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The Vampire Archives: The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published | [Otto Penzler (editor), Kim Newman (foreword), Neil Gaiman (preface), Clive Barker, Robert Bloch, Ray Bradbury, Harlan Ellison, Stephen King, Roger Zelazny]
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The Vampire Archives: The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published

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  • Average Customer Rating
  • Overall
    (130)
    Performance
    (94)
    Story
    (95)
 
  • LENGTH
    61 hrs and 40 mins
  • RELEASE DATE
    02-15-11
  • AUDIO FORMATS
    About Audio Formats
    2 3 4 Enhanced Audio
 

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Publisher's Summary

The Vampire Archives is the biggest, hungriest, undeadliest collection of vampire stories, as well as the most comprehensive bibliography of vampire fiction ever assembled. Dark, stormy, and delicious, once it sinks its teeth into you there’s no escape.

Vampires! Whether imagined by Bram Stoker or Anne Rice, they are part of the human lexicon and as old as blood itself. They are your neighbors, your friends, and they are always lurking. Now Otto Penzler—editor of the best-selling Black Lizard Big Book of Pulps—has compiled the darkest, the scariest, and by far the most evil collection of vampire stories ever, with over 80 stories, including the works of Stephen King and D. H. Lawrence, alongside Lord Byron and Tanith Lee, not to mention Edgar Allan Poe and Harlan Ellison. The Vampire Archives will drive a stake through the heart of any other collection out there.

Other contributors include Arthur Conan Doyle, Ray Bradbury, Ambrose Bierce, H. P. Lovecraft, Harlan Ellison, Roger Zelazny, Robert Bloch, and Clive Barker.

The complete list of narrators includes Peter Altschuler, Mark Bramhall, Scott Brick, Cassandra Campbell, Marc Cashman, Jonathan Cowley, Erik Davies, Mark Deakins, Robertson Dean, Susan Denaker, Susan Duerden, Harlan Ellison, Ryan Gessell, Stephen Hoye, Carrington MacDuffie, John H. Mayer, Paul Michael, Allyson Ryan, Robin Sachs, Fred Sanders, Rob Shapiro, Simon Vance, Bob Walter, and Steve West.

©2009 Otto Penzler (P)2011 Random House

What Members Say

Average Customer Rating

3.7 (130 ratings)
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Overall
3.8 (95 ratings)
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Story
3.9 (94 ratings)
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 (34)
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Performance
  •  
    Kang Johnson City, NY, United States 04-18-11
    Kang Johnson City, NY, United States 04-18-11
    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "Fabulous!"

    This audiobook contains runs for more than 60 hours. Not every of the story hits, but what does that matter if there is always another one? From poems to short stories to novelettes and covering more than 200 years, there is something here for everybody who likes a good vampire story. The initiated will find something he knows and likes, and the uninitiated will be introduced to something awesome. Definitely worth its two credits.

    The technical quality is very good, and so are most of the narrators. Very little to complain here.

    21 of 21 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Eva Hardinsburg, IN, United States 12-19-12
    Eva Hardinsburg, IN, United States 12-19-12 Member Since 2011
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    "This caught my attention and held it!"
    Would you recommend this audiobook to a friend? If so, why?

    I got this merely for the genre and the length. I am not typically a huge "vampire" fan. Other medias have worn me out with the same old portrayals and analysis of the legend. But it was days long and I figured I would find at least a couple of stories that would be worth hearing. I usually listen on my way to and from work. I have an hour drive each way. I have a 16 year old son who's very socially active, a 4 year old grandson who keeps me running and a full time job. Those things unfortunatly have robbed me of my much loved reading time. That's when I found audible. While it wasn't reading, it did allow me to listen to books and that was better than nothing. When I started this, I started it with the expectation of the same old vampire steals in sucks girls blood may or may not change and or kill her while people chase him to kill him. I couldn't have been more wrong. There are stories here that captured my attention and held it in a way I would have never expected. Everything from the usual vampire tales straight forward in nature. Then there are stories that you have to remind yourself it's a vampire story. Then there are the ones that are so subtle that you find yourself destracted in a way that you'd never expected. I've found so many authors in this archive that I'd over looked, hadn't heard of or frankly never considered my type of author. LOL I guess that lends to the whole book by the cover thing doens't it lol. If you like a good story, if you like straight in your face or a more subtle nuance in a story; this book is for you.


    What did you like best about this story?

    The uniqueness of the stories. From the bold and expected to the unexpected and subtle stories.


    Have you listened to any of the narrators’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

    I have and so often the narrotor is judged on the story. This is that way as well. If you like the narrator doing one story you may not care so much for them doing a different one. But you will find something you like.


    Was there a moment in the book that particularly moved you?

    I loved loved loved Popsy. It's such a simple straight forward story. You find yourself feeling sorry for the child and understanding that in this instance the vampire isn't the "bad guy". The bad guy is the non vampire, the human who would sacrifice a small child for an addiction he can't understand or beat. It moves quite nicely and keeps you interested. There are actually alot of stories like Popsy. It's really hard to say just this one or that one. I think Popsy stands out to me because of the visuals that my mind created with the telling. Plus I have kids and isn't that one of a parents greatest fears?


    Any additional comments?

    This book is truly worth the credits and more. It gave me hours and hours of enjoyment. However more importantly it showed me not to judge a book by the cover, the author by a previous story or a narrator by his last job. If you like supernatural stories, rather you prefer hot blood spashed across your face or that tingle at the base of your neck from something you can't see, I promise you will find more and more in this book to like than you ever thought you could. GET IT NOW! :-)

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Evanielis SAVOY, IL, United States 08-13-12
    Evanielis SAVOY, IL, United States 08-13-12 Member Since 2011
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    "Lot's of content, not a lot quality :)"
    What would have made The Vampire Archives better?

    Not all writers are equal. This is where a compilation such as this fails. I would listen to a great story and then here a mediocre one, two or three boring stories where the narrator would just drone on and on.


    Would you ever listen to anything by the authors again?

    Some of them for sure!


    Any additional comments?

    I was looking for a lot of Vampire stuff to listen to. The issue is not all the stories are all that interesting. Save your credits on this one.

    3 of 3 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Emile Evanston, IL, United States 11-30-12
    Emile Evanston, IL, United States 11-30-12 Member Since 2011
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    "History of the Vampire"
    Any additional comments?

    The Vampire Archives will delight you, especially if you're interested in the history of the vampire story.

    This is a very comprehensive compilation that spans across cultures and draws from the perspective of varied writers. I was enchanted by nearly every story and I found the biographical material that precedes each writer's work very engaging and informative.

    2 of 2 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Ronnie Mars, PA, United States 12-27-11
    Ronnie Mars, PA, United States 12-27-11 Member Since 2009

    Retired Military. Own a custom car and bike business. I listen while I work.

    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "loved it"

    give it a whirl. I loved it and would recommend to others. my opinion and I am bit strange and think this book is one of the best

    5 of 6 people found this review helpful
  •  
    JAY DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, United States 04-17-13
    JAY DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, United States 04-17-13 Member Since 2011
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    "GOTTA LOVE THOSE VAMPIRES..."
    What made the experience of listening to The Vampire Archives the most enjoyable?

    Most of these stories are REALLY OLD. I love the old vampires... vile odors, dust, crumbling stuff...some of these stories were very creepy, all were fabulous.

    I see some complaints that it is kind of the "same old stories", sorry, if that's how you look at it. For me, it's a collection of classic literature, I love Poe, Lee, Doyle, James...so this is perfect for me.

    I didn't like the few modern ones. For me, modern vampire stories come across as amusing or just stupid. Thankfully, there's only a few here.


    Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

    I was very happy with all the narrators, each seemed appropriate for the story to me. I liked that each story was prefaced with a little info and each narrator was named.

    Simon Vance did quite a few, I think he's got the best vampire narration, his almost whisper voice, perfect pauses...for my taste, he's a very frightening narrator.


    Any additional comments?

    Great for fans of old traditional horror. Wonderful for a stormy night, with a candelabra and a glass of red....Oh, "I don't drink...wine."

    1 of 1 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Troy DALLAS, TX, United States 08-31-12
    Troy DALLAS, TX, United States 08-31-12 Member Since 2012

    I grew up on Golden Age Radio, and while I love to read, I typically consume more books via audio thanks to a job that lets me listen while I work. As an aspiring writer, I try to read a great deal of non-fiction in addition to a variety of fictional genres. I especially love history, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, and old-style gothic horror.

    HELPFUL VOTES
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    "No Sparkle Here!"
    What did you love best about The Vampire Archives?

    These are classic, old school vampire tales. Modern bloodsuckers aren't vampires - they're fairies with bad attitudes. Herein lies the template of all that's come before and should come again.


    3 of 4 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Mark Brewster, NY, United States 05-25-13
    Mark Brewster, NY, United States 05-25-13 Member Since 2007
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    "There is a reason its the "Most Complete"...."

    There is a reason why this used to be 2 credits and now its only one. There is also a reason why they didn't call it the greatest collecting or the scariest. Most stories are written before 1900...and it shows. The stuff that would have been scary back then is so boring now. I can't say enough about how horrible some of this collection was. The french accents on some of the stories made be just skip the entire book. Save yourself a credit and buy something else.

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    Nathan BELLEVILLE, IL, United States 03-24-13
    Nathan BELLEVILLE, IL, United States 03-24-13 Member Since 2011
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    "Spread this out"
    Would you consider the audio edition of The Vampire Archives to be better than the print version?

    I haven't read the print version. The audio version was great though. Lots of different performers, but they all did a great job. This is ridiculously long though as a serious of short stories, so break it up. I tried to do in all together and it wore me out.


    What other book might you compare The Vampire Archives to and why?

    I can't think of anything


    Which character – as performed by the narrators – was your favorite?

    too many to name


    Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

    I liked it


    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
  •  
    andrew oldbury, Australia 02-19-13
    andrew oldbury, Australia 02-19-13 Member Since 2012
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    "good"

    some storeys were a bit lame but on a hole it was good listning and i will listen to it often

    0 of 0 people found this review helpful
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