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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Just When I Though I Had Vampires Figured Out!, May 19, 2001
This review is from: The London Vampire Panic (Mass Market Paperback)
Michael Romkey has been a successful vampire chronicler for some time now. For some unknown reason I have never picked up one of his tales before "The London Vampire Panic." In any case, led on by the blurb on the back, which made the book sound like a Dracula reprise, I decided to try it out. To my surprise, Romkey has written something that is quite a bit more than what I expected, with a very intriguing viewpoint about the nature of the vampire. On the surface, "The London Vampire Panic" is indeed modeled after "Dracula." Six men, American and British gentlemen, are led through London by Dr. Abraham Van Helsing on a quest to stop an incursion of vampires from becoming a plague. Both noble and commoner alike are threatened as vampires attack, sometimes secretively and sometimes in plain sight. The trail leads through poverty stricken streets, to graveyards and autopsy rooms. Disraeli and Prince Albert are fear that law and order will break down if this evil is not stopped. As in "Dracula" the story is told from multiple viewpoints. The first narrator, Dr. Posthumous Blackley, is a young rake who represents the worst of Victorian immorality. While he is a good narrator, his constant focus on sexual escapades gives his description of the adventures of the vampire hunters a strong flavor of social commentary. When, a bit later, we get to read the testimony of a young prostitute who had been made a vampire, we are treated to more revelations about the underbelly of genteel society. But, for the most part, this is a vampire story, not an expose. Romkey seems unwilling to use the cliches typical of most vampire stories, so the story takes many intriguing twists. His creatures are both more sympathetic and more terrifying for their surprising and exceptional qualities. On the whole, I found "The London Vampire Panic" a welcome change from standard vampire fare. But traditionalists beware! Romkey provides both exciting narrative and food for thought.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A really pleasant surprise., April 19, 2001
By A Customer
This review is from: The London Vampire Panic (Mass Market Paperback)
I'm not a big fan of vampire fiction, but I picked this up hoping for a bit of quick distraction. It's an accessible read all right, with a fun and interesting story, but it's also charming and funny, with a remarkably humane point of view and a number of endearing characters. I was sorry to see it end.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
was worth waiting for, June 8, 2001
This review is from: The London Vampire Panic (Mass Market Paperback)
I have read all of Michael Romkeys Vampire books (& re-read some), and enjoyed them all. He has a new twist on vampires and how they came to be without losing the essentials of vampire lore. I waited for Romkey's new book to come out as soon as I finished the last one. At first I was a little disappointed with the opening character and his narrative, (it seemed a bit slow) but it wasn't too long into the book and it took off keeping me with it to the very end. I was pleased with the reference to concepts in earlier books, even though the characters were new, it seemed to keep continuity to the entire line of Romkeys Vampire books. Even though I made a pretty good guess where the "panic" started there is nothing to confirm this until Romkey chooses to reveal that fact. In the meantime he keeps the plot and characters moving so well that you will read every word til you get there. And you won't want to miss a word. He develops his characters so well with the individual narratives that seem to be a hallmark of his style, that you feel you have actually met them on a personal basis. Even though I was a little disappointed with the end, (I thought at least one portion could have been developed better-which is why 4 stars instead of 5) I wasn't let down by it, and as usual left me wanting more. If you want something with depth and thought provoking, this is for you, and then don't forget to read the last five.
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