BSV Forum - Fiction - Recommendations

This is a loaded question!

Oct 08 2009 11:17 pm   #1BandS 
You are a new reader or author - do you have a preference?  Supernatural or Human.  If so, of those categories which would you recommend?

Baby fics (supernatural) versus Baby Fics (human)?

Time Travel?

Bitey Mating Fics?

Alternative Universe Fics?

Or your all time favorite?

Example: I love Niamh and Maryperks stories.  There are also others I like, as well.

I know there are a million and two threads consisting of this, but I'm curious.  Who is into the funny and lighthearted or the angsty heart thrashing involved fics?

I curious because as I look at the recs over at LJ - I'm seeing more and more of the slash rather than well, Spuffy or Wara or Xanya or you get the idea?  Curious what everyone's preference is and what they would recommend as their top fave and not what we (the poster) are asking for recs.
Oct 08 2009 11:53 pm   #2:)(: 
I'm not sure I'm reading your question for the categories right, but I'll try to answer.

I prefer supernatural Baby fics, even if the baby is not supernatural.
I really love Time Travel, but I like our supernatural people going back in time to historical times and meeting with humans, ancestors, or human versions of our people best.
I sometimes think when Buffy is supernatural and Spike is supernatural, the claim is overdone to make them super-super beings, so I like supernatural Spike claiming Buffy when she isn't a super Slayer, but more human.

So, I guess I love supernatural, but I like when it's tempered with human things we deal with a lot, rather than super supernatural.
Oct 08 2009 11:58 pm   #3LisFayte
I have been reading Buffy fanfic since around season 2, that would make it about 1998 I guess.
 I seriously hate All Human fic, and there is not much slash that I like either. I dislike Spike torture too. I don't like Spike or Buffy with anyone else.
I don't mind supernatural baby-fic, I love humor, time travel, fluffy, angsty, AU and adventure . Really love Riley and Kennedy bashing.
What I read really depends on my mood, sometimes I want fluffy or funny, sometimes I want some angst.
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.--- e e cummings

Come to challengespuffy  post Spuffy fic challenges or find something to write about
Oct 09 2009 12:44 am   #4nmcil
Maybe one of the reason that LJ is attacking more Slash is that the majority of readers make a special effort in getting an account or joining a specific genre - you can also, if you want restrict your readership.  Plus if you have a site like mine, it is very much designed to be general audience and thus any "adult only" material is posted.   The "slash" and "adult only" is an important category.  I signed up for a group that did not describe the content as "adult only" and then when I sent back to my personal page, some very sexually explicit images were shown.  I have absolutely nothing against "adult only" or "sexually explicit" imagery, but it was a big surprise, and something that I would not post on my personal sites because I invited a general audience.

On using categories - I appreciate sites that place the works into lists - big convenience for their readers.

My choices, not necessarily by "I like best" order:

Spuffy
Alternative Universe
Canon
Post Series
Time Travel  (pretty much all time travel)
Holiday Stories ( I love reading wonderful Spuffy or General Scoobies tales set during holidays)

I never read All Human and by this time I also no longer read non Spuffy works, when I first started reading FF, I would occasionally read non Spuffy pairing, but it has been a long time since any other relationship as be of interest to me.  What I wish more writers would work with are Spike-Dawn friendship and Spike-Tara friendship.
” Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that “they” threaten “us.”

Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Oct 09 2009 02:03 am   #5clarityfades 
I don't read all-human fics anymore.  I find those fics tend to get away from who Spuffy are, and/or tend to have more Mary Sue qualities to Buffy.  I also only read stories where Buffy is in the main pairing or is the main character (though no Buffy/Xander or Buffy/Riley...& I usually don't like Buffy/Willow, either).  I don't mind any of the other categories...time travel, baby fic, etc.  But it must be supernatural. 

What I'd love to see is more Buffy/Oz, Spuffy/Oz, Spuffy/Tara, & Spuffy/Giles fics.  Those are the ones I'm always on the lookout for, & rarely find.  Don't mind angst, but I don't enjoy fics that are 99% angst, & 1% happy.  I read fic to be entertained, not overly depressed. 

Oh & any hints of Spander & I'm outta there--I loathe that pairing, & don't read any fic that features it.  Same with Dawn/Spike. 
Oct 09 2009 02:21 am   #6LisFayte
Oh & any hints of Spander & I'm outta there--I loathe that pairing, & don't read any fic that features it.  Same with Dawn/Spike.

I'm with you there! I hate Spander, Spawn, Spoyce, and the yuckiest one, Spilliam.
However, I do like Spuffy Spike/Xander friendship  and Spuffy Spike/Giles friendship fics.
The most wasted of all days is one without laughter.--- e e cummings

Come to challengespuffy  post Spuffy fic challenges or find something to write about
Oct 09 2009 06:35 am   #7TammyDevil666
I have to disagree there.  I love me some Spander, that's my second pairing of choice after Spuffy.  I don't like to read anything else, really.  And I must admit that I do prefer all human fictions, those are the ones I like writing more as well.
When I say, "I love you," it's not because I want you or because I can't have you. It has nothing to do with me. I love what you are, what you do, how you try. I've seen your kindness and your strength. I've seen the best and the worst of you, and I understand with perfect clarity exactly what you are. You're a hell of a woman. You're the one, Buffy.
Oct 09 2009 08:10 am   #8BandS 
Ok, I should never have posted that when I was on my way out the door!  Giggles!

Wow, I'm surprised that there are more supernatural than human loving going on.  I see more and more on Seeking Spike and Buffy recs seeking a lot of slash or human stories.  However, this is probably the largest, if not runner up, in fave tv show for use in fan fiction. 

Let me emphasize on what I was trying to convey and poorly did it, lol.

What is your all-time favorite fic?  Name of fic and by who?  Which fic have you read more than you care to admit, because, quite frankly, you have read it an obscene amount of times (probably have it memorized).  Favorite series?

Like my fave fics - is a three way tie - I love Niamh's Origins Series (read it too many times to count), Maryperk's Immortal Guardian Series (another one that I have read way too many times, *giggles*), then the one I finally sat down to read because I wasn't too sure of it - Dee Bradfield's Linkverse.  Yeah, during that time I stuck to certain types of stories, because, honestly, I just got into fan fiction back in 2006.  It was a dark time for me, so I was constantly reading fan fiction - and...by DreamsofSpike.  I know!  Your like why????  You were emotionally down.  Why read her dark (but amazingly written) and angsty fics.  Honestly, they helped me.  No kidding.  They pushed that sudden breakdown right down.  I know strange.  But, aside from that reading and getting involved in the Spuffy community broke down the barriers.

Ok aside from me, oops, meant to just give you the stories.  My first fic I read was Maryperks Broken Betrayal - then I was hooked.  I found EF first then Vamp Kiss, then BSV, then The Spuffy Realm.  So wow, I'm going on 4 years of constant fan fiction reading. 

Curious - who has really picked up an actual book, lol?

So, what I was striving for - Was your - make this easy - Top Ten Recommended List:

1.Origins by Niamh
2.Immortal Guardian Series by Maryperk
3.Linkverse by Dee Bradfield
4.Second Chances by JackofSpikes
5.Coincidences Series by All4Spike
6.Because she needs me by Callmekitten
7.Rest of our Lives by Ariel Dawn

8.In Harm's Way by DawnofMe *hard choice cause I also love her Vamp Buffy Soul series*
9.ANYTHING by Dreamofweaver - I really can't choose they are all phenomenal!
10.Two Janes by Kari Mouke
(see my first slash/Spuffy heehee) 

Wish it was finished: Redwulf50's series...Such a good series. Tug Verse.

Yes, I do love others, and that list will change over time.  (Cause I totally also love TalesofSpike's Series too! Ok there are just too many good authors out there, lol)

I do not like Spander, Spangel, Spawn, Spillow, or Spaith.  What I noticed, and yeah, I get it - the need to broaden what you like, because maybe it gets tiring reading the same similar concept?  Just a thought.  I noticed besides on LJ, but Just Rewards - the way fics are broken down by ship.  Pretty cool. 

Oh!  LisFayte I agree!  Friendship is awesome between Spike, Giles, and Xander.  I also love fics like that.

Ok, I have way too many fave's because I totally forgot to add Slaymesoftly's fic Just a Little Spell and Shadow's Forever Immortal.  Wow, I have way too many fics that are faves, lol.  Most are saved in a folder (especially if my internet is ever down or at work) for luxury reading.  It's so nice to use my computer remote put the font size bigger and scroll reading on the screen laying on my couch, lol.  I shudder to think of this community dying out...I hope not.  It seems to bring a lot of people together - whether it is writing or just reading.

Yeah, totally re-read what I wrote, and even I - had issues with the clarity of that question(s).  Will think twice of posting something right before I am leaving work!

Sorry for the confusion!  Interesting to see what you will add along with what you all have said previously.  ;)
Oct 11 2009 12:20 am   #9spikes_evilbint 
Interesting thread.  I think that I am perhaps the exception to most here.  I will try to read any type of fic - apart from porn without a plot .  A story without plot?  What is the point of that? LOL.

I will try almost anything with a summary that hooks me in.  I have a soft spot for amnesia fics or shanshu Spike fics, and love dark torturous angsty fics.  I hate the way that All Human is seen as the poor relation to canon based fics.   I think it is a valid part of the fandom and some of my favourite stories are All Human.  I'd rather read All Human than out of character behaviour in stories that are supposed to be canon.  The fics I tend to avoid are ones which basically rewrite episodes of the show.  I don't mean they start of from such and such an episode and then take it their own way, but rather ones who use lots of dialogue from the show in it all the way through. 

The thing that I love about the fandom is that everyone sees the characters in a slightly different way.  And just because they write them how you don't perceive the characters it  doesn't necessarily mean that they can't write. :)
 
As for the slash on lj thing - if you know that the site is slash orientated and it's not your cup of tea - just don't go back!They are generally well labelled. 

I can read all characters in friendship fics, but would never read as a sexual pairing, Spike/Dawn or Spike/Joyce.  Only read Whichclothes (lj user name) Spander fics as usually hate the pairing and can take Spike/Giles if non con.  Happy with Spike/Lindsey and Spike/Angel.

And as for the guest who said she read dreamsofspike when she was depressed/going through a rough time - I generally write dark fics and have to say - they are better than therapy! LOL!

Fave genres of fics

Dark/tortured/angsty
Amnesia
Shanshu
Alternate Universe - all human or just veering widely from where the show went.
Oct 11 2009 12:51 am   #10Sensei
One reason I love the BSV site so much is that these stories are about the "real" Spike and Buffy.  On other sites there are so many human stories that  it is sometimes hard to find stories about our favorite  vamp and slayer.  I find the human stories can still usually portray Spike's character--snarky and sarcastic on the surface but insecure and wanting to be loved underneath, but take away Buffy's slayer side and she becomes a rather bland character.

To the guest who wants recommendations, here is a very old fanfic that you should not miss.  It is at dark-solace.org/elysian by cousinjean.  The Butterfly Effect has the characterizations down perfectly and is both a really good plot and endearing love story.  If you don't like NC-17, don't worry about the URL for this.  It is just one short and not horribly graphic, but lovely little section.
http://dark-solace.org/elysian/viewstory.php?sid=421&warning=NC-17

Nmcil--I love Spike friendship with Dawn or Tara stories, too, but haven't found very many.  Do you have any to recommend?

Oct 11 2009 02:27 am   #11spikes_evilbint 

cousinjean's fics are great - I love the time travel one - can't remember the title. 

 

Oct 11 2009 03:54 am   #12BandS 
As for the slash on lj thing - if you know that the site is slash orientated and it's not your cup of tea - just don't go back!They are generally well labelled. 

Spikes_evilbint - I couldn't agree more on what you said.  However, it's not about going to these sites that have slash.  Some are kind of unavoidable.  Example on LJ there are two sites when you need help locating a story.  They are Seeking Spike and Buffy_recs.  When some come on and request a story or are desperately looking for a story a lot are requesting these stories.  I noticed that when I go looking on the site to make sure I haven't requested a story already requested or try not to.

That being said.  I love fan fiction of the supernatural more than the human based fics.  However, some are really good - like Not My Reality by Dawnofme. 

I have a preference of site - and sorry, it's not this one.  I like this site because of it's forum the others because of how it's easier to print, read, and copy to word for an easier way to view...Sorry white screens bother me - damn migraines.  I usually have to highlight on this one to avoid that or find the story elsewhere.  Sorry but I do love the Forum though!

Maybe Perfect World by cousinjean?
Oct 11 2009 04:07 am   #13slaymesoftly
White screens, bands? I'm looking at a black one. Have you tried a different skin?

cousinjean is, indeed, amazing.  Everyone has their favorite authors - she would be one of mine.  As is Barb C (rahirah). Nan Dibble was...she just was.   Anaross is usually very, very good.  Eurydice is good, but she seems to have taken her site down now that she's published in the real world. I think her stuff can still be found on a few archives, though. I'd hate to think that Legions of True Hearts had disappeared forever. It's one of the very few fics that I have intentionally read more than twice.
I am not a minion of Evil...
I am upper management.
Oct 11 2009 05:10 am   #14dawnofme
First thing.  BandS, you are my new best friend.  :)  I was going to use the plot/ideas for Not My Reality for original fiction, but I realized that no publisher would touch a story with a real reality TV show as the setting, because of the legalities.  And then I thought about how the setting was perfect for Spuffy, the Buffyverse and Angelverse characters.  It was a lot of fun to write, so I'm glad you enjoyed it.

My favorite genre is probably time travel, but I really do enjoy most genres from the very darkest (I beta for Spikes_evilbint *waves high to her evilness*) to the very fluffiest of feel good fluff. 

My least favorite are baby fics where it's all about her pregnancy and the delivery.  I don't mind a fic where she gets pregnant or children are involved.  And porn without plot is also not my favorite.  I will read a porn without plot that is a one shot, but a fic that goes on and on about all the possible sexual positions and drenched panties for chapter after chapter is just not my idea of fun reading. 

I'm in between when it comes to All Human.  Some of the fics that stand out in my mind as favorites are All Human stories.  But for every AH that I have loved, there are twenty of them that I didn't like.  And many of those would be favorites for others, so it's just a preference.

I'll even read certain slash pairings with Spike.  Mostly Spike/Angel.  This is just a guess, but I'm thinking maybe there aren't as many archives for slash fic as there are for Spuffy fics?  Perhaps that is why you see so many people asking for slash recs? 

I can't do recs right now.  I know I would forget somebody and I'm really bad at remembering the titles of fics. 
Oct 11 2009 05:27 am   #15BandS 
Slaymesoftly - This screen is black and I highlight it.  It's just me, lol.  I either have to turn down the brightness on the screen to make it dull...It's a pain!  But I'd rather do that than miss anything online or television!  When I read from this sight it's like a very light gray with dark writing?  I just prefer putting it on Word to make it even bigger so I can use my remote, lol!  Nothing personal about the site.  Cuz some others use light background...It's just I prefer to darken my background and use Word to read them and especially at work...I either print or save it...Can't stay on the internet too long and every single Spuffy site wants info and sends too much info to our servers...So I'm in quick to take story and out or I send them to my email...So...that's how much I'm into the fan fiction of Spuffy. Same with forum entries...I have to write them first and do copy and pastes...Ugh it's annoying, but during down time at work I don't want to look like I'm twiddling my thumbs, lol.

Dawnofme - aw thanks!  No need to say which, cause honestly?  I was having a hard time choosing my top ten because there are so many I love.  I didn't want anyone to be left out cause I kept thinking of more and more and more...And should anyone add a story that wasn't known...even better more to read! 

Oct 11 2009 05:33 am   #16Scarlet Ibis
Geeze Louise, Slayme.  You scared me!

Eurydice's fictions are right here, safe as houses: http://loveslastglimpse.com/

And word on cousinjean.  I <3 that lady.
"Just when the caterpillar thought the world was over, it became a butterfly."
https://www.facebook.com/FangirlNovel
Oct 11 2009 08:11 pm   #17slaymesoftly
That's good to know, Scarlett. I went looking for them a couple of weeks ago and got a "can't find the site" message, so I just figured she'd taken her site down.  Must have been a temporary thing - maybe the domain name expired or something.  Thanks for letting me know. I never put or keep fics on my computer after I've finished them, but I may have to make an exception for Legions, just in case...:)
I am not a minion of Evil...
I am upper management.
Nov 08 2009 05:09 pm   #18sosa lola
I'm a huge slash fan, mostly Xander-Slash though. I like Xander with any character so it doesn't matter, heh, Spander being #1. As for het, Spuffy is my number one ship, followed by Xander/Buffy, Willow/Angel, Giles/Anya, Xander/Cordelia, Xander/Anya (Post-Wedding), Xander/Dawn and if written really well Xander/Faith, though I'm not that hot on Faith's character so I don't read much Faith fic.
Nov 08 2009 08:56 pm   #19nmcil
Nmcil--I love Spike friendship with Dawn or Tara stories, too, but haven't found very many.  Do you have any to recommend?

Sorry, I don't keep listing of fav works - I just remember the stories or parts that I had a strong connection with - like the story that features Giles trying to help Spike and Willow, while living in England, find themselves and getting back to living a good life- Believe that Wesley is also part of that piece.  Same with that lovely story with great friendship between Spike and Tara when he gets her out of a horrible life with her family -

Actually, story based on wonderful friendships and friendships that develop between and transform the character - particularly Spike and Giles. 
I think that one of the reasons that  so  many All Human and Slash is becoming more popular is that writers are just wanting to be more creative and want to explore these same characters but with the freedom that the non-buffyverse can bring.  Same with Spike and Angel Slash, this pairing gives both freedom and continuity.

While I only read Spuffy, I no longer interested in reading other pairings, except I think that I will start exploring Spangel if I get some recommends for particularly good writers.
 
” Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that “they” threaten “us.”

Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Nov 08 2009 09:14 pm   #20Psilo 
I love Eurydice's fics! shes fantastic and so is Holly.
I severely dislike "mating" and "claiming" fics since i dont see these to be very realistic in Spuffys world. In my opinion tho i love canon fics that abide closely to canon realizm, i dont mind fanon as long as its believable this includes time travel and whatever else an author could think up.
Babies, mating, bite claims - i believe are not in their future (unless Buffy would have had a relationship with a human at some point, when it comes to the babies bit)

Whenever there is biting-claiming going on i get this ill at ease "mary-sue" sort of feeling, like the author is trying too hard to make it a little too "perfect" and set in stone that they are comitted and will always be together. I dont believe that would ever be the case with these two. I feel the beautiful meaning of "choice" and to choose someone, a one person.. every single day of ones life, is lost when this "claiming" is going on (unless its just teeth marks, no magic behind other than a mark to state a "claim" to this being, if you follow)

I love alternate universe fics. There is this one i have especially in mind where Buffy goes in to the future (she may have been dead) Spike and Xander find her and its some sort of space-fic.
There is this other fic where Spuffy goes through some heavy ordeals and Buffy is to marry another, i think Spike has a lady friend too.. and in the end she ends up not choosing Spike, why i even mention it is because it played out beautifully and it was well written even if my heart broke in the end.
Its a shame im terrible at fic titles.

I think the only thing the fics i love have in commin, is how not alls "fine and dandy" and it doesnt necessarily work out in the end, atleast not how they expected. I loved that aspect of the Buffyverse- "Its not going to end well".

Thats just my take.
Nov 09 2009 04:20 am   #21nmcil
I hope someone can supply the title to your "not choosing spike" story  and the "some sort of space-fic"  I would very much like to read them.

I don't mind claiming in a story as long as it is supported by an honest effort from the writer - not as stated a way to make things convenient as a plot device.  Same goes for Spike and Buffy with other people, if the story is an honest attempt to deal with the characters.  One of the stories that I have enjoyed very much is Spike after leaving Sunnydale being in a relationship with a male partner - it totally works because the writer supports what the character are doing. 

Both the dark and painful works and feel good Spuffy serve readers well - I think that my now most of the writers that have remained with the Buffyverse, Spuffy and Angelverse are doing better work - lot of the "anything goes" and "insert myself here" stories are not being done now.
Of course, I am only speaking of Spuffy work since that is pretty much the only FF that I read.
” Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that “they” threaten “us.”

Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Nov 09 2009 03:16 pm   #22sosa lola
I think that one of the reasons that  so  many All Human and Slash is becoming more popular is that writers are just wanting to be more creative and want to explore these same characters but with the freedom that the non-buffyverse can bring.  Same with Spike and Angel Slash, this pairing gives both freedom and continuity.

I'm not sure putting slash and All Human fics in the same category works, while slash is pairing two men/women who are not a couple in the show, it still doesn't have the freedom of ditching canon events like All Human fics do. You read Spander or Spangel fics that deal with canon events and try to work on getting those two characters together in the canon setting -Spike being a vampire and Xander working in construction. They're kinda like Spuffy in S2/S4 fics.
Nov 09 2009 06:17 pm   #23nmcil
True that doing slash FF does not allow for as much creative variation, but it still allows for a great deal of exploration of the characters.  The limits for "creative treatment" is only contained by the writers.  There is a difference between writing slash as an exploration of physical love and sex between same genders and writing stories about the emotional, life experiences and history of the characters.   Similarly, with All Human - many works simply put the same character traits on the characters and transport them into new locations and for vampires into the daytime. 

Why does "ditching canon events" not apply to slash works?  There must be many ways to do slash and place the series characters outside canon or make big changes from a starting point in the series. 

Imagine a Angel/Angelus in high brooding angst mode meeting up with Godric in his current transformative philosophical life - the potential for what these two vampiric characters and their changed understanding of themselves and their world view has loads of potential material to work with.  The themes of what Godric was starting to bring into the True Bloodverse were very interesting.    
” Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that “they” threaten “us.”

Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Nov 09 2009 07:22 pm   #24Psilo 
nmcil - if it helps any, im pretty sure that both Xan and Spike are Vampires, and there hasnt been a slayer for maybe 2-300 years. They have been watching over the descendants of the gang, and some of them are on this Spaceship.

hah guh sounds so corny now :P

The other fic, its been years since i read it. I dont remember a whole lot of unique details about it just that it left me feeling strongy about the quality  of the fic. I think life just gets in the way between them in the end. It was just very realistic, even when there is great deep love and devotion it doesnt always work out. I am certain they both have other partners in the fic, if not throughout then during a big part of it. I know that they try to find their way back to eachother and at the end of the fic when its looking like they might stand a chance , the author throws you for a loop and i think its buffy who chooses to go with this other guy and i think Spike is at peace with that as soon as it happens, like a weight being lifted.
Thats all i remember really, and the terrible knot in my tummy when i was done reading.
Nov 09 2009 07:36 pm   #25nmcil
thanks for your info - and the reality is that sometimes love isn't enough - I actually very much like stories that bring in this element - it's nice to ultimately have a Spuffy ending after a long process of honest  examination of themselves by the characters.  Especially with Spike, and his finding his own value away from his overwhelming love for this woman, the character is in great need of finding his own value and self identity. 

Just the idea of Xander and Spike as vampire good guys guardians is interesting - sure hope that someone knows this story and where it is archived -
” Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that “they” threaten “us.”

Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Nov 09 2009 08:10 pm   #26sosa lola

Why does "ditching canon events" not apply to slash works?

It does, it also does in canon ship fics as well. Haven't you read a Spuffy fic that ignores canon? If you haven't, then I also haven't, or don't, read Spander fics that veer away from canon. When I read a fic, I'd like to be able to imagine it happening on TV.

nmcil - if it helps any, im pretty sure that both Xan and Spike are Vampires, and there hasnt been a slayer for maybe 2-300 years. They have been watching over the descendants of the gang, and some of them are on this Spaceship.

You never know, this fic may exist. I'm not the best Spander fan to ask about it though, I don't like those types of fics. For one thing, the reason Xander is my favorite character is because he's just human -turning him into a vampire, hyena, super powered dude makes him less special for me. Same goes for Spike, I like him best as a vampire. What's so fascinating about Spander is Spike, who's only been attracted to physically powerful people, learns to appreciate the inner strength and bravery in Human, Powerless Xander. Falls in love with him because of his humanity and inner strength. And Xander, who despises vampires, learns about the shades of gray and falls in love with Vampire, Soulless Spike for his loyalty and heart. Two opposites attach. It'll never be as thrilling for me if Xander is a vampire and Spike is a human.
 

Nov 10 2009 02:06 am   #27Psilo 
Oh its a Spuffy, but atleast implied Spander.
Its bugging me now im going to have to find it
Nov 10 2009 02:37 am   #28slaymesoftly
Psilo - is it by Cousinjean? I think she wrote one that took place on a space ship and in the far future. Most of the crew were obvious descendants of the Scoobies. I don't remember Xander being on it, though, so maybe I'm thinking of another fic.  And - you love Holly, but you don't like mating and claiming? Huh? That's kind of her thing. :) I agree, she's a very good writer, but she does love her claiming and mating.
nmcil - if you read Friday by Girlpire, it will give you some idea of how Spangel can work. She's wonderful and so it that fic.  I think you can probably find it on Just Rewards. It is an award winner, so eligible to be on there.
I am not a minion of Evil...
I am upper management.
Nov 10 2009 08:44 am   #29nmcil
slaymesoftly -

thank you for the info - will check it out -
” Recent evolutionary models have demonstrated what politicians have long known: the best way to get people to collaborate and to think like a group is to identify an enemy and charge that “they” threaten “us.”

Michael Tomasello is co-director of the Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology.
Nov 10 2009 10:39 am   #30Psilo 

I think its quite possible that when im reading a perticularly well written fic, i may let a "shiny magical claim" just go over my head and not focus on it during the fic. If spuffy develops outlandish and silly abilities due to a claim and its so much of it that it cant be ignored i will abandon the fic, it just triggers old feelings ive had in the past from reading truly terrible vampire books where there is only "author wanking" going on and they are trying to create some personal utopic situation for themselves and the characters become silly an unrelateable.
In far too many fics mating/claiming "fixes everything" and they get new shiny powers, and well somewhere along that road they turn in to people who no longer have the characteristics of buffy and spike, new people with their names .. the only thing remaining is Spikes accent and buffys willfullness.
Sitting here now having read everything shes written since "sang et ivorie" i cant put my finger on a situation where she just "took it too far" and ruined the fic by putting the wrong sort of focus on a claim/mating, probably why i dont even remember this going on in her fics.

Nov 21 2009 03:59 am   #31ladycat713 
Psilo

the story you are looking for is called Pheonix Star by jypzrose.

The description is as follows

300 years after the end of S7, (I kinda make up what I think could happen.) The Earth has been destroyed, in part due to the apocalypse that Buffy and Faith died to end, and also the centuries of abuse the planet had been through. Spike leads a lonely existence, traveling the galaxy to help the humans who had scattered far and wide to escape the destruction. His only company is his crew, most of which are distant relatives of the Scoobies that survived the Hellmouth. They answer a call for help on a distant planet where they find a legend about a 'star' that could destroy life as they know it, and an evil warlord bent on domination. He also finds a girl, wild, untamed. . .and with a face that haunts his dreams. Why is she there, and could she really be the reincarnation of his Slayer?

link to beginning

http://web.archive.org/web/20040825215150/http://www.jypzrose.com/Eternal+Rendezvous/spuffy/phoenixstar1/phoenixstar1.html

Is written only up to chapter 11 as far as I know.left a wip  I think at least 5 years ago possibly more.

Nov 21 2009 09:42 am   #32Sensei
Cousinjean wrote a futuristic outer-space one also called Future Imperfect in which Spike interacts with the descendents of the Scoobies. The description for it reads as:

In the year 2336, Buffy wakes to find she is humanity's only hope for the future, and Spike is the only link to her past. Contains spoilers for Season 5. Set during and 335 years following "The Gift." 

 It can be found at
http://dark-solace.org/elysian/viewstory.php?sid=409&textsize=0&chapter=1