"The Essential Supernatural: On The Road With Sam and Dean Winchester" by Nicholas Knight

For eight plus years, Sam and Dean Winchester have been hunting demons, listening to classic rock, driving muscle cars and saving the world on The CW series Supernatural. Their many adventures are chronicled in the recently released coffee table book, The Essential Supernatural: On The Road With Sam and Dean Winchester (Insight Editions), by Nicholas Knight. The series is now in its eight year and a chapter is devoted to each season and features a synopsis, special features, a look at the people behind the scenes and includes numerous full color photographs featuring the cast and crew, including stars Jared Padalecki and Jensen Ackles.

Supernatural has a devoted fan base (I have been watching since the beginning) who are very protective of the series. Those core fans will think they have gone to heaven while perusing the book, which is a fitting tribute to the popular and long running series. The Essential Supernatural boasts several unexpected treats, including numerous postcards, A Practical Manual For Hunters, mini-posters depicting Carver Edlund's Supernatural book series and a map which lists all of the places that Sam and Dean have traveled over the years. In addition, all of the major and supporting characters/actors are profiled, including Jim Beaver (Bobby), Misha Collins (Castiel) and Jeffrey Dean Morgan (John).

I particularly enjoyed reading about The Hierarchy of Demons, Ghostfacers, a guide to the monsters featured on the series and the tools that the Winchester brothers use to kill demons and various other rogues. There are other unique features that will spark reader interest as well, including a section on the numerous motel rooms that are frequented by the traveling brothers, a feature on The Colt and the Demon-Killing Knife, an episode guide and a foreword by Supernatural creator Eric Kripke. One aspect of the series that I did not see addressed is the slash fiction that has been written about the lead characters. A reference to Sam/Dean was even mentioned during an episode (which may have been entitled "Slash Fiction") and it would have been interesting/amusing to read what the actors, writers and producers have to say about the popularity of those stories.

There is no telling how long Supernatural will be on the air, but when the series finally does conclude, I hope that an updated version of The Essential Supernatural is published, so fans can have a complete history of the much loved program. Of course, there is talk of making a movie based on the series, which, if successful, could easily spawn sequels. Maybe Chuck Shurley can shed some light on a possible future movie series?