Barbara Hambly

Traveling with the dead

Rebecca C Wright

I love this series. The vampires are not the dark and brooding romantic types of a lot of recent vampire fiction. These creatures are intelligent predators. James Asher is an excellent "hero" and his wife Lydia a wonderful partner. Her skill as a researcher compliments Ashers former spy experience. This series is complex and suspenseful. I love it.Barbara Hambly creates world full of danger and excitement, weaving real history with her world's alternate story. Anyone looking for vampire fiction that is not sparkly romantic vampires should enjoy this.

Emmett

The breadth (of scope) and depth (of detail) in this story is astounding, going beyond '19th century but with vampires', as Hambly re-creates for the reader the immensity and variety of 19th century Europe, while managing to insert an original intricate plotline. The taut and well-plotted narrative aside, I was also delighted by the various 'asides' that explore the world within the novel, which is especially satisfying given its richness. James and Lydia Asher make very intelligent and plausible protagonists (unfortunately for me, consequently, Margaret their tag-along evoked less appeal and sympathy), and the vampires are well-crafted with the individual personality quirks and believable motivations. The Ashers' professions are a very clever move, for it is through their scientific and academic interests that they prod their contemporary marvel that is the vampire, not without humour. Lydia's inveterate habits of wondering at the particular shininess of Ysidro's fingernails, or contemplating the various biological and chemical changes that may have occurred during the turning of a mortal, are entertaining and very believable. The other musings on the nature of good and evil, the vampire's definition of love, and the variety of organisation across vampire societies, add to a sparkling, grounded, intellectually- and sensuously-thrilling tale.

Traveling with the dead

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