Why read The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories?

Book cover of The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories

Book description

They're lurking under the cover of darkness and between the covers of this book. Here, in all their horror and all their glory, are the great vampires of literature: male and female, invisible and metamorphic, doomed and daring.

Their skin deathly pale, their nails curved like claws, their fangs sharpened…

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Why read it?

2 authors picked The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?

Richard Gadz

Author

This is a comprehensive anthology of non-Dracula short stories (although it does include Bram Stoker’s Dracula’s Guest!) covering the whole of the nineteenth century and beyond, including John Polidori’s The Vampyre and Sheridan le Fanu’s influential Carmilla.

It even has an extract from the hugely popular Victorian ‘penny dreadful’ Varney The Vampire, which is so awful that it’s hilarious.

From Richard's list on The best books about Dracula and the vampires who influenced his creation.

Rae Lori

Author

This anthology holds a special place in my heart! Like most anthologies, my enjoyment varies with each story, but I love the variety of works published from the 1800s to the 1980s. In addition, it introduced me to John Polidori, a.k.a the father of vampire fiction, who I incorporated into my series as a family member to one of my characters.

Of particular interest is the story "Bite-Me-Not" or "Fleur de Feu" by Tanith Lee, which is one of those stories that linger like a wistful, haunting dream that begs your return to its waiting arms. I am in awe…

From Rae's list on The best contemporary paranormal fantasy books that span the ages of time and go bump in the night.