Slayers & Vampires

July 15, 2017
The oral history of Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Angel.Gross and Altman (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek, 2016, etc.) follow up on their successful two-volume oral history of an iconic work of American popular culture with a similarly organized book on an iconic TV show. They bring together hundreds of comments from actors, directors, writers, and producers to tell the story of Buffy and its spinoff, Angel. In 1992, Joss Whedon wrote the screenplay for the movie Buffy the Vampire Slayer because he wanted to see a movie in which a blonde girl confronts a monster in an alley and "kicks its ass." That movie flopped. When the director, Fran Rubel Kuzui, asked Whedon later if he had any interest in reprising the story for the fledging WB station, he agreed. Whedon wanted Buffy to be both an ordinary teenage girl and a powerful slayer: "I want the show to be remembered as a consistently intelligent, funny, emotionally involving entertainment that subtly changed the entire world--or a small portion of pop culture." It did just that for seven years and 144 episodes. Inevitably, repetition occurs throughout the book as different participants describe similar material, but there is plenty of insider information and trivia to please fans. Whedon had always thought of himself as Buffy's friend Xander but later realized, "Oh, I was Buffy! The whole time." Sarah Michelle Gellar had auditioned for the role of Cordelia (who they originally thought would be black), but Whedon knew she'd be perfect as Buffy: "I think if we hadn't found Sarah, the series might not have happened or lasted." Nearly half of the book deals with Angel. Although Whedon--who moved on to Firefly--wasn't closely involved, it found success for five years and 110 episodes. Surprisingly, neither series won an Emmy or Golden Globe award. An absolute must for any Buffy or Angel fan.

COPYRIGHT(2017) Kirkus Reviews, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

August 1, 2017

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and its spin-off Angel continue to resonate with fans 20 years after their initial airing. Coauthors Gross and Altman (The Fifty-Year Mission: The Complete, Uncensored, Unauthorized Oral History of Star Trek) have compiled a comprehensive oral history of the Buffyverse using anecdotes and observations from creator/writer Joss Whedon (Firefly, The Avengers), lead actors Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy Summers) and David Boreanaz (Angel), as well as writers, producers, media commentators, and other cast members. The authors provide a frame of reference to each section, pointing out season highlights, story themes, and insights into the creative process. The cultural impact of both series is referenced, most notably the theme of female empowerment depicted in the character of Buffy, a strong young woman defending her friends and community against monsters and demons. Similarly, Angel explores some of the same themes from the original show, such as the acceptance of diversity and the "outsider" as a normal part of society. VERDICT For fans of the shows, reading the reflections of the many people responsible for producing Buffy and Angel will be like watching the must-see extras in the DVD boxed sets, getting behind-the-scenes scoops and insights into the making of their beloved TV shows.--Donna Marie Smith, Palm Beach Cty. Lib. Syst., FL

Copyright 2017 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.

Starred review from August 1, 2017
This year marks the twentieth anniversary of Buffy, the Vampire Slayer's TV debut, and Altman and Gross commemorate the event with a lively and revealing oral history in the vein of their two-volume Star Trek tome, The Fifty-Year Mission (2016). The writers, actors, and crew members that made Buffy and its spin-off, Angel, recount how Buffy was born out of an early theatrical effort by Joss Whedon, who went on to become a noted script doctor for blockbusters such as Speed and Toy Story before turning to the small screen to reimagine his tale of a blonde cheerleader who battled the undead. As complicated stunts and sophisticated scripts made for long days on set, Buffy grew to become a seminal piece of feminist television over the course of seven seasons, known for its witty dialogue and taking teens' struggles seriously while paving the way for more serialized storytelling on television. Angel followed the adventures of Buffy's beloved, a vampire with a soul seeking redemption, pushing into more adult, darker territory during its five-year run. Filled with absorbing behind-the-scenes details, Altman and Gross' illuminating celebration of Whedon's influential shows will thrill fans of Buffy and Angel and stand as invaluable primary TV history.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2017, American Library Association.)