Blood and Other Cravings

This strong anthology of 17 contemporary horror tales addresses the concept of vampirism from a variety of angles, though the uniformity of theme does eventually become wearying. Talented contributors, including well-known fantasists Barry Malzberg and Elizabeth Bear and newcomers Nicole J. LeBoeuf and Reggie Oliver, move from WWII through 1970s New York City nightclub culture into purely science fictional worlds while investigating both original twists on the traditional bloodsucker and more subtle forms of vampirism such as feeding upon souls, passion, and the essence of life itself. Highlights include Kaaron Warren's powerful opener, "All You Can Do Is Breathe"; Margo Lanagan's "Mulberry Boys," a tale of silk-spinning children; Lisa Tuttle's "Shelf-Life," a suburban tragedy; and Oliver's "Baskerville's Midgets," in which an aged landlady houses a demanding vaudeville troupe. Datlow (Blood Is Not Enough) has created another must-have anthology for discerning vampire and horror fans. (Sept.)