a single toy or statue yet. Just sayin'. Most likely when I see the others in the set I'll be more excited about this one.  Looks awfully good, though…

Well, from a Serenity model, anyway.

Well, the model they modeled the CG Firefly from, anyway. But still.

This is a master pattern of an engine for the model of the ship “Serenity” used in the 2005 Joss Whedon film of the same name. Engines such as this can be seen throughout the film as this piece was used as the pattern for the engines on the models used for the ship’s exterior shots. The engine features a domed top, and has a very futuristic mechanical design, reflecting the time in which the film is set: 510 years in the future. This unique piece is made of resin, hardened foam, is painted silver, and is in very good condition, offering collectors a rare chance to own a piece that was instrumental in creating the beloved ship!

Just $495, cheap to keep her in the sky.

Good Dog

Groaning, Harkness stood up from the pile of paperwork on his desk and collapsed on his couch, where his dog, predictably and promptly, leaped on him.

“You’re lucky, Billy,” he told the dog fondly. “No bills, free food, nothing to do but play. You haven’t a care in the world.” He patted and stroked his wriggly pet and felt his headache began to slip away.

And Billy, fighting back the encroaching madness borne of his lifelong imprisonment to a whimsical overlord, wagged his tail in terror and dutifully, doggedly, romped and romped and romped.

A shot from last week, looking out over the Atlantic from the deck of the Grand Seas Motel in Daytona Beach.

Yeah, there are times I don't mind living here at all.

Then they produced two Firefly Companions, which contained scripts from all the episodes as well as even more interviews and pictures and insider stuff, and they were also exceedingly good. So that was it, right?

Nope. On sale next Tuesday (May 25) is "Firefly: Still Flying," which has even more behind-the-scenes material, quotes from and about the actors, closeup views and histories of some of the most iconic props (and where they ended up), interviews with the stunt coordinator and the location manager and copies of the Serenity Valley battle storyboards and candid photos and a look at the wardrobes and, oh, I don't know what else.

Oh, right. Four new, original Firefly stories by some of the Firefly writers.

Some of you reading this have just left to go pre-order it, but for the benefit of those who have not (or, more likely, have already pre-ordered it), here's some pics.

Like the Companion books, Firefly: Still Flying is big, colorful, and beautifully presented by people who obviously love the material. And again, amazing for someone like me who spent years seeking this stuff out, many of the photos are new. Each actor gets a section filled with quotes from the actor — taken from interviews and convention appearances — and quotes about the actor from others. And alternating with those sections is an article about the production of the show, a story, or a photo gallery.

The section on props ("Objects in Space")  includes how each props was made and where they ended up afterward. The chair/table in the med center, Jayne's knife, the breathing masks hanging at every hatchway (did you notice those? did you notice they had call buttons built in?), even the cookware in the galley. There's even a separate essay on the whereabouts of the Jaynestown statue.

And then there's the stories. "What Holds Us Down" by Jane Espenson, "Fun With Dick and Jayne" by Ben Edlund (a two-page cartoon),  "Crystal" by Brett Matthews and "Take the Sky" by Jose Molina. The first new authorized Firefly stories since the movie. I'm not going to give plots or spoilers (I even blurred the photo above to hide the text) so I'll just give you my impressions: overall, not bad. Not as amazing and world-changing as I'd hoped, no new secrets were revealed, but solid stories told by people who know the characters inside and out. (My favorite was probably "Crystal," although the others got a smile out of me several times).

And the fans. We get our own section, along with a section on new merchandise. I had a (small) hand in quite a lot of that, and I'm proud to see it represented, and delighted to see so many friends mentioned.

I didn't even mention the lengthy section on the ships of the 'verse, or The Story of Monkeyshines, or Jane's essay on writing for a Joss show (Buffy, but close enough).

There is a slight sense of "what did we have that didn't fit in the first two books" in this one — die-hard fans may recognize a lot of what's in here — but what's here is well presented and fun to read and even if you've seen some of the interviews or already knew where Burgess' laser came from, it's nice to have it all together in a handy package and excellent gift idea, hint hint.

Available at Amazon ($13.46), TFAW.com ($15.96), and your local bookseller ($19.95 retail). 160 pages, softcover.

I don't have one to give away this time — you can't have mine — but several other sites are giving them out: Aint It Cool News, IESB.net, ForcesofGeek.com,  SciFiBlock.com, StarPulse.com, StayingInWithVlada.com, SyFy.co.uk, TVOvermind.com, and Whedonesque.com.

And if you haven't seen Titan's Firefly: The Official Companion 1, Firefly: The Official Companion 2, or the Serenity Visual Companion yet, go get them immediately.

A pocket-sized Firefly for your very own, of course!

About 2" long, made of solid metal with a pewter finish, it's solid and just a joy to look at.

Here's a pic of mine:

It's heavier and less fragile than I expected; you could drop this and not worry. I'm not sure I'd actually use it as a keychain, though, the reactor manifold strut things under the engine tends to catch on things in my pocket.At the moment it's dangling from my rear view mirror.

But it looks perfect. Made from the original digital files from the show, it captures the feel of our good girl nicely.

$9.99 plus shipping. QMx has them back in stock or if you'd rather you can buy it through Amazon .

Teres immediately pointed out that Bon Jovi was not included, "'cause they don't do pop songs, they do rock songs but everyone thinks they do pop songs 'cause they're so cute and cuddly." End quote.

I love the Internet. And not platonically, either.

Marian Call — she of the angelic voice and the silly-haunting-emotional-upbeat-really-hard-to-pin-down genre — has stuff on sale and stuff up for auction, and you want all of it. New stuff for sale includes T-shirts, autographed and personalized tour posters (did you know she's touring all 50 states?), personalized voice mail calls, photo prints, and CDs in bulk.

Stuff in the auction is even cooler. Handwritten framed lyrics, an artisan typewriter necklace, first drafts of original Marian Call songs, limited edition 1st run Vanilla CDs, and a set of QMX's Serenity Blueprints signed by Geoffrey Mandel, Timothy Earls, Nathan Fillion, and Alan Tudyk.

And everything goes toward supporting a talented indie artist and her upcoming CD. It's for the arts!

Check out mariancall.com for details and pics.

NBC has a comedy pilot about "a group of sci-fi fanboys in a small town who shoot their own version of a canceled tv show" titled "Our Show".

That is an amazingly cool and funny idea, rife with possibility for twists and insider geek humor! I wish I'd thought of it!

Oh, right. I did.

So do I root for it to succeed so we get more fan-themed media out there, a la Big Bang Theory? Or do I go with the they-stole-my-idea route that hardens and eventually embitters me into creating an armored suit with plasma-powered whips so I can have my greasy-haired revenge by going to Monaco and trashing NBC's race cars during the race? Does NBC even have cars in that race?

Hmm. Tough call. I'll get back to you.