The number of novels added
yearly to the vampire genre is quite astonishing (we are awaiting J.
Gordon Meltonâs forthcoming bibliography of 21st century
vampire books for precise data), but not all are created equal. Two
very different novels published in 2002 are, each in their own
respective subgenre, outstanding.
The first is Blackwood
Farm by
Anne Rice, yet another instalment in her Vampire
Chronicles. Rice is at her best when she
talks about New Orleans and old homes (I believe her masterpiece to
be The Witching Hour rather than Interview with the
Vampire), and the novel is aptly named
after a Louisiana country estate. Just as in The Witching
Hour,
the old home is the real main character of the book (a country home,
here, in contrast with the Garden District villa of the Mayfair
family). Quinn Blackwood, the newly created vampire who tells his
story to Lestat and seek the latterâs help to get rid of a familiar
spirit, is mildly interesting as a new addition to Riceâs vampire
universe, but Blackwood Farm is a jewel. Additionally, we got a
fresh glimpse of the Mayfair family: not only Merrick, who became a
vampire in Riceâs previous Vampire Chronicle, but Rowan and Michael
themselves. And Mona Mayfair, a precocious young witch in the
Mayfair witches cycle, becomes a full-blown, crucial character. The
Talamasca is there, too, and much more than
Merrick the book is a complete crossover
of the two main universes created by Rice. The New Orleans author
wondered whether the Mayfair witches had not exhausted their story
after Taltos. The answer has now apparently
come to her: the only possibility for some Mayfair witches to go on
is to become vampires. The literary value of the novel rests with
the lengthy evocations of Louisiana enchantments, from villas to
swamps, antiques, and collections of cameos. Apparently, to Lestat
Rice shall return in order to sell well, and to Louisiana in order
to gain accolades from critics.
A Coldness in the
Blood
by Fred Saberhagen makes no claim to enchant literary critics. This
new chapter in Saberhagenâs postmodern Dracula saga (with Dracula,
aka Matthew Maule, as the good guy â almost) is a page-turner,
spellbinding thriller where an Egyptian vicious crocodile god and
two competing sets of vampires, each with their human allies, hunt
the legendary philosopherâs stone in the U.S.A. Of course, Egyptian
crocodile gods may sound preposterous, Saberhagen should exert great
care to avoid falling into ridicule, and Montana is not the most
likely place where you would hunt for the philosopherâs stone.
Saberhagen, however, succeeds admirably in navigating around clichÃ
without really falling into it. For those familiar with his previous
novels, his Dracula has become believable and Mina Harkerâs
descendants are now accepted just like old friends. High literature
this does not claim to be, but Saberhagen can face without shame
competition by non-vampire thrillers currently in the bestseller
list. Two welcome additions to any self-respecting vampire library.
