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Moby Dick: The Rise of the Undead: Part One
Beginning with Moby The Rise of the Undead (Part One), Tex Daw chronicles the passage of two men on board the Pequod, a whaling vessel poised on the edge of a world that is about to change forever. Haunted by the riddle of the vampire's dance, each of the men is transformed, and the world is made anew. With illuminating intelligence and ravishing sensuality, the author has created a story as beautiful and chilling as a lightning strike at a garden party. Daw's use of classical and modern English draws us into the story to confront issues within which we might otherwise be uncomfortable. In that sense, his book exercises power over the reader in the way that a vampire will exercise power over his subjects. Hauntingly unforgettable, and embodied with passion and humour alike, Moby The Rise of the Undead is a contemporary parable for the age of sailing.
108 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 25, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 27, 2023
Tex Daw manages a near-impossible feat here.
In this reimagining of Moby-Dick or, the Whale, he evokes the language and feeling of the original text without destroying it in the process. Even more impressively, he brings something fresh and evocative to the vampire mythology. This reader never wanted to read or hear about vampires again, ever, but in this version of Moby Dick the mythology of the undead is cleverly inter-woven in and infused with the delicate homoeroticism permeating Melville's original work. The result is a book about vampires that transcends the genre. My only complaint is that this is the first of two volumes and one is now virtually compelled to bite into the beckoning heat of the second.
In this reimagining of Moby-Dick or, the Whale, he evokes the language and feeling of the original text without destroying it in the process. Even more impressively, he brings something fresh and evocative to the vampire mythology. This reader never wanted to read or hear about vampires again, ever, but in this version of Moby Dick the mythology of the undead is cleverly inter-woven in and infused with the delicate homoeroticism permeating Melville's original work. The result is a book about vampires that transcends the genre. My only complaint is that this is the first of two volumes and one is now virtually compelled to bite into the beckoning heat of the second.
April 23, 2018
With its dismantling of primal wants and needs, and then laden with metaphors and innuendo, this is a fantastic read! Even better than the book itself, is the engaging exercise of reading it. Every word serves it's purpose, with exact ambition. Much like the dots in the pointillism of a George Seurat, the words add up to a grand picture. At times it was hard to finish chapters because I kept rereading sentences I'd wished I'd written.
January 4, 2018
“They call me Anson. Ishmael Anson. Vampire.”
In Tex Daw's historical fantasy novel "Moby Dick: The Rise of the Undead, Part One" he draws on the characters and settings originally set by Herman Melville in the legendary Moby Dick. Our narrator, Ishmael, is a young man as he enters the community of New Bedford. He is traveling towards Nantucket where he hopes of obtaining passage on a whaling vessel, brought on by a deep urge of curiosity about the unique specimen and the men who attempt to capture it.
However, departing from the original text, Daw brings an underlying element to the epic, widely known story. Ishmael is a vampire and an aspiring sailor, finding solidarity with the sperm whale: “Of those propositions that strive to link sperm whales with vampires, perhaps none is more incredible than that which has us sharing the power of ubiquity.” It is through his travels that Ishmael's thirst is quenched by the numerous townsfolk that happen to cross his path. One of which also captures Ishmael's affection, a deep, unexpected love with a fellow sailor and the pair venture towards Nantucket together. Upon arriving in the seaport town, Ishmael and his lover sign on with the Pequod, a whaling ship under the management of Captains Bildad and Peleg and manned by the secretive, possible-lunatic Captain Ahab.
Aboard the Pequod, Ahab takes the reigns of the ship in his vengeful quest for the famed Moby Dick, the sperm whale who previously took the Captain's leg, eliciting the man's undying hatred. While the crew sails towards a possible encounter with the sea creature, a different threat is among them. Ishmael blends in with his shipmates, but lurks in the dark of night and ventures from bed to bed, satisfying not only vampiric urges but sexual ones as well. Rumors and paranoia begin to settle in with the sailors as Ishmael starts turning crew members and more fall victim in his search for sustenance, though most don't recall the experience as anything more than dreams. However, at the end of Part One, Ahab will not hear of anything not in relation to Moby Dick and the course is set for confrontation.
Daw has been able to seamlessly incorporate new, invigorating twists into a classic story. Vampires; romances and rendezvouses; turning Ishmael into a nightly predator while the boat headlines for their aquatic one; the new storylines combine together well with the existing ones, making for an entertaining read. However, the acts of bloodletting and romances are merely hinted at through beautiful language, rather than being blatantly shoved into your face. They are eloquently glossed over that one could even miss some of the action if not paying attention. The language Daw uses is appropriate and wonderfully blends in with the preexisting text, capturing the original essence and draw from the original while incorporating the new, modern take with ease.
Overall, "Moby Dick: The Rise of the Undead, Part One" is a thrilling story that will keep readers engrossed until the end. On a scale, I give this splendid surprise of a novel 4 out 5 stars for an imaginative, heartfelt story that is well-paced and thought out and brings new blood to an old tale. Whether someone has read Herman Melville's iconic novel or not, they are sure to enjoy this fantastical rendition. The coming Part Two is sure to finish the remainder of the Moby Dick saga and finish where it left off. I, for one, will be sure to pick it up.
In Tex Daw's historical fantasy novel "Moby Dick: The Rise of the Undead, Part One" he draws on the characters and settings originally set by Herman Melville in the legendary Moby Dick. Our narrator, Ishmael, is a young man as he enters the community of New Bedford. He is traveling towards Nantucket where he hopes of obtaining passage on a whaling vessel, brought on by a deep urge of curiosity about the unique specimen and the men who attempt to capture it.
However, departing from the original text, Daw brings an underlying element to the epic, widely known story. Ishmael is a vampire and an aspiring sailor, finding solidarity with the sperm whale: “Of those propositions that strive to link sperm whales with vampires, perhaps none is more incredible than that which has us sharing the power of ubiquity.” It is through his travels that Ishmael's thirst is quenched by the numerous townsfolk that happen to cross his path. One of which also captures Ishmael's affection, a deep, unexpected love with a fellow sailor and the pair venture towards Nantucket together. Upon arriving in the seaport town, Ishmael and his lover sign on with the Pequod, a whaling ship under the management of Captains Bildad and Peleg and manned by the secretive, possible-lunatic Captain Ahab.
Aboard the Pequod, Ahab takes the reigns of the ship in his vengeful quest for the famed Moby Dick, the sperm whale who previously took the Captain's leg, eliciting the man's undying hatred. While the crew sails towards a possible encounter with the sea creature, a different threat is among them. Ishmael blends in with his shipmates, but lurks in the dark of night and ventures from bed to bed, satisfying not only vampiric urges but sexual ones as well. Rumors and paranoia begin to settle in with the sailors as Ishmael starts turning crew members and more fall victim in his search for sustenance, though most don't recall the experience as anything more than dreams. However, at the end of Part One, Ahab will not hear of anything not in relation to Moby Dick and the course is set for confrontation.
Daw has been able to seamlessly incorporate new, invigorating twists into a classic story. Vampires; romances and rendezvouses; turning Ishmael into a nightly predator while the boat headlines for their aquatic one; the new storylines combine together well with the existing ones, making for an entertaining read. However, the acts of bloodletting and romances are merely hinted at through beautiful language, rather than being blatantly shoved into your face. They are eloquently glossed over that one could even miss some of the action if not paying attention. The language Daw uses is appropriate and wonderfully blends in with the preexisting text, capturing the original essence and draw from the original while incorporating the new, modern take with ease.
Overall, "Moby Dick: The Rise of the Undead, Part One" is a thrilling story that will keep readers engrossed until the end. On a scale, I give this splendid surprise of a novel 4 out 5 stars for an imaginative, heartfelt story that is well-paced and thought out and brings new blood to an old tale. Whether someone has read Herman Melville's iconic novel or not, they are sure to enjoy this fantastical rendition. The coming Part Two is sure to finish the remainder of the Moby Dick saga and finish where it left off. I, for one, will be sure to pick it up.
May 19, 2021
I gotta admit this book surprised me in the best way possible. When I first saw the title I honestly was quite puzzled and wasn’t sure what to expect. Well to my shock and satisfaction what it turned out to be is an astoundingly sophisticated, seductive, spooky, sexy, slow burn, vampire novel. I love how he’s kept the structure, language and heart of Moby Dick in tact in his own way while weaving one of the best vampire narratives I’ve read in a bit. I love how thought provoking and philosophical his writing is and how he delves into the homoeroticism of seafaring life in a way that melville never could. The writing is gorgeous! I recently read “Carmilla” a vampire novel from the late 1800’s and this book could easily have convinced me they were written around the same time. I can’t wait to delve into part two. As it stands it is one of the finest vampire novels I’ve read. It lost a star just because cause it does take a little bit to get used to the writing style and to get into the narrative and there were some confusing moments. While I love the blurb about the cover art on the back I definitely think this book needs a better cover that grabs people and makes them want to know more. It’s such a damn good book. I highly recommend it!
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews