The Last Vampire

"The Last Vampire," Whitley Strieber's first work of fiction in almost a decade (1993's "The Forbidden Zone" was his last non-alien-encounter book) proves well worth the wait, and makes the reader hunger for more.A sequal to Strieber's popular vampire novel "The Hunger," "The Last Vampire" takes up with that novel's bad-one, Miriam Blaylock, and follows her as she stumbles, almost pitiably, through a modern world that in many ways has evolved, with the aid of technology, beyond the threat of the once ferocious vampires, or the Keepers, as they are known here.Miriam travels the world, from Asia, to Europe, looking for more of her kind, but soon finds she has a few unpleasant surprises in store. As she attempts to blend her anachronistic self into the modern world, she soon discovers she has become the hunted rather than the hunter.For a good portion of the book, the chapters alternate between Miriam's bloody adventures and those of Interpol agent Paul Ward and his team of mere-mortals as they attempt to capture the femme fatale in question.The book is paced very well, and manages to carve out a pleasingly original channel in the often-overtrod continent of vampire lore.What impressed me most about this novel, however, was the quality of the writing. Strieber writes with a wonderfully light, and at times witty, finesse, that is just a pleasure on the eyes. It's a treat to read this kind of skilled prose, no matter what the genre, but especially in the horror field, where it's something of a rarety.Whitley Strieber should be welcomed back to what he does best with open and grateful arms. If you've been looking for a good, intelligent horror novel, look no further. Strieber's your man.

I have never reviewed anything before but I am inspired to do so with this. I cannot think how long its been since a book kept me up because it was truly impossible to put down. My wife, who is a Strieber fan, gave me this for my birthday, and it was just a real treat. Miriam Blaylock, I love ya! Great story, great characters, REALLY great locations. Ever been to the Paris Catacombs? Turns out they really exist, I looked them up. The Last Vampire is total, exciting fun.

Miriam Bayblock is one of the last, great Keepers in the world. Keepers are extraordinarily beautiful, inhumanly powerful, eternally youthful...and crave human blood.The book opens in Asia, as Miriam goes to a Keeper Conclave, held once every couple hundred of years or so. Although she is a rebel, she needs a male Keeper to fertilize her and give her a baby. There, she finds that the Keepers have been exterminated, and their Book of Names stolen. With the Book of Names, a human can track down all the Keepers in the world and destroy them. Miriam must escape the hunters and warn her fellow Keepers of this great danger.So begins a chase across three continents.Paul Ward is a brilliant CIA agent who vows to destroy all the filthy, bloodsucking creatures. The leader of this vampire-hunting expedition, nothing--not even the losses of his team-mates, nor becoming a rogue--will stop him. Paul follows Miriam's trail, all the way to New York City, to the world's most exclusive club (owned by Miriam), the Veils.There, with the help of her 'blooded' human servants, Sarah and Leo, Miriam seduces Paul and becomes impregnated with his child. Will Paul fall into Miriam's trap? Will Miriam get a change of heart? Read this exciting, intriguing book and find out.

This book is a sort-of sequel to Whitley Strieber's the Hunger. I have never read that book,but I'm going to because this one is wonderful. It held me spellbound. There is just no other way to describe it's effect. I love a good read, and this writer really delivers! The only other vampire-related novel I've ever read was Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, and this story towers above it. Strieber takes you on a romp from the Thai jungle to the Paris catacombs to an exclusive and decadent New York club that just has to be there. You fall in love with Miriam Blaylock and Paul Ward and Sarah Roberts in all kinds of ways you would never expect. This has got to be some kind of a classic.

They self proclaimed themselves the Keepers because they are responsible for the evolutionary advances and population increases of mankind. They look at humanity as prey to eat when the hunger becomes impossible to ignore. Mostly, they hide their identities from their food source because they know that their victims would hunt them down if they knew the truth and death could occur if the assailant knows how to perform the act properly. CIA Agent Paul Ward knows about the Keepers since he realized one of them killed his father. Miriam Blaylock is a unique Keeper who appreciates the modern age conveniences developed by her human counterparts. When Paul and Miriam become aware of one another, they take turns becoming predators and prey until a unique development occurs that shocks everyone in the know. Over a decade ago Whitley Streiber published the "The Hunger" and finally gifts his fans with the sequel, THE LAST VAMPIRE, which holds up well when compared to the classic first tale. Readers understand Miriam and actually empathize with her needs that make her a killer. The obsessed Paul is trapped inside a mental war between his desires and his need for vengeance. Mr. Streiber remains an excellent teller of horror tales and belongs with the elite of the genre....