The American Vampire series-- Greenberg & Schmiel

[pbsplatter]

Greenberg edited or co-edited two series' worth of horror anthologies based on the regions of the United States, rather in the manner of the Fontana or the Finch "Terror Tales" series. It's an idea I'd like to see more of, and ideally not with just ghosts or vampires, but this was the 1990s so you had to have vampires. 






1 • Investigating Jericho • (1992) • novella by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

51 • The Brotherhood of Blood • (1932) • novelette by Hugh B. Cave

73 • Chastel • (1979) • novelette by Manly Wade Wellman

99 • The Doom of the House of Duryea • short story by Earl Peirce, Jr. (variant of Doom of the House of Duryea 1936) [as by Earl Pierce, Jr.]

115 • Moonlight in Vermont • (1996) • novelette by Esther M. Friesner [as by Esther Friesner]

139 • Secret Societies • (1997) • short story by Lawrence Schimel

151 • Luella Miller • (1974) • short story by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman [as by Mary E. Wilkins-Freeman]

165 • When the Red Storm Comes • (1993) • short story by Sarah Smith (variant of When the Red Storm Comes: or, The History of a Young Lady's Awakening to Her Nature)

179 • The Beautiful, The Damned • (1995) • short fiction by Kristine Kathryn Rusch

197 • The Shunned House • (1928) • novelette by H. P. Lovecraft

Not sure if there's much going on here; the lack of "One for the Road" seems striking by its absence given that Salem's Lot is the elephant in the room with New England vampire fiction. However, points for including the superlative Sarah Smith story, which I encountered in Shudder Again. 

[pbsplatter]

1 • The Carpetbagger • (1994) • short story by Susan Shwartz

21 • Claim-Jumpin' Woman, You Got A Stake in My Heart • (1991) • novelette by Esther M. Friesner

43 • The Silver Coffin • (1939) • short story by Robert Barbour Johnson

53 • Like a Pilgrim to the Shrine • (1992) • novelette by Brian Hodge

73 • The Cursed Damozel • (1942) • short story by Manly Wade Wellman

81 • The Scent of Magnolias • short story by Billie Sue Mosiman and Lawrence Schimel

97 • The Flame • (1995) • short story by Fred Chappell

105 • God-Less Men • (1995) • short story by James Kisner

121 • Blood Kin • (1991) • short story by Delia Sherman

141 • Carrion Comfort • (1983) • novelette by Dan Simmons

185 • Blessed by His Dying Tongue • (1995) • short story by Tracy Albert Knight [as by Tracy A. Knight]

197 • She Only Goes Out at Night • (1956) • short story by William Tenn (variant of She Only Goes Out at Night ...)

Haven't read any of these but seems like it could be a good mix of old and new stories. The Simmons would probably be the standout here. 

[pbsplatter]

3 • Undercover • (1995) • short story by Nancy Holder

15 • The Time of the Bleeding Pumpkins • (1998) • short story by A. R. Morlan

35 • Masquerade • (1942) • short story by Henry Kuttner

51 • There Will Always Be Meat • (1998) • short story by Jennifer Stevenson

63 • Plague • (1995) • short story by John Lutz

73 • Too Short a Death • [Koko Tate] • (1995) • novelette by Peter Crowther

99 • Purr of a Cat • (1942) • short story by Hugh B. Cave [as by Justin Case]

115 • Death on the Mississippi • (1995) • short story by Terry Beatty and Wendi Lee

135 • A 12-Step Program (for the Corporeally Challenged) • (1995) • short story by Tina L. Jens

145 • A Night at the (Horse) Opera • [Vampire Files (P. N. Elrod)] • (1995) • short story by P. N. Elrod

159 • Harvest Moon • (1998) • short story by Mark Garland [as by Mark A. Garland]

173 • The Tenacity of the Dead • (1998) • novelette by John Helfers

197 • The Drifting Snow • (1939) • short story by August Derleth [as by Stephen Grendon]

Lack of "American Gothic" by Ray Russell is glaring in its absence. This one looks much heavier on contemporary authors, and I can't say I've ever gotten along well with any of them except Holder and Crowther. 

[pbsplatter]

1 • Softly While You're Sleeping • (1961) • short fiction by Evelyn E. Smith

19 • Lowlifes • (1993) • novelette by Esther M. Friesner

43 • ...To Feel Another's Woe • (1989) • short story by Chet Williamson

59 • Appetites • (1998) • short story by Lawrence Schimel

65 • Exposure • (1995) • short story by Laura Anne Gilman

77 • Good Kids • (1989) • short story by Edward Bryant

91 • Ken's Mystery • (1883) • novelette by Julian Hawthorne

113 • Nightside • [Diana Tregarde • 0.75] • (1989) • short story by Mercedes Lackey [as by Mercedes R. Lackey]

131 • Following the Way • (1982) • short story by Alan Ryan

145 • Sweet Dreams, Norma Jeane • (1995) • short story by Barbara Collins

159 • Seat Partner • [Count of Saint-Germain] • (1979) • short story by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

173 • Night Laughter • (1986) • short story by Ellen Kushner

179 • The Land of Lost Content • (1998) • novelette by Suzy McKee Charnas


The final one in the series; pity since as it didn't seem like the strongest collections surely there's enough material for a solid California vampires selection. 

[andydecker]

Which publisher and what year originally? Or were they only published with this lousy artwork? 

[pbsplatter]

These are the originals I’m afraid—although looks like the Southern one got a reprint in 2007 with a somewhat more evocative cemetery photo cover.

The publisher was Cumberland House; the first two volumes came out in 1997 and the second two in 1998. It all strikes me as a bit lackluster.