Saturday, October 10, 2015

Seize the Night: New Tales of Vampiric Terror - Christopher Golden (editor)

Seize the Night: New Tales of Vampiric Terror
Christopher Golden (editor)
Gallery, Oct 6 2015, $18.00
ISBN 9781476783093

This fabulous collection contains 20 biting short stories that focus on the throwback terror in the night (and in some cases 24/7) vampire.  Each tale is unique thus keeping the compilation fresh with no bad entries; as the majority of contributions are excellent.  “Something Lost, Something Gained” by Seanan McGuire stars teenager Louise coming home drenched carrying a jar of fireflies while knowing what her wicked stepfather will try do to her.  Laird Barron’s “In a Cavern, in a Canyon” in Alaska, a woman facing hell looks back to her past for her lost courage.  Believing her teacher is an energy sucking vampire, Susan rationalizes “Miss Fondevant” (by Charlaine Harris) must die before this evil drains the students of their respective essences.  The Normans conquer England, but some of William’s more violent soldiers rape the losers, but eat them too; while helpless Winfred the monk prays for guidance.  In Brian Keene’s angst “The Last Supper”, the lonely vampire mentally struggles with to be or not to be following a pandemic eliminated his food source.  Following a deadly typhoon that hammered the Philippines, the Canadian developer evicts an elderly woman from her tree house to the abject terror of the locals.  She is the willing sacrifice to the Gods, but when the child fails to complete her mission she learns what the deities in this “Blue Hell” (by David Wellington) truly are.  These “…New (more apropos descriptor: return to ye old) Tales of Vampiric Terror” will be on the short lists of best anthology of the year.


Harriet Klausner

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