Starting with Giles' research into the various monsters and demons Buffy and the gang have encountered, this book then delves into the folklore that inspired the show's bad guys - their mythology, science, cultural, literary and historial origins. "The Monster Book" looks at how vampires are created on the show. There are interviews with the series creator, Joss Whedon, as well as the writers, make-up and costume artists, stunt men and actors. It explores the mythology surrounding vampires and other ghouls, in other forms of popular culture. Meet the vampires and other Sunnydale hellmouth creatures, safely, in this monster book.The Monster Book is far more than just a Buffy series companion, it's also an impressive history of monsters in folklore and popular culture. Almost every monster to appear in the first four seasons has an entry here, illustrated with numerous black and white photos, and 32 pages of colour publicity stills from the shows. Dotted throughout these sections are interviews with series creator Joss Whedon and the show's other writers and producers. They discuss the contemporary relevance of monsters and how they can be used to illuminate the everyday horrors of teenage life, and reflect on the unique blend of horror and humour that is such a characteristic feature of the Buffy experience. But it's in the historical background that this book moves out of the ordinary. Meticulously researched, the latter part of each chapter explores the historical antecedents of Buffy's monsters in ancient legends, European folk tales, and historical records, before coming more up to date with analyses of monsters in books, comics and films. With such a vast array of references, it's a shame there is no index, an omission that limits its value as a work of reference. But both as a series guide and a serious discussion of the place of the monstrous in modern society (underlined by the closing discussion of the Slayer Faith and the human monster), this book works very well indeed. --Elizabeth Sourbut

Genre: Horror