Tag: Vampires

  • Illuminating the Shadows of Gothic Fiction: Celebrating Anne Rice’s Legacy on Her Birthday

    Celebrating the Supernatural Legacy of Anne Rice!

    Anne Rice, woman, scarf, green, shirt, grey, hair, foliageAnne Rice, a name synonymous with the gothic and supernatural, has left an indelible mark on the literary landscape. Her unique storytellinginvites readers to sink their teeth into the richly textured worlds of vampires, witches, and the occult. Best known for her groundbreaking series The Vampire Chronicles, Rice transformed the public’s perfection of vampires from the tuxedoed count Bela Lugosi’s Dracula into creatures that were not only glamourous, but deeply emotional and philosophical. Lestat and Louis are not just beings of the night, but the are immortals grappling with the human condition.

    Bela Lugosi's Dracula
    Bela Lugosi’s Dracula from 1931

    Growing Up in Gothic New Orleans

    Born on Ocotber 4, 1941 in New Orleans, a city famed for its gothic architecture and rich spiritual history, Rice found her most powerful inspiration in its haunted corners. Her early years were shaped by loss with both her mother and grandmother passing away by the time she was sixteen. She sought refuge in literature, immersing herself in the works of Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley. Under their influence, Rice’s imagination bloomed, combining dark imagery and complex emotional landscapes that would define her career.

    While pursuing her master’s degree in English at San Fransisco State University, she married Stan Rice with whom she had two children, Michele and Christopher. Tragically, Michele was diagnosed with leukemia at age six. To cope with the grief, Anne Rice turned to writing, creating her first novel, Interview with a Vampire.

    Years later, Rice recalled a prophetic dream she had months before the death of her daughter. In it, she was told that “somethings wrong with her blood.”

    book cover, gold, red, black, white, shiny, anne rice

    The Beginning of the Vampire Chronicles

    Interview with the Vampire introduced readers to Louis de Pointe du Lac, an immortal vampire recounting his centuries-long tale of suffering, love, and loss to an intrigued reporter. The lush prose called on classic fin de siècle literature descriptions as seen in Bram Stoker’s Dracula, while infusing it with modern depth. Readers were captivated by the exploration of immortality, isolation, and Louis’ inner turmoil, creating a new kind of vampire – one who yearned, not just for blood, but for meaning. The Vampire Chronicles became a beloved series focused mostly on Louis’ maker Lestat de Lioncourt – the iconic golden haired rebel with the face of an angel.

    This created more than a vampire series: It created a cultural movement. Vampires wrestling with questions of morality, religion, and humanity left behind the mold of good versus evil. Lestat came forward as a symbol of charisma, power, and vulnerability. Through him, Rice turned the idea of vampires from monsters of fear into beings of empathy that are capable of love and introspection, drawing readers into their eternal struggle.

    The success of The Vampire Chronicles catapulted Rice into the literary spotlight and paved the way for a resurgence of interest in gothic fiction for future horror authors to create their own interpretations of vampire mythology.

    Then and now. On the left is Brad Pitt, Kirsten Dunst, and Tom Cruise as Louis, Lestat, and Claudia in the original 1994 screen adaptation. The 2022 AMC series on the right is still running as of this posting and features Delainey Hayles, Jacob Anderson, and Sam Reid as Claudia, Louis and Lestat.

    While Rice is primarily known for her vampire novels, she has written witches, werewolves, and even had a period of writing exclusively Christian fiction. Her supernatural writings explored spirituality, sexuality, and mortality, blending philosophical questions most often found in literary fiction into the paranormal and horror genre.

    An Everlasting Legacy

    Anne Rice’s impact on literature and popular culture is undeniable. Her works have inspired countless adaptations, including films, television series, and even musicals.

    You can hear the musical score for Lestat, the Musical by none other than Sir Elton John here.

    Through these mediums, Rice has introduced a new generation to her haunting vision of vampirism, and inspired the works of contemporary authors like Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight and Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series which was adapted to True Blood.

    On the left we have Sookie and Bill from True Blood and on the right is Bella and Edward from Twilight. Both are classic modern vampire stories that wouldn’t be very different without Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles

    Rice’s characters often represent a rich interior life coupled with vibrant descriptions of the world and setting that reflects an older style of writing with lyrical prose that explores the human psyche.

    Black, skull, flowers, books, bookshelf
    Bryce Lankard/Getty Images

    Anne Rice passed away on December 11, 2021, leaving behind a legacy that continues to resonate with readers and writers alike. Her lyrical prose, atmospheric settings, and unforgettable characters remind us that the supernatural is not only a realm of monsters, but a reflection of the human condition. As we celebrate Rice’s birthday, we honor her ability to blend horror with heart and her profound influence on modern supernatural fiction. Like Lestat and Louis, her stories live on –  endlessly captivating, forever haunting.


    If you are a fan of things that go bump in the night, we encourage to take a bite into these Chanticleer authors’ tales of supernatural.

     

    Merging Paths Cover

    Merging Paths
    CIBA Grand Prize award for a Series

    Having escaped unjust imprisonment at the Fort Grant facility for juveniles, Curtis Jefferson is on the run, in Merging Paths,the third installment of Vince Bailey’s gripping, paranormal, Curtis Jefferson Series.

    With only a small jug of water and the clothes on his back, Curtis has to cross the Sonoran Desert and find a way back to his mother and grandmother in Jacobs Well. But his trip is plagued by more than thirst, hunger, and fear of animals. A racist sheriff’s deputy, Myron Aycock, is hellbent on finding Curtis not only for the acclaim such an arrest will give him but also for vengeance against the beating he received at the hands of the aspiring boxer.

    Trapped and desperate, Curtis is rescued by a mysterious figure and taken to Isabel and Ray Cienfuegos. After hearing Curtis’s unsettling stories about Fort Grant, the two understand that they have all been fighting the same evil forces – under the control of the sadistic Ezra. In a final confrontation, Isabel faces off against the wicked spirit, but just as they believe their problems are over, a new threat arises under the guise of friendship, and Isabel makes a life-changing decision that will mark her forever.

    Read more here!

    The Devil Pulls the Strings Book Cover

    The Devil Pulls The Strings
    By J. W. Zarek
    CIBA Grand Prize award in the Shelley Division

    The protagonist and all-around decent guy, Boone Daniels, is in a heap of hurt in JW Zarek’s new Young Adult novel, The Devil Pulls the Strings.

    One would think being plagued by an evil spirit wendigo since age six would be enough inconvenience to last a lifetime, but when Boone jousts with his best bud at a Ren Faire and accidentally deals a mortal blow, the hurt he experiences suddenly lands on a sliding scale of 1 to 1 million. And Boone Daniels becomes a millionaire, so to speak.

    No ordinary guy, Boone makes a living as a handyman and swashbuckling knight at Renaissance Faires around Missouri. He’s also uniquely gifted with a form of eidetic memory coupled with synesthesia. What’s that? Simply put, synesthesia allows people to see colors and taste things when they hear music – and an eidetic memory allows folks to memorize whatever they’ve seen or heard one time. But that’s not all. Boone can time-travel, make friends with almost any feline or shapeshifter, and convince a certain immortal he’s worth more as an ally than a snack. No kidding, Baba Yaya loves human meat.

    Read more here!

    The Street Between the Pines

    The Street Between the Pines

    Something strange and terrible stirs in Frank Cavanaugh’s basement, in J.J. Alo’s psychological-thriller,The Street Between the Pines.

    The giant hole at the bottom of Frank’s house wasn’t there before. Something so very ugly and dangerous is down there. Something with bright, glowing eyes. Adrenalin pumps through Frank’s aging body as he scrambles for the exit. Behind him, a low gurgling growl.

    In suburban Connecticut, Iraqi war veteran Curtis is still fighting to surviving on multiple fronts. Curtis struggles with severe PTSD, visions of the war that continually overwhelm him. Now, after being released from jail after a manslaughter conviction, having caused a fatal auto accident, he struggles to put his life together. All the while, he navigates a shaky relationship with his wife Amy, and a complex connection to his autistic son Wes.

    Read more here!

    Requiem for a Queen Cover

    Requiem for a Queen

    To what lengths will a person go when ultimate power is within reach? Requiem For A Queen by Kaylin McFarren explores the depths of greed that propel a daughter to defy her father, the Devil himself.

    Lucinda uses evil means to pursue an equally dark end, the crown of Hell. How can this woman be stopped, and an innocent child she’s stolen away be saved? Is there anyone willing to step forward, and muster the strength to stand up against the destructive battle between the Devil and his daughter?

    Samara, a hybrid between angel and demon, can only save her abducted son by stepping into that battle.

    Read more here!


    Thank you for joining us in celebrating the supernatural horror Anne Rice!

    The Shelley Awards are open now!

    Do you have your own Supernatural or Paranormal novel that’s ready to be discovered? Formerly the Paranormal Awards, the Shelley Awards are open now and ready for the best Supernatural read of 2024!

    Thank you again to the authors who wrote these frightfully fun books, and to Anne Rice, who inspired so many to pick up the pen!

  • Spotlight on the October Awards! Don’t be Afraid!

    Adventure rises. Will you answer the call?

    A cavern with the words Adventure Calls

    October is the best month to step out into an adventure. We have three scintillating Programs to Submit to:

    • Ozma Awards for Fantasy
    • Paranormal Awards for Supernatural Fiction
    • Global Thrillers for High Stakes Suspense

    This spooky month feels like the best time for stories that inspire us to dream of realities beyond imagining, and threats to the world that leave us white-knuckled and waiting for the conclusion. What better place to find your next reads and submit your work than the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards!

    Here are the Awards that are hungrier for your work than a horde of zombies.

    Ozma Awards

    Fantasy is that special world where anything can happen. We often go beyond Earth for this, looking into swords and sorcery, chosen ones and villains awash with power.

    Start out with our 2021 Fantasy Grand Prize Winner A Plague of Flies by Laurel Anne Hill.

    Excellent prose & description with an effective mingling of historical and fantasy elements. The tension is gripping and the pace is good. 

    Follow that up with From Brick and Darkness by J.L. Sullivan, a great YA Urban Fantasy.

    A new Teen Favorite, this Urban Fantasy delves down passages of mythology and more when Bax Allen unwittingly unleashes a demon into the world.

    And then you can wrap everything up with the 2020 Ozma Grand Prize Winner, Divinity’s Twilight by Christopher Russell.

    In the epic space opera a group of cadets must face the bloody past of their world, threatened by age-old conflict, and change the course of empires. Highly recommended!

    See the full list of 2021 Ozma Winners for Fantasy Fiction here. 

    Paranormal Awards

    What goes bump in the night and who are the superheroes who face them? The supernatural genre often involves vampires, werewolves, angels, demons, and superheroes. The characters may begin as ordinary, but they soon discover they may be extraordinary or transformed to be more than human.

    We would be remiss not to crow about J.W. Zarek’s The Devil Pulls the StringsReminiscent of Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files, this book took home the Overall Grand Prize Awards.

    J. W. Zarek weaves magic on the page, developing an epic, urban fantasy – first in series – readers will want to stick with for a long time. Highly recommended.

    The Insane God by Jay Hartlove brings back the cosmic horror of H.P. Lovecraft in his mystery led by a trans woman.

    Sarah is cured of schizophrenia, only to face a battle with The Insane God. Her story balances humor, social issues like gender identity, and cosmic horror. Recommended!

    And, of course, it never hurts to remember Stoker’s Dracula with a book like Suburban Vampire Ragnarok by Franklin Posner that won First Place in the Paranormal Awards.

    Scott Campbell must face his divorce, job, and thirst for human blood, while caught in his fellow vampires’ political infighting. Recommended!

    See the full list of 2021 Paranormal Winners for Supernatural Fiction here. 

    Global Thriller Awards

    When you write a Global Thriller, you write about global consequences. The stakes are higher than ever before, whether or not this is a meticulously researched disease or a terrorist attack of epic proportions, you’ll want to read each one of these stories in one sitting.

    Ron McManus’ The Chameleon won the 2021 Global Thriller Awards

    Delightful to read with great development of story and characters. Clearly researched with a healthy dash of personal experience. A story to relish.

    Then you have First Place Winner Mission: Angola by the prolific Randall Krzak. Anyone who needs a series would be wise to check this one out.

    Xavier Sear is caught between dangerous factions and outnumbered in the first book of a new action-packed, tension-filled thriller series. Highly recommended!

    For those who prefer more of an environmental story, check out A Divine Wind by Norman M. Jacobs, another First Place Winner.

    See the full list of 2021 Global Thriller Winners for High Stakes Fiction here.

     

    You Can’t Win if you Don’t Submit!

    Enter the CIBAs today! Your book deserves to be discovered. 

    Blue button that says Enter a Writing Contest

  • SUBURBAN VAMPIRE RAGNAROK by Franklin Posner – Paranormal, Urban Fantasy, Political Intrigue

    Blue and Gold Paranormal 1st Place Best in Category CIBA Badge ImageFranklin Posner gives readers an adventurous dark urban fantasy filled to the brim with vampires, werewolves, black-eyed kids, and even Sasquatches in his novel Suburban Vampire Ragnarok.

    Here is a fully realized underworld of vampire factions and governments along with ancient organizations tasked with keeping track of the paranormal.

    The story opens in the past, with Scott Campbell’s father capturing a German bunker during World War II. This section is reminiscent of F. Paul Wilson’s The Keep and Saving Private Ryan with a little taste of Indiana Jones. After they find a handful of mysterious artifacts, the story then jumps forward a generation to Scott, the suburban vampire working in tech support in the Pacific Northwest.

    Scott’s life is complicated. Between a recent divorce, living with his widowed mother, and working for an over-controlling boss he has plenty to deal with.

    On top of that, he is a vampire who must suppress the urge to feed on human blood.

    Something sinister stirs behind the scenes of the vampire political world. Jack, the vampire who turned Scott against his will in hopes of using him in a diabolical coup, still has followers hidden in the vampire government. As Elizabeth and Jeremiah, vampire enforcers, hunt down the last of Jack’s sirelings and try to root out someone embedded within the vampire council, Scott falls deeper into the machinations of an evil plot and must fight to protect those he cares for.

    Posner explores themes of coming to terms with a new life.

    Scott’s life has changed drastically in many ways, and becoming a vampire is only one of them. After his divorce, his mother is encouraging him to get back out there and see new people.

    Scott does slip a few times, but he learns from his mistakes and the guilt they bring him. He also learns to trust those who still want to be part of his life, even when they know the monster that he has become. He knows that to be near him is dangerous, but, ultimately, it is their choice.

    There are a few spots where the tone of the story becomes a little too light in contrast to the tension of the scene, but the story and drama behind that tension are strong.

    Readers will marvel at the fully realized world presented in this book.

    The political complexity of the many organizations, governments, and agencies make for exciting power plays and relationships. Plus, readers will delight with the handful of cryptids who play roles, both small and large, throughout.

    Readers hungry for vampires with intricate and grounded struggles will be pleased with Franklin Posner’s twisty tale of supernatural creatures in a modern world.

    Suburban Vampire Ragnarok by Franklin Posner won First Place in the 2018 CIBA Paranormal Book Awards for Supernatural and Paranormal Fiction.

  • The DEVIL PULLS the STRINGS by J. W. Zarek –  Young Adult Epic Fantasy Adventure, Young Adult Fantasy Action Adventure, Young Adult Urban Fantasy

    The DEVIL PULLS the STRINGS by J. W. Zarek – Young Adult Epic Fantasy Adventure, Young Adult Fantasy Action Adventure, Young Adult Urban Fantasy

     

    Overall Best Book of 2021 Grand Prize Badge for J.W. Zarek's The Devil Pulls the StringsThe protagonist and all-around decent guy, Boone Daniels, is in a heap of hurt in JW Zarek’s new Young Adult novel, The Devil Pulls the Strings.

    One would think being plagued by an evil spirit wendigo since age six would be enough inconvenience to last a lifetime, but when Boone jousts with his best bud at a Ren Faire and accidentally deals a mortal blow, the hurt he experiences suddenly lands on a sliding scale of 1 to 1 million. And Boone Daniels becomes a millionaire, so to speak.

    No ordinary guy, Boone makes a living as a handyman and swashbuckling knight at Renaissance Faires around Missouri. He’s also uniquely gifted with a form of eidetic memory coupled with synesthesia. What’s that? Simply put, synesthesia allows people to see colors and taste things when they hear music – and an eidetic memory allows folks to memorize whatever they’ve seen or heard one time. But that’s not all. Boone can time-travel, make friends with almost any feline or shapeshifter, and convince a certain immortal he’s worth more as an ally than a snack. No kidding, Baba Yaya loves human meat.

    After wounding his best friend, Boone promises to fill in for him as lead vocalist in the band, The Village Idiots, for a major gig in New York City.

    The gig caps off the Dragons and Nymphs Annual Charity Ball – a blood drive. (The irony of this will make readers chuckle.) After the band plays, a mysterious score of music by Niccolò Paganini will be played by the best violinist of the time, who also happens to be Boone’s fast-friend-confidant-maybe-girlfriend-we’ll-have-to-see, Sapphire Anjou. Sapphire, the French Ambassador’s daughter, has connections that tie her deeply to the Lavender and Rose Society. There’s more to these societies. The Dragons and Nymphs want nothing but destruction and chaos, while the Lavender and Rose Society maintain order and work to keep people alive. And both societies seek the magical score. You see, no one actually has the Paganini sheet music. It’s a mystery and plenty of people die and get maimed in the pursuit of the piece, but finally, just in the nick of time, Boone and Sapphire obtain it.

    What’s so special about this piece of music?

    It’s magic, of course! Whoever plays the Paganini score can summon anyone they want. The Dragons and Nymphs want it to summon Ambrogio, their Vampire All-Father, who now resides in Hell. One immortal wants it to free her sister, who’s been caught in a pocket universe (you’ll have to read the book to figure out what that means). And then there’s the nefarious all-around baddie, Ambrozij Sinti, humiliated as a young boy, who now seeks his revenge by using the Paganini piece to summon the Devil himself and destroy the world. The stakes are high, and there’s no time to lose.

    Told in first-person by hero Boone Daniels, J. W. Zarek spins an epic fantasy with tons of action, adventure, and folklore.

    His writing peppers readers with alliteration in trios, that serve to tighten phrasing to speed up action scenes, evoking visceral responses. Readers feel the panic Boone feels as the world closes in around him. Does it work? Like a charm. Almost perfect, readers will surely love this first in series, epic fantasy world and fall in love with Zarek’s leading man because of it.

    Somewhere between The Librarians meets The Magicians – mixed with the flawed hero archetypes of Jim Butcher’s Harry Dresden and Harold Hearne’s Atticus O’Sullivan, Zarek’s hero brings fans of the genre something new to dig their teeth into – and that’s an excellent thing. Fans will be thrilled to learn that the novel will release in Graphic Novel format soon!

    The Devil Pulls the Strings won a whopping four Ribbons at the 2021 CIBA Ceremonies, a First Place Ribbon in both Ozma and Cygnus, as well as the Grand Prize in Paranormal, and the Overall Best Book of 2021 for the Chanticleer Int’l Book Awards!

    Chanticleer Book Reviews 5 Star Best Book silver foil sticker

     

     

     

     

  • Dracul by J.D. Barker, Dacre Stoker – Vampires, Gothic, Occult, #Dracul

    Dracul by J.D. Barker, Dacre Stoker – Vampires, Gothic, Occult, #Dracul

    The brilliant gothic horror story, Dracul, awaits those who crave novels that quicken hearts and cause sleepless nights. One would swear it is from the horror master himself, Bram Stoker, who penned the legendary Dracula.

    Dracul is ripped from the pages of Bram Stoker’s diary, along with those of his sister Matilda’s, and brother Thornley’s. Much like Dracula, multiple narrators push the story forward with their individual perspectives and points of view. Inch by inch the reader is pulled in until it is impossible to go back. Such is the lure of Dracul by J. D. Barker, and Dacre Stoker

    The story opens with a sickly, seven-year-old Bram, who has been chronically ill since birth and frequently near death. He is confined to an attic room under the care of his nanny, Ellen Crone. His nanny dotes on Bram, but she has a disturbing habit of disappearing frequently, sometimes for days on end without explanation or apologies upon return.

    During one of her absences, Bram’s health takes a downward turn. Near death, his desperate parents summon the family doctor who bleeds a barely conscious Bram with leeches. When Nanny Ellen returns and sees Bram pale and fading fast, she shoos everyone from the room and shuts the door. In the morning, the leeches are gone, the illness has passed, and Bram feels a vigor and strength he has never known.

    Afterward, a conversation between Bram and his sister turns to Nanny Ellen and her odd absences, how her appearance seems to change dramatically from day to day, and how neither one of them have seen her eat or drink⸺anything. Soon their curiosity overtakes them, and they begin to snoop. The next day, Nanny Ellen is gone along with all of her possessions.

    To discover what happened to their beloved nanny, and who she really is, sets the Stokers on a path to encounter the sanguinary Dracula. Their lives are forever changed.

    This harrowing pursuit of the truth is beautifully rendered horror with palpable tension and suspense, drawing the reader ever closer to the edge of terrifying darkness.

    Deftly written in a classic 19th-century gothic style, Dracul resonates with power-rich prose that adds to the atmosphere and the construct of the story. A modern masterpiece, Dracul is everything horror can and should be. It doesn’t rely on gore, but rather captivating storytelling. And yet, the terror and intrigue are unrelenting.

    This novel belongs in the lexicon of all things vampire.

    Dracul is the inception of the iconic dark love story that compels and terrifies us. Our advice? Close your windows. Lock your doors. Turn the lights on. Place a silver crucifix around your neck, and make sure to have a few sharp wooden stakes nearby. In other words, prepare yourself for a transfixing journey into the diabolically delicious world of Dracul ⸺ if you dare.

    Dracul is also available in hardcover and audiobook.

    #Dracul

     

  • NAZI WEREWOOFS by Karl Larew — a zany and fun vampire spoof for adults

    NAZI WEREWOOFS by Karl Larew — a zany and fun vampire spoof for adults

    In Karl Larew’s second humorous and highly entertaining vampire spoof, the battle continues in which the Good Vampires seek to protect their own (and all good people) against the greedy aspirations of the power-seeking Bad Vampires.

    The Good Vampires, Lance Blodgett and sidekick Nigel, along with their normal human and gorgeously sexy girlfriends Carol and Becky, are called to action again.  The book has refreshingly laugh-out-loud humor with a smidge of the burlesque for the middle-age and over set who appreciate the irreverent early James Bond flicks, the original Wild Wild West and Star Trek series as opposed to the angst of the Twilight’s vampire and werewolf stories.  All in all, a hoot of (or should I say a “woof”) of a read to be enjoyed with your favorite cocktail.

    (If you’ve read Larew’s Bad Vampires, you already know of course that Good Vampires, while human in most respects, have a metabolic need for a periodic sip of human blood. [fusion_builder_container hundred_percent=”yes” overflow=”visible”][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][Carol has become Lance’s quite willing donor, as well as very human lover.] Bad Vampires, on the other hand, are common and uncommon criminals in every respect, not only hungering for money and power, but also cruelly biting and killing innocent humans to gorge on their blood.)  

    This second tale, an especially furry one, begins exactly where the first left off, with Lance and Carol snug in bed…that is, until they are abruptly interrupted by a pounding on their door. Lance finds a disheveled and distraught Becky, crying that she has been attacked and bitten by a Bad Vampire in Central Park. Lance and Carol get the tall, beautiful Nigerian to the Good Vampire Dr. Griswold. Seeing fleas on Becky, Dr. Griswold tells the three that he has just been informed by Arleigh Granville, head of the New York Association of Good Vampires, that a Bad Vampire in Germany has concocted a drug to turn people into werewolves (good hosts to fleas), who then infect their victims with ‘werewolfism’. Becky must be such a victim—a diagnosis immediately confirmed when she appears to be transforming into a werewolf. Becky, however, turns out looking more like a Labrador retriever and is soon recognized as a ‘werewoof’, wagging her tail. Fortunately, the good doctor Griswold has an antidote, injections of which return Becky to normal—thank goodness!

    When Mr. Granville learns what has happened, he explains to the foursome that a Bad Vampire in Bavaria, Baron Wolfgang von Verdammte, is behind the werewolf plot. He appoints the four as Good Vampire secret agents, and they are soon on their way to Europe, tasked with squelching the werewolf plot and its aim of a Bad Vampire takeover of the world!

    Starting in Paris, the action moves on to Germany, with Carol ending up at the Baron’s castle in Bavaria (perhaps Mad King Ludwig’s Summer Palace).  One incredible (believe it!) adventure follows another for the secret agents, with more human-werewolf or werewoof transformations, double agent and mole (not that little rodent) infiltrations of both the Good and Bad Vampire contingents (until neither side is sure who’s which!), a one-upmanship struggle over a coffin purportedly containing the remains of the Baron’s mentor, no other than Adolph Hitler (no kidding!), wild goose and car chases, one-sided shootouts (guess who always wins), and pussy galore (with even the werewoofs wanting their share). Be it known, however, that no matter how hard the Baron, aka Wolfie, craves Carol, both as his “little ginger snap” and as “the most Aryan uterus conceivable” (for his planned Fourth Reich), this sexy secret agent is one skillful evader whose heart belongs to Lance.

    If you’re not willing to join in this cock-eyed parody between the Vampires and cheer the Good Vamps on to victory, go find some other book (something by Mary Shelley, perhaps?). But if you’d like to laugh yourself to sleep, Larew’s zany tales—both Nazi Werewoofs and Bad Vampires—will offer you a fun and entertaining diversion.  Then you can ponder how this retired college history professor came to write these amusingly unconventional tales.  

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  • BAD VAMPIRES by Karl Larew, a humorous new take on vampires

    BAD VAMPIRES by Karl Larew, a humorous new take on vampires

    Karl Larew is well known for the depth and breadth of his knowledge in the field of military history, both in academic works and in historical fiction.

    Well, as you might imagine, Bad Vampires has nothing to do with world politics and war, or even reality on the home front. Rather, this versatile author has chosen to entertain us by delving into the practices of the netherworld of 19th-century vampirism, BUT, as it exists in the modern world—the difference being that, today, there are both Bad Vampires and Good Vampires. This is a modern fictional account, and one designed to make you chortle instead of scream. It is a hilarious and refreshingly fun read!

    Rather than a single locale in Transylvania, the vampires in this tale travel from New York to our nation’s capital and its Virginia suburbs, then Hollywood, and on to Hong Kong, and back and forth, in multiple trips, logging who knows how many thousands of miles.

    The 19th-century vampire’s vicious bite and suck method has evolved into a variety of means for the nourishment of vampires. Among Bad Vampires, the process can still end in, well, the end for the blood donor. Good Vampires, however, take care not to let this happen. Further, the New York Association of Good Vampires has rules regarding the infliction of mortal wounds by other means (pistols seem to be the most popular). In any case, Good Vampires are the winners, Bad Vampires are the losers. Bad Vampires have no imagination and can’t put a bullet in the side of a barn, whereas Good Vampires are ingenious in their strategies and never miss a target, even with one hand tied behind them.

    This tale is either carried along or interrupted by outrageously corny puns, double entendres, and other linguistic contrivances designed to tickle the characters and amuse the readers. Larew obviously enjoyed drawing these from old TV shows: Bad Vampire Elmer wants to make a movie about vampires in New York City—”Sucks and the City” it gets labelled by a Good Vampire; another Good Vampire calls the Head Vampire about a new idea. The CHIEF tells him, “GET SMART! I could say that 99 times and still not have said it enough!” Do any readers remember “Henry Aldrich” (Hen-reeeeeeee) on the radio? No? Never mind.

    It’s hard to develop the character of a vampire. In this story, some are good and some are bad. Protagonist Lance Blodgett is a good one and smart as well. In his day life, he’s an assistant professor of anthropology at New York University, specializing in East European folklore. He has a tender streak and loving heart, which he very soon gives to Carol Binghamton, who isn’t a vampire.

    Carol, a computer programmer, finds herself reciprocating Lance’s feelings. She even offers him breakfast, if he’ll bite her where it won’t show. Lance tells her that biting is “too painful and leaves a big bruise. We use little spring-powered lancets, like diabetics use for blood sugar tests.” She kindly offers him a rump.

    I wouldn’t want to spoil the story for you—just give you a taste that hopefully will tempt you to try it yourself. You might say, as Lance did after breakfast, “Oh, very good—[it has] a sort of tangy je ne sais quoi.”