The Hunger [Loose Leaf]

Whitley Strieber (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 5, 2001

Eternal youth is a wonderful thing for the few who have it, but for Miriam Blaylock, it is a curse -- an existence marred by death and sorrow. Because for the everlasting Miriam, everyone she loves withers and dies. Now, haunted by signs of her adoring husband's imminent demise, Miriam sets out in serach of a new partner, one who can quench her thirst for love and withstand the test of time. She finds it in the beautiful Sarah Roberts, a brilliant young scientist who may hold the secret to immortality. But one thing stands between the intoxicating Miriam Blaylock and the object of her desire: Dr. Tom Haver...and he's about to realize that love and death to hand in hand.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Kirkus ReviewsVampire fiction at its best.

Peter StraubPure and original invention.

The Washington PostVividly, skillfully written.

Publishers WeeklyFast-paced...intriguing.

Hudson Sun (MA)Read this one with all the lights on.

About the Author

Whitley Strieber is widely known for his bestselling account of his own close encounter, Communion: A True Story, and has produced a television special based on Confirmation for NBC. He is also the author of the vampire novels The Hunger, The Last Vampire, and Lilith's Dream, and is the new host of his own radio program, Dreamland, founded by Art and Ramona Bell. His website -- the world's most popular site featuring topics at the edge of science and culture -- is www.unknowncountry.com.

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Product Details

• Loose Leaf: 384 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (October 5, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 074343644X
• ISBN-13: 978-0743436441
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (23 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #11,025,821 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars One of a few vampire books that really scared me, November 24, 2004

By 

Jessica Levai (MA, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Hunger (Mass Market Paperback)

I read this book in college and recently re-visited it after seeing the movie. I don't know about you, but I found it scary. Forget all the lesbianism and explicit sex; that's not what I'm talking about.

Miriam is not a weepy, broody, remorseful vampire. She is an inhuman killer, to whom humans are like animals. This is done subtly in the book, from the way she treats her human lovers and dominates them, to the matter-of-fact way she stalks people (ordinary people, like me!) and kills them, knowing that no one will ever be able to stop her. She has sociopathic traits that make her chilling. The book makes you feel for her loneliness, as the last of her kind, but then reminds you what it means to be loved by her, that you could end up spending eternity rotting conscious in a box.

And the ending of the book, unlike the similarly scary _Wolfen_ by the same author, does nothing to comfort you.

If you've only seen the movie, you're missing out. This book is sad, exciting, and scary if you let yourself think about it.

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting, unique, fresh approach to an ancient species, May 26, 2003

By 

Schtinky "Schtinky" (California) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)   

This review is from: The Hunger (Mass Market Paperback)

Vampire tales can get mundane and boring, but this is a unique and eternally creepier approach to a predatory species who walks among us. Miriam Blaylock is a Vampire, stunningly beautiful and intelligent, and very lonely. Centuries old, she is forever seeking one who will be her companion throughout time. Her current lover and companion is John Blaylock, only a couple hundred years old when he starts to age rapidly, showing the signs of degeneration Miriam has seen so many times before. As John deteriorates, Miriam prepares her next companion for the transformation, but John consumes her before she's ready. Desperate, Miriam impulsively chooses Dr. Sarah Roberts to be her next, for Dr. Roberts has been intensively researching aging and the human biological clock. Sarah's boyfriend is suspicious, and ultimately pays the price for investigating Sarah's strange behavior, but Sarah is not cut to fit the mold that Miriam plots for her.
An incredibly great tale of Vampires, who Sleep (with a capitol S) for about six hours a day, a coma like state where they are entirely vulnerable, but are able to walk about during the day and appear normal except for their hair and eyes, which the modern world covers up with contact lenses and wigs. Strieber brings Miriam's flashbacks to life, going back as far as ancient Egypt when Miriam was young, and bringing us the horrifying fact that Miriam keeps her lovers with her always, for they cannot ever die once they have been "transformed" for her.
A definite read for any Vampire fan, and recommended even if you are not.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Suspenseful and Mesmerizing, July 9, 2003

By 

Jon Weber (IL, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Hunger (Mass Market Paperback)

The Hunger is a mesmerizing tale of a Vampire that has existed for thousands of years. Miriam Blaylock's thirst of the Hunger and the love of suitable companion is largely what drives her through the centuries. She offers her chosen mate immortality, and all of the powers that come with the transfusion of her blood. What her mates do not know is that they are not truly immortal, but will last only several centuries. After that they will age extremely fast and although they cannot die, they will suffer in a coma like state until the end of time; a horrible existence. Mariam is now preparing for a new companion; a doctor who has been doing research on the aging process. Things begin to get complicated and Mariam's life is in jeopardy.

This is a very well written book and captures both you attention and imagination. While Mariam is considered evil, it's hard not to cheer for her cause. The writing style is fast paced with alot of suspense and danger. As with many of the vampire novels available, this one also has it's own rules for Vampires with regard to their powers, strengths, and limitations. Vampire and horror readers should not pass this one up.