Queen of the Slayers
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 First edition cover |
|
| Author | Nancy Holder |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Series | Buffy the Vampire Slayer |
| Genre(s) | Horror novel |
| Publisher | Pocket Books |
| Released | May 31, 2005 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback) |
| Pages | 352 pp |
| ISBN | ISBN 1-4165-0240-8 |
| Preceded by | Spark and Burn (Buffy novel) |
| Followed by | Dark Congress |
Queen of the Slayers is an original novel based on the American television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
Following the Hellmouth's closure, hundreds of potential slayers have been awakened. Buffy Summers hoped that overturning the Slayer's self-sacrifice would result in her earning some relaxation following seven years of fighting. However, the victory is short-lived. Dark forces are arising to fill the gap left by the First.
Willow's magical spell which sent slayer essence across the world has resulted in girls everywhere discovering a new power. The Scoobies travel to Europe. In London, Giles races to reorganize the remnants of the Watchers Council, hoping to overcome the shortcomings of its previous incarnation. In Rome, Buffy is attracted to the Immortal, an ambiguous yet charismatic character. They soon hear of an unknown "Queen of the Slayers" who is getting a number of the fresh slayers to form a mystical army. This likely evil seems determined to claim the slayer essence for herself.
Xander goes to Africa hoping to find more about the origins of the slayer essence. He discovers instead that the good in the world is not enough to fight the bad, and that the deciding confrontation is drawing far too near. It will be slayer against slayer, as an ultimate battle of champions approaches.
[edit] Trivia
- Tagline: 'SUNNYDALE WAS ONLY THE WARMUP....'.
- Buffyverse canon characters include Buffy, Dawn, Xander, Willow, Faith, Robin Wood, Kennedy, Giles, Rona, Vi, Andrew, Oz, Marie, Senaya (First Slayer), Whistler, Tara (as ghost), Nikki Wood (as ghost), Anya (as ghost), Angel, Gunn, Illyria, Spike, and The Immortal
- Buffyverse non-canon characters include Aram, Bey (Immortal's servants); Lucy Hanover (ghost of former Slayer); Lord Ambrose-Bellairs (Watchers Council); Cesare Borgia, Lucrezia Borgia, Antonio Borgia (villains); Lisa, Belle, Ornella, Haley (Slayers); Golden One (Oz's master); Janus, Eo, Shri-Urth (other-dimensional deities), Malfeo.
- Controversial amongst fandom for daring to follow-up on the conclusion to Buffy the Vampire Slayer, many fans were perhaps inevitably disappointed. Others appreciated an interpretation of what might have followed.
- Buffy ends up pregnant at the end of the book with both Spike and Angel's child. This is done by magickal means thanks to the Powers That Be.
[edit] Continuity
- Intended to be set after BtVS's seventh season, it takes place over the period of around a year immediately following "Chosen". This book also makes use of character information that is not revealed until the fifth season of Angel, from episodes such as "Damage", "A Hole in the World", and "The Girl in Question".
- In the novel the characters discover that the First Slayer was named Senaya. This name is canon, as Willow refers to her by it during her spell in "Restless".
[edit] Canonical Issues
- Buffy/Angel novels such as this one are not usually considered canon by the fans. Some consider them stories from the imaginations of authors and artists, while others think of them as taking place in an alternate reality. However, these novels are not mere fan fiction, as overviews which summarize their plots are approved early on by both FOX and Joss Whedon (or at least his office). The books are then published as official Buffy/Angel merchandise.
- In the case of this particular book, Joss Whedon's canonical Buffy the Vampire Slayer season eight comics series leaves the novel out of continuity, retconning a few of the series' events which Queen of the Slayers features, such as Buffy's relationship with The Immortal.
[edit] Timing
- Stories that take place around the same time in the Buffyverse:
| Location, time (if known) |
Buffyverse: Spring 2003 – 2004 (non-canon = italic) |
|---|---|
| Sunnydale, Cleveland, Italy, Summer 2003-2004 | Buffy book: Queen of the Slayers (unofficial continuity) |
| 2003-2004 | Buffy book: Dark Congress |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.01 Conviction |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.02 Just Rewards |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.03 Unleashed |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.04 Hell Bound |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.05 Life of the Party |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.06 The Cautionary Tale of Numero Cinco |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.07 Lineage |
| Europe, 2003 | Tales of the Vampires: Antique |
| L.A., 2003 | Angel comic: Spike vs Dracula #5 |
| L.A., 2003 | Angel comic: Wesley: Spotlight |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.08 Destiny |
| L.A., 2003 | A5.09 Harm's Way |
| L.A., 2003 | Angel comic: Spike: Old Wounds |
| L.A., 2003/4 | A5.10 Soul Purpose |
| L.A., 2003/4 | A5.11 Damage |
| L.A., 2003/4 | Angel comic: Spike: Lost and Found |
| L.A., 2003/4 | Angel comic: Gunn: Spotlight |
| L.A., 2003/4 | A5.12 You're Welcome |
| L.A., 2003/4 | A5.13 Why We Fight |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.14 Smile Time |
| Shortly before Shadow Puppets | Spike: Asylum |
| L.A., 2004 | Angel comic: Spike: Shadow Puppets |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.15 A Hole in the World |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.16 Shells |
| L.A., 2004 | Angel comic: Illyria: Spotlight |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.17 Underneath |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.18 Origin |
| 2004 | Connor Spotlight |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.19 Time Bomb |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.20 The Girl in Question |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.21 Power Play |
| L.A., 2004 | A5.22 Not Fade Away |
| Romania, 2004 | Angel graphic novel: The Curse |
| L.A., 2004 | Angel graphic novel: Old Friends |
| L.A., 2004 | Angel graphic novel: Auld Lang Syne |
[edit] See also
- 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' in LA.
- "Tales of the Slayer": These chronicle the stories of past slayers.
- Buffyverse
