Buffy the Vampire Slayer by Richie Tankersley CusickMy rating: 3 of 5 stars
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is better known as the television show that shot Joss Whedon to King of Geekdom. Before the show, however, there was the movie, which is actually really bad. This book is based on that movie. Well, technically it's based more on Whedon's rather excellent script, with elements of the movie added to it so that there is a clear connection. How does the book rate?
Well, it's a short read, and quite enjoyable. Using the script means that the wittier dialogue Whedon wrote is in place, making it feel a little less dated. The book shows Buffy's transformation from a Cordelia like character to the Slayer we know and love. Accompanying her is Pike, an odd mix of Xander, Oz, and Spike, who serves as Buffy's eventual partner in slaying and love interest. There is also Merrick, her Watcher, who is completely badass and while I have amazing amounts of love for Giles, I cannot help but wish we got a little of Merrick in show somehow. The connection between him and Buffy was very real, and it made the events that happen hit hard.
So is the book better than the movie? Actually, I'd say yeah. Don't get me wrong, while the movie is bad, it's also enjoyable. But the book stands stronger by having the elements of the original script that help to explain the whole Slayer and Watcher thing a lot clearer, and help to give more development to the characters. I'm not going to say this is a must read for fans of the show, but I would recommend giving it a glance over, if you're curious as to how our Slayer was prior to Sunnydale.
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