Tale of the Thunderbolt

Vampire Earth #3

by E.E. Knight

As the Resistance attempts to overthrow their vampiric alien masters, elite Cat force member David Valentine embarks on a terrifying journey in search of a long-lost weapon that will guarantee their victory-and the end of the Kurian Order's domination of Earth.

Genres: Science Fiction, Fantasy, Post Apocalyptic, Horror, Vampires, Fiction, Dystopia

352 pages, Paperback

First published March 1, 2005

Reviews

[Jim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another excellent story in the series, this time most takes place outside the U.S. & adds a lot to the world. As usual, heroic measures are taken, but there are no perfect heroes. More, a Kurian is interviewed. Very cool. Excellently read as always.

This is the third book in the series & I highly recommend any one who wants to read it do so in order. You won't be lost if you start here, but you'll lose a lot of the flavor.

[Nathan · Rating 3 out of 5]

THERE IS HOW MANY OF THESE BOOKS??!
I did not realize how many there was till i started writing this review, this reinforces my primary bitch about this series, BIGGER BOOKS. Please?
I asked nice.

The hero has no flaws.
He is Arnold and Chuck Norris all rolled into one with a side of Jet Li, he will kick your ass.
and he is like an awesome Sea captain as well....

Is there anything he can not do? No.
Is his father just as awesome? Even more awesome you find out.
it is genetic awesome, yet his dad got killed by douche bag raiders, so awesome only works against awesome enemies.

he goes to the hedonism resort in Jamaica/Haiti, somewhere in that neck of the woods its an island, he kills multiple "vampires" easily frees the world people compare him to his father, He travels across the universe comes home, gets the secret weapon that kills the vampires, then gets his ass kicked by bunnies.

No really It is genetic awesome that only works against awesome bad guys or unbeatable odds.
bunnies, you lose.

If you have started the books keep reading, you are not done yet.

[Skip Ryan · Rating 2 out of 5]

These books are starting to feel a bit gratuitous to me. I'm not exactly sure where we're headed, and the novels are missing some of the details that character driven readers like me are interested in. I like Valentine, but he just doesn't seem like a real person to me. He's too perfect.
This volume ended on a major cliffhanger and left me with too many questions.

[Dale · Rating 3 out of 5]

Valentine hits the Carribean in this very interesting installment. A little more background is given and it ends with a heck of a cliff hanger. A satisfying read.

[Unwisely · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book continued my mainlining of this series. I was out doing fieldwork, and reading this book. (I once tried to explain it to my coworker, who doesn't read science fiction. That didn't go well.)

I sort of figured he'd become a Bear now, because he had done Wolf and Cat, but, ha ha nope! So that was pleasant. And more Ahn-Kha, which I really enjoyed. A ship, several different places - Haiti even gets a stop. Please do this, more novels. (I appreciate the differences in the territories, which I think (after reading A Ton Of post-apocalyptic novels) would happen due to the communication breakdown.)

I know I keep harping on the sex scenes, but...omg. This relationship is at least more of equals and less of the nubile young woman offers herself for no reason, but this one was so insane I need to mention that after you've been rolling in the mud, it might not be ideal naked time?? Grit, sir. Also mud, but, jeez.

[Spike Anny (The Obstinate Owlbear) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the most underrated series in sci Fi!


This series is my guilty pleasure series. I love the characters in it. My favorite parts about it is simply it's a fun action packed ride.


I've been using hoopla a lot at work their my library and it hasn't eh graphic audio audiobooks. If you don't know these are basically movies where everyone is read by a different voice actor and there is background noises and music. Once you get used to it and settles in with the oratory overload it ends up a fun time. Give them a shot

[Paps · Rating 4 out of 5]

What an ending, this type makes me hate with a passion cliffhangers. After all, we follow Valentine throw hardships and never ending setback, to just ending it like that feels wrong. Which I believe is exactly how Valentines feels at the end and how are we supposed to feel empathic toward him. So job well done. I like how in this book we examine the morality of fighting a war, the acts one has to make in order to defeat the enemy that in your eyes are just 'evil' but the acts one commit are as 'evil' as them. Love the introduction of the new character and sorely missed Duvalier.

[Dana · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like this series, a lot. what the hell? Why is no one talking about this? Eventhough i don't enjoy sea adventures or like... stories set into tropic areas, i enjoyed this very much. It's such a good idea, and I'm kinda sad that it's not a bigger deal for people. Other stories are, so why can't be this one?

[TinaMarie · Rating 5 out of 5]

David is undercover posing as a Mariner for the Kurians in order to obtain a secret weapon that is suppose to turn the tide in the war. We start in Louisiana and travel to Haiti and Jamaca where he makes new friends and enemies.

[Kaleb · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great book in the vampire earth series. I highly enjoyed the way this book progressed and the fact that they moved to the seas instead of just the land. I would definitely recommend the book and series to those that enjoy vampireish style novels.

[Alienor · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 stars instead of 5 because Valentine's personality is stranger and a little incongruent in this one; he's shaky, anxious, fearful, prone to anger, rude at times and unwise, which is a departure from the character that we met in the first two books.
Otherwise, I loved it, except for the end...

[Uwe Mueller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Non-stop Action

Well written continuation to the previous Vampire Earth books. Numerous battles interspersed with twists, turns, and romance that keeps the story moving. The exciting ending is a teaser for more of the story.

[MICHAEL Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three installments in to this series and the author is still writing solid interesting stories. Love the way you can see Valentine changing his world view as the series progresses.

[Margaret · Rating 3 out of 5]

Liked it, interesting world still, but feeling very daunted by how many more there are in the series. Might be just too depressing to continue.

[James Hein · Rating 3 out of 5]

Audio Book

Book about Dystopian future where aliens have control and the humans are trying fight back

[Benny]

Downright depressed and I loved it.

[Justin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tale of the Thunderbolt is the third installment in the VAMPIRE EARTH series. Each book has so far followed the story of David Valentine, post-apocalyptic warrior extraordinaire. In this third volume, Southern Command has sent David on a mission to bring back a secret weapon that lays hidden somewhere on the Haitian side of Hispaniola. David has been undercover for over a year in preparation for this mission, and has done things for the sake of humanity that he dares not speak of.

The David Valentine in Tale of the Thunderbolt is unfortunately a bit different from the one seen in previous novels. He seems more than slightly damaged from the things he’s been through in the past. I always enjoyed the fact that Valentine always did the right thing no matter what the consequences were. There was a charming purity to his ideals that made him a beacon of hope in such a hopeless world. That’s been a little worn away now. He’s definitely a more realistic and complex character due to the changes, but I still miss the old Valentine.

Those who enjoyed the earlier books in the VAMPIRE EARTH series will enjoy this one, too. My only complaint was Valentine's slight attitude change, but ultimately it’s a very minor complaint. The story is still exciting and action-packed. There is a bit more descriptive sex in this one than there was in the previous two, but it’s not overdone. E. E. Knight’s ability to tell an action-filled story remains consistent, and he adds a few more interesting characters to his ever-growing stable.

I listened to Tale of the Thunderbolt on Audio CD published by Brilliance Audio. Once again it was read by Christian Rummel, who again gives an excellent performance and never ceases to amaze with his vocal abilities. Since the story ends on a cliff hanger, I am looking forward to the next installment in the VAMPIRE EARTH series. I want to keep listening to it on CD, but it won't be released until next month (7/15/2010). It's getting hard to resist buying the print version so I can have it sooner!

www.fantasyliterature.com

[Bill · Rating 5 out of 5]

Book three in the Vampire Earth series, Tale of the Thunderbolt continues the story of David Valentine, soldier and infiltrator for Southern Command, one of the last outposts fighting against the tyrannical rule of the Kur and their bloodthirsty minions. As the story begins, the year is 2070 and the Kur have ruled early for more than forty years. David is undercover as a Coastal Marine in the service of Kur, and manages to get himself posted to the Thunderbolt, an armored, former icebreaker-turned gunboat, and possibly the most powerful ship in the Caribbean and the Gulf. David's mission is to steal the Thunderbolt during a pirate hunt in the Caribbean, and his adventures on the island of Hispaniola help free much of the island from Kur rule. The secondary part of his mission is to take the Thunderbolt to track down a semi-legendary weapon of great power in the most unlikely place with which to fight the alien masters. He finally returns home, weapon in hand, to find a nasty surprise waiting for him.

Tale of the Thunderbolt is a quick, enjoyable read. It could easily stand on it's own, though there is a great deal of subtext that's lost (or at least murky) without having read the previous two novels, Way of the Wolf and Choice of the Cat. This series is growing on me - though I've enjoyed all of the books, I'm coming to the realization that Knight has built an impressive world down to the last detail, and the degree of realism with which he imbues his characters and settings is captivating. His continuity is very strong, which is quite an accomplishment.

I highly recommend this book.

[Benjamin Thomas · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is the third book in the near future "Vampire Earth" series, featuring David Valentine as a young up-and-coming leader in the resistance against alien invaders (The Kurian Invasion from 48 years before). Rest assured, this is not a "vampire" book or series. The term vampire here merely refers to the aliens' method of feeding off of "'auras" found in all living things, but particularly strong in humans.

The author's strength lies in world building as evidenced by the complex society of Kurs that he presents in this series. Each book, of course, provides more detail but it fits so well together that it had to have been all planned out from the beginning. The plot of this third novel is fairly straightforward as Valentine has a mission to accomplish involving obtaining a new weapon to use against the Kurs. Valentine, as a member of the elite "Cat" spy force goes aboard an aging gunboat named the Thunderbolt and several adventures ensue as he attempts to complete his mission. Several recurring characters as well as a couple of prominent new ones make their appearance here, all well-drawn, and I suspect we'll be seeing more from them in future entries in the series. There is also a fairly strong romance in this book which was a bit of a welcome departure from the first two novels. The overall plot does end on a cliffhanger so I would recommend having book 4 ready at hand.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The third installment of vampire earth is another exciting tale of David Valentine. This one is unique so far in that it takes place mostly in the Caribbean on a ship. Valentine is looking for a weapon to bring back to the Ozarks to help Southern Command try to get a leg up on the Kurians. We meet another set of awesome characters and get to see a new part of the world under the Kurians. I really liked Post and Carrasca and hope they are in more of these books. I am also really glad that Ahn-Ka is a semi-major character since I really like him.
There was not as much action in this book compared to the others. It felt like Valentine did a lot of traveling to places rather than fighting, but there is excitement in other ways. Valentine does get captured and that was exciting. The sea battles against the submarine was also exciting. The ratbits were very exciting, not from an action perspective but wondering what could come from the Ranch to help out Valentine and company. I am excited to see mutant animals that can talk hopefully in more of the books.

[Anne Patkau · Rating 4 out of 5]

***** "Tale of the Thunderbolt" (Vampire Earth #3) is a gunboat rebel Cat David Valentine tries to take over. E.E. Knight, muscular in the author photo, has a strong style that tugs you into an up-close scratch and bite war, tumbling with surprises, humor, and an explicit romance scene in this episode. Is he prophetic, with New Orleans destruction around 2022, as part of worldwide plague and disaster paving the way for alien conquerors? A few other Lifeweavers [one with a special debt] from the now inacessible homeworld are sympathetic, against the immortality-seekers. They fortify humans with special abilities to combat hooded vampire monsters who drain life energy for their lords and blood for themselves. Nicknamed in book one, Ghost is surprised by a gorgeous Jamaican pirate captain [left with a souvenir] as he fulfills his 2-year mission to Haiti for secret weapons, fragile, but effective against individual 'Hoods'. Ghost must get them home to Arkansas through ratbit mutants [yes] and collaboraters [no].

[Fantasy Literature · Rating 3 out of 5]

Tale of the Thunderbolt is the third installment in the VAMPIRE EARTH series. Each book has so far followed the story of David Valentine, post-apocalyptic warrior extraordinaire. In this third volume, Southern Command has sent David on a mission to bring back a secret weapon that lays hidden somewhere on the Haitian side of Hispaniola. David has been undercover for over a year in preparation for this mission, and has done things for the sake of humanity that he dares not speak of.

The David Valentine in Tale of the Thunderbolt is unfortunately a bit different from the one seen in previous novels. He seems more than slightly damaged from the things he’s been through in the past. I always enjoyed the fact that Valentine always did the right thing no matter what the consequences were. There was a ... Read More:
http://www.fantasyliterature.com/revi...

[Dave · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought enough of this installment to continue to procure the further volumes. Definitely a bit of a cliff hanger that hints at Book 4 but Book 3 also had a disappointment.

It totally left us hanging in regards to story progress of his intermittment partner (Duvalier) who was supposed to be working to free the families of Valentine's shipmates that were living in a virtual prison-camp like company town setting. That seemed like a pretty significant operation just to be dropped cold-turkey from further mention.

Why bother expounding on its planning if it were not going to be included in the remainder of the Book 3 storyline?

[Allan · Rating 4 out of 5]

With Valentine now a fully-fledged Cat, he goes deep undercover to investigate the rumour of a weapon that could be used in the war against the Kurian Order. For this he has to enlist in the crew of the Thunderbolt, a gunboat used to quell renegade groups and pirates but it gives him the means to venture out into the Caribbean and the island of Jamaica where the "weapon" is said to be.

Not a bad instalment in the Vampire earth saga and it keeps the storyline running nicely along with new characters and locations and gives us a glimpse of the way to Kur itself.

[E. · Rating 3 out of 5]

David Valentine, former Wolf and current Cat, along with his ally Anh-Kha, a Golden One, travel incognito to the Caribbean in search of a secret weapon that is rumored to be the key to overthrowing the Kurian oppression of Earth. Many intriguing characters enrich Valentine's life and aid him in bringing the remarkable quickwood which will greatly enhance humanity's ability to defeat the Reapers. Fortunately, the sequel is already available as this book ends in a cliffhanger.

[Scott Vout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Book three of the E.E. Knight, Vampire Earth, Series.

In this one our intrepid hero David Valentine, travels south to Jamaica and Haiti to retrieve the
secret weapon to turn the tide against the vampires.

Lots of action along with some new captivating characters.

And as usual Knight is not afraid to kill off some of the good guys.
Oops did I say too much.

Enjoyable if you are a Knight fan or a fan of cut and slash fantasy but want a change
from the usual Trolls and Giants.

[Suz]

It was a good story but it ended on a cliff hanger. I usually give 1 star for cliff hanger books in a series but that would be a disservice to this book so I'm just not going to rate it at all.

Without the cliff hanger it would have been a 3.5 to 4. The cliff hanger would have really pissed me off if I didn't have the next book to dive into. Still, no kudos for half a story that's marketed as an entire story.

[Lucias · Rating 3 out of 5]

Probably the best of the Vampire Earth series so far. Knight's been very good so far about not retreading ground and doesn't have any qualms about having his setting evolve. Again, a good light read.

[Chad · Rating 3 out of 5]

I keep reading these cause I like the premise and Knight demonstrates an above average knowledge of firearms - which I really appreciate. Maybe he writes too well - sometimes the combat scenes and their aftermath are not the conducive to the "whimsy" I generally look for in my leisure reading.

[Cody Littrell · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not Bad at all. It kept me pretty entertained. A little twisting to the story, moving into the Caribbean. The whole "Navy Scene" keeps it interesting. Valentine continues to kick ass and take names.