So, once upon a time, I thought all fanfic was terrible. Even so, I was desperate to see more of my ship, so I started reading it anyway. Then I read Forward to Time Past. It blew my mind.
Aside from the top-notch story and writing, what sets this fic head and shoulders above the rest is how it handles Spike's evolving characterization. We see him as a man, as a monster, and as a being caught somewhere between the two extremes. Rather than gloss over Spike's violent past or his soulless state, these elements are examined in detail and have major effects on the plot. The scary thing is that while there are clear differences between Spike's characterization over the three parts, he's still ultimately the same guy- the kind Victorian gentleman is seamlessly transformed into the Slayer of Slayers, who then attempts to transform himself a second time, into someone capable of having a relationship with Buffy.
The first part of the fic is full of concentrated Victorian adorableness, with some culture shock and time-travel-related angst thrown in. The second third is mostly about Spike's time with the fanged four, and while it was fascinating to read through the first time, I've never felt the need to read it again (it's fairly dark). The final third re-introduces the rest of the canon characters, and aside from the Spuffy, it's got some awesome Spike & Dawn interaction. The arguments between Buffy and the scoobies aren't always completely rational (on either side), but I think it's easy to see where everyone is coming from, and there's nothing that I would consider character bashing. Every chapter is engaging and interesting, from the moment our poor heroine is arrested for indecent exposure, to the moment she examines the evidence and makes her final decision. It's not always edge-of-your-seat exciting, but I never found myself bored, and the chapters leading up to the climax were nothing short of thrilling (and a definite improvement on certain canon storylines).
I don't think it's perfect, but as fanfics go, it's pretty darn close. If you like the ship, complex portrayals of both Spike and Buffy, and doorstopper-length time travel epics, I definitely recommend that you check this one out.
Time Travel Epic and Great Examination of the Lead Characters.
So, once upon a time, I thought all fanfic was terrible. Even so, I was desperate to see more of my ship, so I started reading it anyway. Then I read Forward to Time Past. It blew my mind.
Aside from the top-notch story and writing, what sets this fic head and shoulders above the rest is how it handles Spike's evolving characterization. We see him as a man, as a monster, and as a being caught somewhere between the two extremes. Rather than gloss over Spike's violent past or his soulless state, these elements are examined in detail and have major effects on the plot. The scary thing is that while there are clear differences between Spike's characterization over the three parts, he's still ultimately the same guy- the kind Victorian gentleman is seamlessly transformed into the Slayer of Slayers, who then attempts to transform himself a second time, into someone capable of having a relationship with Buffy.
The first part of the fic is full of concentrated Victorian adorableness, with some culture shock and time-travel-related angst thrown in. The second third is mostly about Spike's time with the fanged four, and while it was fascinating to read through the first time, I've never felt the need to read it again (it's fairly dark). The final third re-introduces the rest of the canon characters, and aside from the Spuffy, it's got some awesome Spike & Dawn interaction. The arguments between Buffy and the scoobies aren't always completely rational (on either side), but I think it's easy to see where everyone is coming from, and there's nothing that I would consider character bashing. Every chapter is engaging and interesting, from the moment our poor heroine is arrested for indecent exposure, to the moment she examines the evidence and makes her final decision. It's not always edge-of-your-seat exciting, but I never found myself bored, and the chapters leading up to the climax were nothing short of thrilling (and a definite improvement on certain canon storylines).
I don't think it's perfect, but as fanfics go, it's pretty darn close. If you like the ship, complex portrayals of both Spike and Buffy, and doorstopper-length time travel epics, I definitely recommend that you check this one out.
Final Verdict: A