Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 1

Average customer rating:

Miss Buffy the t.v. show

Expecting More

Buffy's back better than ever!

Meh...

Sure it's four years late, but I'll take it

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 1
Joss Whedon
Manufacturer: Dark Horse Comics
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

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Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 2

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 3

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 4

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, Issue 5

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8, #6 (No Future for You)

ASIN: B000O82BZK

Product Description

Picking up where Season 7 of the cult TV series left off, creator Joss Whedon expands on the Slayer's mythology if he had the opportunity to continue the show into an eighth season. Since the destruction of the Hellmouth, the Slayers have gotten organized and are kicking some serious undead butt. But not everything's fun and firearms, as an old enemy reappears, and Dawn experiences some serious growing pains.

Customer Reviews:

Miss Buffy the t.v. show.......2007-07-24

I really miss the Buffy t.v. show, so I decided to read the comic. It was very interesting, but it cost quite a bit for a brief 5 - 10 minute read. I don't know if I'll purchase the others, unless I can find them at their original cost.

Expecting More.......2007-07-18

I only recently discovered that there was a Season 8 written by Joss Whedon and I immediately purchased the first 5 issues. After reading this first volume I'm left wanting more, but not quite as satisfied as I had hoped. Comics are okay, but seeing this on tv is so much better. If this had to be written I think I would have preferred a regular book instead of a comic book. All in all I think the first comic is just okay, but I still look forward to reading volume 2.

Buffy's back better than ever!.......2007-07-01

Buffy the Vampire Slayer season 8 takes place right after the ending of Sunnydale. Buffy, Zander, and a giant Dawn return. A few of the other main characters are missing but Joss Whedon promises they will be returning in later issues.

I loved the artwork and plot line. I mean Joss Whedon helped write this so what's not to like?

Meh..........2007-06-06

I am a big fan of Buffy, so, when I found out Joss had released a comic which would reflect his vision of season 8, I was eager to purchase it. Well.... I can honestly say I didn't like it. I love the Buff-meister and all, but this seemed really silly and not quite up to par. I think the art also lends itself to the unreality. Every character looks like they are 13. Buffy should at least be in her mid twenties.

The plot is pretty simple stuff. Buffy is the leader of a teen group of slayers who fight vampires in the future. Dawn is attending Berkeley and has a really BIG problem. Willow wasn't in this issue. Xander is Buffy's manager. Not a heck of a lot happens.

I would pick up a few issues if I could get it in the bargain bin of my local comic shop. But I wouldn't rush out to pay full price. There are better comics out there.

Sure it's four years late, but I'll take it.......2007-04-17

*Possible spoilers within.*

I wonder if Joss Whedon originally had more story to tell after the end of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," or if he simply came up with more recently. As "Buffy" ended where he'd supposedly originally intended it to, but "Angel" was cancelled when Whedon expressedy stated that he had more story to tell, I would have expected him to continue "Angel" rather than "Buffy". (I still wish he would do so, and he has recently said that he's considering it.) However, I'll gobble up anything by Mr. Whedon, especially if it has something to do with the Buffyverse. And so when the first issue of the Season Eight comics was released, I devoured it. It's a tasty morsel indeed.

This season takes place a while after the epic finale of the TV show. The U.S. government, investigating the annihilation of Sunnydale, is now pursuing Buffy Summers, whom they consider to be a dangerous terrorist. Buffy herself is leading the thousands of Slayers currently in Europe in small groups, while the patched Xander Harris guides her from their base in Scotland. Obviously this is no small operation - in fact, it's huge.

Speaking of huge, Dawn Summers has recently lost her virginity to a "thricewise" - the result being Dawn's sudden growth spurt, from about five feet to about fifty feet. She's huge, unhappy, and currently housed in a warehouse where her tiny sister tries to sort things out with her. Buffy knows all about the repercussions of your "first time", but Dawn is waiting for Willow's return to vent. ("And anyhow Willow's the expert on boys since when now?" Buffy muses.)

In Part I of the season premiere, titled "The Long Way Home," Buffy battles a group of large, nasty beasts whose most recent victims appear to be members of a cult. (Expect a follow-up on that in future issues.) Meanwhile, in Sunnydale, government workers have unearthed someone from Buffy's past with a hankerin' for some vengeance. And cheese.

If the first issue is any indication, Season Eight of "Buffy" is gonna rock. Truly, this is going to be an absolute delight for any and all fans. Whedon's writing is as witty, creative, and shocking as ever, alluding to previous events and baddies like he so loves to do (and we love him to do) as well as the revelation from Season Five of "Angel" in which we learn that Buffy is currently dating some jerk called "the Immortal." Nope - that was one of three decoy Buffys used to throw enemies off her trail. As for the actual look of the comic, George Jeanty's artwork is excellent. Already he has the look of the characters down pat.

I was worried about how well "Buffy" would work as a comic as opposed to a TV show. I needn't have worried. "Buffy" works, and it works well. It's a blast to see the characters back, OFFICIALLY, and from Whedon's own hands at that. (In future issues, other writers from the series will be scripting the issues as well!) By all means, don't just go out and buy these, because they're selling like mad. Pre-order them well ahead of time so you can get your hands on some simply sumptuous "Buffy" action.

Buffy's back, and she's just as awesome as ever.

Tales of the Slayers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Average customer rating:

If you are a Buffy fan (especially a Fray fan)
A Great Buffy Companion
A Slayer's Must Have
An interesting aspect of the Slayerverse.
Disappointing

Tales of the Slayers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Joss Whedon
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Comic

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ASIN: 1569716056

Book Description

Buffy the Vampire Slayer is the latest in a long tradition of young women who've been trained to give their lives in the war against vampires. We've gotten glimpses of these other women over the years on TV, in comics, and in books. Now for the first time, the writers from the television series, including the show's creator, Joss Whedon, and one of its stars, Amber `Tara` Benson, present the tales of these girls, with the help of comics greatest artists. Gene Colan, co-creator of Marvel's Blade and Tomb of Dracula, returns to Dark Horse for the story of a young black girl in 1970s New York, battling vampires. Tim Sale, fan-favorite artist of recent epics Batman: The Long Halloween and Superman for All Seasons teams with Joss Whedon for a grim tale of a medieval slayer. American comics legend P. Craig Russell (Dr. Strange, The Ring of the Nibelung) and international rising star Mira Friedmann (Actus Tragicus) also join the stellar lineup.

Customer Reviews:

If you are a Buffy fan (especially a Fray fan).......2007-06-08

If you are a Buffy fan (especially a Fray fan) then you will love this comic book. Remember the first TV spot for Buffy when they went through the ages: "in 1810 all these people were dying which stopped by the arrival of a young girl named..." Well this comic is most of those stories. The negative is that none of these characters are developed, you just get to see snip-its of their lives. However, it does widen the Buffyverse, so it's a definite read for fans. Also you get to see a bit more of Fray, the future slayer.

A Great Buffy Companion.......2007-06-01

While this pales in comparison to the current Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight series being put out by Dark Horse now, "Tales of the Slayers" is a treat for the open-minded Buffy fan.

Like any Whedon product, this trade paperback supports a much larger theme than it appears to have. These stories about slayers stretching back over time are about loneliness, solidarity, but at the same time, they're about how each slayer is connected to the slayers of the past. Reading this book can give new perspective on Buffy, Faith, and all of the other slayers shown in the television series.

As a whole, the book is good, but not each individual story is satisfactory. The best in the book are Prologue (Joss Whedon), Righteous (Joss Whedon), Sonnenblume (Rebecca Rand Kirshner), and Tales (Joss Whedon). Righteous is told completely in rhyming verse, and has the most intriguing story and unique slayer of the collection. Sonnenblume has the worst art of the collection, but also one of the most solid stories; a young German girl in 1938 struggles between what her Nazi teachers tell her and what she feels is right. Tales is a treat, as it is about Melaka Fray from Joss Whedon's miniseries "Fray" and it wraps up this collection nicely, paying off to the over-all theme (a complicated one at that) of isolation/togetherness.

Some of the not-so-good stories are The Glittering World (David Fury) and Nikki Goes Down (Doug Petrie). Fury and Petrie are both competent, if not astounding, writers who have made note-worthy contributions to the Buffyverse, particularly Petrie's "Fool for Love" which makes nearly every Buffy top-ten list. However, these two stories in "Tales of the Slayers" seem forced, paced oddly, and suffer from the incoherent narration. Perhaps, had these writers has an entire twenty-two page issue to play their story out, they would have done better. Or maybe they are just better television writers.

To sum it all up, the good outweighs the bad. This is an item that every fan of Joss Whedon's work needs, and it is a great companion to the Buffy series (the television show as well as the comic).

7/10

A Slayer's Must Have.......2007-05-25

This is another one of Whedon's greatest!! A must have for any Buffy fan.

An interesting aspect of the Slayerverse........2007-05-15

As viewers or readers of the Buffy series, we have always known about the slayer lineage, but it was always seen as a bit of a mystery since we knew nothing of the past slayers except that they all had watchers and all died, and Buffy is stronger than them because she has friends to support her otherwise lonely path. The "Tales of the Slayers" takes us through the lives of some of those past slayers with an interesting and sometimes witty story of each, most notably with the prologue of the First Slayer, "Righteous," "Presumption" (which is a reminder of Jane Austen's "Pride and Prejudice"), and "Sonnenblume." Even if some of the tales are brief, they are interesting and offer a glimpse at the formerly unknown slayers' line.

Disappointing.......2006-05-02

The book was very short and sparse, despite the good writers listed. There are some wonderful graphic novels out lately, but this wasn't one of them. I'm a huge fan, but this was lacking the cleverness, surprises, and plot of the series.

The book contains a few short (very short - a couple of pages each) little vignettes of the lives of several slayers. None are particularly interesting, creative, or engrossing. I'd skip it and look for something else. You won't find the slayer-style you love here.

See the review by Hardman - she's nailed the problem.

Tales of the Vampires (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Average customer rating:

cleverly done
Vampire-zine
"Vampire, You Are Everything I Loathe. But I Have Learned From You."
The Myriad Tales of the Vampire
After the show is over, we get more of the good stuff

Tales of the Vampires (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Joss Whedon , Ben Edlund , Jane Espenson , Brett Matthews , Drew Goddard , Tim Sale , Scott Morse , and Mike Mignola
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1569717494

Book Description

Tales of the Vampires presents stories ranging from medieval times to the Depression to today, all intricately woven around Joss Whedon's central story about a group of young Watchers in training. Not to be missed is Buffy's rematch with Dracula and Angel's ongoing battle with his own demons. Wrapped in a haunting cover by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola, these diverse tales flesh out the history and the world of Joss Whedon's unforgettable creations and fill the void left by the Buffy TV show better than any other writers ever could.

Customer Reviews:

cleverly done.......2007-08-12

I enjoyed reading Tales of the Vampires very much. I have missed BTVS ever since it ended in 2003 and this provided me with a much needed fix. I also found the artwork to be pretty cool. And as everyone keeps pointing out to me special effects are a lot easier in comic books than on tv.

Vampire-zine.......2007-07-30

Absent the Buffy series this is the closest we can come (along with the Buffy Season 8 comics)

"Vampire, You Are Everything I Loathe. But I Have Learned From You.".......2007-06-16

Where "Tales of the Slayers" was entertaining, "Tales of the Vampires" is, to say the least, a spectacular collection of stories tied together by a first-rate tale which gives insight into the mythology of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." It's the best Buffyverse comic that I've read (other than Season Eight and Spike: Asylum, of course), and that's saying a lot. This collection simply has so much to offer. There's stories with drama, stories with depth, stories that explore and expand the mythology, and a few simply funny tales. It's clear to see that this was penned by people who loved writing for the show (Whedon, Espenson, Goddard) and others who loved watching the show (anyone with eyes/ears).

While "Tales of the Vampires" can be described as a collection of short graphic stories about vampires, it also tells a cohesive story about one vampire named Roche telling tales of the undead to a group of young watchers. As the stories unfold, it is simply a pleasure to see the young watcher named Edna realize what Roche's true reason for telling these tales is. The Roche/Edna plot that unfolds over the length of this book is written by Joss Whedon, creator of Buffy and Angel.

Some of the most interesting stories in this edition are about vampires we've never met before, but what fans will surely be most interested in is the stories about characters who have already been established in the Buffyverse. There are plenty of those. Spike and Drusilla's love story in "The Problem With Vampires" is touching, classic, and leads right up to their first appearance in the show. "Antique" is the first we hear of Buffy since the end of the series (this is pre-season eight) and it has her battling with Dracula for Xander's freedom. The closing story is one about Angel called "Numb" which takes place during the Season Three episode "Amends." It expands on the dreams that are tormenting Angel about his past, and has some of the most beautiful comic art I've ever seen. It really fits with the snowy mood of the episode.

The writing, as I mentioned above, is top-notch. The art, different for each story, is almost always great--except for, perhaps, the depiction of Buffy, Xander, and Dracula in "Antique." A bit to blagh for me. But all else is well. If you're interested in vampires, Buffy, comics, or are currently reading "Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Season Eight", then this is the book for you.

9/10

The Myriad Tales of the Vampire.......2007-02-10

An amalgam of stories about vampires - familiar vampires, new vampires, male vampires, female vampires, modern vampires, vampires of old. What makes them different, alien, and what makes them just like us. All set in the frame of an old, chained story-telling vampire, deep in the catacombs beneath the Watcher's Guild. Brilliant, imaginative, often lyrical, and highly enjoyable.

After the show is over, we get more of the good stuff.......2006-07-19

The ending of the tv show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" left me bitter and disappointed for many reasons. But this book reminds us about what vampires are all about: blood, mayhem, destruction along with the complex underpinnings of emotion that make them such fascinating creatures.

After all, they DO come from human stock.

While I didn't care for the titular character of "Stacy" (just another teenaged loser craving power in all the wrong places), the story made me understand why somebody actually would want to be a vampire...a sense of connection with something bigger than herself.

"Father" gives that same feeling. The vampire truly cares for his family. That sense of family didn't die when he did; he remains joyful and happy when his son marries and produces a child of his own. You almost feel sorry for the creature when a violent, righteous Slayer kicks in the door and puts an end to his undead existence.

But I've always believed that humans weren't meant to be immortal. It does bad things to us. In almost any story about humans gaining eternal life, the human becomes inhuman, a monster who shrugs off his humanity like a dirty coat.

That's why I liked "Taking Care of Business." You didn't see too many really old vampires on the show. One gets the feeling most of them are too arrogant or stupid to keep existing for long. So in "Business" you see what can happen when a vampire sticks around for too long. He goes insane. So what happens when he meets a human even loonier than he is? There's the joke.

But it was "Antique" that really made me smile. How could it not when it had the vampire that rings out above all others...DRACULA!

Okay, he was shown to be a pompous gypsy windbag on the show and "Antique" furthers that hilarious concept. But in the end we see what all the mesmerism, fancy clothes, posturing, self-aggrandizement and oratory is really about...the need for attention. Dracula is a very lonely figure, in spite of his riches, and all he really wanted was a friend, somebody to listen to him, keep him company, praise him and show him something new about the world. Too bad the only way he knew how to get it was by hypnotizing people.

All in all, I would certainly recommend this comic book to anybody wanting to feed their Buffy fix. Even if you never saw "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" you would love this work for its interesting twists and ideas about vampires.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, Vol. 1

Average customer rating:

If you are enjoying "Season 8" of "BtVs," maybe you would be interested in "Season 0"
This Is The Way To Go
HORRAY!!
If you loved Buffy then this is a must buy!!!
a must for any Buffy fan!

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, Vol. 1
Joss Whedon , Others , Eric Powell , and Joe Bennett
Manufacturer: Dark Horse
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 159307784X

Book Description

The definitive comics collection of all things Buffy starts here. This first massive volume begins at the beginning - The Origin, a faithful adaptation of creator Joss Whedon's original screenplay for the film that started it all. The newly-chosen slayer's road to Sunnydale continues in Viva Las Buffy and Slayer, Interrupted. Next, high school, the Scoobies and an English librarian lead the way into Season One continuity. Plus, The Goon creator Eric Powell provides pencils to "All's Fair," featuring Spike and Drusilla at the 1933 World's Fair.

Customer Reviews:

If you are enjoying "Season 8" of "BtVs," maybe you would be interested in "Season 0".......2007-09-24

I did not collect the first "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" comic book series mainly because I did not cotton to the artwork. I picked up the first issue but that was it, although I did pick up some of the associated minis-series. So I got "The Origin" when it first came out because I liked the idea of redoing the movie script to better incorporate it into the mythos created by the television series, as well as "Willow & Tara Wilderness," Joss Whedon's "Fray," and "Tales of the Vampires." More recently I bought the "False Memories" trade paperback collection because it sounded like it might be similar to a "BtVS" novel that I tried writing once upon a time. But with Joss Whedon writing and serving as "executive producer" for "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8" (and now gearing up for "Season 6" of "Angel"), Dark Horse decided to reprint a definitive collection of the first "BtVS" comic series and its assorted spin-offs.

Initially I was sitting on the fence with regards to even checking out the series, but then I discovered that this omnibus series is organized chronologically following the timeline of the television series. In other words, the stories in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Omnibus, Volume 1" take place before the show's first season. That, I decided, meant Volume 1 was at least worth a look and then I can see what I have missed:

"All's Fair" ("Spike & Dru" #3), script by Christopher Golden, pencils by Eric Powell, and inks by Drew Geraci & Keith Barnett. This is a Spike & Dru story where the love vamps are checking out the Chicago World's Fair of 1933, where a scientist has tapped into energy from a demon dimension. Meanwhile, there are people who want to make Spike pay for killing his first Slayer during the Boxer Rebellion. Those story lines are interesting on their own, but putting them together does not up the ante. There is a neat scene where Spike and Dru simultaneously put the bite on a pair of young lovers kissing, but sharing pages ends up hurting the two main plot lines (4 Stakes).

"Buffy: The Origin," adapted from Whedon's original screenplay by Dan Brereton & Golden, pencils by Joe Bennett, and inks by Rick Ketcham. What if the original movie version of "BtVS" had been filmed the way Joss wrote it and not turned into a camp comedy by the director? This three-part comic book story gives fans an idea of what might have been. Beyond making Buffy look like Sarah Michelle Gellar, it is cutting all that campiness that makes this worth reading and upgrading the supporting cast: for example, Merrick looks like a cross between Donald Sutherland and Richard Riehle, the actors who played the character in the movie and TV series respectively. Not great, but I like it way more than the movie (4.5 Stakes).

"Viva Las Buffy!" (#51-54), script by Scott Lobdell & Fabian Nicieza, pencils by Cliff Richards, and inks by Will Conrad. What I like about this one is that beyond the whole idea of a road trip to Las Vegas (the number of times Buffy got out of Sunnydale on the TV series can just about be counted on one hand), is that it explains what happened to Pike: they run away to live and work in Vegas, but he becomes convinced that having a Slayer for a girlfriend is way too dangerous. I also like that it deals with how Giles came to be Buffy's second Watcher, although having Angel be in the story bothered me a bit until I remembered that according to "Becoming" he was hanging around keeping an eye on Buffy back then. But it was the insistence on working Dawn into these early outings that became too much for me. The neat thing this time around are the special siblings where only one is a vampire, which makes for an unusual scene, but overall this one tries to do too much with limited success (4 Stakes).

"Dawn & Hoppy the Bear," everything by Paul Lee. A demon goes after Buffy by giving her a "make-a-wish teddy bear." The only problem is that Buffy is off in Las Vegas (see previous story), so the delivery goes to Dawn instead. On the one hand, since Dawn was not really there at this point in history I have no idea as to what "really" happened that would justify this revised memory. But on the other hand, this is a cute little story (3.5 Stakes).

"Slayer, Interrupted" (#55-59) script by Lodbell & Nicieza, pencils by Richards, and inks by Conrad. While Buffy was off in Las Vegas, Dawn finds her sister's diary. When her parents read about how he has been fighting vampires and demons, they have her committed to a mental institution. Buffy actually likes not having to be the Slayer, but of course those running the place have a different agenda, making their patients brides of the demon Rakagore. Meanwhile, Giles has to face the consequences of having used Black Magic. The attempt to have early Giles jive more with later Giles does not really work because early Giles is so not the Ripper we meet in these issues. At the end of this the Summers move to Sunnydale, Giles is officially installed as her Watcher (there is a formal ceremony apparently), and the rest is history (4.5 Stakes).

There is also a Cover Gallery, because for some reason a lot of these reprint magazines like to either ignore the covers that went with these stories or shove them in the back of the book. This book does both. In the end I round up on this collection because of the nice job they do with Take 2 of Buffy's "Origin," although the second time reading these stories I better appreciate the attempt to work out what they referred to at Dark Horse as "Buffy: Year One." I just think having Dawn around for these early stories was a mistake because her presence does not fit my understanding of how her retroactive existence works. But that might just be my hang-up and most "BtVS" fans will not mind such things. Now I will have to see if Volume 2 manages to maintain this initial level.

This Is The Way To Go.......2007-08-25

Unless you're a completist with oodles and oodles of cash, this is the way to go if you want to collect the older Buffy comics. Before this, they have been collected (for the most part) into smaller trade paperbacks, each of which cost almost as much as this volume. Now, before I get into my review, let me explain the omnibus series, as I've seen a lot of people misunderstanding when talking about it on message boards: This is not the only omnibus. There are to be seven of them all together, and this is only the first one.

Now that that's out of the way...

The comics collected here range from great ("Viva Las Buffy"/"Dawn and Hoopy the Bear") to okay ("Slayer, Interrupted"/"The Origin") not so great ("Spike and Dru: All's Fair"). However, for what this book lacks, it makes up for it by it's diversity; it's fascinating to see how different artists and writers alike tackle this utterly unique world, how each person puts their own spin of what has already been developed or hinted at. Before I even read this volume, what I did was flip through, just taking in the art. There shading, the coloring, the style; everything is all so different that even if sometimes the stories won't keep you interested, the art will.

Well, that's assuming you can get past "All's Fair." I understand why it was put first in this issue, as--chronologically--it does really happen first, though it isn't usually a good idea to put the most tedious story first in a book like this.

All in all, a great buy if ever a great buy there was. Though not all of the writers or artists are as good as the others, this collection gets--for sheer practicality--an...

8/10

HORRAY!!.......2007-08-17

I'm so glad to have an omnibus. I've only just got into comics, so it's handy to have them all together for me to see.

If you loved Buffy then this is a must buy!!!.......2007-08-04

Big buffy fan? or just starting with buffy? then this book is for you. The art is amazing, same with the dialogue. It's a true collectors item.

a must for any Buffy fan!.......2007-07-18

The Slayer Omnibus collects previously published comic book stories that are set before Season 1 of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Its an enjoyable read, especially for any Buffy fan. We get some insight into Giles/Ripper, learn a little about Buffy's "lost days" in Las Vegas with her then boy toy and witness Angel's stalkage of the slayer. And then there's Dawn's story with Hoopy the Bear - gotta love it!

Queen of the Slayers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Average customer rating:

Good enough for a Buffy fix, but not much else
Disappointing book
Pretty much a fanfic
Could've Done So Much With This, But...
The horror... the horror...

Queen of the Slayers (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Nancy Holder
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 1416902414

Book Description

No vacation. No benefits. And the only retirement is an early death.

With the closing of the Hellmouth and the awakening of hundreds of potential slayers, Buffy Summers thought she had overturned the Slayer's self-sacrifice and earned herself a much-deserved break. But the thrill of victory is short-lived. The Forces of Darkness are not ones to graciously accept defeat, and the collective rage unites disparate and powerful parties more eager than ever to reclaim dominance.

Willow's magickal distribution of the slayer essence left girls across the world discovering their latent power. Giles races to reorganize the now much-needed Watchers Council, and the Scoobies relocate to Europe. And there in Rome, Buffy is drawn to the Immortal -- a charismatic, if inscrutable, figure. But then comes word that a number of the fresh slayers are being coerced to join an army of slayers -- governed by the mysterious "Queen of the Slayers," an awesome evil determined to claim the intoxicating slayer essence for herself.

Xander is sent to Africa to learn more about the origin of the slayer essence. Instead, he returns to report that, alarmingly, there's not enough good in the world to counteract the overabundance of evil, and that the deciding apocalypse is drawing much too near. Alliances are formed and loyalties betrayed as it comes down to slayer versus slayer, leading to an ultimate battle of champions -- from Buffy's past and present. And then an unimaginable gift arrives...

Customer Reviews:

Good enough for a Buffy fix, but not much else.......2007-10-05

After season 7 was over, I thought my life would consist of rewatching the DVDs and forming my own speculations of what would happen in a post-sunnydale world. Naturally I was elated to discover a novel that addressed this issue that I was so interested in.

The book starts out marvelous. The bus scene is just incredible. But then the book becomes a train wreck!

Here are my complaints:
1. Couldn't stand how Willow was sometimes referred to as the Wicca, it just sounds so derogatory.
2. There is crazy inconsistency with Xander and his eye/eyes. The author pays close attention to referring to his eye in the beginning of the novel, but she slips a lot towards the end, referring to him closing his eyes.
3. Fight scenes are clipped or omitted, sort of like Shakespeare. But Shakespeare wasn't writing about super strong women using medieval weapons to save the world. (ex: Andrew goes to LA to find Dana and bring her to Europe, a page later it just talks about how he got her and came back. Just like that? She didn't even put up a fight?!)
4. Willow's powers were understated. Does anyone else find it hard to believe she almost ended the world but yet can't seem to do so many things in this novel?
5. Too many new slayers serve as cannon fodder. Don't even get me started on Cleveland.
6. I do not, and WONT, watch Angel. So every reference to it was lost on me, thus I didn't understand the ending much.
7. The ghosts of the past were a little cheesy.
8. The Kennedy/Willow drama was hard to believe and just unnecessary.
9. The endless amount of money and resources provided by the immortal was just a little too convenient.
10. The endless is very inconclusive. Maybe I'm just ignorant, but I honestly have no clue about who or what died.
11. What happened to the hell gods? The Borgia twins? Did Buffy slay them with the weird pale child on her shoulders?!
12. What dimension did all those weird slayers go to?
13. The epilogue really threw me off! (Angel didn't die, but Spike...) BUT SPIKE WHAT?! Argh I don't watch Angel, what happened?

I could probably list a lot more, but I'm getting mad just thinking about it. I'll probably read the new comics, although that's a little too X-menish for my taste.

Disappointing book.......2007-08-23

The book tries to serve as THE reference tome for everything that followed the end of the last season of Buffy. In truth, the book is required reading for real fans of the TV series, regardless of how good or bad the writing is. Given the importance of the subject matter, the book is a tremendous disappointment. Quite simply, too many events were packed into one volume, and in turn, rarely was any subplot developed well enough. If the book was viewed as a TV series, it would very well comprise half a season of episodes if written correctly. The TV series was wonderful in its development of character and plot, and the books should do that even more. Here the complete opposite happened. So, disappointing...but must read!

Pretty much a fanfic .......2007-06-15

With Joss Whedon doing the 'Buffy Season 8' comic books, and this book is supposed to be in that same time, it's no longer able to fit the Buffy time line. And while most fanfics are much better (like making action scenes interesting and the characters aren't reverted back to their season 5 selves), this book still held my interest in the day it took me to read it.

But I wouldn't recommend it to anyone who loves Buffy and the characters of that world. The ending is absolutely ridiculous. The only thing I take from it is the fact that making all potentials into slayers really would tip the balance of good and evil, so there would be some consequences from that.

However, those are being dealt with in the Buffy comics, which any fan should read. They're much better than this book ever could be, and they're written by Joss.

When they misspell 'Spike' (Spiek? Really?), I wanted to put it down. But I was at the last chapter, so I figured the editors were pretty much not there by that point in the book.

Could've Done So Much With This, But..........2007-05-23

As an avid Buffy fan, and a niave one, discovering there were books was great and I was thrilled to see someone attempt to continue beyond the fall of Sunnydale. Whatever I was expecting, this wasn't it. I thought the initial action sequences set the stage for some great follow up work, even if it seemed a little much, but the story unfolds into something completely unrealistic and farfetched, even for Buffy. The end is a total disappointment and even the most vivid imagination will have a hard time with this one; the battle scene and phantom baby is a bit much, and leaves a lot to be desired. The rest of the story patronizes the characters like Willow and Faith, with Buffy walking around disoriented and lacking the strength her character deserves. I think it is hard to write a brilliant continuance to a series like Buffy, and I'm hardly the best critic, however, there's no way this book does justice to the series. Some of the story lines are very clever, and so much could've been done with them, but it comes across as if the author gave up or got stuck at the end and rushed to finish. I hope for a better attempt.

The horror... the horror..........2007-03-08

That was pretty much how I felt after finishing this terrible book.

I'm a Buffy fan (something of a purist - as I don't like the Angel spin-off), and only an occasional reader of BTVS novels, which - except for The Lost Slayer - always disappointed me. They were like McDonalds food - good to have around when Buffy's not on TV, but never satisfying.

So when I saw this novel, I thought it would be good. Holder is a four-times Bram Stoker award winner, and I figured the first novel set after the climax of the BTVS TV show would be of a much higher quality than previous novels, to satisfy the BTVS fans who want the story to continue.

But I was very wrong.

This book is absolutely god-awful.

I'd give it zero stars, if I could.

It's hard to pick on thing that makes this book so bad.
Unscary and cliched villains;
Regular Buffy characters acting out of character (since when does Oz give speeches?);
Terrible dialogue (unrealistic, and with none of the wit or intelligence that's the hallmark of the TV show);
The Yet Another Apocalypse plot, (something which Whedon and co. acknowledged was a cliche when the TV shows were running within the shows' storylines);
Ignoring the continunity set up by the final series of Angel; during which this book is set (unless the worldwide Apocalyptic weather systems featured in this book decided to skip LA, and no one at Wolfram and Hart thought to tell Angel "A Hellmouth in Cleveland has opened");
Borderline racist characterisation of non-Americans (all Italians speak-a like-a this-a and are obsessed with clothes, while girls from Indian are all shy and hide behind veils);
And there's the uncountable number of unnamed new Slayers who are casually slaughtered (it seems a new Slayer has a shorter life expectancy than a red-shirted officer in Star Trek).

But the worst thing about this book are the events Holder skips - battle scenes, action sequences, and major dramatic events she set up earlier in the book - they're just skipped and you're told the result of what happened.

For example, early in the book Buffy and co. encounter a pack of shapeshifters and go out hunting (doesn't have any bearing on the main plot). Only I think they do, because Holder skips the entire hunt. Buffy and co discover the monsters.

Turn the page, the critters are all dead.

The same thing is repeated again, and again, and again. Big set up. Expectation raised of major drama/action scenes. Turn the page and the events already in the past - sometimes by days.

Admittedly BTVS jumps around genres with wild abandon, but action is a major part of the series and the novels. Something that Holder either doesn't want to handle or can't write, so skips.

Even major events in the story - including the final battle, are skipped.

The only good thing about this book is twist at the very end, which completes the "Journey to adulthood" arc Whedon and co have been running since the start of season 4 of BTVS.

However, its execution makes me think Holder got her idea from reading Buffy slash fiction, and too many reports of angels visiting the dying in hospitals.

Only BTVS fans would buy this book, but they'll end up hating it.

In my view Holder took the publisher's money, handed in a first draft, and then legged it.

That all said, I found this book inspirational.

Because after reading it I thought, "I can write a better novel than this piece of junk!"

If you're a BTVS fan, avoid this book and spend your money on the new Buffy comic coming from Dark Horse - it's Buffy the Vampire Slayer, season 8 written by Joss Whedon.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale (Popular Culture and Philosophy)

Average customer rating:

Not too bad - If you're a fan and even a little bit interested in Philosophy and Ethics it's worth reading.
Thoughtful and accessible.
Jhaeman's Review
So much fun!!
Teachers should recommend this book for class

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale (Popular Culture and Philosophy)

Manufacturer: Open Court
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0812695313

Book Description

How can Buffy’s religious symbolism be squared with creator Joss Whedon’s professed atheism? Is Buffy truly a Kierkegaardian knight of faith? Do Faith’s corruption and return to the good life demonstrate Platonic eudaimonism? Or do they illustrate the flaws in Nietzsche’s superman concept? What does the show’s treatment of vampires, demons, and other entities say about ethical attitudes toward nonhumans? These are some of the questions asked and answered in this lively collection of essays that link classical philosophy to the long-running series Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Buffy’s status as the leading vehicle for exploring the evil underlying everyday life has made it ripe for the kind of witty, penetrating philosophical analysis this book delivers -- fully disintering the intellectual issues that underlie this cult favorite.

Customer Reviews:

Not too bad - If you're a fan and even a little bit interested in Philosophy and Ethics it's worth reading. .......2007-03-31

I found this book helpful in doing an Ethics class. Some of the chapters helped me understand what my text book couldn't -- the situations were all familiar and I love Buffy.

The reason I gave it 3-4 stars is because the writing is not consistently great, but it was interesting reading.

Thoughtful and accessible........2006-02-24

I picked up this book for a friend who is a Buffy fanatic, and read it myself, converting me into a fanatic, as well. Taking the seminal television series, and applying some of the classic philosophers' take on the world -- Aristotle, Plato, Kant, Nietzsche (though, the author UTTERLY distorts and misapprehends Nietzsche's philosophy), Hume -- this collection of essays demonstrates just how many layers upon which Buffy the Vampire Slayer was constructed. It also provides a decent primer for the works of some of Western thoughts' most notable philosophers (but see my caveat re Nietzsche), bringing to life the abstract concepts in the guise of a very entertaining television series. Add to that, clever writing by a group of essayists who obviously love the show, and it is a very amusing and informative read, and, arguably, one of the best to take on the series.

Jhaeman's Review.......2005-12-23

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE AND PHILOSOPHY: FEAR AND TREMBLING IN SUNNYDALE
James B. South, editor (2003)

RATING: 3/5 Stakes

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "So, if you're kind of killing time between apocalypses or just wondering about that meaning of life thing, here's some readage . . . Look, these guys'll I-think-therefore-I-am you into the freakin' ground. And the happy is better than shoe shopping. What? If I don't consult the oracle I'll, like, turn to stone? Well, yeah, if not already."

REVIEW

Buffy's entry into Open Court's "Popular Culture and Philosophy" line takes the form of a collection of short essays written by junior academics in fields such as women's studies, philosophy, and sociology. The essays are roughly grouped by subject: feminism, knowledge/science, ethics, religion/politics, and miscellaneous. Each is written with reference to the first six seasons of Buffy, with Season Seven unfortunately taking place after final deadlines for the writers.

Most of the essays are accessible, though they tend to expect the reader to have a basic understanding of long-standing philosophical concepts such as the difference between utilitarian and deontological theories of justice. On the whole, I find the essays largely mundane and forgettable, obviously written by huge fans of the show using Buffy to embody a particular academic issue they're currently working on.

However, there are a couple of stand-out articles, such as Neal King's "Brownskirts: Facisim, Christianity, and the Eternal Demon" and Michael P. Levine and Steven Jay Schneider's "Feel for Buffy: The Girl Next Door." The first is a fascinating essay on Buffy as a fascist hero, while the second doesn't fall into the hagiography trap and is willing to both criticize the show and the cult of frequently simple-minded scholarship that has grown up around it.

I don't think Buffy and Philosophy will prove particularly interesting to the average fan of the show (whether or not philosophically inclined), and is probably best browsed before purchase.

So much fun!!.......2004-05-14

This book is amazing and covers a wide range of topics. It's highly academic and well-respected in the academic community. It was a good lead in as far as asking my professors if I could incorporate Buffy into my papers. Hehe. I found that it also made some things much clearer, by putting it in the light of my favorite television show. I particularly liked the comparison of Faith to Nietzsche and the incorporation of Kant's Critique of Pure Reason and relating that to "Out of Mind, Out of Sight." It brought Kant's view into a new perspective, rather than trying to understand specifically with Kant's text and just accepting what he said as his view, it made his view make sense. I really do recommend it for any fan of Buffy in general(although it may seem tough at first, it was for me) or a philosophy fan. (I also found that it heavily related to my Conscience and Literature class)

Teachers should recommend this book for class.......2004-01-28

I took Philosphy in my first semmester of college, and I didn't do to well. After I started reading this book, I began to understand Plato, Kant, and other philospohers better. If my teacher had recommended this book I may have gotten higher than a C.
This book takes themes from the show: Faith's downfall, feminisim, education, violence, etc. and explains the themes through philosphy. I love BTVS and this book gave me a different way to watch the show. I definately recommend this book to anyone who is currently taking philosphy or will take a class or has. It helps the reader get through a subject that may not be very clear on its own.

Average customer rating:

good book
Buffy Bad Bargain review
An Awesome Blast from the Past! Loyal fans will enjoy this throwback...
When a Bargain is not a Bargain
An Offer You Can't Refuse

Bad Bargain (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Diana G. Gallagher
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Mass Market Paperback

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ASIN: 1416919198

Book Description

"Off the rack gives me hives."

-- Cordelia, "Out of Mind, Out of Sight"

The Scoobies are used to being personally affected when demonic nasties come to Sunnydale. And they're used to strange things happening at Sunnydale High -- after all, the place is built over the Hellmouth. But they've sealed the Hellmouth, so they don't think anything's out of the ordinary when items to be sold at the first annual band fund-raising rummage sale are stored in the school basement...which, one might recall, is directly above that Hellmouth.

Once the rummage sale begins, it's clear the stuff for sale is far from ordinary. People seem to be strangely affected by the items they're buying -- things from undemonic homes, donated by undemonic people. So the reactions these items are producing are, to say the least, unexpected. Willow's acting weird. So's Xander. And even Buffy's mom bought something....

The situation quickly spins out of control, and the school has to be quarantined...leaving Buffy and Giles to sort things out before whatever demon this is sells them down the river.

Customer Reviews:

good book.......2007-05-08

this book could have easly been a episode,I think anyone who like's buffy will enjoy this book.

Buffy Bad Bargain review.......2007-04-10

I loved it..My only problem was that it was too short.

An Awesome Blast from the Past! Loyal fans will enjoy this throwback..........2007-03-16

Now that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" has been ended since the show took it's final bow in 2003 (*sniffle*), fans will really get a kick out of this blast from the past -- Buffy style!

While any and all Buffy novels that have been produced since 2003 must choose a position on the Buffy timeline with which to create their new tale, it is pleasantly refreshing to see one that hails from the early season 2 timeline. "Bad Bargain", in relation to it's timeline and setting within the Buffyverse, actually takes place during Season 2, before Angel turns evil. By my estimate, it would need to take place sometime after the episodes "What's My Line? parts 1 and 2" (because we know Xander and Cordelia have begun their secret tonsil hockey sessions in various broom closets), but before the episodes "Surprise" and "Innocence" because Angel is obviously not evil yet.

Buffy novels have evolved beautifully, coinciding nicely with the evolution and sophistication of the show. One of the things I loved about this novel was that it truly represented the whole Season 2 vibe in it's storyline, dialogue, and writing style. It would be easy to read this novel and be able to completely picture it being an actual episode during that season, which I think might have been the feeling author Diana Gallagher might have been trying to invoke. There are many incredible Buffy novels, but at the same time it is not always easy to try to picture some of the stories being an actual part of the Buffyverse. They are fun and entertaining, but also a little constricted with a this-doesn't-quite-feel-like-a-real-part-of-the-story kind of mentality. "Bad Bargain" is 100% a season 2 episode!

Another fun thing about this novel is that it (like all post 2003 novels) has the advantage of knowing where things are going. It can easily slide into it's place in Season 2, while at the same time constantly foreshadowing things to come. Jonathan and Andrew make an appearance, while Mayor Wilkin's darker dealings are alluded to -- and all without breaking it's own storyline. This book doesn't bog itself down by trying to do nothing but foreshadow, but it does throw enough little winks our way. The actual story, which has Buffy dealing with the bizarre and increasingly alarming behavior and physical symptoms of students and teachers who have seemingly come into contact with a mystical ailment contracted from various items during the school's fundraising bargain sale, is admittedly cheesy at times. However, then again, so were parts of season 2!

Bottom line, it's a light and enjoyable read for the average Buffy fan.

When a Bargain is not a Bargain.......2007-02-03

First of all this is set in the post-Master, pre evil-Angel era. Keeping that in mind you will find a lot of clever foreshadowing for later episodes. It is time to raise money for the band (the year before the band candy incident). The school is holding a rummage sale and a lot of the students are forced to help out. Unfortunately the donations were stored in the basement right by the Hellmouth itself (I always thought is manifested in the library but the giant slug was in the basement). The seal on the Hellmouth has developed some minor cracks. Not enough to let anything significant through, but large enough for the Hellmouth equivalent of bugs and vermin to pass through. They have infected the donated items and the items are infecting people handling them.

Soon a crisis is looming as people begin to come down with strange symptoms and wasting diseases. The school is closed and quarantined until a solution can be found. The one hope is that there is a demon that is the equivalent of a Hellmouth dogcatcher and he is supposed to get the beasties back to preserve the Earth for the big baddies when they are ready to take over. So we need to keep the slayer from killing the demon, round up the bad beasties before people start to die, get everyone back in the Hellmouth, and seal up all of the cracks. Pretty much a typical day for the Slayer, what with fighting monsters and trying to keep people from dying. To find out how successful the Slayer is you will have to read the book.

This is a fun period in the Slayer history. Angel is not yet bad, Ms. Calendar is still around. Oz has noticed Willow but she doesn't know it yet. Spike and Dru are the big baddies. All of the foreshadowing of future episodes is clever and well done. The plotting moves with just enough plot complications to keep it interesting without getting silly. Characters are portrayed true to form so you can hear them delivering their lines. All in all a wonderful little story that would have made an excellent episode. If you like the early Buffy then this is a story for you. Check it out.

An Offer You Can't Refuse.......2007-01-02

Author Diana G. Gallagher returns to the Buffyverse with this tale, set early during the second season of the television show. She's come up with a new and interesting menace for the Slayer to fight; rather than the usual demons, ghouls and, of course, vampires, Buffy has to battle an infestation of tiny vermin...from insects to bacteria...that have escaped from the Hellmouth, mystically contaminating a number of people within Sunnydale High School, including her friends Xander and Willow, her mother Joyce, and even the vampire Drusilla. Because these aren't the usual sort of villains she can punch, kick and stake, Buffy has to use her wits in order to win the day.

By quarantining the action inside of the school building, Gallagher builds a mounting degree of claustrophobia that plays well into the tension Buffy feels as she races against the clock to find some way to get the Hellmouth creatures back to their side of the mystic barrier, thus preventing the entire human race from eventually falling prey to their diseases.

Having the advantage of knowing what was to develop on the show for years to come, Gallagher has fun playing around with some of the characters by hinting at future events. Willow and Oz haven't met yet, but he is definitely curious about her (this story takes place shortly after the "Halloween" episode of BtVS). Buffy and Spike the vampire must enter into a truce of convenience during the crisis, but although they loath one another, there's still a tiny spark of sexual tension between them. And the author retroactively adds Andrew to the mix, although mostly as a character on the periphery, alongside his best friend, Jonathan. Plus, she brings in Jenny Calendar to play a prominent role in the story. And there are a lot of other fun little tidbits sprinkled throughout.

I think what makes "Bad Bargain" work the most is that the author has put Buffy into a fresh situation, and as such she allows the Slayer to employ her intelligence more than her muscles, to good effect. And as a big bonus, Diana Gallagher writes the characters of Xander and Willow very well, and it was a treat to see how she utilized them here.

Tales of the Slayer, Volume 4 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

Average customer rating:

Just Like the others a 5 star review
Interesting stories, doesn't quite track with Buffy series
Tales of the Cruciamentum
Exploring the cruel and stupid ritual of the Cruciamentum

Tales of the Slayer, Volume 4 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Nancy Holder , Michael Reaves , Scott Allie , Greg Cox , Kristine Kathryn Rusch , Robert Joseph Levy , Kara Dalkey , and Jane Espenson
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 068986955X

Book Description

"I can't be...just a person,
I can't be helpless like that...."
-- Buffy, "Helpless"

At eighteen, each Slayer must face a terrifying trial: the Tento di Cruciamentum. This time-honored, albeit cruel, rite of passage forces each Watcher to drain the Slayer of all her physical powers and then send her to vanquish a powerful vampire using only her wits. When Buffy Summers underwent her Cruciamentum, she managed to defeat Kralik, a vampire who had been committed to a sanitarium as a human for torturing and murdering more than a dozen young women before he was turned. However, not all Slayers have been so cunning.

Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 4 chronicles the Cruciamentum of eight earlier Slayers. From Prohibition Chicago to beatnik New York City, from the sideshows of a traveling carnival to a small Irish farm, from the fifteenth century to the twentieth, the Cruciamentum has tested the prowess of Slayers throughout history. Each of them has had to fight: for her job, for the lives of those she loved, and for her own existence....

Customer Reviews:

Just Like the others a 5 star review.......2005-09-11

I love the Tales of The Slayer books they are great this one is no different.

Interesting stories, doesn't quite track with Buffy series.......2004-12-06

I've collected all four of the Tales volumes now and once again found some interesting stories to read. This time around all 8 stories are set around the Cruciamentum which all slayers are put through on reaching 18.
I found that these writers (some of whom also wrote for the series) each had their own style and usually didn't tell their Cruciamentum stories anything like what we saw Buffy go through in the TV version, in some the girl's parents even knew she was a slayer. I haven't read the whole book yet but found, as before, stories running through the centuries- from Nikki in 1973 back to Esperanza in 1481. I didn't care for the beatnik story but thought the Spanish Inquisition story was interesting. I kind of liked Survivors and Sideshow Slayer. Jane Espenson's "Two teenage girls at the Mall" was one of the more interesting stories, and told mostly from the viewpoint of the vampire girl.

Tales of the Cruciamentum.......2004-11-01

The eight tales in this book deal with slayers facing the cruel test called The Cruciamentum, in which a slayer is deliberately weakened and, on her 18th birthday, must face a vampire alone, using only her wits. Most of the stories take place in 20th century North America, 2 in New York, 1 in Chicago just before the onset of Prohibition, 1 in rural Pennsylvania, 1 in a small town in Nebraska, and 1 in Nova Scotia. The other two are set in 1876 Ireland and 1981 Seville, during the Spanish Inquisition, which I found to be the most interesting of the lot. The Grand Inquisitor Tomas de Torquemada makes an appearance in this one.

The stories have an interesting variety, considering that the subject of all of them is the same. One girl is a pacifist, not wanting to be the Slayer any more. Another is a carnival performer. Two are Jewish and, for that reason, are probably less than beloved of the Watcher's Council.

I found the story Survivors to be quite sad, as Dot's Watcher, who left to fight in World War I, has descended into melancholia and perhaps madness. Dot virtually becomes his caretaker as he lapses into delusion. Two Teenage Girls at the Mall, told by a 16 year old newly made female vampire, is also very sad, making the reader wish that somehow there could be a positive resolution for both the Slayer and Julie, the vampire.

The first story, It's All About the Mission, deals with Nikki Wood, who is pregnant with her son Robin, who will become the principal of Sunnydale High School one day. We all know that she will eventually be killed by Spike, so the focus of the story is how she survives rather than if she will survive.

In the story Undeadsville, the Slayer Zoe Kuryakin refers to her cousin Illya, who is studying in Russia. Could he become one of the Men from U.N.C.L.E., portrayed by David McCallum? It wouldn't surprise me if it was meant to be a reference to the popular television show of the 60's!

In an earlier volume in this series, reference was made to "the doxy Darla." She is mentioned again as a friend of hers says,
"Has ever a Slayer met her end in such a delightfully slapstick manner? I shall have to tell Darla about this when next we meet. She's bound to find the tale uproarious." That was quite clever. It's rather surprising that we see so little of the vampires from the Order of Aurelius--Darla, Angelus, Drusilla, and William the Bloody--in these stories. Quentin Travers does make an appearance, and he was every bit as unpleasant then as he is in the present time.

These are interesting stories, fun and quick to read. I recommend them.

Exploring the cruel and stupid ritual of the Cruciamentum.......2004-11-01

The authors who contributed original short stories to "Tales of the Slayer, Volume 4" are constrained by having to write about the Tento di Cruciamentum. This is the rite of passage first introduced in Season Three of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" in the episode "Helpless" (written by David Fury), that is administered to Slayers when they reach their 18th birthday. Drained of her powers by her Watcher, the Slayer is forced to vanquish a vampire using only her wits. Buffy defeated Kralik, her vampire foe, but because Giles defied the authority of the Watcher's Council to aid Buffy he is fired by Quentin Rravers for violating the test rules (and because he has a father's love for his Slayer). What was important in terms of the third season story arc was the Giles was fired, to be replaced, in a manner of speaking, by the bumbling Wesley Wyndham-Pryce, but in this collection of stories we have to deal with the legacy of the Cruciamentum.

If you want you can skip this paragraph to get to the review of the stories, because I am going to start ranting now about how the Cruciamentum is a stupid idea. First, how did the Watcher's Council come up with this stupid idea? They would have to either stumble upon the drugs that strip the Slayer of her powers or they went looking for it, and in that latter case the question becomes why they felt this was necessary. We still do not know the story of the true origin of the Cruciamentum, but my best guess would be that the arrogant men of the Watcher's Council had a Slayer or too that they would rather see dead than have to deal with (probably because of issues of class, ethnicity, and/or race). Second, why would they think this stupid idea was a good thing to put Slayer's through? I do not see how it could be an improvement on the previous status quo. You can quote Nietzsche all you want, and someone in this collection does, but a traumatic experience is more likely to make you really ticked off rather than stronger. Besides, if a Watcher has not been teaching a Slayer to use their brains as well as their brawn, then I do not see why the Slayer has to play the ultimate price. So like Riker being able to hear Troi's thoughts on the pilot for "STNG," the Cruciamentum is something that needed to be forgotten and not embraced. However, that is too late now, so we turn to reviewing the stories in "Tales of the Slayer, Volume 4":

"It's All About the Mission" by Nancy Holder, set in the Harlem of 1973, is the one story that covers familiar ground as the Slayer turning 18 is Nikki Wood, who would eventually be killed by Spike, but not before she gave birth to the man who would be the last principal of Sunnydale High School. Nikki's Watcher, Bernard Crowley, knows exactly how idiotic the whole ritual is, and while Holder tries to deal with this in the story's resolution, the fact that it involves another familiar character from the Buffy mythos actually undercuts her point. Still, this story does a nice job of dealing with a pregnant Slayer, which is something I have long been curious about. 4 Stakes.

"Undeadsville" by Michael Reaves takes place in New York City as well, but back in 1952 when the Slayer is a beatnik named Zoe who says things like "Sorry, Daddy-O, but you're dust" as she stakes a vamp. Zoe's Watcher, Ian Sykes, is so affronted by her lifestyle that he conspires with a vampire named Faust to see that the Slayer does not survive her test. Certainly an interesting idea, but Reaves comes up with some other twists as well. 4-and-a-half Stakes.

"Alone" by Scott Allie is set outside Ulster in 1876 and that means we have to endure the prejudice of the predominantly English Watchers Council for having an Irish Slayer in Catherine Callan. To make it even more fun, she pretends to be married to her Watcher, Mr. Spelling. This is just one of several things that Catherine's father is not happy about. Unfortunately, this is one of the briefest stories in the collection and does not really take advantage of the interesting aspects of the situation. 3 Stakes.

"Sideshow Slayer" by Greg Cox gets bonus points because Millicent "Millie" Rose Gresham is from the Zenith City of Duluth, Minnesota, even if the story finds her in a carnival side show in Parkesburg, Pennsylvania in 1911. The idea of a traveling Slayer is certainly worth pursuing and being in a carny is an interesting cover. Cox also comes up with an interesting place for the powerless slayer to confront her vampire. 4 Stakes.

"Survivors" by Kristine Kathryn Rusch in set in Chicago in 1919, where Dorothy "Dot" Singers date with the ritual becomes secondary to her concern for her Watcher, Reginald Hill, who suffers from shell shock after having abandoned his Potential to go to war and make the world safe for democracy. There is also a concern that the vampires have their own agenda working against the interest of the Watchers Council, but it is the interplay between Watcher and Slayer that matters most in this one. 4-and-a-half Stakes.

"Back to the Garden" by Robert Joseph Levy offers a pacifist Slayer in Beryl MacKenzie, who joins a commune in Nova Scotia in 1969 on the eve of her coming into her power. So we have the irony of her Cruciamentum being her initiation into Slayerhood. So Levy's story has the virtue of having two interesting ideas that unfortunately work against each other in this case. 4 Stakes.

"The Rule of Silence" by Kara Dalkey takes us back to the days of the Spanish Inquisition in Seville, Spain in 1481, so you know this is not going to be a good thing. This is especially true since the Slayer, Esperanza de la Vega, has not only been reading about demons, which makes her a witch, but is a Marrano, which makes her a heretic. The lesson here will obviously be that human beings can be the greatest monsters of all. 4-and-a-half Stakes.

"Two Teenage Girls at the Mall" by Jane Espenson is my favorite of the eight stories. Set in Keller, Nebraska in 1983, it is told from the perspective of Julie Lemmer, a sixteen year old who has just been turned into a vampire. Starved by her sire, she is tossed into the Westgrand Mall, where she eventually discovers that there is another teenage girl locked in that night. We know that the other girl has to be the Slayer, but the twist is that Julie knows here. Those who enjoyed Espenson's sense of humor in her "BtVS" scripts will enjoy the climax of this one. Five stakes.

I have to admit that I was someone disappointed that none of these stories ended with the Slayer coming out and slaughtering the haughty members of the Watchers Council that assemble for their cruel rite of passage. Beyond that, I certainly anticipated more tales in which the Slayer does not survive. What did not surprise me is that my lack of respect for the Watcher's Council continues to decline as a result of reading these stories, all of which continues to make Rupert Giles look as phenomenal as a Watcher and his charge proved to be as a Slayer. If there is a thematic motif to the next volume in this series, it will be interesting to see what the editors choose to explore, because there are certainly other aspects of the Slayer mythos worth exploring besides the idiocy of the Cruciamentum.

Tales of the Slayer, Volume 2 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

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Tales of the Slayer, Volume 2 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)
Todd A. McIntosh , Kara Dalkey , Laura J. Burns , Melinda Metz , Greg Cox , Scott Allie , Kristine Kathryn Rusch , and Michael Reaves
Manufacturer: Simon Spotlight Entertainment
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0743427440

Book Description

"Sacred duty, yadda yadda."
-- Buffy Summers

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has always held an irreverent attitude toward her calling, but ultimately she understands the ramifications of her destiny and is prepared to die to protect the world from Evil. In fact, she has died. Twice.

"I remember the drill. One Slayer dies, another is called."
-- Buffy Summers

It's an ancient tradition, steeped in lore, mythology, and fateful prophecies. Slayerdom consists of a Council of Watchers, a continuum of slayers, an archive of journals, and even a handbook.

"Handbook? What handbook? How come I didn't have a handbook?"
-- Buffy Summers

But first and foremost, it begins with a girl. One girl in all the world. A Chosen One. Now, catch up on other Slayers past and present, in the second short-story collection, Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 2!

"[Another] Slayer? I knew this, 'I'm the only one, I'm the only one,' thing was just an attention getter."
-- Xander Harris

With contributions from Scott Allie, Laura J. Burns and Melinda Metz, Max Allan Collins and Matthew V. Clemens, Greg Cox, Kara Dalkey, Jane Espenson, Rebecca Rand Kirshner, Todd McIntosh, Michael Reaves, and Kristine Kathryn Rusch.

Customer Reviews:

Super Reader.......2007-08-02

An improvement on the last book, this set of stories is bookended by two Buffy tales. Here we have a pirate slayer, a samurai slayer, a slayer that encounters both Springheeled Jack and Dracula, and works with a group of friends.

A little bit more of t