As Black As Hell

by John Lambshead

Set a daemon to catch a daemon. The Commission has defended humanity against paranormal entities for five centuries. In a new twist they set the power of love against the power of blood? But there are always unforeseen consequences of magic, especially when the daemon is the Dark Lady of the Sonnets.

This novellete was first published in Baen’s Universe Magazine in 2006 and reprinted in 2008 in The Best of Jim Baen’s Universe. It is the first story in The Commission Series of London urban fantasy.

“The story transfixed me from the first page, and I managed to break myself away only when I absolutely had to.”, “here is a story that rewards slow, deep reflection, even if it can also be read as fast, shallow fun”, Porky’s Expanse

“Vampire military recruitment babe bonding experiment success becomes long term. 4 out of 5”, Blue Tyson – Amazon review

55 pages, Kindle Edition

First published April 1, 2006

About the author

Educated Brunel University of Technology, West London, retired career research scientist British Museum (Natural History), London.