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Rating: 
Summary: Excellent- -Outdoing All Others
Review: Coming from a reviewer that has purchased and read several "guides" to Buffy, you should believe me when I say that this is the best. Much better than either of the Watchers Guide, this book contains reviews of each episode of Buffy through Season Six, and each episode of Angel through Season Three. Each review includes bloopers from each episode which are fun to look for, as well as the writers personal highlight from each episode. The book also has in depth biographies of the actors from both shows, as well as a 20 page summary of Buffy The Vampire Slayer's conception to its change in networks. The book also includes top websites devoted to Angel and Buffy, as well as the stars of each show. Lastly, it has a great trivia section, which is the most difficult Buffy trivia one will ever find. Anyone who is looking to learn up on Buffy, or even those who enjoy collecting Buffy paraphenalia will enjoy this book. A defenite must-have.
Rating:
Summary: Fang - Tastic!
Review: Okay, there are already a number of Buffy books dealing with the show that have been released ever since the show premiered in 1997. But, for some reason, we the fans keep snatching each new one up. More often than not, it's filled with stuff that most of us have probably already read a few times. However, each one has it's own surprises. This one is no different. This book is written by a fan for the fans. Nikki Stafford really knows her stuff. It's always interesting to hear critiques of episodes and story arcs and characters by a fan, instead of the usual critic. This one is a lot of fun to read. The book contains some things that other Buffy books haven't. Take for instance, the coverage of the first five posting board parties. That part is a lot of fun and makes you wish that you were there. There are the usual episode guides and summaries, but this one is the most up to date one on the shelves. This edition includes season six of ' Buffy' and season three of ' Angel '. Of course they are both halfway thru new seasons, but it's too soon for them. The Buffy section is way larger than the one on Angel. There is a lot more detail for the Buffy episodes. For each episode, Stafford tells you what songs played in the episode, who did them, and what CD they are from. There are also some brief biographies on the cast members of both "Buffy" and 'Angel". There is also an 'interesting fact' section that will tell you if there was something interesting about something or someone in that particular episode. Then there are two other sections called 'nitpick' and 'oops'. Now, Stafford obviously had a lot of time. The bloopers or inconsistencies she finds are mind boggling. The nitpicking she might have for a certain episode or a character can be questionable, and sometimes it's infuriating. It appears that the author had a hard time with Joyce(Buffy's mom)during season two and three. Like she had an agenda against her. This is where you might find some of Stafford's remarks uncalled for. Yes, Buffy has gone through a lot and she's only a 17 year old schoolgirl. But Joyce acts the way she should act. Wouldn't you be shocked as well as upset if you found out there are vampires and other beasties out in the world that can cause damage, pain, death, and destruction?. Not only that but your daughter is the slayer?. A person who fights all this and is constantly in dangerous, life threatening situations?. Not only that, but after defeating Angelus, telling her mother everything, Buffy vanishes. Disappears. Leaves town for moths. Again, Buffy went thru a lot. We can't imagine what it's like. But her friends and mother have every right to be angry and upset with her. It wasn't easy for Buffy at all, but she didn't exactly leave her friends and mother having a great time at Disneyland either. Okay. I got that off my chest. I just think her opinions on Joyce and her friends were unfair. There's more, but we won't get into that. It's too bad that she didn't give the same kind of attention to "Angel" in the episode guide section as she did with "Buffy". You get a summary, but no other special sections. That would of made an already fantastic book into a really fantastic book. Why it isn't included is quite puzzling. Maybe the next edition. There is also a really good quiz in here as well. You'd have to be really good to get a lot of these questions. There is also a small section of colored photos as well. The book is very balanced(although not according to a ridiculous review). It's a great addition to your Buffy shrine and will no doubt please every fan. It sure did please this fan. No matter what was missing or how it emphasized on other things when you thought it should be more on something else, it's still a great book. Any flaws here doesn't condemn it. a real fun read. Pick it up.
Rating: 
Summary: Bite Me
Review: This book has a great episode guide complete with interesting facts and pretty thorough summaries for all Buffy episodes seasons 1-6 and Angel seasons 1-3, but it has an annoying little "nitpicks" section at the end of each summary that never stops bugging me. The writer is obviously very accurate as far as Buffy knowlege, but she lacks unconditional love for the show only true fans have. She is very opinionated, which isn't a bad thing, but she is so harsh sometimes that it makes you wonder if she really likes the show all that much. Despite all this, it does have some excellent biographies, quizzes and summaries that are definitely worthwhile. All in all, this is an interesting book that points out many subtle details that I thought only I noticed, but remember that it is told from one perspective, so I wouldn't swear by it. This is an interesting book, and reading it is definitely worth your time, just to see what someone else has to say about the show.
Rating: 
Summary: Thorough, but written quickly...
Review: This book has an excellent collection of info regarding the first two seasons as well as some wonderful little trivia games to play that challenge even the most hardcore Buffy fans. However, little things such as the author's reference to Sarah Michelle Gellar's appearance in a Burger King commercial failed to prove accurate research or validity to the the book. For example: 'Sarah did 30 spots in total for Burger King, and the fast food chain followed up her commercials with their now infamous "Where's the Beef?" campaign...', when in fact, we all know that belongs to WENDY'S. I know I'm nitpicking, but that brings up another issue. The book features nitpicks in its episode guide section that are (most, but not all) hardly worth mentioning. It's TV, not reality. In all, the book does a good job of explaining the Buffy phenomenon, but fails to decide whether the book is about Sarah Michelle Gellar or the Buffy TV show (i.e. The cover is pretty misleading). This isn't the best book in the world, but definitely a wealth of information and mostly up-to-date covering just about everything but the thrid season -- there is something to say about getting a book on the shelves ASAP. A good guide for newcomers to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, but definitely not satisfying for a seasoned watcher (fan).
Rating:
Summary: The Best Buffy Companion Out There
Review: This is the absolute best Buffy guide out there. The book includes DETAILED episode synopsises through the sixth seaons of Buffy and the third season of Angel. Unlike the Watcher's Guide's, these synopsis's are very thorough, as are each actors profile. The book also chronicles the show from its movie beginnings, through each season, to the show's move to UPN. Each episode guide includes the writer's personal favorite moment of the episode, interesting facts, Did you notice moments, Nitpicks, and bloopers from each episode that are fun to scope out. The book also has an incredibly challenging trivia section, which prompts one to go back and watch the episodes over and over again. Also included are each actors personal websites, as well as good fansites, are included. Having bought many companion guides to this show, I personally say this is the best, for any looking to wise up on Buffy, or maybe simply to extend their Buffy collection.
Rating:
Summary: The best book about the Buffyverse
Review: This is the best all-round book on the most underappreciated series on television. I wonder how many people channel-surf through Buffy without realizing how witty the dialogue and how profound the symbolism; there is so much here that goes beyond a scantily clad teenager fighting mythical creatures. In its 425 pages, Nikki Stafford's guide includes 86 pages of cast biographies, 188 pages of Buffy episode commentaries (through Season Six, to May 2002), and 52 pages of Angel episode commentaries (through Season Three, to May 2002). I enjoy the author's opinions about which episodes are better than others, plot inconsistencies, and character development (or lack thereof). The author is unduly harsh toward the characters of Dawn and Joyce (the mother), but then again the author's personal spin is part of the charm of the book. Some reviewers were unhappy about this book because the author highlights plot inconsistencies, but this is all done in the spirit of fan-dom, and I think the people behind the series would find the book flattering. All that's missing are examples of the witty dialogue, but I'm guessing that copyright issues prevented the author from quoting actual scripts. The weak spot of the book is the pages devoted to fan parties and 'famous fans' - hardly of interest to the rest of us.
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