Rating: 
Summary: Good characterization; no plot
Review: This is one of the few Buffy books where the characters act and sound just like they do on the TV show. That's important, because the appeal of the show is in the characters and the dialogue. However, in this book these characters just don't *do* much of anything, and the plot elements just keep fizzling out. For example, the evil Ethan Rayne, who has caused so much trouble for the gang on the show, pops up, tries some magic that doesn't have any clear purpose or noticeable results, then leaves. Similarly, a bunch of student teachers (the "visitors" of the book's title) seem to serve no purpose other than to give a rather pointless clue as to the reason the latest magic/evil creature has come to Sunnydale. Even then, we don't really need a reason for its arrival--it's the Hellmouth after all. The climactic battle against the magic/evil thing is rather lame, with no particular innovations or excitement. So, while I sort of enjoyed spending time with the characters (especially now that the show is in reruns for a while), it was not really very interesting, and certainly not exciting. Maybe next time, these authors can team with someone who will supply an engrossing and believable plot. That would be a match made in Heaven--or rather, the Hellmouth, if you want to be technical about it.
Rating: 
Summary: Jhaeman's Review
Review: VISITORS
By Laura Anne Gilman & Josepha Sherman (1999)
RATING: 2/5 Stakes
SETTING: Third Season
CAST APPEARANCES: Buffy, Xander, Willow, Giles, Angel, Cordelia, Oz, Joyce, Ethan Rayne, Devon, Jonathan, Principal Snyder
MAJOR ORIGINAL CHARACTERS: Gerald Panner (Watcher); Sheila, C.B., Rebecca, Elaine, Miriam (student teachers)
BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "The paranormal forces centered in Sunnydale attract the vilest kinds of evil: vamps, demons . . . and student teachers? An invasion of collegians testing their teaching prowess on Buffy and her peers coincides with the arrival of a supernatural stalker. The Slayer feels the evil entity watching her every move, and she's not the only one. But researching the best is going to be problematic with the student teachers setting up shop in Giles's home turf--the school library. When the stalker starts to take his malicious game to the next level, Buffy finds herself face to face with a being unlike any she's ever encountered. But can she figure out its weakness before she is forced to participate in its dance of death?"
REVIEW
For the first few years of the line's existence, the Buffy books were subtly separated, on a list of books inside the front cover, into "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" books and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer adult books". In reality, it's difficult to tell the difference between "adult" books and non-adult books as the cover designs, plots, and other details of the books seemed largely identical. Although the distinction was later abandoned, Visitors is a good example of a Buffy book intended for the teenage crowd--it's relatively short, uncomplicated, and straightforward.
In fact, the entire plotline of Visitors could easily have been condensed into a short story for one of the Tales of the Slayers types of book: a korred (a mythological creature with goat feet and a penchant for making people dance to their deaths by playing the flute) comes to Sunnydale and starts stalking Buffy, while the arrival of several student teachers makes the Scooby Gang wonder if there is some connection between the two events. Unfortunately, an appearance by trouble-maker extraordinaire Ethan Rayne and a spy from the Watcher's Council end up being tangential to the plot and unsatisfying.
Visitors develops very, very slowly, and the tepid would-be climax is not worth the wait. However, there are some great moments with the characters, such as Willow getting spastic on caffeine or the group's fear that they will drift apart when college comes. The dialogue is strong and Buffy and her friends are portrayed "accurately." It's hard to think of anything else to say--simply put, not much happens in the novel. Plot-wise, Visitors is one of the weakest of the Buffy books, but the "quiet" moments are written well enough that there is still some entertainment to be found within.
Jhaeman's Reviews: www.geocities.com/jhaeman
(c) 2004, Jeremy Patrick-Justice
Rating:
Summary: disappointing...
Review: Well, I am a BIG buffy fan, and i try to read every buffy book i can find, which is not the easiest thing since i live in japan, which also means that i can't watch the TV series. I think that the authors tried a little too hard in this book. I mean, i think they really knew their stuff, but everything in this book was so... not real. The plot and everything was good, and i think- as another reviewer mentioned- that it could've made a really great story if they had some more space to work on. From most of the buffy books i've read, i think that they all have some kind of message under the whole story. 'visitors' doesn't really have a point. I considered not reading this book after reading some of the reviews, but i bought it anyways, and u know what? It was a waste of money. Do not read it, even though it is short, it just drags on and on.
Rating:
Summary: I didn't like it, plain and simple.
Review: well, i've read just about all the Buffy books, and I found this one sorta disapointing. Try again! If you want to read a great book, try the gatekeeper trilogy.
Rating: 
Summary: A not very convincing plot...
Review: Well,the story line is a bit out of track and hard to digest.Not that this book is not good,but it just seems rather far off.It's amazing how the author linked the earth creature-korred,the student teachers and Giles old friend(or rather enemy)watcher.
Rating: 
Summary: The worst Buffy book ever!
Review: Where I can I begin? It was boring, it dragged the story on, and I don't know why half the people were in the story. It was very confusing. I almost didn't finish the book because it was that boring. This is the only Buffy book that I would recommend that people shouldn't read.
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