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The Gatekeeper Trilogy #1
Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Out of the Madhouse
Sunnydale is being besieged by dark forces. But even with Buffy providing her unique style of damage control, it's more than one Slayer can handle - especially since the abominations are coming from a centuries-old portal through time and space.
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14963...
https://openlibrary.org/works/OL14963...
371 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published January 1, 1999
35 people are currently reading
1463 people want to read
About the author
Christopher Golden
798 books2,960 followersCHRISTOPHER GOLDEN is the New York Times bestselling, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of such novels as Road of Bones, Ararat, Snowblind, Of Saints and Shadows, and Red Hands. With Mike Mignola, he is the co-creator of the Outerverse comic book universe, including such series as Baltimore, Joe Golem: Occult Detective, and Lady Baltimore. As an editor, he has worked on the short story anthologies Seize the Night, Dark Cities, and The New Dead, among others, and he has also written and co-written comic books, video games, screenplays, and a network television pilot. Golden co-hosts the podcast Defenders Dialogue with horror author Brian Keene. In 2015 he founded the popular Merrimack Valley Halloween Book Festival. He was born and raised in Massachusetts, where he still lives with his family. His work has been nominated for the British Fantasy Award, the Eisner Award, and multiple Shirley Jackson Awards. For the Bram Stoker Awards, Golden has been nominated ten times in eight different categories. His original novels have been published in more than fifteen languages in countries around the world. Please visit him at www.christophergolden.com
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews
December 21, 2011
DUDE, I had completely forgotten these books existed. This trilogy was AWESOME. I read it about a billion times. Oh man. Somewhere in my mom's house are sad, tattered, dog-eared copies of all these. I have to hunt them down.
June 5, 2023
3/5 - I enjoyed this book but sometimes felt the thoughts they had Xander thinking were a little bit off – not what/how I would imagine Xander thinking from the way he talks on the show. I thought they had Oz completely right and Willow and Buffy were pretty much right, just a few times where I went “Hey, she doesn’t think like that.” I liked the story and different locations all over the world. I like that they had everyone involved, even Joyce and that some different characters featured in the action (although I don’t know if I really believe that O could “handle” himself against various demons and monsters). Enjoyed it enough that I will read it again and I’m glad I bought it.
May 8, 2020
You know what? As far as made-for-TV-show books go? Not that bad. Surprisingly gory, imaginative, fun--I'm not even that into the TV show, and this, I think, did its job in making me want to actually watch the entire TV show.
September 23, 2022
5 stars
Nice to see the first book in the Gatekeeper trilogy. Hope they are able to get the Gatekeeper's son back.
Nice to see the first book in the Gatekeeper trilogy. Hope they are able to get the Gatekeeper's son back.
July 25, 2022
I actually found myself really enjoying this book! I think by this point obviously the show had been going long enough that the characters were more established, so the writers were able to better reflect versions of the characters that we know and love. Xander was infuriating at times, but... no change there from the show. In terms of thoughts and dialogue, it felt pretty accurate in my opinion!
The plot here felt like one of the most cohesive of all the novels I've read so far - which is even more of a feat considering it's part one of a trilogy, so I would fully understand if things felt a bit too over-wrought and complex for just one book.
The book also managed to achieve something that's one of my favourite aspects of the show, but is much harder to achieve with the novels (which have to be standalone to a degree) - it actually explored the emotions and growth of the characters, thinking about their futures, what post-gradation life will look like. It didn't just feel like the characters had been transplanted into a situation, but rather that we were exploring how the characters were actually feeling and thinking, the inner turmoil of their life choices outside of the specific monster they were facing.
I also really liked the fact that there were subtle callbacks peppered throughout (not just rehashing of dialogue from the TV show, but references to Theresa for example), and even callbacks to previous books (most notably Child of the Hunt and Blooded), which overall just helped to add to what the TV show did really well, which was continuity, and making you believe that these characters' whole lives really existed, and that the adventures they went on still existed in their minds, and the people they'd met really did exist. So I loved the book for managing to sneak those in!
I'm quite excited to see how the rest of the series develops through books two and three!
The plot here felt like one of the most cohesive of all the novels I've read so far - which is even more of a feat considering it's part one of a trilogy, so I would fully understand if things felt a bit too over-wrought and complex for just one book.
The book also managed to achieve something that's one of my favourite aspects of the show, but is much harder to achieve with the novels (which have to be standalone to a degree) - it actually explored the emotions and growth of the characters, thinking about their futures, what post-gradation life will look like. It didn't just feel like the characters had been transplanted into a situation, but rather that we were exploring how the characters were actually feeling and thinking, the inner turmoil of their life choices outside of the specific monster they were facing.
I also really liked the fact that there were subtle callbacks peppered throughout (not just rehashing of dialogue from the TV show, but references to Theresa for example), and even callbacks to previous books (most notably Child of the Hunt and Blooded), which overall just helped to add to what the TV show did really well, which was continuity, and making you believe that these characters' whole lives really existed, and that the adventures they went on still existed in their minds, and the people they'd met really did exist. So I loved the book for managing to sneak those in!
I'm quite excited to see how the rest of the series develops through books two and three!
November 14, 2023
It's been years since I last read this and the only thing I remember about this trilogy is: a spooky house that is kinda like a horror version of the worst possible Tinder surprise you can get.
The house's sole purpose is that keep all the mythological demons and other things that go bump in the night that have been long forgotten from public knowledge and now is only myth and guarded by the Gatekeeper.
Nice to have references from both the TV series as well as the non-canon novels of events and characters and this story takes place near the middle to the end of season 3 as the gang is talking about Graduation, however, there's no mention of the Mayor, Faith, Wesley (yet!)
Overall, Christopher Golden does a splendid job of capturing the character's voices, mannerisms, and personalities, that it feels like another Btvs episode.
I know I'm being extremely vague about the plot ... but I assure you, you won't be disappointed, as several times the Scoobies are forced to split into teams to solve the latest issue: demons running amok, Buffy's being hunted by the new Big Bad's and it's flunkies ... must be Tuesday (well actually, it's Wednesday for me lol)
The house's sole purpose is that keep all the mythological demons and other things that go bump in the night that have been long forgotten from public knowledge and now is only myth and guarded by the Gatekeeper.
Nice to have references from both the TV series as well as the non-canon novels of events and characters and this story takes place near the middle to the end of season 3 as the gang is talking about Graduation, however, there's no mention of the Mayor, Faith, Wesley (yet!)
Overall, Christopher Golden does a splendid job of capturing the character's voices, mannerisms, and personalities, that it feels like another Btvs episode.
I know I'm being extremely vague about the plot ... but I assure you, you won't be disappointed, as several times the Scoobies are forced to split into teams to solve the latest issue: demons running amok, Buffy's being hunted by the new Big Bad's and it's flunkies ... must be Tuesday (well actually, it's Wednesday for me lol)
January 31, 2024
A fun book to listen to on the way to work. It was quite gory which was surprising.
April 12, 2022
Apparently I read this in 2012, nearly 10 years ago. I have absolutely no memory of this, and reading this book again didn't trigger even the slightest "hm."
It's odd because this is one of the better Buffy books there is. The premise is pretty out there, but the characterizations are decent.
Maybe I read a different book and accidentally rated this one? It's possible. They do run together.
It's odd because this is one of the better Buffy books there is. The premise is pretty out there, but the characterizations are decent.
Maybe I read a different book and accidentally rated this one? It's possible. They do run together.
March 30, 2023
3.5/5 - not my favorite In the Buffy series, but still an interesting story. There are some flashback scenes regarding the villain and his nemesis’s history with each other. This is largely a haunted house novel, so I was able to enjoy it for that too.
January 8, 2023
KZKZ
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 8, 2019
I love Buffy and this was my first foray into one of the canonical novels. It might be my last. Golden and Holder did a good job of having the characters sound like themselves but this book had so many things going on, it was hard to know what mattered. Add to that, you know the danger isn't real because you know these characters will all survive. I think the authors ha far too many ideas here. This could have been three different books. Also the characters stressing about graduation in the middle of an apocalypse level fight seems trite. Overall, nothing that makes me want to read the rest of the already overlong trilogy.
July 1, 2018
Start strong, with the show's characters acting (and interacting) as we've come to expect (and enjoy).
Sadly it goes a bit off the rails once the story leaves Sunnyvale. Perhaps the narrative loses focus on the show's characters too much as it begins to encompass new characters that aren't particularly engaging. The action also becomes more involved - and yet at the same time less engaging.
Left me unsure as to whether I'd acquire / read other books in the series.
Sadly it goes a bit off the rails once the story leaves Sunnyvale. Perhaps the narrative loses focus on the show's characters too much as it begins to encompass new characters that aren't particularly engaging. The action also becomes more involved - and yet at the same time less engaging.
Left me unsure as to whether I'd acquire / read other books in the series.
August 26, 2013
A book based on the tv series. This book had a good storyline and I enjoyed it. It moved at a nice pace and I thought the authors captured most of the characters correctly. Xander felt a little off. This novel is one of the better novels based on the tv show. The only downfall to this book is that it is the first book of a trilogy. That being said, I am looking forward to reading the second book.
April 4, 2023
Loin de Sunnydale/Out of the madhouse (The Gatekeeper trilogy 1)
Ok, the book is pretty good. This is a fun tv-tie in where they use the novel format in the best way - i.e. by doing things they just wouldn’t be able to do on TV, without going mental with it (like the comics did).
Here we have the Scoobies going to Boston, a haunted house, a Kraken, ghosts, ghouls, travel via ”ghost roads”, and old characters appearing (like Jenny, but also including characters that are strictly from previous books).
Even the backstory is unusually compelling and the story of the Gatekeeper pretty good. I enjoyed it once I got into it.
I don’t like the fighting and tension between Buffy and Xander, but I do like the characters focus on the future and their relationships to their parents.
Reading on will be interesting. This was a good ”set up” book.
All that said, I read the French version of this book. By happenstance I have the English edition too and I noticed that it was about 50 pages longer but also had a smaller print… I flipped through it and noted that chapter 16 didn’t start the same way in the books. After reading the English one I realized that the French translation simply skips about 3 pages (!) before starting the chapter, and then skips whole paragraphs throughout.
This really irritated me, while it wasn’t essential exposition, it was some exposition and a lot of dialogue and relationship stuff between the characters that just completely skipped over. Very annoying!
Translation is an art form, it has to be adjusted to make sense in a different language and choices are made for that. But abridging the text is a different matter entirely. I only have the French edition for the next part, so now I wonder what I’ll be missing by reading
May 7, 2021
Okay, this is a reread for me although that was about 20 years ago. So take that into consideration along with me being a major fan of the show.
Warnings for the book: Violence, Death, Gore (although it might only be mild depending on your tolerance)
So in tone, this reads like watching an episode of Buffy except so much more: more violent, more intense, more everything, and I love it. The writers had a very strong grasp of the characters they were writing and it shows. None of their actions/choices felt out of place. That can be a dangerous field when writing something based on a well-known show but it was handled beautifully.
There is quite a bit of shifting between the current time of the book and the past, but at no point was it overly jarring or out of place. It also tied itself in rather nicely into the book to explain what was going on although you really only got the full picture by the end (as it should).
It really is a gripping story and totally has you ready to jump into the next book by the end. If you were a fan of the show and can get your hands on it, I really do recommend reading it.
Warnings for the book: Violence, Death, Gore (although it might only be mild depending on your tolerance)
So in tone, this reads like watching an episode of Buffy except so much more: more violent, more intense, more everything, and I love it. The writers had a very strong grasp of the characters they were writing and it shows. None of their actions/choices felt out of place. That can be a dangerous field when writing something based on a well-known show but it was handled beautifully.
There is quite a bit of shifting between the current time of the book and the past, but at no point was it overly jarring or out of place. It also tied itself in rather nicely into the book to explain what was going on although you really only got the full picture by the end (as it should).
It really is a gripping story and totally has you ready to jump into the next book by the end. If you were a fan of the show and can get your hands on it, I really do recommend reading it.
November 16, 2025
This was a really enjoyable read. It taps straight into that classic Buffy the Vampire Slayer nostalgia but pushes the stakes (see what I did there?) far beyond what the show could realistically do in a single episode. The scale is bigger, the threat is more intense, and it still manages to feel like the Buffy universe we know.
The character writing is spot-on. They each get a chance to shine and all sound and behave like their TV counterparts, which goes a long way toward making this feel like a genuine extension of the series rather than something drifting into fanfic territory. The humour mostly lands, too, though there are moments where it feels a bit forced. It’s like the writers would occasionally force a joke even when the scene didn’t quite need it.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is the finale. The “power of love” angle is an overused trope, and the way it’s handled here is pretty weak. Characters are being mauled by monsters only to be completely fine moments later - it breaks the tension and cheapens the moment.
The character writing is spot-on. They each get a chance to shine and all sound and behave like their TV counterparts, which goes a long way toward making this feel like a genuine extension of the series rather than something drifting into fanfic territory. The humour mostly lands, too, though there are moments where it feels a bit forced. It’s like the writers would occasionally force a joke even when the scene didn’t quite need it.
The only reason this isn’t a full five stars is the finale. The “power of love” angle is an overused trope, and the way it’s handled here is pretty weak. Characters are being mauled by monsters only to be completely fine moments later - it breaks the tension and cheapens the moment.
September 26, 2023
The first of a trilogy of Buffy novels, it's the first time that this kind of length is given to a BtVS written story. It's a pretty cool one, at least from this starting volume and one which would have been hard to put on screen in the series.
The story involves a kind of cosmic imbalance stretching all the way back to the French court and Catherine de Medici and her two competing court magicians. One of them eventually becomes the keeper of a gate separating evil beings from our plane of existence. When Spring-Heeled Jack comes out of Victorian times to Sunnydale the Scoobies realize that there is something wrong with the gate.
This leads to the scoobies splitting up, some dealing with what is going on in Sunnydale and others, including Buffy and Giles going off to the Gatehouse, a kind of weird multiversal funhouse that is going through something. Quite interested in reading the two other volumes in the series.
The story involves a kind of cosmic imbalance stretching all the way back to the French court and Catherine de Medici and her two competing court magicians. One of them eventually becomes the keeper of a gate separating evil beings from our plane of existence. When Spring-Heeled Jack comes out of Victorian times to Sunnydale the Scoobies realize that there is something wrong with the gate.
This leads to the scoobies splitting up, some dealing with what is going on in Sunnydale and others, including Buffy and Giles going off to the Gatehouse, a kind of weird multiversal funhouse that is going through something. Quite interested in reading the two other volumes in the series.
September 5, 2019
DNFing at page 240.
I love this show and have to give props to the authors as the characters actually read like the are in the show.
However, I can't actually tell you wants happening in the book because everything is happening. It's like they crammed multiple books worth of plot in to this first book and it's a trilogy. We have plots with all the characters who have separate side plots with others. The big villain had a plot, his minions have a plot, the guy he had a fight will decades ago has a plot, a house full of demon portals has a plot, and all these will they worry about graduating. Pretty sure they are more I haven't named too. What is important to remember and what's filler? No idea
I love this show and have to give props to the authors as the characters actually read like the are in the show.
However, I can't actually tell you wants happening in the book because everything is happening. It's like they crammed multiple books worth of plot in to this first book and it's a trilogy. We have plots with all the characters who have separate side plots with others. The big villain had a plot, his minions have a plot, the guy he had a fight will decades ago has a plot, a house full of demon portals has a plot, and all these will they worry about graduating. Pretty sure they are more I haven't named too. What is important to remember and what's filler? No idea
June 20, 2022
The Gatekeeper Trilogy was always one of my favourite Buffy books when I was growing up, so when I saw some copies at a used bookstore that weren't as trashed as my childhood copies, I picked them up to give them a read. Out of the Madhouse is still a fun, light read and I can totally see why it was one of my favourites. There's lots of Giles, who is my fav, and good, solid banter. Interestingly, it cleaves well enough to the TV show that I found Xander utterly obnoxious - his gross "but I'm a man who should be allowed to fight!" was very well done and very in keeping with the show. Good job, authors! It's not a perfect book by any means, but it's fun and I really liked revisiting Buffy from this angle.
January 31, 2024
This was a little chaotic at points, but it did tick a lot of the iconic TV tie-in boxes for me. Ambitious plot too expensive for television? Check. Fan-service continuity references? Check. Random character cameos? Check. Being impossible to actually reconcile with the show's canon? All of the checks, and then some.
I'm not going to claim that this is highbrow literature, but it was a lot of fun, which is exactly the point of a book like this. 3.5.
I'm not going to claim that this is highbrow literature, but it was a lot of fun, which is exactly the point of a book like this. 3.5.
April 19, 2020
So fun. I didn't know what to expect, because I've never read a Buffy novelization before. But it was so nostalgic slipping back into this world and spending time with these characters. The supernatural mystery was fun and felt like a several-episode arc in terms of the show's density of content. Looking forward to reading the rest of the trilogy.
October 20, 2021
First of three in the Gatekeeper trilogy. Chaos reigns in Sunnydale; evil things are coming through portals that lead to a strange mansion in Boston. Buffy and The Scoobies go there to see if they can seal off the portals only to find an ailing Gatekeeper whose magic is slowly being snuffed out. Book two next….
December 31, 2019
Not my favorite Buffy book
This book has been a long read due to reading other books. While keeping the characters in character it was a bit annoying with jumping to different times.
It was an ok read though and I will read the full trilogy.
This book has been a long read due to reading other books. While keeping the characters in character it was a bit annoying with jumping to different times.
It was an ok read though and I will read the full trilogy.
October 11, 2021
Love the show. Hadn't read any of the books except the graphic novels. This one was good. Throughout I liked the character interactions and them trying to figure out what was going on as well. Good read.
July 18, 2017
The author manages to nail all the characters while involving them all in one way or another. Seeing Oz do stuff is particularly cool, since he's usually relegated to the sidelines
February 20, 2018
a interesting book a good read surprisingly so.
October 1, 2018
Although I love Buffy, these were only ok... it took me awhile to finish the series which is a bad sign
May 1, 2019
This my favourite series of Buffy novels and anyone that enjoys the show would probably enjoy this book
June 25, 2019
Read this one after book two in the mini series. Just as good!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 57 reviews