Kim Newman - Anno Dracula new edition

[andydecker]

This came today in the mail. It is the new edition of Anno Dracula. Titan Books is re-issuing all of the Dracula books, including the long awaited first-time publishing of the 4th volume Johnny Alucard. (I just hope they don´t abandon this in the middle because of sales!)

It is very well done. It has annotations, an afterword, alternate scenes, excerpts form a never produced screenplay, a reprint from Ripperologist #60 and a reprint of the story Dead travel fast. A nice packet for 7.99

[mitterhouse]

I've just finished reading this, having meant to for years- it didn't disappoint. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of real and fictional Victorian characters and the multiplicity of 'famous' vampires ( including Mitterhouse . I'm looking forward to the others in the series.

[The Lurker In The Shadows]

Really enjoyed reading this one again, having loved it - and the original 'Red Reign' novella - back in the day. It's great to see it re-issued with a selection of, almost, 'DVD extras'. I'm looking forward to re-reading the next two when they emerge, though I remember being less keen on 'Bloody Red Baron' last time round - probably because of the time period, me being much keener on the Victorian era back then.

[Dr Strange]

Ah well, "voice in the wilderness" time again, but I gave up on this after a couple of chapters. Nothing against Newman, but I detest the whole "alternative world" thing where vampires (or zombies, or ghosts, or whatever) are "accepted" and "live alongside mortal humans" - and, I have to add, for me that approach puts a book like this firmly in the "fantasy" genre rather than "horror". (Just like all those dull "hard-boiled detective / urban fantasy" crossover clones that seemed to appear en masse a few years ago - Mike Carey, Jim Butcher et al.) For me, the whole point of "the supernatural" is that it is supernatural - once it is "accepted" as part of everyday life it stops being threatening, and therefore it also stops being interesting. Sorry.

[andydecker]

Sept 2, 2011 14:56:25 GMT Dr Strange said:

For me, the whole point of "the supernatural" is that it is supernatural - once it is "accepted" as part of everyday life it stops being threatening, and therefore it also stops being interesting. Sorry.

Now there you are raising an excellent point. Are some genres so empty nowadays that you as a writer just have to adress the audiences familarity with it or not? The "oh, he´s a vampire, now where is my stake" or the "zombies? aim for the head!" syndrome.

Especially those two have become such a huge part of the pop-culture that is seems ridiculous not to mention them because it would seem unbelievable. "A vampire? What is a vampire?"

Or is this just laziness for both the writer/filmmaker and the audience?

I feel exactly like you in a lot of cases that the vampire/zombie becomes just a gangster with fangs - as funny the demon-underground in tv´s Angel was, for instance, they killed any sense of disbelief. The postmodern idea of a demon going to the pub somehow kills every supernatural effect it has.

[Dr Strange]

Maybe not such a lone voice after all! And as lazy and dull as the "gangster with fangs" is, it's not as bad as the "good monster" crap that is so popular now - really, just what is the point of "nice" vampires (Twilight, True Blood... and countless others, no doubt). And don't get me started on Dexter... I mean, a nice, friendly serial killer What is this? "Horror for people who don't like horror"?

[andydecker]

Sept 2, 2011 16:27:03 GMT Dr Strange said:

just what is the point of "nice" vampires (Twilight, True Blood... and countless others, no doubt).

I don´t get the fascination of the safe monster either. I guess it is like elevator music, yesterday it was rock, today it is muzak. Neutered and safe. At least True Blood has the decency to show some in your face sex and ripped out spines ;D

Sept 2, 2011 16:27:03 GMT Dr Strange said:

And don't get me started on Dexter... I mean, a nice, friendly serial killer What is this? "Horror for people who don't like horror"?

The success of Dexter is baffling. Maybe it is again the tits&blood on screen, or the Batman angle, if Dexter would kill innocent old grannys instead of pedophiles maybe it wouldn´t be so good received.

But first and foremost Dexter is successful because it is a soap opera and the hero is charming. Just imagine say Rex Millers Chaingang Bunkowski in a similar project, it wouldn´t even have gone to the pilot-stage.