By Blood We Live
The usually superlative Adams (Federations) delivers a merely solid collection of modern vampire tales. Although most of the stories are reprints, John Langan's novella The Wide, Carnivorous Sky, original to the volume, is the highlight, telling the tale of four Fallujah veterans who witness something even more horrific than war. Many of the classic reprints (including Stephen King's One for the Road and Jane Yolen's Mama Gone) are worthwhile, but the newer reprints are a mixed bag. Bruce McAllister's Hit is witty and touching; Lilith Saintcrow's attempted hard-boiled pastiche, A Standup Dame, completely flops. Vampire fans might wish for more humor and unusual twists on the theme, but there are enough standout stories—including Gabriella Lee's gorgeous Hunger and Michael Marshall Smith's melancholy This Is Now—to satisfy and entertain.(Oct.)Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.