Vampire Weekend by Mike Chen review

OFFICIAL AUTHOR INFORMATION: Christopher Buehlman is a native Floridian and author of the literary horror novels 'Those Across the River' and 'Between Two Fires.' He is the winner of the 2007 Bridport Prize in poetry, and the author of several provocative plays, including Hot Nights for the War Wives of Ithaka. Many know him as comedian Christophe the Insultor, something of a cult figure on the renaissance festival circuit. He lives in St. Petersburg, Florida. His first novel, 'Those Across the River,' was nominated for a World Fantasy Award for best novel in 2012.

FORMAT: Published by Berkley (October 7, 2014). Available in all formats. Cover design by Judith Lagerman. 

OVERVIEW: I love vampires! Just not Twilight-sexy ones. Vampires are about death. They’re not nice. They’re no longer human. In The Lesser Dead, Buehlman introduces a tribe of vampires living in the urine-smelling subways of New York in the late 1970s. They’re nasty. And filthy. They sleep in defunct refrigerators or boxes and when they forget to seal their sleeping place, bugs crawl in their orifices. Above all, though, they don’t wear leather.

Joey Peacock, a brash and horny vampire eternally trapped in a 14-year-old body, guides readers through his history, vampires’ underground lives, and pastimes. His narration jumps in time - it blends the 45 years since Margaret, his family’s maid, turned him into a vampire and current events. Vamps have to deal with an unexpected threat - a creepy pack of undead children wreaking havoc and living a trail of dead bodies in their wake. Kids just wanna have fun, only they like it gory. And underground vampires won’t have any of it - they don’t want police sniffing deep down in the city’s underbelly.

Despite dark themes and brutal moments, The Lesser Dead entertains. Joey’s witty tone (ranging from streetwise to lyrical) and his unreliable narration keep the story darkly humorous and immersive. His relationships with other vampires, especially his “mother” (never call her this way!), are complex and believable. To make things even more impressive, Buehlman made me root for monsters. Or feel about Margaret the way Joey did:

Margaret rules her tribe as a tyrant and demands that everyone follows her directives at all times. After getting to know her tribe, you can’t blame her, though. Her strict approach keeps them safe and fed. I found her fascinating. Basically, the relationships and dynamics between her tribe members made it such a fascinating read. While no longer human, they cling to human ways, trying to keep their lost humanity. And personality. Joey behaves as an arrogant and selfish teenager with a lustful heart. He prefers not to kill humans, but he approaches them as snacks. One of the most powerful vampires hides a knitting kit in their place, and the other one plays music on the streets. Joey’s vampire pal, intellectual Cvetko sends people “may-I-bite-you” letters hoping their recipients will “understand on a subconscious level that this is a supernatural opportunity.” A colorful pack of characters.

Time spares no one. Vampires live longer than humans, but not millennia-long. And after years of living in isolation in decaying corridors, most of them go mad. I think we get more than a glimpse of the process it The Lesser Dead.

Conclusion: Buehlman twists the vampire mythos and makes it feel fresh. His vamps, a tribe of unscrupulous blood-drinking monsters preying on humans, ARE about death. They're cold, ugly, and willing to hurt you. Joey’s voice entertains and is a source of many laughs but don’t trust him. He’s a deceiver waiting to break you. 

The ending is vicious. That’s all I have to say. 

A terrific read.