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Digital Vampires
Merlin Records attracts young musicians, and then drains them of their vigour and enthusiasm. When two teenagers try to find out why they begin to discover sinister connections between symbols of mythology, the powers of darkness and high-tech rock band society.
Paperback
First published January 1, 1989
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
October 6, 2015
Loved reading this as a kid :)
September 8, 2025
Nick and Suzie-Q are intrigued when promotional CDs are sent to the old record shop they like to hang out in, promising "the sounds of tomorrow - today", from a record company called Merlin. It asks listeners if they are "good enough" to become part of a band.
However, something hinky is going on - that new CD technology just can't be trusted! Kids who listen to the CD start to lose energy and interest in anything. Who are the mysterious Guardians who act as security guards in the Merlin superstore? When Nick listens to the CD, he and Suzie-Q must act to find out what might be in store for him.
This gets points for originality and ambition, but the execution is just terrible. There is a smorgasbord of ideas floating around here, but none of them are really explored in any depth, so even though there seems to be so much happening, it also feels as if the plot never actually goes anywhere. Yes, the CD is causing kooky things to happen, but the who and what takes way too long to materialise (a similar problem with the other book I've read by this author, Carnival Of The Dead.) There is faaaaaar too much of hippie record store owner Dizzy Richards lamenting about the good old days of the 1960s, and not enough explanation behind what is going on. This is throwing in references to the Henry Fuseli painting of the incubus, the Knights of the Templar, the pentagram, old magics, Faustian bargains, devil worship, possessing souls...and none of it really hangs together.
Interesting for what could have been, but not one to hunt down. Also...no vampires to be found within these pages!
However, something hinky is going on - that new CD technology just can't be trusted! Kids who listen to the CD start to lose energy and interest in anything. Who are the mysterious Guardians who act as security guards in the Merlin superstore? When Nick listens to the CD, he and Suzie-Q must act to find out what might be in store for him.
This gets points for originality and ambition, but the execution is just terrible. There is a smorgasbord of ideas floating around here, but none of them are really explored in any depth, so even though there seems to be so much happening, it also feels as if the plot never actually goes anywhere. Yes, the CD is causing kooky things to happen, but the who and what takes way too long to materialise (a similar problem with the other book I've read by this author, Carnival Of The Dead.) There is faaaaaar too much of hippie record store owner Dizzy Richards lamenting about the good old days of the 1960s, and not enough explanation behind what is going on. This is throwing in references to the Henry Fuseli painting of the incubus, the Knights of the Templar, the pentagram, old magics, Faustian bargains, devil worship, possessing souls...and none of it really hangs together.
Interesting for what could have been, but not one to hunt down. Also...no vampires to be found within these pages!
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews