Blackout (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) (Mass Market Paperback)

~ Keith R. A. DeCandido (Author)
Key Phrases: blond dude, New York, Central Park, Miss Wood (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

THE DARK IS COMING. . . .

New York City in 1977 is vampire heaven. Serial killer Son of Sam is often blamed for their hits, and a citywide blackout gives them free reign of the streets, allowing them to get away with murder. Spike and his beloved Drusilla are in the Big Apple taking advantage of the situation, as is Vampire Slayer Nikki Wood, who has hunkered down with her son, Robin, in a Times Square apartment where she thinks they'll be safe.

But no matter where she goes, Nikki has to watch her back. Spike has only one thing on his mind: to slay a slayer. Adding to Spike's list of challenges is a corrupt local vampire community that catches wind of his presence, and when they start messing with him, things get bloody interesting.

Product Details

• Reading level: Young Adult
  
• Mass Market Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Simon Spotlight Entertainment (August 29, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1416919171
• ISBN-13: 978-1416919179
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #578,120 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

19 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Blackout by Keith R.A. DeCandido, September 5, 2006

By	J. Nygren "Bookwurm" (Sandpoint, ID) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Blackout by Keith R.A. DeCandido is a well written and entertaining story. It is a "Spike" story, and you won't find any of the Scoobies or Buffy in this tale. It takes place in 1977 New York, and fills out the story of the last few days in the life of Nikki, the Vampire Slayer. The story alternates between Nikki's tale and Spike's, who has come to New York to bag himself his second slayer. Standing between Spike and his final confrontation with Nikki is a local Vampire mob boss, who wants Spike either recruited into his organization or dusted. When Dru unexpectedly arrives in NY, things really heat up.

The author has taken the Spike vs. Nikki in the subway scene from Season 5 BTvS "Fool for Love" and Spike's first meeting with Nikki from Season 7 "Lies My Parents Told Me" and built them into a story that is exciting and true to both the main characters. This is the Season 2 Spike, evil, snarky, brash, and full of confidence and bravado. If you don't like Spike, you probably won't enjoy the story. If you are a Spike fan, and want a new story about him, or if you want to know more about Nikki's life as a mother and a Vampire Slayer you will find this to be an engaging tale and satisfying read.

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "Blackout" is the best Buffy tie-in novel yet!, November 25, 2006

By	The-Big-Bad (San Mateo, CA) - See all my reviews

There are quite a few mediocre (and several downright awful) tie-in novels for the "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" universe, but "Blackout" by Keith R.A. DeCandido is the best one I've encountered. If only the other fifteen Buffy/Angel novels I've read were this good.

"Blackout" is definitely a Spike novel. As a Spike fan, I have no problem with that at all. Buffy appears only briefly at the beginning and the end of "Blackout", which is just as well. There's not much room for her in this story of "evil" Spike in 1970s New York.

The Slayer in question in 1977 is Nikki Wood, the only Slayer we've ever heard about who also has a child to raise. Not only does she have to deal with demons, apocalypses and a criminal organization of vampires, she has to deal with Spike coming to town looking for trouble (soon followed by the demented Drusilla). The author is true in his depiction of the character of Spike in that the British vampire constantly straddles the line between bloodthirsty villain and charismatic anti-hero.

What elevates this novel above any other Buffy novel I've read is the simple fact that despite knowing the inevitable outcome (Spike stalking and eventually slaying Nikki the Vampire Slayer--also acquiring that awesome leather coat--was depicted in two episodes of "Buffy the Vampire Slayer", "Fool For Love" in season 5 and "Lies My Parents Told Me" in season 7), I was still interested and intrigued enough to read every word as the narrative progressed. Heck, the author revealed the forthcoming results of the few plotlines fans of the show didn't know about within the first six pages and I still wanted to see how it all went down.

If you can't see yourself enjoying a book that doesn't revolve around Buffy and the Scooby gang--or one where the bad guy wins--then "Blackout" isn't for you. Too bad, though, since many of the books that do revolve around those folks are poorly written. "Blackout" is also a much stronger work than the earlier Spike & Dru novel, "Pretty Maids All In A Row." So if you want to read one novel set in the "Buffyverse" (and aren't totally devoted to reading about Buffy herself), read "Blackout". You'll be doing yourself a favor.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Star Trek at its finest, November 11, 2008

By	Sarah J. Frey "Illini fan and bibliophile" (Chicago, IL USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Star Trek is at its finest when the story not only entertains, but also causes us to reflect on the world at large. Blackout does an excellent job meeting both of these requirements. The story is familiar - the Starfleet Core of Engineers comes to rescue a planet and save the day. At the same time, it explores the idea of gender and gender roles in a non-threatening and non-preachy manner.