20 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Great Fun, November 3, 2004
I really enjoyed this book.
Dracula wants to set the record straight. That horrible book is just not true. To accomplish this, he conjures up a huge snow storm to trap a descendent of one of the original characters and then leaves the real story on a tape recorder.
At first I thought that this was very tongue and cheek, with Dracula trying to convince us that he was just misunderstood. He really wasn't that bad. He didn't bring a baby for the women in his castle to feed on; it was a pig. He didn't kill all those people on the ship; it was the crazy 1st mate. He didn't kill Lucy on purpose; he was just saving her from crazy Van Helsing. And on and on.
But by the end of the book, which I will not divulge, I believed that Dracula really wasn't such a bad guy. The fun part for me was in the process of convincing me.
My star ratings:
One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five stars - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.
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21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Marvelous!, March 27, 2000
Have you ever wondered about how Van Helsing could have (safely) given Lucy Westenra four blood transfusions in four days from four different people, without bothering to check for blood types or RH factors? Have you ever wondered how the count could be killed by two knives, one slashing his throat, the other stabbing his heart, when all vampire lore in and out of the novel suggests that normal weapons are useless against him? Have you ever wondered, if you yourself are not religious, why religious artifacts would have powerful effects against him? Then you MUST read this book. Not only is this a fabulous retelling of the story from Dracula's viewpoint, but this version explains and clarifies these and many other weak points in the original tale and is, frankly, a much more enjoyable read for a modern reader.
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13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A thoroughly satisfying read!, May 11, 2003
Anyone who has ever read the original "Dracula" NEEDS to read this fantastic retelling.
Fred Saberhagen does a fine job of transforming the Count from the uncomplicated, run-of-the-mill villain he was in Bram Stoker's story into a likable anti-hero with a full-blown personality of his own. (His subtle, incredibly dry sense of humor had me giggling out loud numerous times.)
Overall, this is a well thought-out, well-written, thoroughly entertaining book, with a nice touch of romance and a GREAT ending. Very highly recommended!
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