Written by Raymond A. Villareal, A People's History of the Vampire Uprising is a work of socio-political satire and mystery-laced fantasy.
This book tells the story of a CDC investigation into a new virus through documentary accounts such as news articles, research papers and diaries, legal and government documents, interview transcripts and the like.
This style of storytelling does a good job of grounding the fantastical in the familiar, making it feel very plausible that an unknown virus could be causing people to be "re-created," as the growing vampire community refers to the act of siring a human and turning them into a vampire.
In this telling, vampires name themselves "Gloamings," a public relations move that emphasizes their heightened beauty, captivating eyes, and increased strength - and encourages members of the general population to become a vampire or join the movement for vampire rights.
As creatures of the night who suffer in daylight, Gloamings feel they are discriminated against in a society that operates largely during daylight hours. And yet, they are an exclusive community that pick their membership carefully. Only the best are selected to become vampires, and most of them must seek it out.
Villareal questions the way society works - especially the ways it works against itself - in this satirical story that blends mystery, horror, fantasy, and politics. Vampirism, in this book, is an epidemic - one that some people fight and others welcome. With epidemics (and pandemics) an ongoing part of social dialogue today, this book gives the conversation a curious spin.
Image Description: A book cover. AGainsta a bright red backdrop in white capital letters is the title and author's name: A People's History of the Vampire Uprising, Raymond A. Villareal. In the center is a sketch of a single eye with a golden iris.
Credit: Image taken from Amazon listing
I'll admit that, for me, while I quite enjoyed the premise, I found the delivery a bit dry. I think this comes down to personal preference and reading/writing styles. Villareal, as a practicing attorney, leans on fictional legal and government documents, news articles, and the like to make the account of a vampire epidemic and subsequent uprising feel real.
But it also means you spend plenty of time reading official-sounding documents. For me, that style slowed the pace down, but it may not for you. I still enjoyed the concept and read every word. Who doesn't love a bit of gothic horror mixed with socio-political satire. I know I'm here for it.
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A People's History of the Vampire Uprising by Raymond A. Villareal
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