Vampires: The Recent Undead

Vampires: The Recent Undead (2011) edited by Paula Guran

As with many anthologies, this one has some stories I especially liked, and others I didn’t care for at all. I believe I’ll focus on the ones I liked.

The anthology opens with Holly Black‘s story, “The Coldest Girl in Coldtown.” This was an unusual take on vampires, with touches of the lore from “The Lost Boys” what with someone not becoming a vampire if they didn’t feed. It’s also a YA story, and focuses on doing stupid things for what you think is love. Very nice, very strong story. Well, OK, nice isn’t the correct word. It’s a very good story.

I’ve previously read “Sisters” by Charles de Lint (of course I have. I love Charles de Lint). As with everything else he does, he has his own take on vampirism, but of course the focus of the story is not on vampirism, but upon the relationship between the two sisters.

Kelly Armstrong‘s story “Zen and the Art of Vampirism” left me wondering who I don’t read more Kelly Armstrong. It’s nice to see a vampire that doesn’t resort to brute strength when the going gets tough.

I could have sworn I’ve previously read books by Tanith Lee, but if I have, it hasn’t been in the past decade or so. Her story, “La Vampiresse” was actually quite sad, and yet sadly lovely. No one dies, and there is no violence, yet it ends with a tremendous sense of loss.

Every since Val Kilmer’s turn as Doc Holliday in “Tombstone” I’ve had a fondness for Doc Holliday stories, and this one is no exception, despite the fact that Doc Holliday makes only a brief appearance. It also reminded me of Emma Bull’s story “Territory.” Apparently, there are many of us with a fascination with Doc Holliday.

“A Gentleman of the Old School” by Chelsa Quinn Yarbro was another story where the vampire relied upon guile rather than force. I also liked the resolution of the story. (Though could a vampire really convince people he didn’t eat in public and not raise some kind of suspicion?”

I’d actually read Carrie Vaughn‘s story “Conquistador de la Noche” a couple weeks ago, and I still highly recommend it. Way more force than guile in this story but the vampire is a complex character (as he is in her Kitty series).

Karen Russell’s story “Vampires in the Lemon Grove” was one that typically I shouldn’t have liked, except she did such a good job with it, I couldn’t help myself. And I couldn’t help feeling bad for Clyde.

Expectedly, the stories I liked the least were the ones with the strongest horror bent. Doesn’t mean they were bad, but they were not my cup of tea.
Rating: 8/10

Published by Prime Books

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