I have heard about these Young Adult novels based on Buffy the Vampire Slayer for quite some time, but didn’t ever have the urge to check them out myself. Partly because my to-read list is longer than my grocery list. Partly because I rarely wander into the Young Adult section of the library. And partly because I have little interest in reading a book based on a script that I already know inside and out.

When I decided to do the Buffy/Angel fix Write-Off, I figured it would be a good time to check one of these books out. So I moseyed on over to the YA shelves and found a few Buffy books. The first two I picked up were exactly what I didn’t want: someone’s reenactment of an already excellent script. The third one, however, had the magical words on the front cover: an original novel based on the television series. Jackpot.

The events of Out of the Madhouse, the first book of the Gatekeeper Trilogy, take place somewhere during Season 3 of the Buffy television series. There are a few minor inconsistencies, but if you don’t nitpick too badly, it’s really an enjoyable book, and a great way to get a Buffy/Angel fix.

Plot and Characters

All the early characters from the series are alive and present here, or at least present I suppose. Buffy Summers, the Chosen One, is slightly depressed about the upcoming graduation and her very limited future, due to that pesky thing called destiny. Her Watcher, Rupert Giles, who is attacked in New York at a Librarian’s convention. Willow Rosenburg, who is just now beginning to “meddle” with the magicks, and who is in the beginning phases of her relationship with the once-a-month-furry Oz. Xander Harris, class clown and Slayer sidekick is dating the beautiful, cuttingly sarcastic Cordelia Chase… and of course, the ever tormented, always brooding, Vampire with a soul, Angel.

Sunnydale, California is built over a Hellmouth. It’s pretty normal for strange things to crawl out and terrorize the city, but it seems that lately, more nasty uglies are crawling out than the Slayer and her gang can keep up with. Of course, it doesn’t help that Giles is out of town at a conference. When he’s attacked and hospitalized, it appears as though someone is targeting the Slayer and her friends.

There are a few chapters that take place in the day and time of Catherine de Medici and give background into the sorcerer who advises her, as well as the good hearted man who is rejected in his attempts to help her. Both men play pivotal roles in the present day story that makes up the majority of Out of the Madhouse. The Gatehouse is where order beats out chaos and the ghosts and ghoulies are held captive. The Gatekeeper, however, is getting weak and the heir to the job has been kidnapped by the Sons of Entropy. Buffy et al. have to travel to Boston, find the elusive Gatehouse and protect it from the Sons of Entropy.

Writing, Analysis and Random Meanderings

Authors Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder are no strangers to the Buffyverse. This isn’t their first collaborative effort either, though based on reviews, it’s their best. Both of them have also written solo Buffy books as well as numerous other Young Adult novels. This book moved along at a brisk pace, never dull and I must say Mr. Golden and Ms. Holder nailed the characterizations of those I’ve grown to miss these last couple years. Without regurgitating quips straight from the show, this book was able to bring to life Xander’s insecurity, masked by jokes, Cordelia’s scornful attitude, and all the rest of the idiosyncrasies that the characters developed through the course of the show.

The plot itself was interesting. Not spectacular, but interesting. The 300+ paperback pages read very quickly. Of course, the hardcore Buffy fans will note the inconsistencies in the plot when compared to the television series (Xander and Cordelia were not still dating three months before graduation in the series, but are still together in the book). I chose to enjoy the book for what it was, and enjoy it I did.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations

This book definitely isn’t for everyone, but anyone aged 14 and up who truly enjoyed the television series will really like this book. As far as Young Adult novels go, this one is well written. There’s no swearing, no sex and what little violence there is tends to be glossed over and related in vague abstracts.

This has been part of my Buffy/Angel fix Write-Off. Please check out the link for the other participating reviews.




Recommended: Yes