Close to the Ground (Angel novel)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
|
| 1st edition cover | |
| Author | Jeff Mariotte |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Angel |
| Genre(s) | Horror novel |
| Publisher | Pocket Books |
| Released | August 1, 2000 |
| Media Type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 320 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-671-04147-9 |
| Preceded by | Not Forgotten |
| Followed by | Soul Trade |
Close to the Ground is an original novel based on the U.S. television series Angel.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
After saving a young woman from her rogue bodyguards, Angel is hired by a big Hollywood studio head, Jack Willitts, to guard the girl in question; his daughter, Karinna. Angel is persuaded when his co-workers point out there is rent to deal with, and Cordelia even convinces Jack to give her a job (Unfortunately, it is as a tour guide rather than an actress).
Angel takes Karinna to several popular nightspots, writing her off as a spoiled brat. Cordy believes Angel is getting too close to the case, but the situation soon worsens. Karinna gets into trouble while Angel and company are being tracked by an unknown creature, trying to destroy anything getting in its way.
Angel eventually finds himself trapped in a supernatural struggle for power and immortality, as an Irish magician, Mordractus, reveals that he has been tracking Angel. Mordrctus is attempting to summon a powerful demon, but the spells are draining his life energy, and he will soon die unless a way of surviving is found. Knowing that Angel is immortal, yet retaining a soul, Mordactus attempts to steal Angel's 'essence' to allow him to duplicate that feat, but Angel escapes and Mordractus is banished to Hell.
[edit] Trivia
- Tagline:'Fortune and Glory don't always come naturally.'
- Characters include: Angel, Cordelia, and Doyle.
- Doyle does not know who Willow is.
- Phantom Dennis helps to choose clothes for Cordelia.
- Angel visits a techno club, but the loud music brings pain to his ears.
[edit] Continuity
- Supposed to be set early in Angel Season 1, before the episode Hero.
- Angel reflects he made the decision to help people in 1898 after seeing a vampire kill a woman he tried to protect; this is contradicted by flashbacks in "Darla", but Angel might be lying to himself, or he may have simply changed his mind between the flashback here and the events depicted in flashbacks in "Darla".
[edit] Canonical issues
- 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.
[edit] Timing
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse chronology: Fall 1999 - December 1999 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| L.A. 1999 | Angel comic: Doyle: Spotlight |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.01 City of |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.01 The Freshman |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.02 Living Conditions |
| L.A. 1999 | |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.02 Lonely Hearts |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.00 Unaired Angel pilot |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Not Forgotten |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.03 The Harsh Light of Day |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.03 In the Dark |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.04 Fear, Itself |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy graphic novel: Blood of Carthage |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel graphic novel: Surrogates |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel comic: Strange Bedfellows story, Angel #4 |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy video game: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Game Boy Color) |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Tales of the Slayer: All That You Do Comes Back.. |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.04 I Fall to Pieces |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.05 Beer Bad |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.05 Rm w/a Vu |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy books: Lost Slayer series |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.06 Wild at Heart |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy graphic novel: Oz |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | Buffy book: Oz: Into the Wild |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.06 Sense & Sensitivity |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.07 The Initiative |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.07 Bachelor Party |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Close to the Ground |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Soul Trade |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel graphic novel: Earthly Possessions |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Redemption |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Shakedown |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Hollywood Noir |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Avatar |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: Bruja |
| L.A. 1999 | Angel book: The Summoned |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.08 Pangs |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.08 I Will Remember You |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.09 Something Blue |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.09 Hero |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.10 Hush |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.10 Parting Gifts |
| Sunnydale, 1999 | B4.11 Doomed |
| L.A. 1999 | A1.11 Somnambulist |
[edit] See also
- Buffyverse
- Buffyverse canon
- Buffyverse chronology
- Buffyverse novels
- Buffyverse index
- Buffy novels. These focus on the character of Buffy and the fictional town of Sunnydale.
- Angel novels. These focus on Angel and his so-called 'Fang Gang' in LA.
- "Tales of the Slayer" These chronicle the stories of past Slayers.
[edit] External links
[edit] Reviews
- Litefoot1969.bravepages.com - Review of this book by Litefoot
- Teen-books.com - Reviews of this book
- Shadowcat.name - Review of this book
| Angel novels | ||
|
Not Forgotten | Close to the Ground | Soul Trade | Redemption | Shakedown | Hollywood Noir | Avatar | Bruja | The Summoned | Unseen | Haunted | Image | Stranger to the Sun | Vengeance | The Longest Night | Monster Island | Endangered Species | Impressions | Fearless | Cursed | Sanctuary | Seven Crows | Dark Mirror | Heat | Solitary Man | Love and Death | Monolith | Nemesis | Book of the Dead |
