A Review of "Vampire Hunter D" (audiobook) by Hideyuki Kikuchi

When I was younger, one of my favorite anime movies was Vampire Hunter D. I loved the atmosphere of it, and as I’ve mentioned in previous reviews, I was sort of obsessed with vampires in middle and high school. I was pretty pleased when I came across the audiobook adaptation of Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi.

The story is the classic one of a half-human/ half-vampire offspring hunting full-blooded vampires. D comes to the rescue of Doris and her brother after Doris is attacked by the local vampire, Count Lee (yes, pretty certain this is a nod to Christopher Lee and his role in early Dracula films). Lee decides to take Doris for his wife, against the wishes of his daughter who believes the human will pollute their noble line. Meanwhile, Doris must also fight off the suitor from town who is in love with her and another set of hunters and their leader, a beautiful fiend named Rei-Ginsei.

A lot of people probably think this started out as a manga, but it is in fact a novel. The film and manga versions came later. And the book, being from the early 1980s, is full of tropes that we now see throughout manga and anime, many of which started off in Hammer horror films (as shared in the afterword) and science fiction films of the seventies and eighties. The mash-up of horror and decaying technology is what I really love about this world. It was so new and interesting at the time. This is a classic, and in many ways, it stands the test of time.

The narrator, Paul Boehmer, did a fine job, though I did sometimes cringe at his voice for Doris. This is a common pet peeve of mine, however: male narrators doing female voices. I admit that it is something I almost always find a weakness with. In general, his well-paced narration gave all the tension necessary to the action.

This audiobook is a great way to revisit the classic Vampire Hunter D by Hideyuki Kikuchi. I would definitely recommend it to fans of science fiction, horror, and fantasy.

Comments

Book Review of "The Dare Club: Nita" by Laurie Bradach and Kim “Howard” Johnson

Laurie and Kim will be awarding a $20 Amazon Gift Card to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour, so make sure to leave a comment here and visit the other stops on the tour: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/11/virtual-review-tour-dare-club-nita-by.html Series: The Dare Club Format: E-book & Paperback Genre: Contemporary YA, Mystery Length: 330 pages in paperback Blurb: Nita Conroy has relocated to the most boring town on the planet. That is, until would-be boyfriend Brad Keeley spills the beans about a secret group of girls known as The Dare Club. During her subterranean initiation below the high school, Nita overhears a plan by contractors and school officials to embezzle millions of dollars in grant money. When she is betrayed, The Dare Club's pranks become deadly serious. With the clock ticking, Nita will need the help of her new friends to expose the chilling plot--and hopefully survive long enough to snag a date to the homecoming dance. Exce...

Review of "Lords of Prophecy" by Michael A. Rothman

Leave a comment for a chance to win a $50 gift card to Amazon! Check out all the stops to improve your odds: http://goddessfishpromotions. blogspot.com/2013/01/review- tour-lords-of-prophecy-by.html Blurb The Riverton brothers have completed their training, and despite their own personal skills, they worry about the forces arrayed against them. Knowing the barrier that's kept the people of Trimoria safe for over five centuries is weakening, the brothers ready their ragtag army of humans, dwarves, and elves for battle. In the meantime, on the other side of the ancient barrier, a growing army of demons have readied themselves for the final battle against the people of Trimoria. As the barrier weakens, Ryan is struck by bouts of debilitating madness. As the barrier crumbles, so does the hope of Trimoria's citizens. Excerpt A light-hearted scene where the main characters are watching their youngest siblings interacting with a mysterious young dwarf. As the soldier affirmed...

Show, Don't Tell!

Another common error young writers make is telling a story, rather than showing a story. This is probably because many of the short stories they have been exposed to are fairy tales, which have a distant point of view and summary-like narration. They start with phrases like "There once was..." and use direct characterization, like "She was the kindest girl in all the land." When we write, we need to show our stories, using vivid verbs, specific details, and deep point of view. Here's an example of a passage that is told. The action is summarized and the reader feels as if the action is happening far away: It was June of 1943. Eric's older brother had gone away to become a fighter pilot. Eric wanted to be a pilot too, so he got in the family's crop dusting plane and started it up. He flew it out of the barn and crashed it into the old oak tree in the yard. He hit his head. The doctor had to come. His brother came back, injured from the war. The two healed...

Writer and Editor C.B. Calsing/ G.G. Royale

Search This Blog