Book Review: BLOOD OATH by Christopher Farnsworth

Highly readable horror-action/thriller centering on Nathaniel Cade, an ancient vampire working for a secret branch of the US government to protect the world from "The Other Side", the place were monsters, demons, and other creatures of the dark come from. It's a fast-paced, fun read, with a good sense of humor. But it's also over-plotted, and at times reads more like a screenplay for a summer blockbuster than a novel. Nothing special, but it's energetic and diverting enough.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Book Review: THE PASSAGE by Justin Cronin

Overhyped and a critics' darling, Justin Cronin's The Passage is an epic, if overlong thriller, with plenty to offer. Marketed as a "literary" vampire thriller, The Passage is not a vampire novel in the traditional sense, as Cronin is more interested in the characters' relationship dynamics and the myriad cliffhangers than in bloodsuckers and vampire killers. The vampires, for the most part, are used as a "mcguffin" to weave the strands of a gargantuan tale of survival, good vs. evil, and the tenacity of the human spirit.

It doesn't always work, as Cronin bites off more than he can chew, as the genre-hopping nature of the book (from melodrama, to thriller, to horror, to post-apocalyptic drama) is occasionally more dizzying than thrilling, and the large tapestry of characters and Cronin's penchant for sentimentality all get in the way of the storytelling.

But, overall, this is grand storytelling, addictive and entertaining, even if it's a bit overcooked and about a hundred pages too long (it clocks in at over 870 pages).

The first part of a trilogy that continues with The Twelve, and concludes with the 2016 release of The City of Mirrors.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2016.

Book Review: FEVRE DREAM by George R. R. Martin

Before hitting it big in the mid 90's with the mega bestseller A Song of Ice and Fire Saga (A Game of Thrones) and the following HBO series of the same name, George R. R. Martin wrote a number of wonderful novels and short story collections, not to mention serving as a major creative force behind The Beauty and The Beast (1987), one of the best fantasy series ever put on TV.

But to many, the jewel of his output in the 1980's was the novel Fevre Dream (1982), a unique, humane, and infinitely compelling novel of the dark fantastic.

The story is deceptively simple: in pre-Civil War America, Abner Marsh, an ugly, down on his luck owner of a steamboat business, strikes a bargain with the mysterious Joshua York, a seemingly ageless man of pale skin and white hair. Marsh agrees to build York a luxurious steamer to take them on journeys unknown, therefore realising Marsh's dream of mastering the fastest steamer on the Mississippi river. But the more time passes, the more mysterious and threatening York is revealed to be. And who are those companions of his? The ones with the pale, beautiful faces, who only come out at night?

On the surface, Fevre Dream seems to be a historical vampire novel with plenty of style. But Martin has much more in mind. Fevre Dream is a dark fantasy novel, a meditation on the horrors of slavery, and, most of all, a touching tale of friendship between two very different men.

Yes, there are plenty of vampires, scary sequences, and atmosphere to burn. But Martin's rich yet readable prose, the tight plotting, and the thrilling and moving climax, put the novel in a league of its own. A must for fans of vampire fiction, dark fantasy, or just plain old marvelous storytelling.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2014- 2016.

This article was originally published on Bitlanders.

Quick Book Review: THE LIGHT AT THE END by John Skipp and Craig Spector

A cult classic splatterpunk vampire novel, The Light At The End is an original, energetic, occasionally terrifying book, with a sense of foreboding lacking in many novels of its kind. Its urban setting, combined with Skipp and Spector's kinetic prose and masterful grasp of atmosphere and visual description, make this a memorable horror novel, and one which has aged very well (it was originally published in 1986). Despite uneven characterization and an underwhelming first third, the sheer visual power of The Light At The End makes it deserving of its cult status and a highly recommended read for anyone in the mood for a cinematic, scary vampire novel.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2015.

Book Review: The Soft Whisper of The Dead. By Charles L. Grant

Whenever I start to get bored of the horror genre, or start to lose my faith in stories about things that go bump in the night, I go to my bookshelf and pick out a Charles L. Grant title, and lo and behold, I am a believer again. The Soft Whisper of The Dead is no exception.

Grant is a master of atmosphere, smooth yet artful prose, and well-rounded characters. His plots, if not always very sophisticated, get the job done, and his mastery of pacing is a marvel. All of Grant’s strengths are showcased here, in this tight, little story about vampires taking over the small town of Oxrun Station, and the attempts of two lovers, police officer Ned Stockton, and Pamela Squires, of foiling the vampires’ plans. The main villain, Count Brastov, is cleverly kept in the shadows throughout most of the tale, only to come out at the right moments to deliciously unnerve readers.

Even though there’s nothing new here in terms of plot, it is the storytelling that gets you with its freshness and style. Highly recommended.

N.B. Long out of print, the book is now available as an e-book.

Text © Ahmed Khalifa. 2013.

Ahmed Khalifa is a filmmaker and novelist. He is the writer/director of several short films and a feature, which was released on Netflix, and the author of a number of novels and short stories, including the YA horror novel, Beware The Stranger, available on Amazon. Find him on Twitter @AFKhalifa and on Facebook @Dark.Fantastic.AK·Writer