Customer Reviews

Slayer: A Totally Awesome Collection of Buffy Trivia

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I can't say much more than what was already expressed above. I originally wanted the book because I thought it was actually a question and answer thing, it is not. The book has many FACTS about the show, spanning seven years. If you are a Spike fan you might like the book a bit more, Keith Topping writes a ten part series about Spike. The book shows a brief summary of Buffy's seven seasons, but not into great detail. It also shows the 30 "greatest episodes" and the 7 worst episodes according to Topping. "Britishisms", Bible references, movies, and television programs that were featured in Buffy, are also displayed in the book. A few characters have their "defined" moments in Buffy. The book also has the most memorable quotes from each season. There are some other fun little tidbits of info and opinions that are fun to ponder! I'm sure this little book will help you on Buffy trivia night or something like that. Hey, I'm not a "reader" and I didn't go to bed until the book was done, took me around 4 hours! Again, it's not a question and answer book..and most hardcore Buffy fans won't find much information they don't know. Still all and all, I would suggest it! I will be sure to purchase more books by the author! Happy reading!

This book is sort of a quick pocket guide to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer TV series but it isn't the best value for Buffy fans. There's a lot of stuff here in this little (I hadn't paid attention to the dimensions Amazon lists) guide but most of it is repeated in Toppings Complete Slayer book, usually in even greater detail.
I thought the little several page sumary of all seven years was interesting, maybe even as good as reading the episode notes in teh DVD sets would be. I didn't mind the different trivia sections, lots of things in them, but in this book Topping just lists things as occuring in an episode by the show title- in The Complete Slayer he also lists the episode number (which I particularly liked as I don't remember most episodes by title and need more help in finding them).
The most interesting facts I read here, but don't remember from his Ultimate guide, concerned Gile's home in England (seen in early 7th season)- apparently that is Anthony Stewart Head's real home, the other fact was a "you might also have seen me in" trivia bit about the actress who played Marcy the invisible girl in 1st season. I don't remember ever seeing her picture in the episode itself but this bit tells of a movie she's appeared in.
The book is a fun little read but for only a couple of dollars more get Topping's Complete Slayer, it is a much better value.

This is a great little collection of Buffy trivia, cleverly categorized and fun to read. However, if you've already picked up Keith Topping's outstanding same-titled episode guides, "Slayer", you won't see anything here you haven't seen before. While it's worth a look for the Buffy-obsessed, and its much smaller size makes it more accessible as a reference for trivia games, you can get all it contains and much more by reading "The Complete Slayer", Topping's compilation of three previous books that contains his wonderful tour of every episode of Buffy, and then goes on to explore the life the series has outside its 7-year television run in books, comics, the internet, fan fic, philosophy/education, and more.

Still, this is a fun way to spend some time, and the only reason I can't give it 5 stars is because the material is gleaned (often word for word) from the larger works. Topping's take on the Buffyverse is thoughtful, sensitive, often hilarious, and always interesting, and his attention to detail is amazing. He has some great sources that provided behind-the-scenes details most of us wouldn't know about otherwise. Even if you've read the episode guides, you won't be disappointed here, but you'll probably experience some serious deja vu.

While it is much advised to also purchase Keith Topping's more comprehensive guide, this small diamond in the rough is appealing in it's own way. Some of the general information *is* found within Topping's larger body of work on Buffy, however, this smaller guide has more of a fun and frisky vibe.

One of my favorite features of this guide is the in-depth look at Spike, and the journey and struggles his character had to go through, including his deeply-rooted love for the Slayer and the repercussions it had on both himself and Buffy. In separate installments throughout the book, Topping explores different aspects of Spike's life in order to better understand the man (...er, vampire) he eventually became. From the day Drusilla sired him and saved him from mediocrity, as Spike himself so eloquently put it, to their love affair that spanned centuries, to his fateful arrival in Sunnydale, and on down the line through the major events in Spike's life. As a Spike fan, I find Topping's take on the subject fascinating.

This is an easy read, and a must-have for Buffy fans. Keith Topping is a self-made Buffy expert, and the book includes fun features such as "Top 10" and "Top 25" lists. For example, there is a "25 Best Episodes" list (according to Keith Topping's opinion, of course, but he's mostly right), and a "Top 20 Most Creative Deaths".

If you want a full in-depth Buffy guide with comprehensive episode guides and trivia to boot, then buy "The Complete Slayer". If you just want a light read with some fun inside info, then this is the one for you. I personally recommend owning both, as I do, but it's up to you.

This book is okay, the commentary is nice as well, but it really does not have anything in it the average Buffy fan does not already know. Most die hard fans like me are looking for things we can go back and watch that we probably missed...as well as really good trivia. For the true Buffy fan, those of us who have seen every episode at least 50 times or more, I strongly recommend The Big Book Of Buffy Bites 2008. This book is up to date (2008), and contains everything you could possibly want to know about Buffy the Vampire Slayer...and more. One feature I have not seen in any other book, is a detailed time line of all the slayers...from the First Slayer...all the way to Buffy. This was a pleasant surprise.