Rating: 
Summary: Dan Simmons Writes one heck of a vampire novel!
Review: Dan Simmons writes one of THE best vampire novels of the modern times. His epolagues of an ancient vampire gives great insight to what is really going on behind the infants past. His handling of combining long-standing vampire myth with modern ideas is exquisite and masterful. I can't think of any other book to recommend to new initiates into the gothic lore of vampires. Dan Simmons has found a subject that, on one hand has been done to death (no pun intended), but on the other, gives a new light and meaning to the truth behind vampire history. One of the best around, definitely.
Rating:
Summary: Makes one wonder about the reality of the undead
Review: Dan Simmons wrote a novel taken from Bram Stokers "Dracula", and using it as the title: "Children of the Night". This novel is an epic on Vlad Tsepes, the Impaler, Dracula (Son of Dracul-- or Order of the Dragon). One cannot put the story down easily as it continues to move through time itself from past to present without leaving any place to really put down the book for a break. If you are a fan of Dracula, or any real historical data on the life of Dracula, as seen through the eyes of many, then this book is indeed a primary source. And if you are not a fan of Dracula, or the idea of, and reality of, the idea of such a person, you will become a Vlad/Dracula fanatic and will spend hours researching the character yourself and find that Dan Simmons left very few leafs unturned. And those left unturned, I believe, were intentional. I could write about what occurs in the novel, but what's the point? Read it for yourself and make sure that your keep the light on while you do so.
Rating:
Summary: Makes one wonder about the reality of the undead
Review: Dan Simmons wrote a novel taken from Bram Stokers "Dracula", and using it as the title: "Children of the Night". This novel is an epic on Vlad Tsepes, the Impaler, Dracula (Son of Dracul-- or Order of the Dragon). One cannot put the story down easily as it continues to move through time itself from past to present without leaving any place to really put down the book for a break. If you are a fan of Dracula, or any real historical data on the life of Dracula, as seen through the eyes of many, then this book is indeed a primary source. And if you are not a fan of Dracula, or the idea of, and reality of, the idea of such a person, you will become a Vlad/Dracula fanatic and will spend hours researching the character yourself and find that Dan Simmons left very few leafs unturned. And those left unturned, I believe, were intentional. I could write about what occurs in the novel, but what's the point? Read it for yourself and make sure that your keep the light on while you do so.
Rating:
Summary: Emotionally disturbing work, a successful foray into horror.
Review: Fantastic book! I know that a book has gotten under my skin when I find myself urging others to read it so that I can talk about it with them. This is one of those books. I couldn't put it down, even though there were times I could feel the gorge rising as I read. I love when a book can take me places - it's no longer so much fun when the book takes me to places I would rather not be and I don't have any choice in the matter.
Rating: 
Summary: I love this book!
Review: I am a big fan of scary novels and I enjoy being on the edge of my seat when I read a book! Throughout this entire book I was always asking myself, "what is going to happen next! " It kept me reading and interested! This is a very good book and I advise you to read it!
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest vampire novels I've ever read. Period.
Review: I didn't really know what to expect when I bought this book on a whim. What I found when I read it was no less than the best rendition of the Dracula legend I've ever encountered. Simmons is obviously a man who is familiar with his history, and he sticks to the documented truth as much as possible while still making our man Vlad Tepes a vampire. I know well the history of Vlad IV of Wallachia, and I could honestly accept this book as a valid testemony of his life -- even though I don't really believe in vampires, this book could almost change my mind. The vampire here is not so much presented as a demon-possessed fiend of Hell, but rather as someone with a bizarre medical condition. Simmons appears to know his medical terminology well, as medicine plays a crucial role in this book. The medical details will not overly bother the astute, intelligent reader (they didn't for me, at any rate). Finally, I should add that this book does deal with post-Communist Romania, and the orphanages found therein (if you've seen the 20/20 specials, you know that these can be as horrific as anything Hollywood can come out with -- take this as a recommendation or as a caveat, as you care to), and this very fact adds a certain level of gloomy atmosphere that makes this book even more serious and grim. All in all, if you are a fan of Dracula and want to see him get some serious ink, buy this book and thank me later.
Rating:
Summary: One of the finest vampire novels I've ever read. Period.
Review: I didn't really know what to expect when I bought this book on a whim. What I found when I read it was no less than the best rendition of the Dracula legend I've ever encountered. Simmons is obviously a man who is familiar with his history, and he sticks to the documented truth as much as possible while still making our man Vlad Tepes a vampire. I know well the history of Vlad IV of Wallachia, and I could honestly accept this book as a valid testemony of his life -- even though I don't really believe in vampires, this book could almost change my mind. The vampire here is not so much presented as a demon-possessed fiend of Hell, but rather as someone with a bizarre medical condition. Simmons appears to know his medical terminology well, as medicine plays a crucial role in this book. The medical details will not overly bother the astute, intelligent reader (they didn't for me, at any rate). Finally, I should add that this book does deal with post-Communist Romania, and the orphanages found therein (if you've seen the 20/20 specials, you know that these can be as horrific as anything Hollywood can come out with -- take this as a recommendation or as a caveat, as you care to), and this very fact adds a certain level of gloomy atmosphere that makes this book even more serious and grim. All in all, if you are a fan of Dracula and want to see him get some serious ink, buy this book and thank me later.
Rating:
Summary: Put's Stephen King to Shame
Review: I have to say that Dan Simmons is probably my second favorite horror and sci-fi writer. His hypnotic and down-to-earth narration hooks you into turning page after page until you get to the end of the book. I've always loved stong child characters in literature, and D. Simmons doesn't disappoint.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent Read
Review: I loved this novel! Dan Simmons took an ages-old story and combined it with more modern history and threw in some hemotology labwork and came up with a great book. I love the way he wove the legend of blood-sucking vampires into a plausible tale of a slightly different kind of human, who just happens to need blood to exist...
Rating: 
Summary: So bad that I couldn't finish it
Review: I made it about 2/3rds through this book and just couldn't takeit anymore. I didn't care about the characters, I felt I knew exactlywhat was going to happen, and I was just plain bored.The book is a mix of hard medical science and vampire myths. There is no sensuality to these vampires so if your an Anne Rice fan don't even think about it. Also be warned that some of the interludes/dreams of Vlad Teppish are EXTREMELY graphic and disturbing. I usually don't mind things like this too much but it just wasn't needed in this case. The only people I can think of that would like this book would be hardcore medical thriller readers that are looking for a bit of the fantastical.
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