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
"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.
"This caught my attention and held it!"
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.
The uniqueness of the stories. From the bold and expected to the unexpected and subtle stories.
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.
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?
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! :-)
"Lot's of content, not a lot quality :)"
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.
Some of them for sure!
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.
"History of the Vampire"
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.
Retired Military. Own a custom car and bike business. I listen while I work.
"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
"GOTTA LOVE THOSE VAMPIRES..."
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.
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.
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."
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.
"No Sparkle Here!"
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.
"Spread this out"
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.
I can't think of anything
too many to name
I liked it
"Vamp Arch."
parts of it more than others yes
The variety of story tellers
Can't say they were so many good ones
Tried that but just couldnt make it. Haha