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rampaginglibrarian's review
4.0
Being the Buffy-addict that i am--one of the things i always wanted to know about was past slayers and this is a collection of short stories about them. This is an interesting collection--if somewhat more for the filling in of slayer history sometimes than the stories themselves
magnetgrrl's review
4.0
The story by Greg Rucka, the first story, "A Good Run" is the best story in the book, or in any of the Tales of the Slayer collections.
halcyon_rising's review
4.0
*posts 15-year-old review - yikes*
This is not the kind of book you buy so you have something fun to read, since it deals with the less 'pretty' side of the Slayerhood, the part that every Watcher has a hard time answering when his Slayer ask about it: "How did the other Slayers die?"
In some cases, it's best not to know. But thanks to these books, we now have the 'chance' to see in a how futile way some of the Slayers perished.
In this book is featured:
1. A Good Run, by Greg Rucka (Greece, 490 B.C.E.)
Slayer: Thessily Thessilonikki - This story already immediately emphasis that usually a Slayer lives in solitude and poverty, with her Watcher as her only companion, who sends her on missions she might not return from. Thessily is sent out to secretly accompany a man named Phidippides, a herald (professional messenger), who must seek help in an upcoming war with a third party. The Slayer does go down, as she's been poisoned days before, but not without a very nice victory along the way. She was 29.
2. The White Doe, by Christie Golden (London, 1586)
Slayer: Virginia "White Doe" Dare - Born in the New World, she was very much located in a different setting from the other Slayers from the book. Her grandfather was her Watcher, but because of some 'New World' circumstances, they never met, and she was raised by a tribe of Indians whom were told about her legend. When growing older and prettier, she attracted the unwanted attention on one of the older tribe members whom she had no interest in, as she liked a younger boy, and because of his jealousy, he turned her into a real White Doe, after her nickname. Guess whom accidentally kills her? So pointless.
3. Die Blutgrafin, by Yvonne Navarro (Hungary, 1609)
Slayer: Ildikó Gellért - She went to investigate on the "Blutgrafin" in her castle, because it was rumoured she, for some reason, was behind the disappearance of a lot of young women. Thinking that, because of her special powers, she'd be able to take on the Blutgrafin, whom she suspects is a vampire, she infiltrates the castle with a few local girls. She was unfortunately noticed because of her strength, and taken to the Grafin's 'toy/torture' room... There her life ended at the hand of a toy named "The Iron Maiden," which basically was a device she was trapped between, with spikes in it, so her blood would run out of her. She never found out if the Grafin was an actual vampire, some of her guards were, but it was said that the woman was trying to remain young forever. The Slayer died for naught.
4. Unholy Madness, by Nancy Holder (France, 1789)
Slayer: Marie-Christine Du Lac - Taken away from the streets at a young age, she was working for the royalty of France, sent on missions to get rid of some nastier things, or to threaten people for the rich ones. There's a very popular vampire in town, who started the whole French Revolution. Because the people are living in poverty, and he is the only one who gives those people anything, they are loyal to him. Even after his death they continue. Her Watcher, Edmund, dies on the guillotine, together with the Royalty, while saying how bad a Slayer she's been, by having been preoccupied by trying to find a little poor girl, instead of helping out the French King and Queen by killing revolutionaries. Her death is never shown.
5. Mornglom Dreaming, by Doranna Durgin (Kentucky, 1886)
Slayer: Mollie Prater - She was preparing to get married to her love when her powers were exposed to about the whole town because of a demon that came to kill people in public places, like marriage gatherings, for example. She slayed the beast on her own wedding day, and then it turned out the demon was possessed by the spirit of a man who sought to steal everybody's happiness. After the townspeople helped to get rid of the ghost, she accepted her new Slayer duties, and went to train, instead of getting married.
6. Silent Screams, by Mel Odom (Germany, 1923)
Slayer: Britta Kessler - She had a Watcher who played her private tutor, and was properly trained before her Calling. On the day she found out she was the new Slayer, she and her Watcher went into town and heard about this picture named "Silent Scream," a Nosferatu like production, being made that same day. Friedrich Lichtermann accompanied his red headed and angel faced Slayer there, but when the movie started, it turned out to be a horror movie filled with blood sucking vampires, very disturbing. The even worse part was that the ending of the film was yet to be shot, right there. They realized what they'd gotten themselves into, and Britta reminded her Watcher of a promise he made earlier that day; whatever happened, she wouldn't die alone. A couple of minutes later, when he found a way to guide the people out of the theatre, he himself choked, saw his Slayer surrounded by half a dozen vampires, heard her yell about the promise, and ran while his day old Slayer was screaming towards her death. Turned out they turned her, and she was back with a vengeance. They locked him up in her grave tomb, and he was going to try to take her out, but knew he'd probably be dead anyway. The cameras rolled again.
7. And White Splits The Night, by Yvonne Navarro (Florida, 1956)
Slayer: Asha Sayre - 17 year old black girl. Her father was killed when she was very young, by vampires who pretended to be KKK. This story is very much alike the previous one, but there's not a movie playing in the theatre, but a church gathering instead. The Slayer and her Watcher Laurent, a middle-aged Cajun woman, are trapped inside with the vampires at the end, and go out with a bang because the vampires tended to blow up the bodies of the dead so it could be blamed on something else.
Spoiler
The "Tales of the Slayer" books in general are about the lives, or maybe it's better if I say deaths, of some of the Slayers from before Buffy's time.This is not the kind of book you buy so you have something fun to read, since it deals with the less 'pretty' side of the Slayerhood, the part that every Watcher has a hard time answering when his Slayer ask about it: "How did the other Slayers die?"
In some cases, it's best not to know. But thanks to these books, we now have the 'chance' to see in a how futile way some of the Slayers perished.
In this book is featured:
1. A Good Run, by Greg Rucka (Greece, 490 B.C.E.)
Slayer: Thessily Thessilonikki - This story already immediately emphasis that usually a Slayer lives in solitude and poverty, with her Watcher as her only companion, who sends her on missions she might not return from. Thessily is sent out to secretly accompany a man named Phidippides, a herald (professional messenger), who must seek help in an upcoming war with a third party. The Slayer does go down, as she's been poisoned days before, but not without a very nice victory along the way. She was 29.
2. The White Doe, by Christie Golden (London, 1586)
Slayer: Virginia "White Doe" Dare - Born in the New World, she was very much located in a different setting from the other Slayers from the book. Her grandfather was her Watcher, but because of some 'New World' circumstances, they never met, and she was raised by a tribe of Indians whom were told about her legend. When growing older and prettier, she attracted the unwanted attention on one of the older tribe members whom she had no interest in, as she liked a younger boy, and because of his jealousy, he turned her into a real White Doe, after her nickname. Guess whom accidentally kills her? So pointless.
3. Die Blutgrafin, by Yvonne Navarro (Hungary, 1609)
Slayer: Ildikó Gellért - She went to investigate on the "Blutgrafin" in her castle, because it was rumoured she, for some reason, was behind the disappearance of a lot of young women. Thinking that, because of her special powers, she'd be able to take on the Blutgrafin, whom she suspects is a vampire, she infiltrates the castle with a few local girls. She was unfortunately noticed because of her strength, and taken to the Grafin's 'toy/torture' room... There her life ended at the hand of a toy named "The Iron Maiden," which basically was a device she was trapped between, with spikes in it, so her blood would run out of her. She never found out if the Grafin was an actual vampire, some of her guards were, but it was said that the woman was trying to remain young forever. The Slayer died for naught.
4. Unholy Madness, by Nancy Holder (France, 1789)
Slayer: Marie-Christine Du Lac - Taken away from the streets at a young age, she was working for the royalty of France, sent on missions to get rid of some nastier things, or to threaten people for the rich ones. There's a very popular vampire in town, who started the whole French Revolution. Because the people are living in poverty, and he is the only one who gives those people anything, they are loyal to him. Even after his death they continue. Her Watcher, Edmund, dies on the guillotine, together with the Royalty, while saying how bad a Slayer she's been, by having been preoccupied by trying to find a little poor girl, instead of helping out the French King and Queen by killing revolutionaries. Her death is never shown.
5. Mornglom Dreaming, by Doranna Durgin (Kentucky, 1886)
Slayer: Mollie Prater - She was preparing to get married to her love when her powers were exposed to about the whole town because of a demon that came to kill people in public places, like marriage gatherings, for example. She slayed the beast on her own wedding day, and then it turned out the demon was possessed by the spirit of a man who sought to steal everybody's happiness. After the townspeople helped to get rid of the ghost, she accepted her new Slayer duties, and went to train, instead of getting married.
6. Silent Screams, by Mel Odom (Germany, 1923)
Slayer: Britta Kessler - She had a Watcher who played her private tutor, and was properly trained before her Calling. On the day she found out she was the new Slayer, she and her Watcher went into town and heard about this picture named "Silent Scream," a Nosferatu like production, being made that same day. Friedrich Lichtermann accompanied his red headed and angel faced Slayer there, but when the movie started, it turned out to be a horror movie filled with blood sucking vampires, very disturbing. The even worse part was that the ending of the film was yet to be shot, right there. They realized what they'd gotten themselves into, and Britta reminded her Watcher of a promise he made earlier that day; whatever happened, she wouldn't die alone. A couple of minutes later, when he found a way to guide the people out of the theatre, he himself choked, saw his Slayer surrounded by half a dozen vampires, heard her yell about the promise, and ran while his day old Slayer was screaming towards her death. Turned out they turned her, and she was back with a vengeance. They locked him up in her grave tomb, and he was going to try to take her out, but knew he'd probably be dead anyway. The cameras rolled again.
7. And White Splits The Night, by Yvonne Navarro (Florida, 1956)
Slayer: Asha Sayre - 17 year old black girl. Her father was killed when she was very young, by vampires who pretended to be KKK. This story is very much alike the previous one, but there's not a movie playing in the theatre, but a church gathering instead. The Slayer and her Watcher Laurent, a middle-aged Cajun woman, are trapped inside with the vampires at the end, and go out with a bang because the vampires tended to blow up the bodies of the dead so it could be blamed on something else.
merlin_reads's review
3.0
As a huge fan of Buffy this book definitely called out to me when I saw it at a used book sale. A group of short stories that focused on a different slayer in a different time period. It was interesting to see how authors interpreted what it means to be a slayer and how much it was affected by their eras. I saw in a lot of reviews people mentioning that a lot of the stories ended in death and honestly, I expected them all too. A slayers life is not a long one. It's right there in the lore how when one dies another is called so I expected heartbreak at the end. Overall, this was a nice group of stories and I wouldn't be against reading the others in the series.
hybum's review against another edition
3.0
Finally made it through this bad boy. This is the first full collection of short stories I've read, and I think that was why it took me so long to get through it. Most books make you attached to the story and characters, and that's what keeps you turning the pages. But with short stories, not only do you not get as attached to any particular characters, but you also start fresh with new characters every 40 pages or so.
I'd say the collection was "pretty good". The concept is wickedly cool, and completely sustainable, as there have been Slayers since the beginning of time. Each story is set in an important period of history, like the French Revolution, or Hitler's Germany, and vampires are inserted into the events. Awesome idea. However, the writing was kind of hit and miss. Some of the stories were quite well written, but some were just pretty boring and amateurish. None of them terribly gripping. At the same time, props to some of those authors for tackling tough subjects.
Overall, it took me a long time to finish, and I'm glad to be moving onto the next book!
I'd say the collection was "pretty good". The concept is wickedly cool, and completely sustainable, as there have been Slayers since the beginning of time. Each story is set in an important period of history, like the French Revolution, or Hitler's Germany, and vampires are inserted into the events. Awesome idea. However, the writing was kind of hit and miss. Some of the stories were quite well written, but some were just pretty boring and amateurish. None of them terribly gripping. At the same time, props to some of those authors for tackling tough subjects.
Overall, it took me a long time to finish, and I'm glad to be moving onto the next book!
wyemu's review
2.0
Ever since Kendra appeared in the TV series, quickly followed by Faith, fans have been fascinated by the slayers who came before. Clues and hints are given occasionally and through the series we learn about the two slayers Spike kills and the first slayer but there are so many more out there. This mini-series of books tells short stories of slayers past. For some it's how they became the slayer, for other's the story of their death. Each is written by those familiar familiar with the Buffyverse, some of them are writers for the TV episodes, so they are good are writing convincing story lines that fit with the 'rules' already laid out by Whedon. Even though these are short stories I found myself getting attached to the slayers in each, wanting to know more of their time as the chosen one and not wanting to read of their death, as some of the stories chronicles. It is a testament to the writing that they illicited this response from me.
pkldpklz's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
As a fan of BTVS since I was 12, I’ve looked into fan fiction and other written works regarding the continuation of the buffyverse. This collection of stories did that but at the cost of character developement. I wish more time was spent with the slayers, just as I was beginning to understand the characters the stories were ending
sharondblk's review
3.0
I'm generally not the biggest fan of short stories. I find them...short. This anthology jumps from slayer to slayer, and moves through two centuries. Some of the stories are brilliant, some are OK. While it was nice to meet other slayers, none of these stories significantly increased my understanding of the slayers, or the watchers. It was entertaining, but a bit shallow.
lberestecki's review
4.0
I liked all of the short stories in this collection, although some of the characters were difficult to like. I thought it was interesting that a lot of the stories centered around big historical events and reinterpreted them to fit the Slayer mythology. I would definitely recommend this collection to fans of the show, and I know I'll end up reading the other volumes in the series.
innae's review
3.0
I didn't say much when I read this, but I remember it being tale after tale of a slayer's death. Not exactly uplifting. I remember the stories being good, but most of them were downers.