The Lost Slayer

infobox Book |
name = The Lost Slayer
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = Cover of the U.K. omnibus
author = Christopher Golden
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Buffy the Vampire Slayer
genre = Horror novel
publisher = Pocket Books
release_date = January 2003
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 592 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7434-1226-1
preceded_by =
followed_by =

Introduction

"The Lost Slayer" is a series of four novels written by Christopher Golden. It was later collected together in one omnibus paperback. Each was published by Pocket Books

The Lost Slayer I: Prophecies

infobox Book |
name = Prophecies
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Christopher Golden
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Buffy the Vampire Slayer
genre = Horror novel
publisher = Pocket Books
release_date = August 2001
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 134 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7434-1185-4
preceded_by = The Book of Fours (Buffy novel)
followed_by =

Book Description

As Buffy is starting out her freshman year at UC Sunnydale she decides to take charge and do everything herself. How else can she hope to have a normal life without mastering everything she does? But unfortunately it results in isolation from her friends and angers Willow, who tries to understand but to no avail. When a particularly nasty group of vampires with bats tattooed across their faces with eyes that glow with a surreal orange fire arrive in Sunnydale, Buffy tries her best to keep them at bay. Giles researches to find out that this particular breed of vampires are a group of followers who are led by and worship the deity Camazotz. Things start to look even worse when the past Slayer Lucy Hanover visits Buffy in her sleep. After a run in with Camazotz where Giles gets captured and most of the Scooby Gang ends up injured, Buffy decides to call on Lucy Hanover to help them out. Lucy then calls on the Prophet who tells Buffy that her mistake has already been made. As the Prophet touches Buffy she is thrown 5 years into the future where she's been locked in a cage for the past five years.

Continuity

*This book establishes an alternate timeline in Season Four.

The Lost Slayer II: Dark Times

infobox Book |
name = Dark Times
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Christopher Golden
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Buffy the Vampire Slayer
genre = Horror novel
publisher = Pocket Books
release_date = September 2001
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 136 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7434-1186-2
preceded_by =
followed_by =

Book Description

Buffy's 24 year old self has been locked in her prison for the past 5 years. One day they finally throw the new Slayer, August, in there with her; Faith was killed a few months ago. The confused girl tries to kill Buffy- reasoning that this is the only way to ensure that there's a Slayer active outside but Buffy accidentally snaps her spine, killing the current Slayer. Buffy finally escapes from her prison when the guards arrive after the scuffle. Once escaped, she finds out that Sunnydale has been taken over by vampires with humans helping them out of fear (Although there are some, like Parker Abrams, who actually enjoy their new roles in life). After a call to the Watcher's Council and a fight with various vampires (Including Harmony, Drusilla and Spike, all of whom but Spike are killed), Buffy meets up with the extraction team which is made up (among others) of Willow who is now a powerful sorceress, Xander a humourless man now and Oz who can change into a werewolf whenever he chooses.

In the present, Buffy has been possessed by the Prophet. Once Willow has found this out, they realize they need to prevent Buffy's body from leaving Sunnydale. While the Prophet is leaving Sunnydale, Camazotz appears and tears the entity out of Buffy's body. The Prophet is actually Zotziloha, Camazotz's wife, who was attempting to hide in the Slayer's body. After that fight Buffy was captured and imprisoned, the reasoning being that the only way to "stop" the Slayer is to imprison her, otherwise another Slayer will just be activated. In the future, Buffy is informed that Giles is now a vampire; more than a vampire, he's become the king of the vampires.

Continuity

*The alternate timeline moves five years into a possible future.

The Lost Slayer III: King of the Dead

infobox Book |
name = King of the Dead
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Christopher Golden
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Buffy the Vampire Slayer
genre = Horror novel
publisher = Pocket Books
release_date = October 2001
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 131 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7434-1187-0
preceded_by =
followed_by =

Book Description

Giles has become the king of vampires and even Spike is under his rule. Drusilla is dead and Spike seeks revenge on Giles who was the one who sent Drusilla out to kill the Slayer. After Giles casts him out from his lair, Spike immediately goes to the human headquarters. Meanwhile, Buffy is trying to reacquaint herself with all of her friends... or at least they used to be her friends. Her twin spirits are confused by the changes she'd had to go through and finds it difficult to accept that the future is so different; Joyce and Anya are dead, Wesley is the Watcher for the latest Slayer, and Angel vanished five years ago when he tried to rescue Buffy. After finding out that Spike was the one that killed her mom, Buffy tortures him for information, but it's finally Xander who stakes him, in Anya's honour. Meanwhile, Giles- who is capable of predicting all of Buffy's moves in a confrontation- has plans for Buffy; he plans to make her a vampire so that she could be by his side once again.

Continuity

*Follows continuity established in "Lost Slayer Volume I and II".

*Reference is made to the Initiative, with one of the Council commenting that the government had a secret organisation in Sunnydale dedicated to the study of demons.

The Lost Slayer IV: Original Sins

infobox Book |
name = Original Sins
title_orig =
translator =


image_caption = First edition cover
author = Christopher Golden
illustrator =
cover_artist =
country = United States
language = English
series = Buffy the Vampire Slayer
genre = Horror novel
publisher = Pocket Books
release_date = November 2001
english_release_date =
media_type = Print (Paperback)
pages = 175 pp
isbn = ISBN 0-7434-1188-9
preceded_by =
followed_by =

Book Description

Buffy, Xander and Willow have found a weakened Camazotz which they accidentally release from his magickal chains. Willow figures out how to kill Camaztoz: with gold, through alchemy which can only be done if it's not used for personal gain. Meanwhile, Anna, the new Slayer, and Wesley try to reduce the vampire population though Wesley gets seriously injured. Now that Camazotz is dead, the Kakchiquels have lost all their power and are reduced to only regular vampire strength.

Shortly after, Willow, Xander, Oz and Buffy enter a room to find Angel suspended in mid-air with a stake protruding from his heart, and yet he still lives. Giles has imprisoned Angel here for the past five years when Angel went out searching for Buffy. The orb Angel is trapped in freezes his body in the moment before his death; if the spell is broken, Angel will instantly die. Giles finds them all and Buffy stays to fight while the others rush off to help the other troops. Buffy finally builds up the courage to kill Giles, killing Angel in the process by disrupting the spell and taking the stake Giles used against Angel. Unfortunately, not much is gained from this battle as both Wesley and Xander die as well.

Finally Willow figures out a spell to send Buffy back in time. Guided by Lucy Hanover, Buffy goes back to the day where she told Willow that she didn't need her help with Camaztoz. But this time she asks for help. As Buffy fights to free Giles she is backed up by her friends. Willow binds Zotzilaha and in the final battle, this younger version of Willow learns that alchemy cannot be used for personal gain. Her gold-tipped stake, guided by Buffy's hand, destroys Camazotz in a very close battle to the end. Buffy's efforts negate the alternate timeline she has visited.

Continuity

*Follows continuity established in "Lost Slayer Volume I, II", and "III".

Canonical issues

:main|Buffyverse canon

:"Buffy"/"Angel" books such as this one are not usually considered by fans as canonical. Some fans consider them stories from the imaginations of authors and artists, while other fans consider them as taking place in an alternative fictional reality. However unlike fan fiction, overviews summarising their story, written early in the writing process, were 'approved' by both Fox and Joss Whedon (or his office), and the books were therefore later published as officially "Buffy"/"Angel" merchandise.

Timing

*Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:

ee also

*Buffyverse Chronology
*Buffy Novels. These tend to surround the character of Buffy and the fictional town of Sunnydale
*Angel Novels. These instead focus on Angel and his so called 'Fang Gang'
*“Tales of the Slayer” These chronicle the stories of past slayers
*All of the above can be described as “Buffyverse Novels”

External links

Reviews

Book I

* [http://litefoot1969.bravepages.com/buffy/reviews/fiction/lost_slayer_1.htm "Litefoot1969.bravepages.com" - Review of book one by Litefoot]
* [http://www.teen-books.com/ "Teen-books.com" - Reviews Book I]
* [http://www.nika-summers.com/Library/novelprophecies.php "Nika-summers.com" - Review of book 1 by Nika Summers]
* [http://www.shadowcat.name/book0251.html "Shadowcat.name" - Review of book one]

Book II

* [http://litefoot1969.bravepages.com/buffy/reviews/fiction/lost_slayer_2.htm "Litefoot1969.bravepages.com" - Review of book two by Litefoot]
* [http://www.teen-books.com/ "Teen-books.com" - Reviews Book II]
* [http://www.nika-summers.com/Library/noveldarktimes.php "Nika-summers.com" - Review of book 2 by Nika Summers]
* [http://www.shadowcat.name/book0266.html "Shadowcat.name" - Review of book two]

Book III

* [http://litefoot1969.bravepages.com/buffy/reviews/fiction/lost_slayer_3.htm "Litefoot1969.bravepages.com" - Review of book three by Litefoot]
* [http://www.teen-books.com/ "Teen-books.com" - Reviews Book III]
* [http://www.nika-summers.com/Library/novelkingofthedead.php "Nika-summers.com" - Review of book 3 by Nika Summers]
* [http://www.shadowcat.name/book0288.html "Shadowcat.name" - Review of book three]

Book IV

* [http://litefoot1969.bravepages.com/buffy/reviews/fiction/lost_slayer_4.htm "Litefoot1969.bravepages.com" - Review of book four by Litefoot]
* [http://www.teen-books.com/ "Teen-books.com" - Reviews Book IV]
* [http://www.nika-summers.com/Library/noveloriginalsins.php "Nika-summers.com" - Review of book 4 by Nika Summers]
* [http://www.shadowcat.name/book0294.html "Shadowcat.name" - Review of book four]