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towering_tbr's review against another edition
2.0
This was okay. Some essays were enjoyable, others were terrible and tedious. I wanted to DNF so many times but I was reading this book for a specific challenge and so I carried on. Wouldn't really recommend.
thewallflower00's review against another edition
2.0
A lot of the essays in this book start getting samey. The power of friendship, sexiness of vampires, who should Buffy be with, wiccan good, love the earth, woman power. It starts feeling like refined versions of online editorials, only by professional authors.
And that's saying something because, unlike most things, I did not lurk on Buffy web sites. I didn't read the analyses or identify with a main character or get into discussion groups. Mostly because I wanted to avoid spoilers, but because I thought the TV show, by itself, was perfect. Anything extraneous would sully it, like dumping a bunch of toppings on ice cream.
And that's saying something because, unlike most things, I did not lurk on Buffy web sites. I didn't read the analyses or identify with a main character or get into discussion groups. Mostly because I wanted to avoid spoilers, but because I thought the TV show, by itself, was perfect. Anything extraneous would sully it, like dumping a bunch of toppings on ice cream.
fbeemcee's review against another edition
3.0
Some of the essays were interesting, some were just weird. It's kind of a whatever book for fans of the show.
megthegrand's review against another edition
4.0
Excellent essays that could be appreciated by any one with any level of Buffy fandom.
anastasiaadamov's review against another edition
4.0
Foreword: Taste our steel by Drew Goddard
I was not fan of the foreword by this writer and the collaborator of the show. I think it came from a much smaller place than it was supposed to and the quirky jokes it delivered missed the mark because of it. I acutely felt that I was left out from the targeted reader audience and this foreword did not age well…
1) Buffy Vs. The Old-fashioned „Hero“ by David Brin ★★★
There were some thought provoking and bold statements in this short essay. But the most memorable quote for me was:
„Kings and wizards may seem romantic, but they had 6000 years to deliver human happiness, and all they did was push us around like vampires.“
2) Is that your final answer…? By Roxanne Longstreet Conrad ★★★★
My first impression on this one was that I did not like it from the first look at the page. Once I started reading it I got much more amiable to the format it was written – I even liked the many silly footnotes. This essay embodies the Buffy the Vampire Slayer for me!
3) Sex and the single Slayer by Nancy Kilpatrick ★★★★
There were some really strong lines in this one:
„…there is something about those preternatural guys who live out their dark side that make them simply irresistible.“
„But a hero does not a good husband make, and fate, it seems, saved you from what would have been a huge mistake.“
4) The search for Spike's balls by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★★
What a bold little essay! I don't like how accurate it seems…
5) A Slayer comes to town by Scott Westerfeld ★★★★
Very elaborate system of defining fantastical stories and worlds.
6) Skin pale as apple blossom by Peg Aloi ★★★★
This essay felt like an ode to the character of Tara and the actress Amber Benson. The sheer passion with which the author described all the physical atributes of the said actress and the characters wardrobe is quite endearing! I am glad that there are people this inspired by side characters of a TV show!
7) Lions, gazelles, and Buffy by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro ★★★★
The premise of this essay is very intriguing. Buffy and the whole vampire ecosystem make a lot of sense and the analogy is quite sound. I agree with this point of view that the role of the Slayer has never been about eradicating the vampires but rather to keep them in check.
8) The good, the bad, and the ambivalent by Laura Resnick ★★★★★
Very detailed overview of all the main characters and how complicated and dimensional they are. Most of the characters go through stages on all sides of the good and bad spectrum.
9) For the love of Riley by Michelle Sagara West ★★★
Some sound points are made about the best boyfriend and growing up in this one. But I fear the author missed the main point of most people watching TV shows with supernatural elements – we want to see supernatural characters, and Riley Finn with all his good characteristics is a regular human Joe.
10) A Buffy Confession by Justine Larbalestier ★★★
There were so many parts of this essay I felt strongly about and then there were some parts I was glad I am not so deep into the crazed fan category. I felt the complete contradictory effect with the author being a staunch defender of the show and then boldly claiming how bad some parts of it were…
11) Dating Death by Jennifer Crusie ★★★★★
This essay was in many ways eye-opening and I felt deep validation I never knew I needed! Who better to open my eyes and explain things than a romance writer! Loved it!
12) The Meaning of Buffy by Marguerite Krause ★★★
I can understand where the author was going with this essay but I tend not to agree with most of the points. Love of Willow and Tara has been done beautifly but I don't see it as the ultimately the best relationship in the show. Therefore, the meaning of Buffy in this context is essentially flawed!
13) When did the Scoobies Become Insiders by Sarah Zettel ★★★
This essay on the Insiders and Outsiders ends on a call for expansion of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and maybe the author did not get the chance to read trough graphic novel continuation or even digested the season seven ending fully – but that is exactly what it was delivered!
14) A Reflection on Ugliness by Charlaine Harris ★★★
While I agree and am also annoyed by the vampires ugly faces there is one demon I would like to talk about with the author of this essay – Clem! Clem is a disgusting looking demon and one of the most lovable characters in season seven. And I think if I tried hard enough I might find few more loopholes in the premise of this essay. I expected more from you Mrs. Harris…
15) Power of Becoming by Jacqueline Lichtenberg ★★★
I was a bit annoyed at the footnotes and the shameless self promotion in them. Most footnotes seemed redundant for any person that watched the TV show and payed any attention at what was going on. As for the premise of the essay and the „Becoming“ theory: it has certain merit but there were better ways to present it than the author used. Rating is based on pure annoyance about footnotes and I regret nothing.
16) Unseen Horrors & Shadowy Manipulations by Kevin Andrew Murphy ★★★★★
I loved this little insight into the network life and imediate response issues the series had had. At the time the TV show was coming out I was totally out of the loop and had no knowledge on some of these at all!
17) Innocence by Carla Montgomery ★★★★
I was waiting for the essay that is going to tackle on the subject of sex in the show. This one covered most o fit but there were somethings I think deserved to be talked about more. The form of this essay was by far the most appealing to me so far.
18) Where's the Religion in Willow's Wicca? By Christie Golden ★★★★★
Very informative essay with some educational and overall positive vibes. Made me want to learn more on the subject.
19) Love Saves the world by Jean Lorrah ★★★★
Very well essay with good flow of points and intent. The family angle is familiar yet nicely done and presented with vigor.
20) A world without Shrimp by Margaret L. Carter ★★★★
Elaborate essay on the alternative worlds that appeared in the show. The distinctions between world origins and viewers point of view were clearly presented. Alternate reality theory was mostly easy to follow and the examples from the show were well utilized.
21) Matchmaking on the Hellmouth by Lawernce Watt-Evans ★★★★★
While I mostly agree with the assessment provided by the author I have the luxury of reading on after season seven of Buffy and after season five of Angel. This gives room for more candidates and while the author operated in the mostly known Buffyverse in search for her candidate I have a broader scope to look from. Good choice from the author, even though I don't agree whit the end result I think her categorization is sound.
22) Slayers of the Last Arc by Nancy Holder ★★★★★
Just like the last episode of the show, so did this last essay left me with high spirits and a desire to watch it all again, look up some stills from the show and read some fanfiction.
I was not fan of the foreword by this writer and the collaborator of the show. I think it came from a much smaller place than it was supposed to and the quirky jokes it delivered missed the mark because of it. I acutely felt that I was left out from the targeted reader audience and this foreword did not age well…
1) Buffy Vs. The Old-fashioned „Hero“ by David Brin ★★★
There were some thought provoking and bold statements in this short essay. But the most memorable quote for me was:
„Kings and wizards may seem romantic, but they had 6000 years to deliver human happiness, and all they did was push us around like vampires.“
2) Is that your final answer…? By Roxanne Longstreet Conrad ★★★★
My first impression on this one was that I did not like it from the first look at the page. Once I started reading it I got much more amiable to the format it was written – I even liked the many silly footnotes. This essay embodies the Buffy the Vampire Slayer for me!
3) Sex and the single Slayer by Nancy Kilpatrick ★★★★
There were some really strong lines in this one:
„…there is something about those preternatural guys who live out their dark side that make them simply irresistible.“
„But a hero does not a good husband make, and fate, it seems, saved you from what would have been a huge mistake.“
4) The search for Spike's balls by Sherrilyn Kenyon ★★★★
What a bold little essay! I don't like how accurate it seems…
5) A Slayer comes to town by Scott Westerfeld ★★★★
Very elaborate system of defining fantastical stories and worlds.
6) Skin pale as apple blossom by Peg Aloi ★★★★
This essay felt like an ode to the character of Tara and the actress Amber Benson. The sheer passion with which the author described all the physical atributes of the said actress and the characters wardrobe is quite endearing! I am glad that there are people this inspired by side characters of a TV show!
7) Lions, gazelles, and Buffy by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro ★★★★
The premise of this essay is very intriguing. Buffy and the whole vampire ecosystem make a lot of sense and the analogy is quite sound. I agree with this point of view that the role of the Slayer has never been about eradicating the vampires but rather to keep them in check.
8) The good, the bad, and the ambivalent by Laura Resnick ★★★★★
Very detailed overview of all the main characters and how complicated and dimensional they are. Most of the characters go through stages on all sides of the good and bad spectrum.
9) For the love of Riley by Michelle Sagara West ★★★
Some sound points are made about the best boyfriend and growing up in this one. But I fear the author missed the main point of most people watching TV shows with supernatural elements – we want to see supernatural characters, and Riley Finn with all his good characteristics is a regular human Joe.
10) A Buffy Confession by Justine Larbalestier ★★★
There were so many parts of this essay I felt strongly about and then there were some parts I was glad I am not so deep into the crazed fan category. I felt the complete contradictory effect with the author being a staunch defender of the show and then boldly claiming how bad some parts of it were…
11) Dating Death by Jennifer Crusie ★★★★★
This essay was in many ways eye-opening and I felt deep validation I never knew I needed! Who better to open my eyes and explain things than a romance writer! Loved it!
12) The Meaning of Buffy by Marguerite Krause ★★★
I can understand where the author was going with this essay but I tend not to agree with most of the points. Love of Willow and Tara has been done beautifly but I don't see it as the ultimately the best relationship in the show. Therefore, the meaning of Buffy in this context is essentially flawed!
13) When did the Scoobies Become Insiders by Sarah Zettel ★★★
This essay on the Insiders and Outsiders ends on a call for expansion of the Buffy the Vampire Slayer and maybe the author did not get the chance to read trough graphic novel continuation or even digested the season seven ending fully – but that is exactly what it was delivered!
14) A Reflection on Ugliness by Charlaine Harris ★★★
While I agree and am also annoyed by the vampires ugly faces there is one demon I would like to talk about with the author of this essay – Clem! Clem is a disgusting looking demon and one of the most lovable characters in season seven. And I think if I tried hard enough I might find few more loopholes in the premise of this essay. I expected more from you Mrs. Harris…
15) Power of Becoming by Jacqueline Lichtenberg ★★★
I was a bit annoyed at the footnotes and the shameless self promotion in them. Most footnotes seemed redundant for any person that watched the TV show and payed any attention at what was going on. As for the premise of the essay and the „Becoming“ theory: it has certain merit but there were better ways to present it than the author used. Rating is based on pure annoyance about footnotes and I regret nothing.
16) Unseen Horrors & Shadowy Manipulations by Kevin Andrew Murphy ★★★★★
I loved this little insight into the network life and imediate response issues the series had had. At the time the TV show was coming out I was totally out of the loop and had no knowledge on some of these at all!
17) Innocence by Carla Montgomery ★★★★
I was waiting for the essay that is going to tackle on the subject of sex in the show. This one covered most o fit but there were somethings I think deserved to be talked about more. The form of this essay was by far the most appealing to me so far.
18) Where's the Religion in Willow's Wicca? By Christie Golden ★★★★★
Very informative essay with some educational and overall positive vibes. Made me want to learn more on the subject.
19) Love Saves the world by Jean Lorrah ★★★★
Very well essay with good flow of points and intent. The family angle is familiar yet nicely done and presented with vigor.
20) A world without Shrimp by Margaret L. Carter ★★★★
Elaborate essay on the alternative worlds that appeared in the show. The distinctions between world origins and viewers point of view were clearly presented. Alternate reality theory was mostly easy to follow and the examples from the show were well utilized.
21) Matchmaking on the Hellmouth by Lawernce Watt-Evans ★★★★★
While I mostly agree with the assessment provided by the author I have the luxury of reading on after season seven of Buffy and after season five of Angel. This gives room for more candidates and while the author operated in the mostly known Buffyverse in search for her candidate I have a broader scope to look from. Good choice from the author, even though I don't agree whit the end result I think her categorization is sound.
22) Slayers of the Last Arc by Nancy Holder ★★★★★
Just like the last episode of the show, so did this last essay left me with high spirits and a desire to watch it all again, look up some stills from the show and read some fanfiction.
dja777's review against another edition
4.0
I enjoyed these writers' perspectives on one of my favorite TV shows.
greatlibraryofalexandra's review against another edition
4.0
I very much enjoyed this. As a person who was a late Buffy fan (I started watching when I was 25) m, it was so interesting to read a collection that came out right after the finale. I’m someone who thinks Buffy is outstanding, from Season 1-7. I think The finale was one of the most outstanding finales to ever grace television, and I was perturbed to find that some viewed it as disappointing.
This sort of anthology is how I want to consume fandom. For the most part, even the essays that I disagrees with were absolutely excellent.
I rated this down to a 4/5 because there were three essays that I felt should have been eliminated entirely.
“The Search for Spike’s Balls” was so disgustingly sexist I was appalled. I was even more horrified that a woman wrote it. It was misogynistic, uninformed, and almost embarrassing. I wish it had been cut completely.
The essay on Ugliness in Buffy I also found to be somewhat useless and poorly argued. I will admit that it’s a little bit because I think Charlaine Harris is an atrocious writer so I set no store by her opinions. And the essay regarding Buffy potentially having a relationship with Wesley Price was a bit off the wall, too. It had the flavor of someone trying to be subversive by just grasping at straws blindly.
The true subversive choice here is that the “right” boyfriend for Buffy is that women don’t need boyfriends to thrive and be happy.
Oh - and the one about Willow/Wicca. Overall, that one seemed to have little to do with Buffy and a lot to do with someone just being an offended Wiccan.
Overall, I love love loved such a collection of thoughtful and nuanced pieces on what is now my favorite show. I particularly adored the final essay, which outlines all of my personal feelings re: Why Season 7 is the absolute perfect ending to Buffy, and why it is one of the single most incredible television shows every produced.
It would be really interesting to see a revisitation of these essays now.
This sort of anthology is how I want to consume fandom. For the most part, even the essays that I disagrees with were absolutely excellent.
I rated this down to a 4/5 because there were three essays that I felt should have been eliminated entirely.
“The Search for Spike’s Balls” was so disgustingly sexist I was appalled. I was even more horrified that a woman wrote it. It was misogynistic, uninformed, and almost embarrassing. I wish it had been cut completely.
The essay on Ugliness in Buffy I also found to be somewhat useless and poorly argued. I will admit that it’s a little bit because I think Charlaine Harris is an atrocious writer so I set no store by her opinions. And the essay regarding Buffy potentially having a relationship with Wesley Price was a bit off the wall, too. It had the flavor of someone trying to be subversive by just grasping at straws blindly.
The true subversive choice here is that the “right” boyfriend for Buffy is that women don’t need boyfriends to thrive and be happy.
Oh - and the one about Willow/Wicca. Overall, that one seemed to have little to do with Buffy and a lot to do with someone just being an offended Wiccan.
Overall, I love love loved such a collection of thoughtful and nuanced pieces on what is now my favorite show. I particularly adored the final essay, which outlines all of my personal feelings re: Why Season 7 is the absolute perfect ending to Buffy, and why it is one of the single most incredible television shows every produced.
It would be really interesting to see a revisitation of these essays now.
kimlovesstuff's review against another edition
3.0
As far as Buffy essay collections go, this one was hit and miss.