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Description edit
The second novel by World Fantasy Award-winner Simmons ( The Song of Kali ) is a 636-page epic that draws on a variety of genres--horror, science fiction, political thriller, Hollywood roman a clef. It centers around a small number of "mind vampires" who can subjugate other people to their... read more
Ridiculously Simplified Synopsis edit
Characters/People edit
- Saul Laski: A Polish Jew who encounters the Oberst, Wilhelm von Borchert, at the Chelmno concentration camp
- Sheriff Bobby Joe Gentry: The South Carolina sheriff whose murder investigation uncovers more than he had expected
- Tony Harod: A slimy Hollywood producer with the Ability
- Natalie Preston: The daughter of a man who was murdered in Charleston
- Wilhem von Borchert (Willi, the Oberst): A mind vampire whose murderous exploits have taken him from World War II concentration camps to the United States
- Nina Drayton: One of Willi and Fuller's companions with the Ability.
- Richard Haines: The FBI Special Agent, one of C. Arnold Berent's men
- Maria Chen: Tony Herod's neutral secretary
- Aaron Eshkol: Saul's family member and Israeli agent
- Marvin: A Philadelphia gang member who inadvertently becomes involved when Melanie Fuller comes to town
- Kepler: Add a description of this character.
- Vincent: A young transient who is manipulated by Fuller
- Mr. Hodges: Melanie Fuller's neighbor
- Jimmy Wayne Sutter: A boistrous southern preacher with the Ability
- Justin
- Melanie Fuller: Willi and Nina's companion
- Meeks
- Mr. Thorne: One of Melanie Fuller's cat's paws, employed as her assistant
- C. Arnold Barent: A man whose Ability is so influential that it has made him one of the world's most powerful men
- Jack Cohen: Israeli agent who assists Saul and Natalie
- Jackson
- Anne Bishop
- Harrington
- Colben
- Howard
- Trask
- Leroy
- Jensen Luhar: One of Willi's cat's paws
- Dr. Hartman: One of Melanie Fuller's cats paws whom she employs as her personal doctor
- Charles
- Ruger
- Walters
Setting & Locations edit
- Washington
- Philadelphia
- New York
- Germantown Avenue
- Israel
- Vienna
- Shayla Berrington
- Hollywood
- Chelmno
- Atlanta
- Cessna
- Sobibor
- Grumblethorpe
- Los Angeles
- Oberst
- St. Louis
- Tel Aviv
- America
- Chicago
- Columbia
- Lodz
- Savannah
- California
- Germany
- France
- White Slaver
- Island Club
- Gulley
- United States
- Poland
- Berlin
- Europe
- Georgia
- Mansard House
- Auschwitz
- Maine
- South Carolina
- Dolmann Island
- Mossad
- Bad Ischl
- Vietnam
- Palestine
- Paris
- Jerusalem
- Munich
First Sentence edit
Saul Laski lay among the soon-to-die in a camp of death and thought about life.
Series & Lists edit
This is book 184 of 200 in Newman and Jones 200 Best Horror Novels. (community list)
Preceded by The Grotesque, and followed by From Hell.
This book is in Significant Speculative Fiction (Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror). (community list)
This book is in Hopeless Romantic. (community list)
Authors & Contributors edit
- Dan Simmons (Author)
First Edition edit
Original Language: English
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1989
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 884
Publisher: Add the publisher.
Country: USA
Publication Date: 1989
ISBN: Add the ISBN.
Page Count: 884
Awards edit
- August Derleth Award (1990)
- Bram Stoker Award (1989: Best Novel)
- World Fantasy Award (Finalist, 1990: Novel)
Classification edit
- Library of Congress: PS3569.I47292 C37 1989
- Dewey: 813.54
Subjects edit
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