Afterimage

This book was good if a little dry at times. For the most part it keeps you entertained. I like that Cordelia had a big role in the storyline. Usually in the Buffy books she is persona non grata. I did think there should be more focus on Buffy though. It did annoy me that the book didn't narrow down the time period it was set in until close to the end (the writer finally revealed it was set about a year after Buffy came to town). I wanted more about the back story of Buffy. But for a short read this was pretty good. I would recommend it to anyone with a few free hours on their hands.

If I hadn't just read 'Spark and Burn,' I would say that 'Afterimage' boded well for the future of Buffy as a book series. Pierce Askegren wedges this story into the time period just as Xander and Cordelia are about to become an item. It's Buffy's junior year during that brief but magical time when things seemed to be going well. Well, as well as slayage ever gets. As stranger (Balsamo) comes to town with a plan to resurrect the Sunnydale drive-in in true 50's style and suddenly waves of strange events haunt the world's most haunted town. On patrol Buffy and Angel find themselves confronted with werewolves and nightmarish bikers who disappear into thin air when injured. Books disappear from Giles library with the aid of new school nurse and a cheerleader garbed in pink. Both of which also disappear. The Bronze gets a new visitor or two, and suddenly people are taking extra long naps. It takes a while to pin the source of the problem down, but it should be no surprise that Balsamo is not a good guy and that all the ectoplasmic weirdness has something to do with his real identity. The Scooby gang to the rescue, of course. Askegren does an excellent job of recreating the characters. He handles Cordelia especially well, emphasizing her better qualities. The story borrows its location from other chronicles of the Buffiverse, but it is by no means a slavish effort to simply repeat the same old stuff. As a result the story manages to maintain its freshness. Not at all a bad effort, especially for someone's first try at a Buffy story. It lacks the drama of some of the other novels, but I'm sure most fans will enjoy this visit to the hellmouth.

I'm suprised that some other reviewers, who basically liked this book, only gave it 3 stars. This isn't American Idol, you don't have to be so exacting. I've read practically all the Buffy books and this isn't the best, but I still gave it 5 stars. Why? Because it's GOOD. The author captured the characters, dialogue and the fun aspects of the show well. Also, I thought the whole drive-in concept was pretty clever and original with some funny moments. I loved the whole Inga/Giles bit too! Some parts lag a bit with some spotty writing here and there, but lighten up folks. Wouldn't you all rather have this guy write another book then some of the hacks they've had in the past? At least Askegren knows what he's doing, Marie Celeste flub, aside. My 5 stars indicate to other Buffy fans that Afterimage is worthwhile and a fun read, nothing more. What's the best? That's debateable. Let's try to encourage the publishers to keep the good writers, like this guy, going. Who knows maybe his next one WILL be the best.

Something "unexplained" happened in the small town of Harrisonburg, Virginia back in 1953. And it may have something to do with what is taking place right now in Sunnydale, CA. Not to worry -- The Slayer is on the case. In what is by far the best "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" based novel yet published, "AFTERIMAGE" brings back the magic of the Buffyverse for those of us adults who have despaired at the juvenile trash novels that have constituted the majority of Simon Spotlight Buffy tie-in catalog. Writer (author!) Pierce Askegren takes us back to the early part of Buffy's junior year at Sunnydale High, before that whole Angel-turns-evil story arc, with results that are just plain delightful. And while a teenager will be able to follow what's going on, with the assistance of the occasional Google Search, Askegren manages to avoid all the annoying superfluous exposition that adult readers find so tedious. He doesn't write "down" to teens -- he writes "up" to adults, just as the TV series did. (Never heard of "assembler language commands" or " the proto-sciences?" Look it up, kids, we're moving on.) Hats off to Simon Spotlight for (presumably?) hiring some new and very talented editors for this series. (They even catch most of the typos!) All aspiring Buffy chroniclers should be absolutely required to read "AFTERIMAGE" before they even pick up a pencil. This here is the way it's done, people. (Oh, and you might shoot Nancy Holder a copy as well. I'm just saying.) And finally, to the town of Harrisonburg, Virginia -- welcome to the Buffyverse, folks. Be home by dark. :o)

Finally!!! A Buffy book I can read and love. This author captures the spirit of the show wonderfully!! Sounds like he had a lot of fun writing it. He really has all the characters down pat and created an original and fun storyline. Also, had some nice funny moments. I think that this would have made a great episode. I didn't like many of the other Buffy books, but, like I said, this one seems to have all the bases covered. A must read for Buff fans. Fun!! One small note the author refers to the legend of the MARY Celeste, as the MARIE Celeste. He may have been thinking of the fictional version of it, and not the "real" one. Oh, well, at least he didn't say MOMMA Celeste! :-) Also, a few too many typos for my tastes. Not the authors fault. That's the editors job.