Hollywood Vampire
A novel by Keith Topping

In the first unofficial guide to Angel, UK author Keith Topping has created an invaluable guide for fans -- particularly those who are not online and are in desperate need of a comprehensive mass market paperback-sized guide to their favorite spin-off. Like his previous unofficial guide to Buffy, evocatively entitled Slayer (which was inadvertently bought by bewildered metal heads), Hollywood Vampire is paperback-sized, and while it may not have the slick publication design and oodles of photos like the Watcher's Guides, it more than makes up for it on content. Pure unadulterated mouthwatering content. Mmmmmmmm....

While Angel fan websites cover much of the same material -- actor bios, episode guides, reviews, trivia, etc. -- the author has basically taken every scrap if information that relates specifically to the series, organized it in a sensible and often highly entertaining manner, and produced an incredibly useful little book.

The real meat of the book is the episode synopses and reviews. Covering the entire first season of Angel (and fourth season Buffy's cross-over episodes "The Harsh Light of Day," "Pangs," "This Year's Girl," "Who Are You" and "The Yoko Factor"), the supplemental information includes "West Hollywood" (cataloguing every comment made about Angel's apparent sexual ambiguity, of which there have been many), "The Charisma Show" (focusing on Ms. Chase) as well as examining the plotholes, leaps of logic, and occasionally completely cheesy plot devices and special effects. In addition to the episode write-ups, Topping also covers the first two Pocket Books tie-in novels (Nancy Holder's novelisation of "City of..." and Mel Odom's "Redemption") as well as the comics from Dark Horse. Also included: a guide to the best and most useful Angel fan websites on-line, and an essay examining the series theme of redemption.

While it is obvious Topping is a fan, and the work is a labor of love, he is in no way blind to the first season's faults. The reviews are thoughtful, and reflect the rocky first season as it struggled to find it's own voice -- and footing -- after losing castmember Glenn Quinn half-way through the first season. He neither gushes nor vents without cause, and as I read through the preview copy, I found myself giggling and shrieking with delight at some of Topping's insights into the series, as well as the choice of quotes. It's always good to know other people recognize and understand the depth of the evil that was "She."

RE-READ FACTOR: I read it cover to cover in a night. When I need a quick answer to a first season question (which is just happening to me all the time), and don't want to take the time to boot up my computer to look it up online, I'll definitely reach for Hollywood Vampire instead.

SEQUEL FACTOR: In theory, Topping could produce volumes for each season, and could beef up the on-line sections, as well as merchandise reviews to compensate for material already covered in the first volume.

STRONG CHICK FACTOR: "The Charisma Show" sections show a genuine love and adoration of Cordelia, as is proper because she's Cordelia, and is meant to be worshipped.

-- Tara O'Shea

Hollywood Vampire, published by Virgin Publishing, is currently available in the UK, and will be available in the United States by January, 2001. Probably.