I feel a bit bad when my reaction to THEY THIRST is indifference, even impatience, same as to the other McCammon works I've read.

This novel is filled with an excessive amount of telling. It goes on and on, over 500 pages of just telling, with no real showing. On a line-to-line basis, McCammon's writing is not bad per se. He's just rather bland and pedestrian, lacking that certain snap, wit, or insight in his prose.

It's a sprawling vampire epic set in the glamorous midnight environs of the City of Angels, Hollywood USA. The characters, while numerous, are rather stock, and the story reads thinly like 'SALEM'S LOT transferred to the opposite coast. McCammon's main weakness lies in telling readers what they already know, which chokes up the story and slows it to a crawl.

Too many characters doubt for far too long, or wonder aloud about their life-threatening predicaments, or argue moot points. I had to skim through all that junk, desperately looking for nuggets of story, of narrative, of bloodshed, to clear away all that unnecessary baggage.

To be sure, there are moments that do work, but they are far too few. Like too many horror novels from the 1980s, THEY THIRST feels overstuffed for no apparent reason.

However, THEY THIRST is not a truly terrible horror novel. It's not as insulting as, say, THE KEEP or THE CELLAR, and I can understand how many readers might value it. But to me, it is an unnecessary horror novel.

I find myself asking: had I first read this book when I was a teenager in the 1980s, would I have enjoyed it? I'm not so sure. It's too much like King's works, not sexy at all, nothing new is added to vampire lore, and its violence is rather standard (although more than once I sensed the potential for an interesting John Carpenter movie).

Probably in 1981, the book might have made more of an impact. But I do know that McCammon has disowned his early novels, and THEY THIRST is one of them.

I discovered this as a result of a Reddit comment which said that The Strain owed a lot to this.

I really enjoyed it. Although it's a bit dated, with many of the references and characters feeling a bit rusty, the core story is still extremely gripping. In this story, vampires take over LA, creating a sense of chaos and danger.

The antagonist might not be very scary, but this book is still a pivotal one in horror literature. It has had a significant impact on the genre and is well worth a read for anyone interested in horror.

The way the story unfolds, with the gradual invasion of the vampires and the efforts of the protagonists to fight back, keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.

Despite its age, it still manages to hold its own and offers a unique take on the vampire mythos.

So, if you're looking for a classic horror novel that has stood the test of time, this one is definitely worth checking out.

3 1/2 star review.

What initially begins as an engaging and spine-chilling encounter with vampires ultimately transforms into a long-winded, overly verbose, and religiously inclined tome that, in my view, could have been far more impactful if it had been trimmed down by almost half. As it stands, the story generally drags on. That's not to say that I completely loathe the novel. I truly relished certain aspects of it (such as the origin of the Vampire, the utilization of a sandstorm to confine potential victims indoors during the daytime, and the journey of the cop character...), just as I did when I first perused the novel in my early 20s. However, now that I am older and, presumably, wiser, my affection for it has diminished to a considerable extent. I still maintain that if you desire to read THEY THIRST, you should give it a go. But if you're new to McCammon's work, I would recommend starting with something else (like BOY'S LIFE or any contemporary offering).

This review provides an honest assessment of the novel, highlighting both its strengths and weaknesses. It offers valuable insights for both fans and newcomers to McCammon's writing.

Ancient Evil!

I'm not providing my usual backstory here. Instead, I'll just share my thoughts on this vampire book. It has quite a number of characters involved in the story. Let me introduce two main characters and their thoughts.

Character Thoughts:

The first main character is Prince Conrad Vulcan, the Master Vampire of Kronsteen castle. Vulcan has a grand ambition. He desires to take over the city of Los Angeles, bringing the entire city under his rule. Eventually, he aims to expand his territory and encompass the whole state. He is determined to prove that he is the king of the vampires and will stop at nothing to achieve this goal.

The second main character is Andrew "Andy" Palatazin, a homicide detective for the LAPD. There has been a series of killings that seem to be the work of a serial killer. As he tries to make sense of these killings, he discovers that some cemeteries are missing coffins. This leads him to suspect that "something" might be leading him to Kronsteen castle, where an ancient evil is undoubtedly lurking.

Book Thoughts:

This was my first encounter with the author, Robert McCammon. I'm not sure why I haven't read his work before, but several of my Goodreads friends highly recommended him. So, I decided to give it a try and see if his work lived up to the praise. And I have to say, I was not disappointed!

The writing style was excellent, and I was immediately drawn into the storyline. I've always been a fan of vampire books that feature the "old school" vampires, and this book definitely delivered in that regard. However, the book had a slow start as it introduced all the characters. It took some time for the story to really get going with the master vampire character, which made the first half of the book a bit of a struggle with its slow pacing. But there was still a lot of intrigue and suspense, especially with the serial killings and the detective's investigation.

Normally, I prefer books where something happens within the first few chapters. But in this case, there was an immediate sense of "dread," as if something was about to explode with vampire action. And that's exactly what happened in the last half of the book! It was total vampire carnage! Overall, I'm giving this book five "Fatal Fangs" stars!

This is precisely my kind of '80s horror.

It vividly reminds me of all the spine-chilling horror movies that I religiously watch every single Halloween season.

The '80s had a unique charm and atmosphere in the horror genre that is truly captivating.

The nostalgia it evokes is simply irresistible.

And let's not forget Robert McCammon. He continues to be an absolute favorite of mine.

His works have this ability to transport me back to that era and make me experience the thrills and chills all over again.

Whether it's the vivid descriptions, the engaging storylines, or the unforgettable characters, McCammon's writing always leaves a lasting impression.

I can't wait to explore more of his '80s horror gems and continue to沉浸 in this wonderful world of nostalgia and horror.

*Spoiler-free review**

I first embarked on reading Robert McCammon in the early 1990s. His works such as Swan Song, The Wolf’s Hour, Stinger, and others truly captivated me. I adored his unique writing style and the engaging way he crafted his stories. During that time, I began reading They Thirst. However, stupidly, when I had only reached about 10 or 15% of the book, I glanced over some reviews. To my dismay, one of those reviews disclosed the ending right in the first sentence.

I was extremely angry with myself and the reviewer who had written that without indicating spoilers (this was before the era of Goodreads). As a result, I ceased reading and moved on to something else. Fast forward approximately 25 years later, and here I am, getting to read a McCammon novel that I had never read before, from what is my favorite period of his writing. This has truly been a delightful treat for me, especially as we approach Halloween in October of 2021.

Here comes the funny part: I still recall the ending that the reviewer had posted, but as it turns out, that wasn't the actual ending. Yes, you heard it right...that WASN'T the ending. (I'm throwing my hands up in disbelief.) I really don't understand how that could have happened. Nevertheless, it was great to be pleasantly surprised. LOL

I simply can't bring myself to finish this. There are certain books that are long, yet you yearn for more because they are truly outstanding. However, this particular one really could have benefited from some very serious editing.

After valiantly attempting to struggle through and discover what occurs, I ultimately have to throw in the towel because it is just so painful.

I suppose this implies that I'll be bypassing "Swan Song" by this author. It's a pity really, as I had high hopes initially, but the convoluted and unedited nature of this work has left me completely disillusioned.

I'm left wondering what could have been if only the author had taken the time to refine and polish this story. Maybe then it would have been a truly remarkable read instead of the arduous task it turned out to be.

I have always been a great admirer of McCammon's writing style. His works usually have a certain charm and allure that can draw readers in. However, this particular story about vampires was a huge disappointment for me. It was incredibly ordinary and lacked the excitement and innovation that I have come to expect from vampire fiction.

I found myself almost hating it. The plot was predictable, and the characters were not well-developed. There was nothing really new or interesting about it. It felt like just another run-of-the-mill vampire story that I had read countless times before.

I was really hoping for something more from McCammon. Maybe he was having an off day or something, but this story just didn't do it for me. I will still continue to read his other works, but this one will definitely not be on my list of favorites.

Because I was under the impression this novel is little more than a riff on Stephen King’s ’Salem’s Lot, I avoided it for a long time.

However, in the last year or two I’ve really become a major Robert McCammon fan and decided to finally give this 1981 epic horror novel a chance. Was I impressed!

Let’s address the elephant in the room: yes, this novel has a few slight similarities to King’s vampire novel. Amongst this novel’s wide and varied cast of characters is a Catholic priest and an eleven-year-old bookish boy with a horror obsession. And, of course, this story is about vampires taking over a set place.

However, in contrast to King’s novel — an exploration of small town life — McCammon’s work is an expansive look at Los Angeles and the mechanics of vampires taking over an entire city. So do I think Robert McCammon ripped off King? No, not at all. This story is an original creation through and through.

So . . . of the two, which do I like more? Hard call. While King’s novel scared me more and feels a bit more cohesive, the characters in They Thirst are more varied and better written, I feel. And this story just has such an epic feel to it. King’s novel reveals in quiet horror; McCammon’s is anything but quiet. I think I will call it a tie.

But really, Robert McCammon deserves much more than being compared to Stephen King for the umpteenth time. He is a phenomenal author in his own right, and this novel is a marvel. I had a blast. Yes, it’s a bit cheesy and pulpy and totally ‘80s, but that’s its charm!

If you’re looking for a spooky (and long) vampire novel to read this Halloween season, you could do much worse.

Read for ‘Vampires’ in Halloween Bingo.

Wrapping up my annual Halloween reading with a guaranteed hit. For me, anything written by Robert McCammon is a surefire success.

This particular novel is a vampire story, but it's an old-school style vampire novel. Back when vampires were truly menacing and evil. McCammon populates the story with a plethora of characters. Each one is interesting in its own unique way and feels entirely "real". As a result, when they face the horror that awaits, the impact on the reader intensifies.

However, what truly distinguishes this novel is its sheer scope. It's not simply about one or two or a group of vampires terrorizing a small village. Instead, we uncover the vampires' ability and, in fact, their mission to create more of their own kind and multiply by the thousands and tens of thousands. The vampire culture presented is both fascinating and coherent, leading to a "realistic" depiction of what a Vampire apocalypse might look like.

Apparently, I didn't review this when we did a group read in The Night Shift. So here I am now. This book serves as evidence that even the so-called "lesser" McCammon books are still highly enjoyable reads. I had a great time reading this book. However, it does seem to be a bit overshadowed by what came later in McCammon's works. But it does have one redeeming quality, and that is Ratty. Ratty is, in my opinion, the single greatest character in the history of fiction! Well, I might be kidding about that last part. Overall, it is a solid vampire book. It is also the first book of McCammon's that really gave a hint of the greatness that was to come. It shows his potential and sets the stage for his future masterpieces. It's a book that vampire lovers and McCammon fans alike should definitely check out.

This book may not be the pinnacle of literary excellence, but it is an absolute delight!

From the very first page, it grabs your attention and doesn't let go. The story is filled with excitement, adventure, and a touch of humor that keeps you engaged throughout.

The characters are well-developed and relatable, making it easy to root for them as they face various challenges.

Even though the writing style may not be the most sophisticated, it has a charm of its own. It's the kind of book that you can pick up after a long day and lose yourself in, forgetting about all your troubles.

Overall, it may not be a classic that will be studied in literature classes, but it's definitely a book that will bring a smile to your face and provide hours of entertainment.

So, if you're looking for a fun read that doesn't take itself too seriously, this book is definitely worth checking out!