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Buffy novels have been published since 1998. Originally under the Pocket Books imprint of Simon & Schuster, they are now published by Simon Spotlight Entertainment which launched in 2004. Authors who have written original novels include Mel Odom, Christopher Golden, and Nancy Holder.
These Buffyverse tales take place throughout the series and are novelizations of various episodes.
These Buffyverse tales take place before the television series begins (from 490 BCE to CE 1996).
These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 1 (from spring 1996 until spring 1997).
Keep Me In Mind, The Suicide King, Colony, and Night Terrors form a series of gamebooks, titled "Stake Your Destiny". Each novel contains many numbered sections. Instead of reading the book from start-to-finish, the reader is given a choice at the end of each section. Depending upon the reader's decision, the reader will be directed to another numbered section that might be anywhere in the book. Unlike some other gamebooks, Stake Your Destiny novels do not contain any form of game system.
These tales take place during Buffy Season 2, (from autumn 1997 until spring 1998).
These tales take place during Buffy Season 3 (from autumn 1998 until spring 1999).
These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy Season 4, and Angel Season 1 (from autumn 1999 until spring 2000).
These Buffyverse tales take place during Buffy Season 5, and Angel Season 2 (from autumn 2000 until spring 2001).
These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 6, and Angel Season 3 (from autumn 2001 until spring 2002).
These Buffyverse tales take place around Buffy Season 7, and Angel Season 4 (from autumn 2002 until spring 2003).
These Buffyverse tales take place after Buffy Season 7, and after Angel Season 4.
Buffy novels are not usually considered part of Buffyverse canon by fans. However, unlike fan fiction, overviews summarising the basic story of each novel (written early in the writing process) were approved by both Fox and Joss Whedon (or his office), thereby allowing the books to be published as "official Buffy/Angel merchandise."
For a list associating Buffyverse authors with their Buffyverse novels see here. List of authors who have written Buffy novels: