The Last Vampire : A Novel (Mass Market Paperback)

by Whitley Strieber (Author) "Everyone knew the sins of Miriam Blaylock..." (more)
Key Phrases: New York, Paul Ward, Book of Names (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
Most readers know Strieber for his bestselling books about his alleged contacts with aliens (Communion, etc.). Yet before he met the saucerians, Strieber wrote immensely popular horror novels, some of them filmed (as was Communion which, nonfiction or not, is a horror classic). The most imaginative was The Hunger (1980), which posited an ancient race of vampires that created humanity and has directed our species' history. In his first novel in seven years, Strieber returns to the opulent, ferocious world of Miriam Blaylock, the beautiful, powerful and rapacious vampire who dominated The Hunger (and was played by Catherine Deneuve in the film version). It's time again for the vampires' centennial conclaves, and Miriam is in Thailand, hoping to find a mate at the Asian gathering. Instead she encounters a possibly mortal enemy, Paul Ward, a CIA operative heading up a hush-hush team dedicated to wiping out the vampires. The novel's first two-thirds offers a tour de force of mythmaking (as Strieber redefines the world through vampiric eyes) and emotionally intense action (as Ward's team stalks Miriam and her ilk). The last third, set in Manhattan, is less successful, as Miriam, intent on destroying Paul, lures and seduces him and then falls in love, as does he with her. This turn doesn't quite convince, and the contrived ending shrieks sequel. There's much here to admire, not least Strieber's expert modulation of tone and dialogue as POV shifts from Miriam (fluid, refined) to Paul (muscular, slangy). While not as original as its parent, this bloody, lush and gripping novel trumpets a welcome return to fiction by Strieber and could win award nominations. (Aug.)Forecast: All signs point up: the sale of film rights to Columbia/Tri-Star, a seven-city author tour and 20-city national radio satellite tour, and the republication of The Hunger in June (ISBN 0-7434-3102-2) with a teaser chapter from The Last Vampire. Expect this one to bite into bestseller lists.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

--This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Library Journal
In the popular 1981 horror novel The Hunger (later a cult film starring Catherine Deneuve and David Bowie), Strieber introduced readers to the lovely, seductive vampire Miriam Blaylock. Her story continues in this sequel. Miriam plans to attend various conclaves of the Keepers, as vampires refer to themselves. What none of them anticipates, however, is that their human prey has discovered their existence and, what is worse, has the means to eradicate them. First in Thailand, then in France, whole lairs are destroyed by a group of vampire slayers led by CIA agent Paul Ward. Only Miriam manages to escape the slaughter. She flees back to her nest in New York City. Paul wants to follow only to be told by his superiors that the President has decided that vampires have human rights, which means that Paul may be guilty of murder. While The Hunger was well written and had a dark, erotic quality, its sequel reads like a hastily conceived first draft, filled with awkward phrasings and ridiculous plot lines. Despite these glaring flaws, this title will no doubt be requested by Strieber fans. The Hunger will be republished by Pocket in June 2001. Patricia Altner, Information Seekers, Columbia, MD
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Pocket (October 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0743417216
• ISBN-13: 978-0743417211
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 4.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6.9 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (40 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #869,909 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars A Vast Disappointment, December 21, 2001

By	Julianne M. Albert (San Jose, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Last Vampire : A Novel (Hardcover)

It's a given that The Last Vampire is a sequel to The Hunger, and therefore there is some expectation that it comes with a built in audience of those who enjoyed the first book. That said, it is a complete mystery to me how an author could set out to capitalize on the fame of a previous book by completely ignoring the lyrical tone of the first, utterly disregarding the original character development, and apparently not bothered to reread original for continuity between the first and second books.

Miriam Blaylock in The Hunger is a creature of utter self possession and control. She is methodical, calmly ruthless, and performs her kills with dispatch and a certain degree of detachment. We're given that her kills occur on an unvarying schedule, and aside from this periodic need, she can move seamlessly in human society, unaffected by her "hunger." Even in a life threatening situation, she remains coolly calculating, and this is a part of her appeal and power.

In contrast, the Miriam of The Last Vampire responds to changing situations with panic, carelessness, and relies more on her physiology to extricate herself from situations rather than the force of her intelligence and personality. She is a considerably weaker character in the sequel than in the original. Moreover, she seems continually overwhelmed by the appetizing odor of humans, and seems to find it difficult to resist consuming them at inappropriate times - a condition we previously saw only in the collapsing condition of John Blaylock, the human made vampire at the end of his life cycle in The Hunger.

The continuity between the two books is odd, to say the least. I have no problem with the introduction of the concept of humans as a crop cultivated for the consumption of the Keepers, as vampires are referred to in this volume. This idea was never touched upon in the original, but it's introduction does not clash in any way with the previous book. Where things go astray is in the rich background detail that gave so much character and nuance to The Hunger. In The Hunger, we're given that Miriam's mother died in the "dangerous" act of childbirth, in a tent just outside pre-dynastic Egypt (approximately 6000 years ago). In the Last Vampire, Miriam's mother dies burned at the stake outside Dresden in 1761, and childbirth, far from being a life threatening prospect, is something Miriam is eagerly courting.

Likewise, rather than perishing in the Mediterranean while saving Miriam from drowning in ancient times, her father dies saving humans from the Hindenburg in 1937. In The Hunger, we're told that Eumenes is Miriam's first human lover made into a vampire, salvaged from the crucified army of Spartacus after several days on the cross, chosen for his obvious will to survive. In The Last Vampire, Eumenes is Miriam's husband, born a vampire, who loses the will to live when their child is stillborn, and starves himself. Over and over, these character points seem oddly inverted from their original source. Had the sequel been written by someone other than Strieber, the author would have been excoriated for failing to familiarize himself with the source material before attempting a sequel. What can be said of an author who cares so little for his own work that he doesn't bother to refamiliarize himself with an earlier piece in order to avoid errors in continuity and characterization in a sequel?

Even some of the smaller details are jarring - for instance, when Miriam, who in this book cannot seem to keep up with the times and speaks archaic French, refers to her mother as "mom," an entirely modernistic expression.

As for the larger plot points...well, the plot is rather thin, and not deeply engaging. Overall, what is lacking in The Last Vampire is a quality that made The Hunger memorable - an aura of hypnotic seduction, drawing both the victim and the reader in. Here, the overall sense is hurried, shallow, and none of the characters evokes even the smallest sense of empathy in the reader. A vast disappointment. Strieber is capable of better than this.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great beginning but goes downhill, August 28, 2001

By	W. Oliver "scudder" (Alabama) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Last Vampire : A Novel (Hardcover)

"THE HUNGER" was one of my favorite vampire novels growing up (and if you had read the book, the movie can be appreciated as well). Strieber's vivid imagery (I can never forget the descriptions of Miriam Blaylock's house),clever plot devices as well as the depiction of glamourous and rich vampires was unforgettable. I was very excited to hear that Miriam Blaylock was back in "The Last Vampire" but am disappointed with the book. It starts off very good and Strieber's descriptive prose weaves yet another dreamy spell as we follow Miriam through the streets of Bangkok and Paris seeking out "The Keepers" to warn them of a group of destructive humans that threaten their existence. About half way, though, the plot begins to disintegrate as Miriam unbeleivably falls in love with a very cocky and unlikable CIA agent. It is all too much and some chapters, such as the one where they finally make love, is unbelievably stupid as Miriam runs around screaming "I'm in love, I'm in love!". The chapter contains some of the worst dialog I have ever read! The ending sets the book up for a sequel but the whole turn of events in Miriam's life is disappointing, unbelievable and a let down.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great vampire novel with a nat wist, July 17, 2001

By	Harriet Klausner - See all my reviews (#1 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

This review is from: The Last Vampire : A Novel (Hardcover)

They self proclaimed themselves the Keepers because they are responsible for the evolutionary advances and population increases of mankind. They look at humanity as prey to eat when the hunger becomes impossible to ignore. Mostly, they hide their identities from their food source because they know that their victims would hunt them down if they knew the truth and death could occur if the assailant knows how to perform the act properly.

CIA Agent Paul Ward knows about the Keepers since he realized one of them killed his father. Miriam Blaylock is a unique Keeper who appreciates the modern age conveniences developed by her human counterparts. When Paul and Miriam become aware of one another, they take turns becoming predators and prey until a unique development occurs that shocks everyone in the know.

Over a decade ago Whitley Streiber published the “The Hunger” and finally gifts his fans with the sequel, THE LAST VAMPIRE, which holds up well when compared to the classic first tale. Readers understand Miriam and actually empathize with her needs that make her a killer. The obsessed Paul is trapped inside a mental war between his desires and his need for vengeance. Mr. Streiber remains an excellent teller of horror tales and belongs with the elite of the genre.

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