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Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Novelizations #2
The Harvest
This is an alternate cover for ISBN 0671017128 / 9780671017125.
As long as there have been vampires, there has been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, to find them where they gather and to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers.
In this generation, she is Buffy Summers, 16 years old and a new student at Sunnydale High. Her experiences at her last school persuaded Buffy to try to resume the life of a normal teenager. But it is no coincidence that Buffy has come to this town at this time. The area is a center of mystical energy, and all the signs point to an imminent, crucial upheaval. Once in a century comes The Harvest: a night when the Master Vampire can draw enough power to break free and open the portal between his world and ours...unleashing havoc.
With the help of new friends and a new Watcher, Buffy's back in business...
As long as there have been vampires, there has been the Slayer. One girl in all the world, to find them where they gather and to stop the spread of their evil and the swell of their numbers.
In this generation, she is Buffy Summers, 16 years old and a new student at Sunnydale High. Her experiences at her last school persuaded Buffy to try to resume the life of a normal teenager. But it is no coincidence that Buffy has come to this town at this time. The area is a center of mystical energy, and all the signs point to an imminent, crucial upheaval. Once in a century comes The Harvest: a night when the Master Vampire can draw enough power to break free and open the portal between his world and ours...unleashing havoc.
With the help of new friends and a new Watcher, Buffy's back in business...
146 pages, Mass Market Paperback
First published March 1, 2000
22 people are currently reading
1211 people want to read
About the author
Richie Tankersley Cusick
50 books795 followersRichie Tankersley Cusick is the bestselling young adult author of over 25 titles, including two adult horror titles, Scarecrow and Blood Roots. Her popularity grew at the height of the horror/YA boom in the late '80s/early '90s, particularly with books like Lifeguard , Trick or Treat and Teacher's Pet, just to name a few, allowing her to keep company on the bestseller paperback lists with the likes of R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. Her fan base expanded about the time she changed publishers to Archway/Pocket Books with titles like Vampire and Someone at the Door.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews
October 5, 2008
October 05, 2003
It takes about an hour to read this book, which isn't any great feat giving it's a straight up rendition of the show's pilot. It was good, mindless fun. :)
The dialogue is pure Joss. The novelization comes in the description of the actions, some of the backstory and in how the writer describes the characters.
It takes about an hour to read this book, which isn't any great feat giving it's a straight up rendition of the show's pilot. It was good, mindless fun. :)
The dialogue is pure Joss. The novelization comes in the description of the actions, some of the backstory and in how the writer describes the characters.
February 16, 2018
5 🌟
Nice to have a novelization of the first Buffy episode. Wish they could have expanded more on the characters thoughts.
Can't wait to read more Buffy novelizations!!!
Nice to have a novelization of the first Buffy episode. Wish they could have expanded more on the characters thoughts.
Can't wait to read more Buffy novelizations!!!
June 16, 2022
This is an adaptation of the Buffy television series pilot episodes that were written by Joss Whedon. Cusick had previously written the Buffy film novelization, and here did the same faithful translation, not adding anything and neither losing a bit. Some of the great lines resonated even better without the colors and sounds of the television being a distraction. It's a much better introduction to the Buffy universe than the original movie.
January 31, 2015
Actual Rating: 2.5 Stars
A lovely friend gave me a box of these books a few years ago and they have sat here unread. Too much other stuff to read and although I am a MASSIVE Buffy/Joss Whedon fan, I have never really liked novelisations or fan fiction so never got overly excited about reading them.
However, my goal this year is to get through most of them so I can pass them on to other readers (and to clear some space around the house). This novelisation is based on the first episode of Season 1 of Buffy (any fan of Buffy will know the Harvest episode). This book though is literally word for word of Joss Whedon's dialogue with a few uninspiring sentences in between to show the action or to describe the outfits. A quick read, but adds NOTHING and the author has taken no liberties that it is actually really unsatisfying. I didn't expect a novelistion to be such a word for word retelling of each scene from the tv show - I expected some other insight.
Therefore, recommendation is to skip the book and watch the TV episode (I can't believe I just said that!).
A lovely friend gave me a box of these books a few years ago and they have sat here unread. Too much other stuff to read and although I am a MASSIVE Buffy/Joss Whedon fan, I have never really liked novelisations or fan fiction so never got overly excited about reading them.
However, my goal this year is to get through most of them so I can pass them on to other readers (and to clear some space around the house). This novelisation is based on the first episode of Season 1 of Buffy (any fan of Buffy will know the Harvest episode). This book though is literally word for word of Joss Whedon's dialogue with a few uninspiring sentences in between to show the action or to describe the outfits. A quick read, but adds NOTHING and the author has taken no liberties that it is actually really unsatisfying. I didn't expect a novelistion to be such a word for word retelling of each scene from the tv show - I expected some other insight.
Therefore, recommendation is to skip the book and watch the TV episode (I can't believe I just said that!).
December 28, 2025
The show’s pilot episode. Loved it, i wish i could go back to watch it for the first time. Pure joy.
August 24, 2017
Vampires in air vents. Cymbal decapitation. Pool stick stake. Holy water face attack. Superb dialogue and a sassy heroine on top of it all. I've never seen the TV show, but I will be reading the series!
October 29, 2024
Een leuk boekje, maar volgens mij alleen voor de echte Buffy fans.
Dit boek was een directe vertaling van de allereerste aflevering van de TV-show. Ik vraag me af wat ik hiervan had gevonden als ik de show nog nooit had gezien. Hoe zou ik mij alles hebben ingebeeld? Zou ik nog steeds zo gecharmeerd worden door dezelfde personages die ik nu al sinds mijn kindertijd van TV ken?
Jammer genoeg was het schrijfwerk ook niet veelzeggend. Het deed zich kinderlijk af, terwijl Buffy toch een redelijk volwassen show is (zeker naar de latere seizoenen toe).
Ach, ik ben blij dat ik het heb gelezen. Zo kreeg ik toch nog wat van die gezellige oktober kriebels binnen voordat Halloween voorbij is :)
Dit boek was een directe vertaling van de allereerste aflevering van de TV-show. Ik vraag me af wat ik hiervan had gevonden als ik de show nog nooit had gezien. Hoe zou ik mij alles hebben ingebeeld? Zou ik nog steeds zo gecharmeerd worden door dezelfde personages die ik nu al sinds mijn kindertijd van TV ken?
Jammer genoeg was het schrijfwerk ook niet veelzeggend. Het deed zich kinderlijk af, terwijl Buffy toch een redelijk volwassen show is (zeker naar de latere seizoenen toe).
Ach, ik ben blij dat ik het heb gelezen. Zo kreeg ik toch nog wat van die gezellige oktober kriebels binnen voordat Halloween voorbij is :)
November 18, 2025
This is basically a novelization of the pilot episode of Buffy and I loved it! I was thinking about why there were so many of these kinds of novelizations of television and movies back in the 80's and 90's and I really think it's because not all people had access to tv as readily as they do now. A kid could pick up a book like this and be able to have conversations about it with their friends. Richie did an excellent job adapting it in book form.
March 6, 2020
Heerlijk komt ook erg dicht in de buurt van seizoen 1
April 10, 2023
Excellent novelization!
This was actually a reread for me. It goes along as the first two episodes of the show do, but with more details, some additional dialogue, and some inner thoughts.
This was actually a reread for me. It goes along as the first two episodes of the show do, but with more details, some additional dialogue, and some inner thoughts.
January 23, 2024
solid adaptation of “welcome to the hellmouth” and “the harvest”
some tiny things like dialogue were changed but all in all enjoyable
some tiny things like dialogue were changed but all in all enjoyable
January 22, 2020
I enjoyed this novelization. It’s basically the first two episodes of season 1, but it was nice to go back and revisit. I’m looking forward to reading more original ‘Buffy’ novels.
November 13, 2023
As a passionate Buffy The Vampire Slayer fan, I have immersed myself in the show countless times, savoring each thrilling moment. When I stumbled upon the existence of Buffy books, my excitement knew no bounds. This particular book, centered around the events of the first episode, granted me the opportunity to delve into the world of my cherished characters through the captivating medium of written storytelling. It was an immensely satisfying experience, as I relived their adventures and emotions all over again. The authors skillful portrayal of the characters and their interactions made me feel as though I was watching the show unfold before my eyes. This literary journey not only reignited my love for Buffy but also deepened my appreciation for the rich universe it has created. I’m eager to explore more Buffy books and continue my magical voyage alongside the slayer and her friends.
June 18, 2021
‘The earth is doomed’ he sighed...
Perfection!
It’s perfectly acceptable to read a novelisation of the first Buffy episode, whilst basically recounting the entire script, word for word before I’ve even read the written text... right?!
It was great to read it and I totally loved it. However, it would have been nice to add deeper character dimensions. Some slight variations to the TV episode but it mostly stayed true to form.
Loved it!
Perfection!
It’s perfectly acceptable to read a novelisation of the first Buffy episode, whilst basically recounting the entire script, word for word before I’ve even read the written text... right?!
It was great to read it and I totally loved it. However, it would have been nice to add deeper character dimensions. Some slight variations to the TV episode but it mostly stayed true to form.
Loved it!
July 4, 2016
De eerste aflevering van de tv-serie wordt in dit boek navertelt. Alleen leuk voor de fans van de serie en voor jonge lezers.
November 18, 2024
Review of “Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest”
How I read: 📖
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Rating System Below)
”Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest” is a fun, nostalgic read that brings the early episodes of the show to life, though it sticks pretty closely to the original story without adding much depth or internal monologue from the characters; still, if you’re a Buffy fan, it’s an enjoyable novelization worth checking out, and I’m excited to dive into more of the series.
___________________
*Star Rating Guide*
⭐ - The writing style didn’t appeal to me. The characters didn’t resonate with me. I pushed myself to the limit to avoid DNF’ing. I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone I’m acquainted with.
⭐⭐ - The book was passable, but it won’t stick in my mind. Although I didn’t abandon the book, my mind wasn’t fully immersed in the story. I discovered that it was easy for me to stop reading it and not feel compelled to continue promptly. When everything was said and done, I was unsure of my immediate opinion on this book.
⭐⭐⭐ - If someone is actively seeking a book in this general premise, I would suggest this. While it was good, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up this book for a second read. If it were part of a series, I’d probably venture into the next book. Reading it was time well-spent.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This book was brilliant. I had the urge to keep reading and turn to the next page. The book stayed on my mind for days after I finished it. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I was actively engaged in wanting to finish reading this book. My thoughts are consumed by this book after completing it. I want to have a physical copy as a trophy that I can display on my shelf. I felt a strong connection and investment while reading this book, would definitely recommend.
How I read: 📖
⭐⭐⭐☆☆ (Rating System Below)
”Buffy the Vampire Slayer: The Harvest” is a fun, nostalgic read that brings the early episodes of the show to life, though it sticks pretty closely to the original story without adding much depth or internal monologue from the characters; still, if you’re a Buffy fan, it’s an enjoyable novelization worth checking out, and I’m excited to dive into more of the series.
___________________
*Star Rating Guide*
⭐ - The writing style didn’t appeal to me. The characters didn’t resonate with me. I pushed myself to the limit to avoid DNF’ing. I wouldn’t suggest this book to anyone I’m acquainted with.
⭐⭐ - The book was passable, but it won’t stick in my mind. Although I didn’t abandon the book, my mind wasn’t fully immersed in the story. I discovered that it was easy for me to stop reading it and not feel compelled to continue promptly. When everything was said and done, I was unsure of my immediate opinion on this book.
⭐⭐⭐ - If someone is actively seeking a book in this general premise, I would suggest this. While it was good, I don’t think I’ll ever pick up this book for a second read. If it were part of a series, I’d probably venture into the next book. Reading it was time well-spent.
⭐⭐⭐⭐ - This book was brilliant. I had the urge to keep reading and turn to the next page. The book stayed on my mind for days after I finished it. I highly recommend this book to everyone.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ - I was actively engaged in wanting to finish reading this book. My thoughts are consumed by this book after completing it. I want to have a physical copy as a trophy that I can display on my shelf. I felt a strong connection and investment while reading this book, would definitely recommend.
December 1, 2025
No esperaba demasiado de esta novelización y, sin embargo, la lectura me resultó entretenida. Cusick logra capturar la acción y el suspense de la serie original, adaptando los episodios piloto a un formato literario ágil y comprensible. La historia gira en torno a Buffy enfrentando a Luke y al Master, y aunque el final es ambiguo, funciona bien para dejar abiertos los conflictos que se desarrollarán en las primeras temporadas.
Al igual que toda la serie, en este caso también los personajes serán lo más atractivo del libro. Willow me pareció el más interesante por el potencial de evolución que sabemos tendrá en la serie, y también fue curioso recordar a Jesse, un personaje que debo reconocer, había olvidado. Buffy mantiene su carisma y fuerza, y los villanos generan la tensión necesaria para que la acción se sienta viva.
El estilo de Cusick es atrapante, aunque se nota que es una adaptación: la escritura no se profundiza demasiado en la psicología de los personajes pero sí mantiene la acción, el humor y la atmósfera de la serie. La tensión y el suspense funcionan, y la sensación de peligro es constante.
Los temas principales (amistad, heroísmo y horror) aparecen de forma clara, aunque sin complejidad filosófica.
El final me dejó satisfecho como cierre de capítulo, aunque naturalmente deja preguntas sobre lo que seguirá. Es una lectura recomendable para fans de la serie que quieran revivir los primeros episodios de forma entretenida y dinámica. Le doy tres estrellas: cumple con su objetivo como novelización, divertida y fiel al Buffyverso, pero sin el interés que podría suscitar una obra original.
Al igual que toda la serie, en este caso también los personajes serán lo más atractivo del libro. Willow me pareció el más interesante por el potencial de evolución que sabemos tendrá en la serie, y también fue curioso recordar a Jesse, un personaje que debo reconocer, había olvidado. Buffy mantiene su carisma y fuerza, y los villanos generan la tensión necesaria para que la acción se sienta viva.
El estilo de Cusick es atrapante, aunque se nota que es una adaptación: la escritura no se profundiza demasiado en la psicología de los personajes pero sí mantiene la acción, el humor y la atmósfera de la serie. La tensión y el suspense funcionan, y la sensación de peligro es constante.
Los temas principales (amistad, heroísmo y horror) aparecen de forma clara, aunque sin complejidad filosófica.
El final me dejó satisfecho como cierre de capítulo, aunque naturalmente deja preguntas sobre lo que seguirá. Es una lectura recomendable para fans de la serie que quieran revivir los primeros episodios de forma entretenida y dinámica. Le doy tres estrellas: cumple con su objetivo como novelización, divertida y fiel al Buffyverso, pero sin el interés que podría suscitar una obra original.
April 9, 2020
Buffy Summers zieht mit ihrer Mutter in die Kleinstadt Sunnydale. Von ihrer alten Schule ist sie geflogen weil sie die Turnhalle niederbrannte . Was niemand weiß, Vampire existieren wirklich und Buffy wurde dazu auserkoren sie zu jagen....
Lange bleibt ihr Geheimniss allerdings nicht gewahrt. Als eine Leiche mit Bisswunden am Hals auf dem Schulgelände auftaucht und ein Mitschüler von Vampiren verschleppt wird muss sie handeln.
Als großer Fan der Fantasy-Serie Buffy im Bann der Dämonen, versuche ich mich nun auch endlich den dazugehörigen Büchern zu widmen. Auch wenn mir die Widerkehr des Meisters nichts neues erzählen konnte (Denn das Buch ist nur Folge 1 und 2 in gedruckter Form ) Fand ich es toll nach Sunnydale zurückzukehren und noch einmal die Anfänge mitzuerleben. Der Schreibstil ist sehr einfach. Doch ich finde der Autor konnte den Witz und den Sarkasmus von dem schon die Serie lebte gut wiedergeben. Ich bin schon sehr auf die anderen Bücher gespannt und besonders freue ich mich darauf auch mal neue Geschichten zu entdecken, die so in der Serie nicht erzählt wurden.
April 11, 2021
Haha! Wat een slecht verhaal! Maar om eerlijk te zijn was het heerlijk om weer een aflevering van Buffy te zien..uhh.. lezen.
Het is een dun boekje met dikke koeienletters. Het is dan ook zo uit.
Het verhaal gaat over Buffy en ze is net op een nieuwe school gekomen. Ze maakt al snel kennis met nerd Willow, skater Xander en bibliothecaris Giles. Cordelia is als schoolbitch ook meteen aanwezig.
Buffy is net verhuisd en alle genoemde personen kent ze nog niet echt. Toch is het na een paar bladzijdes alsof ze elkaar al jaren kennen en ze helpen Buffy al gauw om de bloedoogst en de ondergang van de aarde te voorkomen.
Angel komt ook nog even om de hoek zetten als mysterieuze bondgenoot, maar hij heeft verder geen grote rol in dit verhaal.
Alles gaat erg gemakkelijk en het is allemaal wat overdreven, net als de serie dat altijd was.
Lekker boekje voor tussendoor, maar de rest van de serie hoef ik niet zo nodig te lezen. Leuk voor kinderen van een jaar of 11/12 jaar oud.
Het is een dun boekje met dikke koeienletters. Het is dan ook zo uit.
Het verhaal gaat over Buffy en ze is net op een nieuwe school gekomen. Ze maakt al snel kennis met nerd Willow, skater Xander en bibliothecaris Giles. Cordelia is als schoolbitch ook meteen aanwezig.
Buffy is net verhuisd en alle genoemde personen kent ze nog niet echt. Toch is het na een paar bladzijdes alsof ze elkaar al jaren kennen en ze helpen Buffy al gauw om de bloedoogst en de ondergang van de aarde te voorkomen.
Angel komt ook nog even om de hoek zetten als mysterieuze bondgenoot, maar hij heeft verder geen grote rol in dit verhaal.
Alles gaat erg gemakkelijk en het is allemaal wat overdreven, net als de serie dat altijd was.
Lekker boekje voor tussendoor, maar de rest van de serie hoef ik niet zo nodig te lezen. Leuk voor kinderen van een jaar of 11/12 jaar oud.
February 27, 2022
Je viens de lire les deux premiers épisodes de la série télévisée "Buffy contre les vampires, saison 1". Je ne peux pas dire que le contenu du livre m'ait laissé beaucoup de suspense car j'ai déjà regardé la série, plusieurs fois.
Par contre, j'étais au bord de la panne de lecture et cette histoire; que je connais comme ma poche; m'a fait un bien fou! Pour ceux qui n'ont pas envie de regarder les affreux effets spéciaux / jeux d'acteur de la série (perso j'ai accroché quand même), lire l'adaptation livresque peut être un bon plan. Je pense que dans les quelques pages qu'il y a dans ce tome, on ne rate pas grand chose de ce qu'il y a dans ces 2 épisodes.
Je pense que je vais garder le reste de la série en cas de bad good ou d'une approche de panne de lecture car ça reste un de mes univers bonbon et que je suis fan du sarcasme de Willow.
Par contre, j'étais au bord de la panne de lecture et cette histoire; que je connais comme ma poche; m'a fait un bien fou! Pour ceux qui n'ont pas envie de regarder les affreux effets spéciaux / jeux d'acteur de la série (perso j'ai accroché quand même), lire l'adaptation livresque peut être un bon plan. Je pense que dans les quelques pages qu'il y a dans ce tome, on ne rate pas grand chose de ce qu'il y a dans ces 2 épisodes.
Je pense que je vais garder le reste de la série en cas de bad good ou d'une approche de panne de lecture car ça reste un de mes univers bonbon et que je suis fan du sarcasme de Willow.
November 24, 2025
A faithful adaptation of the pilot episode of Buffy. It doesn't bring anything new to the Buffyverse, but it was fun to read and inhale deeply the nostalgia seeping from the pages of this book. Some things undoubtedly belong in the 90s, like Xander's problematic behaviour towards women and his weird sexual comments, and Cordelia's utterly one sided personality and remarks that really are not ok to say now (I know she has some growth later but come on, she is quite extreme in episode 1 with the obnoxiousness). Willow's sad little voice is so ingrained in my mind that I could literally hear her every time I read a line of her dialogue. But Buffy kicks vampire butt and that's the main thing. And Giles. You can't fault Giles.
January 28, 2024
I am a huge Buffy The Vampire Slayer fan and have watched the series on several occasions.
This book focuses on Episode One of Season One Welcome To The Hell Mouth and Episode Two of Season One The Harvest.
I enjoyed this book and love how you get to see Buffy’s first couple of days at Sunnydale high in more depth. You are also introduced to the other characters, Giles, Willow, Xander, Cordillera, Angel, The Master and the vampires in more detail. And I enjoyed reading about The Master in more detail.
This book has been really well written and ties in with the show brilliantly. It is fast paced with the same amount of action that you would expect from the show.
April 16, 2020
I love these episodes (Welcome to the Hellmouth and The Harvest), so it was fun to reread this novelization again. However, it is very much a simple reformatting of the screenplay into novel format. If you've watched the episode, you have read the book. The only real changes are some slight variations on the dialogue, but even those are only noticeable if you have memorized every line of the show. (Which I may or may not have done 22 years ago). So, read it if you like, but you aren't missing any new story nuggets if you don't.
June 29, 2018
Super fan de la série télé depuis des années (et pour toujours !), il était temps que je me mette aux livres. Cette histoire est l'adaptation fidèle du premier épisode de la série télé. Seul bémol, l'écriture (traduction ?) n'est pas terrible. J'ai trouvé que les répliques humoristiques/sarcastiques de Buffy sont moins percutantes que dans la série. Mais j'ai bien aimé retrouver l'univers et les personnages.
October 31, 2020
2.5 - 3 stars.
It was pretty much the first episode all over again but it didn't have quite the same charm the show has. It was somewhat nostalgic but honestly all i want to do is to rewatch the show again .
It was pretty much the first episode all over again but it didn't have quite the same charm the show has. It was somewhat nostalgic but honestly all i want to do is to rewatch the show again .
April 13, 2021
It was a pretty fun novelisation. The story is obviously great. Some of the dialogue works much better spoken than it does written. There are also a few instances where it's quite obvious that it's been adapted from a screenplay (sometimes one step away from describing a camera angle) but overall it's fun.
June 3, 2021
Buffy moves to Sunnydale, meets Giles, Xander, Willow, and Angel and tries to prevent the Master from causing the Harvest to occur.
This novelization of the first episode of Buffy was a super quick read. I've been re-watching the series and while this didn't add anything to the information in the show, it was fun to read.
This novelization of the first episode of Buffy was a super quick read. I've been re-watching the series and while this didn't add anything to the information in the show, it was fun to read.
June 13, 2022
This is just a novelization of the first two episodes, nothing more than that. There might be a few sporadic lines that I don't remember from the episodes (possibly in the script but cut for time), but that's it as far as "new" material. You really don't get any additional insight into the characters or world than you'd get from watching the show.
October 27, 2022
This is the first book in the original novels from the 90s that went along with the Buffy TV show. This first one is a novelization of the episode with the same name, this is the first episode of the show. I thought it was enjoyable, written really well. I love the tv show so remembered what had happened it was still fun to read though. I'm looking forward to reading the original novels.
June 8, 2023
"Buffy The Vampire Slayer: The Harvest," by Richie Tankersley Cusick.
A 90's classic perfectly written and produced to a T of the first few episodes of Buffy. Iconic lines and one of the best introductions into fantasy. Buffy books are short stories but they are filled with adventure, gore, wit and fem fatale. I rated this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨.
A 90's classic perfectly written and produced to a T of the first few episodes of Buffy. Iconic lines and one of the best introductions into fantasy. Buffy books are short stories but they are filled with adventure, gore, wit and fem fatale. I rated this one ⭐⭐⭐⭐✨.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 114 reviews