Writtenyes: Matthew Barber
Vampires are one of the most common characters in horror literature. They are both heroes and villains, and can be suave gentlemen who seduce their prey with charm, or grotesque monsters who tear flesh from bones with claws and teeth. Vampires feed on the living. They often suck blood, but some vampires will devour flesh, memories, and even souls.
Although vampires originally originated from Slavic mythology and folklore, the character has been redefined and reimagined many times. The variety and intrigue of these nocturnal creatures make the types of stories that can be written about them almost endless. Most of these variations are reflected in Blood and Other Thirstsedited by Ellen Datlow.
Ellen Datlow is probably best known for her work as an editor Best Fantasy Horror Movies of the Year series. Blood and Other Thirsts This is a collection of 17 short stories about vampires. The stories include:
All You Can Do Is Breathe by Kaaron Warren
Elizabeth Bell’s Needle
The Baskerville Gnome by Reggie Oliver
Richard Bowes’s “Yesterday’s Blood, Tomorrow’s Blood”
X for Demetrious by Steve Duffy
Keeping Corky by Melanie Tem
Shell-Life by Lisa Tuttle
Caius by Bill Prozzini and Barry N. Malzberg
Sweet Sorrow by Barbara Rodden
First Breath by Nicole J. LeBoeuf
Toujours by Kathe Koja
Miri by Steve Rasnic Tem
Mrs Jones by Carol Emshwiller
Bread and Water by Michael Sisko
Mulberry Boy by Margo Lanagan
John Langan’s “Always Beside You” Part 3
“Siphon” by Laird Barron
Authors contributing to the anthology range from relatively new writers, such as Nicole J. LeBoeuf, to seasoned horror writers, such as Kathe Koja. Most of the stories are new to the anthology. “The Baskerville Gnome” and “Mrs. Jones” are the only reprints. However, finding the anthology in which these stories were originally published can be very difficult.
Variety is key. There is a story for everyone. That being said, each story is unique in its setting, style, and theme. It is difficult to tell the overall quality or tone of a story. Blood and Other Thirsts.
Two of the most influential works are Lisa Tuttle’s Shelf-Life and Barbara Roden’s Sweet Sorrow. Shelf-Life focuses on obsession. Here, the vampire curse does not afflict humans, but inanimate objects. You can feed it blood, or just your thoughts and dreams. Regardless, over time, the obsession becomes all-encompassing.
In Sweet Sorrow, a child has gone missing. This child, Melissa Danvers, means a lot to little Brian. Brian may have lost his true love, though he is too young to fully comprehend it all. Mourners begin to build a small shrine to the girl. They show their support by offering flowers and other such gifts. Among them is Mrs. Gleason. Unlike most people, she seems to glow in the midst of grief. Brian begins to suspect that she feeds on grief.
Blood and Other Thirsts Understandably, this book is a mixed bag of good and bad. While these stories all deal with vampires, there are so many different kinds of vampires that no matter your taste, there are bound to be some good and some bad. Ellen Datlow does a great job of finding and compiling some of the most unique vampire stories you’ll ever read, but when you go all in, you’re going to miss some stories.
Order yours here.
score: 3/5
