Synopses & Reviews
The first book-length treatment of the spiritual and religious themes in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Faith and culture collide in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the phenomenal cult classic television series that has captured the imagination of a generation of fans and received widespread critical acclaim. Written for Buffy fans with spiritual inclinations, this book at last explores some of the show's most fascinating spiritual, religious, and mythological ideas from apocalypse and iconography to the power of blood and the need for humor when fighting our spiritual battles. Buffy and the show's other characters have valuable spiritual lessons to impart, offering wisdom for the faith journey, the courage to make ethical choices, and forgiveness when our choices have been poor ones. Throughout the book's 13 short chapters, author Jana Riess looks at how values such as friendship, self-reliance, redemption, and the responsible use of power are played out in Buffy and its spinoff series Angel.The book includes an exclusive interview with actress Eliza Dushku (who plays Faith on the show), an end-of-book "Who's Who in Buffy," and a guide to the spiritual themes covered in the seven seasons of the show. What can we learn from watching television? More than you might think!
Jana Riess (Winchester, KY) is currently the Religion Book Review Editor for Publishers Weekly and the author of The Spiritual Traveler: Boston and New England. A recognized expert on trends in American religion and publishing, she has written for Books & Culture, Beliefnet.com, and Kirkus Reviews.
This book has not been approved, licensed, or sponsored by any entity or person involved in creating or producing Buffy theVampire Slayer, the film or TV
Review
“…an excellent book for anyone who has enjoyed the TV series…an excellent source…to spark ethical issue debates” (
Eis Webzine)
A bubbly blonde sporting black leather and whomping vampires hardly seems a spiritual paragon, but the title character of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the occult classic that aired from 1997 to 2003, is just that, argues Riess, PW's religion book review editor and a dedicated Slayer fan. Although the show is ambivalent about God's existence and ostensibly secular, it "offers a deep spiritual core that is based in ethical behavior." A "spiritually eclectic" canon on forgiveness, compassion, love, self-sacrifice and redemption guide the slayer and her friends in their battles with evil (supernatural, internal or otherwise), says Riess. Playing off the Christian youth mantra "What would Jesus do?" (which the show also pokes fun at in an episode where Xander tells Buffy, "When it's dark and I'm all alone, and I'm scared or freaked out or whatever, I always think, 'What would Buffy do?'"), Riess dissects the show's moral message according to three themes: personal spirituality, companions (friends and family) and saving the world. Sidebar quotes from prophets, philosophers and poets echo each chapter's spiritual lesson. On self-sacrifice, for example, Riess includes St. Francis's prayer for peace, and on embracing change, she refers to the Qur'an's message about change coming from within a person. This analysis, like the show, never gets mired down in too much seriousness and will add a new dimension to how both fans and critics view the popular series. (May) (Publishers Weekly, March 15, 2004)
Review
"A major contribution to our understanding of Buffy and twenty-first century spirituality.
What Would Buffy Do? may be the best brief introduction to all aspects of this amazing television series."
—David Lavery, coeditor, Slayage: The Online International Journal of Buffy Studies
"Jana Riess brilliantly articulates how the Slayer's battle against evil celebrates the core spiritual values held dear by people of faith. Rock it, Sister Riess!"
—Nancy Holder, author; BTVS: The Watcher's Guide, Volume 1; The Evil That Men Do; and Immortal
"Jana Riess makes an eloquent case for Buffy as a hip heroine for our times, vulnerable but empowering and, in the end, deeply spiritual."
—Mark I. Pinksy, author, The Gospel According to The Simpsons
"Jana Riess's rich knowledge of religious tradition illuminates the spirituality of this culturally significant series. Everyone who loves Buffy should read this lively, lucid book."
—Rhonda Wilcox, coeditor, Fighting the Forces: What's at Stake in Buffy the Vampire Slayer
"Perceptive much! What Would Buffy Do? will confirm every fan's sense that if something's ultimately important, you'll find it in the Buffyverse."
—Michael Adams, author, Slayer Slang: A Buffy The Vampire Slayer Lexicon
"At last, a Buffy book as smart as Buffy, the show. What Would Buffy Do? is an erudite and extremely entertaining meditation on ethics, morality, and how to save the world. A lot."
—Jeff Sharlet, coauthor, Killing the Buddha
"Who knew? Buffy may have said that religion is freaky, but she never had a guide to the spiritual life as illuminating and clear as Jana Riess."
—James B. South, Marquette University and editor, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Philosophy: Fear and Trembling in Sunnydale
Synopsis
This first book-length treatment of the spiritual and religious themes in "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" explores some of the show's most fascinating spiritual, religious, and mythological ideas--from apocalypse and iconography to the power of blood and the need for humor when fighting our spiritual battles.
Synopsis
What Would Buffy Do? explores the fascinating spiritual, religious, and mythological ideas of television’s hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer--from apocalypse and sacrifice to self-reliance, redemption, and the need for humor when fighting our spiritual battles.
About the Author
After saving the world as a Brownie, Jana Riess went on to earn a master of divinity degree from Princeton Theological Seminary and a Ph.D. in religion from Columbia University. She is the religion book review editor at Publishers Weekly. Her favorite character is Giles. Or maybe Spike. Or actually, it’s Buffy. Yeah, definitely Buffy.