Kronos

by Guy Adams, Brian Clemens (Foreword)

A new novelization of the cult classic Hammer film Captain Kronos Vampire Hunter, with a new foreword by its writer and director Brian Clemens

What manner of monster can wreak such damage? I only hope you know how it can be stopped.

The peace of an English village is shattered when a young girl withers before her friend's eyes, becoming but dust and bones. Witnessing this terrifying transformation, local physician Dr. Marcus fears the village has been cursed by the presence of evil. He immediately summons his old army friend, the mysterious but powerful vampire hunter, Kronos. Together with the help of his assistant Professor Grost, Kronos has dedicated his whole life to destroying vampires. He knows that with a vampire nothing is certain, especially how one might be able to kill it. As more and more villagers fall prey to this deadly curse, time is against him. And when it comes dangerously close to home, Kronos is faced with a terrible choice.

Genres: Horror, Fiction, Vampires, Fantasy

288 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2011

Reviews

[Leila Anani · Rating 3 out of 5]

The original Kronos novelization, by Hugh Enfield, came out in 1972 and is very much the bare bones from the script version of the story (and uses a slightly earlier draft than the theatrical release).

This new 2011 version by Guy Adams tries to flesh things out a little and add humour. What I particularly liked was that each of the very short chapters is from a different character perspective - Which almost made it like Dracula in its fragmented narrative style. We get more to Carla and Grost's characters, some back story on Kronos and some detail on the Durward's servants and some of the victims. The author did his research and added in some ideas that were considered and then cut from the movie - such as Kronos sleeping in a coffin to get into the head-space of a vampire, I rather liked that and wish they'd kept it in.

It's a nice addition to any Hammer collection and certainly an improvement on the earlier version (although that is quite useful to note the changes to the film) - I loved the cover art for this and some of the innovative vampire lore - they way they try different methods on Dr. Marcus to work out what kills him is rather fun, in a blackly comic kind of way.

Kronos was planned as a series and I think there's so much scope with the different types of vampire, different lore and a potentially time travelling vampire hunter. Ah what might have been.

[Lee Cushing · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been a fan of the original movie "Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter" ever since I first caught it on a late-night showing on BBC2 many years ago, so I was thrilled to see a new adaptation on the shelves. Guy Adams' novelization is a brisk, workmanlike telling of the events in the movie, reworked to give Kronos a definite place and time in history. Ironically, Adams' choice of time and place is one of the few things about the book I dislike, as it plainly contradicts some of the facts we are given on-screen in the movie. I am not sure why he chose to make these changes, as there is little reason for them and with a little research, he could easily have chosen events to place around Kronos that would not have contradicted the movie. In other sections, Adams drops hints about other possible adventures of the fearless vampire killer, including a hunt for Dracula and his nest mate, Baron Vorshatis. Hopefully, this volume is enough of a success that Adams can be persuaded to bring us another adventure of Kronos and Grost.

[David · Rating 2 out of 5]

A good homage to Hammer movies and particularly the movie this is based upon. It is fast, easy to read, and enjoyable. It is also as simple as a Hammer movie. That is, it has no hidden depths, no clever plot twists, it just tells its story. That is all you need really. On the down-side it is incredibly short and silly. The one thing that makes me give only two out of five is the manner in which the chapters are written, with what everyone thinks or speaks sounding like they are from the south of London and have had a fair education. Some of the terms, phrases and even words are too modern for my liking. Despite this, the characters are individual and often funny. Would love to try another Hammer motivated novel, but can not find one yet.

[Bob Cantrell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Still a good book

This is my second time reading this book and I have to say it was enjoyable this time also. What I liked was the different characters and how each of them told a piece of the story as it went along. Now it is basically what you will find I the movie, Captain Kronos, Vampire Hunter. But there is more to the book. I liked how the period that this story is set is during the reign of Cromwell in England and the start of The witch hunt of that period. Who knows maybe in a couple of years I will return to read of Kronos and his hunt for vampires, but right now I have to find my DVD of Captain Me know and watch it again.

[Tobyann Aparisi · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know this was just not what I was hoping for, expecting. I was done before I could finish it. It just seemed that this story was written somewhere else with different characters and well frankly I had some difficulty finishing it.

[Ian Munro · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Well placed and a bit different from other vampire stories as it is told from the victims point of view.

[Grace Art · Rating 2 out of 5]

mediocre medieval story w/ unnecessary yet too many changing point off view

[Kara Rowley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cool and scary

[Samantha · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book would have been a lot better if every single chapter hadn't been written in the first person. Grost's diary extracts are the exception. Most of the chapters described people dying from their point of view and in every new chapter it was confusing.
As for the plot, well it's a very typical and average Vampire hunting story in the Hammer horror series. From now on, I'm sticking to Dracula and Ann Rice.

[Bmj2k · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book, although I think it has a big flaw. Not enough horror. Nearly no vampires. I haven't seen the film in years so I am not sure if the failing belongs to the source material, but I am sure the author could have done more to ramp up the mood, increase the tension. The multiple narrators and points of view were a nice touch, and serve to flesh out the book which otherwise might not have held much interest.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I bought this ebook only because I loved Guy Adams' World House series. It was written well and kept me interested (which it has been a while since a book has done that). I was disappointed that there weren't any huge twists in the story though.

[Wendy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Page turner.

[Dan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Horror, Adventure, Hammer (+Vampires)= a bloody good horror read from start to end.

[Shelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick fun read. A nice adaptation of the film script. It would love to see Guy Adams write a few more original novels with Kronos, the James Bond of the Vampire Hunters.

[Darlene Scipio]

I like what i read.

[Carla · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an enjoyable book. Kept me engaged and wanting more.