Customer Reviews

Out of the Madhouse ( Buffy the Vampire Slayer )

5 star:		(49)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

This book was AWESOME!!! I absolutely was on the edge of my seat through the hole duration of the novel. The whole idea of a gatehouse was very creative and was very well presented in the book. The book is very fast-paced, having action in the prologue when Buffster and the gang meet up with Springheel Jack, taking the reader on a relentless, wild ride that continues on up until the end of the novel. I loved the way the authors not only sent Buffy and Giles to the Gatehouse, but Cordy and Xander got to go with them! Cordy is one of my most favorite characters and I love her... ummm... "relationship" with Springheel Jack. In all my experience with Buffy novels, I have never found one where Cordy is involved in much action. After this novel, you will have a whole new respect for her:) The authors throw all of the characters into the fray, with plenty of action with not just Buff, but all the rest of the gang. The characters were extremely well written and I liked the way someone said that they felt like they were actually watching the show while really only reading the book. The authors include pleny of sarcastic, slap stick remarks, which you could definitely see coming out of the mouths of the characters on the real show. This is definitely and A + plus book and I highly recommend the series to, not just Buffy fans, but anyone that enjoys fantasy or sci-fi. Thanks!

I have to admit, I have never seen even a little bit of any Buffy episode. But I was in the bookstore looking for XFiles stuff, read the back of this book, thought it sounded pretty cool, and picked it up. I'm hooked. I just finished it this afternoon, and I really can't wait to start the second book. I loved the stuff about the Ghost Road, the Sons of Entropy, the gatekeeper, and the whole idea of skyquakes. Who knows, maybe now I'll watch an episode.

I like Cristopher Golden's and Nancy Holder's Buffy books the best. They take the regular characters(Buffy, Xander, etc.) and some guest stars too(Spike, Amy, etc.)and pit them against what seems to be an unstopable demon of some sort. Usually the globe gobling variety. In this book, the first in a trilogy, the Scooby Gang must battle Hell itself, with the help of a very old, decrepid dude known as the Gatekeeper. His sole job, and he dosn't even know who gave it to him, is to keep the world,s hell beasties and mythological creatures in check. He has them bound in separate rooms in a mansion in Boston. But the Gatekeeper is dying and several monsters have escaped. These aren't all the Slayer's worries though. A band of acolytes whose master is still somewhat aloof are trying to kill the Gatekeeper. If they suceed, the world will be swarming with monsters. A very well written(if somewhat violent)book. Don't read it unless you plan to read the whole tirlogy!

I was very anxious for this book to be released, and I was pleased when I finally got my hands on it. This book surprisingly uses almost every major character from the TV show. It even uses a character from an earlier book (Child of the Hunt also by Christopher Golden, Nancy Holder). Therefore, you should probably read "Child of the Hunt" before you read this book (however, it is not necessary). Along with the plethora of "Buffy" characters, I was also impressed with the fact that the story took place in various locations across the globe. The TV show can't afford to do this too often, but it can be used to its full effect in the books. The story was very imaginative but it seemed slightly drawn out in areas. All in all, I was impressed. I am definitely anxious to read the next part of this trilogy.

OUT OF THE MADHOUSE
Book 1 of The Gatekeeper Trilogy
Christopher Golden & Nancy Holder (1999)

RATING: 4/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season Three

CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Xander, Cordelia, Willow, Oz, Angel, Giles, Spike, Joyce, Devon, Sheila Rosenberg, Willow's father, Kendra, Jenny Calendar

MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Il Maestro (sorceror); Micaela Tomasi (traitor Watcher); Roland (Lord of the Hunt); Springheel Jack (monster); Catherine de Medici; Richard Regnier, Jean-Marc Regnier, Antoinette Regnier (Gatekeeper allies); Giacomo Fulcanelli (sorceror); Brother Lupo (Son of Entropy)

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "Werewolves. Trolls. Sea Monsters. Rain of toads. Skyquakes. Sunnydale is being besieged by dark forces. But even with Buffy providing her unique style of damage control while Giles is hospitalized out of town, it's more than one Slayer can handle--especially since the abominations are coming from a centuries-old portal through time and space. Somehow, the hell-hole must be found and corked at its source. For Buffy, Angel, and the rest of her gang, that means a road trip to Boston where an ailing Gatekeeper resides over a supernatural mansion that has been, until recently, holding the world's worst monsters at bay. Once there, Buffy discovers the catastrophic truth: the magical structure houses thousands of rooms, all of which are doorways to limbo's `ghost roads,' and all of which may bring her face-to-face with the most nefarious forces in hell and on earth--forces bent on horrific plans far worse than the Slayer ever imagined."

REVIEW

Out of the Madhouse introduces two major settings in the Buffy mythos. The first is the Gatehouse, a huge, labyrinthine, mystical mansion in Boston that prevents all manner of monsters from escaping into the world. The second is the Ghost Roads, an ethereal, limbo-like place where the souls of the dead walk until the time has come to pass onto a higher (or presumably, lower) plane. These two elements are connected in a straightforward way in the first book of the Gatekeeper Trilogy: the Gatehouse is falling apart, allowing creatures to roam free; and only by travelling the Ghost Roads can Buffy, et al. rebuild the mansion's defences. Along the way are ancient 16th Century Italian intrigue, a new cult called the Sons of Entropy, and a plot to murder Watchers.

Giles steals the spotlight in the first part of the book, as we get to see him out of his usual element. In a well-written scene, he attends the American Library Association convention in New York and becomes smitten with a fellow librarian. Unfortunately, poor Giles ends up with the required nasty bump in the noggin & his role diminishes in subsequent chapters. Buffy and gang fight several escaped monsters, end up in Boston at the Gatehouse, and eventually travel through the Ghost Roads. An exciting conclusion foreshadows the end of Season Four & sets up the next book in the trilogy.

Holder & Golden do an excellent job portraying our heroes' dialogue and personalities. Scenes worth special mention include: Buffy & friends angsting over whether they'll separate after high school; rivals Angel & Xander teaming up like the first act in a buddy-cop movie to kill a troll; and Willow & Angel exploring the remnants of the frat house seen in Reptile Boy. The only downside is that some of the historical flashbacks are a bit slow moving and a scene where Angel tortures a human with Willow and Oz watching, seemingly unconcerned, is rather disturbing. On the whole, however, Out of the Madhouse is an excellent first book in the trilogy.

(c) 2005 Jeremy Patrick (jhaeman@hotmail.com)

Jhaeman's Buffy Reviews: http://www.geocities.com/jhaeman

I have all the Buffy books except the movie tie-in and The Harvest. But I have everything else; the Angel Chronicles, Vol.1&2, the young adult books, Blooded, Child of the Hunt and Return to Chaos. I must say this is the most extensive and magickal book of them all. Buffy and her friends must go up against the evil Il Maestro to stop the Gatehouse from crumbling and the Otherworld leaking all the demons and monsters. Springheel Jack was a cool demon. It actually had feelings. But I was glad when....oh don't let me tell that part. But in conclusion, in the second book (which comes out in March, oh man!) the gang must travel through the Ghost Road to get to Europe to find the sole heir of the Gatekeeper, who is dying. These series are cool!

I have never read a media tie-in that so accurately captured the personalities of the characters as Out of the Madhouse. The authors are not perfect, of course (Oz is just a tad too loquacious, and one would have thought that Angel's soul would prevent him from brutally torturing humans), but they are awfully darn close. Every time a character opens his or her mouth, you can truly hear his or her voice - be it Giles, Buffy, or Xander.

The book is every bit as enjoyable as an episode of Buffy, although the ending is not as powerful as some other reviewers have suggested. The sacrifice the Scooby-gang makes for Buffy is, well, not terribly moving. Compare it to Buffy baring her neck to Angel in the TV series; now *that* was a sacrifice.

If I enjoyed the book, why only three stars? To me, a book that is entertaining and amusing but not profound, moving, provocative, or otherwise exceptional is a three-star book. This is the kind of book one can read on the bus, on a plane, or on the beach. Very enjoyable but not challenging. A fine way to pass the time.

Being a huge BTVS fan, I read all the Buffy stories I can get my hands on (whether they happen to be books or online fanfic), and by far the Gatekeeper Trilogy is the best of the lot.

One of the unique aspects of the book is it gives us a chance to really see each of the characters individually. The gang is split up several times, and you really get to know the characters by their individual reactions to what happens. And Oz fans beware, he plays a very central role in this story!

The first book begins a bit slowly, and is a bit confusing at first. But once it gets going you can't put it down. If you decide to get this book, I recomend you also buy volumes 2 and 3 today, because you won't be able to wait to see what happens!

Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder have actually used intelligent writing skills to bring the entire cast of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" alive in part one of "The Gatekeeper Trilogy". From Xander's wise cracks and one-liners, to Angel's mysterious character and suave vampiric attitude, this book and its predecessors will take you into the world of the Slayer and fulfill those tasteless cravings for more "Buffy" action. Plenty of surprises await, including guest appearances and dilemmas you just can't see on television. Buy this book, and while your in the buying-mood, complete the set with parts two and three.

Being a big fan of Buffy, when I heard about this book I decided it it was a must have. I was proved right. Golden and Holder have written a book that combines all the esentials of Buffy, monsters, love, despair to name but a few. I love this book because it not only provides a good plot, but also lets us see how the characters have developed. These books are all based after the second or third series. If you live outside the UK then you'll know that Buffy's mum has already found out she's the Slayer. This carries on from there. There are some new faces in these books, but as they go on a few familiar faces appear.

These books are so gripping, that you never want to put them down. I've just finished the second one Ghost Roads and I have to say it's better than the first. It continues to tell the story and also brings the characters together more than they have ever been. I can't wait to buy the third and find out if the Gatekeeper's son ever reaches Boston.