Under The Fang is one I’ve seen on bookstore shelves many times throughout the 1980s. Its chock full of the decade’s horror stalwarts, yet somehow I never picked it up. On a trip to my favorite used bookstore, I came across it again and made sure not to overlook it this time. Let’s see what’s between the covers:
The Miracle Mile – Robert McCammon
McCammon always serves up his readers platter after platter of stories with three-dimensional characters and layers of atmosphere. The Miracle Mile is no different. Survivors of the apocalypse try to find one last glimmer of joy from a favorite family vacation spot.
4 out of 5 stars
Dancing Nitely – Nancy A. Collins
After the Uprising, life as a vampire is very different. A glimpse in the life of Maldives the vampire as he goes out to the club. An entertaining look at how the undead’s world would be.
5 out of 5 stars
Stoker’s Mistress – Clint Collins
Bram Stoker thought he was writing a fictional tale about vampires. It’s a good thing for them that he didn’t know the truth.
4 out of 5 stars
Does The Blood Line Run On Time – Sidney Williams & Robert Petitt
Dugan joins the resistance after seeing the lead vampire destroy the only thing he loved in this vampire apocalypse. Absolutely loved the writing and the plot. Perfect.
5 out of 5 stars
Red Eve – Al Sarrantonio
Spoiled, loud-mouthed brats learn a new lesson…the hard way. An okay story that you could see the ending coming from a mile away.
3 out of 5 stars
We Are Dead Together – Charles DeLint
A young gypsy learns that it is better to be true to yourself then live your life as a lie. A moralistic scene rather than a complete story. Still a decent rendition.
3 1/2 out of 5 stars
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage – Chet Williamson
Being together for all eternity has different meanings in a world ruled by vampires. Richard finds out this and what true love really means. Great story written with such eloquence by Williamson.
5 out of 5 stars
Advocates – Suzy McKee Charnas and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
What to do with a captured vampire that isn’t limited by sunlight and can feed off of other vampires as well as humans. Advocates touches on sociological questions that could possibly arise during the vampire apocalypse but then never really goes anywhere, no conclusion, nothing. Its too bad. A story with this good of writing shouldn’t end by the reading being indifferent and shrugging their shoulders before they move on to the next story.
3 out of 5 stars
Special – Richard Laymon
Falling in love with the prisoners is never a good idea in a vampire apocalypse, especially when the humans are supposed to only be around to be slaves and procreate. But, for Jim, the heart wants what the heart wants and for some reason Diane is special. A fun tale that I actually like from Laymon. The guy can flat out write when he’s not trying to be a horny 13-year-old.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Herrenrasse – J.N. Williamson
Harry is captured by the vampire that kills his family. Instead of disposing of Harry, the vampire decided to make Harry his human “pet” to keep him company. A confusing tale that tries to show Harry outwit his captor. Eh.
2.5 out of 5 stars
Duty – Ed Gorman
Keller doesn’t like his job, but someone has to do it in the vampire apocalypse. A great story where the delivery is the best part.
5 out of 5 stars
Midnight Sun – Brian Hodge
This one knocked my socks off. Think of John Carpenter’s The Thing with vampires instead of an alien.
5 out of 5 stars
A Bloodsucker – David N. Meyer III
A quick and fun little diddy about the price of fortune and fame in the vampire apocalypse.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Prodigal Son – Thomas F. Monteleone
A vampire scientist discovers a vaccine that will allow him to be exposed to sunlight. Following a successful trial of using himself as the first test subject, Vandemeer finds himself walking along the beach right before sunrise for the first time since he became a vampire. He meets a human and is surprised that his hunger doesn’t overtake him. What has this vaccine done to him? Monteleone’s solid delivery still doesn’t make up for a mediocre ending.
3 out of 5 stars
There Are No Nightclubs in East Palo Alto – Clifford V. Brooks
A group of humans are tired of being scared and suppressed by the vampires in the apocalypse. They learn to play instruments, form a band, and write songs of rebellion to try and feel less weak, less afraid. But in the apocalypse, you never know who you can trust, even yourself. A solid story with interesting characters and nice twist on the ending.
4 out of 5 stars
Juice – Lisa W. Cantrell
A bootlegger in the apocalypse finds that they have just as much to fear as the original ones did during prohibition. My first time reading Cantrell, a fairly well-known author from the eighties. Juice was creative and an engaging read. Cantrell doesn’t have an extensive catalog, but I will be grabbing what she did publish.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
Behind Enemy Lines – Dan Perez
Here’s an author I’ve never heard of, but with Behind Enemy Lines, he dishes out an engrossing tale militaristic vampires versus a band of human rebels. I’m a sucker for great characters and Perez delivers.
4 1/2 out of 5 stars
UNDER THE FANG is one of the best anthologies you’ll run across. There are only a couple of clunkers in the 17 offerings. There were a few authors in there that I’d heard of but had never read yet. Now I’ve got a few more writers to look for in my used book store outings. And that’s going to be your best bet to find and pick up UNDER THE FANG, since it was released in the 1980s. I recommend that you do. It’s chock full of wonderful bloodsucking tales.
OVERALL = 4.11 out of 5 stars
Into The Macabre 