Barbverse

The Barbverse by Barb Cummings is a sprawling alternate universe series branching from Buffy the Vampire Slayer canon after 'The Gift', in which Buffy's resurrection comes about differently. There are three novels (one incomplete), eight novellas and a wealth of shorter material spanning half a century, written over 20 years and totalling over 1,000,000 words.Barb C's BtVS Fan Fiction: Timeline (accessed 19 April 2012) The series brings in almost the entire cast of BtVS and AtS, plus original characters, with the main pairing being Buffy/Spike. The writing has been described as plotty, detailed and inventive.
Stultiloquentia describes the Barbverse as one of the best-known sagas in the fandom, and a B/S classic.Fanlore: Barb Cummings (17:40, 26 July 2009) (accessed 19 April 2012) The series is widely recommended, with some fans preferring its plot lines to the official seasons 6 & 7. The Barbverse has also been called the ultimate “redemptionista” fic, as a story that suggests Spike can become a good man without a soul.Shipper Manifesto: Buffy/Spike, Buffy the Vampire Slayer posted at hetreccers, 31 Aug 2010. Accessed 5 Apr 2024. Despite this, the series still found favour with many fans who were not typically fans of Spike or the Spuffy pairing. 
Many stories from the series have won awards, including Halo Awards, Spark and Burn Awards, Spuffy Awards and Vampire Kisses Awards.Barb C's BtVS Fan Fiction: Awards (accessed 19 April 2012) The fic Necessary Evils was Winner for Best Saga at Love's Last Glimpse Awards in 2004. 
The author originally posted their works on their personal website and the Spuffy archive Elysian Fields. Barb later crossposted and continued the series at Ao3. While technically incomplete, the author has repeatedly stated that she plans to finish the series. 
==Author's Notes==
The author introduces the series as:
The main works in the Barbverse are:
* A Raising in the Sun
* Necessary Evils
* A Parliament of Monsters (WiP)
The author has also written DVD commentary and answered asks about the series on her Tumblr, Tumblr. (Accessed 16 April 2024).
==Reactions & Reviews==
Barb Cummings began to write this series following Buffy's season 5 finale, The Gift. In this episode Buffy dies, sacrificing herself to save the world and her sister, Dawn. This AU was one of many post-finale fanworks focusing on the aftermath of Buffy's death and resurrection. While Barb was eventually jossed by canon, there are many fans who believe these stories are superior to Season 6 canon. 
The Barbverse is a Redemptionist story, depicting a relationship between Buffy and a Souless Spike. As Spike was a series regular in season 4 & 5, the possibiltiy of the souless vampire becoming one of the good guys and redeeming himself, without a soul, was hotly debated by the fandom. See Redemptionistas vs. Evilistas for futher information. The Barbverse is often praised for depicting a Souless!Spike/Buffy relationship which feels in character, and again, many fans prefer Barbverse's depiction of Spuffy to the canon depiction of their relationship. 
Barb's writing is often praised its worldbuilding and characterization. 
==Related & Inspired==
===Fanfiction===
* second thoughts (in the third degree) by frogfarm, 2017. Inspired by Parliament of Monsters. 
===Fanart===
* Mood board based on rahirah's Necessary Evils by thenewbuzwuzz, 2017
* Clarence the Harrier demon from the Barbverse by thenewbuzwuzz, 2019 
==Further Reading ==
* The Barbverse by Barb Cummings (Rahirah) discussion at Buffy Forums started by TriBel, Dec 2017.
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==References==
Category:2000s Fanfiction
Category:2010s Fanfiction
Category:2020s Fanfiction