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This is not an adaptation of the cult film. While the movie spotlighted some of the more entertaining aspects (and an outstanding cast), the novel itself draws life from the thoughts and experiences of its diverse characters.

The story is told in the first person by Reno, Team Banzai's chonographer, who relates events, back-story, witness accounts and even a few science lessons in order to give the reader as complete a picture as possible. The side-bars may seem to complicate things, but the deeper one reads into this book, the more often you begin to wonder if it is a true story. So effective and all-consuming is the narrative--At times like a documentary.

To be certain, there are villains and heros... incredible scientific devices... outlandish individuals who are more colourful than the spectrum. But throughout, we are exposed to profound philosophy, socio-political commentary and even a few rules for living.

Witness the principals promoted by Buckaroo through radio and comic books: "The Five Stresses ... decorum, courtesy, public health, discipline, and morals. The Four Beauties ... beauties of mind, language, behavior, and environment. The Three Loves ... love of others, justice, and love of freedom." [p.20]

Or Buckaroo's paradox: "A scientist, like a warrior, must cherish no view... A 'view' is the outcome of intellectual processes, whereas creativity, like swordsmanship, requires not neutrality, or indifference, but to be of no mind whatever." [p.133]

And some fun with alien names: "...some Lectroids carried regular last names taken at random from a Manhattan telephone book, whereas others ... were evidently translations of Lectroid pictographs... (John Icicle Boy, John Repeat Dance, John Careful Walker, John Thorny Stick, John Mud Head, John Small Berries, John Ya Ya, John Take Cover, John Many Jars) [p.148]

Granted, there is a level of idealism present. But is it so terrible to imagine an organization that strives for "a better world" and is made strong by its many and varied members representing every walk of life? So powerful was this novel that it inspired me to create an electronic public forum for discussion, debate and information exchange in the days before the "World Wide Web."

Not for those seeking light reading, "Buckaroo Banzai" delivers a world and people so real and sincere that you cannot help but ponder the source. I was left feeling empowered and eager to snatch up my chances to make a difference.

Included in this second volume of Season Three scripts are: "Revelations" by Douglas Petrie, "Lovers Walk" by Dan Vebber, "The Wish" by Marti Noxon, "Amends" by Joss Whedon, "Gingerbread" by Jane Espenson (story by Espenson and Thania St. John), and "Helpless" (previously "18") by David Fury. These half-dozen episodes bring us up to the point where Giles is fired by the Watcher's Council, which means in Volume 3 we will see means the next volume (which should have the next five episodes) will begin Faith's slide toward becoming a rouge slayer. Interesting to note that "Amends" which was the episode submitted by Whedon for Emmy consideration from Season Three, and "Helpless," are both entirely "WHITE" shooting drafts: no revisions as in no "BLUE" pages, no "PINK" pages (I know, you cannot tell by the color of the pages in this book, but they are labeled at the top so you can see what was revised and hazard your guesses as to why). This latest volume reaffirms that "BtVS" was rich series where every script has a few choice morsels on which we can subsist while we wallow in despair that the show is now part of cult television history.