Comments on: BOOK REVIEW: Children of the Night by Dan Simmons

By: Mervius

Mervius — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 23:14:32 +0000

I agree. I read this book years and years ago, but I remember keenly how disappointing it was.

By: Tim Ward

Tim Ward — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:05:59 +0000

How many breaths, that’s hilarious.

By: Tim Ward

Tim Ward — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 17:03:25 +0000

True, Summer of Night was a little too long km but I loved being in the characters’ lives. Children of the Night lacked the love for the characters that would have helped get me through. I glazed over the medical jargon in the first half because I was enjoying the main character’s story, but once I stopped caring, the Romanian setting became too much to bear.

By: Carl V.

Carl V. — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 16:54:43 +0000

Thank you John and Maddog. I appreciate the recommendations. Not that I am hurting for things to read. ;p

By: Kristin Centorcelli

Kristin Centorcelli — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 15:54:19 +0000

Loved Summer of Night…honestly can’t remember reading this one although I devoured most of Dan Simmons’ early novels when I was a teen…

By: Maddog

Maddog — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 06:51:46 +0000

The Terror is a extraordinary History Horror Novel. Now once again Simmons will blow you away with the amount of research he has done. And one of the most hated moments I have ever had in reading fiction is when he described every single thing a captain would do in that age to get ready for travel.(The type of clothes etc) Everything but how many breaths one needs to inhale before he feels prepared.

Having said that. It was Amazing how Good the book was for 70% of the novel. I can safely say if there was any editing done on the book. This would have been considered much more then just the best horror book of the year. I’m talking a book put up there with Dracula etc as required reading for all future fantastic readers.

Definitely Read it! Just be prepared to be disappointed when not all of it is Brilliant.

By: John DeNardo

John DeNardo — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 06:04:22 +0000

I recommend Charlie Huston’s JOE PITT Vampire noir novels. Good stuff.

By: Carl V. Anderson

Carl V. Anderson — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 05:12:13 +0000

I don’t read a lot of vampire fiction in large part because I consider Dracula to be one of my favorite novels and I find most other portrayals of vampires lacking in comparison. Adding to that I have stayed far away from any other novels featuring Dracula as a character (although I intend to read The Historian one day). Just a strange affectation of mine.

That being said, I’m jealous of Simmons’ research trip and am sorry that it didn’t result in a more successful result for you. It is frustrating when you are enjoying the first half of a book and it takes an unexpected turn in a direction that is ultimately unsatisfying.

I have heard good things about Simmons and have his novel The Terror on the shelves.

By: Maddog

Maddog — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 00:48:54 +0000

Simmons is one of our best writers. But he falls in love with his research or his words and doesn’t edit them. Ever since the dawn of the Stephen King Telephone Book Standard. Editing has taken a major hit and so much fat has been forced down our throats.

His Summer of Night goes on a little too long at the end but is a much better book.