Rating: 
Summary: mixed bag
Review: Like any book full of short stories by various authors, there are good ones and there are bad ones. Taken as a whole, the book is enjoyable to read, but as one reviewer pointed out, it lacks any real depth and doesn't add anything earth shattering to the Buffy mythos. My main issue with these stories is that The Slayer dies in nearly every single one. After the first few, I began to wonder if the editor specifically asked that The Slayer die at the end of each one. Finally, I arrived at a story where she doesn't die, and in fact it is more of a story that tells the a story about learning of being The Slayer. This one ended up being my favorite, mostly because it was so much more positive and forward looking than the others.So, while this book is an interesting read, I probably won't be purchasing the second volume to quell my need for things Buffy. The DVDs of the real thing will have to quench my thirst.
Rating:
Summary: A good time waster, but over all a disappointment....
Review: Tales of the Slayer was a pretty mediocre book, and i was greatly disappointed at the fact. I bought this book with high expectations, thinking it would tell stories of past slayers with eloquence and that i would be as emotionally attached to the characters as i would with the ones on BTVS. Instead, most of the stories i found pointless, the mythology screwed up and succeeded only in confusing me (like "White Doe") and the Slayers that are featured are just plain annoying (like "die Blutgrafin). I am hoping the Tales of the Slayer graphic novel with whole new stories written by Joss Whedon and others will be greatly better than this one. Only buy this if you are a die-hard fan, but don't hold out high hopes for this one.
Rating:
Summary: Some Good Tales, Some Mediocre
Review: Tales of the Slayer, Volume I, is a collection of short stories inspired by Buffy, who does not actually appear within the volume. Each of the seven stories introduces a previous girl who was Slayer over various periods in time, ranging from ancient Greece to the segregated South of the 1950s. Sometimes the Slayer dies, and the story chronicles her last few days. This kind of stuff is official fan fiction, a place where authors actually get paid to write in someone else's word. We've seen it before in the publications for Star Trek, Star Wars, Xena, Farscape, and any number of licensed properties currently sitting on contemporary SFF bookshelves. Most of said material is mediocre at best, with the occasional brilliant work that stands out. Unfortunately, Tales of the Slayer is not such a work. The seven stories, while introducting Slayers, Watchers, and villains interacting in intriguing time periods, are often passively constructed, expository narratives without much compelling material. There are a few exceptions, however, and those three stories not only provide an entertaining read, but also offer unique characters. The first story in the collection, "A Good Run," takes place in ancient Greece. Written by Greg Rucka, the story follows the tale of one of the longest-living Slayers as she struggles to prevent a vampire invasion. While much of the text is expository at times, the setting and 29-year old heroine are strong enough to push past the moments when the author tells rather than shows. "The White Doe" explores the myth of Roanoke and the missing colony while dropping an English-born Slayer, orphaned as an infant, into a tribe of Native Americans. There were some intriguing points, but the entire set up seemed trite and obvious; I've lost track of the number of stories I've read that placed an orphaned white girl to live and struggle and prove herself among the "noble savages," be they Indians or prehistory man. Again, there were many passive, expository passages that did little to advance character development or story, and the myth seemed forced. One would think that placing Slayer against Elizabeth Bathory, as "Die Blauthafen" explores, would be an exciting story... but I was bored by the vast number of pages that simply did not advance the action. Short stories have little space to tell their tales... why waste half of one's allottment on telling us all about the Slayer's history until that point? On the one hand, it's good to know something about a story, but on the other hand, in medias res means getting into the action now rather than waiting until the second half of the story. More dialogue, too, would have helped advance many passive areas that served to trample the pacing. As with the previous story, I was also disappointed with "Unholy Madness," a Slayer story set during the French Revolution in 1789. The approach was initially unique with placing the Slayer as a member of high French society where she functioned under Royal command and took care of demons that threatened Royal civilization. She knew nothing of the poor and common man because she'd been sheltered away from it all. This was a very good angle, but, again, there were problems with the pacing. I also felt that the character, Christine-Marie, wasn't fully developed or realized, that what I was reading was akin to a movie novelization, with emphasis on the bare minimum. I really, really liked "Mornglom Dreaming," a story that takes place in late 19th century Kentucky. Not only was the Slayer a fully-realized character, but the narrative was crisp, descriptive, and compelling with a solid story. Think of Little House on the Prairie meets the Slayer and that's the kind of unique setting we have with Mollie Prater's world. The narrative moved between Mollie and her Watcher as he tried to locate her, the story working its way from Mollie's discovery of her Slayer powers to her impending marriage. Well-balanced and fun. "Silent Screams" explored the silent movie making of the 1920s with a new, scarier Nosferatu... as with other stories, this one didn't actually get started until the halfway point because the author spends far too much time setting up the characters. If that development was interesting, it might have saved the story, but Mel Odom spends far too much time working his way up to the climax without really advancing the plot. Why send Britta and her watcher to a movie preview, for example, without previously mentioning the interest or the technology? We move from training, daily activities, and shopping to suddenly accepting an invitation from a friend... the flow just didn't work, which is disappointing because the rest of the story -- the movie, the battle, and the conclusion -- are very good and creepy. The final story is "And White Splits the Night," which takes place in Florida during segregation. Our Slayer is Black, orphaned when a vampire cult kills her father and hides the bite marks under the thick rope of a lynching. This story engaged me immediately and kept my attention throughout, merging well conceived and executed characters with a creative setting. There was a nice balance between description, dialogue, thought, and exposition, and the conclusion was both satisfying and heart-rendering. Overall, this is an average collection of short stories with a few highlights that make it worthwhile. The concept is unique and offers a wealth of possibilities throughout time and history, and there is a second volume of Slayer tales, published this year; I haven't read it yet.
Rating:
Summary: Some Good Tales, Some Mediocre
Review: Tales of the Slayer, Volume I, is a collection of short stories inspired by Buffy, who does not actually appear within the volume. Each of the seven stories introduces a previous girl who was Slayer over various periods in time, ranging from ancient Greece to the segregated South of the 1950s. Sometimes the Slayer dies, and the story chronicles her last few days. This kind of stuff is official fan fiction, a place where authors actually get paid to write in someone else's word. We've seen it before in the publications for Star Trek, Star Wars, Xena, Farscape, and any number of licensed properties currently sitting on contemporary SFF bookshelves. Most of said material is mediocre at best, with the occasional brilliant work that stands out. Unfortunately, Tales of the Slayer is not such a work. The seven stories, while introducting Slayers, Watchers, and villains interacting in intriguing time periods, are often passively constructed, expository narratives without much compelling material. There are a few exceptions, however, and those three stories not only provide an entertaining read, but also offer unique characters. The first story in the collection, "A Good Run," takes place in ancient Greece. Written by Greg Rucka, the story follows the tale of one of the longest-living Slayers as she struggles to prevent a vampire invasion. While much of the text is expository at times, the setting and 29-year old heroine are strong enough to push past the moments when the author tells rather than shows. "The White Doe" explores the myth of Roanoke and the missing colony while dropping an English-born Slayer, orphaned as an infant, into a tribe of Native Americans. There were some intriguing points, but the entire set up seemed trite and obvious; I've lost track of the number of stories I've read that placed an orphaned white girl to live and struggle and prove herself among the "noble savages," be they Indians or prehistory man. Again, there were many passive, expository passages that did little to advance character development or story, and the myth seemed forced. One would think that placing Slayer against Elizabeth Bathory, as "Die Blauthafen" explores, would be an exciting story... but I was bored by the vast number of pages that simply did not advance the action. Short stories have little space to tell their tales... why waste half of one's allottment on telling us all about the Slayer's history until that point? On the one hand, it's good to know something about a story, but on the other hand, in medias res means getting into the action now rather than waiting until the second half of the story. More dialogue, too, would have helped advance many passive areas that served to trample the pacing. As with the previous story, I was also disappointed with "Unholy Madness," a Slayer story set during the French Revolution in 1789. The approach was initially unique with placing the Slayer as a member of high French society where she functioned under Royal command and took care of demons that threatened Royal civilization. She knew nothing of the poor and common man because she'd been sheltered away from it all. This was a very good angle, but, again, there were problems with the pacing. I also felt that the character, Christine-Marie, wasn't fully developed or realized, that what I was reading was akin to a movie novelization, with emphasis on the bare minimum. I really, really liked "Mornglom Dreaming," a story that takes place in late 19th century Kentucky. Not only was the Slayer a fully-realized character, but the narrative was crisp, descriptive, and compelling with a solid story. Think of Little House on the Prairie meets the Slayer and that's the kind of unique setting we have with Mollie Prater's world. The narrative moved between Mollie and her Watcher as he tried to locate her, the story working its way from Mollie's discovery of her Slayer powers to her impending marriage. Well-balanced and fun. "Silent Screams" explored the silent movie making of the 1920s with a new, scarier Nosferatu... as with other stories, this one didn't actually get started until the halfway point because the author spends far too much time setting up the characters. If that development was interesting, it might have saved the story, but Mel Odom spends far too much time working his way up to the climax without really advancing the plot. Why send Britta and her watcher to a movie preview, for example, without previously mentioning the interest or the technology? We move from training, daily activities, and shopping to suddenly accepting an invitation from a friend... the flow just didn't work, which is disappointing because the rest of the story -- the movie, the battle, and the conclusion -- are very good and creepy. The final story is "And White Splits the Night," which takes place in Florida during segregation. Our Slayer is Black, orphaned when a vampire cult kills her father and hides the bite marks under the thick rope of a lynching. This story engaged me immediately and kept my attention throughout, merging well conceived and executed characters with a creative setting. There was a nice balance between description, dialogue, thought, and exposition, and the conclusion was both satisfying and heart-rendering. Overall, this is an average collection of short stories with a few highlights that make it worthwhile. The concept is unique and offers a wealth of possibilities throughout time and history, and there is a second volume of Slayer tales, published this year; I haven't read it yet.
Rating: 
Summary: Fan-bloody-tastic
Review: The best book of short stories I have ever read. The variation of writers and themes in each story keeps the reader intrested and wanting more. I personally can not wait for the next Vol. to come out. I must recommend this book to Buffy fans (which I am not), and Non-Buffy fans alike.
Rating:
Summary: Not in-depth, but good fun
Review: The book, Tales of the Slayer vol. 1, is indeed a most interesting work, that features 7 short stories of slayers through out time.
The reader is taken on a historical voyage through time with a long line of slayers. From ancient Greece to the revolutionaire period in France, to the swamps of Florida, this book offers a new look on the popular tv series. It is indeed a good idea that has been concieved in the making of this book, because a lot of people are missing a bit of historical depth in Buffy the vampire slayer. However, only a few of the authors are really capable of creating a convincing setting, filled with historical facts. I have found that the best story is Unholy Madness, by Nancy Holder. A most entertaining plot is revealed in this story, and it is highly recomendable. So in conclusion, a refreshingly new spin on the tv series BTVS, that is recomendable.
Rating:
Summary: Exciting Perspective
Review: The idea for this anthology is a cool one. Placing Slayers throughout history is exciting. Some of the reviews are strange, however, with people surprised that the characters might die, even when they lived hundreds of years ago. (duh!) Others mention the characters aren't like Buffy. (Not everyone is from Suburbia.) Whatever. For myself, it's this historical change of pace that I appreciate the most! History is exciting. Slayers are exciting. What's not to like? Especially when the quality of stories in this anthology are so high. This is an excellent addition to the Buffy Books. Seeing the way other Slayers act allows me to understand Buffy better. I want more.
Rating:
Summary: Not done justice
Review: The premise is a brilliant one: an anthology that samples from the long line of Slayers extending back from Buffy to ancient times. However, the execution of this idea seems scarcely to tap its potential. Too many of the authors don't really bring their characters to life in the small span of pages allotted to them. Too much of the novelty in each tale comes from its setting, not the Slayer herself. Not coincidentally, the two best stories strive to give their characters a more unique voice. Nancy Holder's "Unholy Madness" features a Slayer-countess in revolutionary France, who has been raised to believe that her duty only extends to protecting the nobility. Mel Odom wrote "Silent Screams" from the perspective of an all-too-fallible Watcher in 1923 Germany. The remaining writers seem to treat the concept as a template. Their tales are simply accounts of how a girl gives up all she's known to become the Slayer or how she gives her life in the pursuit of her cause. The protagonists here could almost be the same character transplanted through time over and over. Their struggles against the forces of darkness are interesting enough, but if you're looking for some deeper insights into how different young women bore the mantle of Slayer throughout the ages, this anthology won't leave you entirely satisfied. If all you're really looking for is a glimpse into the lives of prior Slayers, I would recommend instead the comic book version of this idea, Dark Horse's Tales of the Slayers, which includes stories from Joss Whedon and other writers on the show.
Rating:
Summary: Not done justice
Review: The premise is a brilliant one: an anthology that samples from the long line of Slayers extending back from Buffy to ancient times. However, the execution of this idea seems scarcely to tap its potential. Too many of the authors don't really bring their characters to life in the small span of pages allotted to them. Too much of the novelty in each tale comes from its setting, not the Slayer herself. Not coincidentally, the two best stories strive to give their characters a more unique voice. Nancy Holder's "Unholy Madness" features a Slayer-countess in revolutionary France, who has been raised to believe that her duty only extends to protecting the nobility. Mel Odom wrote "Silent Screams" from the perspective of an all-too-fallible Watcher in 1923 Germany. The remaining writers seem to treat the concept as a template. Their tales are simply accounts of how a girl gives up all she's known to become the Slayer or how she gives her life in the pursuit of her cause. The protagonists here could almost be the same character transplanted through time over and over. Their struggles against the forces of darkness are interesting enough, but if you're looking for some deeper insights into how different young women bore the mantle of Slayer throughout the ages, this anthology won't leave you entirely satisfied. If all you're really looking for is a glimpse into the lives of prior Slayers, I would recommend instead the comic book version of this idea, Dark Horse's Tales of the Slayers, which includes stories from Joss Whedon and other writers on the show.
Rating: 
Summary: Into every generation a Slayer is born; meet seven of them
Review: There have been hundreds of Slayers over thousands of years of human history and this first volume of "Tales of the Slayers" begins to reveal the past. We have seen Lucy Hanover in several of Nancy Holder's books, walking the Ghost Roads and doing what she can to help Buffy and the Scoobies in the here and now, but only "Spike & Dru: Pretty Maids All in a Row" by Christopher Golden and Holder's "The Book of the Fours" have dealt with past Slayer in any substantive way. Those were novels and these "Tales of the Slayer" are short stories, a distinction that as I constructed this review. Like any collection of short stories these tales are a mixed lot and anybody who reads them will like some more than others and visa versa. I liked "Silent Screams" by Mel Odom, set in 1923 Germany, although it, ironically is the story least about a Slayer of the seven tales. At the other end I would put the first tale, "A Good Run" by Greg Rucka, set in 490 B.C.E. Greece, which tells of the Slayer Thessily Thessilonkikki at the Battle of Marathon. While I like the idea of a Slayer obsessed with doing something important and memorable to justify her brief existence, I would have like to have seen something more creative than a footnote to the Greek battle against the Persians, not to mention something dealing with the Greek conception of vampires. But the biggest problem seems to me to be the story is 18 pages long, hardly enough time to set up let alone deliver the payoff. In contrast, Odom's story proceeds at a crisp pace and while it makes an ironic contrast to what Hitler was doing in Munich in 1923 he comes up with an even better twist on the German Expressionistic film movement in general and the classic "Nosferatu" in particular. Yes, it will remind you of "Shadow of the Vampire," but it is making a different point. I really liked the historical figure who turns out to be the Slayer in Christie Golden's "The White Doe" (and I appreciate the story even more having read the About the Authors section at the back of the book) and the encounter the Slayer and Elizabeth Bathory in Yvonne Navarro's "Die Blutgrafin." Nancy Holder deals with questions of class in "Unholy Madness" while Navarro's second tale deals with the issue of race," both of which touch on the idea that people might not be happy with who the Slayer is and where she comes from (Holder's story also offers the most chilling point in the book, bottom page 119). Doranna Durgin's "Mornglom Dreaming" also has an intriguing premise, a Slayer who does not know she has been called, which is the story I most would have liked to have seen as a novel instead of a short story. Conversely, Odom's tale is perfectly suited to this format. I suppose my compromise suggestion would have been fewer stories developed with more depth (i.e., novellas). Still, these stories reflect what you would hope from such a mixed bag of tales: Slayers learning they have been called and their final battles, with only one tale comfortable with the idea of exploring the middle rather than the beginning or the end. Yes, there is high drama to be found in the birth and death of Slayers, but the mother lode is going to be in between and that is what needs to be mined in Volume 2.
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