Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show
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Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show
by Authors:
Glenn Yeffeth , David Brin , Jennifer Crusie , Drew Goddard
Released: 03 September, 2003
ISBN: 1932100083
Paperback
Sales Rank: 1,469
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$15.95
Our price:
$11.17
(You save: $4.78)
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| Book > Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show > Customer Reviews: |
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Average Customer Rating: 
Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show >
Customer Review #1:
 So near, yet so far
Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show is very nearly a text I could have recommended to anyone; those who think Buffy was Shakespeare, those who think it was, or turned into, crap, and even those who think it was -- gasp -- "just" a television show. But unfortunately, like Buffy itself, this book loses its way and runs out of good ideas by the end. Lets start with the good stuff; the essays that had me thinking I could finally start a Buffy-related book review with words to the effect of "Now thats what Im talking about!"Sarah Zettel adds brilliant depth and a convincing thesis to a not uncommon criticism of the series: That Buffy lost, at the very least, certain cohesion when the characters graduated from high school. And in what I think is the heart of this collection, Justine Larbalestier charts her evolution over the course of Buffys seven seasons from Champion of All Things Buffy to Horrified ex-true believer. In so doing, Larbalestier reflects the experiences of millions of Buffy watchers who found themselves seduced by a dramatic series for television, convinced themselves it was something more than it could ever be, and eventually hit the wall. Jacqueline Lichtenbergs essay is devoted to the idea that "Buffy the Vampire Slayer is not just a TV show." but a watershed event for television as literature. I dunno, I think she needs to look at her watch once in a while. In his nearly-brilliant 1992 book Teleliteracy, TV reviewer (and future Buffy fan) David Bianculli devoted an entire chapter to the idea that "Some Television Is Literature -- And Vice Versa," using as examples series (Taxi, St. Elsewhere, others) that pre-date Buffy by at least 15 years. I am not saying that Buffy, at its best, was not the equal of the shows Ive mentioned above at theirs. It was a really good show, when it was a really good show, like a lot of really good shows. Its just not inherently superior to all other shows, as some writers here want us to believe.
Still, as a whole, this book is better written than earlier Buffy-related volumes Ive reviewed here on Amazon. It is badly marred, however, by the inclusion of a piece by Kevin Andrew Murphy. His essay digresses into vile, dubious and non-representative portraits of fans of actress Amber Benson, who played Tara on Buffy, as stalkers. Its based on wild speculation and deserves contempt for its intent to smear these fans. I myself am a fan of the character Tara, and the group Mr. Murphy attacks in this book is one with which I am well acquainted. So let me make something clear: I am not saying that any fan group, much less one with which I have been associated, is above thoughtful criticism, any more than I believe Buffy is. Unfortunately, thoughtful criticism is not what Murphy does here.
Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show >
Customer Review #2:
 23 Writers Contributed
23 writers who have numerous other books available here on amazon contributed to this volume. To decide if you really need to own this book, check them all out -- read what folks say about their other books or read excerpts of their writing. Everyone in this anthology finds something intriguing, interesting, inspiring or curious about Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Theyre not all totally worshipful of the show, but as professional writers with sharpened critical faculties, they all found something to get deeply involved in thinking about. That alone tells you something about the quality of Buffy The Vampire Slayers writing. OK, sorry -- thats a hobby horse of mine. I wrote the article contending that this show is actually drawing television writing another step along the way to becoming Great Literature. Excerpts (with the publishers special permission) of all the articles are in Writers In Residence at simegen dot com. Here is a list of the contributors. Use Amazons new Search Inside feature by typing in each authors name without quotes around it. Once you see what theyve been writing, youll want to know what they think of Buffy The Vampire Slayer even if you havent been watching the show. Contributors in no particular order: Peg Aloi, website Witchs Voice and poetry David Brin, bestselling author of Kiln People Margaret Carter, academic and author, The Vampire in Literature: A Critical Bibliography plus several novels. Roxanne Longstreet Conrad, Author, Copper Moon and Bridge of Shadows Jenny Crusie, bestselling author of Faking It and What the Lady Wants Christie Golden, contributor, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Tales of the Slayer, Vol. 1 and author, The Last Roundup Charlaine Harris, author of the acclaimed Dead Until Dark and Club Dead Nancy Holder, co-author, The Watchers Guide and Angel: The Case Files Sherrilyn Kenyon, author of the bestselling Dark Hunter series Nancy Kilpatrick, Arthur Ellis Award-winner and author, Bloodlover Marguerite Krause, author, Blind Vision Justine Larbalestier, academic and author, The Battle of the Sexes in Science Fiction Jacqueline Lichtenberg, author of the cult favorite Sime~Gen series Jean Lorrah, winner of award-winning Blood Will Tell Carla Montgomery, winner, Writers of the Future Kevin Andrew Murphy, author of Fanthom: The World Below and Drum Into Silence Laura Resnick, award-winning author of In Legend Born Lawrence Watt-Evans, veteran fantasist and author, The Dragon Society Michelle West, author of Sea of Sorrows Scott Westerfield, author of the acclaimed Risen Empire Chelsea Quinn Yarbro, author of popular St. Germain vampire series Sarah Zettel, author of Fools War
Seven Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite Television Show >
Customer Review #3:
Hands down, the best Buffy anthology that there is
I have read a lot of serious essays on Buffy: all of the essays on www.buffy.tv, and the entirety of the contents of the collections edited by Kaveney, by South, and by Wilcox and Lavery. But this new collection is far and away the best of the lot. I believe there are two reasons for this. First, the writers of the essays in this volume have the tremendous advantage of being able to look back on all seven seasons of Buffy and speak with some authority on what actually happened. If you read the other collections, there was always constant speculation about what might happen in the future. Now we know what happened. But the second and more important reason this collection is so superb is the fact that it was written almost exclusively by creative writers rather than academics. Although I am an academic myself, too many of the academic essays written on Buffy seem to me transparent attempts to graft unconnected academic interests onto the writers favorite TV show. The writers here, however, are truly trying to tease out the meaning of the show on its own terms, and not trying to force the themes of the show fit the needs of philosophical, cultural, or feminist theory.Another advantage of this collection is that just about every selection in the volume is excellent. I might want to differ with a couple, like the one that defends Riley as the best boyfriend for Buffy or the one that lavishes extensive praise on Tara (I dont dislike Tara, and loved her singing in "Once More, With Feeling," but I cant really get excited about her, either; I do, however, really dislike Riley, like a majority of Buffy fans), but even those take up positions that are fun to argue with. Some of the pieces are flat out outstanding, such as an early one that is cast as a essay question on a test in which a demon is asked to explain which is the most powerful force for good in Sunnydale and why (answer: Xander, with an interesting defense). In the other anthologies, there were essays I had to suffer through in order to get to others more to my liking. There isnt a clunker in the bunch here. If I had a complaint--though I really dont--it would be that too many of the essays are fixated on the romance aspects of Buffy. I would estimate that well over half of the essays primarily are focused on one or more of the romances in the series. My own interests have always focused on the ethical aspects (e.g., did Spikes actions in Seasons 5 and 6 give him something like a soul before the shaman gave him one at the end of Season 6?, or on the extraordinary optimism that pervades the series that people can grow and become more than they are, that leopards can indeed change their spots), but clearly anyone who hates romance is not going to enjoy Buffy for very long. My lone complaint is that there isnt a bit more diversity of subject matter. There are just a few too many articles focusing on romance than I would have liked. Still and all, this is a great, great book, and although I have frequently noted in other reviews that anthologies by their very nature are inconsistent and uneven, this one breaks that rule. It starts off great and stays that way all the way through. I cant imagine anyone with any interest in Buffy at all, not loving this collection.
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