History Literature / AllThoseExplosionsWereSomeoneElsesFault

* AffablyEvil: [[spoiler:Diamond]] comes across as polite, and even somewhat complimentary, when he talks the team. Just a shame that he's a xenophobic megalomaniac attempting to commit mass genocide.

* ClapYourHandsIfYouBelieve: The definition of a Spark's powers seem to work this way, with the main characters discovering fairly quickly that they have a small window in which they can define what their powers can and can't do, either through belief, or by simply stating out loud "I can do X".
* CoatHatMask: Zircon's Spark outfit consists of this, a white tuxedo with tails featuring a white top hat, and a thin white scarf as a mask.
* ContrivedCoincidence: An actual, honest-to-god side effect of being a Spark is that you're ''guaranteed'' to accidentally stumble upon some villainous plot or random event threatening the lives of innocents. {{Lampshaded}} constantly throughout the novel, to the point where Zircon and the team start ''expecting'' this to happen.

* EvilGloating: [[spoiler:Diamond]] is very, ''very'' fond of this.

* MindRape: [[spoiler:Kim feels this way about Shar's ability, after, when they're all attacked by Lilith and her henchmen, Shar ''takes over'' Kim's body in order to use her ability to attack one of the monsters. Kim is ''fully concious'' of what is happening, and likens it to being "invaded". It causes a serious strain on their friendship for a while, although Kim is later able to admit that she understands Shar did it for the right reasons]].

* CaptainErsatz: The two characters at the centre of the story that Kim relates about the first time Sparks appeared are strongly implied to be this universe's version of {{Superman}} and ComicBook/LexLuthor.

* SupernaturalElite: The Dark Pact pretty much ensures that practically every single person of substantial wealth and/or power are one of these. Given the (initially) 10 million dollar price tag that came with converting to the Dark, this comes as no surprise. After 35 years, the Dark essentially rule the world by the simple fact that if you're one of the regular elite, you'll inevitably join the Dark as well.

''All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault'' is a {{Science Fantasy}} {{Superhero}} novel written by James Alan Gardner, first published in 2017. Combining elements of classical superhero mythology with supernatural horror and fantasy, the story is set in an AlternateUniverse where supernatural creatures such as vampires and demons revealed their existence to the world in 1982, offering the ultra-wealthy and powerful the chance to join their ranks. In the 35 years since, monsters and other supernatural beings have become the world's new elite class, lording it over humans, while being held in check by both a strict code of conduct and the emergence of "Sparks", super-powered individuals who act as the "Light" counterpart to the forces of the "Dark".

The novel's narrator is 21-year-old Chinese-Canadian college student Kim Lam, who, along with her friends and housemates - glamourous Miranda, cavalier athlete Jools and level-headed Shar - is caught in a Dark experiment that accidentally gives her and her friends astonishing superpowers, thus inducting them in the ranks of Sparks, despite their utter lack of experience or desire to fight evil. It's not long before they discover that a particularly notorious supervillain has set a plan in motion that will test their newfound abilities to their limits. As Kim says, "Spectacularity ensued".

** '''Zircon:''' ComicBook/AntMan (shrinking to molecular levels), ComicBook/EmmaFrost (changing to a hardened mineral form)

** Zircon: ComicBook/AntMan (shrinking to molecular levels), ComicBook/EmmaFrost (changing to a hardened mineral form)
** Ninety-Nine: ComicBook/CaptainAmerica (peak human physical condition), [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Reed Richards]] (SuperIntelligence), ComicBook/{{Wolverine}} (HealingFactor).
** Aria: ComicBook/BlackCanary (ultrasonic scream), [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Sue Storm]] (force fields), + flight
** Dakini: ComicBook/ProfessorX ({{Telepathy}}), ComicBook/JeanGrey ({{Telekinesis}})
* FeministFantasy: The protagonists are four hyper-smart young women who are imbued with incredible superpowers and find themselves taking on a maniacal supervillian.

* SupernaturalElite: The Dark Pact pretty ensured that practically every single person of substantial wealth and/or power are one of these. Given the (initially) 10 million dollar price tag that came with converting to the Dark, this comes as no surprise. After 35 years, the Dark essentially rule the world by the simple fact that if you're one of the regular elite, you'll inevitably join the Dark as well.

* StatuesqueStunner: Miranda/Aria is often described like this.

* ScienceFantasy: Where to start? Superheroes, giant robots, vampires, werewolves, demons, goblins, and other supernatural creatures aren't only real, they're an indelible part of society. Likewise, both magic and highly-advanced technology stand side-by-side (although their effectiveness against each other is debatable), and are so ubiquitous that the main characters barely bat an eyelid at some of the stuff they encounter.

''All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault'' is a [[ScienceFantasy]] {{Superhero}} novel written by James Alan Gardner, first published in 2017. Combining elements of classical superhero mythology with supernatural horror and fantasy, the story is set in an AlternateUniverse where supernatural creatures such as vampires and demons revealed their existence to the world in 1982, offering the ultra-wealthy and powerful the chance to join their ranks. In the 35 years since, monsters and other supernatural beings have become the world's new elite class, lording it over humans, while being held in check by both a strict code of conduct and the emergence of "Sparks", super-powered individuals who act as the "Light" counterpart to the forces of the "Dark".

''All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault'' is a [[Science Fantasy]] {{Superhero}} novel written by James Alan Gardner, first published in 2017. Combining elements of classical superhero mythology with supernatural horror and fantasy, the story is set in an AlternateUniverse where supernatural creatures such as vampires and demons revealed their existence to the world in 1982, offering the ultra-wealthy and powerful the chance to join their ranks. In the 35 years since, monsters and other supernatural beings have become the world's new elite class, lording it over humans, while being held in check by both a strict code of conduct and the emergence of "Sparks", super-powered individuals who act as the "Light" counterpart to the forces of the "Dark".

''All Those Explosions Were Someone Else's Fault'' is a {{Fantasy}} {{Superhero}} novel written by James Alan Gardner, first published in 2017. Combining elements of classical superhero mythology with supernatural horror and fantasy, the story is set in an AlternateUniverse where supernatural creatures such as vampires and demons revealed their existence to the world in 1982, offering the ultra-wealthy and powerful the chance to join their ranks. In the 35 years since, monsters and other supernatural beings have become the world's new elite class, lording it over humans, while being held in check by both a strict code of conduct and the emergence of "Sparks", super-powered individuals who act as the "Light" counterpart to the forces of the "Dark".

The novel has gained a following due to its methodically-scientific approach to superpowers, off-kilter sense of humour, and its {{Deconstruction}} of many fantasy and superhero tropes. A sequel, titled ''They Promised Me the Gun Wasn’t Loaded'', which is told from Jools' perspective, was released in 2018.

* {{Glamour}}: Part of the effect of becoming a Spark is that, when you put on a mask and costume, it literally alters people's perception of you so that all they see is the heroic figure you are. This is regardless of whether your outfit completely disguises your face or not; you can go up to a close friend or family member dressed in costume and they (initially, at least) will completely fail to recognize you. This even extends to changing your voice and fingerprints.

* {{Animorphism}}: The Inventor (a.k.a. Invie), a genius Spark engineer who transformed into a basset hound at some point prior to the events of the novel. Despite this, he's still capable of inventing incredible Spark technology (don't ask how). According to Grandfather, he actually prefers being a dog, as it means he doesn't have to make small talk.

* ContrivedCoincidence: An actual, honest-to-god side effect of being a Spark is that you're ''guaranteed'' to accidentally stumble upon some villainous plot or be forced to save people threatened by a random event.

* CaptainErsatz: In the story that Kim relates about the first time Sparks appeared, the two characters mentioned are strongly implied to be this universe's version of {{Superman}} and ComicBook/LexLuthor.

* StatuesqueStunner: Miranda/Aria is often referred to as this.

* BadassBookworm: All four main characters are studying STEM fields, and are therefore able to approach many situations with a strong scientific stance. Taken UpToEleven with Jools, who goes from being the least bookish of the four to a literal human library.
* BigBad: Adam Popigai, the metal-skinned MadScientist who [[spoiler:is actually the supervillain Diamond in disguise]].