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Buffyverse Novels #61
Angel: Stranger to the Sun
When Wesley opens a package that arrives at Angel Investigations by special delivery, he immediately falls into a coma. It's clear he's fallen victim to some kind of magic spell, and Angel sets off with Gunn to find out who or what could be behind the attack. No easy task, since it turns out that everyone who could possibly help them -- from magic-shop owners to the LAPD -- has been affected by the same supernatural slumber. Meanwhile, Cordelia uncovers a Vampire plot to plunge the Earth into constant darkness, so that the creatures of the night can assert their power without the fear of daylight. It's up to her to help prevent it...but she's alone with the still-unconscious Wesley, and as she tends him it becomes increasingly clear that he is in the throes of a terrifying nightmare. Unless she can rouse him it may be the end -- for him as well as the rest of humankind.
286 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published June 1, 2002
About the author
Jeffrey J. Mariotte
161 books165 followersAlso writes as Jeff Mariotte
Jeffrey J. Mariotte is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels, including the Cody Cavanaugh western series, historical western epic Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta (with Peter Murrieta), thrillers Empty Rooms and The Devil's Bait, supernatural thrillers Season of the Wolf, Missing White Girl, River Runs Red, and Cold Black Hearts, horror epic The Slab, and the Dark Vengeance teen horror quartet. With wife and writing partner Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell, he wrote the sf/horror/thriller 7 SYKOS and Mafia III: Plain of Jars, the authorized prequel to the bestselling video game. His most recent release is the short story collection Byrd's Luck & Other Stories, comprising five "traditional" Western tales and five horror-Western stories, two of them brand-new for this edition.
He also writes occasional nonfiction, short fiction (some of which is collected in Nine Frights), and comic books, including the long-running horror/Western comic book series Desperadoes and graphic novels Fade to Black and Zombie Cop. With Marsheila Rockwell, he has published several short stories and is working on more. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the book business, as a writer, editor, marketing executive, and bookseller.
Learn more at www.jeffmariotte.com, and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyJMari... and @JeffMariotte on Twitter.
Also writes as Jeff Mariotte
Jeffrey J. Mariotte is the bestselling, award-winning author of more than 70 novels, including the Cody Cavanaugh western series, historical western epic Blood and Gold: The Legend of Joaquin Murrieta (with Peter Murrieta), thrillers Empty Rooms and The Devil's Bait, supernatural thrillers Season of the Wolf, Missing White Girl, River Runs Red, and Cold Black Hearts, horror epic The Slab, and the Dark Vengeance teen horror quartet. With wife and writing partner Marsheila (Marcy) Rockwell, he wrote the sf/horror/thriller 7 SYKOS and Mafia III: Plain of Jars, the authorized prequel to the bestselling video game. His most recent release is the short story collection Byrd's Luck & Other Stories, comprising five "traditional" Western tales and five horror-Western stories, two of them brand-new for this edition.
He also writes occasional nonfiction, short fiction (some of which is collected in Nine Frights), and comic books, including the long-running horror/Western comic book series Desperadoes and graphic novels Fade to Black and Zombie Cop. With Marsheila Rockwell, he has published several short stories and is working on more. He has worked in virtually every aspect of the book business, as a writer, editor, marketing executive, and bookseller.
Learn more at www.jeffmariotte.com, and follow him at https://www.facebook.com/JeffreyJMari... and @JeffMariotte on Twitter.
Also writes as Jeff Mariotte
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
June 19, 2023
This is an original tie-in novel for the television series Angel, which was the Buffy the Vampire Slayer spin-off. It's set in the continuity of the latter part of the second season of the show and involves an interesting vampire plot that Angel must foil to avoid the world being plunged into eternal darkness. Wesley has been magically forced into a trance state, and Cordelia is forced into the role of head researcher while also having to care for him. It's a fun story, more sidekick-centric than usual, and both Cordy and Wesley have some good lines.
January 24, 2026
Written as an original story set in the second half of Angel's second season where we have Cordy, Wesley, Gunn and Lorne when we just knew him as "The Host".
This one puts a little bit more of a spotlight on Wesley yet a little more focus on Cordy. Angel and Gunn get to battle the bad guy vampires while we shift to Cordy actually having to use your intelligence that does actually lurk beneath her hair.
Wesley is a very complex sort of character as we later learn that he has issues with his father but have seen him go from uptight to being badass.
A package arrives at Angel Investigations but before Cordy can get Angel upstairs, she sort of hints to Wesley that he should go ahead and open it. What happens is like a glitter bomb of green powder which immediately causes Wes to go unconscious.
Angel arrives and tells Cordy not to touch Wes with bare hands as he recognizes the substance or most of it. A powder that causes a deep slumber but a variant that has them treating Wes as if it were anthrax with masks and gloves and stripping his clothing away.
Cordy is put on Wesley watch as Angel rallies Gunn to help him get magic supplies to try and wake him from the spell. Arriving, Angel and Gunn find the owner unconscious and covered in the same green powder. It then becomes clear that more people have been targeted and we are shown that it is not just those practiced in magicks but even scientists as more packages are delivered.
Using what resources, she can find in Wes' books and his own files, Cordelia is able to get in contact with some of his foreign colleagues world-wide. It is then that it is revealed to be a plot by a very powerful vampire to cast a spell knocking the world out of whack to keep L.A. a land of eternal night.
This would make it a feeding ground for the vampires and whoops, Wesley wasn't the actual target despite being a genius at research. It was meant to keep Angel from stopping the ritual to perform the spell which also requires human blood to be spilled.
Angel and Gunn go off to stop the vampire and his undead minions along with help from Gunn's gang of vampire hunters off the streets. A few of them are not keen to be working with Angel since he is a vampire, but Gunn has seen that Angel is all about only doing good. Gunn was always complex in doing good but knowing the cost yet being fiercely loyal once gaining a person's trust.
Despite being comatose, we get insight to what is going on in Wesley's mind while under the slumber powder. It is rather unclear at first whether this is brought on by Wesley's own subconscious or if this is what Angel was meant to experience. There is never any insight to what the other people under the same spell are dreaming about and even in the end, whether most of them wake up.
That's a plot point I won't spoil.
Stranger To the Sun could have been an interesting episode of the show proper and despite a few parts focusing on those other than the main characters and villain, the novel is very interesting with a unique sort of ending. A little drama but some laughs here and there when Gunn and Angel team up and between Wesley and Cordelia as well as Lorne getting in a few of his quirky quips.
A second season tie-in that blends in seamlessly as if it were an actual proper episode of the series.
This one puts a little bit more of a spotlight on Wesley yet a little more focus on Cordy. Angel and Gunn get to battle the bad guy vampires while we shift to Cordy actually having to use your intelligence that does actually lurk beneath her hair.
Wesley is a very complex sort of character as we later learn that he has issues with his father but have seen him go from uptight to being badass.
A package arrives at Angel Investigations but before Cordy can get Angel upstairs, she sort of hints to Wesley that he should go ahead and open it. What happens is like a glitter bomb of green powder which immediately causes Wes to go unconscious.
Angel arrives and tells Cordy not to touch Wes with bare hands as he recognizes the substance or most of it. A powder that causes a deep slumber but a variant that has them treating Wes as if it were anthrax with masks and gloves and stripping his clothing away.
Cordy is put on Wesley watch as Angel rallies Gunn to help him get magic supplies to try and wake him from the spell. Arriving, Angel and Gunn find the owner unconscious and covered in the same green powder. It then becomes clear that more people have been targeted and we are shown that it is not just those practiced in magicks but even scientists as more packages are delivered.
Using what resources, she can find in Wes' books and his own files, Cordelia is able to get in contact with some of his foreign colleagues world-wide. It is then that it is revealed to be a plot by a very powerful vampire to cast a spell knocking the world out of whack to keep L.A. a land of eternal night.
This would make it a feeding ground for the vampires and whoops, Wesley wasn't the actual target despite being a genius at research. It was meant to keep Angel from stopping the ritual to perform the spell which also requires human blood to be spilled.
Angel and Gunn go off to stop the vampire and his undead minions along with help from Gunn's gang of vampire hunters off the streets. A few of them are not keen to be working with Angel since he is a vampire, but Gunn has seen that Angel is all about only doing good. Gunn was always complex in doing good but knowing the cost yet being fiercely loyal once gaining a person's trust.
Despite being comatose, we get insight to what is going on in Wesley's mind while under the slumber powder. It is rather unclear at first whether this is brought on by Wesley's own subconscious or if this is what Angel was meant to experience. There is never any insight to what the other people under the same spell are dreaming about and even in the end, whether most of them wake up.
That's a plot point I won't spoil.
Stranger To the Sun could have been an interesting episode of the show proper and despite a few parts focusing on those other than the main characters and villain, the novel is very interesting with a unique sort of ending. A little drama but some laughs here and there when Gunn and Angel team up and between Wesley and Cordelia as well as Lorne getting in a few of his quirky quips.
A second season tie-in that blends in seamlessly as if it were an actual proper episode of the series.
May 8, 2022
This book, is not great. It is slow, poorly written and its worst crime if all, doesn't feel like Angel et el. Very very disappointed.
July 13, 2015
This book was okay. But nothing more than okay.
Jeff Mariotte has written other Buffy and Angel books that I enjoyed but for some reason this one just did not do it for me.
I got the feel for the characters okay and they were in line with tv show and the references to what happened so far were accurate and up to date for when it was set.
Even the storyline was good with vampires trying to bring about an endless night - kind of reminded me of the first Blade movie.
But I can't exactly put my finger on it unlike the Buffy books I did not love it.
Jeff Mariotte has written other Buffy and Angel books that I enjoyed but for some reason this one just did not do it for me.
I got the feel for the characters okay and they were in line with tv show and the references to what happened so far were accurate and up to date for when it was set.
Even the storyline was good with vampires trying to bring about an endless night - kind of reminded me of the first Blade movie.
But I can't exactly put my finger on it unlike the Buffy books I did not love it.
Read
August 23, 2008isbn,original
April 15, 2010
One of my favorite books ever. I've read it around 5 times, it never gets old for me.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews