List of Buffyverse guidebooks

The success of the TV series, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel have led to a number of published guidebooks both official and unofficial. Such books are used as sources of information, and opinions on the two TV series.

Official guidebooks edit

"Watcher's Guides" edit

The Official guides to Buffy the Vampire Slayer offer a comprehensive guide to the show. The episode guides include synopses, lines from the shooting scripts that were deleted, biographies, interviews, music listings, monster listings, special notes, pictures, quotes, and much behind-the-scenes information.

Watcher's Guides Vol. 1
AuthorChristopher Golden, Nancy Holder
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
October 1, 1998
Pages304
Vol. 1 Key Contents Description
"Mythology of Buffy" Mythology surrounding slayers and vampires.
"Sunnydale Guidebook" Tour of the town.
"Character Guide" Profiles of key characters
"Episode Guide" Buffy Seasons 1 & 2.
"Monster Guide" Profiles on key vampires demon..
"Bloodlust" Sunnydale Love connections.
"Behind the Scenes" Interviews with many key cast & crew members.
"Music" Info on main songs that appeared in Seasons 1–2.
Watcher's Guides Vol. 2
AuthorNancy Holder, Jeff Mariotte, Maryelizabeth Hart
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
October 31, 2000
Pages304
Vol. 2 Key Contents Description
"Buffyverse: Character Guide" Profiles of key characters.
"Buffyverse: The Pain" Extended commentary on love and loss in Sunnydale.
"Episode Guide" Buffy Seasons 3 & 4.
"Cast Profiles" Profiles of key actors
"Creating Buffy" Set report on "The I in Team" and interviews with cast & crew.
"Bands of Buffy" Interviews with bands who appeared on the show.
"Meranandising" Guide to spinoff products.
Watcher's Guides Vol. 3
AuthorPaul Ruditis
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
July 6, 2004
Pages368

Watcher's Guide Volume III opted to include only an episode guide (Seasons 5–7), and a number of essays:

Author Vol. 3 Essays
Ginger Buchanan "The Journey of Jonathan Levinson"
Hank Wagner "The Family Hour"
Rob Francis "Buffy from a British perspective"
Maryelizabeth Hart Slaying the Big Lies: Love conquers all, and other monstrous myths"
Allie Costa "A Part of Something, or Buffy the Vampire Slayer: My First Long-Term Relationship"
Scott and Denise Cienin "I Know You Are, but Who Am I?: Dawn"
Charles De Lint "Why I Like Buffy"
James Moore "Monsters Made to Order"
Joss Whedon ("Restless" teleplay), Paul Ruditis (commentary) "Restless: A Path to Premonitions"
Micol Ostow "Chosen: A Postmodern Postmortem of Buffy as a Contemporary Icon"

"Casefiles" edit

Casefiles Vol. 1
AuthorNancy Holder, Jeff Mariotte, Maryelizabeth Hart
PublisherSimon & Schuster
Publication date
June 1, 2002
Pages416
Casefiles Vol. 2
AuthorPaul Ruditis, Diana G. Gallagher
PublisherSimon & Schuster, (Simon Spotlight Entertainment)
Publication date
November 30, 2004
Pages304

The official companions to Angel. The content of these books follows similar standards set by the "Watcher's Guides", including comprehensive episodes guides, images, quotes and behind the scenes information.

Volume I covers Angel Seasons 1 & 2.

Volume II covers Angel Seasons 3 & 4.

Unofficial guidebooks edit

These books were not licensed by 20th Century Fox as official Buffy/Angel merchandise.

Keith Topping edit

Keith Topping has written several unofficial guide books to television series such as The X Files, The Avengers, The Sweeney and The Professionals. He has also written guides to both Buffy (Slayer), and Angel (Hollywood Vampire).

The style of the guides analytically studies each episode in categories, drawing attention to things which may otherwise have not been noticed by viewers.

Slayer edit

Slayer
AuthorKeith Topping
PublisherVirgin Publishing
Publication date
December 1, 2004
Pages702

The first edition of Slayer was released in the UK in December 1999, and offered a guide to the first three seasons of Buffy. The book has undergone numerous editions, the most recent of which, Complete Slayer includes information on all seven seasons of Buffy.

The categories which Topping uses to analyse each episode include:

"Slayer" categories Information
"Dreaming (As Blondie Once Said) is Free" Commentary on dream sequences.
"Dudes and Babes" Commentary on "who's hot and who's not"[1]
"Authority Sucks" Buffy's run ins with authority.
"Mom's Apple Pie" Commentary on aspects of family life and in particular the relationship between Buffy and Joyce.
"Denial Thy Name is Joyce" Details of Buffy's mother's abilities in self-delusion.
"It's a Designer Label" Details of fashion tips, statements and victims.
"References" Brings attention to subtle and unsubtle cultural references.
"Geek-Speak" Notes cultural references from the Trio (Warren Mears, Andrew Wells & Jonathan Levinson)
"Bitch!" Notes moments of female meanness.
"Awesome!" Notes Topping's preferred sequences of action, or comedy.
"Valley-Speak" Notes the speech patterns of Californian teens.
"Cigarettes and Alcohol" Notes teenage naughtiness.
"Logic Let Me Introduce You to This Window" Goofs and errors in continuity.
"I Just Love Your Accent" Commentary on perceptions of Britain and Britishness.
"Quote/Unquote" Topping's preferred dialogue.

Hollywood Vampire edit

Hollywood Vampire
AuthorKeith Topping
PublisherVirgin Publishing
Publication date
February 2004
Pages432

Hollywood Vampire has gone through several editions, the most comprehensive of which (February 2004), includes Angel seasons 1–4. The 228-page guide to Angel Season 5, Hollywood Vampire: The Apocalypse, also by Topping, was released in May 2005.

The layout of the guide follows that of Slayer using categories for each episode, some of which are different than its predecessor:

"Hollywood Vampire" categories Information
"Dreaming (As Buffy often proved) is Free" Commentary on dream sequences.
"Dudes and Babes" Commentary on "who's hot and who's not"[1]
"It's a Designer Label" Details of fashion tips, statements and victims.
"References" Brings attention to subtle and unsubtle cultural references.
"West Hollywood" Notes humorous references to Angel's sexuality.
"The Charisma Show" Notes important Cordelia scenes.
"L.A.-Speak" Notes the speech patterns of wealthy Californians.
"There's a Ghost in my House" Appearances from Phantom Dennis.
"Sex, Drugs, and Rock'n Roll" Mentions of characters walking on the wilder side of life.
"Logic Let Me Introduce You to This Window" Goofs and errors in continuity.
"I Just Love Your Accent" Commentary on perceptions of Britain and Britishness.
"Quote/Unquote" Topping's preferred dialogue.

Nikki Stafford edit

Nikki Stafford has written guides on both Buffy (Bite Me) and Angel (Once Bitte).

Bite Me edit

Bite Me
AuthorNikki Stafford
PublisherECW Press
Publication date
September 2002
Pages450

The most recent edition (September 2002) includes Seasons 1-6. It also gives capsule reviews to Angel (Seasons 1-3). Additionally it includes behind scenes information, and a biography of Sarah Michelle Gellar.

Once Bitten edit

Once Bitten
AuthorNikki Stafford
PublisherEcw Press
Publication date
October 28, 2004
Pages300

A guide to Angel seasons 1-5. Features a history of the show, a section profiling the best websites, a look at Buffy and Angel's recognition in academic circles, behind-the-scenes information.

Dusted edit

Dusted
AuthorLawrence Miles, Pearson Lars, Dickson Christa
PublisherMad Norwegian Press
Publication date
November 2003
Pages336

Lawrence Miles, who usually focuses on fiction, here offers his opinions on seven seasons of Buffy. The guide contains a comprehensive episode guide and a brief guide to the Buffy comics and novels that had been published prior to 2003.

The Girl's Got Bite edit

The Girl's Got Bite
AuthorKathleen Tracy
PublisherGriffin
Publication date
May 2003
Pages384

The second edition (May 2003) of this book covers up to mid-way through the seventh season of Buffy (and therefore is not a guide to the entirety of the series) and features episode guides, cast biographies, Buffy trivia and behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

Footnotes edit

  1. ^ a b Topping, Keith, The Complete Slayer (2004), pxi

External links edit

Official guides edit

Unofficial guides edit