This discussion came up on the BetterBuffyFics list the other day....

The Lost Slayer series (Prophecies, Dark Times, King of the Dead, Original Sins) by Christopher Golden

- Buffy makes a decision that propels her into an alternate universe,where everything is turned on its head.

- If you're going to read any Buffy novel, I'd definitely recommend this series. (Originally released in 4 mini-installments, the collected copy will be published in December or January.) Christopher Golden showed why he is the preeminent Buffy writer by creating an AU as compelling as the Wishverse, where Giles is on the dark side.

Sins of the Father by Christopher Golden

- Pike comes to see Buffy and Giles has to battle some personal demons when facing off against his father

The Gatekeeper Trilogy (Out of the Madhouse, Ghost Roads, Sons of Entropy) by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder

- Buffy and company have to travel along the ghost roads to prevent the gatehouse from being destroyed, allowing demons to flow into the world

- This series introduces the ghost roads concept and slayer Lucy Hanover, which later pop up in other books by Golden and/or Holder

The Book of Fours by Nancy Holder

- Four slayers, past and present, must team up to keep the world going and the Slayer line alive

I've only read the Angel books since they introduced Wesley into the fold (Haunted), and I've enjoyed them so far, although no overwhelming recs yet. Jeff Mariotte is the main writer on this side of the Jossverse. I just got the new Angel hardcover, Endangered Species, by Holder and Mariotte, but haven't started on it yet.

and also this:

If you want to see the canon hindsight/ should you consider when stories are written answered in graphic detail, try reading City Of..., the first Angel novel by Nancy Holder- It was published in 1999, so probably written early in the year and was based on Joss and Greenie's original teleplay, but in the end, just like us, Holder got Jossed but good! Most of her "Angel's beginnings" flashbacks are AU now- It makes for interesting reading...and yes, Spike says "Cor"! ;-)

As far as recs, I haven't been overly impressed with the Angel novels, I've read better fanfic in some cases, especially looking at detail and continuity- Bruja (Odom) and Redemption (Odom) were interesting thoughts- Soul Trade (Sniegoski) was the most adult, and a good read- it was violent enough that I wondered how he got it through the publisher, but then I read Spirit Bear and Fever!, both written for the very young teen and went...oohhhh..., graphic okay, apparently...

The most recent one, These Our Actors, isn't bad, and it has an intriguing theory about what happened to Cecily after William died (not a theory I agree with, really, but not one I've seen pop up in fanfic either). The ending is far too abrupt, though.

Immortal and The Evil that Men Do are both pretty good, and I still like The Gatekeeper trilogy.

The Book of Fours made absolutely no sense at all. Or if it did, I missed it.

(Aren't there Nancy Springer ones that are supposed to be good?)

Nancy Holder, I'm guessing from the following messages? Because I'd be fascinated to see Buffy written by Nancy Springer. Or, even better, Angel. Hello to the slash!

I think the Gatekeeper triology is the best I've read. I'm been pretty disappointed by most of them, especially Pretty Maids All In A Row. it had the capactity to be a really good story, but it wasn't very well handled.

I think the Gatekeeper triology is the best I've read.

I agree with this, and I also enjoyed The Lost Slayer serial novels.

I never read the Lost Slayer books- who wrote them?

Christopher Golden. they were released as 4 small books, like when Stephen King released the Green Mile in smaller books. I think they have been (or soon will be) released in one single book.

The summaries of those books on that link are a bit spoilery for the plot.

I'll look out for them/it.

Just a reminder that the latest Buffy comic, #51, "Viva Las Buffy", part 1 of 4, is due out today. Apparently, Fabian Nicieza is more in charge in this arc, as Scott Lobdell is too busy with his Hollywood screenwriting to be fully involved. The story takes place in the time between the end of "The Origin" comics (based on the movie screenplay) and the beginning of the series.

I'm going to get a copy in any case (for completion's sake), so if anybody wants to know if the book is worth getting, I'll drop a line later.

I'd be intersted to know- comics aren't my thing, but people keep saying they should be, and I'm wondering if Buffy ones are an easy way in.