Joss Whedon is the creator of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, it's spin-off series Angel, Firefly (another series, which sadly only ran for one season) and Serenity (a film inspired by Firefly).
There has been lots of study - both light-hearted and academic - of Whedon's worlds and the amazing characters that inhabit them.
This latest collection of critical essays delves into the psychology of Joss himself, as well taking an analytical look at his creations.
Written by a variety of authors - all of whom have strings of letters after their names - and with frequent reference to psychological theories and methods, this book had the potential to be very hard-going indeed.
Luckily, it's very readable, and the essays are well-researched and cogent. They cover topics such as neuroscience in Firefly and Angel's relationship with his mother. My personal favourites are the essays that refer to feminism in both Buffy and Whedon's own personality (Joss often refers to himself as a 'radical feminist', just another reason he is one of my personal heroes).
A couple of words of warning, however; this book is definitely not at the 'light' end of the fan-essay-market. Although by no means impenetrable, you really do need to have an interest in psychology as well as in Whedon and his works.
Also, the essays refer widely to the episodes of Buffy, Angel and Firefly, so there are plenty of spoilers.
Rating: 4/5
Like this? Try: Serenity Found
