5 comments about Ghoul Trouble (Buffy the Vampire Slayer).

1. GHOUL TROUBLE
   
   John Passarella (2000)
   
   RATING: 3/5 Stakes
   
   SETTING: Third Season
   
   CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Willow, Xander, Giles, Angel, Cordelia, Oz, Joyce, Principal Snyder
   
   MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Skull John (vampire boss); Carole Burzon (school counselor); Troy Douglas (Cordelia's ex-boyfriend); Solitaire (main villain); Lupa, Carnie, Nash, and Rave (ghouls)
   
   BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY
   
   "Something wicked has been preying on Sunnydale students--and whatever it is, its methods are pretty gruesome. Buffy locates some human bones that have been picked clean, and knows that she's dealing with an unearthly evil. Some help from the Scooby Gang would be ideal, but they've run into trouble of their own. Oz and Xander are literally (perhaps unnaturally) mesmerized by a hottie new chick band headlining at the Bronze, and Willow has been captured by Sunnydale's latest resident carnivores. What they need is the Slayer. But in order to help her friends, Buffy must first dust a vampire--one that has an urgent interest in Joyce Summers, the unique ability to resist sunlight, and an open invitation to the Summers' house . . ."
   
   REVIEW
   
   Ghoul Trouble is comprised of two distinct threads. The first is the arrival of Solitaire in Sunnydale, an ancient vampire with the ability to resist sunlight and a penchant for fighting duels against the toughest warriors around; naturally, he decides to see how tough Buffy is. The second plot is the arrival of a pack of flesh-eating ghouls disguised as a girl band, intent on both adding a new member to the band and conducting a special ritual by eating a Slayer's heart.
   
   The Solitaire thread is by far the worse of the two. In a stunningly clichéd opening chapter, we see Solitaire crash a biker bar and kill thirteen bikers to demonstrate to the reader how tough he is; for a similar purpose, he kills a local vampire boss by the name of Skull John and beats the crap out of Angel. The problem is that Solitaire has absolutely no personality to speak of--indeed, his only peculiarity is the even more clichéd habit of leaving playing cards on the bodies of his victims. His kidnapping of Joyce to lure Buffy into a fight is right out of season three's Helpless. Fortunately, the final battle between Buffy and Solitaire has some good action sequences and at least one good surprise.
   
   Although also not an original idea, the scenes involving the ghoul band are better written and more fun. There are some good moments where Xander is (once again) seduced by demons, and a very funny scene where Willow and Xander discuss the pros and cons of her eating his flesh to become a ghoul. Angel, Cordelia, and Oz all receive some attention and good characterization.
   
   Overall, Ghoul Trouble is a slightly below average Buffy book. The poor Solitaire plot is balanced to some degree by the better ghoul plot. Not one to seek out, but perhaps worth reading if starved for some Buffy action.



2. A couple of games of let's pretend are to be found here. A band of ghouls pretending to be a band of girls, as in a rock band.
   
   A demon pretending to be a Daywalker, as in the Blade variety. A non-vampire demon, that is. The former likes to recruit new band members and eat blokes, the latter just likes to beat people with reputations to within a negative inch of their lives.



3. Ghoul Trouble is definitely one of my favorite Buffy books. This season 3 book has all the characters acting just like they do in the show, and it has a great plot line too. I liked that the 2 villains tried to kill Buffy the same night and she had to chose which one to fight first. Vyxn, the girl band who are really ghouls, and Solitaire, the vampire who can walk in sunlight, both make great bad guys. The ending is a total surprise which mades a wonderful twist in the book. If you're a fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, you have to read this book. It's really that good. Also, if you've never read any Buffy books before, this is a great book to get started on.



4. First off, if I could give this book more than 5 [star]'s, I would. I am 11 years old, and a Buffy fanatic. I strted watching the show on BBC2, in 1998, when it debeauted, and was instantly hooked. When I saw an advert for the Buffy book 'The Remaining Sunlight' I went looking. But, instead I found the novel 'The Harvest.' TRS is a graphc novel, but TH was a novel. I read it in a week and loved it. I knew then that I had to collect all of the Buffy books. I now have several. Well, Ghoul Trouble was by far one of the best. The plot is excellent, the writing style is superb and the action is great. It is also good because ther are two villains, Solitaire and VYXN, the band of ghouls. I like the action scenes of Buffy the best and in here, the fights are so well described I could see a clear picture in my head of what was going on (especially the bar fight at the start! COOL!)
   I recommend this book to any Buffy fan, newcomer of avid fan. It is a fantastic book and should be read. For plot, fighrs and drama, I personally give this book 100%!
   PS. I also recommend 'Immortal', 'Revenant', and 'Prime Evil!'



5. When I'm twenty pages into a book and already asking myself if the author's written other stuff and where can I order it, that's usually a good sign.

   Passarella does a superb job of capturing the feeling of the series, down to the odd, syncopation of the individual characters' speech patterns. The plots are handled well, in general, and while characters behave as you'd expect them to, there are still a few surprises.

   My only complaint is with the Solitaire sub-plot. This day-walking vampire idea was great, I loved it, and then there was this added twist and I was wondering what would happen and then . . . well, I don't want to spoil the book, but let's just say that plot thread ends rather more anti-climactically than was necessary.

5 comments about Final Friends 3 the Graduation (Final Friends).

1. Garduation, best of the 3 by far. I thinkit was a little farfetchet though. Thir are still some that are a lot better though. I would recomend Chain leter, Scavenger Hunt, The Hallow Skull, and Fall into Darkness.



2. This book is the best out of the Final Friends series because all your questions are answered. I LOVE how Pike made the relationship between some people final. This book has everything that anyone would want: romance, mystery, and suspense. This book is DEFINITELY NOT childish. One of my fav. books of Pikes.



3. This book takes place mostly a town and on a boat in the middle of the ocean. The Graduation is about a group of seniors in highschool.(...)

   I enjoyed the book because the age frame in which the story takes place matches up with myself very well since I am also a senior in highschool. The author has a great sense of humor with his jokes he wrote throughout the book and the story line is very detailed but not boring at all. All of the characters in the story has very interesting personalities which makes the book much more interesting as how the author can get such contrasting attitudes to get along.

   I learned through the book that good friends will be there for you and help you get past obstacles in life. I also learned that Christopher Pike writes good books and that maybe sometime I should read another one.

   This book was one of the better books that I have read recently though highschool. It's a very interesting book as most highschoolers will feel that they can easily relate to the story. I'd recommend to other highschoolers that they should read this set of books and some of the authors books.




4. the third part of a mysterious yet thrilling story about a girl called Alice McCoy being killed. all signs point to sucicide as the girl is found with a gun in her mouth - with her fingers wrapped round it. The police has closed the case but Michael Olson wont let her rest in peace until he has proved she did not kill herself. The Graduation is mainly about him unravelling the story, whilst gaining valuable information from the mysterious Clark Halley, he partys on an all night cruise to Catalina, he finalley finds out who the murderer is, as well as nearly getting killed with the rest of his friends as the party turns into yet another tragic ending for the final friends. id give a 100/100 but you can only go up to 5 here!



5. After nine long months, you would think Michael Olson would have somehow solved Alice McCoy's shady "suicide" two books ago in "The Party", but that's not the case here. Instead, Michael procrastinates for the entire school year before starting his investigation again on graduation day. That was probably the least convincing thing about "The Graduation". Michael always seemed like a highly intelligent and motivated guy, but for reasons all his own he decided to take a break from Alice's mysterious death.

   Following their graduation ceremony at Tabb High, the main dozen or so characters in this trilogy have a chance to say their final farewells to each other, as well as celebrate like idiots on their senior cruise trip to Catalina aboard the Haven, which should have been christened the Titanic (hint, hint). Here the truth of what really happened that night at the party will be revealed. Unfortunately, the identity of the killer wasn't a big surprise to me. In fact, it was kind of disappointing since s/he had been acting suspiciously from the get go. But at least most of the romantic relationships end on a good note for a change, especially pertaining to the two main characters (Michael and Jessica).

   Although Final Friends isn't my favorite series by Christopher Pike, it's still worth reading if you like teen murder mysteries--and especially if you have the time and patience to tackle this long-winded trilogy. If not, you might try some of Pike's other single mysteries, such as "Fall into Darkness", "Die Softly", or "Last Act", just to name a few.

5 comments about The Thirst (Fear Street Seniors, No. 3).

1. I bought this whole set for my reading class, and my students really took an interest in these books. They capture your interest and keep you wanting to read more.
   "The Thirst" is the 3rd episode in R.L. Stine's on-going saga about a cursed group of High School Seniors who encounter evil and mayhem throughout their final year of High School.
   This book opens with school finally starting, and there is a murder during the first week at Shadyside High. This has all the makings of a vampire loose on campus. Either this or a sick copycat murderer. Everyone has a theory. Trisha thinks it has something to do with her vision of a doomed senior class. Josie blames it on the doom spell she cast. Others think it's Clark Dickson - AKA Count Clarkula - that's killing all those people; after all,he acts and dresses like a vampire. Is Clark a Vampire? The reader has to wait and see. The reader is introduced to two new students: Jon, who Deirdre just started dating, and his creepy, accident-prone ex-girlfriend Anita. This story centers around twins Deirdre and Dana as they struggle to find out who the real killer is before they become the next victims! Deirde starts to get threatening phone calls (Typical R.L. Stine Form) and is being stalked by an unknown killer. Some parents and teachers may object to the black magic, that is part of the story. The girls perform a "Seance" to sum up the dead student's spirit, in hopes he/she can lead them to the killer's identity. This may not sit well with some people.
   This is your plot for this 3rd volume and it's is quite good. This is a good read, with lot's of suspense and it flows quite well. One particuarly good read is the chapter where a teacher is killed off, since we don't know the identity of the killer, but we can imagine the teacher's horror as she is attacked by the vampire. The chapters end on cliffhangers and there is a huge twist at the end, as for those who don't read ahead, it does surprise you. This is fun book, especally if you like vampires stories.
   
   
   Criticism:
   
   The senior who is killed off, is not one of the originals we are used to seeing in the "Yearbook". It's almost as if R.L. Stine was not ready to part with one of his original characters, so he made up one for this book. Neverthless, this starts the "Body Count" and we're already into the 3rd volume of the series.
   The "Clarkula" storyline is pursued here, but then after this volume, it's swept under the rug. Readers don't hear anything about the "Is Clark a vampire" conspiracy for a couple of volumes. I felt this was a storyline that could of been a major storyline throughout the series, but this is the last the reader hears about this for a long time. (As far as the series goes). The reader learns Debra "Officially" broke up with Josh to date Clark, this is mentioned at the beginning of the book, and not brought up again. Since this was a major storyline in Volume One, (ignored in Volume Two) I felt perhaps more could of been addressed concerning this. Another storyline introduced was Gary Fresno is dating Trisha Conrad, and he apparently broke up with Mary Connor, but again, this is mentioned in passing, and you think it's going to be a major storyline but then it's just another sidestory. I just felt that R.L. Stine could of developed these stories a little more and got the series really moving along.



2. I recommend this book to anyone. Once you get started you won't want to put it down. I think that if you like vampires and horror, you will definitely like this book. In a way I can relate to this book because I sometimes have visions that something will happen and then within the next month they usually happen. Some people find it very scary that people can do that, but I don't I call it a gift. This book is very suspenseful; the author makes you want to read more. I'm not fond of reading, but I found that I couldn't put this book down. I suggest before reading this book to read the series one and two first.



3. I recommend this book to anyone. Once you get started you won't want to put it down. I think that if you like vampires and horror, you will definitely like this book. In a way I can relate to this book because I sometimes have visions that something will happen and then within the next month they usually happen. Some people find it very scary that people can do that, but I don't I call it a gift. This book is very suspenseful; the author makes you want to read more. I'm not fond of reading, but I found that I couldn't put this book down. I suggest before reading this book to read the series one and two first.



4. I believe this book was only the beginning ( or third ) of many good books to come. I have read up to the 6th book and it has become a very addicting saga. Get this book of you can but before u do, read #1 and #2 first. It can be kinda confusing, if u don't.



5. I remember this was a awesome book. I havent read it in ages. i cant wait to read them all.

5 comments about Children of Fear (Fear Street, No. 7).

1. Leah Fier has a power to control animals. When strange things start to happen to people who are close to Leah's sister, Luke he realizes that Leah may be using her powers for evil. His girlfriend is killed by a spider, his parents are killed by wild hogs, a bully is killed by leeches, ect.
   Luke then decides enough is enough and he has his sister thrown in an asylum. Later that night he realizes that he might have made a mistake, it may not be Leah after all who is responsible for all the killings.



2. I loved this book it was very good and scary. I hate snakes and the story has alot of snakes in it. I recommend reading it. It's good. the ending was great.



3. A short read. Took me about an hour to read.
   
   Leah Fier has a power to control animals. When strange things start to happen to people who are close to Leah's sister, Luke he realizes that Leah may be using her powers for evil. His girlfriend is killed by a spider, his parents are killed by wild hogs, a bully is killed by leeches, ect.
   Luke then decides enough is enough and he has his sister thrown in an asylum. Later that night he realizes that he might have made a mistake, it may not be Leah after all who is responsible for all the killings.



4. Hello! My name is Marissa. I'm almost 15 years old. I was assigned to read this book for literature class at school two days ago. We have to finish reading it in four days but the auther in this book makes you imagine everything thats going on as if you were there, inside the book everything instead of reading it. So I finish the book just today. The last two paragraphs you need to finish, no matter how much you have to go somewhere or do something, you just have to know what is going to happen next before you close the book. There is no pictures in this book but like i said, the auther made it so easy for me to imagine what the characters looked like and what the rest of the story looked like wether it was two people walking down a street or a house burning. I really do recommend this book to all ages. It doesnt matter how old you are I still think you will enjoy this book if you give it a chance and read all of it. Especially the end, I'ts really exciting.



5. FEAR STREET SAGAS-CHILDREN OF FEAR,by R.L STINE: A story of a responsible brother who tries to keep his family together after the death of their parents.However,there are a few obstacles to keep the family in tact and there are EVIL beyond it...

4 comments about Touch of Chill, A.

1. Joan Aiken is one of my favourite authors, best known among children as the writer of the alternative-history series that contains titles such as The Wolves of Willoughby Chase (The Wolves Chronicles), Black Hearts in Battersea and Nightbirds on Nantucket. She is also a writer for adults, and the same sense of imagination, wit and mystery found in her earlier books are found in this collected anthology of creepy and twisted short stories. Although the title claims that these are stories of "horror, suspense and fantasy," this is a little misleading. It's not that these stories aren't any of these things, it's just that Aiken does not write typical short stories in this genre - these tales are seldom wrapped up in a neat little bow, and often Aiken is more interested in crafting an unsettling atmosphere than answering questions that her stories raise. As such, many of the stories do not seem particularly creepy , and those who are used to their horror stories being filled with blood, gore and screaming ghosts may feel somewhat bewildered as to how a falling cat, a laughing clock and ceramic puppets are supposed to be scary. But mature readers, who knows that there is something terrifying in ordered life cracking under inexplicable madness (often presented in achingly ordinary objects) will definitely feel the promised touch of chill.
   
   "Lodgers", a dark and disturbing story about a frazzled working mother who has an elderly couple lodge in her home whilst her children are sick. Trying to juggle her work, her children and the presence of the lodgers, she can't help but be suspicious at the odd behaviour of Mr and Mrs Colegate - their interest in her children, the odd white shapes in their bedroom, the creepy marionettes they collect, and the snatches of bizarre conversation she hears between them.
   
   "Mrs Considine" concerns the friendship between this elderly woman and her young ward Julia. Mrs Considine is an avowed atheist, and Julia has several odd (and, as it turns out, prophetic dreams) about the people in her community. What do her dreams have to say about Mrs Considine? This is a short, strange, but oddly sweet story about a young girl's perception of the world and its people.
   
   "The Sewanee Glide" is a darkly comedic story about two elderly feuding sisters, a deceased husband whose memory still lingers on in the rapidly falling-apart manor house and a bag of poisoned walnuts. The first of several stories that Aiken devotes to the motivations behind murder and the ease with which the assailant gets away with it.
   
   "Listening", one of the more obscure stories in the collection, in which several seemingly unrelated events are wrapped up in one man's day, in a way that is too complex on some thematic level for this particular reader to fathom. In a single day, Professor Middlemass witnesses a lecture on listening to sounds, three mistreated cats and a disturbing collage in an art gallery with his name on it. What does all this mean? I have no idea. Ask someone smarter.
   
   "The Companion" is a ghost story that follows a more familiar pattern; Mrs Clyrard finds an odd sense of happiness in her troublesome cottage, till the day she expects it has become inhabited by a ghost. Calling in an exorcist, she's relieved to feel the presence leave her home. But who was the ghost? And where is it now?
   
   "The Rented Swan" is the most lighthearted story in the collection, more like a contemporary fairytale than anything else, concerning a young writer who rents an elegant flat - complete with a butler and a swan. Yes, I said a swan.
   
   "The Jugged Hare", is probably my least favourite in the collection, about two people having an affair and a jealous husband who practices archery. You can probably tell where this one is going...unfortunately, Aiken doesn't actually go there - ending the story with the plotting of murder, and not the murder itself.
   
   "A Game of Black and White" is another obscure and bizarre story that defies my understanding, though it is filled with compelling images, including eclipses, graveyards, dentists, black tulips, and a creepy doppelganger. I can't make heads or tails of it - but I still like it, certainly a lot more than her other surrealist story, the aforementioned "Listening".
   
   "Time to Laugh" - out of curiosity, Matt decides to break into an abandoned house to see what's inside. He's delighted to find a clock that tells the time by laughing, and horrified to discover that the chair-bound old woman still inhabits the house. Still, he's not too concerned...till he discovers that he's securely locked in the house with her. This is one of the creepiest stories here, and goes well with "Power-Cut."
   
   "He" is definitely my favourite story, concerning a young girl's sea voyage from Poland to America and her meeting with a witch on board. After old Mrs Polander is severely injured by a careless boy, young Gisela inherits a strange box from her - and decides to use it to take revenge on the boy.
   
   "The Story About Caruso" is the third story about the murder of a family member - this time it's a woman who has her deceased husband's uncle come to stay with her. But how long can she stand his ineffectual housekeeping, his nasty attempts at cooking, and the endless retellings of his old-time stories?
   
   "The Helper" is a well crafted story of mysterious death and ongoing bitterness between two families that would switch daughters for the holidays. Seven years after the death of his daughter, Mr Frost returns to the house of Charles-Edouard Aveyrand to help him with a patent for a new invention: a robotic figure that automatically turns lights on and off. With the grim past pressing down on him (portions of which Aiken purposefully leaves obscure), Frost can't help but procrastinate in the task of helping Aveyrand make money - after all, he holds Aveyrand's daughter responsible for *his* daughter's death. But the odd invention isn't so easily put aside...
   
   "Power-Cut" is the second full-out scary story of the bunch, concerning a warring married couple that returns to their small holiday cottage after the death of their son Simon. Mr Michaels had despised his loutish, spoilt son who was responsible for his blindness, and returning to the cottage only intensifies his bitterness. According to his wife there is a power-cut, and she leaves to fetch candles. But if there is a power-cut, then how come Mr Michaels can hear the messages left on the answering machine, including one from his dead son...
   
   "Who Goes Down this Dark Road?" is another darkly amusing story, about a young girl who believes that she has a tribe of Gauls living in her hair. For a six year old, her knowledge on the subject is remarkable, and she relates the message that a catastrophe is coming...
   
   "A Train Full of War-Lords" features another blind man in a broken family, and what everyone can get up to under the nose of someone who cannot see. This one is completely void of any supernatural tone, but is creepy enough in the range of familial secrets and bitterness that fester within what seems to be a perfectly ordinary home.
   
   Despite the fact that some stories are preferable to others, Aiken writes beautifully, often frightening the reader with what she *doesn't* say - the eerie silences and gaps in information help creates stories in which the characters teeter on the edge of reality, poised to fall into madness. She has a keen eye for dialogue and the dark side of human nature (at a wedding: "Julia thought she had never known before that an atmosphere could be so bright and glittering with hate") and there is an appealing sense of "Englishness" throughout all the stories - plenty of cups of tea, British landmarks, names like `Luffington' and `Thorneycroft' and even an aversion to Irishmen. Altogether, this is a compelling and creepy set of stories - though subtle enough that it needs a serious amount of effort on the part of the reader to fully understand and explore the nightmarish tone that permeates (most of) them.



2. This book is not very scarey, in the usual sense of the word, but it does make you a bit wary of placing your hand in a dish washer or of letting people rent your house... I wouldn't mind turning into a tree sometimes though. It is an interesting book, but there are better ones for those really looking for a scare.



3. If you're approaching Joan Aiken stories as horror stories, you'll be disappointed. the beauty of her writing is that she takes the ordinary and gives it a fantasy twist. Totally worth it for the slightly twisted young adult reader.



4. I read the book for English class. I thought the stories were not scary at all. In fact, they were a major waste of time to read.

1 comments about Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Watcher's Guide 3 (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Watcher's Guides (Tandem Library)).

1. First, for those who were wondering, this is the third and final volume in "The Watcher's Guide," the official companion to the late and lamented television cult show "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Whereas the first two volumes dealt with a pair of seasons of the series, Volume 3 covers the final three seasons of "BtVS." Again you will find each episode covered in terms of writer(s) and director, complete cast list of guest stars and co-stars, Plot Summary, Quote of the Week, Love in Vein (keeping track of the complicated and often disastrous love lives of the Scooby gang), Pop-Culture IQ (explaining the popular pop-culture references embedded in the episode), Continuity (covering the twists and turns in the Buffyverse), Dramatis Personae (tracking the key personality traits in the main characters), and From the Original Teleplay (dialogue and humorous stage directions cut from the episode). At the start of each season there are a page of freeze frames from all twenty-two episodes; a list of episode numbers, names and original U.S. airdates, and the stars listed in the opening credits. In between seasons six and seven you will find a section devoted to the "Pop Culture Explosion" in season six when the Trio worked in all those references to movies, television, comic books, "Star Wars," "Star Trek," and anything else that came into their warped little minds.
   
   However, fans of the first two volumes of "The Watcher's Guide" are probably going to be disappointed by what else is in this volume. In comparison to what we have seen before, the information about "BtVS" is considerably less. There are neither character guides nor cast profiles, or sections by the writers or crew (and the spine is blue rather than black, as long as we are talking about differences). The rest is that by the standard established by the previous volumes of "The Watcher's Guide" this third one will suffer in comparison and long time fans are going to be disappointed. However, that does not stop "The Watcher's Guide, Volume 3" from being a necessary part of our "BtVS" library.
   
   Volume 3 is put together by Paul Ruditis, who previously put together a "Star Trek: Voyager Companion" and has written novels for the television shows "Enterprise," "Charmed," and "Sabrina." Ruditis does the duty alone, which may explain why the second half of the book comes off in a new direction. The second half of the book consists of a series of essays devoted to the series as whole and not just on the final trio of seasons: Ginger Buchanan's "The Journey of Joanathan Levenson: From Scenery to Sacrifice" covers the interesting transformation of a recurring minor character into a "Superstar" and much more. Hank Wagner's The Family Hour" talks about how he shared watching "BtVS" with his children and finds deep thoughts in the series with regards to parenting.
   
   Rob Francis' "London Calling: 'Buffy' from a British Perspective" explains the show's popularity in the U.K. despite having some American actors playing some of the Brits. Maryelizabeth Hart, who helped out on Volume 2, contributes "Slaying the Big Lies: Love Conquers All and Other Monstrous Myths," which looks at how love never seems to work out in the Buffyverse. Allie Costa's "A Part of Something: Or, 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer': My First Long-Term Relationship," is a fan's recollection of being a fan. Scott and Denise Ciencin, "I Know You Are, But Who Am I?" provides an analysis of how Dawn fit into the show over this period. In "Why I Like 'Buffy'" Charles de Lint provides a justification for liking a show with such a weird title, which is certainly something those of us in academia can relate to in terms of trying to foist the show off on students and colleagues. James Moore's "Monsters Made to Order" briefly looks at the similar themes behind key monsters in the show's history.
   
   The chief attraction in the back of the book is "'Restless': A Path to Premonitions," which has Joss Whedon's teleplay for the finale episode of the fourth season with commentary by Ruditis focusing on how Whedon set the stage for some key developments in what followed. For those of us who have figured out most of the connections, Ruditis does a nice job of filling in the gaps in our deconstruction of the episode. The final offering is Micol Ostow's "'Chosen': A Postmodern Postmortem of 'Buffy' as Contemporary Icon" looks at how well Whedon fulfilled his purpose of establishing a pop culture icon by flipping the horror movie standard of the blonde girl being slain by the monster in the dark alley.
   
   Given all the academic collections being published about "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" these essays are relatively light reading. Buchanan's essay connects all the dots with regards to Jonathan as do the Ciencins with Dawn, and Francis uses interviews with cast members to provide more of what we expect to find in the back of a "Watcher's Guide." So overall the essays occupy a sort of dead zone in between the musings of doctors of philosophy that are out there and the behind the scenes information we were used to in the previous pair of volumes. Again, the only complain here is that there is less here than what we expected. This is probably our payback for suggesting maybe there was too much in Volume 2. That would teach us except that the series and these guides are obviously both over.

No comments about Bram Stoker's Dracula (Bloom's Modern Critical Interpretations).

5 comments about Hollywood Noir (Angel).

1. This book brought old school detective movies into the City of Angels. As a building is being demolished, the crew finds a dead body that has been there for over 30 years. As the body is found the detective Mike Slade come back to life. He is trying to solve the murder that he was killed for so many years ago. Also at the same time Doyle has a vision having to do with the same case. This book is very good. It will have you at the edge of your seat.



2. This is one book I would have liked to go on. The nostalgic touch was excellent. What a wonderful imagination Mr Mariotte has. One of the best in the series so far. All fans of the show will enjoy this novel. I highly recommend.



3. This Angel book was one of a different kind. It all started at a construction site of an old building where a dead body has been found dating back to around 1961. Then Doyle has a vision about [...] and when Angel goes to investigate, he finds that [...]. Meanwhile, a new PI back in town and he acts like he came from the 1960s: dressed in a baggy suit and a fedora and talks like a member of the Rat Pack. This is a great detective book and I definitely recommend this to anyone who loves a good Angel book.



4. This is an unusual entry in the Angel series. Although set in the first half of the first season it has all the feel of the Hollywood in 1961. The reader can imagine that they are watching an episode of Mannix or 77 Sunset Strip. Angel's new client is buried in a local cemetery. A long dead PI is hot on the heels of his killer. Kate is looking for a cop killer and Angel lands in jail. It is a well written detective story heavy with atmosphere. The only objection I have with this novel is that I would have liked to have more Angel. He often takes a back seat to the dead PI. Fans of hard boiled detective stories will enjoy this book as much as Buffy fans.



5. I loved this book. But I have to say it wasnt my favorite out of the serious I have to say it was city of and close to the ground. But I love Angel the show. So I'll keep reading and watching.

5 comments about Legacy (Wicked).

1. holly finally gets jeraud away from the supreme coven to lose him in a horrible way. the supreme coven have finally brought out their big guns to war against the tri-covenate and the ending on this is just too good to even spoil. of course you can read the prelude for spellbound but that wouold take so much joy out of reading this book. it has more action, magic, and hatred in it that you probaly won't be able to put it down. i hope that nancy holder plans to write more because this series is unbelievable.



2. This was another great book in the Wicked series. It kept the story flowing and definetly left me wanting more! I can't wait for Spellbound to be released.



3. ....the wait for "Spellbound" in september will be agony.In this book,(Legacy)-poor Holly, got Jer back only to lose him again...and the whole coven fell apart.CAN'T WAIT TILL THE NEXT ONE!! Sorry if i gave a bit of stuff away. I totally hope that Jer will get healed back to normal so that he doesn't keep breaking Holly's heart by pushing her away (just because he feels too horrible). Jer & Holly forever!



4. This book was honestly not my favorite in the series but it was definatly the most packed. It starts out with Holly's coven in London under the protection of the mother coven. They are searhing for Nicole(Holly's cousin, Amanda's twin and the third sister of the lily). During this time Jer is also being taken from Avalon to the Supreme coven headquaters AND Nicole has just married James Moore. WHile Holly and the others are searching they trip and alarm that sends them into a bloody battle. In this battle they meet up with Phillipes coven. Things are bad, they are dying and suddenly Holyl has a vistor and everything is fine. They managae to free Nicole and Jer but just barely. They three covens join to make them stronger. Then they return to the US to find ruin and despair. They have resuced Holly's friend barbra Davis Chin. But only in a sense. Holly and Jer must travle into a place called Dreamland to save Barbra's spirit. But thats where everything falls apart. They are meet by Michea, Eli, and James. I won't tell you anymore READ THE BOOK!



5. so far this is the best book in the wicked series. in the beginnning holly and her coven has traveled to england in order to save her soulmate jer and her cousin nicole who was incidentally kidnapped by the supreme coven. as holly and her coven gets closer to find her cousin, meanwhile they battle evil demons who are trying to prevent them from getting to the supreme coven. holly then learns that a battle is happening back in seattle and san francisco where she knows who causes it... michael deveraux. she then must save her mom's best friend soul in another dimension called the nightmare dreamtime where she and jer must also battle the forces of evil. i thought that this book is much better than curse and that this one is more action oriented and all and the ending leaves you wondering what will happen when the last book comes out spellbound it does not come out til september 1st. very good book indeed!

5 comments about The Dark Visions Collector's Edition: (The Strange Power/The Possessed/The Passion).

1. I have read this book so many time and it still doesn't get old.



2. I have always been an avid fan of LJ Smith, so I was not surprised that this series was awesome. Her descriptions are always so clear (and so strange) that you can almost envision the people and things in front of you (unlike everyone else though I loved Rob more than Gabriel). As an adult now, I still read her books (although I have yet to find the last book of the Nightworld Series). A great read for anyone!!!!!!!



3. This book is by FAR my favorite book of all time. Kaitlyn Fairchild is my new favorite female character. Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings... Yeah, they don't hold a candle to L.J. Smith's Dark Visions Collector's Edition.
   Personally, I am AMAZED that this book doesn't get more recognition than it currently does. I would enjoy it more than life itself if this book became a movie. I'm actually telling all my friends about it.
   I am not much of a reader... at all... But this book... This book made me cry, made me laugh, made me think hard on certain subjects... everything. I loaned my copy to a friend in hopes of getting her hooked on it too.
   I have read and re-read this book, time and time again, for years. It never gets old. Smith's vivid descriptions of surroundings and characteristics give me a good mental image of all her characters.
   I am seriously thinking about getting her other books. In fact, I will.
   Read this book. If you think you knew what a good book is... you haven't read anything until you read this.



4. Whilst LJ Smith's books are a good read, I do get narked with the characters sometimes. Most of the lead characters are too nice and any 'bad' characters are always gothy and into heavy metal. Goodie is sickly sweet and oh so nice blonde, baddie is hot but very nasty brunette (see how easy it is to follow the plot read the secret circle if you don't believe me) But back to this, this had a great starting point, but lost the plot slighty. LJS seemed to be really hitting us on the head with how 'bad' Gabriel was and how nice everyone else was, and of course the main female is so understanding and desired by all. Liked it but not as much as the Forbidden Game.



5. I had read several of L.J.Smith's Nightworld series when I read Dark Visions, and I was immediately spellbound. The characters were all well-developed and very appealing - you cared what happened to them. Of course, Gabriel was my favorite. There's something so appealing about a bad boy in need of salvation. I read the whole thing through in one sitting and then sat down and read it through again. I would recommend it for anyone interested in the unknown, in coming-of-age books, or just interested in a good read.