Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Like You Need Any Help...



I was looking up some titles this morning in my What Fantastic Fiction Do I Read Next? (2nd edition, 1999) and finally had to stop myself, remembering that the last time I opened the book, nearly three hours vanished, never to return.

This mammoth reference work is highly addictive, very well done, but also very dated. This edition came out in 1999 and covers works published from 1989 to 1998. The bulk of the book (which is considerable, weighing in at nearly 9 pounds) consists of an alphabetical listing of authors and their works published during that 10-year period. Entries include title, publisher, date, story type, major characters, time period(s), locale(s), book summary, and "Other books you might like," which may list as few as one (Brian Stableford's The Werewolves of London is matched with Daniel Easterman's Name of the Beast.) or as many as ten (Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower). The 1989-1998 timeline does include reprints of older works and the "Other books you might like" often reaches far into the past.

Okay, okay, I know you'd like to actually see an entry, wouldn't you? You people...

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M.T. ANDERSON

Thirsty
(New York: Candlewick, 1997)

Story type: Horror (Vampire Story; Young Adult)

Major Characters(s): Chris, Teenager, Vampire; Chet, Supernatural Being; Tch'muchgar, Vampire

Locale(s): New England (alternate)

Summary: In an alternate world populated with creatures of the supernatural, Chris struggles with the growing pains that come with acceptance of his maturing vampire identity. For his first adult responsibility, Chet, a member of the Forces of Light, asks him to interfere with a ceremony that will help release a vampire lord from captivity in another world. A young adult novel.

Other books you might like:
Richie Tankersley Cusick, Vampire, 1991
Joseph Locke, Vampire Heart, 1994
Christopher Pike, The Last Vampire, 1994
L.J. Smith, Secret Vampire, 1996
L.J. Smith, Dark Reunion, 1992, Vampire Diaries, volume 4
S.P. Somtow, The Vampire's Beautiful Daughter, 1997

___________________________________

The book also includes a Series Index, Time Period Index, Geographic Index, Story Type Index...you get the picture. Hey, the thing's 1954 pages...

Let's hope a new edition comes out in 2009. The second edition was quite steep when it came out ($165.00), but I bought my copy in early 2005 for $14.98, definitely worth the price.

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