The Monster Book (Paperback)

by Christopher Golden (Author), Stephen R. Bissette (Author), Thomas E Sniegoski (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Booklist
Fans of Buffy the Vampire Slayer watch the show for a number of reasons, one of which is certainly the various creatures that show up every week. Golden, the author of many other Buffy books, and his coauthors have compiled a guide to the monsters that have appeared on the show, from menacing demons, hellhounds, and the most prominent of the show's many vampires to friendly regulars who happen to be supernatural, such as the tortured vampire Angel (who now has his own show) and werewolf Oz. What makes the book unique is that it includes, in addition to interviews with the creator of the show and many of the writers, the history of demons, vampires, ghosts, and others in folklore, literature, television, movies, and pop culture. Fans will enjoy the details and behind-the-scenes info, while those looking to get into the series will find this a handy guide. Kristine Huntley
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Description

"Like werewolves. Zombies. Succubi, incubi....Everything you ever dreaded was under your bed and told yourself couldn't be by the light of day."
-- Giles, "Welcome to the Hellmouth"

Vampires, werewolves, witches, demons of nonspecific origin. All of them are drawn to the Hellmouth in Sunnydale. California. And all of them have met their fate at the hands -- or stake -- of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Since its premiere. the popular TV show has pitted the Chosen One against the forces of darkness on a weekly basis. And her success is due in part to the intense research her Watcher Rupert Giles. and the rest of the gang have done to find the origin and best method of disposal for each villain.

The Monster Book expands upon information revealed through Giles' research and knowledge, exploring the mythological, literary, and cultural origins of the endless numbers of ghoulish creatures that have tried to take a piece of the Slayer. Before the Master, there was Dracula, before "Becoming," there was Nosferatu. Before Buffy, there was...no one. The true horror fan knows that the legend of the vampire has existed for as long as there have been legends. But the demons that greet the business end of Buffy's stake are one part tradition, three parts creative genius. Indeed, the Buffy creators have purposefully moved away from recent vampire fictions to find a middle ground among ancient lore, Bram Stoker's "rules." and their own twist on the topic.

"Well, if we close our eyes and say it's all just a dream it'll stab us to death. These things are real."
-- Xander. "Fear, Itself"

Here you'll find exclusive interviews with series creator Joss Whedon and the Emmy®-nominated team that creates the images you can't shake.
The Monster Book welcomes you to the Hellmouth.

Enter at your own risk.

"Wish me monsters."
-- Buffy, "Living Conditions"

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment (August 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0671042599
• ISBN-13: 978-0671042592
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars See all reviews (33 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #747,855 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Monstrous Fun, July 24, 2000

By	algerina "algerina" (Saint Paul, MN USA) - See all my reviews

The Monster Book is a delightful reference guide filled with pictures and information. There are chapters on demons, vampires, magic users, primals, ghosts, the walking dead, bogy men, invisible people, Faith, and, perhaps the most frightening of all, the human monster. Segments from the scripts are used to illustrate the monster's powers and effect on the slayer and her friends.In addition to detailing every creature that has crawled across the television screen in the first four seasons of Buffy. It contains research into the orgins and folklore of monsters. This is a must for all Buffy fans and monster lovers everywhere.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another First Rate Companion Volume to the Buffy TV Series, November 6, 2000

By	Lawrance M. Bernabo (The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)    (COMMUNITY FORUM 04)

As soon as you see the cover art by Dave McKean you know "The Monster Book" is going to be good. As with "The Watcher's Guide," this "Official Guide" to the Buffy the Vampire Slayer television series is first rate in terms of both design and execution. The three authors of "The Monster Book" have pretty good credentials. Christopher Golden, one of the co-authors of "The Watcher's Guide" has written more Buffy novels and comics than anyone. Stephen R. Bissette, best known as the artist on Alan Moore's run of the "Swamp Thing" comic, is also a Bram Stoker award winning writer and pop-culture journalist. Thomas E. Sniegoski is the new kid on the block, but he is co-writing the Angel comic with Golden for Dark Horse Comics.

There are two important elements to this awesome reference work. First, you have your chapters on: Demons from Moloch the Corruptor to Polgara Demons; Vampires from Angel to Harmony Kendall; Magic Users from Willow Rosenberg to Tara; Primals from Oz the Werewolf to Veruca the Werewolf with the She-Mantis, Hyena and Fish People in between; Ghosts from Sid to Hus; Walking Dead from Daryl Epps to Adam; Bogeymen from the Ugly Man to the Gentlemen; Invisible People from Marcie Ross to Xander Harris; and last, but not least, Faith and the Human Monster, which effectively covers everyone and everything that has come into contact with the Slayer. Each chapter provides choice dialogue regarding each monster (sometimes lines omitted from the show, details their first appearances and other episodes in which they appeared, key relationships to other characters in the Buffy universe, unique attributes, "Most Monstrous Moment" and current status (not all of them are dead, you know).

The second element is an examination of each particular monster in terms of its cultural, literary and cinematic history. Buffy the Vampire Slayer is famed for its pop-culture references from Zeppo Marx to Russ Meyers, so it should not surprise us it is willing to talk about monsters with references to writers from H. P. Lovecraft to Stephen King, literary works from "Dr. Faustus" to "Tales from the Crypt," and films from "Nosferatu" to "Jason Goes to Hell: The Final Friday." This is the most monumental example of name-dropping and cross-referencing you have every seen. You will find all of your favorites mentioned in appropriate contexts and you most certainly will discover some new writers, books and films you will want to put on your Christmas/Birthday wish list (I want to check out Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series).

I look forward to each and every addition to this series of Official companion volumes to one of the best shows on television. Joss Whedon has obviously exercised as much control over these books as he does over his show. Now that the first season is coming out on DVD, these reference books are going to receive a lot more wear and tear. Golden and his co-horts have set the bar a lot higher in terms of this sub-genre of publishing.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent and informative, August 29, 2000

By	Beth Winegarner (San Francisco, CA, United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

"Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Monster Book" is sort a kind of compendium of all the demons, vampires, and other creatures on the show, but is even more interesting than I expected. It includes a lot of information about the influences Joss Whedon and the other writers used to create the mythology of the show, and then goes into traditional myths about werewolves, vampires, ghosts, witches, demons, etc. All this is in addition to a page or two (at least) about each of the creatures which has played a role on the show. It includes everything from Ted the RoboStepfather to The Three. In addition, it explores the concepts of our main characters as, in a sense, monsters -- including the Slayers, Willow as a witch, Willow as a Vampire, Oz as a Werewolf, and so on. It has a whole section about Faith and the concept of a "human monster." It's really well written and well thought out and full of pictures. I only wish that somewhere, perhaps in the back of the book, there was an index of monsters and who played them (actors and/or stunt folks). I know the book is about the characters and not the actors, but it'd still be nice to give some credit to the people who portrayed these monsters.