‘My own brother, a goddamn shit-sucking vampire’
4 March 2015
Filed under Book Reviews
Tags: Fantasy Review Barn, Tough Travelling, Vampires
This week over as the Fantasy Review Barn Nathan is taking us Tough Travelling looking at vampires:
VAMPIRES are increasingly rare on the TOUR. They have been attracted over to the Horror Tour by offers of better pay. Where they appear, you will find up to date Vampires wear expensive sunglasses and wish to drain you of energy rather than blood.
- Dracula from Bram Stoker – you have to have Dracula on this list he’s one of the originals
- Iuda from Jasper Kent’s Danilov Quintet – this is one nasty sucker (had to go there)!
- Fort from Generation V by M L Brennan – one of the younger vampires
- Joshua from Fevre Dream by GRRMartin – based on board a steamship that sails the Mississipi
- Eric from Charlaine Harris Sookie Stackhouse series – a rather fine specimen of towering viking vampireness!
- Stefan from Patricia Briggs Mercy Thompson – how can you resist a vampire who rides around in a Scooby Van!
- Barlow from Salem’s Lot by Stephen King – that’s one vampire that scared the bejeebers out of me!
- Lestat from Ann Rice’s Interview with a Vampire – ‘Claudia…You‘ve been a very, very, naughty little girl.’
- Constantine from Sunshine by Robin McKinley – a very good story, set in a world where vampires and humans went to war, Sunshine has a rare ability that she uses to help Constantine
- Quinn from Kathleen Tierney’s Blood Oranges – part vampire part werewolf
And I’m drawing a line under it as I could go on and on!!
Books and travelling with Lynn 
So of everybody’s Tough Travels Vampires lists that I’ve looked at today, I have barely read a single damn book on any of them. Your list included! Though I have a feeling I MIGHT have read Dracula and then forgotten. Ah well. My list is here if yer interested: http://www.bookpunks.com/my-favorite-vampires/
This is the way these things go. Some of the real chunky fantasy books that turn up on here I think ‘wuh’. I’ll be over to check out your list. Can’t wait to see if I’ve read any of your picks.
Lynn 😀
I’m Thinking I should read Interview with a Vampire. I love that quote 🙂
I actually liked it to be honest. I’d already seen the film of course and so I couldn’t help picturing the characters as the actors, etc, and obviously there wasn’t the tension there would have been if I’d gone into it unawares, but, yeah, it was quite a good read.
Lynn 😀
I didn’t put Dracula on my list. Because I didn’t want to, so there. AND YOU CAN”T MAKE ME. And believe it or not, I still want to read Stookie Stackhouse some day. Not sure why.
You should read Sookie – there’s a lot of quirky humour, all sorts of supernatural creatures and some good fun. It is a long series though and I was determined to complete it. That being said I’m sure you don’t have to read them all.
Lynn 😀
Lestat is probably my absolute favorite vampire in anything ever with Damon from The Vampire Diaries being a close second (I was a preteen when the Vampire Diaries series was written, and Damon was always my favorite).
He is just so wicked isn’t he – you can’t help but like a character who is thoroughly unashamed or unabashed about his own self!
Lynn 😀
You’re too right about Eric. Bill who? I also have a pretty big soft spot for Stefan – despite his fangs and strength, he’s got a vulnerability going on that I really like. Plus as you’d noted, the guy has great taste in automobiles. 😉
I admit I started quite liking Bill – and then Eric entered and I was like ‘hello!’ What a studley. Stefan – I just enjoy his character – I think he has a ‘thing’ for Mercy which hasn’t come out on the pages yet. Not that I think she reciprocates but it is interesting reading about him.
Lynn 😀
I almost forgot about Sunshine, then remembered at the last minute. Dracula isn’t in my list, but Lestat is 🙂
Sunshine was a good book – I had a few moments where I thought ‘stop talking about damn cinnamon rolls’ but, other than that it was a very good read!
Lynn 😀
Ooh, you’ve thought of loads! 🙂
FYI, your link on FRB doesn’t seem to be working correctly. 😦
Yeah, I wondered, I’ll have to check it – my laptop was misbehaving this morning.
Lynn 😀
I agree you have to have Dracula, he is like THE vampire 🙂
Yes – he’s the boss! Apparently not the true original but even so he HAD to go on the list – plus ‘ the children of the night, what sweet music they make’ – or something like that!
Lynn 😀
My wife mentioned Sunshine. Robin McKinley is one of her favorite authors from growing up.
I do like Robin McKinley – surprisingly I’m sure I’ve read that she’s either writing or has written a follow up, which I wasn’t expecting as she was adamant at the time that the story was complete but if she does I would certainly pick it up. Although, I can’t remember where I read that so could potentially be wrong.
Lynn 😀
Wow usually I’ve read a lot of books on your lists, but not this week. Some I’ve never heard of, like Sunshine (which sounds fantastic). I’ve wanted to check out Salem’s Lot for a while, but for some reason I find King’s older stuff really hard to read. And of course I cheer at your inclusion of Generation V! 😀
Yes to Generation V! Sunshine is good but then I like Robin McKinley. I enjoyed the vampire theme and fae next week – should be another good one.
Lynn 😀
Brennan and Martin are two of the most quoted authors this week! 🙂
And I keep hearing good things about the Mercy Thompson series: I must take a look one of these days…
I have to say that if you enjoy UF series Mercy Thompson is the way to go. She’s a great character and the world surrounding her is interesting and full with supernatural critters. The first one, I admit, was a little bit ropey – so don’t judge it just on that because it then just goes from strength to strength.
Lynn 😀
Oh, Eric 🙂 I only know him from the HBO series but he was so cool (until he lost his memory or something and got all weird…). But if I had to choose my favourite from that series it would be Pam 🙂
Yep – he went a little weird for sure. But HE’S A VIKING! nuff said.
Pam is bloody excellent – you have to love that character – in fact now I think of it – why didn’t I have Pam. Okay, who am I kidding, I got all sidetracked with the VIKING THING!
Lynn 😀
There’s an Irish vampire in the Preacher graphic novel series. If you like Sandman/Constantine, Preacher is one to read.
Thanks Jason – I’ll look for that one.
Lynn 😀