Knight, E.E.
WAY OF THE WOLF: BOOK ONE OF THE
VAMPIRE EARTH
E.E. Knight
ROC Books 2003
Pb 380 pages
ISBN#
0-451-45939-3
Other reviews I read of this book came across
completely polar: either the reviewer really liked it, or really
didn't. At once my curiosity was piqued. So I checked out WAY OF
THE WOLF to find characterization equal in quality to other
high-action books [that shoots down one reviewer's complaint], and
an ending that doesn't necessarily qualify as deux e machina [as
another reviewer complained--don't characters in books deserve one
break of good luck just like us real live people?--I mean, a true
deux e machina ending has a "hand of god" coming in and saving the
hero, and as long as the hero saves himself, does a tiny bit of good
luck ruin the story? I don't think so]. And the final complaint I
found in the negative reviews was that the vampires of this story
don't fit the stereotypical model. [Now, since when is it the
author's fault when a reader's preconceived ideas are not met?] But
the reviews I read showed a 50-50% break in polarity--just as many
readers liked the story as didn't like it. And, as you can tell, I
fall into the category that really liked it. Why? Because it is a
good story with a lot of action that goes somewhere.
Okay--so what is WAY OF THE WOLF about? I
guess the first thing to explain is the series premise: Vampire
Earth presupposes that Vampires are not native to Earth but came
here long ago from another planet--thus establishing our legends.
Now they are back. Our modern world has fallen and hero David
Valentine grows up in apocalyptic Minnesota. His entire family is
killed by Quislings--those humans now conforming to the Kurian
Order. Kurians feed off human auras. They do this by sending out
mind-guided Reapers (also known as Hoods) that kill humans by biting
their throats and inserting a long tongue down into that human's
heart where they suck out all the blood. The human's death releases
his or her aura for the Kurian to feed upon. Many humans agree to
the New Order because those who conform get a bonded promise that
they won't get eaten. Many humans are still fighting this war.
Lieutenant David Valentine joins the Southern Command where he meets
a shape-shifting Lifeweaver (a good-guy alien) who teaches David how
to fight back.
There are different levels to this resistance:
most are just guards protecting free farms and ranches, but the more
skilled warriors reach levels of Wolf, Cat, and Bear. "The Wolves
are like cavalry, moving fast from place to place, scouting out the
enemy troops, and fighting guerrilla actions." In this book David
is a Wolf, but one is led to suspect that he will rise in the ranks
with each progressive novel. "Cats are spies, assassins, and
saboteurs: really good Wolves who prefer to work alone." ... "Bears
are the meanest bunch of bad-asses in the Southern Command--they're
like human tanks."
A sample of the text: "The Reaper landed on all
fours, arms and legs splayed like a spider. Before a gun could be
turned in its direction, it sprang at the nearest Wolf, a
shovel-bearded wedge of a man named Selbey. It was upon him before
he could bring up his gun. The Hood's satchel-size mouth opened to
display pointed ebony teeth. Large, inhuman jaws sank into Selbey's
arm, thrown up in defense. The Wolf's scream matched those from
outside as the thing opened its mouth to bite again. Chaos reigned
as the refugees began running. Wolves at the exits had to restrain
them, taking up precious seconds when they should have been
employing their guns. One Wolf pumped shot after shot, working the
lever-action rifle from his hip, into the Reaper pressing Selbey to
the detritus-covered floor. The Reaper fed, immune to the bullets
hitting its heavy robes."
This book is recommended for action/adventure
fans who enjoy apocalyptic battle stories, and who do not
mind non-stereotypical vampires. A good read.
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