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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