They Thirst

Rating:
Summary: Should have been made into a movie...
Review: ...or someone should consider it soon. This is one of the few books I've read that would translate almost perfectly to the screen. This is no literary triumph. It seems to have been forgotten as well. What we have here is a wonderful, interesting, and thoroughly enjoyable vampire story. The author offers a version of the vampire myth that is both familiar and original. One thing I liked was the main villain, the vampire king. Not exactly who you'd expect to be the king of the undead, but it works quite well. The heros of the story are somewhat unlikely too... but this adds an element of realism to the story.
It's interesting that the author seems to make numerous blatant references to classic vampire literature such as Dracula, Carmilla, and even King's Salem's Lot, as well as films like Nosferatu. These references seem to be put there for hardcore vampire fans to notice and make the reading even more enjoyable. There is also a deep religious message in the story. It's a book dealing with the battle between Good and Evil.
Overall, this book was a very pleasant read. I could go as far as to say that this book could give Salem's Lot some competition. Unfortunately it seems to have been overlooked through the years. Someone adapt this book for film!

Rating:
Summary: convincing existence of a vampiric realm
Review: I first read this book in 1992, just when I was really getting involved in horror novels. I had never received as many chills down my spine from ANY movie. Mr. McCammon is an absolute writing genius! From the mental breakdown of the characters' innermost thoughts to the logical reasoning of the vampire's existence, I was 100% convinced that vampires existed after I was finished with "They Thirst". I have read both McCammon and King alternately and I will only read McCammon now because I will get bored otherwise. Since then, I have read nearly all of RM's novels and I love each of them. I have bought this book 4 times and each time I lend one out, I never get it back. It is my all-time favorite novel from my all-time favorite writer. Keep up the stellar work Mr. McCammon!

Rating:
Summary: The best vampire story I know of.
Review: I have read a lot of horror books in my life and have never read anything that comes close to being as scary as this book; I wouldn't even read it after dark, only during the day! The characters are so finely described that they seem to spring into life right off the pages. The story itself is so plausible that I couldn't imagine it wasn't really true and happening now. I sincerely hope they don't make a movie from this book because I have seen "Hollywood" butcher so many other great stories I know they will never get this one right. If the reason you read horror is to get scared then you must read "They Thirst".

Rating:
Summary: Still scary after 23 years...and it should be a movie
Review: I have read this book twice. Once in 1981 and again in 1992. Each time I gave the book to someone else to read and never saw it again. I will read the copy I'm ordering from Amazon and it will stay with me from that day forward!!!

What I think makes this book such a good read (and so hard to put down) is how McCammon has each character mentally and physically drawn towards each other while facing insurmountable evil and persevering good. Before you know it you want them to come together and you are hoping the different characters either live, die or managed to overcome evil.

I think that by the time you get to the end you can appreciate the outcome.

Rating:
Summary: Utter crap!
Review: I wish I could grant negative stars to this book. It is utter crap. I kept waiting in vain for the book to get good since it had some really nice reviews here. Finally I had to toss it aside after being more than 3/4 of the way through.

It is one of the worst books I have ever read. It reads like a cheesy action movie. All violence and sex and no substance. And, for goodness sakes, McCammon get a bilingual dictionary! This is supposed to take place in L.A., where more than half the population speaks spanish, yet the book is filled with glaring translation errors, completely unaccetable. The plot is childish, the action is sophomoric and the characters are complete stereotypes.

In the end I hat to bury a stake through its heart since it was sucking my life away. I want my time and money back.

Stay away from this book! If you want a good vampire novel, try 'Salem's Lot. Or the Anne Rice novels (the early trilogy, not the latest garbage).

Rating:
Summary: Keep your cross handy!
Review: I wore my cross for over a month after reading this book. Granted, I was 12 and just beginning to read about vampires, but, nevertheless, such a reaction cannot be ignored. Now 19, I have forgotten many plot details but still recall certain descriptions and the consistently chilling mood of the story. I recommend this book to any fan of the vampire genre, and the horror genre in general. Read this for an emotional response, not literary evaluation. I remember being vaguely dissatisfied by the ending, though that hasn't diminished my opinion of the book or my determination to read it again.

Rating:
Summary: Slept with the lights on for months!
Review: Picked up a first print of THEY THIRST at the five and dime back in 1981 when I was 14. I always loved horror books, ala Stephen King, and wasn't really expecting much when I cracked open Mr. McCammon's book later that evening up in my bedroom all alone. As I read it the hairs on my neck began to stick up and I began to hear noises outside of my bedroom door! HaHa I was so scared I remember that my feet were sweating! I read till dawn when my alarm clock went off for school. And like the title says I slept with the lights on for months after reading it. Since then I have read it about 4 or 5 times and funny to this day while in my 30's how those little hairs stick up on the back of my neck. You'll really love THEY THIRST, you can identify with it's characters in one way or another and the surreal visions of modern day horror will make your head spin....and your feet sweat!
Thank you Mr. McCammon!
Buck

Rating:
Summary: Good Book,But not great!
Review: They Thirst is a good Book, but not as great as people make it out to be. It has some truely scarey passages including, a little girl's plea for her victim to come outside to play; the pre-vampires cocoon state; the watch dogs over those pre-vampires and just the idea of vampires taking over a city. But I was always expecting more. I felt the book should've spent more time developing the plot of the people surviving the horrific nights during the vampire domination instead of focusing on a boring and typical murder case ,which takes up most of the beginning of the book. although I must say the ending is one of the best endings I've read in a long time.

Interview with a vampire is still my Favorite Vampire book mainely becasue of Rice's style of writing and her confidence to do something different. They thirst at times falls into to the typical vampire horror genre that it makes fun of through out the book.
With all of that said, I still recommend it, but don't expect "the best vampire book ever". it's just a good horror novel.

Rating:
Summary: Great premise, but ending was a letdown.
Review: What can one say about a book of epic proportions! It is a story well written and set in our modern times of vice, greed and the apathy concerning our fellow human beings.

It is a story of a boy, a vampire that has the teachings of Alexander the great, wit a master of other-worldy wispness, a jaded police officer with old world roots and stories, a crass group of bikers, LA gangs, priests, mediums, drug pushers and the roach - a simpleton pest exterminator that plays a pivotal role in defining the low point of the human condition.

Should be made into a classic movie!