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Posts Tagged ‘Vampire’

The Eye Of Gehenna ~ Vampire: The Masquerade, Clan Novel Saga Volume Two (World Of Darkness)

Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on January 22, 2013 | 4 Comments »

     Vampire: The Masquerade‘s role-playing world offers plenty of intrigue and diversity but the chronological re-editing of multiple novels tends to mar an otherwise engrossing series.

     Vampire Hesha’s story is over-written and uneventful yet it dominates this second collection because the drawn-out build-up to major events causes structural shortcomings.

     With future volumes offering more conclusions and twists this is still a series worth sticking with and a great introduction to the realm of role-playing games.

     Click here for a review of Volume One :)

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The Fall Of Atlanta ~ Vampire: The Masquerade, Clan Novel Saga Volume 1 (World Of Darkness)

Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 12, 2013 | 7 Comments »

     Every vampire fan should be well aware of White Wolf’s seminal role-playing game system, Vampire; which effectively collates and categorizes every bit of vampire lore and literature up to and including the work of Anne Rice.

     This book owns a hefty title – and well it might – for boasting a doorstop-sized collection of spin-off novels and associated writings re-edited chronologically into a complex and epic drama.

     With numerous authors at work there is some jarring in the narrative style and the structure suffers, albeit necessarily for the books conceit.  Certain events are needlessly re-played from different characters’ perspectives without providing extra insight whilst dramatic tension is often lost when chronology forces precedence over plot.

     There is however so much going on that new readers of all tastes are bound to find something to engage them and for fans and completest The Clan Saga makes an engaging curio, a bold editing achievement and a broad introduction to White Wolf’s inescapable influence on the Vampire genre.

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American Gothic

Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , on June 23, 2012 | 8 Comments »

     

     It takes a brave writer to pen a Southern Gothic vampire novel just three years after the publication of Anne Rice’s Interview With The Vampire.

     George R. R. Martin’s Fevre Dream includes similarities such as setting, era and two bickering immortal dandies, but Fevre Dream has less romance and more sweat and grime, it is as though two writers used the same remit to inspire very different tales.

     Game Of Thrones’ author Martin pens marvellous prose in any genre, descriptive but never dull and poetic without being florid. He has a knack for authentic, character crafting speech and an ability to make even the driest detail fascinating. Readers will come away with a new love and comprehensive understanding of life as a Mississippi steamboat man even if such a subject previously held no appeal. The subtle inclusion of issues of race and prejudice also provide authenticity and much food for thought.
     Most admirable is Martin’s creation of a truly memorable and scene-stealing mortal character in a genre over-populated with charismatic bloodsuckers.
Captain Abner Brown is unfailingly human (warts and all!) and his singular tale provides an entirely satisfying, sequel free conclusion.
     Vampire fans may see a link between Fevre Dream and True Blood as Martin may be the first author to suggest a synthetic blood “cure”, an idea that is constantly evolving in the genre. So, regardless of whether you prefer your vampire novels old or modern, Fevre Dream deserves the status of a classic alongside the likes of Stoker, Rice and Matheson.

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Access Denied!

Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , on June 13, 2012 | 4 Comments »

     Pat Brien’s Denied is a refreshingly old-school vampire yarn that owes more to Hammer era Dracula than Meyer style teen romance (cheer or boo here as you prefer).

     
     Brien does an admirable job of honing and reinvigorating Gothic folklore by finding ingenious and refreshing ways to reconnect disparate vampire archetypes.
   
      Monstrous Nosferatu and brooding immortals share an intriguing new evolution and the inclusion of werewolves takes the tale to new levels of adventure, mystery and page-turning excitement.
   
     The novel has two distinct parts, the first acting as an extended prologue, quite different in tone and location to the latter.  It’s a bold structural move as readers may prefer one part of the book over the other, but Brien’s commitment, the brisk pace and engaging characters cover any cracks.  A sequel is surely essential.

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Dracula The Un-Dead. Bram Stoker Lives!

Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , on June 8, 2012 | 17 Comments »

     Despite obvious extensive research and the Stoker seal of approval belated Dracula sequel Dracula The Un-Dead is a wasted opportunity which panders to modern tastes instead of keeping faith with the original.  *Beware of spoilers*.

     Dacre Stoker and collaborator Ian Holt throw in everything from Elizabeth Bathory and Jack The Ripper to The Titanic creating a convoluted yarn which, although fast paced, struggles to find themes and focus.

     This sort of  Victorian Gothic Alternative History or Literary Re-imagining has been done far more successfully before (see Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula trilogy for effortlessly ingenious use of the same setting and characters).

     The Un-Dead reads more like a sequel to Francis Ford Coppola’s Dracula movie and when Dracula intones to Mina’s son “I am your father!!!” you may just die laughing.

     A fun read, but shouldn’t this have been a modern-day classic?

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Goth Plushy: Vamplets ^,.,^

Posted in Arcana, Quickies, tagged , , , , on June 6, 2012 | 12 Comments »

Reblogged from GothicHeartsandBatWings:

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They're the most adorable plushy's I've seen along side Skelanimals. (Vamplets) These little blood suckers, werewolves, monsters, etc., make me want to hug my skully to death.

o,.,o Wait no! If I do that then my poor skelanimal bat will then be left without a head. Now if only I could fall into a bed of my Diego skelanimal bat with little vamplets.

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I shall acquire one erst I die!!!

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Anno Dracula ~ The Best Vampire Novel In Three Decades?

Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , on June 5, 2012 | 6 Comments »

“When bookshops are heaving with Twilight knock-offs it’s a travesty that this superb novel is out of print in the UK and had to be sourced, secondhand, from overseas.”

     At least that is what I said when I last reviewed Kim Newman’s superlative Anno Dracula, the first book in a truly diverse, enlightening and remarkable series which is finally receiving a well deserved new edition and relaunch.
     Part Dracula sequel, part alternative history, Anno Dracula is a tour-de-force of literary and historical research enlivened by Newman’s light touch.
     Fans of The Age of Empire will enjoy recognising and sourcing the characters and events which are effortlessly woven into an investigation of The Ripper murders.
     At times Newman seems so in love with his genius concept that plot complexity takes a back seat.  It is a small complaint.  You will fall in love with it too.

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Gothic Victorian Lipstick Lesbianism ?

Posted in Books, Reviews, tagged , , , , , , , on June 2, 2012 | 4 Comments »

     A “subtle” hint of Literary misogyny has confined Carmilla to countless Hammer-style lesbian vampire flicks yet J. Sheridan Le Fanu’s perfectly executed short novel (1872) proceeded Bram Stoker’s Dracula by a good twenty years.

     Many familiar folkloric traditions were collected and presented here first, including; foggy Eastern European locales, racing horse-drawn carriages, suspicious locals, even a masquerade ball and lets not forget the variable laws of vampirism (Le Fanu’s version has lost none of its relevance).
     The prose is fast-paced and contemporary with a tantalising cinematic quality.  Taut with tension and genuinely chilling Carmilla deserves just as much adoration as The Count!

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Johnny Depp as Barnabas in Tim Burton's 'Dark Shadows'

Posted in Art, Movies, tagged , , , , , on May 19, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Reblogged from THE KREEP:

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portrait II of johnny depp as barnabas collins

Now that is creepy and deserves a reblog! x

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Victorian Caged Grave

Posted in Arcana, Links, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , on May 16, 2012 | 7 Comments »

Reblogged from Country & Victorian Times:

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Although this is a bit different from what I usually post, I came upon this picture on the internet and just had to share. I have read and watched a lot on the subject of the undead and vampires, and even read about this cage over graves before. However, I have never actually seen a picture of one before and found it unique.

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Amazing!

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Because the vampire cat is so last season...

Posted in Uncategorized, tagged , , , on May 9, 2012 | Leave a Comment »

Reblogged from Sanguinem Emere:

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This has been bugging me… How exactly does a vampire drink blood? Yes, yes, I know… fangs pierce skin and arteries, arteries expel blood into vampire’s mouth, vampire is fed and content… Fine. But how?

1.       Are a vampire’s fangs curved?

The simple physiology of a vampire is already difficult enough to wrap a rational mind around. If a vampire, with curved fangs, were to bite into a victim’s throat, would the fangs not cause a large deal of damage AND most likely be in the way of any blood?

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Hi guys, I love your work so it gives me great pleasure to present you with THE VERSATILE BLOGGER AWARD! For information on what to do next follow the link on my homepage sidebar. Congratulations x

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Are vampires your guilty pleasure?

Posted in Books, tagged , , , , on March 30, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Reblogged from Brad Geagley:

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Mine too. But not the sparkly teen variety. I'm more a Bram Stoker fan. My contribution to vampire literature is now available on Amazon and you can be one of the first to download, read and review. If you do offer a review, (good or bad) let me know and if you're a blog follower, I'll send you one of my favorite books to say thank you.

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Always happy to share for a fellow Draculaphile!

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