Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor: Warrior Stars of Xena [Paperback]

Nikki Stafford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 1998

This informative and engaging book chronicles Lucy Lawless's journey from a budding opera singer to the surprising story of her landing the role of Xena. The book also tells the story of Reneé O'Connor, the blond-haired Texan who plays Xena's storytelling sidekick, and the undying support of Reneé's mother, who helped garner a fan base for her daughter that rivals Lucy's. Focusing on the unprecedented fan phenomenon that surrounds this highly inventive show, this book features a guide to various Xena Internet web sites, fan clubs, and e-mail listserves, including interviews with many of the fans who run them. It also includes reports by fans about the infamous subtext issue that has lured in the biggest single fan demographic, experiences of seeing Lucy in the Broadway production of Grease! in fall 1997, and why they love or hate Joxer. Also featured is a detailed episode guide. Using the show's references to various ancient myths, Stafford offers a historical background and analysis of each episode to enrich viewers' experience of each episode. Featuring a 16-page color photo section, exclusive photos from conventions, appearances, and autograph signings, and original illustrations, this is a fascinating book that Xena fans won't want to miss.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Nikki Stafford is the editor of Trekkers and How Xena Changed Our Lives and the author of BITE ME! Sarah Michelle Gellar and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. She lives in Toronto, Ontario.

Product Details

• Paperback: 350 pages
• Publisher: Ecw Press (March 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 155022347X
• ISBN-13: 978-1550223477
• Product Dimensions: 9.8 x 6.8 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #637,899 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Nikki Stafford has appeared on television, radio, the web, and in print as an expert on all things Lost, and her Finding Lost series of books (published by ECW Press) is considered the Lost fan's bible. Newsday has referred to Nikki as "one of the show's leading scholars," and superfan DocArzt wrote, "The Finding Lost series is quite simply the best resource for fans." Nikki is the author of several authoritative television companion guides, including ones for Xena: Warrior Princess, Angel, and Alias (all published by ECW Press). Her bestselling book, Bite Me: The Unofficial Guide to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, is in its third edition, and she was a featured keynote speaker at the Third Biennial Slayage Conference on the Whedonverses in 2008 (she has been asked back for the 2010 conference). Nikki blogs regularly on her site, Nik at Nite (http://nikkistafford.blogspot.com) and has contributed to other collections, including The Essential Cult TV Reader (ed. David Lavery) and Girls Who Bite Back: Witches, Mutants, Slayers, and Freak (ed. Emily Pohl-Weary). She has conducted a complete Lost rewatch at http://lost-rewatch.blogspot.com. Nikki lives in Toronto with her husband and two children. Her season 6 instalment of the Finding Lost series will be published in October 2010.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic critical guide to all episodes..., September 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor: Warrior Stars of Xena (Paperback)

One thing in this book that stands out from the others is that Nikki bothered to comment on the different episodes. This is better than the official book!! I like the way that there is a personal voice in the comments, and the way that the author dared to criticse it, and add some suggestions as well. Brilliant work!!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very comphrehensive guide to the Xenaverse, July 22, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor: Warrior Stars of Xena (Paperback)

This book is the best Xena book I have read, maybe even better than the official one. It contains their biographies and a complete script of one of Lucy and Renee's conventions. It also lists the most websites and groups. The episode guide was very informative. It contained some mistakes that the author found with the show. This book is worth every cent!

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An incredible insight into Xena fandom, December 13, 2000

By 

Michael Martinez - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lucy Lawless and Renee O'Connor: Warrior Stars of Xena (Paperback)

I was one of the people Nikki Stafford interviewed for this book. Sadly, the fan survey she conducted had to be cut from the final version, but a great deal of information was still included. Nikki's research into the show, its stars, and the fans who built an international community around Xena: Warrior Princess in the early years is unsurpassed.

Some other books have since come out which seemed to me to be nothing more than blatant attempts to capitalize on the success of one of the most popular syndicated television shows in history. This book always struck me as something different. But maybe that's just because the author took the time to see what the fans thought and cared about.