'Children of the Night' by Dan Simmons is a modern vampire story set in post Ceausescu Romania and America, featuring a hematologist named Kate Neuman who discovers a unique immune system in an abandoned baby boy. The story delves into the potential of the child's immune system for medical breakthroughs, intertwining with the arrival of vampires, including Vlad Dracula himself. The narrative alternates between the quest to save the child and the memories of Vlad Dracula, creating a fast-paced and engaging plot that blends elements of horror and science fiction.
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Includes themes of child abandonment, descriptions of abuse in orphanages, and references to violence.
From The Publisher:
"Simmons writes like a hot-rodding angel." -Stephen King
An evil legacy comes to life in this classic and ultimately human novel about believable vampires, featuring a brand-new introduction by Dan Simmons. Children of the Night will take you to a place that no one knows-yet all of us fear.
In a desolate orphanage in post-Communist Romania, a desperately ill infant is given the wrong blood transfusion-and flourishes rather than dies. For immunologist Kate Neuman, the infant's immune system may hold the key to cure cancer and AIDS. Kate adopts the baby and takes him home to the States. But baby Joshua holds a link to an ancient clan and their legendary leader-Vlad Tsepes, the original Dracula - whose agents kidnap the child. Against impossible odds and vicious enemies- both human and vampire - Kate and her ally, Father Mike O'Rourke, steal into Romania to get her baby back.
"A mesmerizing tour through the ghostly, gray tatters of Romania." -Publishers Weekly
"Simmons gives a chilling description of post-Ceausescu Romania and neatly ties the vampire legend into political history to create a new and clever twist to the idea of the vampire's craving for blood." -Library Journal
"His best novel ever… Toothsomely well written." -Kirkus
"Brilliant ideas… The most rigorous and interesting scientific rationale for vampirism I've ever seen… You keep turning the pages." -Locus
Ratings (6)
Incredible (1) | |
Loved It (3) | |
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Hated It (1) |
Reader Stats (12):
Read It (6) | |
Want To Read (5) | |
Not Interested (1) |
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Children of the Night?
About the Author:
DAN SIMMONS is a recipient of numerous major international awards, including the Hugo Award, World Fantasy Award, Bram Stoker Award, and the Shirley Jackson Award. He is widely considered to be one of the premier multiple-genre fiction writers in the world. His most recent novels include the New York Times bestsellers The Terror and Drood. He lives along the Front Range in Colorado and has never grown tired of the views.
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