Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer novels have been published since 1997. Originally this was under the Pocket Books imprint of Simon & Schuster (which are what this list concentrates on), however, after Disney Entertainment acquired 20th Century Studios in 2019, the publishing license has fallen under Disney’s Hyperion Avenue Books, which has published new Buffy novels since 2022, not included here.
This list is not exhaustive; I’ve left out many novels, such as those that recount actual TV episodes (eg: The Harvest novelisation covers the episodes, ‘Welcome to the Hellmouth’ and ‘The Harvest’ while The Xander Years, Vol. 1 covers, ‘Teacher’s Pet,’ ‘Inca Mummy Girl,’ and ‘Bewitched, Bothered & Bewildered’ and so on), or that take place before the television series begins. I’m also ignoring novels based on the Angel TV series, or that crossover with Angel. I hope this creates a list of original fiction from the Simon & Schuster era that feels like these could be ‘missing episodes’ from the TV series.
Season 1
These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 1 (from Spring 1996 until Spring 1997).
Halloween Rain (Sunnydale, Halloween 1996)
by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder Published: November 1997
Buffy is warned that a scarecrow will come alive on Halloween if it’s raining.
Night of the Living Rerun (Sunnydale, 1996/7)
by Arthur Byron Cover Published: March 1998
The Master attempts to raise an old Slayer nemesis.
Coyote Moon (Sunnydale, Summer 1997)
by John Vornholt Published: January 1998
It’s summer vacation in Sunnydale and the carnival has come to town.
How I Survived My Summer Vacation (Sunnydale, & L.A., Summer 1997)
by Various Authors Published: August 2000
Buffy visits her Dad in L.A. whilst the others continue the good fight.
Season 2
These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy season 2 (from Autumn 1997 until Spring 1998).
Afterimage (Sunnydale, 1997)
by Pierce Askegren Published: January 2006
Sunnydale drive-in reopens.
Carnival of Souls (Sunnydale, 1997)
by Nancy Holder Published: April 2006
A traveling carnival might be another victim of Sunnydale’s weirdness.
Portal Through Time (Sunnydale, 1998)
by Alice Henderson Published: October 2006
Some of the Master’s devotees travel through time to attempt to disrupt the Slayer lineage.
Bad Bargain (Sunnydale, 1997)
by Diana G. Gallagher Published: December 2006
Items for the school rummage sale become infected with Hellmouth parasites.
One Thing or Your Mother (Sunnydale, 1997/8)
by Kirsten Beyer Published: March 2008
Snyder forces Buffy to get tutoring which takes time away from her slaying.
Season 3
These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy season 2 (from Autumn 1998 until Spring 1999).
Sins of the Father (Sunnydale, 1998)
by Christopher Golden Published: November 1999
Pike visits Sunnydale.
Blooded (Sunnydale, 1998)
by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder Published: August 1998
The Scoobies become entangled in a long-running feud between Asian warriors.
Child of the Hunt (Sunnydale, 1998)
by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder Published: October 1998
The ‘Wild Hunt’ arrives in Sunnydale.
Ghoul Trouble (Sunnydale, 1998)
by John Passarella Published: October 2000
A new vampire arrives in town called Solitaire who is immune to the sun’s rays.
Paleo (Sunnydale, 1998)
by Yvonne Navarro Published: September 2000
People try to resurrect dinosaur eggs.
The Evil That Men Do (Sunnydale, 1998)
by Nancy Holder Published: July 2000
Helen, an ancient vampire attempts to raise a goddess of destruction.
The Deathless (Sunnydale, 1999)
by Keith R.A. DeCandido Published: April 2007
Ring Day is fast approaching at Sunnydale High.
Doomsday Deck (Sunnydale, 1999)
by Diana G. Gallagher Published: December 2000
Tarot card-reader, Justine arrives in Sunnydale.
Immortal (Sunnydale, 1999)
by Christopher Golden and Nancy Holder Published: October 1999
Buffy faces Veronique, a vampire even more immortal than most.
Prime Evil (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Diana G. Gallagher Published: March 2000
A new teacher at Sunnydale High gives Buffy panic fits.
Revenant (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Mel Odom Published: January 2001
A Chinese gang arrives in Sunnydale.
Power of Persuasion (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Elizabeth Massie Published: October 1999
The Moon family try to create a “Womyn Power” group at school.
Resurrecting Ravana (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Ray Garton Published: January 2000
The Rakshasa are in town to help with the resurrection of the Hindu god Ravana.
Return to Chaos (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Craig Shaw Gardner Published: December 1998
Four Druids arrive to close the gateway in the Hellmouth.
Visitors (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Laura Anne Gilman and Josepha Sherman Published: April 1999
Buffy thinks she’s being stalked by a demon with a high-pitched giggle.
Unnatural Selection (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Mel Odom Published: August 1999
Willow battles against the “faeries.”
Obsidian Fate (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Diana G. Gallagher Published: September 1999
An old Spanish expedition is found near Sunnydale.
Deep Water (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Laura Anne Gilman and Josepha Sherman Published: February 2000
After an oil spill on a nearby beach, Willow discovers a ‘selkie’.
Here Be Monsters (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Cameron Dokey Published: June 2000
A Goddess of balance puts Buffy on trial which could cost people’s lives.
The Book of Fours (Sunnydale, Spring, 1999)
by Nancy Holder Published: April 2001
The power of four slayers is needed to conquer a new threat.
Season 4
These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy Season 4 (from Autumn 1999 until Spring 2000).
Buffy Season 4 is very poorly represented in the Simon & Schuster novels for my purposes, with the four-part series I’m including below, set in an alternate dimension. There’s also a three-part series with the umbrella title of Unseen, which is a crossover with Angel (which I’m not following here). An Oz-centric novel, Oz: Into the Wild, rounds out the era which I’m also not including per my list criteria.
Prophecies (The Lost Slayer Part One)
by Christopher Golden Published: July 2001
Dark Times (The Lost Slayer Part Two)
by Christopher Golden Published: August 2001
King of the Dead (The Lost Slayer Part Three)
by Christopher Golden Published: October 2001
Original Sins (The Lost Slayer Part Four)
by Christopher Golden Published: October 2001
Season 5
These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy Season 5 (from Autumn 2000 until Spring 2001).
These Our Actors (Sunnydale, 2000)
by Ashley McConnell and Dori Koogler Published: September 2002
Willow takes up drama class, and Spike recalls Cecily.
The Wisdom of War (Sunnydale, 2001)
by Christopher Golden Published: July 2002
Two strange breeds of sea creatures are beginning to appear in Sunnydale.
Tempted Champions (Sunnydale, 2001)
by Yvonne Navarro March 2002
A deadly fighter arrives, willing to kill both humans and vampires.
Little Things (Sunnydale, 2001)
by Rebecca Moesta Published: August 2002
The town is terrorised by something mysterious and tiny.
Crossings (Sunnydale, 2001)
by Mel Odom Published: June 2002
Xander learns of a terrifying total immersion video game beta testing.
Sweet Sixteen (Sunnydale, 2001)
by Scott Ciencin Published: April 2002
Dawn befriends a girl named Arianna.
Chaos Bleeds (Sunnydale, 2001)
by James A. Moore Published: August 2003
The First has made Ethan a deal he can’t refuse: ultimate power.
Season 6
These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 6 (from Autumn 2001 until Spring 2002).
Much like Buffy Season 4, this is another poorly represented season in the Simon & Schuster range, with a couple of Angel crossover novels I’m not including here and a three-part Willow series which I am including, but only with some reluctance as the premise is that ‘Dark Willow’ did not return to being good as quickly. In other words, it’s less ‘missing episode’ in feel and more speculative.
Blood and Fog (England 1888, Sunnydale, 2002)
by Nancy Holder Published: May 2003
Buffy reluctantly accepts the help of Spike to chase a killer demon.
The Darkening (Wicked Willow #1) (Sunnydale, 2002)
by Yvonne Navarro Published: May 2004
Shattered Twilight (Wicked Willow #2) (Sunnydale, 2002)
by Yvonne Navarro Published: July 2004
Broken Sunrise (Wicked Willow #3) (Sunnydale, 2002)
by Yvonne Navarro Published: September 2004
Season 7
These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 7 (from Autumn 2002 until Spring 2003).
Spark and Burn (Sunnydale, 2002)
by Diana G. Gallagher Published: July 2005
Spike remembers his past as he suffers insanity in a school basement.
Apocalypse Memories (Sunnydale, 2002)
by Laura J. Burns with Melinda Metz Published: March 2004
Willow is terrified that using magic powers might result in dark magic consuming her.
Mortal Fear (Sunnydale, 2002)
by Scott and Denise Ciencin Published: September 2003
Simon wants Buffy to retrieve parts of a mystical sword and put them together.