Vampire Virus

Rating:
Summary: Not Too Imaginative
Review: Being a big fan of vampire/paranormal literature, I had to read a book called "The Vampire Virus." Unfortunately the title was the most origional thing about the story. The basic plot isn't too bad, although not very imaginative. The details were the most annoying things about the book. For instance what, if anything, did the female doctor Bailey have about her that caused two ancient vampires to fall madly in love with her?? She, like the other characters, was very shallow and flat -- no real development at all. Nothing in the little personality description would lead me to believe anyone, let alone two powerful beings, would give her a second glance. And then there were the loose ends; what happened to the priest and, by the way, what did he find in the rain forest that scared him, why was his involvement with a woman in any way pertinent and, mostly, why was he in the story at all? Why was the dying gangster -- who wanted only to die in his own bed -- in the story? Why bother going into detail over these characters if they weren't going anywhere? As I said, the plot is sturdy, although predictable. If you don't mind all the annoying loose ends and hard to believe sub-plots, it isn't as bad a "vampire read" as some other books currently out (Such as "Blue Moon -- Anita Blake Series". Ugh!) Just don't expect too much.

Rating:
Summary: Not Too Imaginative
Review: Being a big fan of vampire/paranormal literature, I had to read a book called "The Vampire Virus." Unfortunately the title was the most origional thing about the story. The basic plot isn't too bad, although not very imaginative. The details were the most annoying things about the book. For instance what, if anything, did the female doctor Bailey have about her that caused two ancient vampires to fall madly in love with her?? She, like the other characters, was very shallow and flat -- no real development at all. Nothing in the little personality description would lead me to believe anyone, let alone two powerful beings, would give her a second glance. And then there were the loose ends; what happened to the priest and, by the way, what did he find in the rain forest that scared him, why was his involvement with a woman in any way pertinent and, mostly, why was he in the story at all? Why was the dying gangster -- who wanted only to die in his own bed -- in the story? Why bother going into detail over these characters if they weren't going anywhere? As I said, the plot is sturdy, although predictable. If you don't mind all the annoying loose ends and hard to believe sub-plots, it isn't as bad a "vampire read" as some other books currently out (Such as "Blue Moon -- Anita Blake Series". Ugh!) Just don't expect too much.

Rating:
Summary: For sure, this book was great! No doubt!
Review: I decided to read a book for the fun of it, picked this one out and got a burst of excitement. I mainly like it for its originality and unexpected surprise characters! Good book Mikey. Whoever says different I got two words for you......SUCK IT!

Rating:
Summary: Fairly bland, superficial killer virus/vampire combination.
Review: I found this book to be pretty ho-hum. To his credit, the author does keep to a fairly straight storyline, not drifting so much that the reader can't keep up. However, the characters lacked individual depth, the character relationships were even less developed, and the science appeared to have no preparatory research. Most bothersome were the elements similar to another notable vampire-genre author (who was slightly denigrated by context, by the way). I found The Vampire Virus to be a very flat, dull ride. The amusing parts were in more of an "Oh come on!" sort of way, amused at the writing instead of by the writing.

Rating:
Summary: Was Entertaining...
Review: I happened on this book by accident and was pleasantly surprised by it. I read for the pure entertainment of a new world in my mind, and enjoyed where this book took me. I recommend it to any of you that enjoy an interesting story, with a little make believe (after all, isn't that what fiction is all about?)

Rating:
Summary: Incredible work of art by Romkey, once again
Review: I have read "I, Vampire" by Michael Romkey and thought that it was one of the best vampire books I have ever read. Once I read "The Vampire Virus" I found out that he stayed consistant in his exelence. The suspence was building from the begining to the end. Michael is known for having books that break the boundries of where a vampire book is "suposed" to be. In fact, many people who dislike vampire books liked this one, and vice virsa. This is defenetly a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible work of art by Romkey, once again
Review: I have read "I, Vampire" by Michael Romkey and thought that it was one of the best vampire books I have ever read. Once I read "The Vampire Virus" I found out that he stayed consistant in his exelence. The suspence was building from the begining to the end. Michael is known for having books that break the boundries of where a vampire book is "suposed" to be. In fact, many people who dislike vampire books liked this one, and vice virsa. This is defenetly a must read.

Rating:
Summary: Incredible work of art by Romkey, once again
Review: I have read "I, Vampire" by Michael Romkey and thought that it was one of the best vampire books I have ever read. Once I read "The Vampire Virus" I found out that he stayed consistant in his exelence. The suspence was building from the begining to the end. Michael is known for having books that break the boundries of where a vampire book is "suposed" to be. In fact, many people who dislike vampire books liked this one, and vice virsa. This is defenetly a must read.

Rating:
Summary: The plot thickens.
Review: I have read all of the romkey vampire books. I was hooked from the first to the last. Though you should really start from the begining of these books, you can enjoy each one by itself. As with any series of books, don't expect to understand what is going on without starting from the begining. Now if you are expecting a "vampire" book that goes by the rules of Hollywood, then perhaps you might find the latenight movies more suitable. Romkey does an excelent job making you believe that their might really be vampires out there. After reading the series, you might start to wonder yourself.

Rating:
Summary: Mildly Infectious...Easy, Entertaining, & Fun!
Review: I was thoroughly happy when I came across this title while randomly searching for horror reading on the Phoenix Public Library website...all copies were checked out, so I was compelled to put a copy on hold...and I was rewarded on Friday with a copy to read. I just finished it today (SATURDAY...yes, one day later). For those who don't know me...let me be the VERY first to admit I LOVE vampire novels...all kinds of vampire novels (and movies, and TV series, and short stories, and so one and so on...). I love the good ones, the bad ones (it's like sex and pizza for me...even the bad ones are still pretty good)...the mediocre ones, the heavy ones, the fluffy ones...he, he...well, I guess you get my drift here!

The premise, that vampirism is a VIRUS, invading the human body and transforming it, is certainly NOT new...its been seen in countless other novels, movies, ect...(both good and bad, well explained and completely implausible...it's been around the block a few times)...but it IS a plausible explanation for Vampirism (if you want to entertain the idea that it COULD...or does, depending on how you look at the world...actually have happened at some point in human history...or in the future...he, he). So it makes for an easily "suspension of reality" mode in my book...especially given the increasing voracity and occurrence of new viruses popping up these days.

Starting with the premise that vampirism is a the result of a viral infection which transforms humans INTO something simultaneously human (they can walk about and function in full day light, they eat and drink, they enjoy many of the other pleasures of human existence -- sex, alcohol) and decidedly inhuman...driven to consume human blood and in certain transformations become insane monsters who are uncontrollably violent in nature (the premise in this book is that most vampires are GOOD, or even benevolent, yet elusive members of society).

Romkey certainly does a wonderful job of weaving all of these diverse elements into an interesting plot which is easy to read and defiantly enjoyable...but still not the best I've ever read! It IS engaging....easy to read...I'd say it was a bit on the fluffy side...no real depth to the characters and no startling plot twists...it's not overly predictable...but it's also not overly had to figure out the "ending" well before the end of the book...

Some of the "flaws" for me include:

Dr. Bailey...it's NEVER explained WHY two strikingly handsome, very old vampires find her so irresistible...sure she's beautiful...but to have two vampires (men who've been around long enough to see a plethora of beautiful women) almost immediately, fall madly in love with her...is disconcerting...I would have liked to have "known her better," making it easier to make this leap. The author does not develop this character very well and it's hard to have sympathy or truly worry about her well being as the story develops because we simply never get to know her beyond a superficial level. The same is true for most of the characters in the book.

Father Xavier is introduced as a lonely, "fallen" priest who apparently had an affair in Mexico City and has been exiled to this desolate little town, where the natives apparently have NO use for him whatsoever. The point of this character is mainly to carry the story line along (there are other plot devices that could have better servied Romkey here) and perhaps provide a point for "moral outrage" where we might fail to find it and to serve as a counter point for some mild development of Lazaro's "history near the end of the book...his departure was abrupt and I felt this cloud have been developed and used in a slightly different manner and served the story line MUCH better, if the author had taken some additional time to do so.

Ludwig/Samas/Beethoven...and the illuminati...PLEASE...this was ridiculous beyond reason...a group of benevolent vampires -- age old and apparently VERY talented as well...(a vampire support group as one reviewer called it)...who's purpose and function are never fully explained -- but I have NOT read I, Vampire or the other two books in that series...so this may be why I find this disconcerting...still even if I had, Beethoven coming to South America to "fix" this little problem...seems a bit far fetched to me...and I usually have not trouble with "suspension of belief."

The old man...the priest visits an old man living on the mountain regularly...but we only get a very brief glimpse of him and his purpose ?????? there doesn't appear to be one...why even have this character????

Having said all this...I still enjoyed the book...a much nicer way to spend a Friday evening/Saturday morning than watching re-runs on TV and cartoons with my kids...don't get me wrong...I love an episode of Scooby, but this was an entertaining light read!!

I particularly enjoyed the archeological/scientific elements (this could have been a really long and equally enjoyable book if the author had developed these story elements more) and the introduction of animals as carriers/infectors of the virus...very nice element, I thought!

So...if you need a good, quick, light read...I highly recommend this book... if your looking to become engrossed in another era or "life..." it's not going to happen with this book!! Enjoy it for what it is...entertaining fluff!! I think this qualifies as a book version of a "B" movie (and I love those too)!!!

I give it a "B" also...entertaining and easy to read...but not a lot of substance and certainly not to be counted among the WORST vampire stories I've ever read!!