Rating: 
Summary: The prologue should have been the whole story
Review: Let me say first, that I am not a writer, and I am not a professional critic either. I'm just somebody who reads enough to tell the difference between good and bad writing.
After my best friend sung the praises of this "post-apocalyptic novel tinged with a new kind of vampire lore," I felt the need to check it out for myself. Needless to say, I was sorely disappointed in this amateurish effort by new science-fiction writer E. E. Knight. I'm also rethinking my friend's taste in books.
1. Where are the vampires? I'm no vampire fanatic. I haven't read a vampire book since Anne Rice's Queen of the Damned several years ago, and I have never followed any of the vampire TV shows. Nevertheless, I don't think it's too much to ask that when you name a series "Vampire Earth", it should be about vampires!
Well, the "vampires" in this book -- and they are never called "vampires" in the actual story -- rarely appear. When they do, they are neither frightening nor fascinating; in fact, the word "vampire" is being stretched here. They have more in common with the aliens from "Alien". They are simply two-dimensional props for the heroes to fight. They could have easily been replaced by any other type of villianous minions, such as robots, gremlins, flying monkeys, or the tooth fairy for that matter.
I honestly believe the book is called "Vampire Earth" so the publishers can cash in on the vampire-obsessed goth crowd -- who will be extremely disappointed by this series.
2. Where is the plot? Supposedly, the story is about a war between rebels and an evil empire from outer space (sound familiar?). In reality, there is no discernable storyline to this book. The plot jumps around randomly with no underlying thread to hold it together. Battles happen and nobody knows why (except the author). Secondary characters are introduced with no explanation, only to die pointlessly. You don't really get a sense of what the story is actually about. It was painful to read something so incoherent.
3. Characters? What characters? There is only one character in this book: the hero, David Valentine. And he's not much. He's a two-dimensional cardboard cut-out who doesn't seem to have any characteristics. He's just "there". Apparently the author thinks that giving a character a history is enough to make him appear real. This is a mistake that many inexperienced writers make.
Let's not even get into the other characters, who are all interchangeable military types. As an aside, the author seems to be a military buff who is fascinated with all things martial -- and incorrectly assumes that all the readers will automatically share this fascination without being given any reason to care.
4. Overall bad technique.
Each overly long chapter, without fail, begins with an overly long description of the setting, before anything happens. This alone was enough to make me stop reading. You can't describe something without first giving the reader a reason to care about it.
Nothing important ever happened in this story. When characters died, it didn't seem to matter much at all. The author seems to have difficulty describing the inner emotions of the characters or at least making them seem as if they are affected by the events in the story. It just felt like "one damned thing after another".
There were too many inconsistencies and ridiculous improbabilities. I can't name them all but I'll give one example that says it all: Valentine meets a hostile farmowner with a shotgun in the middle of nowhere, who thinks Valentine is an enemy. Seconds later, after some lame dialogue, this complete stranger offers Valentine room and board in his own home. This, in a dangerous, war-torn part of the world where nobody can be trusted. Yeah, uh-huh, right.
I can't possibly name all the problems with this book, so I'll leave it at that. Take a writing class if you want to know about all the bad techniques used in this novel.
In summation, the whole novel seemed to be a military buff's wet dream of a sci-fi movie script. A very sloppy effort by an inexperienced writer, and it shows, every step of the way.
Rating:
Summary: Little bit different.
Review: Lotta potential here. Interesting concept and setting. Earth invaded by alien species through dimensional type of gateways, and the remaining humans fighting tooth and nail against the invasion. Not all that unique I guess, still, if done right...with a twist making the aliens "vampires." Just mebbe...
Well, it is a little different. Not so much a science fiction novel, as a horror/fantasy/sci-fi novel.
Basically, just substitute an "evil one" and its minions for the aliens...and you have another fantasy novel. Reavers travel at night, talk like a snake hissing, wear black cloaks, can hypnotize you with their eyes, tough to kill...oh, and they stick their snake-like tongues into your heart and drink your blood. No real vampires, but close enough I guess.
The Reavers have masters that are little higher in the "evil" chain. You have your basic zombies, ghouls, trolls, harpies, etc. But, instead of them being bastions of evil and satan...they are aliens. And it all happens in a close aproximation of present day America.
Well, ok.
Valentine, our hero, is a pretty one dimensional character. You just follow him around watching what he does. Most of the characters in this book are a little one dimensional, and it does hurt the book. Especially in the first half of it where I almost quit reading altogether because I just didn't care about any of them.
Outside of the poor characters, the actual "telling" of the story is a litte clumsy and amateurish. Some silly, sophomoric writing as well.
Val just meets his "guides" that are taking him to the militia to fight the aliens. Val says to one..."He looks like he'd take a bullet for you." Now, he just met these guys, and he comes up with an inane comment like that? Nothing happened at all, they just picked up Val, and are now on the road to the militia, and Val comes up with a statement like that? I literally groaned aloud.
Also some silly scenes. Like when Val is being chased by a "Reaver". The Reavers been chasing them for hours and miles. Finally, the Reaver catches up with VAL...just as the sun is starting to come up. He's mebbe 20 yards away from Val, and now has to leave because the suns starting to peak out.
Well, where the hell is he gonna go?
He's been chasing Val for miles and hours, and then gets within yards of him, and has to go back? Where to? He's traveled hours chasing Val from where he started. He couldn't go another few yards? The sun is already coming out. He's got nowhere to go but the way he came. Unless he can teleport himself back. But, he doesn't just disappear, he turns around and starts back. And if he could teleport himself around...why the heck was he running and swimming to get to Val?
Quite silly really.
Apart from some silly writing and one dimensional characters...there seemed to be no purpose to anything. Val just went places, did things. Next chapter, he was somewhere else doing other things. No real purpose or coherent storyline to follow.
Still, after the first half of the book, when Val arrives at a Farm and takes refuge there for awhile, the book does pick up dramatically.
The enemy is given more of a face. Personalities are flushed out. And when Val falls for one of the "Farmers daughters," who is later taken away from the family...things get much more interesting.
So, after an extremely weak beginning...the book does redeem itself and becomes much more interesting. I'll probably get the 2nd one in the series.
I initially gave this 1 star...because I had finished half the book and really didn't want to continue it. For one reason or the other, I decided to finish reading and am glad I did. I think the book, in its entirety, merits 3 stars (tho I don't seem able to change it on my review.) Still problems, but, there is enough interesting stuff going on for me to want to read the 2nd one.
Rating: 
Summary: The Gates Have Been Opened...
Review: On an impressively well-written new series. At the heart of this apocalyptic saga is David Valentine, a boy from backwoods Minnesota who begins a bloody journey to avenge his family's brutal demise at the hands of Quislings, human servants of the Kur, a race of galactic soul-suckers who've overthrown Earth and turned mankind into livestock. David becomes an officer of the Wolves, a unit of warriors whose senses have been honed by Lifeweavers, cosmic cousins of the Kur. The Wolves battle a variety of foes, the worst of which are Reapers, black-fanged vampy bastards who glut themselves on blood while doing the dirty work of funneling life-force back to Kur masters who control them by psychic bond.What impresses me most about E.E. Knight is his style: He writes with a dry wit, a florid descriptive eye, magnificent metaphors and perfect pacing. This book encompasses the best of just about every genre. His work has been compared to Heinlein, Lovecraft, even Crane. But if you read this book, you'll see -- it's a brand new Knight. P.S. Check out the author's website, www.vampireearth.com.
Rating:
Summary: The Gates Have Been Opened...
Review: On an impressively well-written new series. At the heart of this apocalyptic saga is David Valentine, a boy from backwoods Minnesota who begins a bloody journey to avenge his family's brutal demise at the hands of Quislings, human servants of the Kur, a race of galactic soul-suckers who've overthrown Earth and turned mankind into livestock. David becomes an officer of the Wolves, a unit of warriors whose senses have been honed by Lifeweavers, cosmic cousins of the Kur. The Wolves battle a variety of foes, the worst of which are Reapers, black-fanged vampy bastards who glut themselves on blood while doing the dirty work of funneling life-force back to Kur masters who control them by psychic bond. What impresses me most about E.E. Knight is his style: He writes with a dry wit, a florid descriptive eye, magnificent metaphors and perfect pacing. This book encompasses the best of just about every genre. His work has been compared to Heinlein, Lovecraft, even Crane. But if you read this book, you'll see -- it's a brand new Knight. P.S. Check out the author's website, www.vampireearth.com.
Rating:
Summary: Fabulous Adventure Fiction
Review: Some books showcase familiar speculative fiction concepts in comfortable ways; some braid a few of those threads in refreshing patterns. And then there are those which blaze new trails through the genre. *Way of the Wolf*, the first novel by E.E. Knight, is one of the latter. The opening volume of the Vampire Earth series, it reads more like an inspired blend of C.S. Forester, H.P. Lovecraft, and Roger Zelazny than anything penned by Anne Rice. A handful of reviewers seem not to have noticed the book's back cover blurb or numerous reviews that clearly indicate that *Wolf* is about vampire hunters. Turn elsewhere if you want to read of conflicted vampires whining about their fates; turn here if you want a new, frightening take on old monsters and the heroes who fight them. It's a gripping ride told with panache and style, character-driven speculative fiction adventure at its very best, and I for one can't wait to see its sequels. The above review is excerpted from my Fall, 2003 review of the same book printed in *Black Gate* magazine. (http://www.blackgate.com/bg/issue6.htm)
Rating: 
Summary: Does not live up to hype; clearly novice writer...
Review: The problems of a novice writer plague this book. It's clear that Mr. Knight is new at writing because it shows. He talks about things that you don't know what they are, then later - perhaps a chapter or two - there's some scene where people suddenly just spill out snippits of history (in a VERY forced way), *finally* allowing you to understand the made-up terms. This goes on throughout the book and makes for very staggered reading and very choppy flow. Because of this explanation and [lack of proper] setting issue, the book utterly failed to capture my interest and I found the entire "evil aliens domainating earth" rather bland (and reminiscent of something like "Planet of the Apes" rather then something with actual fear or presence such as "Aliens") I was hoping for something more mystical; something with more traditional vampirism, but it's all bland aliens and quasi-interesting apocalyptic people who don't remain consistant in the seriousness, urgency, or depth of their situation. If you're looking for a book with vampirism; a book with mysticism; a book with horror then look somewhere else. This book simply didn't do it for me and was a bland, badly pieced-together mess.
Rating:
Summary: Intriguing, exciting, compelling and rich read.
Review: The Way of the Wolf is the first in a three part series entitled, Vampire Earth. This is not your typical vampire, guts, gore and supernatural book. Quite frankly, if it had been, I would never have read it. This book is an exciting and compelling read about a fictional future where the legends of earth's vampires resulted from a prior contact between mankind and an alien race that is at war with itself over the use of human and other species life auroa. In the book,the part of that race that has committed itself to using human life auroa to prolong its own life has taken over the earth and the story is set in that post apocalyptic era. E.E. Knight spins about as exciting and interesting a yarn as you will read. It is one of the better sci-fi novels I have read in the last ten years and it is about the fight for liberty and freedom against almost unimaginable odds by a people determined to retain their liberty. My only issue with the novel, and it is one admittedly of my own making, is that there was simply too much profanity and one fairly explicit sex scene for me or my family's personal values and faith. I find myself feeling that it is, in a sense, too bad because I really wanted to find out what happens in the ensuiing novels, The Choice of the Cat and. The Tale of the Thunderbolt. Not too bad that I have those values mind you...because our society is founded upon and based upon a retention of those values by the majority of the families and individuals in America IMHO...but too bad that such a rich and intriguing story found it necessary to include them. All the same, I must say that E.E. Knight does tell a rich, intriguing, exciting and compelling story that is very hard to put down!
Rating: 
Summary: An exciting start to a promising new series...
Review: This author may be new, but, by golly, he can sure tell a story! The previous bad reviews puzzle me because this book and its sequel are finely plotted, full of interesting characters, both alien and human, and give the reader a thoroughly frightening scenario that is, indeed, post-apocalyptic with a vengeance. The main character, David Valentine, is believable and tough and actually has a sense of humor to go with his military skills. I, for one, am eager for the next episode in what I hope is a very long series.
Rating:
Summary: Debut that reads like an old pro at the top of his game
Review: This book caught my eye from the cover blurb - "Welcome to the year 2065 - Earth is under new management." And indeed it is. Combining sf and horror, Mr. Knight postulates a post-apocalyptic America controlled by a species of interstellar vampires. The book is reminiscent of early Heinlein, with a young heroic protagonist and some clever use of didactics in describing how the few surviving and rebellious humans form various primitive societies to fight back. It has the atmosphere and style of a book like Tunnel in the Sky, but is more graphic in its depiction of sex and violence, as befits its theme. Knight's strengths are his world-building and characterization. The reader becomes immersed in this world, and given the basic concept of invading vampire-like creatures, it's extrapolation from that point is both believable and chilling. At the same time, the protagonist David Valentine is a very likable hero with a tragic background, who has to make some difficult choices. There are many people who have decided that cooperating with the vampire-like Kurians is the only way to get along. Valentine isn't one of these people. Much of the action takes place in the midwest, particularly what is known as the Ozark Free Territory. As a life-long Missourian, I felt that Knight's descriptions were very apt and he seemed to capture this area of America very well. Knight's writing is assured and detailed, the pacing excellent. This does not read like a first effort. Do yourself a favor and give this new kid on the block a try. You won't be sorry. Way of the Wolf is the opening novel of what's being billed as the Vampire Earth series. I can't wait for the sequel, Choice of the Cat, due out in May of 2004.
Rating:
Summary: Debut that reads like an old pro at the top of his game
Review: This book caught my eye from the cover blurb - "Welcome to the year 2065 - Earth is under new management." And indeed it is. Combining sf and horror, Mr. Knight postulates a post-apocalyptic America controlled by a species of interstellar vampires. The book is reminiscent of early Heinlein, with a young heroic protagonist and some clever use of didactics in describing how the few surviving and rebellious humans form various primitive societies to fight back. It has the atmosphere and style of a book like Tunnel in the Sky, but is more graphic in its depiction of sex and violence, as befits its theme. Knight's strengths are his world-building and characterization. The reader becomes immersed in this world, and given the basic concept of invading vampire-like creatures, it's extrapolation from that point is both believable and chilling. At the same time, the protagonist David Valentine is a very likable hero with a tragic background, who has to make some difficult choices. There are many people who have decided that cooperating with the vampire-like Kurians is the only way to get along. Valentine isn't one of these people. Much of the action takes place in the midwest, particularly what is known as the Ozark Free Territory. As a life-long Missourian, I felt that Knight's descriptions were very apt and he seemed to capture this area of America very well. Knight's writing is assured and detailed, the pacing excellent. This does not read like a first effort. Do yourself a favor and give this new kid on the block a try. You won't be sorry. Way of the Wolf is the opening novel of what's being billed as the Vampire Earth series. I can't wait for the sequel, Choice of the Cat, due out in May of 2004.
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