Holy mother of mercy, I remember being creeped out and intrigued by the cover of C. Dean Andersson's I Am Dracula when it stared down at me from the rack at my local Pavillion's when I was a little kid! To this day, I never understood why Dracula's name was carved into the stone in English, nor why it was spelled "Drakulya." Seems like an odd choice.
Also, Vincent Courtney's Goblins sounds pretty fantastic...
I've read the Kelly books, as well as the Hautala and Andersonn books. Interestingly, the Kelly books are finding a new life as signed/limited HCs via Thunderstorm Press.
I know both Ron Kelly and Richard Lee Byers! Ron's been a friend for years and Richard was my roommate at World Horror Con a couple of weeks ago. Both still write.
I've enjoyed everything I've read by Ronald Kelly, including the books included here. He is a decent southern horror writer, meaning all of his books are set in the South, mainly Tennessee, where he is from and lives. His short story collection "Midnight Grinding" is fantastic.
I Am Dracula is interesting in that it espouses a strong anti-Christian philosophy. I didn't find it especially compelling, but it was unique for a novel that was available "wherever Zebra books were sold." Something else, whoever designed the cover worked with the author, as Dracula addresses the choice of imagery on the cover and explains the spelling "Drakulya" on the cover!
If I recall correctly, the book started off with Vlad being recruited into Satan's army and turned into a vampire. Eventually Dracula discovers that both God and Satan are interdimensional invaders fighting over control of the Earth, so he teams up with Odin to run both of them off. The choice of Odin wasn't random, as Andersson was acquainted with Quorthon from Bathory.
So it sounds like I Am Dracula/Drakulya weds everyone's favorite master vampire with classic black metal? If that's the case, I'm gonna find this book and read the ever-loving shit out of it.
Goblins has just been republished with the title originally intended by the author: What's Wrong with the Baby? Which I feel works better for that story.
Holy mother of mercy, I remember being creeped out and intrigued by the cover of C. Dean Andersson's I Am Dracula when it stared down at me from the rack at my local Pavillion's when I was a little kid! To this day, I never understood why Dracula's name was carved into the stone in English, nor why it was spelled "Drakulya." Seems like an odd choice.
ReplyDeleteAlso, Vincent Courtney's Goblins sounds pretty fantastic...
I've read the Kelly books, as well as the Hautala and Andersonn books. Interestingly, the Kelly books are finding a new life as signed/limited HCs via Thunderstorm Press.
ReplyDeleteI know both Ron Kelly and Richard Lee Byers! Ron's been a friend for years and Richard was my roommate at World Horror Con a couple of weeks ago. Both still write.
ReplyDeleteI've enjoyed everything I've read by Ronald Kelly, including the books included here. He is a decent southern horror writer, meaning all of his books are set in the South, mainly Tennessee, where he is from and lives. His short story collection "Midnight Grinding" is fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI am Dracula seems interesting.
ReplyDeleteI Am Dracula is interesting in that it espouses a strong anti-Christian philosophy. I didn't find it especially compelling, but it was unique for a novel that was available "wherever Zebra books were sold." Something else, whoever designed the cover worked with the author, as Dracula addresses the choice of imagery on the cover and explains the spelling "Drakulya" on the cover!
ReplyDeleteDerek, thanks for the info on I AM DRACULA... er DRAKULYA... Sounds kinda cool now.
ReplyDeleteIf I recall correctly, the book started off with Vlad being recruited into Satan's army and turned into a vampire. Eventually Dracula discovers that both God and Satan are interdimensional invaders fighting over control of the Earth, so he teams up with Odin to run both of them off. The choice of Odin wasn't random, as Andersson was acquainted with Quorthon from Bathory.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteSo it sounds like I Am Dracula/Drakulya weds everyone's favorite master vampire with classic black metal? If that's the case, I'm gonna find this book and read the ever-loving shit out of it.
ReplyDeleteSo basically it turns Dracula into a new messiah of the night? It does indeed sound pretty metal.
ReplyDeleteI read Torment as a teen but don't remember its rating.
ReplyDeleteI always loved Ronald Kelly's Fear, have read it several times. Need to find more of his work.
I own Goblins but haven't read it yet.
Another round of good covers, thanks!
I own "Goblins," but I haven't gotten to it yet.
ReplyDeleteGoblins has just been republished with the title originally intended by the author: What's Wrong with the Baby?
ReplyDeleteWhich I feel works better for that story.