The Angel Chronicles, Volume 3

Rating:
Summary: "Without Passion, We'd Be Truly Dead"
Review: Although Nancy Holder isn't my favourite "Buffy" novelist, and the books based on the television episodes aren't top quality reading material (why not just watch the show?) this third volume of the Angel Chronicles gets higher marks simply because it's based on three of the show's best episodes.

It's worth having them in book form, and is a good book to lend to a person new to the Buffy universe (especially if they're watching "Angel" for the first time) as this handles the far reaching history and consequences of Angel's destiny, his soul, his curse, and its all-important clause.

Like the previous volumes in this series, the book contains three teleplays, in this case "Surprise" by Marti Noxon, "Innocence" by Joss Whedon, and "Passion" by Ty King, all of which are set in season two. Nancy Holder's style is somewhat bland at times, and certain scenes that have been known to get me teary on the television screen registered nothing here, but she gets the main points and emotions across clearly enough.

In "Surprise" it's Buffy's seventeenth birthday, and her group of friends (Xander, Willow, Giles, Cordelia, Angel, Oz and Jenny) are determined to give her a decent party. Unfortunately, as time will soon tell, Buffy's birthdays never go smoothly, and resident vampires Spike and Drusilla are planning their own celebration. They have collected together all the pieces of the indestructible Judge, a demon that destroys anything with goodness inside them.

This episode was followed immediately by "Innocence". After Angel and Buffy narrowly escape the power of the Judge, they slept together for the first time, which now results in Angel's curse rearing its ugly head, and a secret identity revealed amongst Buffy's group of friends. Now the Slayer has two forms of evil to deal with - the Judge, and the sadistic Angelus, Angel's evil alter-ego.

Finally, "Passion" is perhaps my favourite episode of the entire show, which brought forth a beautiful score, a shocking death and amazing performances from the entire cast. Angelus is on a mission not just to kill Buffy, but to completely destroy her, targetting her family and friends with scare tactics and mind games in order to bring her down. But now he must take more decisive action once one of Buffy's allies finds a way to bring his soul back.

Often the show is simply more powerful than what Holder can portray on the page, but other times the written word can offer more insights into the minds of the characters - her most potent contribution is Jenny Calendar's tragic and heartbreaking last thought. Likewise Angelus's thoughts on the nature and meaning of passion are just as profound, and fit in nicely with her framing of the story - two passages at beginning and end with Angel/Angelus watching Buffy's house.

She also helps clean up a blooper made on the show - when Xander gets his idea on how to take out the Judge he tells the others "meet me at Willow's in half an hour." However, the show then cuts to the next day when Buffy confronts Jenny, before returning to Xander's plan that night. Holder explains this by adding that "Oz's van was in the shop," making them have to wait.

Out of all of the novelisations out there, this is the one worth having.

Rating:
Summary: Jhaeman's Review
Review: Angel Chronicles v. 1
Nancy Holder (1998), based on teleplays "Angel" and "Reptile Boy" by David Greenwalt and "Lie to Me" by Joss Whedon

RATING: 3/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season One ("Angel") and Season Two ("Reptile Boy" and "Lie to Me")

CAST APPEARANCES: Angel, Buffy, Giles, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, The Master, The Annointed One, Darla, Joyce, The Three, Richard Anderson, Tom Warner, Machida, Spike, Drusilla, Ford, Marvin, Chantarelle, Lucius

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "After a century of killing without a care, the vampire Angelus was cursed with a conscience and eventually fled to Sunnydale, where he restricted his feeding to blood banks. Until 16-year-old Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer, arrived in town to battle vampires, demons, and the Forces of Darkness. First, he has to convince her not to kill him. Then, he has to convince himself not to fall in love with her. Now, collected for the first time, are three stories from the cult-hit TV series chronicling the beginning of this star-crossed love story. Can Buffy and Angel survive life, death . . . and beyond?"

REVIEW
Volume One of the three-volume Angel Chronicles novelizes two strong Buffy episodes and one average episode.
The episode "Angel" from Season One is memorable for the dusting of Darla and the revelation that Angel is actually a vampire. The novelization does a good job of incorporating the humor and characterization of the script, and is especially adept at handling Buffy and Angel's first kiss.

"Reptile Boy" focuses on Buffy and Cordelia's involvement in a snake-worshipping cult of fraternity brothers. It's not an episode particularly worthy of novelization and doesn't actually contain a whole lot of Angel.

The theme of "Lie to Me" is, as the title implies, about lying: Angel, Willow, and former-sweetheart Ford all lie to Buffy at one point or another in the episode, and their actions have repercussions. One of the best of the Season Two episodes, the plot centers around a group of vampire wannabees trying to convince Spike to make them into the real thing. We're also treated to Buffy's first encounter--from a distance--with Drusilla.

It's hard to say much else about Volume One. Angel is only a subplot in two of the three episodes, so this probably isn't the best place to start for fans of the brooding vampire-with-a-soul. The novelizations are all straightforward with very little variance from the scripts and they do a good job of conveying the feel of the show.

Rating:
Summary: Jhaeman's Review
Review: Angel Chronicles v. 1
Nancy Holder (1998), based on teleplays "Angel" and "Reptile Boy" by David Greenwalt and "Lie to Me" by Joss Whedon

RATING: 3/5 Stakes

SETTING: Season One ("Angel") and Season Two ("Reptile Boy" and "Lie to Me")

CAST APPEARANCES: Angel, Buffy, Giles, Xander, Willow, Cordelia, The Master, The Annointed One, Darla, Joyce, The Three, Richard Anderson, Tom Warner, Machida, Spike, Drusilla, Ford, Marvin, Chantarelle, Lucius

BACK-OF-THE-BOOK SUMMARY: "After a century of killing without a care, the vampire Angelus was cursed with a conscience and eventually fled to Sunnydale, where he restricted his feeding to blood banks. Until 16-year-old Buffy Summers, the Vampire Slayer, arrived in town to battle vampires, demons, and the Forces of Darkness. First, he has to convince her not to kill him. Then, he has to convince himself not to fall in love with her. Now, collected for the first time, are three stories from the cult-hit TV series chronicling the beginning of this star-crossed love story. Can Buffy and Angel survive life, death . . . and beyond?"

REVIEW
Volume One of the three-volume Angel Chronicles novelizes two strong Buffy episodes and one average episode.
The episode "Angel" from Season One is memorable for the dusting of Darla and the revelation that Angel is actually a vampire. The novelization does a good job of incorporating the humor and characterization of the script, and is especially adept at handling Buffy and Angel's first kiss.

"Reptile Boy" focuses on Buffy and Cordelia's involvement in a snake-worshipping cult of fraternity brothers. It's not an episode particularly worthy of novelization and doesn't actually contain a whole lot of Angel.

The theme of "Lie to Me" is, as the title implies, about lying: Angel, Willow, and former-sweetheart Ford all lie to Buffy at one point or another in the episode, and their actions have repercussions. One of the best of the Season Two episodes, the plot centers around a group of vampire wannabees trying to convince Spike to make them into the real thing. We're also treated to Buffy's first encounter--from a distance--with Drusilla.

It's hard to say much else about Volume One. Angel is only a subplot in two of the three episodes, so this probably isn't the best place to start for fans of the brooding vampire-with-a-soul. The novelizations are all straightforward with very little variance from the scripts and they do a good job of conveying the feel of the show.

Rating:
Summary: Mystery Man
Review: In another book about the dashing vampire that stole Buffy's heart, Angel is attempting to let go, and not doing a very good job about it! He stalks Buffy everywhere she goes, but convinces her he doesn't love her. Now he's working on convincing himself.
This book is great so if you're a major fan of Buffy, you should get to know the mystery man that Buffy so dearly treasures!

Rating:
Summary: Stirs the Passions in all of us
Review: Nancy Holder weaves a seductive narrative around the novelization of three outstanding episodes from Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In Surprise, Buffy celebrates her birthday and her love for Angel amid the return of the evil Drusilla. In the second story, Innocence Buffy and Angel find that love changes everything. And finally in Passion, Buffy is heart broken as Angel explores the passions which lie in all of us. Some more deadly than others.

These tales of love, despair, and passion can't fail to touch the heart of any reader. It doesn't matter if you are a fan or not. This book stands on its own as an enjoyable read.

Rating:
Summary: Slayergirl2001
Review: The Angel Chronicles Volume 3 was great! It was obvioulsy about when Angel reverts to Angelus. I liked how they charcterized Angelus because to me the two personalities were really seperated much better than in the series by their thoughts. I especially liked (in how it was written) and hated (in the general sense) about the thoughts and the actions surronding Angelus killing Jenny Calander. Definently a must for any Buffy/Angel fan.

Rating:
Summary: Way cool
Review: This book is great for Buffy/Angel shippers. It is a novelization of 3 Buffy episode. "Angel" Season 1 episode 7, "Reptile Boy" Season 2 episode 5, "Lie to Me" Season 2 episode 7. I loved reading this book. Nancy Holder did a great job of putting these episode on pager. Even after seening the episodes I still ejoyed the book. My favorite of the stories is "Lie To Me" mainly cause Spike and Dru. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars mainly cause to get a five the book would have to be a great as some of Nancy Holder's other books with co-wrighter Christopher Golden. (Child of the Hunt and The Gatekeeper Trilogy) This book is a for every fan.

Rating:
Summary: Ricardo's The Angel Chronicles vol 1 Review
Review: This book is great for Buffy/Angel shippers. It is a novelization of 3 Buffy episode. "Angel" Season 1 episode 7, "Reptile Boy" Season 2 episode 5, "Lie to Me" Season 2 episode 7. I loved reading this book. Nancy Holder did a great job of putting these episode on pager. Even after seening the episodes I still ejoyed the book. My favorite of the stories is "Lie To Me" mainly cause Spike and Dru. I give this book 4 out of 5 stars mainly cause to get a five the book would have to be a great as some of Nancy Holder's other books with co-wrighter Christopher Golden. (Child of the Hunt and The Gatekeeper Trilogy) This book is a for every fan.

Rating:
Summary: great book
Review: this book really captures the pivotal point of the series. if you don't read any ohter buffy books, this has to be a must for all buffy fans. now if they would write one to complete the story on 'becoming 1 and 2', anne and dead man's party i would be in heaven. also after you read the book, why not buy or rent the videos.

Rating:
Summary: Nancy Holder does the best novelizations of Buffy episodes
Review: Unlike the first two volumes in this Buffy sub-series, this third
collection of a trio of adapted scripts from the second season of
Buffy the Vampire Slayer really do all focus on pivotal moments in
"The Angle Chronicles." Nancy Holder, clearly the top writer
of the Buffy books, adapts the teleplays of "Surprise" by
Marti Noxon, "Innocence" by Joss Whedon, and
"Passion" by Ty King. These pivotal stories in the series
cover the episodes where Angel spends the night with Buffy, is
transformed into Angelus, and brutally kills Jenny Calendar. As the
back cover notes, there are stories chronicling Angel's darker
side. In fact, it never gets any darker than this, but it also sets
up the fabulous of the series, the two-part "Becoming"
episodes at the end of Season Two.

Holden does a nice job of
capturing the emotional depth of the conflict within these stories.
It is a thankless job to put into words those things that transcend
words, such as the emotional meltdown suffered by Giles and Buffy
after she rescues her Watcher from his gallant but doomed attack on
Angelus. Holden never disappoints in her efforts, which carry over to
her original stories as well (Read Holder's comments above to see how
committed she is to getting things right). As novelizations of Buffy
episodes go, I have yet to read one better than this. One of the nice
things about this volume is that these particular episodes are the
first three on the Buffy and Angel Chronicles video collection.
Hopefully the other three episodes will be novelized in the fourth
volume of "The Angel Chronicles," although such sensible
symmetry is probably too much to hope for on this side of the
Hellmouth. Until then, think about given Nancy Holder's non-Buffy
books a try as well. You have to support someone like this boys and
girls.