John Marks, Fangland

Fangland

John Marks

Penguin, Jan 2007, $25.95

ISBN: 159420117X

TV news show The Hour associate producer Evangeline Harker leaves New York for Romania to look into a possible segment on reputed Eastern European crime boss Ion Torgu with the coup de grace being an interview. In Bucharest, fellow Yank Clemmie Spence warns Evangeline to be careful because the forces of Satan are spreading their pestilence at an alarming rate as she explains what horrors she saw in Africa.

The two Americans travel to Transylvania where Evangeline meets Torgu, whose teeth look rotted but not fanged. He takes her to a remote locale in the woods while two of his associates kill a cameraman. Stunned, Evangeline becomes further shocked when she inadvertently observes Torgu drinking blood. Fleeing she finds Clemmie, but instead of the relief of feeling safe, the TV producer thirsts; she slices her companion's throat and drinks the blood. While back in New York, the staffers of the Hour begin to die a horrid slow cancerous like death while a select few thrive. Evangeline is in-between, undecided whether to flourish on the blood of others or waste away while Torgu arrives to take a bite out of the Big Apple.

The Romanian segment is a stupendous updating of Stoker's Dracula while the New York portion seems paler than the original London venue. Torgu is a terrific modern day "Count" whose minions are criminals while Evangeline Harker (great name for a character) is a fabulous individual who struggles with the metamorphosis. Overall FANGLAND is a fast-paced horror thriller that fans of vampires will devour in a series of delightful 60 minute bites.

Harriet Klausner