Baltimore

Or, The Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire

By: Mike Mignola, Christopher Golden

Narrated by: Colin Mace

Length: 9 hrs and 16 mins

Publisher's summary

2007 Booklist Editor's Choice for Young Adults
2008 New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age

From celebrated comic artist Mike Mignola and award-winning novelist Christopher Golden comes a work of gothic storytelling like no other. Reminiscent of the illustrated tales of old, here is a lyrical, atmospheric novel of the paranormal—and a chilling allegory for the nature of war.

“Why do dead men rise up to torment the living?” Captain Henry Baltimore asks the malevolent winged creature. The vampire shakes its head. “It was you called us. All of you, with your war. The roar of your cannons shook us from our quiet graves.... You killers. You berserkers.... You will never be rid of us now.”

When Lord Henry Baltimore awakens the wrath of a vampire on the hellish battlefields of World War I, the world is forever changed. For a virulent plague has been unleashed—a plague that even death cannot end.

Now the lone soldier in an eternal struggle against darkness, Baltimore summons three old friends to a lonely inn—men whose travels and fantastical experiences incline them to fully believe in the evil that is devouring the soul of mankind.

As the men await their old friend, they share their tales of terror and misadventure, and contemplate what part they will play in Baltimore’s timeless battle. Before the night is through, they will learn what is required to banish the plague—and the creature who named Baltimore his nemesis—once and for all.

©2019 Mike Mignola (P)2022 Random House Audio

Critic reviews

“Final word: Mignola's stark black-and-white illustrations are an excellent complement to Golden's words in that rarest of supernatural novels: an original vampire tale.” (Rocky Mountain News)

"Baltimore is an old time rootin' tootin' sense of wonder story dragged through a modern blender, then slow baked in hell. I loved it. It was velvet bullet—speedy and rich in sensation. Go boys, go." (Joe R. Lansdale)

“With Baltimore, Mike Mignola and Christopher Golden lay siege to the reader's imagination with a grim battalion of gothic images and a thunderous barrage of narrative artillery. This is not a novel: it's a war machine. Surrender immediately.” (Joe Hill, author of Heart-Shaped Box)

EPIC VAMPIRE ACTION !

one of the very best I've ever listened to/ read. i own both. A must have

great book!

Huge recommendation for any horror fan. Reminds of the lovecraft period of horror. Absolutely loved this book!

Is this a hidden masterpiece?

I think this book is masterfully written and the performance is world-class. Amazing. I would love another in this series to listen too.

Story of stories

A story about stories that sometimes tell stories. If you are looking for a cogently written tale of vampires and the conflict between light and dark, this story is not for you. If you want to hear stories within stories while listening to a novel, this might be enjoyable.

Just as good as I remembered the book

A sleeper hit and an amazing take on vampires and alternate reality WWI. Great reader choice too. Well worth the credit. Only downside is not having the cool visuals that come with the real book.

Awesome

Loved every bit of this. Horror fantasy Noir in the late 1800s to early 1900s. Love Mignola!

Beautiful and sorrowfully brilliant

Easily one of my favorite stories. I hope they adapt the comics into audio books soon

“Who am I? I am the only one they fear.”

“Are you a priest?”
I stepped back and let my coat open so he could see all the weapons inside.
“I am a solder.”

That’s right, meet the newest coolest hunter of vampires, demons, monsters and any other evil that gets in his way in “The journal of Lord Henry Baltimore.”.

The amazing creative mind of Mike Mignola and his number one HELL BOY writer Christopher Golden lay out some of the best writing the ‘action-horror’ genre has seen… like perhaps… ever.

The “Great War” ( what we now call WWI ) stumbles & stops as the Red DEATH slithers over a battered smoking europe. All sorts of evil stalks the land while one guy steps ( limps really ) up to stomp some major butt for the side of righteous kick-assing. One guy, yeah, but he gathers three others, (the doctor, the sailor, & the solider ) to help him. This is the story of Lord Baltimore and his dudes starting the good fight by telling your their weird tales.

Do I recommend this audio book?
Well it’s got… Great writing, Great story ideas, & a Great narrator.

If you don’t listen …well, your loss.

Captivating

I loved this story, it was very unique and captivating. I found the narrator was also superb.

Truly excellent!

I loved the comics and hoped this would be as good as them.

It was better.

The stories, the descriptions, the narrator... all of it! I can't wait for more!