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Welcome to The Dark Side of the Glass, the official newsletter of
the Illuminati Mailing List. I will speak to any person interested in
helping out with the newsletter, in private message - please send your
questions, comments, suggestions, etc. to sacrosanctum@fcmail.com and I will
get back to you as soon as I can. Please let me know if there are more
topics or subjects you would like to see added to this newsletter.
Also, I have a new source for gothic-type bands, stores, people,
and books and businesses that cater to our more eclectic tastes. If you
all are interested, I will add the appropriate sections to this
newsletter. So please let me know.
Always, Marrah
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March 1999
Walking in shadows
You can't run from what you are |
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1. New Book Release Profile
2. Video Rental Review
3. Book Review
4. Music Review
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5. Web Page Profile `Rage: All Things Vampiric
6. Poet's Toast 7. Snail Mail 'Zine List 8. Fact or Fiction 9. Trivia Question
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Vittorio the Vampire: New Tales of the Vampires by Anne Rice
List Price: $19.95
Reviews:Barnes & Noble
Blood and Rice
VITTORIO THE VAMPIRE is a feast. An actual feast of all nonsaints,
to play off a previous Rice title. Vittorio is a boy-man who lives at
the height of Italy's Renaissance in a world of money, influence, and
privilege. Anne Rice hardly ever writes about an underclass. In many
ways, her work harkens back to the great tragedies of centuries past --
it is never about the heroism of peasants, but about the great falls and
grand loves of the nobility. Her vampires are aristocrats, and
Vittorio's story, interestingly enough, is a bit more heterosexual than
most of Rice's forays into the night world of the nosferatu.
The book opens with an image of brutality, a prophetic dream that
Vittorio has when he's little in which he holds the severed heads of his
younger siblings. But waking from the dream, his world is carefree at
best. Vittorio is a boy who loves his falcons and the hunt, and who
cares deeply for his family -- and cares a bit for his own beauty, too.
He is something of a narcissist who loses this edge quickly when tragedy
strikes. Some demons descend upon Vittorio's family, slaughtering them.
Vittorio manages to escape the carnage, and runs to nearby
fortress-towns for help. But the most seductive of all the vampires
comes to him: Ursula, a succubus if ever one existed. Her erotic beauty
inflames his desire -- and weakens his resolve.
Vittorio is in his mid-teens when he's turned into one of the
vampires, and his undead life becomes more vivid and thrilling once he's
learned the magic of the blood.
How different is this from Rice's other vampiric efforts? A bit --
Vittorio is not quite as sensual as Armand, nor as determinedly curious
as Pandora. His story is more adventure than either of the others, and
yet this is one page-turner of a story. Rice has outdone herself with
the evocation of time and place in VITTORIO THE VAMPIRE, and Vittorio is
a fascinating guide through the world of darkness and through the beauty
of Rice's imagined world of monasteries, Florence, and voluptuous night.
Anne Rice makes magic. That's her gift. Her vampires love, hate,
feed, and slaughter, but they are guardians of eternal beauty as well.
VITTORIO THE VAMPIRE is a jewel, reflecting darkness and light. --Douglas Clegg
Douglas Clegg is the author of numerous horror novels, including THE
HALLOWEEN MAN and BAD KARMA, written under his pseudonym, Andrew Harper.
His recent Bram Stoker-nominated short story, "I Am Infinite, I Contain
Multitudes," can be found in the anthology THE YEAR'S BEST FANTASY AND
HORROR: VOLUME 11. His next book, THE NIGHTMARE CHRONICLES, will be out
in the fall.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
B&N Price: $14.97
Alfred A Knopf
Publiction Date: March 1999
Here's the thing: The undead can be pretty horrifying when they
want to be, but in the hands of the master (and yes, Anne Rice is a
master), they wine, dine, romance, drink blood in mostly sensual ways,
and seem to have an eye for human beauty. Some have called what Rice
writes romances, and others horror, but I sit squarely in the middle of
this and call them gothics, a term that fell out of favor when gothics
began to mean light romance novels with castles and heroines who ran
from lighted windows. But the gothic goes back further in literary
history, and if any novelist has resurrected this genre, it is surely
Anne Rice. Now, let's look at her new one.
Theatrical Release Date: October 30, 1998
Video Release Date: February 9, 1999
Largo Entertainment Productions
Genre: Horror
Rating: R, for strong vampire violence and gore, language and sexuality
Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes
Starring: James Woods, Daniel Baldwin, Sheryl Lee, Thomas Ian Griffith, Maximilian Schell and Tim Guinee.
Credits: Directed by John Carpenter. Written by Don Jakoby. Produced by Sandy King. Released by Sony Pictures.
Reviews:
Film.com
by Sean Axmaker
"It has all the classic ideas you've seen in a vampire movie: hidden
sexuality, drinking blood," John Carpenter remarked in an interview with
Cinefantastique this year. "But in essence, I've always loved westerns,
and one of the reasons I'm doing this movie is that this is the closest
I've come to being able to do a western."
A vampire western? Kathryn Bigelow's Near Dark and Robert Rodriguez's From Dusk Till Dawn played out their bloodsucker sagas in the southwest (north and south of the border, respectively), and then of course there's Billy the Kid vs. Dracula (less said about that the better), but no one has really staked out the territory with both guns drawn. Until now.
Carpenter seems a natural for the film. Best known for his horror
films, he unofficially remade Howard Hawks' cult western Rio Bravo as
Assault on Precinct 13 but has been itching to make a western for years
(his original script El Diablo was directed by Peter Markle). He finally
got his wish and his wild bunch of vampire hunters, soaked in southwest
Gothic atmosphere and Peckinpah-influenced bloodletting, have already
scored a hit in France.
Carpenter hasn't scored a popular hit for years in the US, and though this film has been in the can since early 1998, Wesley Snipes' vampire action film Blade has beaten it to the theaters. Will Vampires draw audiences as well as it draws blood, or will Blade suck the vampire market dry?
Hollywood Online
by Kevin Thomas, Times Staff Writer 10-30-98
Twenty years ago John Carpenter came up with "Halloween," which became a classic, but for this Allhallows Eve his savage horror comedy "Vampires" is more trick than treat, and more trash than anything else. It's so ludicrous--every scene is a sendup, intentionally or otherwise--that it would seem that Carpenter is making an all-out attempt at what he surely knows to be impossible: to drive a stake through the entire vampire genre.
At least Carpenter, who also composed the film's hard-driving score, proceeds with exuberance and energy. That's also true of his star James Woods, who sets the film's tone for sheer outrageousness as a manic, foul-mouthed vampire slayer in the employ of the Vatican. The Vatican?
According to Don Jakoby's determinedly lurid script, back in 1340 a priest named Father Johann Valek led a revolt of a group of presumably oppressed Bohemian peasants, which resulted in the Church conducting an exorcism of Valek that somehow--don't ask precisely how--backfired. The effect of all this was to turn Valek into the world's first vampire.
Woods' Jack Crow, his burly sidekick Montoya (Daniel Baldwin) and
his crew of Vatican mercenaries, who look to have been recruited from
the Hell's Angels, have been summoned to New Mexico to exterminate a
nest of vampires. Crow is a whiz with a crossbow, and the downed
vampires are hauled out to the sunlight via a winch attached to Crow's truck.
Once the sun's rays hit them they incinerate. It's a dangerous, bloody business but somebody's gotta do it, and who better than Jack, whose introduction to the profession came when he was forced to slay his own father when the man turned into a vampire.
The local padre understands that these vampire slayers, having finished their grisly task, are going to want to have a little R&R, and he's arranged for booze and girls at a local motel. Just when the party starts to swing, with the priest himself getting a little tiddly, Valek (Thomas Ian Griffith), who has a specific reason for being in the Southwest, turns up to be the ultimate party pooper, leaving in his wake 19 dead, with Crow and Montoya barely escaping with their lives.
They have in tow a hooker (Sheryl Lee), whom Valek has put the bite
on, but, because she now has a telepathic link to Valek, can
theoretically lead Crow and Montoya to him for a final showdown. Along
the way, Crow is determined to find out who set up him and his crew.
Meanwhile, Crow has a meeting with his boss, no less a cardinal
(Maximilian Schell), who assigns to him a scholarly young priest (Tim
Guinee), a colossal good sport and a handy expository device for the
filmmakers.
Woods has all the lines, but everybody's game, and we get a sizable slice of New Mexico scenery and historic locales thrown in. But in the end "John Carpenter's Vampires" is junk, and it leaves you with the feeling that its makers know it, too.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Wow, would be the fist word I'd use, then - hello? Someone tell me
what the point was? Did I miss it? Okay, let's go back. I like the movie
in bits and peices, but as a whole - it sucked more than the vampires. I
love James Woods. I STILL love James Woods. He's a great actor. Baldwin,
I'm not so sure about. Lee was the typical bimbo dressing. I just want
to know why James Woods was posing in every scene. He looked like he was
vogue-ing. The master vampire was a wimp, ,and rather stupid to boot,
but the exploding revants were kinda cool, and the whole "psychic link"
was a great catch. Unfortunately, the plot was way too thin and you knew
who tha bad guy was right away. Needed more in-depth characterization
and a little more suavity. Better luck next time, John. Don't pay
theater prices to see this, wait until it moves off the NEW RELEASES
shelf before you bother. --Marrah --
The Vampire Gallery: A Who's Who of the Undead by J. Gordon Melton
Reviews and Commentary
From The Publisher:
From Library Journal:
Dan Cziraky (dancziraky@hotmail.com),
*********************************************************************************
The onceover I gave this book begs me to agree with Dan's critique
above, but, on the other hand - This large compendium does have a few
good points to make it worth the rather large price I paid for it. The
plentiful pics are almost worth the price alone. And when you add in the
obscure characters he has, it makes it just barely worthwhile. I have
found a few references in there that I had not known existed, and
therefore, to me, the buy was worth it. While Melton word shouldn't be
taken as the final one, it proves to be a very good first step in the
research process.
VV\ Just barely worth buying
-- Marrah --
Retail Price: $19.95
B&N Price: $15.96
Format: Paperback, 600pp.
ISBN: 1578590531
Publisher: Visible Ink Press
Pub. Date: July 1998
In addition to 200 sketches of fictional vampire characters of the 19th
and 20th century, this book also contains essays about vampires, from
literature, graphic novels, music, and other areas.
What you will find is detailed biographies on major fictional vampires
who've fascinated us mere mortals for the last three centuries. Written
by vampire expert J. Gordon Melton, The Vampire Gallery explores the
evolving image of the vampire and how it's contributed to the larger
dramatic myth first captured in Bram Stoker's turn-of-the-century
masterpiece, Dracula. These dark and immortal souls are drawn from
literature, film, theater, poetry and graphic novels and include
historical figures who've been tr eated as vampires in later fiction.
Generously illustrate d with 130 photographs and engaging sidebars, The
Vampire Gallery provides a unique tour into the fascinating world of
these children of the night.
Melton has taken on the daunting task of composing brief
biographies for the multitude of vampire characters that haunt novels,
short stories, graphic novels, children's books, films, and TV.
Unfortunately, some of these biographical sketches give away too
much--if you haven't read the book or seen the movie in which the
character appears, the plot may be spoiled. Melton has gathered a
representative sample from the thousands of vampire characters in film
and print and has attempted to include the most popular, but how he has
determined that popularity is unclear. This is a frustrating
book--Melton's obvious enthusiasm for all things vampiric is infectious
and can make for enjoyable reading, but the omission of characters from
the works of such authors as Wendy Haley, Nancy Kilpatrick, and Kristine
Kathryn Rusch plus occasionally erroneous information severely limits
the book's value as a reference tool. It would, however, be a good
addition to a circulating collection where there is interest in the
vampire genre.--Patricia Altner, Information Seekers, Bowie, MD
a writer & critic from Gastonia, NC, March 17, 1999
More Fact Flubs from Melton on Vampires:
In this companion volume to THE VAMPIRE BOOK, author Melton continues to
pass off his shoddy research and multitudes of mistakes as the 'final
word' on the subject of vampires. His errors are too numerous to list,
but the entry on 'Vampirella' is just one example: he gets her origins
mixed up, gets who published what wrong, and, well, it's a mess! Don't
waste your money, vamp-fans!
Vampire Circus: The Essential Vampire Theme Collection
Date: 1993
CD List $ 16.97
Featuring: The Return of Dracula
Label: SILVA AMERICA
Length: 70 minutes
Genre: Shows/Movies
No. of Discs: 1
SPAR: DDD
Mono/Stereo: Stereo
Studio/Live: Studio
Category: Soundtrack Collections
Fried/Fiedel/Whitaker/Elias May Licht/Eidelman
CD NOW $13.99
This is a must-have for any vampire collection. The CD itself is
splattered with drops of blood! The booklet contains not only a list of
the songs, but also a brief summary of the movies and an explaination of
the songs origins, as well as other pertinant movie information. Most of
the songs are instrumentals - great mood music. And since I can't pass
up anything with Forever Knight in it, this collection also contains the
Title Theme for the show. There are movie stills and posters
intersperced throughout the booklet as well. Be warned, though, this
ain't dancing music. Don't plan on raving to this collection. It just
ain't gonna happen. But as I said, a must have for any collection!
VVV\ Cheesy, but worth it for collectors.
-- Marrah --
You can purchase the ESSENTAL THEME COLLECTON SOUNDTRACK over the Internet at:
http://www.rpi.net.au/~scully/rage.html
When this Aussie says all, she means it! Her graphics are some of the
best I've ever seen. She has a page on Elizabeth Bathory, gothic
vampires, the TV show Kindred, and Vlad Tepesh. Her site includes
vampire-related links, wavs, cyber cards, web rings, dark fonts and
graphics. You can be embraced (symbollically only) on this site. You can
join the Vampire Empire, apply for her award, and read her poetry and a
short story that is quite good. But by far the most interesting and
altogether nifty thing on this site is the `Rage Hunting game. It is an
interactive look inside her web home. Go visit. You'll be missing out
if you don't.
VVVV V Excellent site, don't miss this one!
--Marrah--
If you wish to be included in the next issue, please submit your own work, someone you like (famous poets), or anyone else (provided you have their permission). Your name will appear in the submission line.
A Vision by: John Clare submitted by: Marrah I lost the love of heaven above I spurned the lust of earth below I felt the sweets of fancied love And hell itself my only foe I lost earth's joys but felt the glow Of heaven's flame abound in me Till lovliness and I did grow The bard of immortality I loved but women fell away I hid me from her faded flame I snatched the sun's eternal ray And wrote till earth was but a name In every language uopn earth On every shore, o'er every sea, I gave my name immortal birth, And kept my spirit with the free
I'm going to do this section a little differently from now on. I'm going to start at the first listing I have in both the US and England, and give the first three. If there is a particular country you would like to know about listings for, please email me at marrah@sbinet.com and let me know. Or if you have questions on the specific fanzines, I'll be happy to send you the descriptions I have.
|
~~USA~~
Anemic Billford Magazine
Arc of Descent
As If |
~~Britain~~
Arsenic & Old Lace
Asylum
Bats & Red Velvet
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LONDON, England: A lovely, long-legged blond vampire scared the
daylights out of single men in singles bars in this civilized city's
bustling Soho district in the fashionable West End during the summer of
1988. Six men were reported by police to have been hit on in Soho bars
by the sexy vampire, in her early twenties, wearing tight black jeans
and matching blouse.
Reported an investigator, "She suggested returning home with her
victim for sex. Once there, she askshim if he wants a drink, then slips
a knock-out drug into the cocktail. Andwhile he's unconscious, she sucks
blood from a wound she makes in his arm."
The seductive vampire's fifth victim, fourty-four-year-old computer
programmer Donald Serth, is terrified she'll return.
"I've heard a vampire keeps returning to drink its prey's blood
until he becomes a vampire. I've asked for police protection, but they
say they can't spare the men. I now wear a necklace of garlic under my shirt!"
But Dr. James Caspell, the director of Britain's Vampire Research
Center, told a Sunday newspaper back in 1988, "I don't think she'll
strike twice with the same victim. It would be too risky. She'll go for
a continued supply of fresh victims and fresh blood."
Dr. Caspell added that the only real threat he could see in this
case was the danger of the spread of AIDS.
This case is still unsolved. LONG-LEGGED VAMPIRE BLOND WAS A DEADLY DATE
Tell me anything at all about where the following quote came from:
"And the sun comes up
Hint: I know most episodes of FOREVER KNIGHT by heart...
Last Issues Question:
This is true.
And the bodies roll in
And the lawyers do their plea bargins
You get balder and I go grey
And at the precinct reunion picnic
I look at you, you look at me and... its history
We're history
Ugly bloody, game over, history
And your kid the... the architect
And my kid the dentist
They visit us in the old folks home
And they look at us like we've lived our lives under a rock somewhere..."
Vlad "Tepes" Dracula inherited his last name from his father Dracul, who
was honored with the name by the Christian Leaders for his defense of
the faith and his country.
sacrosanctum@fcmail.com
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