Bloodwars (Vampire World #3) (Necroscope #8)

August 8, 2015February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ Leave a comment

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Title: Bloodwars

Series: Vampire World, Necroscope

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 2 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 944

Synopsis:

Nathan Keogh returns to his homeworld, with our world’s weaponry and some of our toughest ESP’ers in his entourage.

For it is time to put an End to the vampires, once and for all!

My Thoughts:

The official page count for the book is somewhere in the 800’s, but the kindle edition I was reading had almost 950 pages. I’m wondering if page breaks were inserted between changes of POV as well as chapter breaks.

That aside, this was a long book. And, sadly, it was boring. Boring enough that I won’t be reading any more.

I never liked Harry Keogh the Necroscope and I didn’t like his son Nathan the Necroscope either. I liked some of the supporting characters, but they were just that, supporting. The endless cycle of “kill ALL the vampires, oh look we missed some, oops, here we go again” is ok for a couple of books, but for 8? Not for me. I know the series has at least 7-10 more books, so I’m quitting while I’m ahead.

I’ll remember this series fondly for making vampires the monstrous embodiment of evil that they are.

The Last Aerie (Vampire World #2) (Necroscope #7)

May 4, 2015February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ 1 Comment

Title: The Last Aerie

Series: Vampire World, Necroscope

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 768

Synopsis:

Nathan and Nestor continue down their respective paths. Nestor to becoming a true Wamphyri and Nathan to become his father’s true heir, the next Necroscope.

Each coming into their powers for a final confrontation, which will of course, take place in the next book. Surprise!

My Thoughts:

This was a big book. It was convoluted, with multiple POV’s [mainly Nestor and Nathan, but also some from eBranch and the Russians] and multiple timelines. It worked, it worked very well, but it flowed together and it makes it hard to pick out particular things that stood out or were underwhelming.

Having just started in earnest the Complete Works of Lovecraft, I have to say, I wish I had read Lovecraft sooner because so many things I remember from earlier books and I’m sure in this one as well, have their roots in Lovecraft. Ferenzcy, the “essentials salts” to reconstitute a being, etc, etc. It would have made for a richer reading if I had already had Lovecraft under my belt. Thankfully, I am rectifying that now.

I am looking forward to the conclusion of this sub-trilogy but am not sure if I’ll keep reading the overall Necroscope series after that. I might try one of Lumley’s other series.

Blood Brothers (Vampire World #1) (Necroscope #6)

March 12, 2015February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ 4 Comments

Title: Blood Brothers

Series: Vampire World, Necroscope

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 3 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 622

Synopsis:

Harry Keogh is dead. But before dying, he got it on with a Szagny woman who ended up having twins.

This sub-series, Vampire World, of the Necroscope series follow Nathan and Nestor on the Vampire World. One lusts after the power of the fallen vampires, the other trying to figure out what that wall of numbers in his head means.

My Thoughts:

This book, at 600+ pages, was a monster [hehehehehe]. However, it was mostly setup.

The first 10% was retelling the end of Deadspawn from another viewpoint than Harry’s and finding out that even when mostly dead, Harry is a real horndog. Letting us know that Harry’s line will survive.

The next 20% – 30% was retelling the Shaitan origin story. How the nuclear blast from Deadspawn sent him back and started the whole vicious cycle. It is more about the rise of the Vampire Lords than anything and it doesn’t lead anywhere. Filling in the history gaps.

Then another 10% – 20% [this is all just really rough guesswork, as I didn’t realize how things were going to be at the beginning and hence didn’t keep track really] is about how there is yet another group of Vampire Lords in yet another Mountain area. These vamps fight their primal urges and are basically ascetics. This leads into one of them going back to Starside to take over since the original vampire lords were all wiped out.

Finally, we get to Nathan and Nestor, the twin sons of Harry. We get a little bit of their growing up and then we really join them when the vampires return and attack. Both go their own ways. One to learn about his abilities, the other to become a vampire.

And there is a girl involved.

This was not nearly as depressing or perverted as Deadspawn. There were graphic descriptions, but they were short and not pages long, nor were they as monstrous as in the previous book. Felt like Lumley pulled back and it really improved the book in my opinion. This book passed muster and allowed the Necroscope series another chance at life for me.

Deadspawn (Necroscope #5)

January 25, 2015February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ Leave a comment

Title: Deadspawn

Series: Necroscope #5

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 2 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 558

Synopsis:

Spoilers.

Harry is a vampire. And he raises several others from their dead ashes. And he messes around with other ESP’ers talents. Eventually he runs away to Starside after dealing with a serial murderer who is also a necromancer.

On Starside things aren’t looking so good either. The Dweller has devolved, Karen is alive and Shaithis has hooked up with the original Vampire, who just happens to be called Shaitan. Yeah. The original Cast Out One.

Finally, nukes are involved!

My Thoughts:

Each book so far in this series has really pushed the edges. However, this one really disturbed me. The pages long perverted vampire sex; the descent of Harry and the choices he makes that kills off friend after friend after friend; the complete and utterly distorted philosophy dumps mixed with new age feel good crapola.

It all combined to make me feel like I’d been dragged through a septic tank.

However, it was still really good writing and due to how much I’ve enjoyed the previous books, I’m going to let the next book have a chance. But if it approaches the level of disturbingness that was this book, then I’ll be done with Lumley.

Deadspeak (Necroscope #4)

November 14, 2014February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ 1 Comment

Title: Deadspeak

Series: Necroscope #4

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 517

Synopsis:

Harry is BACK. But his son, to defend his bad ass vampire self, took away Harry’s Necroscope powers and returned him to Earth.

Now another Vampire is Ascending, one with the capability and know how to survive in our modern age. A Vampire who can Foretell the future. A Vampire who is the blood son of Faethor Ferenczi.

Can Harry regain his Mad Skillz, Defeat Janos and Prevent Faethor from taking over his mind?

Find out in this 4th Necroscope Novel!

My Thoughts:

I know my synopsis sounds ridiculous, but really, as much as I am truly enjoying the deliciousness of these books, they are just so THAT.

I really like the fact that these are also Cold War era thrillers as well as Vampires as Ultra-Monsters horror stories. The politics and how the world was at that time make this a lot of fun to read about. However, young people today will be missing out on a lot. They won’t know who Nicolae Ceaușescu was or anything.

I think that Janos, the Vampire of this book, is the worst yet. He raped his mother repeatedly because he hated his father [and that is why this got the sexually explicit tag], allowed himself to be killed to survive until the present day, takes over a blood relative’s body and then just plays mind games with Harry. Each Vampire gets worse in each book and it is wonderful. Vampires are BAD and these books show just what horrible monsters they are.

One thing that I wondered and kind of look forward to, is Harry killing Harry Jr. That little brat is now a Necroscoped Vampire who is a Super Genius. I don’t care how good, strong or noble his intentions are, he is a Vampire and it will show at some point. And Lumley seems to like making Harry suffer and to I like seeing him suffer [he’s really not the most likable of people] so having him kill his own son that he sacrificed so much for would just hit the spot I think.

Good stuff, eh!

The Source (Necroscope #3)

September 23, 2014February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ Leave a comment

Title: The Source

Series: Necroscope #3

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 464

Synopsis:

The Russians, oh those naughty Ruskies!, are fooling around with a laser defense thingy so they can negate the United States’ Star Wars program. Problem is, something goes wrong and they open a portal to the homeworld of the Vampires.

Yeah, pretty bad eh?

And they compound things by hiding it.

The Brits send in a spy to find out what is going on. He gets captured, and eventually sent to the other side along with some others.

Meanwhile Harry is down in the dumps with his new body and is pining away for his missing son and wife. So when things go South for the brit spy, E-branch sends in the necroscope to save the day.

He hooks up with his now 20’something year old son [his wife has gone insane, poor thing], finds the other humans and joins in a big battle with the Vampire Lords.

And he finds out that his son, while having stupendous mental abilities, is now also a vampire. Ouch.

My Thoughts:

I am enjoying these book more and more. Most of the book was spent on the British spy finding out about the vampires and his time on the other world. Another 1/3rd was spent at the Russian base as a vampire has gotten loose and is slowly destroying it from within. And we get a little bit of Harry and lots of Harry right at the end.

The mix worked perfectly for me.

I had visions of something like a Vampire Hunter D storyline going on, but thankfully it wasn’t. The vampire lords on the other world were so divided that it took Harry’s son to unite them [and for most of them to be destroyed in the battle].

The psychological side of things was pretty tense in the Russian base. The scientists are doing their thing, the KGB their thing, the Russian E-branch their thing. We get to see how the vampire escapes and begins to haunt the base. It was great!

The gore and sex factor were almost nil in this book, which I found refreshing and why I added kept the 4 star rating. Very tense the whole book through and I found myself wanting to keep reading, which is always a good sign for me.

Vamphyri! (Necroscope #2)

August 3, 2014February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ Leave a comment

Title: Vamphyri!

Series: Necroscope #2

Author: Brian Lumley

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Genre: Horror/Thriller

Pages: 470

Synopsis:

Years before the activities chronicled in Necroscope, one of the vampires set things in motion for his successor to rise should he ever be destroyed.

This story alternates between modern day tale of Bodescu the descendant and the story of the rise of Ferenczy, the ancestor.

My Thoughts:

Now this was a Cold War Espionage Thriller…with Vampires that I was expecting.

I really enjoyed the historical aspect, seeing Ferenczy through the ages and how he tired of life eventually.

There certainly were disturbing scenes that really bothered me. Bodescu forcing himself on his mother, aunt and cousin with his vampire powers while his Uncle stood by and watched was probably the worst. It wasn’t graphic, thankfully, but it was more than enough to put me off.

This was definitely horror, with all the creepy disturbing’ness that goes along with that. Harry is part of the story, but almost more like a facilitator of information than a real character. Of course, him being an incorporeal ghost might have something to do with that. I did like how things were worked out so Harry could stick around.

Not much else to say really. Not sure why the “!” was added in the title, but hey, those 80’s were a bigger than big time. Enjoyable.

Necroscope (Necroscope #1)

June 4, 2014February 4, 2023 ~ Bookstooge ~ 1 Comment

Synopsis:

2 Paranormal Agencies, one in Britain and one in the USSR, are fighting it out.

One of the agents from Britain is a young man who is just coming into his powers. He can talk to and incorporate knowledge from the dead. He is the Necroscope.

The other main character is from the USSR and he is a necromancer, one who gets answers from the dead by touching, tasting, smelling, etc the bodies. It is disgusting. And he is the one who is trying to make a deal with a dying vampire.

My Thoughts: Spoilers Ahead

I was recommended this and even though it has a vampire in it, I decided to give it a go. I am glad I did.

This book is written from 2 basic view points, British and USSR but they are not concurrent timelines until near the end. Really, it was reading 2 different stories that only come together in the last quarter or so of the book.

One complaint I had was about the 2 sex scenes. Completely gratuitous. I hate things like that.

The vampire aspect of things was pretty cool. They are a parasite that inhabits your body and you and it meld until you both are one. Lumley does a great job of making this one so deceptive that the reader doesn’t know what is true or not, right up til the end. The USSR agent dealing with it is completely out of his class and gets his in a very nasty way at the end.

The necroscope guy was more about him finding out about his powers than in joining the agency. He doesn’t actually join until the very end and then he masters time/space, dies/doesn’t die, and ends up going to reincarnate in his unborn son. Yeah, it is weird and disturbing.

Gruesome’ness wise, this was better than I was expecting, but there are a couple of scenes where the necromancer goes to work and Lumley describes it in more detail than I wanted. Sucking out the brains of a corpse? I gagged. But it isn’t a big part of the book and probably doesn’t take up any more time than the sex scenes.

I do plan on reading more in the series, but on a provisional basis. I’ll keep reading until I hit a book that I don’t like and then I’m done.

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Author: Brian Lumley

Necroscope

Necroscope #1