I Read Books: Anno Dracula
Kim Newman’s novel of an England in which Dracula won, and went on to marry Queen Victoria and usher in a new dark age. In Newman’s conception this attracts other vampires out of the shadows, leading to him throwing in dozens of literary and film vampires and other characters. The spine of the plot is the hunt for Jack the Ripper, here preying on vampire prostitutes.
Of course any vampire killer is viewed with suspicion by the authorities, causing the whole story to get wrapped up in spies and politics, which will lead eventually to the very highest levels of society.
Newman’s encyclopedic knowledge of adventure fiction creates a vast canvas. It’s fun seeing (say) Dr Moreau and Dr Jekyll sharing a lab as they investigate vampire corpses, throwing out various theories of vampirism. If anything Newman is having too much fun; so many characters get to have a scene, so many locations need to be visited, so many things about both actual Victorian society and the dark vampire version have to be explained, that it slows the plot down.
Still, actual stories from the 1880s are even slower, even more expository. Compared to them it moves like the wind, yet still gives the flavour of what they’re like. This is something of a triumph.
Read This: For Newman’s skewed satirical vision of a Britain ruled by vampires
Don’t Read This: If you don’t care about getting all the greatest villains of Victorian fiction in a room to discuss matters with a member of the secret service
In Addition: The edition from Titan Books has Newman’s own annotations as well as bits from his own script and an earlier version, and some additional bits an pieces as well. It’s full of bonus features is what I’m saying.
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