Customer Reviews

The Evil That Men Do (Buffy the Vampire Slayer)

5 star:		(19)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

With all of the school crimes and violence occuring these days,it almost seems dangerous for Buffy book to include a high schoolshooting. But Nancy Holder displays her knowledge of the subject and the show to give several deep and touching analogies and metaphors for the violence. Although there is plenty of violence and gore in this book, it is the best buffy has ever been on print with its humor, action, passion, and tie-ins with past books and episodes. Every character gets a chance to shine in his or her own right in the story, including Oz to which I can let out a sigh of relief and "finally!" While the books in the past have been very good, they notoriously leave Oz out of the big picture, but this time he was put in the spotlight. What can I say but thank you for such a great book!

'The Evil That Men Do' was the first Buffy book I read, and it sure as hell got me into them. I was worried that the books mightn't be very good, given how frequently they're being written, etc., but, thankfully, I was mistaken. Nancy Holder has great insight into all the characters, Willow and Xander especially, as well as the dialogue used in the show. It was impossible to put this book down from the word go, it just got more and more fascinating. All the flashbacks to Ancient Greece, with the slayer Diana, and her friend Helen (who is turned to a vampire, and is the main evil character in the book), were possibly the best part of the book. If you are a fan of the show, you MUST get this book, especially if you haven't read any Buffy books yet.

In this era of school shootings and family violence, Nancy Golden's book has a bit more reality than most Buffy novels. For once the residents of Sunnydale are somewhat in the loop on the strange happenings in their town, as a shooting spree can't be easily covered up or ignored. Of course that doesn't change the fact that there is more at work that can meet the eye, and that as usual the police don't have a clue. As principle Snyder has been heard to comment "In case you haven't noticed the police of Sunnydale are deeply stupid." Violence in Sunnydale escalates; can the slayer fight an entire town of crazy people?

Golden also gives us a glimpse into the true horror's of being a slayer. Buffy is tormented by knowing the truth about some missing children, and by the fact that she knows the perpetrators of some of the horrendous crimes. Being the slayer she can say nothing, give no words of comfort to grieving families.

One of the best. Great plot, great writing, great insight into our favorite characters. Don't miss it.

'The Evil that Men Do'is not only a good book, but surprisingly eerie in the beginning. A popoular grade-A student suddenly kills his parents and then goes on a shooting spree at his school. The way the part of the story was told was just too eerie, and seemed realistic. This when Buffy and the crew come in. After Willow is shot but not badly injured, and Oz and Cordelia are kidnapped, and the whole town of Sunnydale is a lil bit on the off side (meaning there are fights, fires, riots, and everything going on), Buffy knows there's more to this than teen angst. This is when the little brother of the kid who shot comes in, and everyone is accusing him of the killings. Everyone in town are after the kid, and it's up to Buffy and the gang to keep him safe. Little to their knowledge to begin with, two big bad vampires are planning on resurrecting a Greek goddess so they can rule the world. What's so neat about this book is that it includes some Greek culture. Such as the lions in the battle dome, but it's not lions they're using. You also get insight on a slayer that was in Greece a long time ago. If you're a Buffy fan, or not, and you are looking for a good thriller/horror/drama book, then check this one out.

When a seemingly normal student murders his parents and shoots several people at the school, Buffy is suspicious - she's had prophetic dreams dealing with possession. But it's not just that one student - everyone in town seems to be acting cranky, and some people have even become extremely violent. Research leads Buffy to an ancient vampire, Helen, born in the days of the Roman Empire, who, true to the violent spirit of her time, has brutally murdered over a hundred slayers over nearly two thousand years. If Buffy doesn't find a way to stop Helen, she and her friends will be the next victims. This was an excellant addition to the series. There was a lot of suspense, and even a few funny lines, in spite of the serious nature of the storyline. I highly reccomend it to fans of the series; however it is very violent, so I wouldn't reccomend it to anyone younger than thirteen.

Everyone knows that supernatural violence infests Sunnydale as a result of the Hellmouth. But all that seems pale in the face of the ordinary 'film at eleven'crimes which break out all across town including a perfectly normal boy who kills his parents and shots up Sunnydale High landing Giles, Xander and Willow in the hospital. It seems more like a job for the Sunnydale police than a slayer. But under the city is a old evil, a vampire, Angel's former lover, well known as a killer of slayers. This time even Angel and Giles think that there is little chance that Buffy will survive.A strange madness grips all the inhabitants of Sunnydale including the slayers friends and family. Will her friends end Buffy's life to save their own or will Buffy destroy Angel to save her friends.And will it take the sacrifice of a child to save the town's occupants from the evil which lies sleeping in their hearts. I preordered this book last summer and it was worth the wait. Excellent story with both action and charater interaction. I opened the carton and didn't put the book down until it was done. Another marvelous offering from Nancy Holden.

You can't go wrong with a Buffy book that's written by Holder. Those of you who have read past Buffy books, by her know what I mean. The Evil that Men Do is pleasure to read. Holder has a solid grasp of the character, dialougs, and the actions of the characters of the show. This is obvious in her writing.

What could lead to a shooting spree in Sunnydale? Could it be some random act or are some demons at work? While Buffy is figureing this out, other acts of violence is happing in Sunnydale. This sounds like a job for the Scooby gang...just one problem, Willow turns on Buffy and refuses to help. And if this isn't enough for Buffy....a ancient creature is hunting Buffy. Why would Willow turn of Buffy and what's hunting Buffy? Read this book and find out. (Dont' worry,I didn't ruin any of the plot, this is all on the back cover.)

Hodler has a wonderful style of writing that will keep the reader glued to the book. There are wonderful plot twists that move the story along. If you like Buffy books, then I highly suggest you read this book.

I've read a ton of Buffy books and this one was the best. Something strange has taken over Sunnydale after a school shooting, and the citizens are getting violent, even Xander and Willow! With Oz missing everybody is tense and worried. I love the vampires and the whole 'fight or die' thing, and this book was heart breaking as well. Read this if you ever want to see the characters in a different light!

Nancy Holder and Christopher Golden are best when working together; I can only surmise that they complement each other's strengths and weaknesses well. Even as a team, they have a tendency to fall back on too many action sequences, and both together and separately they put more in a book than it really can comfortably handle.

I have to preface this review by stating that Evil is a good read - it is just an undisciplined and overbusy one. It has one of the best openings in any Buffy book, a virtual re-enactment of the Columbine slayings, and maintains strong depth of feeling for all the characters. The antagonists of the piece, more or less the Spike and Dru of ancient Rome, are fascinating and well-drawn, and the historical backstories on them are among the best written scenes in the book. The central plot is clever, and allows for strong interplay among all the series characters.

What's weak about it is the subplot, which becomes more distracting than enhancing. The Roman vampires, intent on recreating epic gladiatorial games, poison Sunnydale's water supply to create madness on the streets. Too much time is spent on Buffy and the Scoobies settling street fights that have nothing to do with the central plot, and the focus is badly diffused.

Fans will definitely enjoy it, but Evil is probably not the best book for newcomers to the series.

Nancy Holder has done another excellent piece of solo work. This has convinced me that Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder do better work on their own. Nancy has come up with a story which takes two ordinary vampires; and turns it into a great story. The vampires themselves are not actually ordinary; one was a Slayer, and the other was heavily involved in Roman times. The novel itself actually uses Angel's past, and does it effectively, which only adds to the story.