Dan Simmons has truly managed to present a one-of-a-kind scientific explanation for vampirism.

However, it seems that in his eagerness to display the extensive research he has done on this subject, the creative flow of the storyline has been somewhat disrupted.

There is an abundance of scientific explanations and technical jargon that the average reader may not require (and probably won't understand).

Nonetheless, this is really my only gripe.

I have never been one to skip ahead to find out if everything works out well for the main character (MC), but when I was 90% done with the book, I was so filled with anxiety that, for the very first time, I did just that.

I believe the fact that I was so deeply concerned about the MC's well-being is a testament to the author's talent.

Overall, despite the minor flaw in the overuse of scientific details, Simmons' work still manages to engage and captivate the reader, leaving them on the edge of their seat until the very end.

When I first read this approximately 20 years ago, I was truly in love with it. It had such a cutting-edge feel, briefly delving into the breakdown of the USSR, most specifically Romania, and making references to the US invasion of Iraq. You know, it encompassed the major news events around the early 1990s, and it was first published in 1993, all neatly wrapped up in a'scientific' explanation of Dracula. I was on a major Simmons kick back then, having read his excellent Hyperion series, Song of Kali, and other works. The guy is truly an amazing writer!

However, after rereading this novel, I couldn't help but feel disappointed. For some reasons, this one just doesn't stand the test of time like his science fiction or other horror stories.

The novel starts off with a deeply depressing tour of several Americans visiting Romania in search of investment opportunities, humanitarian issues, and so on after the overthrow of Ceaușescu in 1989. We are taken to horrible factory towns with 'cheap labor' and no environmental controls, which are considered good investments! And huge orphanages where thousands of children are living and dying in squalor. It's brutal. Then we discover that the US business tycoon on the tour is actually Vald, or Dracula!

Simmons then takes us on a journey mainly through the eyes of Kate, a blood researcher from the States who was helping out in Romanian hospitals for a few months in 1990. She adopted a sickly child there, and after some trials and such, brought him back to the US. This kid has some very strange illness or genetic issues that she and others isolate, and they find an even stranger mutation. I won't go into the details here - goodness, Simmons gives us enough! But this mutation and the related retrovirus might just be a cure for HIV and cancer! But the strangest thing is that the mutation needs human blood to work - other people's blood. Simmons here tries to give us a basically scientific explanation of vampires!

Interspersed with the main narrative, we are treated to some rather long flashbacks of Vald's memories and his current status. Yes, he is still alive, but finally on the wane. Further, it seems his chosen child, the one who will be the next 'prince' or such, was the one Kate adopted!

Even though this novel focuses on Vald, it's more of a thriller than a straight-up horror novel. These vampires need blood to live, but there's nothing supernatural about them. The main story concerns Kate and her research, and then her quest to get the little guy back after he was kidnapped.

My issues with this upon the reread are several. First, while it seemed very cutting-edge at the time, it now feels rather dated. I find this dated feel over and over with thrillers - they just don't tend to age well. Secondly, the scientific details regarding the mutation and its implications are spelled out in great detail, almost to the point of being mind-numbing. I can excuse this as it directly concerns HIV, which was the massive pandemic of that era, but who does Simmons think his audience is here? I think most horror readers would find this aspect terribly boring, and most'scientific types' would probably not be reading a book on vampires. Third, the entire last half of the book was rather beyond belief. So Kate hooks up with a priest, flies to Austria, and then heads to Romania with the plan to get her adopted child back. No real plan, just determination. There follows an incredibly unbelievable race to get the kid back. I know, against the odds and all that, but please. You can only strain a reader's imagination so far. Kate, after being held in a dungeon for half a day, with no food or water, manages to scale the walls of the castle. It was just too much!

This did give us a very believable account of Romania just after the 1989 revolution and some insights into the corrupt regime that had existed there. For me, that was the novel's biggest strength. The scientific explanation of vampires was interesting, but I felt like I was reading a textbook at times. Some good drama, but the main protagonist Kate was a little over the top. Downgrading my star rating from 5 to 3.

Das war wohl nix, Mister Simmons.

I actually like Simmons' writing style, but there were only two things that I liked. Firstly, it was the first third of the book, in which the conditions of Romanian orphanages and the collapse of the dictatorship were explained. Secondly, the historical details about Vlad Dracula. I especially liked the scientific explanation about the possible existence of vampires.

However, the remaining two-thirds of the novel are complete nonsense. The protagonist is in a kind of Mission Impossible situation and although she has a broken arm, she manages the impossible. The cheesy love act in the middle of the novel had already made it so that I couldn't take it seriously anymore. But this ending....was just ridiculous.

What a torture it was for me to read this.

Conclusion: Only read the first third and please skip the rest of the novel. It's a pity, as there was so much potential here.

While nowhere near as good as Summer of Night, I'm finding this absurd romp through post-communist Romania much better than I expected. And I cringed much less than I thought I would, considering I'm Romanian, living in Sibiu, with some vague memories of the 1989 Revolution and the turbulent times immediately after (I was 6 - 7 at the time).

So, the first of my 3 stars goes to how well the author has done his Romania homework. From the words and phrases of Romanian talk, to the very good pronunciation of the guy narrating the audiobook, it was all on point. Then, the geographical references are spot on. It was very much fun to read an American fictional horror book that takes place in the cities, towns, villages, and on the roads that I've spent at least 20 years traipsing around between home, school, and work. Granted, every place in book Romania is much more dark and dysmal than in reality. But the reality of now, 30+ years later, must be very different.

The second star I give to the interesting spin on the vampire myth and the medical/scientific approach to it. Admittedly, the part of the book that was drowned in medical and research lingo lost me a little bit. But I got the gist and truly appreciated the fact that there was nothing supernatural in this book. No scary monsters, no higher powers at work, just lots of bad people and a strange illness that led to much carnage and bloodshed.

The third star I give to the characters. Not the main ones, though. I came to this book with a curiosity to see how Dan Simmons would write about Romania, but also because one of the kids from Summer of Night (which I just read and loved to bits) is an adult priest in this one. I ended up giving zero figs about that character and Kate whatshername did nothing at all for me. The PoV character barely felt human to me, more of a lens through which I watched the show and a wind-up toy to propel the plot forward. The romance was forced and completely unnecessary. I would have given the book 1 star at that point, but it was the secondary characters who saved it. Lucian, the handsome, cheeky, untrustworthy double agent, and... wait for it... Vlad Tepes. I mean... yea, the impaler guy. He had long stretches of PoV which were more interesting than anything else going on in the book, and his plot-twist at the end... *slowclap* That was good stuff in an otherwise lackluster story.

Would I recommend this to anyone as a horror flick? No. Would Romanians have fun reading it and recognizing all the places in it? Absolutely.

Leave it to Dan Simmons to take the legend of the vampire back to its roots. Simmons has the remarkable ability to restore the man/monster who was once known as Vlad the Impaler and will forever be the monster known as Dracula to his dark throne. With his masterful storytelling, Simmons delves deep into the history and mythology surrounding Dracula. He brings to life the terrifying and complex character, painting a vivid picture of his dark and bloodthirsty nature. Simmons' work not only explores the traditional aspects of the vampire legend but also adds new layers of depth and intrigue. Through his words, we are able to see Dracula as more than just a one-dimensional monster. We are given a glimpse into his tortured soul and the forces that drove him to become the creature of the night. Simmons' take on the Dracula legend is a must-read for any fan of horror and mythology.

A truly excellent and original approach to the Vampire novel. Dan Simmons skillfully incorporates some historical facts and weaves them into a fictional narrative that I find to be extremely ingenious.

The book commences with great strength, and the descriptions of towns, villages, and so forth are of the highest caliber. I have a fondness for the characters, and the portions of the novel that center around Vlad Tepes are truly superbly executed.

The novel doesn't linger for too long; its length is just right. I firmly believe that effective horror doesn't necessarily have to span 700 - 1000 pages.

The bottom line is that I wholeheartedly recommend this novel, but not to those readers who 'abhor the occurrence of horrible things in horror novels'. This is by no means a teen vampire romance novel with a liberal sprinkling of sweet sugar throughout its pages.

This is a genuine 'horror' novel that has won the Locus award for 'best horror' novel. While Children Of The Night isn't my absolute favorite Simmons novel, it is indeed a 'goodread' that I highly recommend.

Ever since I learned that the legend of Dracula was based on Vlad the Impaler, and that this novel was in turn based on that, it had been on my reading list.

Well, I finally got in the mood for it and decided to dive right in.

However, all in all, it was a bit of a disappointment. No, wait. It was a huge disappointment! I've been a Dan Simmons fan for years and was really expecting something truly exceptional.

I mean, here we have one of the best writers around, along with the fascinating elements of vampires and Vlad the Impaler. But what we end up with is a regular, run-of-the-mill formula thriller.

The best parts of the novel were the "Dreams of Blood and Iron" interludes in which Vlad recounts his life. Unfortunately, these were few and far between.

I would have much preferred the novel to have spent a lot more time exploring those aspects.

If you're looking for interesting vampire history and a more engaging read, I'd highly suggest Brian Lumley's first Necroscope novel.

Creepy Romanian setting? Check. The dark and mysterious landscapes of Romania add an eerie atmosphere to the story, making it feel as if we have stepped into a world of ancient superstitions and hidden horrors.

Historical Dracula flashbacks? Check. Simmons weaves in references to the historical Dracula, Vlad the Impaler, giving the story a sense of authenticity and grounding it in the rich tapestry of Romanian history.

Potential scientific explanation for vampirism and tie-in to the AIDS epidemic? Check again. The author attempts to bring a modern twist to the age-old concept of vampirism by suggesting a scientific basis for it and connecting it to the AIDS epidemic. This adds an interesting layer of complexity to the story.

And yet, still, boring. Who knew it was possible? Despite all these elements that should have made for an exciting and engaging read, the book fails to deliver. I'm a fan of Simmons work, but it was a serious effort to finish this one. His writing skills are in evidence here, with beautiful prose and vivid descriptions, but there's, ahem, no soul to the whole thing. Vampire novels shouldn't be quite this bloodless. They should be filled with passion, excitement, and a sense of danger. This one just falls flat.

I have wonderful memories of Romania. I traveled it extensively. Thanks to "Children of the Night" by Dan Simmons, my knowledge of this post-communist country has deepened significantly, and I now look at the places I visited as an excited tourist, such as Sighisoara, Brasov, Timisoara, and Bran, in a completely different way.

The author weaves the Transylvanian legend of the most famous vampire, Vlad the Impaler, into the history of the country where the Ceausescu regime left its mark by filling orphanages with hundreds of thousands of orphans. And perhaps there is more truth in it than it might seem?

We view the fate of the children growing up in the orphanages, starving and getting sick from receiving infected blood transfusions, from the perspective of American hematologist Kate Neuman, who cannot fathom the enormity of the cruelty and callousness towards these defenseless beings. She herself adopts a young boy with a rare disease for whom she sees a chance of life only in the United States. It quickly turns out that his case may be a chance to cure hitherto incurable diseases, and she is not the only one with plans for him.

Simmons creates a completely different concept of vampirism. Far from the stereotypical biting on the neck and transforming into a bat. He attempts a scientific explanation of this phenomenon, and I must admit that he does it very convincingly. The abundance of medical terminology is surely intended to make this theory believable, but the first part of the novel is indeed saturated with it. For a layperson like me, it turned out to be a bit tiresome to read.

However, this is definitely compensated for by the second part, in which Kate, together with a priest friend, sets off again to Romania to rescue her kidnapped son. The descriptions of the hopeless Romanian realities in which they will have to fight for survival are as terrifying as the chase after the kidnappers of the boy and the race against time prove to be engaging.

However, the most interesting parts for me were the fragments about Vlad the Impaler, in which he reveals his dark soul to us, evoking macabre memories and a life full of cruelty. If you still don't know where the nickname the Impaler came from and what Dracula really means, then you must read this.

An excellent addition, almost as thrilling as the novel itself, is the author's preface, in which he describes his trip to Romania, his encounter with its realities, and his following in the footsteps of Vlad the Impaler.

The novel cannot be confined to one genre. We will find elements of a medical thriller, horror, a sensational novel, and even a romance here. The emotions that tugged at me while reading changed like in a kaleidoscope, also due to the awareness that some of the events described here actually happened. From boundless empathy and outrage at the enormity of cruelty towards Romanian orphans, through being intrigued by the medical explanation of the vampire phenomenon, to following with bated breath the actions of the heroes that James Bond himself would not be ashamed of. And although it may not be as dark a work as "The Song of Kali" and as monumental as "Terror", you can still feel the excellent pen of Dan Simmons here.

It's October, and that means it's time to indulge in some horror stories. However, this particular book I picked up wasn't your typical horror fare.

It had a unique charm that excited the science nerd in me. The way the story intertwined elements of science and the supernatural was truly captivating.

There were moments when I found myself on the edge of my seat, not wanting to go outside in the dark. But that's the sign of a really good book, isn't it?

It manages to create an atmosphere of fear and anticipation that lingers even after you've put it down. Overall, I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a different kind of horror experience.

Whether you're a science enthusiast or just a fan of good storytelling, this book is sure to satisfy.

All reviews in one place:


night mode reading
;
skaitom nakties rezimu

About the Book: Post-communist Romania, still influenced by the remnants of a nasty regime that haven't yet been uprooted, is the setting where Kate's source of frustration and salvation lies. She discovers a child with a supernatural immune system so powerful that if she could only get the child out of the country and into a proper, state-of-the-art lab, there would be no more incurable illnesses or diseases. However, Romania has long been the cradle of Dark Secrets, and the forces that serve them are reluctant to give up the child they could potentially use to revive "Him". The story unfolds with Kate facing numerous obstacles and challenges as she tries to achieve her goal.

My Opinion: The book is told from two perspectives, Kate's and Dracula's. Dracula shares his tale and explains how he is learning about the events happening around him. The mythos of vampires is skillfully woven into the story, making it generally a very interesting read. However, there were parts that almost put me to sleep. The author's detailed and extensive descriptions of bureaucracy, along with introducing all the characters who conveniently know all the right people and have all the right skills, became tiresome. Kate was also quite annoying, more so than usual, and her co-workers didn't help matters with their excessive praises. Despite these flaws, the book is good enough that I would read a sequel if one existed (as the series consists of stand-alone books), but it's not good enough for me to recommend it.

Dan Simmons, inspired by an idea from a friend, resolves to take on the vampire book. He decides to adopt a scientific approach to vampirism, combined with his customary meticulous research, which includes a trip to Romania.

Simmons clearly did not have an enjoyable time there. While he gets most of the geography correct (except for two instances where he misplaces Timisoara and Ramnicu Valcea in Transylvania), he makes no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction with the visit and seizes every opportunity to belittle the citizens of Romania. There are food shortages aplenty, gas shortages, pollution, and corruption. Every character he encounters is either a gypsy or a secret police informant. There are more local English-speaking characters of Rromany origin than of Romanian.

Although the main character is somewhat clichéd (a super-woman physician who can handle shotguns, ride motorcycles and Dacias, scale mountains, battle vampires, and talk her way out in Romanian, among other things), fortunately, the plot is engaging enough, and the historical reminiscences of the lead vampire are truly delightful.