Johnny Alucard

Anno Dracula Book 4

By: Kim Newman

Narrated by: William Gaminara

Length: 16 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Dracula Comes to New York: Kim Newman returns to one of the great, best-selling vampire tales of the modern era. Considered alongside I Am Legend and Interview with the Vampire as one of the stand-out vampire stories of the last century, this brand-new novel is the first in over a decade from the remarkable and influential Anno Dracula series.

Newman’s dark and impish tale begins with a single question: What if Dracula had survived his encounters with Bram Stoker’s Dr. John Seward and enslaved Victorian England? Fallen from grace and driven from the British Empire in previous instalments, Dracula seems long gone. A relic of the past. Yet, when vampire boy Johnny Alucard descends upon America, stalking the streets of New York and Hollywood, haunting the lives of the rich and famous, from Sid and Nancy to Andy Warhol, Orson Welles, and Francis Ford Coppola, sinking his fangs ever deeper into the zeitgeist of 1980s America, it seems the past might not be dead after all.

©2013 Kim Newman (P)2013 Audible Ltd

Drives a Stake Through Pop Culture

Just for the record, Audible has these mislabeled. This is actualy book 4. Book 3 is Dracula Cha Cha Cha. I tried to tell them, so maybe they've corrected this by the time you do a series search. Now the review...

Admittedly, I'm biased. This series, in my humble opinion, is one of the best reads I've ever laid eyes - or ears - upon. Looking back, I probably should have given more in-depth reviews of the other 3. After the wait and the self-perpetuating hype, I started out a bit disappointed with this one, mostly because it seemed so very different after the first 3. At first I chalked it up to the years between the stories. But then I realized the genius behind what Kim Newman was pulling, and the further it went, the better it got. Let me explain

The first 3 books are part of the alternate history known as the Wold Newton Universe, which is pretty much the mother of all crossover universes. Or to be more accurate, it's its own parallel version of that universe. Look it up - you'll either be amazed or overrun. I'd offer you a link, but Audible apparently frowns on that here (I tried!), so you'll have to rely on your Google Fu.

What Newman did with this one is interconnect a series of novellas (some from previous ideas he's put forth) and inject the whole thing with a large dose of metafiction. In the hands of anyone else, the stories contained herein would come across as cheesy and weak. Being of both the literary and movie worlds, this is basically like playing in Newman's backyard, and the level of verisimilitude he gives to this absolutely sells it. He proves yet again that he is a master of his craft.

But what makes it different than the other 3? Well... spoiler alert, Dracula was killed in book 3. Or was he? Newman knows as well or better than any of us that Dracula will live on forever in pop culture, and as a result there are different versions of him that don't line up with the classic story or with history. Enter Johnny Alucard. Building on concepts from the previous novels, Alucard is basically the Son of Dracula, but so much more than a cheap knock-off. This one has that certain something that made the original who he was - the drive, the hunger. Has Dracula truly been reborn through his progeny? But this one is an American, making him something far different than the Master might have expected. And from here, we're treated to subtle nods to different aspects of the character throughout pop culture, up to and including the Count from Sesame Street and several other off-the-wall incarnations most wouldn't even think about at one time. As I say, it would be wrong in the hands of anyone but Newman. Newman is just that awesome.

Along for the ride are Genevieve and Kate, who've been around since book 1 (and are found in different incarnations is Newman's other books). These two are two of my favorite characters now, and they are the real stars. It's through their eyes that we see not only pop culture unfold, but also get an understanding of the weight of what's transpiring. Their history and their personalities serve as ever-present connections to the past stories and keep us wanting more. To see how these immortals evolve, and how the alternate timeline evolves around them... it's just something you have to experience because Newman spins it in a way you won't find anywhere else. As I say, I'm biased.

For those not familiar with Wold Newton or not heavily immersed into yesteryear pop culture (and I do mean immersed), you will find a lot to enjoy about these books. For those who eat, drink, and sleep this stuff the way Newman does, you'll get a LOT more out of it. It's a pop culture scavenger hunt with more references than The Simpsons and Family Guy combined, and crafted in a way that it's not beating you over the head with it. Everything fits without being forced.

William Gaminara returns to narrate the series, and it's great to have him. He doesn't perhaps have the greatest voices for the leading ladies, but his strength of storytelling prowess makes you quickly forget that as Newman's tale comes to life. And he does a spot-on Orson Welles. That's hard to do properly.

All in all, a most welcome return by both Newman and Gaminara. It's great to have them back, it's great to have Gene Dee and Kate back, and it's a treat to have more stories in this universe. This volume is considerably goofier than the 3 previous versions, but it's hard not to love the geek-fest in these pages. Looking forward to seeing where it goes from here!

Newman at his best

I’ve become an audible junkie long after I became a Kim Newman/Anno Dracula junkie. Being such a big fan of the series, his was the first book I bought with my subscription. Newman has really given the series a shot in the arm with Johnny Alucard. There’s an energy and passion here that matches a lot of what makes the series as a whole but the first novel in particular, great. I think the spirit of the time and setting the novel takes place in is beautifully represented, adds a lot, and is fertile ground for fun world building. I buy every new Anno Dracula book on opening day and every time I revisit the series I remember why. It’s equal parts fun, scary, hilarious, and sometimes downright insightful. Though the references can wear on some, for a pop culture nerd like me it’s particularly good fun recognizing and identifying all the different characters from other stories/movies inhabiting or passing through the narrative. If you’re a horror fan, cinema nerd, vampire fiction aficionado, or just looking for a compelling story in a wholly defined and fascinating world then definitely check it out.

Wonderful series

I didn't think it was quite as great as a few of the others, but it's still very cleverly written and a heck of a lot of fun!

What does it take to bring Dracula back?

Well, according to this book, it's the combined creative genius of Orson Welles, Francis Ford Coppola, Andy Warhol et al.

In his previous novel in the Anno Dracula series "Dracula Cha Cha Cha" Mr. Kim Newman managed to kill, finally kill, Dracula. I don't know if later he regretted that decision, or was it all planned, but now he faced the considerable challenge of bringing him back. That book was close to perfection and, arguably, as good, if not better, than the original Anno Dracula. This one is... well, certainly his most convoluted to date.

It seems Newman adapts his style to the times he's writing of. So, naturally, this one focusing on the 70s, 80s and 90s is the most over the top and bloated piece, filled to the brim with sticky, yucky horror and, of course, cameos, references and inside vampire baseball. As appropriate in a Newman book.

What does it take to bring Dracula back?
The longest book in the series so far.
Newman seems to be writing first and foremost for his own indulgence.
And God bless him for it.

Fun, fluffy story, great narrator who can't hold an American accent

Most hilarious American accents ever. I cringed every time I heard the weird New Jersey mangled into Boston 'Dracular'.

Fun, but goes on a bit

I've enjoyed the previous books in this series and did rather enjoy some of the skewed takes Newman has on late 20th Century pop-culture. Overall, however, I felt distracted by the shear volume of reference catching to the point of being distracted from the actual plot. I think the appendices in particular tend to exacerbate this and I would recommend that anyone who in't really into Andy Warhol and the career of Orson Wells not bother with these parts.

All of which said, the story of Johnny Pop and his mission to resurrect Dracula is nicely told and at times the alt reality of this world is quite vivid and convincing. Gaminara's delivery has also improved over the previous books, where he used to often get confused about who was speaking and read in the wrong voice. Overall probably a 3.5 out of 5.

Not as good as the others in the series

As a massive fan of the Anno Dracula books and audio books, I enjoyed this, although I feel it is by no means as strong as the previous titles.

The narration is fantastic and William Gammanera brings the multiple characters to life, howevere the way that the book is written makes the audio version stilted and long-winded.

I still recommend this audio book, but it works much better in the printed version.

a good book, bounces around sub stories

loved it
Tieing all Dracula stories, books and films in, for an excellent read listen

Interesting but rambling.

Not as good as the previous books and I only really kept with it because of the brilliant narrator.

Still a great entry in the series.

I loved the others and this one is still awesome, if not as strong as the first three. It captures the spirit of the late 20th century in America extremely effectively. Although it still somehow works, the addition of so many pop culture and famous figures feels a little gratuitous by the end. But still recommended.

DISAPPOINTING

I thought towards the end it was just a list a names that to be mentioned. struggled to get to the end.!!

A bit convoluted with complex timelines

Great detail in both story and characters but in the end I personally think it got dragged out a bit to far. But as a series of stories I thought they were great.

List after list

This is the weakest of the Anno Dracula series by far.

I thoroughly enjoyed the first three, and as usual enjoyed the cultural references. Kim Newman's role as a film critic really shows in his detailed accounts of imaginary Dracula flicks.

The whole thing is a vehicle for Newman's cleaver analysis, and imaginative reconstructions of Orson Welles, Francis Ford Coppola, Andy Warhol and their works. Which unfortunately descends into lists of third-assistant-gaffers, and the like, on invented films, or of Factory hangers on.

The real problem is the lack of plot and ending. The book goes on forever then the narrative stops abruptly, only to be carried on with two appendices of more name dropping lists.

I'd recommend only for Newman completists or hardcore fans of the creatives analysed (some of that analysis is a joy), but as a novel less so.

Meandering

I really liked the first three books but this one falls a little short getting tedious in places. The final three chapters or appendices are just mind numbing pieces about Warhol and Welles.

Complete and utter rubbish

The worst, most ridiculous book I have ever listened to. Utter rubbish from start to end. Baldy written, awful story, terrible characterisations. Life is too short, get something else.