Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula is a classic piece of steam punk fiction, exploring a world where Dracula beats Van Hellsing and spreads Vampirism throughout Britain. Beyond the plot the book is an enjoyable mashup of various different pieces of literature set in or around the Victorian era, with Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Sherlock Holmes and Fu Manchu to name three out of dozens.
The story follows Victorian secret agent Charles Beauregard and centuries old vampire Geneviève Dieudonné as they try to track down an alternate Jack the Ripper, who in this world is a killer of vampire harlots. Stakes are raised as the killings shake the already loose foundations of society, in a state of upheaval after Dracula’s recent coup.
The book introduces and develops the setting excellently, capturing a dark, mist drenched London sliding steadily into chaos. The changes introduced by vampire society are handled excellently, showing 'new-born' vampires rising to higher power before descending into madness at the story's climax.
This makes up somewhat for the rather slow pace of the plot in the first portion of the book. The story takes a long time to get going, with the two main characters meeting up a third of the way through book. At times the writer seems to overindulge in reference, with scenes grinding to a halt on occasion to allow the characters to list off another half dozen names in cameo of characters who will never appear or be important in the book.
That said, once things get going the characters are very engaging. Beauregard’s boring fiancé is eventually shed, leaving him and Geneviève enter into a romance that enlivens both their characters. A few excellent side characters are introduced who lend different view points on the new society. While most characters are well handled there is a bothersome point near the end when one becomes both evil and an idiot in the space of two chapters as if Newman is in a rush to convince us he deserves to be bumped off moments before he is.
The story builds to a climax that is at the same time grandiose and faintly disappointing. The heroes never make much of an effort to solve the ‘mystery’ stumbling upon the solution only once enough time has passed. Instead of a showdown or chase scene with the Ripper he comes quietly, leading into Dracula’s sole appearance in the novel and the true climax. This too is oddly disappointing, as while Dracula is physically impressive, he shows no particular guile, failing to refute the assertions made throughout the story by other characters that he is essentially a moron. The ending is spectacular but still fails to live up to the build up lent it by the rest of the book.
Overall the book is solid despite my quibbles. The setting alone is enough to carry it, the rest, as they say, is gravy.
The story follows Victorian secret agent Charles Beauregard and centuries old vampire Geneviève Dieudonné as they try to track down an alternate Jack the Ripper, who in this world is a killer of vampire harlots. Stakes are raised as the killings shake the already loose foundations of society, in a state of upheaval after Dracula’s recent coup.
The book introduces and develops the setting excellently, capturing a dark, mist drenched London sliding steadily into chaos. The changes introduced by vampire society are handled excellently, showing 'new-born' vampires rising to higher power before descending into madness at the story's climax.
This makes up somewhat for the rather slow pace of the plot in the first portion of the book. The story takes a long time to get going, with the two main characters meeting up a third of the way through book. At times the writer seems to overindulge in reference, with scenes grinding to a halt on occasion to allow the characters to list off another half dozen names in cameo of characters who will never appear or be important in the book.
That said, once things get going the characters are very engaging. Beauregard’s boring fiancé is eventually shed, leaving him and Geneviève enter into a romance that enlivens both their characters. A few excellent side characters are introduced who lend different view points on the new society. While most characters are well handled there is a bothersome point near the end when one becomes both evil and an idiot in the space of two chapters as if Newman is in a rush to convince us he deserves to be bumped off moments before he is.
The story builds to a climax that is at the same time grandiose and faintly disappointing. The heroes never make much of an effort to solve the ‘mystery’ stumbling upon the solution only once enough time has passed. Instead of a showdown or chase scene with the Ripper he comes quietly, leading into Dracula’s sole appearance in the novel and the true climax. This too is oddly disappointing, as while Dracula is physically impressive, he shows no particular guile, failing to refute the assertions made throughout the story by other characters that he is essentially a moron. The ending is spectacular but still fails to live up to the build up lent it by the rest of the book.
Overall the book is solid despite my quibbles. The setting alone is enough to carry it, the rest, as they say, is gravy.
