The Dracula Tape

Rating:
Summary: very very good
Review: a wonderful tale depicting Draculas point of veiw, not as a cruel monster, but as kind and misunderstood vampire. i enjoyed reading this book and plan to read all the others in the series as well.

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly satisfying read!
Review: Anyone who has ever read the original "Dracula" NEEDS to read this fantastic retelling.
Fred Saberhagen does a fine job of transforming the Count from the uncomplicated, run-of-the-mill villain he was in Bram Stoker's story into a likable anti-hero with a full-blown personality of his own. (His subtle, incredibly dry sense of humor had me giggling out loud numerous times.)
Overall, this is a well thought-out, well-written, thoroughly entertaining book, with a nice touch of romance and a GREAT ending. Very highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: A thoroughly satisfying read!
Review: Anyone who has ever read the original "Dracula" NEEDS to read this fantastic retelling.
Fred Saberhagen does a fine job of transforming the Count from the uncomplicated, run-of-the-mill villain he was in Bram Stoker's story into a likable anti-hero with a full-blown personality of his own. (His subtle, incredibly dry sense of humor had me giggling out loud numerous times.)
Overall, this is a well thought-out, well-written, thoroughly entertaining book, with a nice touch of romance and a GREAT ending. Very highly recommended!

Rating:
Summary: delightful spoof
Review: Everything you think you know about Dracula is wrong. Vlad is actually a noble soul who just happens to be a vampire. He loved Mina and was just trying to help Lucy. Jonathan Harker was a boring young fool and Van Helsing was a fantical old fool. Whew! Fred Saberhagen takes an axe to the vampire legend and it almost works. The book is silly, funny and at for whole chapters quite witty. It doesn't take itself seriously and neither should the reader. Enjoy the laughs.

Rating:
Summary: The Dracula Tape
Review: Fred Saberhagen has an amazing way of telling the Dracula story through the eyes of Dracula himself. This book is an easy read, but you'll be mesmerized by the story and wont want to put it down. Saberhagen's Dracula series is one of the best vampire series I have ever read. There is suspense, horror, humor, history, and romance. Read one of the Dracula series & you'll be hooked & want to read them all!

Rating:
Summary: Marvelous!
Review: Have you ever wondered about how Van Helsing could have (safely) given Lucy Westenra four blood transfusions in four days from four different people, without bothering to check for blood types or RH factors? Have you ever wondered how the count could be killed by two knives, one slashing his throat, the other stabbing his heart, when all vampire lore in and out of the novel suggests that normal weapons are useless against him? Have you ever wondered, if you yourself are not religious, why religious artifacts would have powerful effects against him? Then you MUST read this book. Not only is this a fabulous retelling of the story from Dracula's viewpoint, but this version explains and clarifies these and many other weak points in the original tale and is, frankly, a much more enjoyable read for a modern reader.

Rating:
Summary: Dracula as *not* told by Bram Stoker
Review: Have you ever wondered if Bram Stoker had an axe to grind? Here is your chance to hear the other side of the story. Vlad himself comes forward to give his version of the events described in the famous novel.

Rating:
Summary: Start the series with this book
Review: I believe Saberhagen wrote two of his other Dracula novels before this one, but The Dracula Tape sets the stage for an introduction the Count as he "really" is. My wife and I have read the entire series, and this is now the definitive Dracula in our house. Bram Stoker, with his admiration for "the imbecile Van Helsing," tells a skewed version of the story.

Rating:
Summary: Start the series with this book
Review: I believe Saberhagen wrote two of his other Dracula novels before this one, but The Dracula Tape sets the stage for an introduction the Count as he "really" is. My wife and I have read the entire series, and this is now the definitive Dracula in our house. Bram Stoker, with his admiration for "the imbecile Van Helsing," tells a skewed version of the story.

Rating:
Summary: Great Fun
Review: I really enjoyed this book.

Dracula wants to set the record straight. That horrible book is just not true. To accomplish this, he conjures up a huge snow storm to trap a descendent of one of the original characters and then leaves the real story on a tape recorder.

At first I thought that this was very tongue and cheek, with Dracula trying to convince us that he was just misunderstood. He really wasn't that bad. He didn't bring a baby for the women in his castle to feed on; it was a pig. He didn't kill all those people on the ship; it was the crazy 1st mate. He didn't kill Lucy on purpose; he was just saving her from crazy Van Helsing. And on and on.

But by the end of the book, which I will not divulge, I believed that Dracula really wasn't such a bad guy. The fun part for me was in the process of convincing me.

My star ratings:

One star - couldn't finish the book
Two stars - read the book, but did a lot of skipping or scanning. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection or search out other books by the author
Three stars - enjoyable read. Wouldn't add the book to my permanent collection. Would judge other books by the author individually.
Four stars - Liked the book. Would keep the book or would look for others by the same author.
Five stars - One of my all time favorites. Will get a copy in hardback to keep and will actively search out others by the same author.