Explore the history and cultural impact of a groundbreaking television show adored by old and new fans alike: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Over the course of its seven-year run, Buffy the Vampire Slayer cultivated a loyal fandom and featured a strong, complex female lead, at a time when such a character was a rarity. Evan Ross Katz explores the show’s cultural relevance through a book that is part oral history, part celebration, and part memoir of a personal fandom that has universal resonance still, decades later.
Katz—with the help of the show’s cast, creators, and crew—reveals that although Buffy contributed to important conversations about gender, sexuality, and feminism, it was not free of internal strife, controversy, and shortcomings. Men—both on screen and off—would taint the show’s reputation as a feminist masterpiece, and changing networks, amongst other factors, would drastically alter the show’s tone.
Katz addresses these issues and more, including interviews with stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield, Amber Benson, James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, Seth Green, Marc Blucas, Nicholas Brendon, Danny Strong, Tom Lenk, Bianca Lawson, Julie Benz, Clare Kramer, K. Todd Freeman, Sharon Ferguson; and writers Douglas Petrie, Jane Espenson, and Drew Z. Greenberg; as well as conversations with Buffy fanatics and friends of the cast including Stacey Abrams, Cynthia Erivo, Lee Pace, Claire Saffitz, Tavi Gevinson, and Selma Blair.
Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born engages with the very notion of fandom, and the ways a show like Buffy can influence not only how we see the world but how we exist within it.
Explore the history and cultural impact of a groundbreaking television show adored by old and new fans alike: Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Over the course of its seven-year run, Buffy the Vampire Slayer cultivated a loyal fandom and featured a strong, complex female lead, at a time when such a character was a rarity. Evan Ross Katz explores the show’s cultural relevance through a book that is part oral history, part celebration, and part memoir of a personal fandom that has universal resonance still, decades later.
Katz—with the help of the show’s cast, creators, and crew—reveals that although Buffy contributed to important conversations about gender, sexuality, and feminism, it was not free of internal strife, controversy, and shortcomings. Men—both on screen and off—would taint the show’s reputation as a feminist masterpiece, and changing networks, amongst other factors, would drastically alter the show’s tone.
Katz addresses these issues and more, including interviews with stars Sarah Michelle Gellar, Charisma Carpenter, Emma Caulfield, Amber Benson, James Marsters, Anthony Stewart Head, Seth Green, Marc Blucas, Nicholas Brendon, Danny Strong, Tom Lenk, Bianca Lawson, Julie Benz, Clare Kramer, K. Todd Freeman, Sharon Ferguson; and writers Douglas Petrie, Jane Espenson, and Drew Z. Greenberg; as well as conversations with Buffy fanatics and friends of the cast including Stacey Abrams, Cynthia Erivo, Lee Pace, Claire Saffitz, Tavi Gevinson, and Selma Blair.
Into Every Generation a Slayer Is Born engages with the very notion of fandom, and the ways a show like Buffy can influence not only how we see the world but how we exist within it.
Into Every Generation a Slayer is Born by Evan Ross Katz is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the popular television show, Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The book is full of interviews of cast members, crew, and fans of the show. If you’re a fan of the show, this book is for you.
The author, Evan Ross Katz, is a superfan of the show, and his enthusiasm for the show is evident throughout the book. He fills it up with quotes, snippets of interviews, and his own thoughts on the show. He interviewed as many of the cast members and crew as he could, although not everyone was willing to be interviewed.
When the author started writing the book, he expected to write a different book than he eventually finished. The reason for this is because just after he started writing, serious allegations were made against the show’s creator and writer, Joss Whedon. After that, not only was he writing a book about the show, but he was also trying to uncover more information about Joss Whedon and the toxicity of working on the show.
I found the writing chaotic and difficult to follow at times, but also full of fascinating information and tidbits about the show, the cast, and the crew. The author is also a fan of the star of the show, Sarah Michelle Geller, and his praise for her work ethic and her graciousness was nice to hear, as I’ve always liked her.
I highly recommend this book to anyone who loved Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
About Evan Ross Katz
Evan Ross Katz is a writer, fashion columnist, podcast host, and high-pitched loudmouth whose works have appeared in the pages of GQ, Harper's Bazaar, Interview Magazine, Rolling Stone, Oprah Magazine, Teen Vogue, Town & Country and more. He is best known as the world's preeminent Sarah Michelle Gellar historian and a "die-hard Buffy aficionado," according to Vogue, and for being blocked on Twitter by Kim Cattrall in 2017 (she has since unblocked him). He was selected as one of Fast Company's Most Creative People in Business 2021.
I shamefully must admit that I’ve never seen even one episode. However, so many readers who share similar tastes love it so I have a feeling I would, too. Glad that you got a satisfying glimpse behind the scenes with a big fan like the author.
This sounds like it would be really fun to read. I didn’t watch Buffy when it was on, but one of my friends and I did a Buffy marathon about 10 or so years ago and I fell in love with the show. I love all the characters and the cast. I wouldn’t mind knowing more about some of the behind the scenes stuff. I’d really like to know more about James Marsters, lol.
Hmmmm. . . I am a Buffy fan, but it has been a long time since I’ve done anything fanlike with the fandom/show. This sounds like a very interesting read. I like that he interviewed the cast. The cast is one of my favorites.
I am an outlier on this one. I have never been a vampire fan–Buffy or otherwise. Ironically, I know someone from my generation who is just discovering and enjoying the vampire books. Good review, Wendy.
I loved this show!
I’m glad you liked this book about it so much. Did you hear they’re working on a Buffy reboot? (Or at least they were a year or two ago).
I have not heard about a Buffy re-boot, but I guess it makes sense.
Oh this does sound up my street. Glad they go into the controversies.
Thank you, Hannah! Yes, he goes into the “Josh Whedon” problem pretty thoroughly.
This book is on my TBR! Can’t wait to read it. Thanks for sharing!
I hope you enjoy it! It was a bit chaotic to read, but full of juicy gossip!
I shamefully must admit that I’ve never seen even one episode. However, so many readers who share similar tastes love it so I have a feeling I would, too. Glad that you got a satisfying glimpse behind the scenes with a big fan like the author.
This sounds like it would be really fun to read. I didn’t watch Buffy when it was on, but one of my friends and I did a Buffy marathon about 10 or so years ago and I fell in love with the show. I love all the characters and the cast. I wouldn’t mind knowing more about some of the behind the scenes stuff. I’d really like to know more about James Marsters, lol.
Hmmmm. . . I am a Buffy fan, but it has been a long time since I’ve done anything fanlike with the fandom/show. This sounds like a very interesting read. I like that he interviewed the cast. The cast is one of my favorites.
I am an outlier on this one. I have never been a vampire fan–Buffy or otherwise. Ironically, I know someone from my generation who is just discovering and enjoying the vampire books. Good review, Wendy.
I understand, Linda. I don’t read vampire books but enjoyed the show.
This sounds like fun! I loved Buffy!
It was even more fun than I thought it would be.
I think this is one nonfiction book I could actually read cover to cover. Excellent review ❤️
Yes! It’s a fun and quick read, and an easy way to get a nonfiction book for the challenge!
Great review, I did used to watch buffy so I may like 💕
It was a fun way to read a nonfiction book!
Great review! I never watched this show as I was on the younger side and it terrified me, haha.
I only watched it because my husband enjoyed it. I wouldn’t have watched it on my own. But, I did enjoy it.
Oh what fun. I thought this was a book like Buffy but didn’t realise it was about the show. I did enjoy watching it.
Thank you, Mallika. I watched the show and enjoyed reading about the behind-the-scenes.
I’m a huge Buffy fan so I would love to read this book sometime. Sounds really good!
It’s perfect for Buffy fans. It’s a bit chaotic.. but so many great details about the show and the cast.