The Vampire Archives

The Most Complete Volume of Vampire Tales Ever Published

By: Clive Barker, Robert Bloch, Stephen King, Kim Newman - foreword, Neil Gaiman - preface, Otto Penzler - editor

Narrated by: Scott Brick, Jonathan Cowley, Erik Davies

Length: 61 hrs and 39 mins

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.

©2009 Otto Penzler (P)2011 Random House

It ok

I liked some of the stories but some dragged on for far to long. I wish you offered a chapter list cuz it is to hard to find my favorites in all this. some narrators were not able to capture my attention. they were very boring to listen to.

worth the time and money

I loved this compilation. A few of the stories were just so-so but several were fantastic. If you love vampire stories you will love this book.

Stunningly Massive Collection of Vampire Literature!

Where to begin?

First, in simple terms, this book is exactly what it says on the tin: One of the largest and most varied compilations of vampire-related novels, short-stories and prose out there.

Second, as seems inevitable with most compilations -certainly any of this size- there were many stories I found thoroughly enjoyable and a few I found rather blasé, but surprisingly none I would say were outright bad. Others might disagree, but fortunately with this many offerings if one were to bump into a story they disliked they could just skip on to the next and likely be at no real loss.

Third, and this I’d likely consider the most important point to bear in mind, the stories brought together here span across time, location and genre. For that reason, the uninitiated and the inexperienced will inevitably find that the “vampires” in many of these works don’t at all resemble the typical post-Hollywood image of the vampire. Yes, many do fit the bill of the accursed, bloodsucking revenant; even the not-so-cursed smooth operator with the mild hangup of only taking his/her lunch from a fresh vein.
But in many cases the story stretches the term “vampire” somewhat to include, for instance, a seemingly normal human who drains the emotional or vital energies from those around them; or the severed hand of a cruel and wicked man, bent on taking others with it to the grave. Rest assured, this is perfectly acceptable for vampire horror. Such stories reach back to the deepest antiquities of folklore, when the distinction between vampire, ghost, witch, werewolf and demon was far less distinct than the neat and tidy categories we keep them in today. Just sit back, relax and enjoy the variety. (If you happen to get curious about these other types of vampires, I recommend checking out “The Vampire Slayer’s Field Guide to the Undead”)

Last thing is the voice acting. There are multiple different VAs, some I like more than others, but they pretty much all do a good job.
I’d readily say this book is worth the credit.

Hidden treasure

I was seriously overjoyed to discover this hidden treasure strove of horror! There were stories well written by authors I had never experienced before. Well read and everything from funny to extremely gross. Loved this book and plan to revisit it many times!

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.

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

Superb Collection, Well Narrated

I can't say if this IS the most complete volume of vampire stories ever published, but it certainly covers a very broad watershed. When I saw that the stories go back as far as the 19th century, I expected some dull and even downright tedious stories among this collection. Not at all! The stories are all interesting. The range of narrators adds to the interest. This is a really well-done collection of horror stories.

The Bible of Vampire Stories

Would you listen to The Vampire Archives again? Why?

No, for I don't listen to, read or watch the same movie twice. So much to listen to... So little time!

Who was your favorite character and why?

No one. Too many to keep track!

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

None.

If you were to make a film of this book, what would be the tag line be?

Tales of the Vampire

Any additional comments?

Is there a sequel to this book?

Great Volume from this collection

I'm reviewing this collection in depth at the end view that volume for in depth details if you'd like!

Ultimate vampire collection

Worth the credit and then some. I enjoyed every last drop of this anthology.

I’m now listening to it for a third time!