Spark and Burn (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) [Paperback]

Diana G Gallagher (Author)

Book Description

Series: Buffy the Vampire Slayer | Publication Date: August 1, 2005

In SPARK AND BURN, fan-favourite Spike -- the other vampire with a soul -- takes centre stage. For centuries he was a bloodthirsty scourge of humankind, killing without bias, feeding on whomever (or whatever) came his way. That would all change when Riley Finn and the covert organisation known as the Initiative planted a microchip in his brain which rendered him incapable of harming a human being. As Spike learned to cope with this handicap -- the worst a vampire could imagine -- he found himself falling in love with the woman who had been his nemesis -- Buffy Summers, the Slayer. Their relationship is a stormy one, with years of mistrust between them. But after Spike regains his soul, undergoing terrible trials in the process, he and Buffy come to a kind of peace with one another; and Spike, finally, begins to find peace with himself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Diana G. Gallagher has written tie-ins to several television shows from Sabrina the Teenage Witch to Star Trek. Her Buffy books include the teen novel Doomsday Deck and the adult novels Obsidian Fate, Prime Evil and Spark and Burn. She is also co-author of Angel: The Casefiles Volume 2 and author of the Charmed novel Hurricane Hex.

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster (August 1, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416502378
• ISBN-13: 978-1416502371
• Product Dimensions: 7 x 4.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #978,715 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

48 of 50 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars great book for Spike fans, July 22, 2005

By 

D. Wilch "Fred&George rck" (Ohio USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Spark and Burn (Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Simon Spotlight)) (Mass Market Paperback)

Spark and Burn is a great 'Buffy' book. Most of the story takes place during the episode 'Lessons' when Spike is insane in the school basement. I liked that the entire book is told from Spike's point-of-view. Spark and Burn has a lot of flashbacks from early season two in it. I liked that Spike was spying on the Scoobies during the episodes 'Inca Mummy Girl' and 'Reptile Boy';it was really interesting to see what he thought of Buffy, Xander, Willow, Angel, and Giles back then. This book also tells you the story of how Spike ended up on the submarine with Angel in 1943. Diana G. Gallagher has a really good understanding of all the characters and the history of the show, and that helps make this book great. I highly recommend Spark and Burn to everyone who likes Spike or just a good book.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Deja Spike All Over Again, May 5, 2006

By 

Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Spark and Burn (Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Simon Spotlight)) (Mass Market Paperback)

This book fails for a number of reasons, none of which is the writing. Gallagher puts in an honest effort, and if good writing was all it took to create a great story, Spark and Burn would be a success. Unfortunately, the problem with the book appears right on the front cover, where we are promised an 'original novel,' and it never goes away.

If you watched the series and read the books (or even the comic books) you have a pretty good idea of Spike's history. First a bad poet, and then a really bad vampire. Drusilla's lover, and then, by an odd twist Buffy's. Villain, tormented soul, and finally, a hero. What Gallagher has done is recap all of this in 240 pages or so, during which you never learn anything very new. Instead we start out in the school basement during Spike's madness after regaining his soul and travel from flashback to even further flashback until this cruel biography is done.

The story, jumping from one frame to another never gels. The truth is, that there really isn't a story here, just an interior monologue and a series of pastiches. Just Simon & Schuster so intent in capitalizing on Spike's draw as a character that they forgot that Spike is interesting because his part in the Buffyverse. Mooning over The Slayer and enduring The Other's attempt to destroy his mind really isn't what Spike is about, and the book has all the fire of a collection of postage stamps from a country you don't care about.

The best I can say is avoid this book, which is a flat effort at best, but keep an eye out for Diana Gallagher's books. Somewhere inside of her is a good book trying to get out. Unfortunately, Spark and Burn isn't it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars just plain bad, April 1, 2006

By 

Nommes (Camdenton,MO) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Spark and Burn (Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Simon Spotlight)) (Mass Market Paperback)

I agree with most of the other reviews, this book was horrible. I read the discription on the back of the book and was instantly interested ( being a huge spike fan ) and bought it. but I was very disapointed, the whole thing is just flash backs that come directly from the show and the autor didnt add anything. I would rather just watch the show!!! Plus the flash backs are out of order, leaving you confused. DON'T BUY THIS BOOK, YOU WILL REGRET IT.