Customer Reviews

Vampires: The Greatest Stories

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Although it's unlikely that these fifteen previously published vampire stories are actually "the greatest" in their field, they are certainly well written, most by distinguished authors. Beyond that, it's difficult to make generalizations about the stories in this volume. Some are long and some are short; most of the vampires are antagonists, but a few are good guys, or at least trying to do the right thing. There is romance and tragedy, suspense and comedy.

Sillier entries include "The Bat Is My Brother" by Robert Bloch, an early good vampire-bad vampire story, predictably cliched in its portrayal of the evil vampire, and "Dayblood" by Roger Zelazny, a topsy-turvy perspective on vampires that never quite overcomes its strained premise. "Valentine from a Vampire" by Daniel Ransom, with its victimized good vampire and the man who falls in love with her, also never quite manages to be convincing. At the opposite end of the spectrum are the darkly romantic "In Darkness, Angels" by Eric Lustbader and Tanith Lee's "Red as Blood," a fairy tale gone deliciously bad.

Seldom-reprinted stories include Jane Yolen's "Mama Gone," a child's own tale of redeeming the undead, and "Child of an Ancient City," Tad Williams's vampiric variation on the Thousand and One Nights.

There is a depth and grace to the best; the weakest are at least interesting as curiosities. Although this book has little new to offer the confirmed vampire fiction collector, it is a good place to begin for anyone curious about the variety of vampire fiction available.

CONTENTS: Robert Bloch, "The Bat Is My Brother"; Eric Lustbader, "In Darkness, Angels"; Roger Zelazny, "Dayblood"; Brian Stableford, "The Man Who Loved the Vampire Lady"; Philip K. Dick, "The Cookie Lady"; Robert McCammon, "The Miracle Mile"; David Drake, "Something Had to Be Done"; Daniel Ransom, "! Valentine from a Vampire"; Jane Yolen, "Mama Gone"; Karl Edward Wagner, "Beyond Any Measure"; Tanith Lee, "Red As Blood"; Richard Matheson, "No Such Thing As a Vampire"; S. P. Somtow, "The Vampire of Mallworld"; Tad Williams, "Child of an Ancient City"; Dan Simmons, "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bites"

As with most short story collections 'Vampires: The Greatest Stories" delivers an uneven assortment of stories. I personally found the stories which gave mini-lectures on conventional vampire lore to be rather dull. But there are a few fascinating stories with extra 'bite':

- 'The Cookie Lady' (Philip K. Dick)
- 'The Vampire of MallWorld' (S.P. Somtow)
- 'Child of an Ancient City' (Tad Williams)
- 'Beyond Any Measure' (Karl Edward Wagner)

Of the above I found the futuristic, satiric story by Somtow to be especially creative.


Bottom line: several duds interspersed with a few literary jewels. One balance it's worth picking up at a secondhand bookstore.