Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby? (True Adventures in Cult Fandom)

by Allyson Beatrice | Biographies & Memoirs |
ISBN: 1402208456 Global Overview for this book
Registered by wingGoryDetailswing of Nashua, New Hampshire USA on 11/18/2007
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This book is in the wild! This Book is Currently in the Wild!
28 journalers for this copy...
Journal Entry 1 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Sunday, November 18, 2007
This was one of those books that jumped out at me - how could I resist a title like that? And when it turned out that the "vampire people" are fans of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," and the book's about cult fandom, well, I had to have it.

Later: I really, really enjoyed this book! And, oddly enough, not only did it remind me of TV, movie, and fantasy fandom, but of BookCrossing; some of the incidents and personalities described here could have been lifted from a BookCrossing convention or a heated forum thread... Even early on, when the author mentions having formed some long-distance friendships via the "Buffy" message boards, such that she can say "Oh, we can stop in Des Moines for dinner; I know a couple of Vampire People there," it reminded me of the many BCers I've met in person after "meeting" them online. [We're the "Book People", though, or in some circles, "those crazy Book People" {grin}.]

There are other tie-ins between the Buffy-verse and BC, too, if one wants to stretch a point. The author befriended one of the "Buffy" writers after chatting with him on the message boards, and sent him a copy of David Sedaris' Barrel Fever - and I couldn't help wishing she'd been a BCer so that the transaction would have been part of that book's history!

While there are many warm, fuzzy, friendly accounts in the book, there are a few dark bits as well, including the chapter on "Munchausen's by Internet," in which somebody fabricates a web personality, often citing illnesses and personal tragedies to invoke outpourings of attention and sympathy from the other folk online. The author describes a few cases, including a notorious one that nearly swamped an online community, as even after the perpetrator was revealed to be a fraud, some members of the community still refused to believe it was all made up, and accused the others of picking on the poor victim. [BC's had its own go-rounds with people who seem to suffer from this syndrome, though - so far - we've survived them!]

The book explores many aspects of fandom and online communities, touching on things like the desire to continue a favorite story beyond the ending that the author (or director) chose for it - hence, fan-fiction, personal fantasies, etc. She talks about trolls, about the fears of internet predators, about the "Save Firefly" campaign, even about personal insecurities - a blend of chatroom/forum conversation with lots of touches of humor. [The chapter about the "Gay Wedding Tree" had me roaring; a group of fans/friends hauled a decorated tree to San Francisco to help celebrate a lesbian wedding during the brief interval when California was issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples. And at one point the author notes that most of the people involved had met each other on the internet, forming friendships there before they ever met in person...]

I found a lot to identify with in this book, and a lot to laugh at as well. Recommended!

[Edited to add a link to this Unshelved Book Club strip about this book.]

Journal Entry 2 by wingGoryDetailswing from Nashua, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, April 10, 2008
Controlled release: the book's on its way to BCer Guinneth in Manchester. (I hope we can get together soon, but since I'd likely forget to bring the book if I saved it for that, I figured I'd better go ahead and mail it!)

Journal Entry 3 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, April 17, 2008
Thanks so much - this has arrived safely and I'm already a good way through it!

Journal Entry 4 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Reading this book was kind of a strange experience. I, too, was a huge fan of BtVS, but I never got involved in its online community at the Bronze. I did join an email list, which was a lot of fun - that show generated a LOT of spirited and highly interesting discussion. I've lost track of my fellow list members, but I did become good enough friends with one of them to invite her to drive up from CT and visit - twice, staying in my home each time.

Before Buffy, my first real brush with cult fandom was with The X-Files. Shortly after the show premiered I began a regular correspondance with one of its exec producers, and with four other people around the country was asked to run the first X-Files fan club. Eventually my sister and I travelled to Vancouver, B.C. to meet our producer buddy and get a tour of the set. (We met the show's stars and several other behind-the-scenes people, too, and went along on a location scout. We even spent some hours hanging out in Chris Carter's empty office. The whole experience was deeply cool.) And Vancouver is a beautiful city. :)

Anyway, reading this book was really interesting for me, and also (as I said), a bit strange for some reason. Perhaps because several of my experiences - albeit in three different contexts - mirror what the author described. Like GoryDetails, I found some of the parallels between Buffy's online communities and this one (BC, I mean) almost uncanny. (I'm not sure why, as the nature of all message boards is probably essentially the same, whether one is discussing books, a television show, or a passion for perennials.)

My only slight disappointment is the fact that I was hoping for a little more "insider info" on Joss Whedon's creations. It was still a highly entertaining read, however, and that wasn't really the focus anyway.

I'm going to see if I can generate some interest in a bookray for this. I think it would appeal to anyone who frequents the forums here, as well as fans of Buffy, Angel, and/or Firefly.

Journal Entry 5 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Thursday, April 24, 2008
International Bookray

Please journal this when you receive it, again to share your comments on it, and one more time when you send it on. Once it has finished its travels, the last person listed may do what they wish: give it to another Crosser, leave it at an OBCZ, release it, keep it.

I hope you all enjoy reading this as much as I did!

Participants:
Aramena (OK) (prefers US or Canada)
mellion108 (MI) (anywhere)
nicolesinger (NC) (prefers US)
UnwrittenLibra (MA)
princess-peapod (CA)
innae (CO)
piggydiva (KS) (prefers US)
BooksnBeer (VA) (prefers US)
weenieheadgnome (CT) (anywhere)
gecko4ever (CA) - wishes to be skipped
sunfi (OH) (anywhere)
VariC (Finland) (anywhere)
AgnesXNitt (UK) (Europe only)
Megmac (UK) (prefers Europe)
chich (France) (anywhere)
mikime (Italy) (anywhere)
tqd (Australia) (prefers Australia)
amberC (Australia) (prefers Australia)
bookworm76 (Australia)
fred45 (Australia) (anywhere)
freelunch (Australia)
lmn60 (Australia) (anywhere)
VeganMedusa (NZ)
Schneefee (Germany) (prefers Germany) - book is here
samulli (Germany) (anywhere)
Scruffykaz (UK) (anywhere)
juliako (UK)
rainbow3 (UK) (prefers Europe)

Journal Entry 6 by Guinneth from Manchester, New Hampshire USA on Wednesday, May 7, 2008
This book is now on the way to Aramena, whose home is the first stop on its journey. Enjoy! :)

Journal Entry 7 by wingAramenawing from Noble, Oklahoma USA on Tuesday, May 13, 2008
Arrived today!

Journal Entry 8 by wingAramenawing from Noble, Oklahoma USA on Friday, May 23, 2008
I, too, was a huge Buffy (and Angel) fan, who never got involved with any of the online forums or communities. But this book was just fascinating. And like GoryDetails said, I saw a lot of parallels with our own BC community here. That was what kept running through my head while reading the chapter about "Munchausen's by Internet"! I think anyone who is involved in any online community would enjoy this book, regardless of whether they were a fan of Buffy and/or Joss Whedon.

I didn't realize until now that I hadn't contacted the next person for her address yet, so I'm doing so as soon as I post this!

Edited 5/27/08: Mailed today!

Journal Entry 9 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Sunday, June 22, 2008
The book is here! I was going to post that I would start this after I finish my current book, but I've already started reading. ;-) I should be finished soon and will have it moving again.

Thanks for sharing!
Paperback, 233 pages

From the back cover:
Allyson Beatrice lives a not-quite-ordinary life...

Almost everyone she knows and even the job she has are all the result of spending too much time on the Internet talking about vampires, slayers and lesbian witches.

Join Allyson, one of television's leading cult fan gurus, on secret missions to house famed producer Joss Whedon's cat, meetings with network executives in dark steakhouses to try to save doomed TV shows and one hastily arranged wedding for two committed Buffy fans.

Journal Entry 10 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Saturday, June 28, 2008
Is it wrong that I'm in love with the cute little markered-over mouse on the cover and want it as a pet? Or am I just wrong? Anyway...

I usually know that if I read a good book through BookCrossing that involves a vampire, witch, werewolf, ghost, etc., that GoryDetails and/or Guinneth will be the cause of it. Thank you both for supplying me with some damned fine reading over the years.

I love this little book! I, too, started reading, thinking it would be about BTVS and the fandom surrounding that phenomenon. Although that's a part of it, the book consists of essays that Beatrice has written about her experiences as a member/organizer of fan-related websites and in-person events for various TV shows. It's less of an insider look at Joss Whedon's shows than it is a look at how people can come together online for shared interests.

I have to say that I SO wish she and her cohorts could have saved Firefly. I was very disappointed when that got cancelled, even though I think I was one of only about 3 people who apparantly were watching the darned thing.

BTVS and Angel both played such a big part of my life for many years. I had in-person friends who were rabid about the shows, and I got my husband hooked on them as well. I think BTVS and X-Files are the two best-written shows to ever make it on television.

Anyway...

I love Beatrice's essays. She's surly, she's sarcastic, and she seems rather sweet. I laughed through a great deal of the reading, and much of what she has to say about the bonds that can be created in online communities really struck home. I sometimes feel like I "know" the people I've only met virtually better than the ones I see in "real" life. It's amazing to me that the power of electronic communication, when people usually don't even use cameras or microphones, can bring human beings together in real, significant relationships.

Thanks for sharing the book, Guinneth, and let me say that you are my new hero...X-Files is my all-time favorite show. I will be lined up with the other XF geeks for the midnight showing of the 2nd movie next month. ;-)

I have PM'd nicolesinger for an address and will get this little fanged book moving again as soon as possible.

UPDATE: 29 June...I have nicolesinger's address, so this book will be winging its way to the next victim reader soon.

Journal Entry 11 by mellion108 from Waterford, Michigan USA on Saturday, July 5, 2008
UPDATE: Mailed to nicolesinger on July 2, 2008

Enjoy!

Journal Entry 12 by nicolesinger from Newport, North Carolina USA on Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Whoo! It's here! I've just started another book, but that one looks like a quick read and this one does too, so I don't expect it will linger here too long.

Journal Entry 13 by nicolesinger from Newport, North Carolina USA on Thursday, July 17, 2008
I thought this was somewhat uneven, and I enjoyed some parts more than others. I wanted to like Beatrice, but she just had a knack for rubbing me the wrong way, despite my admiring her efforts and agreeing with her more often than not. She really put me off with some of her remarks about how she deals with trolls and about teens on the internet (and probably not the remarks you would think would put me off). She'd probably be glad to discuss them in a message board thread... lol

On the other hand, the book is a very accurate look into internet message board culture. I recognized some familiar behaviors in the Munchausen's by Internet chapter, and though I haven't seen it happen, I can easily imagine BookCrossers putting together an effort like the one that brought Nilly to the US in Random Acts of Paypal. (And then today came BC's announcement of restrictions on non-Members Plus-members, and the juxtaposition between that and the transitions the Bronze board went through... well.)

In places, the book felt like a collection of internet posts and blog ramblings tweaked into book format. Not that there's anything wrong with that, but for me some of that style didn't translate well. Maybe I'm just getting old, or more cranky than usual today.

I've PMed UnwrittenLibra for an address and will pass this on as soon as I have it. If PMs aren't working (or available) feel free to email [email protected].

Oh, on fandom: I've never been a member of an internet fangroup, but I was very active in Real Life in the Society for Creative Anachronism for many years. The meeting complete strangers under other personae and having them crash on your floor and not always knowing how to explain to your family how you met... I've so done that. I was living in Michigan when I met my husband in Pennsylvania and a few months later flew to see him in North Carolina... if we'd had the internet available we'd totally have had an online relationship!

Journal Entry 14 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Arrived today herein Baltimore, Maryland...thanks!

Journal Entry 15 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Monday, July 28, 2008
Really loved it and want to read more like it. Will post a better review when I have time.

Here's my review: I really loved the funky, fresh writing style of Ms. Beatrice. It enlightened me a little bit about the habits of the Internet and the people who "inhabit" it. My favorite chapter was the one where they brought the Israeli girl to the USA...it was extremely heartwarming to see such kindness go a long way. All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the quirky real-life adventures of a seemingly average woman .

Journal Entry 16 by UnwrittenLibra from Middleton, Wisconsin USA on Monday, July 28, 2008
Sent off to princess-peapod today via Baltimore-Windsor Mill, Maryland, enjoy!

DC: 0307 1790 0005 1704 2633

Journal Entry 17 by princess-peapod from San Luis Obispo, California USA on Wednesday, July 30, 2008
arrived today along with another ring...why does that always happen : 0
well, they both look to be quick fun reads so looking forward to it!

Journal Entry 18 by princess-peapod from San Luis Obispo, California USA on Wednesday, August 13, 2008
So, getting a couple of rings at one time I started this then had to put it down for a week due to my crazy schedule! I am enjoying the read so far, as others have stated I enjoyed Buffy as a series when it was on, but was not into the message boards etc. I am enjoying seeing this other side of fandom. Will PM innae for an addy as I am close to the finish!

Journal Entry 19 by princess-peapod at avila beach, ca, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, August 26, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (8/26/2008 UTC) at avila beach, ca, A Bookray -- Controlled Releases

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I actually finished this a few days ago, but my work schedule was such that I didn't make it to the post office until today! I have to say I agree with alot of what has been written above. It is more about the people she met upon the internet and relationships, than fandom in many cases. Also I have to say that there were chapters I could have skipped entirely( The Internet wants Your Daughters)
Now, having said that I would so be friends with this writer! She has a sweet, but biting style to her that made me smile.
My favorite part was Random Acts of Paypal, there was a bit in there that made me think of something my friend said to me last year after doing a rather amazing thing for me.
"That the beautiful thing about a gift is that it isn't earned or paid for.It only goes out one way into the world. And if one wants to honor the gift, then they accept it graciously, and give their own gifts out into the world. When they have an abundance to share."
That is why I love Rabcks : )
hope the next reader enjoys this too...

"A book is a mysterious object, I said, and once it floats out into the world, anything can happen. All kinds of mischief can be caused, and there's not a damned thing you can do about it. For better or worse, it's completely out of your control."
Paul Auster

Journal Entry 20 by winginnaewing from Aurora, Colorado USA on Wednesday, September 3, 2008
It strikes me as funny, in a good happy way, that princess peapod sent out a RABCK with this ring (The Hollow, a book I have on my wishlist) -- anyway, I am very excited to get to reading this, I will hurry up with my present book so I can get started on this one!!

Journal Entry 21 by winginnaewing from Aurora, Colorado USA on Sunday, September 7, 2008
I would like to say, I proudly count myself as one of the Vampire People. While I was not all that active at The Bronze, I was there on occassion. And, I did go on the first ever SlayerCruise, it was a blast!! I got to sit at James Leary's (Clem) table.

Anyway, with that said, after the first chapter, I hated Allyson. She was actually someone who has spoken to Tim Minear...and considers him a friend! hate her. But in that good sort of jealous way....further into the book, I was laughing out loud, and seriously could not put it down. This book is spectacular! I may even have to hunt a few copies down to pass out to friends. Thanks for making this a ring Guinneth!

I have piggydiva's address and will be mailing this out soon!

Journal Entry 22 by wingpiggydivawing from Louisville, Kentucky USA on Wednesday, September 10, 2008
I received this in the mail today (and started it while I was waiting in the dentist's office, so I am about half way through the book). I'm enjoying it so far and will journal specific thoughts in a day or two.

Already PMing BooksnBeer (great combination!) for address in preparation to send it on.

Journal Entry 23 by wingpiggydivawing from Louisville, Kentucky USA on Saturday, September 13, 2008
I enjoyed this book very much. Allyson Beatrice has a writing style very similar to Laurie Notaro. She is self-depricating, funny, and sarcastic, plus, she likes Joss Whedon's stuff, so that makes her OK in my book!

It was a fast read, and it made me want to be friends with her!

Her talk about online communities very much reminded me of the wonderful people I have met and become friends with (electronically) on the internet. I hope I can meet some of them some day too.

I've contacted BooksnBeer, but I haven't heard back yet. I'll give it another try, and if I don't hear back from BNB in the next week, I'll try the next person on the list.

Thanks for sharing!

Journal Entry 24 by BooksnBeer from Pasadena, Florida USA on Friday, September 19, 2008
Received this in today's mail. It looks cute and quick. I have a few in front of it but, I am a fast reader.

Journal Entry 25 by BooksnBeer from Pasadena, Florida USA on Monday, October 27, 2008
I did enjoy this book, it was light and quick and a good hiatus from what I have been reading lately.

My one comment - is that the comments make in this book can be said about any of the sites out there which feature communities of like minded people. BookCrossing is a perfect example. I found myself laughing at some of the sections and saying that sounds just like me. I saw a comment recently under someone's screen name that sums up this book. "I love my computer, because all my friends are in there."

Thanks for sharing this - it will be on it's way to the next person this week.

Journal Entry 26 by weenieheadgnome from Milford, Connecticut USA on Wednesday, November 5, 2008
Received 11/3. This is going to the top of Mt TBR.

Journal Entry 27 by weenieheadgnome from Milford, Connecticut USA on Saturday, November 15, 2008
Finished this morning. Like Nicolesinger, I found it uneven and difficult to like the author. The chapter entitled "Imposter" was one big, long "I don't think I'm special! Really, I don't! Won't someone tell me I'm special?"

I'm a huge fan of all things Joss Whedon and like others have said in JEs was hoping for more inside look at cult fandom in general rather than one persons experiences. Loved Nilly, though. If I only come away from this book with that quote about the nature of gifts, then it was worth the read.

PM'd gecko4ever so I can pass it on.


Journal Entry 28 by weenieheadgnome from Milford, Connecticut USA on Wednesday, November 26, 2008
gecko is passing on this. PM'd next on list

Journal Entry 29 by weenieheadgnome from Milford, Connecticut USA on Wednesday, December 3, 2008
Sent off to sunfi today. Enjoy!

Journal Entry 30 by sunfi from Alexandria, Virginia USA on Saturday, December 13, 2008
Just received this in the mail. I have one book ahead of this one and hope to have it on its way by the beginning of the year. Thanks weenieheadgnome for mailing this to me and guinneth for including me on this ray.

Journal Entry 31 by sunfi from Alexandria, Virginia USA on Monday, December 29, 2008
I tried really hard, but I just couldn't get into this one. I think my disinterest had more to do with the ideas of online communities than with the Buffy material. I'm just not very active in online communities and found it tough to stay focused. I already have VariC's address and I'll get getting it in the mail in the next few days.

Journal Entry 32 by sunfi at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Ohio USA on Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Released 15 yrs ago (12/30/2008 UTC) at -- Mail or by hand-rings, RABCK, meetings, Ohio USA

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Sent off today to VariC, it should arrive in the next few weeks.

Journal Entry 33 by VariC from Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin Germany on Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Got the book today. Thanks, sunfi, and Guinneth for the ray! Might take a while before I can start it, but it looks pretty short.

Journal Entry 34 by VariC from Prenzlauer Berg, Berlin Germany on Sunday, January 18, 2009
I read this a while ago already but I had a lot of thoughts and didn't really have time to write them up before. In the beginning, it seemed like I could write on and on about each chapter, but towards the end, the book began to have more of the author's personal experiences instead of being general commentary about the fandom.

The tone of the book is set right from the first page, with a disdain towards academic studies of Buffy. To me, the same attitude was evident throughout the book. It's just a book chronicling events in the Buffy fandom, online and offline. There is little attempt to place the events in a context, to think of them from a more general perspective. And there is definite room for generalizing; there does not seem to be anything in that specific community that makes it much different from many other Internet communities.

The Internet is great for fringe interests. You can find communities dedicated to pretty much anything, to take away that feeling of being all alone, with no one who understands. But this book also shows the downside: a community feeds itself with being somehow special. The more on the fringe the interest, the more it can breed a kind of superiority. “We do this and practically no one else does, so we are better than them.” On this kind of scale, it's usually the sports fans who are at the bottom, despised by everyone else (I was, at times, reminded of Nick Hornby's excellent Fever Pitch, an exploration of aspects of sports fandom).

The chapters “Party Politics” and “The Bronze Is Dead. Long Live the Bronze!” speak to the entitlement that many feel in their Internet communities. Interesting questions come to mind: Who really can speak for the whole community? And to whom do all the comments on message boards and other work belong? The former question is perhaps unfair, but there does seem to be a tendency to lump groups of people into single entities that can speak with a single voice. And if one member says something publicly, that is often taken to be a group view. The latter question, to me, has become important with discussions having moved from the public Usenet to various private spaces, difficult for participants to archive. Having a community's whole multi-year history be dependent on some company's continuing goodwill or existence can be a frightening thought.

The chapter “The Misery Effect” takes a look at fan reactions to different story twists. Here I think Beatrice's treatment completely trivializes the reactions. She finds backup in a quote from Jane Espenson that, to me, says that Espenson must not be a very good writer. TV shows are supposed to be about real people, and people usually know how real people behave. When writers make the characters do something completely out of the blue, that's called bad writing, not a writer's acceptable decision. And it seems like Beatrice doesn't understand the furor over “Seeing Red”; the main reason, as I understand it, was for a show as progressive as Buffy to fall into such a cliché, but she just makes fun of the criticism by picking examples only from the extreme end.

Journal Entry 35 by VariC at Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Monday, January 19, 2009

Released 15 yrs ago (1/19/2009 UTC) at Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom

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Mailed to AgnesXNitt.

Journal Entry 36 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Sunday, January 25, 2009
Received on, er, Thursday last week in post and started immediately causing me to fall behind at least an hour with my housework. But what the heck, eh? Brilliant, loved it and have earmarked as a birfday present for Vamperstein8782 later this year! Really readable, it was like sitting down and having a conversation with the author, who, although she claims her life is lived via the web, seems to pack a hell of a lot in because of it. I never thought I'd identify with a book like this, however I was a big Buffy fan, and endlessly discussed the programme with my colleagues at work. One actually bought a long leather coat during the airing of BtVS and we ended up calling it his 'Angel' coat in gentle homage :) One of my favourite tv quotes is from Willow 'A Vague Disclaimer Is Nobody's Friend', and though I haven't used it in a while, I am desperately trying to work it into one of the many Health and Safety talks I have to give at work...
Loved the chapter that ended with the Board members clubbing together to bring Nilly over from Israel to the USA for a whistle stop tour with people she'd only ever met online, would be poisoners of the Bronze online, sitting at the controls of an freedom fighting intergalactic space ship with no more seasons to go onwards boldly in and the bit about how its perfectly acceptable for people to dress up in homage to their sports heroes but us Sci-Fi fans get publically ridiculed for dressing as our heroes in the wider world. Frankly, if I could pull off the Abby Scuito look I would. But my hairs too short for pigtails and I need surgery on my inner thigh for that short a miniskirt... Besides which the chapter entitled 'The Internet Wants Your Daughters' made me nod endlessly in agreement. I met Vamperstein8782, my very dear friend, faithful beta reader and wingchick online in a forum about 'Sue Thomas F.B.Eye' and neither of us have ever been axe murderers. Well, not in *this* incarnation anyway ;)
Basically, loved and adored this book in a *very* special way. Though now I'm going to have to back track and rewatch BtVS in order to try and enjoy it all over again :)
Will be PM'ing Megmac right after this and get this brilliant book on it's way again.
Many thanks to GoryDetails for hosting this ring and to VariC for posting on to me.


Journal Entry 37 by AgnesXNitt from Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire United Kingdom on Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Got MegMac's addy last night so will be posting off along with a RABCK (a little something on her Wishlist) from RAF Wyton Post Office today.
Happy Travels!

Journal Entry 38 by Megmac from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Thursday, January 29, 2009
Received in post today, thank you AgnesXNitt and thank you for the other book too, very kind of you :-)

As a member of several 'fandoms' including Buffy and Firefly, I am looking forward to reading this and probably cringing lol

Journal Entry 39 by Megmac from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Sunday, February 15, 2009
This a wonderful book, it brightened my day whenever I read it. Beatrice has perfectly captured the organised chaos of an Internet community, and the bliss/agony of being a Joss Whedon fan! That said, I think anybody would find this book entertaining.

Thank you for sharing :-) I have pm'd Chich

Released 15 yrs ago (2/20/2009 UTC) at -- Controlled Release, -- By post or by hand/ in person -- United Kingdom

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posted to Chich today, enjoy!

Journal Entry 41 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Sunday, March 1, 2009
Image hosting by Photobucket Book received today, thanks so much for passing it on Megmac and thanks for starting this ring Guinneth!

Journal Entry 42 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Tuesday, March 3, 2009
What a fun read! I've never been much of a Buffy/Angel fan but I found the whole fandom depiction very entertaining! As GoryDetails previously said, some passages in the book definitely reminded me of BookCrossing, its forum threads and of course its "crazy book people";o)

Thanks so much for sharing this Guinneth:o)

I already have mikime's address and will be sending her the book tomorrow.

Journal Entry 43 by chich from Ibiza - Sant Antoni de Portmany, Illes Balears/Islas Baleares Spain on Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting
Book sent to mikime today, enjoy!



Entry #8 for the 2009 Keep Them Moving Challenge

Journal Entry 44 by mikime from Roma, Lazio Italy on Tuesday, March 10, 2009
This has just arrived. Thanks for sending it! I'm a big Buffy & Angel & Joss Whedon fan (though I was not in any of their internet forums/community) so I'm really looking forward to reading this book! :)

Miki

Journal Entry 45 by mikime from Roma, Lazio Italy on Friday, March 13, 2009
Such a funny, entertaining, sparkling book! I truly enjoyed it, as a memoir of online community activity AND as Buffy-verse-related! ;) I could so much relate with so many episodes and feelings the author describes in it, and had so much fun at reading the incredible, weirdest ones! Brilliant! Thank you so much for letting me read it! (I think I'll buy a copy for myself, by the way.)
I'll send it on to tqd as soon as I get her address.

Miki

Journal Entry 46 by tqd from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Friday, March 20, 2009
Brilliant! I've been looking forward to this one for some time, and it turned up as an early birthday present! (My birthday party last night was spent with other Buffy etc fans, and much discussion about Dr Horrible's Sing-a-long Blog occurred, amongst other fandom topics. Us fangirls and fanboys rock. ;)

Thanks mikime for passing the book along!

Journal Entry 47 by tqd from Sydney CBD, New South Wales Australia on Monday, March 30, 2009
Hmmm, entertainingly written (I too had Duran Duran's "Rio" as the backdrop to my teenage angst), a lot to identify with (Buffy fandom, addiction to internet communities, introversion, "imposter syndrome"), but I didn't find Allyson all that great to read. She makes no bones about being a bitch online at times (I too have been one of "those bitchy girls at school who made everyone's life hell in high school" online[*], and I cheered her on for getting spoilt 13 year olds grounded, so it's not like I don't appreciate some bitchery).

But I think I was expecting something more about the whole Buffy fandom community, but with the infighting that went on with the parties, it didn't make it something I wanted to be part of. Okay, and maybe I am a *tad* jealous that she got to hang out with Joss (even if he never remembered her name) et al. Fandom in Australia never brings you that sort of rewards, and I think that's where this book failed for me. The stuff about the fandom just read as yet-more-stuff-I-cannot-participate-in, and while I am a great lover of online communities (and spend far too much time in them), this was more about her online community, tales of how spiffing her friends are, how beautiful they all are, how wonderful everyone in her gang of friends are.

Well, so are *my* friends (a large number of whom I did meet on the intarwebs first), but you'll never catch me writing about it for public consumption, because, frankly, I'm more interested in my friends than in her friends and I assume this goes for others as well (that they're really not all *that* interested in my mates). (Did anyone else want to gouge out their eyes during that interminable email lovefest to bring Nilly to the States? It was a lovely gesture from the online community, but she could have chopped out that entire verbatim quotation section.) Shame, because she does have an amusing writing style, so even while I was a bit "oh, ho hum" about the content of the book I was amused at the same time.

I'm just disappointed that the content wasn't up to scratch with her writing.

Okay, and I'm very jealous that she got to meet Joss.

I do have AmberC's address already, but Mr TQD has expressed an interest in reading this first. If he doesn't have it finished by the end of the week, I'll wrestle it away from him and post it on. Thanks for starting the ray, Guinneth!

* And they *so* deserved it.

Journal Entry 48 by tqd at Balmain, New South Wales Australia on Monday, April 13, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (4/14/2009 UTC) at Balmain, New South Wales Australia

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Thanks for the extra stay as Mr TQD read this book! He mostly agreed with me: some funny writing, but what he calls the "goldfish syndrome" where people (in this case, the author) thinks that everything is new and never ever happened to everyone else. (Think of a goldfish swimming in a bowl, going "ooh look! a castle!" on each circuit of the bowl.)

Personally, I think he's a bit harsh with the whole "goldfish" idea, but I love the way he says "ooh look! a castle!". :)

Happy reading!

Journal Entry 49 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Arrived on a hot and steamy Darwin day. It will be next to be read.

Journal Entry 50 by amberC from Darwin, Northern Territory Australia on Thursday, April 23, 2009
I didn't enjoy this as much as I had hoped. The writing was uneven, and I didn't particularly like Allison. Some of her comments on online communities and the personalities you come across was so right.

I will post it as soon as I have an address.


Journal Entry 51 by amberC at Darwin, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Tuesday, April 28, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (4/29/2009 UTC) at Darwin, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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On it's way to bookworm76

Journal Entry 52 by bookworm76 from Chermside, Queensland Australia on Sunday, May 10, 2009
Got this in the post. This was a funny read. I am one of these vampire people and I am a Buffy fan.

Journal Entry 53 by bookworm76 at Stafford, Queensland Australia on Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (5/20/2009 UTC) at Stafford, Queensland Australia

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Sending this off to the next person on the ring

Journal Entry 54 by fred45 from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Wednesday, May 27, 2009
oooooh, Arived in the post today! really looking forward to this one. I'm about halfway through another bookring so I'll get to it as soon as I can. Thank you Thank you!

Journal Entry 55 by fred45 from Adelaide, South Australia Australia on Friday, June 5, 2009
I Read this book surprisingly quickly.
I enjoyed this book, I'm a buffy The vampire slayer fan, and loved the talk of IM chat throughout the book, I've always been more of a lurker in bookcrossing forums than a main corespondent.

It was an nice easy to read story but slightly disapointing, I think the author narked me a little. Overall enjoyable.

Hope the next reader enjoys it.

Journal Entry 56 by fred45 at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases on Friday, June 5, 2009

Released 14 yrs ago (6/4/2009 UTC) at Bookring, A Bookring -- Controlled Releases

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Posted to freelunch today.
Hope you enjoy it

Journal Entry 57 by freelunch from Cairns, Queensland Australia on Thursday, June 11, 2009
received today, thanks fred45 (and thanks to Guinneth for sending it out

I have a couple of bookrings ahead of this one (don't we all?) so it may take me a month or two to get to it

Journal Entry 58 by freelunch from Cairns, Queensland Australia on Tuesday, August 11, 2009
this was a great read :)

I knew going in that it was more about Internet/fan communities than the 'Jossverse' and was surprised how similar some of Allyson's stories were to my own experiences helping to run an Internet forum/community in the late 90s/early 00s, though as Guinneth suggests above the same may be true of many long-running online communities.

I have lmn60's address and shall post the book on by the end of this week.

Journal Entry 59 by winglmn60wing from Spotswood, Victoria Australia on Friday, August 28, 2009
Oops! My bad! This arrived safely last week but I haven't had the opportunity to journal it until now.

I'm looking forward to this one - though have a couple of other books ahead of it.

More when I've actually read this one!

Journal Entry 60 by winglmn60wing from Spotswood, Victoria Australia on Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Oh the shame of it all! I actually read this book a few weeks ago.. and in a blonde senior moment thought I had journalled and sent it on! My bad!

I'm a big BtVS fan - just started watching the series again from the beginning - and was really looking forward to this book. Sadly... Allyson's egocentricity and, let's face it, rather mediocre writing skills meant that I was doomed to disappointment.

She had some interesting things to say about online communities - but nothing that couldn't have been said better by another writer.

I could write a few more caustic comments - but I'm so moritified at delaying this ray that I shall bite my tongue and parcel it up ready for the next reader. I have Veggie's address and will ship this one off tomorrow!

Journal Entry 61 by VeganMedusa from Invercargill, Southland New Zealand on Sunday, November 1, 2009
Thanks lmn60. After reading a lot of the comments, I don't have high expectations for this book - a good way to start, as sometimes you're pleasantly surprised.
PS. Hubby and I recently started watching Buffy again too (on Season 3 at the moment). :)

Journal Entry 62 by VeganMedusa from Invercargill, Southland New Zealand on Tuesday, November 10, 2009
I don't know, this book was somewhat amusing, but a lot of it was not all that interesting to me - as someone else has already said, the writing was better than the content. And I agree about the goldfish syndrome. :)
Some essays were better than others. Saving Firefly was great, Imposter not so. Random Acts of Paypal didn't do a lot for me - a nice thing for them all to do, but I didn't need to hear quite so much praise for the saintly Nilly.

I was never part of the Buffy phenomenon, as it was on Pay TV here. We eventually caught a couple of episodes and then started buying the DVDs, which was after it had all ended. So it was kind of interesting hearing about the online Buffyverse, but I could have done with less gossip about her online friends and more info on Joss-related stuff. :)
Anyway, I went through most of the book thinking that it's mildly amusing and she seems like a nice enough person, if somewhat self-absorbed. But then I got to Imposter and her comments about Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (you don't get to have a syndrome just because you're tired). That's when I began actively disliking her. Maybe it's just ignorance, but that's not really an excuse to belittle suffering people and she obviously doesn't give a toss about anyone or anything outside her little group of friends and her own experiences. (This is also a good reason for America to give up the misleading name Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and call it ME (Myalgic encephalomyelitis) like the rest of the world.)

Journal Entry 63 by VeganMedusa from Invercargill, Southland New Zealand on Thursday, November 12, 2009
Posted surfacemail to Schneefee.
FYI for Guinneth, she has given her parents' address (as hers is not safe - parcels left on doorstep, etc) and is only there every 2-3 weeks. So don't worry too much if there's no journal entry for a while. :)

Journal Entry 64 by Schneefee from Hagen, Nordrhein-Westfalen Germany on Thursday, December 31, 2009
The Vampire People were waiting for me when I came to my parents' on Christmas. Actually the timing was fantastic, I started to read it at once.
It gave me a hard beginning - I loved Buffy as well as Angel and so my Wednesday evenings were sacred (no other dates possible than meeting my friend Sonja for watching TV together) - but I never was into any community, nor even thinking about fandom as described here, so I couldn't quite identify with what I read. But! It's written so funny and loveable that I just didn't stop reading.
Thanks for sharing, it can travel further next week.

Journal Entry 65 by Schneefee at on Thursday, January 7, 2010

Released 14 yrs ago (1/7/2010 UTC) at

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those vampire people! They're already leaving

Journal Entry 66 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Wednesday, January 13, 2010
This awesomely named little book has finally made its way to my house. And normally I would say I will get to it as soon as possible, but as it turns out I already had a peek inside. Only came up for air half an hour and 50 pages later. ^.^ So apparently I will be done with it by tomorrow or so.

Journal Entry 67 by samulli from Weimar, Thüringen Germany on Thursday, January 14, 2010
This really was a quick and easy read. I had to stay up only until 1 a.m. to finish it. :-)

It wasn't quite what I expected - as many others have mentioned I had hoped for more Joss-content and less of Allyson's private memoirs. But nevertheless I liked her writing style and I think I would get along well with her in person. I love that she admits to being a jerk sometimes and that she likes to push people's buttons and despises all this boring, polite political correctness crap in favor of a good flame war. So do I.

I am kind of jealous that she is friends with Tim Minear (but that's one of the perks of living in L.A. instead of halfway round the world, I guess) and I was a bit taken aback that Joss seemed to never remember her name. I wouldn't have pegged him as that kind of guy. But what do I know? That she wasn't a Firefly devotee from Day One kind of irked me (I think Firefly is Joss' best creation to date and I can't understand how one can be a fan of his work and not like Firefly), but that she led the campaign to save the show anyway was great.

All the stuff that she wrote about online communities in general rings very true. I loved that she mentioned Whedonesque and TelevisionWithoutPity.com, since I am a member of both. But I am also a member of a lot of other places on the net and most of them have a lot of things in common with what she tells about The Bronze. Most of the people I call my friends I have met only online so far and I don't think that is strange in any way. Even though I have never actually seen them, they are as real to me as any person standing right in front of me. And sometimes just as annoying.
I especially loved the last chapter (Together, Alone) where they all rented a house together for a holiday and then sat around with their laptops much of the time. Many people would call that dysfunctional, but I would have felt right at home there.

All in all a very nice read. Thanks everybody for keeping it traveling. Since Scruffykaz has disabled PM's and says on her shelf that she wants to be skipped on all rings and rays, I have contacted the next person on the list (juliako) and will send the book on asap.

Edit 15.01.10:
The book is now on its way to Great Britain.

Journal Entry 68 by juliako from Birmingham, West Midlands United Kingdom on Saturday, January 30, 2010
Hi

I got this book earlier this week - thank you!

I loved the title and the cover and started reading immediately. As a Joss Whedon fan and someone who has been and is a member of a variety of online communities for about 13 years this should have been right up my street, however, I'm afraid for me it felt like too much criticism and sarcasm. Perhaps I ought to persevere as I see that people say the chapters vary in quality, but I've decided to pass it on to someone who might appreciate it more than me so have pm.ed rainbow3.

Thanks for sending this round.

Journal Entry 69 by wingrainbow3wing from Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Monday, March 15, 2010
Thanks juliako, Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby? has popped through my letterbox and must have done so between the 6th and today the 15th of March, while I was away. And so this was not lost in the post after all, that’s great! Book in hand now and though I’ve heaps of other things to do, guess what…? I’ve peaked at few pages before bed, into which I must venture soon!!!

Meanwhile, on only short acquaintance, up to page 50, my feeling is that this is a very self-involved creation, and that the title would be more apposite twizzled around to read True Adventures in Cult Fandom: Will the Vampire People Please Leave the Lobby? Though perhaps not quite as arresting I think it would be more indicative of the subject focus.

And some off topic questions: what is Fresca? With reference to some front cover puff “Refreshingly crisp and tart-like a Fresca in a book form.” A cold drink of some sort?

And what on earth are spectator pumps, page 13*? Shoes I presume. I’m wondering if maybe this is a framing reference, like boring shoes a sad creature who is watching “real life” being lived by others might wear? Or am I pushing this analogy thing way to far?
* “… it’d difficult to imagine where I’d be. Maybe riding a desk in the home office of a widget factory north of Boston, wearing spectator pumps and bleaching my hair platinum, with a kid in daycare and a bored husband in someone else’s bed.”

Journal Entry 70 by wingrainbow3wing at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Sunday, September 18, 2011
Two things, this was intriguing and it's high time it was on the move again!

Re: intriguing - I felt the writing was patchy some of the content had real 'warts and all' blow by blow reporting feel, but that didn't make it good writing that was an insiders direction in cobbling together factual accounts in attempting to make a coherent tale. There is a large element in this format of the writer narrating and reporting on a period in time and in so doing this has the quality of journal entries. It did mean that the aspects of relating how online communities communicated in the 90s/00s felt spot on from my memories of viewing these briefly at the time. I suspect that in terms of contemporary social commentary it has real clout.

Being a huge BtVS fan I had, like others, hoped for much more information relating to Joss Weldon but as mentioned the focus here was the online communities and Beatrice's direct involvement, both online and off line, in them. The Firefly information more or less went by me as I never had the opportunity to see Firefly other than catching a couple of episodes - I dont' have a TV [I know odd, eh?] I tend to read my Sci-Fi. By chance however, being a film and Sci-Fi fan I did attend the UK Premier of Serenity, at an Edinburgh International Film Festival. Enjoyable film, though I presume I missed a lot of join the dots moments not knowing Firefly inside out. What an experience though, the auditorium was colossal and I had the feeling many of the audience were tracking the dialogue. As if they knew it already, that was weird! Probably there was a preponderance of online community geeks who had actually been discussing the plot and dialogue for months and months.

Appreciating why many felt Will the Vampire People... was amusing, some of it certainly was, doesn't over-ride for me the writers exhaustive use of sarcasm with its mean-minded thrust which left me unhappy.

Over all this was disappointing in that I had assumed there would be more information relating to Joss Weldon and the mean-mined tone over others shortcomings or disabilities left me cold and conflicted. An overwhelmingly superb book title though!

Re: on the move again - tried to get a Book Ray on the go for this in 2010 by emailing & PM’ing some likely suspects, no joy. [Small aside I've just realised that this has not, until now, been marked as 'Available' on the BX site, smacks hand to head - hoping someone will now PM, quick as a bunny rabbit, to acquire it!] Books taking up way too many spaces in my wee flat are prompting me to give the book ray idea another go via BCUK Yahoo Group. Maybe someone will desire this as a BX Halloween gift!

Journal Entry 71 by wingrainbow3wing at Edinburgh, Scotland United Kingdom on Thursday, March 20, 2014
Hello all, does anyone who has read this already know of any others who might be interested in it? Loath to merely wild release it, given it's illustrious readership so far, I have attempted over the past few years to interest others by PM, so far no luck?

Now this March I've decided to have another go at finding another BookCrossing reader. Any thoughts gratefully received, cheers rainbow3

Another treasure off one of my teetering where can-this-go-next piles! A wild release for this I just know another reader is waiting to be entertained or blown away or maybe intrigued by this - for a start look at the long list of other BookCrossers who have already passed this on - pause for a GASP!

Off this goes travelling out into the world under the BookCrossing flag of friendship.
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You are celebrating International BookCrossing Day – Monday 21 April 2014 – by finding a BookCrossing book! If you aren't familiar with BookCrossing – WELCOME! BookCrossers LOVE books, and we enjoy more than anything setting books free for other people to find and enjoy.

I hope you revel in this surprise book find and make a little journal entry! You can leave notes anonymously. When you are done with it, perhaps you will send it on its way. Check out bookcrossing - it's a fun community of readers! HAPPY READING

PS And if you find yourself liking the idea of BookCrossing, Edinburgh has an active group of BookCrossers who meet monthly (first Thursday of the month) at Hemma, a Swedish bar near the Scottish Parliament in central Edinburgh on 75 Holyrood Road, EH8 8AE Come join us! For more information, see our Meet-Up Group: http://www.meetup.com/bookswapedinburgh

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ADDED: left today on a shelf in the Elephant House, Tea & Coffee Shop, Geo. IV Bridge, Edinburgh EH1 1EN (One of JK Rowling’s writing venues while working on the Harry Potter Book Series) - HAPPY READING

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