Random
A "shepherd", or preacher, who provides frequent spiritual advice and perspectives for the crew of Serenity. He appears to be some sort of Christian. He has a mysterious past, and on numerous occasions has demonstrated a depth of knowledge in a number of fields in which one would not expect a clergyman to be familiar: including space travel, firearms, hand-to-hand combat, and criminal activity. There are several incidents in which Book exhibits intimate knowledge of the Alliance, including a security clearance that grants him immediate medical treatment on an Alliance vessel. Though never verified, there is a strong indication that Book was at one time an Alliance Operative having given Mal specific advice regarding the Operative that was attempting to assassinate River Tam, noting how Operatives "move". Shepherd Book and the inhabitants of "Haven" are killed by the Alliance in the movie "Serenity