The Books of Ascension were a five volume collection of books that held vital information on the process to achieve Ascension. Somehow, the Books were obtained by a demon lowlife called Skyler who sought to sell the books to Slayers Buffy Summers and Faith Lehane for five thousand dollars. However, before Buffy could obtain the books, Skyler was murdered by Faith and the books were taken to her secret employer, Mayor Richard Wilkins. While a prisoner at the City Hall, Willow Rosenberg found the Books and, though unable to read them, managed to rip a few pages out, and later gave them to Rupert Giles for research. Prior to this, the books were described as "in good condition save for some wear on one spine and some foxing" (red-brown marks common on old books.).