Swiftly moving and fun — and more than a bit nostalgic for fans of the show — this is one of the better reads among the Buffy books, which like the Star Trek universe books, can be really hit and miss. Set during season two of the show, Diana G. Gallagher has captured both the feel of the early Buffy season, and personalities of the characters quite nicely; nothing seems “off” about them, as is so often the case. Perhaps the only deviation, as I believe someone else mentioned, is that Spike — who I liked more than Angel — has been written as the Spike of later seasons a tad, rather than the very early Spike appearances in the show.

The premise itself is quite fun, as Buffy is still trying to have a normal high school experience, despite being the Slayer. She volunteers to hep out with a big rummage sale fundraiser for the Sunnydale High band, but of course, living on the Hell Mouth, you know there is going to be an issue or two, or ten. The sale hasn’t even officially started, when weird things begin to happen:

1) Principal Snyder’s newfound hat seems to be boring holes in his head.
2) Cordelia is decomposing right before her horrified eyes.
3) Spike brings Dru down to find a bargain and she’s promptly attacked by red bats, then starts to become one herself.
4) The Mayor seems to have an unusual interest in an Orb that Buffy’s mom, Joyce, is bringing with her other donations.
5) Joyce, meanwhile, finds a lovely pair of gloves that make her skin begin to peel — and not in a mild sunburn kind of way.
6) A kid named Michael is searching for a protective amulet his mother mistakenly donated, while his friend Jonathan runs around with a whip full of electricity — and it’s getting stronger.
7) Willow has found the cutest little creature. She’s so attached to it that she’ll literally kill anyone who threatens it.
8) Xander’s cool vest is squeezing the breath out of him, and he can’t get it off.

I could keep going, but you get the idea. Everyone’s around in this one, including Ms. Calendar and Oz — pre-Willow/Oz, though Willow’s crushing. Buffy and Giles are going to need all the help they can get — even Spike’s — because it seems a crack has allowed some of the pests from below up into the human world, and it’s going to take all their efforts, and a sort of nasties catcher from below to round up the critters which have attached themselves to the items in the rummage sale. People are becoming ill, even dying, so it’s a race against time to save Sunnydale High one more time, and perhaps the world.

Pretty fun, and very much like an early episode of the show we didn’t get to see. A very nicely done trip down memory lane. Great fun. ( )

Pretty good. Interesting enough enough baddie, and good characterization for all the characters.

Not enough Angel. :) ( )