theimmortaljedi
Common Vampire
ME PLAYING STAR WARS WITH THE WIFE WATCHING![Mo0:3]
Posts: 52
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Post by theimmortaljedi on Nov 30, 2008 23:33:06 GMT -5
I would like peoples thoughts on the best non-fiction and fiction buffy books? I can't find any dvds about the show but tons of non-fiction ones. For both Angel and buffy what ones are the most must haves?
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theimmortaljedi
Common Vampire
ME PLAYING STAR WARS WITH THE WIFE WATCHING![Mo0:3]
Posts: 52
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Post by theimmortaljedi on Dec 1, 2008 19:47:09 GMT -5
Wow! How about that!? 16 views and no one with a thought on good buffy and angel books?
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Aud
Potential Slayer
The Graveyard Shift
I'm eleven-hundred and twenty years old! Just give me a frickin' beer![Mo0:28]
Posts: 162
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Post by Aud on Dec 2, 2008 6:13:09 GMT -5
Hi! As for non-fiction books, I would recommend The Watcher's Guide for Buffy. I saw them on Amazon and it basically gives insights into each character, monster, and episode. There are 3 volumes. Uh...wait, maybe it still belongs in fiction because the Buffyverse is fictional? . . . it's late and I am confused, but there is that recommendation just the same.
I used to work at Barnes & Noble and I saw a book in the Philosophy section called Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale (Popular Culture and Philosophy). I'd forgotten about it until now, but it looked really interesting. You should look into that one as well.
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darthrosenberg9
Potential Slayer
"You haven?t seen my drawer of inappropriate starches?"[Mo0:37]
Posts: 107
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Post by darthrosenberg9 on Dec 2, 2008 12:53:55 GMT -5
I have Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy. It's a great read! Definitely worth looking into. I would also recommend The Watchers Guide (3 volumes), and the Angel: The Casefiles. They are guides for the shows. Firefly has them, too, but I forget what they're called.
As for the Buffy and Angel novels, I have a number of them, but they're not the most amazing books to read. To be honest, I even forget most of their names. Chances are, any one you get is going to be enjoyable, but I can't think of any that I recommend off the top of my head. I definitely suggest that you don't read Queen of the Slayers because it majorly contradicts the canonical "Buffy Season Eight" comics. Although, once you're done with watching Buffy, I highly recommend that you do read the comics.
Next time I'm back at my house (which won't be for a few weeks), I'll take a look at the books that I have and see if I have any suggestions for you.
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theimmortaljedi
Common Vampire
ME PLAYING STAR WARS WITH THE WIFE WATCHING![Mo0:3]
Posts: 52
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Post by theimmortaljedi on Dec 3, 2008 0:01:46 GMT -5
Thanks!! I will check them out. I bought an angel book about a reality show in a haunted house. Hope it's decent.
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Post by hitnrun017 on Dec 3, 2008 0:05:59 GMT -5
Thanks!! I will check them out. I bought an angel book about a reality show in a haunted house. Hope it's decent. It's a pretty good book! It's a pretty interesting story and if you love Cordelia late Season 2, I bet you'll enjoy it.
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theimmortaljedi
Common Vampire
ME PLAYING STAR WARS WITH THE WIFE WATCHING![Mo0:3]
Posts: 52
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Post by theimmortaljedi on Dec 3, 2008 0:27:50 GMT -5
Thanks. I am up to the part where the girl is missing and somthing real is going on ini the show. It has an angel feel to it. The wrighter did a book on the show called the casefiles I plan on looking up.
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kimtaro
Ensouled Vampire
Everybody's Buttmonkey
Crime tastes funny[Mo0:10]
Posts: 1,087
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Post by kimtaro on Dec 4, 2008 21:21:37 GMT -5
Fiction-wise, Spike and Dru: Pretty Maids All In A Row is an excellent read. Spike and Dru go back in time to try and try to mess up the slayer line
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theimmortaljedi
Common Vampire
ME PLAYING STAR WARS WITH THE WIFE WATCHING![Mo0:3]
Posts: 52
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Post by theimmortaljedi on Dec 6, 2008 15:05:17 GMT -5
I love spike!!That really does sound way cool! I am so going to find that book!
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Post by wenxina on Dec 6, 2008 19:03:23 GMT -5
I have Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy. It's a great read! I have a signed version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy (the editor is a prof at my alma mater). While I did enjoy several of the articles in there... I found the book to be generally patchy. Some of the articles were excellent, most were middling, and there were a few that were so poorly conceived/written/organized/sourced that I felt that just about any fanboy could've come up with a convincing argument that was worthy of being published. The main problem is trying to shoehorn BtVS into most classical schools of philosophy... it just doesn't fit quite as well as would be expected.
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dane5by5
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
[Mo0:0]
Posts: 734
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Post by dane5by5 on Dec 7, 2008 0:22:04 GMT -5
I have a signed version of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy (the editor is a prof at my alma mater). While I did enjoy several of the articles in there... I found the book to be generally patchy. Some of the articles were excellent, most were middling, and there were a few that were so poorly conceived/written/organized/sourced that I felt that just about any fanboy could've come up with a convincing argument that was worthy of being published. The main problem is trying to shoehorn BtVS into most classical schools of philosophy... it just doesn't fit quite as well as would be expected. Wow. That's great. Did you ever take classes with them? This has to be my favourite non-fiction Buffy book. I thought overall it was a very well written and interesting book. I definitely thought about BtVS differently after reading this, and I think that's all you can really ask from a book like this. What sections did you find poorly written? NOTE: I accidentally edited your post instead of hitting reply, so this is just to let you know that I've restored your post to its original form... and that I didn't change anything. My reply is in a separate post.
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darthrosenberg9
Potential Slayer
"You haven?t seen my drawer of inappropriate starches?"[Mo0:37]
Posts: 107
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Post by darthrosenberg9 on Dec 7, 2008 17:04:05 GMT -5
Well, I don't actually know anything about Philosophy--so I didn't say that it was "a great take on philosophical views" or anything. I just really enjoyed reading it.
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Post by wenxina on Dec 7, 2008 18:13:14 GMT -5
I never got to take any classes with James South... I didn't know he was a Buffy fan, and I fulfilled all my philosophy requirements by the time I did, and didn't have room to slot a class with him in. I've chatted a little with him via e-mail since then (and he sent me his book), and he's pretty cool. I've his new book pre-ordered on Amazon. If you're interested, it's called Buffy Goes Dark if I'm not mistaken.
I made some notes when I started reading the book, but stopped after a while when it became more of a read before bed deal. But a few pretty bad ones (IMO, you're free to disagree of course) were the ones by Jessica Miller, Hibbs, and Marinucci. Most of the time, I admit, my opinion was colored by my personal interpretation of the scenes/character/show in general, and I thought that their interpretations were either highly flawed, too simplistic, or just plain flatout wrong. And thus, their analysis was not quite up to par for me. Other things which I constantly nitpick at is how many of the writers kept saying that Buffy staked Angel! The point is clear, she was willing to sacrifice him... but he was stabbed! With a sword! Metal sword... that's why he didn't die. He wasn't dusted... just sent bodily to some hell dimension.
The articles I enjoyed were the ones that didn't try to reduce the show in order to fit it into the mold of one school of philosophy, or another. And maybe that's why I thought the book wasn't that great... if it had been a commentary on pop culture and sociology and psychology, perhaps it would have been more successful. I'm not saying that I didn't enjoy it. I'm just saying that it didn't quite meet my expectations as I was expecting more studied and learned opinions and ideas in it. There were a few highlights. I thought the first two essays on Faith opened the book on a high note. I appreciated some of the interesting ideas that Lawler brought up in his article (especially since it reminded me that the Watchers' Council never quite viewed Slayers as ends in of themselves, but rather a means to an end; Travers says that "the Slayer is merely the tool" or something to that effect in "Checkpoint"). Daspit's essay on education and knowledge in post-modernity was quite enjoyable. South's own essay on Willow was pretty good. I generally liked the articles that explored themes of morality, crime and punishment, etc in the Buffyverse. Even if not stellar, they brought up some very interesting points which I thought could serve as a new reading of certain key moments in the show; i.e. why Spike wasn't dusted is a question that I've seen many times, and I think certain articles in the book may help fans answer that question for themselves, if they allowed themselves to stray from their already strong opinions about him.
And whoa nelly... that was a long explanation to a rather short question.
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theimmortaljedi
Common Vampire
ME PLAYING STAR WARS WITH THE WIFE WATCHING![Mo0:3]
Posts: 52
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Post by theimmortaljedi on Dec 9, 2008 5:02:33 GMT -5
WOW! this brings as much debate and peoples thoughts and takes as star wars does. Star wars has books called cannon that means accepted as really happening though not shown in the movie and non cannon meaning it is just an idea sort of thing. ANy official cannon buffy or angel books? Or does Joss and company stay away from that sort of thing.
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Post by wenxina on Dec 9, 2008 9:07:30 GMT -5
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alycat7
Wise-cracking Techno Genius
I don't wanna be this good looking and athletic. We all have crosses to bear - Spike[Mo0:4]
Posts: 752
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Post by alycat7 on Dec 10, 2008 23:31:44 GMT -5
My favorite Buffy books has to be The Gatekeeper Trilogy by Christopher Golden. A really great read.
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theimmortaljedi
Common Vampire
ME PLAYING STAR WARS WITH THE WIFE WATCHING![Mo0:3]
Posts: 52
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Post by theimmortaljedi on Dec 26, 2008 7:38:51 GMT -5
Hey I got the book bit me for christmass. The picture of gunn from angel has an autograph on it. Does anyone have that as well? IS this part of the book or is my amazon book realy signed?
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Post by sagewoman on Dec 26, 2008 15:46:08 GMT -5
My favorite Buffy books has to be The Gatekeeper Trilogy by Christopher Golden. A really great read. I read it too and really liked it. Christopher Golden's novels seem to better written than some of the other authors. I also like Nancy Holden which may be why she has partnered with Christopher Golden at times. I also really like Go Ask Malice. I haven't read many though, so haven't many to compare to. I have been buying the pcket novels as I fnd them - mostly used and on Ebay. The comics have filled a grea void and so I am also buying all the Buffy and Angel comics (the old ones) that I can find and afford. I am in the process of reading them. I would never have thought I would have found comics so enjoyable at my age (post-50).
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Post by wenxina on Dec 26, 2008 17:44:24 GMT -5
Never too late to join the dark side, I guess.
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Post by Emmie on Dec 26, 2008 17:53:58 GMT -5
Mwahahahahaha!
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