From Amazon.co.uk
The Monster Book is far more than just a
Buffy series companion, it's also an impressive history of monsters in folklore and popular culture. Almost every monster to appear in the first four seasons has an entry here, illustrated with numerous black and white photos, and 32 pages of colour publicity stills from the shows. Dotted throughout these sections are interviews with series creator Joss Whedon and the show's other writers and producers. They discuss the contemporary relevance of monsters and how they can be used to illuminate the everyday horrors of teenage life, and reflect on the unique blend of horror and humour that is such a characteristic feature of the Buffy experience. But it's in the historical background that this book moves out of the ordinary. Meticulously researched, the latter part of each chapter explores the historical antecedents of Buffy's monsters in ancient legends, European folk tales, and historical records, before coming more up to date with analyses of monsters in books, comics and films. With such a vast array of references, it's a shame there is no index, an omission that limits its value as a work of reference. But both as a series guide and a serious discussion of the place of the monstrous in modern society (underlined by the closing discussion of the Slayer Faith and the human monster), this book works very well indeed. --
Elizabeth Sourbut
From Booklist
Fans of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer watch the show for a number of reasons, one of which is certainly the various creatures that show up every week. Golden, the author of many other
Buffy books, and his coauthors have compiled a guide to the monsters that have appeared on the show, from menacing demons, hellhounds, and the most prominent of the show's many vampires to friendly regulars who happen to be supernatural, such as the tortured vampire Angel (who now has his own show) and werewolf Oz. What makes the book unique is that it includes, in addition to interviews with the creator of the show and many of the writers, the history of demons, vampires, ghosts, and others in folklore, literature, television, movies, and pop culture. Fans will enjoy the details and behind-the-scenes info, while those looking to get into the series will find this a handy guide.
Kristine HuntleyCopyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
de Nancy; Hart, Maryelizabeth; Mariotte, Jeff Holder
