"I think that my vampires in general were influenced by my being allowed to watch the Hammer films. Vampire Circus, also shown as Circus of Fear, was one of those movies . . ."1) COUNTESS DRACULA . . . Richelle Mead, our favourite vampiress stopped by yesterday to sign copies of her latest bloody offering, The Golden Lily (9781595143181) 18.99. This is the second installment in her Bloodlines series, which was spun off from her popular Vampire Academy sextet. And thankfully, her vampires are not even a bit sparkly. Unbeknownst to me, Ms. Mead was originally a Michigander. She was born and raised on the east side of Kalamazoo. As per usual, it is first come, first served on signed copies . . .
--Laurell K. Hamilton
2) THESE ARE THE DAMNED . . . Now here's something you can really sink your teeth into: Frank Langella's autobiography Dropped Names (9780062094476) 25.99. Hollywood and Broadway actor Frank Langella is probably best known for portraying Dracula in the eponymously named 1977 Broadway play (which featured production and stage sets designed by Edward Gorey) and the 1979 film of the same name. He was cast as Richard Nixon in the movie Nixon/Frost and was nominated for a best actor Academy Award for his portrayal of the former President. He also won a Tony Award for his role in the stage play. In his book, he is not afraid to deal out the dirt . . .
3) THE BRIDES OF DRACULA . . . "Dina din din din da din din ding . . ." Now I have Arthur 'Guitar Boogie' Smith's 'Dueling Banjos' stuck in my head. This month we have two new entries in two venerable dueling vampire series. True Blood maven Charlaine Harris' Deadlocked (9781937007447) 27.95 has hit the bestseller lists with a vengeance. Sookie Stackhouse and crew are back in this twelfth volume of her series and all is not right in the sleepy town of Bon Temps. Oddly enough, her good friend Laurell K Hamilton has also released Kiss The Dead (9780425247549) 27.95, which is a continuation of her Anita Blake Vampire Hunter cycle. A fifteen year old girl has been abducted by vampires and Anita Blake is on the case. Fun for the whole family . . .
4) CAPTAIN KRONOS -- VAMPIRE HUNTER . . . Speaking of vampire hunters, the movie Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter opens on June 22. I know a movie trailer can make just about anything look good, but this one may live up to the hype. Seth Grahame-Smith's original book is available in mass market (9781455510184) 7.99 and tradepaper (9781455510177) 14.99 . . .
On this day in Byznatine Empire History (June 15)
Emperor Andronikos III died in Constantinople at the age of 44 in 1341.
Odds & Sods
I still believe the Detroit Tigers will win the Central Division by the end of the season. If you are a fan like me, William Anderson's The Glory Years of the Detroit Tigers 1920-1950 (9780814335895) 39.95 should be added to your collection. I remember talking about Schoolboy Rowe, King Hal, and other Tigers with my grandfather many years ago. It brought back some good memories and it reminded me that baseball players used to have cool nicknames, too . . .
I saw that Thomas Pynchon finally succumbed to the e-book phenomenon today. I kinda wonder if Gravity's Rainbow (9780143039945) 21.00 reads the same on an e-reader . . .
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