Sweeter Than Wine: Smith, L. Neil: 9781604504835: Amazon.com: Books

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Sweeter Than Wine Paperback – May 7, 2013

by L. Neil Smith (Author)

4.5 51 ratings

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With just one tiny exception, J Gifford is an ordinary, decent, small-town kind of guy. He pays his bills on time. He waters his lawn. He treats his neighbors and the folks with whom he does business with kindness and respect. He's good to children and small animals.

The tiny exception? He's a vampire.

Born in 1920, and "brought over" shortly after D-Day in a little French village, 90-year-old Gifford still looks and feels 24. He has friends, a place in the community, a thriving business, and a big orange tabby cat named Fiddlestring. He knows where all the good restaurants are. He's very tidy about that "tiny exception" and has never killed anybody. All he lacks in his life is the beautiful girl who made him what he is today -- and then mysteriously vanished.

Now, suddenly, after sixty-five years, she's back and needs his help. But is she his long-lost love or a serial-killing fiend? Only time—and blood—will tell.

L. Neil Smith is a four-time Prometheus Award winner. His books include such acclaimed titles as The Probability Broach and Pallas. He is also the author of the Lando Calrissian (Star Wars) series.

Review

I don t like vampire novels. I don t even like vampire stories. Never did. They lack verisimilitude if vampires have to bite people frequently, and the people they bite turn into vampires, why aren t we all vampires by now? And what s the deal with sunlight? And the garlic and the wooden stake? That all sounds like superstition. So to me, vampires belong in the realm of fantasy, not in science fiction at all, and, for the most part, I don t enjoy fantasy very much. Now, there are some exceptions I like Terry Pratchett s Discworld vampires, because the story is humorous, like all his stuff. But most vampire stories are dead serious, with all kinds of gothic, fifteen-year-old-girl orientation Twilight is nothing new, just a continuation of the old pattern. Same old same old rape fantasies porn for teeny-boppers.

But I digress. Having established myself as a vampire-hater, I can say that L. Neil Smith s Sweeter than Wine is one heck of a great read. I like his vampire. It s definite science fiction, not fantasy, and is of the hidden history variety, where vampires are among us, and we don t know about it. Usually, this sort of thing is really a strain on your skeptical bump, but the world Smith creates is downright believable, making you nod you head and say, sure, this could very well be happening.

All of Smith s stuff has, as it very well should, a Heinlein flavor, but this book more than most. The protagonist has the air of Heinlein s competent man, who knows how the world works, and has developed an ethical code to cope with it more of a challenge than most of us have, given his special peculiarity. He s like Lazarus Long, but with a personality. And in keeping with both the vampire tradition and the Smith tradition, there are some shootouts, interesting information about weaponry, a lost love story worthy of Japanese anime, and a villain. Whoa, this is a real villain he makes Voldemort look like Heinz Doofenshmirtz. This guy will give you the willies.

The why aren t we all vampires by now problem is solved, neatly and not at all in a contrived way, and we are treated to some education on police procedure, biology, history, and paleontology. Not bad for a short novel.

One more thing: I read it in one sitting. I haven t done that since Mother Night, about half a century ago. So it also qualifies as a top-notch page-turner. It s a vampire story, sure, but Crime and Punishment was a detective story. --Rex F. May

About the Author

L. Neil Smith is a four times Prometheus Award winner. His titles include such acclaimed titles as The Probability Broach and Pallas. He is also the author of the Lando Carlrissian (Star Wars) series.

Sweeter Than Blood is his first vampire novel.

Print length

152 pages
Language

English
Publication date

May 7, 2013
Dimensions

6 x 0.38 x 9 inches
ISBN-10

1604504838
ISBN-13

978-1604504835
See all details

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Phoenix Pick; First Edition (May 7, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 152 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1604504838
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1604504835
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 8.1 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 6 x 0.38 x 9 inches

Customer Reviews:
4.5 51 ratings

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A different vampire story

Reviewed in the United States on January 17, 2017

Verified Purchase

I have this short novel as a trade Paperback, also. I like L Neil's novels a lot. It's hard to explain, but certain characters in novels I just like, I "get" them. J Gifford is one of them, Repairman Jack is another, Win Bear is one also. As to this story, I found it interesting that J Gifford used the virus to gain allies, but,Xopher, his enemy, went out of his way to kill potential allies, or helpers. Since he was so old and experienced, he should have had hundreds of vampire allies. In fact, he was stupid enough not to save at least ONE female of his own species! I would think a small harem of females would have been a good idea. Of course, Allies can turn against you, perhaps that is what happened sometime in his long life. I look forward to his next novel in this "universe", Only the young die good, should be good.

Love L. Neil, but he Left me Hanging

Reviewed in the United States on March 31, 2014

Verified Purchase

I love L. Neil Smith's writing, and this is a delightfully different take on the vampire mythos. But too much was simply left unresolved. What of the mysterious female traveler? Why did the unimaginably old and wealthy villian fail to wear armor on their second encounter (not to mention going it alone when he could afford a herd of henchmen)? I gather El Neil wrote this to a specific length and time frame, but there is obviously a lot more story waiting to be told. The "ending" was a bit abrupt and anticlimactic. I think Neil owes us another story.

One person found this helpful

"Another" Ethical Vampire

Reviewed in the United States on December 25, 2011

Verified Purchase

L. Neil Smith is a staunch advocate of the ZAP (Zero Agression Principle) and so it was with some trepidation that I recieved the news that he was going to write a "Vampire" story. Vampires ARE Predators, after all, and they prey on US!

I needn't have worried, the plot is enthralling, the characters intriguing, and the ethical concerns delightfully creatively resolved. (Although I can see the Lady on the cover having some challenges adapting to the 21st century, and the mores of her new "friends.")

Along the way we find out what happened to the Neanderthals, and... (oops, sorry no "spoilers")

Needless to say, I want to see more about these people. This is a problem as "El Neil" has several other "Irons in the fire." I just hope he lives long enough to finish even half of what's in the pipeline.

Treat yourself to some new possibilities that are "Sweeter Than Wine"

2 people found this helpful

Maturity in a vampire novel

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2013

Verified Purchase

Except for Barbary Hambly occasionally, I don't read vampire books. I don't know how members of the current vampire craze will feel about this one, but people who like good stories will enjoy it. I've read it twice now and liked it even more the second time.
I don't know how to classify Sweeter Than Wine, not "just" a vampire novel or a detective book or a love story, it's all of those and more.
Glad I took a chance on this based only on my respect for the author. Doesn't read like my other favorites by L. Neil Smith (read Probability Broach for a good start on those), many other authors can't seem to change their style even when changing genre. This one manages to be L. Neil without being a copy of his other books. It's not a recycled story with vampires substituted for another stock character.

One person found this helpful

Ronald C. Tobin

Excellent Vampire Tale

Reviewed in the United States on April 18, 2012

Verified Purchase

L. Neil Smith says he does not like vampire stories. Well, in this 50,000 word experiment, he sure packed a lot and wrote an excellent story for the genre. The main character is a detective who was turned into a vampire during the early days of the Normandy invasion. He grouses about his life, but overall appears well adjusted for a vampire. Enter the woman who turned him all those years ago. The sparks fly, love is rekindled, and everything gets really complicated.

If you want a short novel with an interesting spin on the vampire mythos, you can't go wrong with this one. Highly Recommended.

3 people found this helpful

Vampires. Who knew I'd enjoy them

Reviewed in the United States on March 5, 2012

Verified Purchase

I never thought I'd enjoy a vampire novel but this one (from one of my favorite authors) is very different than what I expected. It is humorous and the characters are well developed and the dialogue realistic. Another fine book from El Neil.

2 people found this helpful

A Sci-Fi Vampire Novel, and A Damn Good One

Reviewed in the United States on July 6, 2013

Verified Purchase

Neil does it again, in a book written for National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo). He lays out a scientific, logical basis for the vampiric condition without resorting to the supernatural, and sticks rigorously to his framework without bending the rules or failing to entertain. For the discerning, there are Easter Eggs galore to find, which makes this book so much fun to read. I refuse, however, to reveal anything beyond this, except to say that you will not be disappointed if you buy the book, but you'll kick yourself for waiting if you don't do so right away.

Another Winner By El Neil

Reviewed in the United States on July 27, 2011

Verified Purchase

I waited a long time for this book to come out and it was well worth it. The author's approach to thw vampire mythos is an innovadive one. The strengths and weaknesses of the vampire are still there but the vamp characters (most of them) have retained their humanity.
My only gripe is that, at 150 pgs, the book is way too short. If their is a sequel, I hope that it will be longer.

4 people found this helpful

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