Customer Reviews

Halloween Rain (Buffy the Vampire Slayer #2)

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(18)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

The legend is that when it rains on Hallowe'en a scarecrow will come alive and slaughter anyone in sight. Of course Buffy doesn't believe it, but this is Sunnydale and legends have a nasty habit of coming true. Soon Giles uncovers the story of a past slayer who encountered the demon Samhain and lost. Now Buffy must face the Lord of Samhuinn and destroy his spirit forever...

This was one of the scariest Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels I have read so far. The characterisation was very good and the plot was suspenseful and absorbing, although it did take a while to get going. The darkness and the rain creates a creepy, tense atmosphere that will keep you on the edge of your seat throughout. The second half of the book is far superior to the first and the battle between Buffy and Samhain provides a worthwhile climax. Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder have produced what are arguably some of the best Buffy books, and their other works include the Gatekeeper Trilogy, Immortal and Child of the Hunt. I recommend "Halloween Rain" to all fans of the series.

~Jenna~

I enjoyed this book more because it's a completely new story. It takes place where the first season Halloween episode would have been if one had been made. It's interesting to see what the authors do to play within the limitations of first season while making sure to not spoil the character's lack of knowledge about other aspects of Halloween that become important plot points for the season 2 episode.

While we have all expected Buffy the Vampire Slayer to trot out a special Halloween episode each season like Roseanne used to do, it has been pretty much an every other year proposition ("Halloween" from Season 2 and "Fear Itself" from Season 4). Fortunately, to help fill in the gap we have Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder's first Buffy novel, "Halloween Rain." By now this pair has clearly established themselves as far and away the best writers working on the Buffy novels, with The Gatekeeper Trilogy being their masterpiece (to date). Their respect for and understanding of the Buffy mythos is second to none. After all, they were the two main compilers of "The Watcher's Guide" and its follow-up works. So, what we have here is a well-written Buffy novel that will suffice as the Halloween episode from the first season.

Anyhow, it seems that there is a legend in Sunnydale about a scarecrow that comes alive when saturated with Halloween rain and slaughters everyone in sight. Of course Giles uncovers the logical explanation for such things. This is really the demon Samhain (Remember the name from the movie "Halloween"? We are talking classic homage here boys and girls), and just to make things even more fun the demon has dealt with a Slayer in the past. Add to this the fact that it is Halloween and it is Sunnydale, which means mondo party time for all the vampires and zombies this side of the Hellmouth. Golden and Holder have Buffy speak down solid, but the key to the novel is coming up with a fairly sophisticated villain for the Slayer to take down. Make it easy on yourself and just read every Buffy book this pair writes.

Oh, and enjoy All Hallow Even in your own little town.

Although this is not the best one of the series, it is definitely the scariest one. The story is about Samhain, or the Pumpkin King. One rainy Halloween in Sunnydale and the Pumpkin King, in the form of a scarecrow will come to life. Though the story is pretty slow, Angel isn't even in this book and it lacks of the Buffy's witty banter, it's still a great read coz it's very well written. Samhain himself is a wicked villain, he really gives me the creeps when I picture him. I recommend this book to all Buffy's die-hard fan. You'll love it.

This book is awesome! It's the first Buffy book by the legendary duo Golden & Holder and it's more thrilling than the TV-serie. The story is all based on halloween and on Samhain, the lord of Samhuinn (now called Halloween). There are also interesting parts about a former Slayer: Erin Randall, who was killed by Samhain in the 17th century and her Watcher: Timothy Cassidy. I got totally absorbed by this book. It has great writing, superb characterization and an excellent plot. Giving it 5 stars, no less !

Fans of the earlier seasons of Buffy the Vampire Slayer will certainly enjoy this novel based on the series. Published in 1997 it works from the series at that time. Willow still has a crush on Xander; meanwhile, Xander continues to pine for Buffy. Cordelia reigns supreme as the queen of Sunnydale High. The villain of the novel is interesting and the story itself is better than most of the episodes. Giles is not convinced that Halloween is a rest day for vampires like in later years but this is a minor detail. The work does fairly good job of catching the wit of the characters. This is great for those fans nostalgic for the good old days before Xander became a construction worker in love with a vengeance demon, Willow turned into a psychotic lesbian witch with a magic addiction and Buffy gained an annoying little sister.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer Halloween Rain by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder is based on the hit television series created by Joss Whedon. This book has to deal with an audacious girl who is the slayer. She has to fight and stop the forces of the malevolent evil. She also most stop and kill the spread of vampires.

I really admired and enjoyed this book. Once I saw the television show I quickly started to read the stories that were associated with it. I am known as an obsequious fan. While I was reading the book the action in it made me read more, and it was hard to put the book down. While I was reading the book, it had a very strong, powerful tone with a much fear. The book also involves with friendship, horror, courage, and a girl who has a deep and dark secret who must conquer her fears.

If you like monster books, monster movies, horror, gory movies, action, friendship, and have seen the show, this book and the others in the sequel are just for you.

You will never look at a pumpkin the same way again after reading this excellent novel by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder. This story of the Pumpkin King is very dark and frightening. It gave me chills. The falling rain, the cold and damp steal away hope and confidence. It's Buffy fighting against an old evil,an evil who has won before. Labeled young adult fiction I found it gripping and well written. I recommend it to both Buffy fans and readers who enjoy general horror.

I first read this book years ago and it's just of the quality that you can't bear to ever part with. I wish the recent Buffy books were more like this one. With accurate characters, humorous dialogue, intersting and original plots, and fight scenes that have your eyes riveted to the page and completely lost in the Buffyverse. Buffy's final battle against Samhain was incredible in my mind and I loved how the author chose to include descriptions of her fear and weakness when faced against such a seemingly indestructable (also, who the heck hasn't had a nightmare about jack-o-lanterns once in their life?) foe. If I were ever to write a Buffy book, I would hope that it would measure up to 'Halloween Rain.'

Throughout the seven-season run of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" only three of its episodes took place on Halloween: "Halloween", "Fear Itself" and "All the Way" (in seasons two, four and six). Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder, who are possibly the most famous of the Buffy novelists try to fill in the gap of season one, with this: "Halloween Rain."

It's Halloween (duh) and Buffy is on her nightly patrol of Sunnydale before heading off to the Bronze to enjoy the Halloween party with her friends. But unfortunately other forces are on the loose - after a run-in with some vampires at the Bronze, Buffy meets up with the town crazy-man Glenn O'Leary, who claims to have seen zombies moving in the cemetery. Buffy sends Willow and Xander to get Giles and heads off to sort things out.

This however could prove to be a fatal mistake. Giles has been researching the origins of Halloween and matching it up against a local Sunnydale legend: that a scarecrow soaked with Halloween rain will come to life and begin a slaughter. Willow and Xander arrive just as the pieces come together: Samhain was the demon-worshipped-as-a-god who now exists in spirit form within pumpkins and scarecrows, giving him the title "the Pumpkin King" or "Jack 'O Lantern". Years ago another young Slayer named Erin Randall fought and was killed by Samhain - but her Watcher left the details of the fight and how he might be killed.

The Scoobies race off to Buffy's aid, who is at this moment going up against a cemetery full of zombies - called up under Samhain's power. Having no idea what's going on, Buffy ducks into a nearby cornfield to hide. But as the rain begins to fall, a scarecrow begins to stir...

"Halloween Rain" is one of the few Buffy novels that would have made a good episode - and is in fact better than some of the episodes that *were* made. Golden and Holder manage to easily meld the 'true' mythology of the Celts, Samhuinn/Halloween, and the modern day practice of the holiday with their own fictional legend of scarecrows and rain. There actually *is* a scholarly link between all of these elements, making this book have far more resonance than it has any right to (it's only a one-hundred-and-sixty page teen-read!)

However, I found when reading this book that I was not so much interested in the story as I was in the little bits and pieces of information and trivia that Golden and Holder sprinkle throughout. Among these was a look into the life of a past-Slayer, something that the show virtually ignored (only three appeared in the show, and of these only one was named) but something that always fascinated me, and a familiar looking zombie - remember Mr Flutie? Likewise, there's a reappearance from Aphodesia, who was a gossip in episode one of the show, and we actually get introduced to a person I always thought should have had a place on the show - the manager of the Bronze.

It has been a long-running gag in the show that Halloween (assumed to be a wild night for ghouls and spooks) is actually the time that the forces of darkness take a night off - a typical Joss Wheden idea. However Golden and Holder actually take the time to explain *why* this happens in the historical context of the holiday - and there aren't many novelisations out there that actually explain and *add* to the mythos of the show.

It takes a little too long to get to Samhain and the zombies (the first act is taken up with a botched rescue mission and your standard Bronze vampires), and in the seven year run of the show I never once noticed a cornfield in Sunnydale, but once it gets going, this is one of the best "Buffy" books out there - and it was only the second one written!