Rating: 
Summary: Interesting premise, but could have been better...
Review: As a fan of the vampire genre, I really like this novel's premise, however I thought it was a little heavy-handed. I think it would have been better if it focused on parallels between vampirism and Communism, and limited the scope of this analogy to its Romanian locale, rather than limiting itself to the high-level metaphor of Communist blood-sucking being equivalent to vampire blood-sucking. I also felt like there was room for the characters to be taken a little further in their development. Many questions remained open at the end. I'd like to see a sequel, just to see more resolution to mythology and character elements.
Rating: 
Summary: A political vampire novel
Review: Brilliant satire. This is NOT JUST a vampire novel, in the same way that "Animal Farm" is NOT JUST a funny animal book. This gothic tale has our two vampire hunters (think of Zander and a really grown-up Buffy) taking on real-life dictator Nikolai Ceaucescu, here portrayed as the head bloodsucker of Roumania. Of course, the vampire tale is just the proverbial "spoonful of sugar" for the politics in the book, and occasionally, things begin to get a little heavy-handed. But Sipos doesn't let a reader's attention flag very long, because he knows people expect lots of vampires in a genre novel. In this, he doesn't disappoint -- the heroine doesn't get much time for speeches before the two of them are under attack again. The passages describing vampire depravity are made doubly chilling when set among the ruins of Roumania, which are described with an almost documentary flair. Part of the reason the two disparate elements of Vampire Nation work together so well is that Roumania is both a Communist wasteland and the homeland of Vlad Tepes, the real-life inspiration for Dracula. Author Thomas Sipos drew on his own childhood memory of the devastation of Roumania and turned it into a metaphor; in so doing he has created a vampire novel entirely on his own terms.
Rating:
Summary: A political vampire novel
Review: Brilliant satire. This is NOT JUST a vampire novel, in the same way that "Animal Farm" is NOT JUST a funny animal book. This gothic tale has our two vampire hunters (think of Zander and a really grown-up Buffy) taking on real-life dictator Nikolai Ceaucescu, here portrayed as the head bloodsucker of Roumania. Of course, the vampire tale is just the proverbial "spoonful of sugar" for the politics in the book, and occasionally, things begin to get a little heavy-handed. But Sipos doesn't let a reader's attention flag very long, because he knows people expect lots of vampires in a genre novel. In this, he doesn't disappoint -- the heroine doesn't get much time for speeches before the two of them are under attack again. The passages describing vampire depravity are made doubly chilling when set among the ruins of Roumania, which are described with an almost documentary flair. Part of the reason the two disparate elements of Vampire Nation work together so well is that Roumania is both a Communist wasteland and the homeland of Vlad Tepes, the real-life inspiration for Dracula. Author Thomas Sipos drew on his own childhood memory of the devastation of Roumania and turned it into a metaphor; in so doing he has created a vampire novel entirely on his own terms.
Rating: 
Summary: Subtle it is not!
Review: For whatever reason, it often seems that literary talent seems to go hand-in-hand with left-of-center politics. Hence, for a political conservative such as myself, it is often difficult to find novels that are enthralling, enjoyable reads that don't require one to gnash his teeth whenever the author decides to mix a little political propaganda into the mix. However, occasionally, the intrepid right-wing reader is lucky enough to come across an exception to the rule and Thomas Sipos' often frightening, frequently hilarious, and -- in the end -- disturbingly haunting Vampire Nation is one such beautiful exception.Set in the late '80s, Vampire Nation follows Henry, intrepid American screenwriter, into Romania where he discovers that the decaying communist regime is actually made up of decadent vampires. Somewhat forcefully recruited by an enigmatic woman, Henry is soon part of a violent conspiracy to assassinate Romania's ruler, Nicolae Ceausescu. Over the course of one night, Henry is forced into a netherworld where communist vampires live off the blood of the "common man" and where the country side is haunted by the ghosts of innocent men, women, and children sacrificed in the name of "the people." The analogy between vampirism and communism is very explicit but also very believable. As a writer, Sipos has a definite knack for creating dark images and many of the book's sequences will remain in the reader's head long after the final page has been turned. However, what makes this political book work is the fact that Sipos doesn't simply rest on his politics. Instead, the book's anti-communist message is mixed in with a thrilling, fast-moving story that will capture the interest and imagination of any reader, regardless of that reader's ideology. As scary as Sipos' vampires are, this is also, at-times, a laugh out loud novel and Sipos shows a wit that would make several better known writers envious. He has created a truly likeable and sympathetic everyman in his protaganist and its hard not to get caught up in Henry's adventures and his unlikely romance with a woman who might save his life or kill him, depending on the circumstances. All-in-all, this is an impressive, intelligent tour-de-force and truly both one of the best horror novels and one of the best books period that I've had the pleasure to read in a long time.
Rating: 
Summary: For readers of any political stripe
Review: For whatever reason, it often seems that literary talent seems to go hand-in-hand with left-of-center politics. Hence, for a political conservative such as myself, it is often difficult to find novels that are enthralling, enjoyable reads that don't require one to gnash his teeth whenever the author decides to mix a little political propaganda into the mix. However, occasionally, the intrepid right-wing reader is lucky enough to come across an exception to the rule and Thomas Sipos' often frightening, frequently hilarious, and -- in the end -- disturbingly haunting Vampire Nation is one such beautiful exception. Set in the late '80s, Vampire Nation follows Henry, intrepid American screenwriter, into Romania where he discovers that the decaying communist regime is actually made up of decadent vampires. Somewhat forcefully recruited by an enigmatic woman, Henry is soon part of a violent conspiracy to assassinate Romania's ruler, Nicolae Ceausescu. Over the course of one night, Henry is forced into a netherworld where communist vampires live off the blood of the "common man" and where the country side is haunted by the ghosts of innocent men, women, and children sacrificed in the name of "the people." The analogy between vampirism and communism is very explicit but also very believable. As a writer, Sipos has a definite knack for creating dark images and many of the book's sequences will remain in the reader's head long after the final page has been turned. However, what makes this political book work is the fact that Sipos doesn't simply rest on his politics. Instead, the book's anti-communist message is mixed in with a thrilling, fast-moving story that will capture the interest and imagination of any reader, regardless of that reader's ideology. As scary as Sipos' vampires are, this is also, at-times, a laugh out loud novel and Sipos shows a wit that would make several better known writers envious. He has created a truly likeable and sympathetic everyman in his protaganist and its hard not to get caught up in Henry's adventures and his unlikely romance with a woman who might save his life or kill him, depending on the circumstances. All-in-all, this is an impressive, intelligent tour-de-force and truly both one of the best horror novels and one of the best books period that I've had the pleasure to read in a long time.
Rating:
Summary: A riveting, unique, superbly written horror novel
Review: Henry Willoughby is a young American who travels to Transylvania on business during the closing years of the Cold War when that remote and legend-haunted Eastern European nation was firmly under the dominance of the communists. There he discovers to his sudden horror that Communism is vampirism, and a man is better dead than undead! Inspired by author Thomas Sipos' childhood memories of Transylvania under communist control, Vampire Nation is a riveting, unique, superbly written horror novel which is very highly recommended for all fans of the vampire genre.
Rating:
Summary: Frightfully close to reality
Review: I lived in Romania during the last 15 years of communism and yes, the atmosphere pervading the book is awfully close to reality. The dark misery and total fear, the orphans, the total surveillance, they are all true. All telephones in Romania did carry microphones, as did ashtrays in some restaurants. The grotesque behavior of the ruling class - Nicu Ceausescu pissing on the oysters, and many others, are witness accounts described in "Red Horizons: The True Story of Nicolae and Elena Ceausescus' Crimes, Lifestyle, and Corruption", by I.M.Pacepa, from which the author borrows happily, even in terms of actual words said. (Pacepa was the chief of Romanian espionage and defected to the West; his book is available on Amazon as well). All geographical and architectural descriptions are correct too. Vampirism is an elegant explanation that gives totalitarianism a sense of logic. I almost wish it were true, at least things would have made much more sense. I can't stress that enough - except for the actual drinking of blood and the heroes' attempt to kill Ceausescu, the book is almost a documentary one. Overall, I enjoyed reading it, the adventures of Henry and Anya are fun. I only gave it 4 stars because 5 stars should be reserved for the rare masterpieces of literature.
Rating:
Summary: Gave me a case of the chuckles...
Review: I very much liked the book. The author takes aim at all formsof collectivism, really, and at the same time injects a very dark(dark red?) humor.
Rating:
Summary: Vampire Nation
Review: Sipos's book is OK and well-written, but has the plot of many a Hollywood comedy-noir. Although I like some of the vampire symbolism, a lot of it seems cliche and trite. Also, there is little character development. Other than those setbacks, the book flows well and lovers of that genre would mostly enjoy this tale of Communist vampires.
Rating:
Summary: Genius at Play
Review: The author captures a period of time, at the height of Communist dominance, to provide a commentary on the evils of the totalitarian state. He does it with an entertaining action scenario. It would be hilarious if not such a sobering example of the idiocy of man.
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