The Empire of Fear

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Premise -- Middle Section Drags; no "Salem's Lot"
Review: "Empire of Fear" defies the expectations created by the sub-title ("An epic vampire novel") and its ominous cover art . . . the book seems to promise a titanic, action-packed battle between humans and vampires, but takes a decidedly different, yet interesting tack.

Brian Stableford's novel opens conventionally, even if operating under a wonderfully unique premise. The world is ruled by vampires -- Attila the Hun and Charlamagne are both vampires who have conquered Western Europe, and their henchmen, including Richard Lionheart, Vlad the Impaler (no great shock, there), and even Pope Alexander are also vampires. Africa is also conquered by vampires, although the Muslims have been resisting the vampiric hordes. The novel's first chapter, set in London, shows the world in uneasy balance, with the vampire aristocracy ruling over a generally pacified yet often unruly human population.

That is, until scientist, mechanician, and handsomest man in England, Edmund Cordery, strikes a blow for humans in a devious, vicious manner. His son, Noell, takes up the standard, but instead of leading a mighty army, Noell gets involved in a journey of scientific discovery into the causes of vampirism. Using what may be the world's first microscope, Noell spends much of the book peering through its lenses and speculating on scientific theory.

Surprisingly, for a book that has vampires, pirates, seiges, and bizarre religious rites, the book is rather flat. Stableford is clearly more interested in the ideas presented by vampirism than with writing a hair-raising Gothic horror novel or a gripping page-turner, and his writing cannot be said to "crackle" or "leap from the page" -- even his dueling scenes are written in an expository, rote prose. Indeed, the largest section of the book is focused on Noell's time in Africa, where he and his comrades have journeyed to find the legendary birthplace of vampirism. This section is rather tedious, if only because the characters are so exhausted, diseased, and despairing about their circumstances.

Ultimately, the final section of the book is set in the modern age, and we meet one of the characters from earlier in the book. Stableford concludes his novel with a very touching, very thoughtful scene involving a vampire and a crippled boy with an unusual link to one of Stableford's heroes.

If you're looking for an eerie vampire thriller, pick up King's "'Salem's Lot," or some other novel. "Empire of Fear" is not your standard beach fare or for staying up late at night to get a good dose of the heeby-jeebies . . . it is a careful, well-researched work regarding the quest for knowledge and a rumination on mortality.

Rating:
Summary: Not suave geeks in cloaks
Review: .

The Empire Of Fear is an alternate-history vampire novel. But it is science fiction rather than fantasy; these vampires are indeed immortal, near-invunerable, and drink blood, but they are real, not supernatural, and, rather than hiding in the shadows, they rule.

In this world, like and yet unlike our own, Stableford traces the ancient struggle between doctrinal absolutism and free enquiry, superstition and science, and defeats the ancient empire of fear in the only way it can ever be defeated - through knowledge.

**Health warning**.

This book will disappoint fans of Anne Rice. Readers looking for suave geeks in cloaks should go elsewhere.

It is a book of ideas, not a mess of gothic cliche. Buy it and read it only if you want to learn something true, real, and precious about the nature of knowledge and ignorance, of power and fear. .

Rating:
Summary: Intriguing Premise -- Middle Section Drags; no "Salem's Lot"
Review: Brian Stableford's "Empire of Fear" offers up one of the most intriguing premises for alternate history -- much of the world is run by aristocratic vampires. Charlamagne, Attila the Hun, Richard Lionheart, Vlad the Impaler (okay, that one isn't exactly a stretch), and Pope Alexander are all vampires, and they seek to maintain their power through a combination of fear, superstition, and benign condescension toward their mortal subjects.

For many authors, this premise would lead to a titanic battle for the future of the world -- man versus vampire, with a noble commoner taking down the vampiric empire. Indeed, Stableford starts out with this premise, as Edmund Cordery, scientist, lover to vampire women, and generally considered the handsomest man in England, strikes a vicous blow at the vampires. His son, Noell, takes up the cause from his fallen father, and the first few chapters are fairly action-packed as young Cordery meets pirates, dodges arrest attempts, and flees from the wrath of the vampires.

Soon, however, the book begins to drag as Noell pursues the scientific causes of vampirism using an ingenious invention, the microscope. Noell and his new comrades journey to Africa, home of the world's first vampires. Noell continues his research, and eventually he and his comrades journey to the fabled vampire Eden, the mystical land of Adamawara. Through a journey of great torment that seems to go on forever, Noell and (most of) his comrades arrive at Adamawara, and their quest for the secrets of the vampires continues.

Stableford writes in a clear style that befits the scientific pursuits of Noell and his father . . . but it makes for a tedious work of fiction, particularly when Noell is stricken with a mysterious disease in Adamawara. Stableford creates some interesting set pieces, including vampiric rites and the siege of Malta by Vlad the Impaler and Richard Lionheart, but these scenes are lacking in "oomph," and are presented as matter-of-factly as Noell's descriptions of his scientific exploits. The stint in Africa will have you tapping your toe, wondering when Noell and his comrades will just "get on with it."

A couple of episodes are chilling, including Noell's final interrogation by Vlad and a midnight encounter with African warriors and a mysterious savior. But these are isolated instances in what is generally a dull book.

In his defense, Stableford has written a book about ideas and the quest for truth. I was reminded of the historian who quipped that the trait that every good historian needs is "an iron butt." Apparently the quest for the truth of vampires requires the same trait. As a result, Stableford's novel does not match the expectations of the reader who snags it off the shelf based on the title, the ominous cover art, and the sub-title, "An Epic Vampire Novel," all of which seem to promise a Gothic thriller.

A dense, thoughtful novel, "Empire of Fear" concludes in the modern age as one of the vampires from Noell's age meets a tormented youth. It's intriguing to see how Stableford's world has evolved, and the choices that it forces on the two final characters.

An interesting read long on ideas but short on thrills and chills -- just make sure you don't pick it up thinking that you've got a page-turner suitable for the beach or for keeping you up all night in a "'Salem's Lot"-induced panic wondering about that tree limb banging away at your bedroom window.