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The Vampire Omnibus
The list of great vampire movies made since the turn of the century is almost endless. In this collection, Peter Haining, has brought together not only the earliest and rarest vampire tales, but also the short stories on which many of the great films of this genre are based; as well as a wide-ranging selection of contributions by some of the great modern masters of horror: Stephen King, Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury, William F. Nolan and Richard Laymon ...
498 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1995
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108 people want to read
About the author
Peter Haining
331 books99 followersPeter Alexander Haining was an English journalist, author and anthologist who lived and worked in Suffolk. Born in Enfield, Middlesex, he began his career as a reporter in Essex and then moved to London where he worked on a trade magazine before joining the publishing house of New English Library.
Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.
In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).
He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.
Haining achieved the position of Editorial Director before becoming a full time writer in the early Seventies. He edited a large number of anthologies, predominantly of horror and fantasy short stories, wrote non-fiction books on a variety of topics from the Channel Tunnel to Sweeney Todd and also used the pen names "Ric Alexander" and "Richard Peyton" on a number of crime story anthologies. In the Seventies he wrote three novels, including The Hero (1973), which was optioned for filming.
In two controversial books, Haining argued that Sweeney Todd was a real historical figure who committed his crimes around 1800, was tried in December 1801, and was hanged in January 1802. However, other researchers who have tried to verify his citations find nothing in these sources to back Haining's claims. A check of the website Old Bailey at for "Associated Records 1674-1834" for an alleged trial in December 1801 and hanging of Sweeney Todd for January 1802 show no reference; in fact the only murder trial for this period is that of a Governor/Lt Col. Joseph Wall who was hanged 28 January 1802 for killing a Benjamin Armstrong 10 July 1782 in "Goree" Africa and the discharge of a Humphrey White in January 1802. Strong reservations have also been expressed regarding the reliability of another of Haining's influential non-fiction works, The Legend and Bizarre Crimes of Spring Heeled Jack.
He wrote several reference books on Doctor Who, including the 20th anniversary special Doctor Who: A Celebration Two Decades Through Time and Space (1983), and also wrote the definitive study of Sherlock Holmes on the screen, The Television Sherlock Holmes (1991) and several other television tie-ins featuring famous literary characters, including Maigret, Poirot and James Bond. Peter Haining's most recent project was a series of World War Two stories based on extensive research and personal interviews: The Jail That Went To Sea (2003), The Mystery of Rommel's Gold (2004), Where The Eagle Landed (2004), The Chianti Raiders (2005) and The Banzai Hunters (2007).
He won the British Fantasy Awards Karl Edward Wagner Award in 2001.
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
March 8, 2020
3. 4 stars!
“...dusk is the time when men whisper of matters about which they remain silent in the full light of the sun.”
― Simon Raven
This vampire anthology is divided into three sections: Prototypes, Films, and Archetypes.
“One glance, one terrified glance, in which her whole soul was concentrated, sufficed to shew her who and what the figure was. There was a tall, gaunt form — there was the faded ancient apparel — the lustrous metallic-looking eyes — its half-opened mouth, exhibiting tusk-like teeth! It was — yes, it was — the vampyre!”
― James Malcolm Rymer
My Prototype favorites were:
The Pale Lady by Alexandre Dumas and Paul Bocage
James Malcolm Rymer – The Vampyre’s Story
"You didn't put anyone off at the wrong station, did you? We're here to meet a friend of the Caldwells, a Count Alucard."
-Peter Tremayne
My film favorites:
Bela Lugosi – The Bat
Peter Tremayne – Son of Dracula
Val Lewton – The Cat People
“You may have an occasion to be traveling in southern Maine yourself one of these days. Pretty part of the countryside. You may even stop by Tookey's Bar for a drink. Nice place. They kept the name just the same. So have your drink, and then my advice to you is to keep right on moving north. Whatever you do, don't go up that road to Jerusalem's Lot. Especially not after dark. There's a little girl somewhere out there. And I think she's still waiting for her good-night kiss.”
― Stephen King
Favorite Archetypes:
Simon Raven – Incense for the Damned
Ray Russell – Sanguinarius
Richard Matheson – First Anniversary
Theodore Sturgeon – So Near the Darkness
Richard Laymon- The Bleeder
Solid overview of Vampires in literature and film.
Welcome addition to any vampire book collection.
“...dusk is the time when men whisper of matters about which they remain silent in the full light of the sun.”
― Simon Raven
This vampire anthology is divided into three sections: Prototypes, Films, and Archetypes.
“One glance, one terrified glance, in which her whole soul was concentrated, sufficed to shew her who and what the figure was. There was a tall, gaunt form — there was the faded ancient apparel — the lustrous metallic-looking eyes — its half-opened mouth, exhibiting tusk-like teeth! It was — yes, it was — the vampyre!”
― James Malcolm Rymer
My Prototype favorites were:
The Pale Lady by Alexandre Dumas and Paul Bocage
James Malcolm Rymer – The Vampyre’s Story
"You didn't put anyone off at the wrong station, did you? We're here to meet a friend of the Caldwells, a Count Alucard."
-Peter Tremayne
My film favorites:
Bela Lugosi – The Bat
Peter Tremayne – Son of Dracula
Val Lewton – The Cat People
“You may have an occasion to be traveling in southern Maine yourself one of these days. Pretty part of the countryside. You may even stop by Tookey's Bar for a drink. Nice place. They kept the name just the same. So have your drink, and then my advice to you is to keep right on moving north. Whatever you do, don't go up that road to Jerusalem's Lot. Especially not after dark. There's a little girl somewhere out there. And I think she's still waiting for her good-night kiss.”
― Stephen King
Favorite Archetypes:
Simon Raven – Incense for the Damned
Ray Russell – Sanguinarius
Richard Matheson – First Anniversary
Theodore Sturgeon – So Near the Darkness
Richard Laymon- The Bleeder
Solid overview of Vampires in literature and film.
Welcome addition to any vampire book collection.
September 1, 2011
A good collection of stories, even though I'm not exactly a vampire fan. Originally, I bought the book for Val Lewton's "The Cat People", though I've ended up liking most of the stories. The book is divided into 3 parts: The Prototypes,which contains early, folk-lorish vampire tales; the Films dedicated to the undead that inspired pop culture notions of a Vampire, and the Archetypes, which hosts the modern interpretations of vamps and contains most my favorites. The good thing about short stories collection is that you can read a new tale in one sitting. Perfect for those odd rainy days when you need a little horror tale.
So far, I've read:
The Pale Lady by Alexandre Dumas and Paul Bocage
I particularly love this story although I originally avoided it (can't remember why). Despite the typical vampire story feel -- set in the Carpathians and the dark atmosphere, there isn't really a Vampire in it, at least not one by modern Vampire standards. Anyway, a love triangle is involved. I like to think of it as "What Twilight might have been had it been better written".
The Land of the Time-Leeches by Gustav Meyrink
Didn't really understand this. I think it's more about immortality than vampires
I, The Vampire by Henry Kuttner
Set in Hollywood during the golden age of movies. The Vampire is a sympathetic creature. A bit like the film "Shadow of A Vampire"
Cat People by Val Lewton
I thought this was the short story version of the movie "Cat People". Turns out, its more about a tribesman haunting the "Bagheetas" that supposedly turn into cat people
Return to Salem's Lot by Stephen King
I love King so how could I not love this? Admittedly, not the most original story but it's written very well. The frigid isolation of New England winter, the haunting image of a little girl in the snow waiting for her kiss...
Sanguinarius by Ray Russell
Not exactly a Vampire tale. It's a fictional account of Lady Elizabeth Bathory's life -- the one who used to bathe in virgin's blood. The lack of vampires aside, its a credible historical fiction with a dash of gothic horror in it.
First Anniversary by Richard Matheson
Written by the guy who wrote "I Am Legend" and "Button, Button". Frankly, I'm not sure where the vampire is. I would consider this more a zombie story. A story about a husband and a wife. I can't get over how powerful Matheson writes. He's one of the few writers I've read that puts so little words on the page and yet seems to assault the senses. I swear I could smell decay and taste the sourness, and I was as horrified as the husband by the story's end.
Count Dracula by Woody Allen
A terrific, funny skit about Dracula waking up a tad too early
The Bleeder by Richard Laymon
My favorite so far. A geeky young man follows a trail of blood hoping to become a hero but discovers something else. Would have made a great Tales from The Crypt episode
So far, I've read:
The Pale Lady by Alexandre Dumas and Paul Bocage
I particularly love this story although I originally avoided it (can't remember why). Despite the typical vampire story feel -- set in the Carpathians and the dark atmosphere, there isn't really a Vampire in it, at least not one by modern Vampire standards. Anyway, a love triangle is involved. I like to think of it as "What Twilight might have been had it been better written".
The Land of the Time-Leeches by Gustav Meyrink
Didn't really understand this. I think it's more about immortality than vampires
I, The Vampire by Henry Kuttner
Set in Hollywood during the golden age of movies. The Vampire is a sympathetic creature. A bit like the film "Shadow of A Vampire"
Cat People by Val Lewton
I thought this was the short story version of the movie "Cat People". Turns out, its more about a tribesman haunting the "Bagheetas" that supposedly turn into cat people
Return to Salem's Lot by Stephen King
I love King so how could I not love this? Admittedly, not the most original story but it's written very well. The frigid isolation of New England winter, the haunting image of a little girl in the snow waiting for her kiss...
Sanguinarius by Ray Russell
Not exactly a Vampire tale. It's a fictional account of Lady Elizabeth Bathory's life -- the one who used to bathe in virgin's blood. The lack of vampires aside, its a credible historical fiction with a dash of gothic horror in it.
First Anniversary by Richard Matheson
Written by the guy who wrote "I Am Legend" and "Button, Button". Frankly, I'm not sure where the vampire is. I would consider this more a zombie story. A story about a husband and a wife. I can't get over how powerful Matheson writes. He's one of the few writers I've read that puts so little words on the page and yet seems to assault the senses. I swear I could smell decay and taste the sourness, and I was as horrified as the husband by the story's end.
Count Dracula by Woody Allen
A terrific, funny skit about Dracula waking up a tad too early
The Bleeder by Richard Laymon
My favorite so far. A geeky young man follows a trail of blood hoping to become a hero but discovers something else. Would have made a great Tales from The Crypt episode
July 3, 2013
ammetto a malincuore che questo libro è stato una mezza delusione. come per tutte le raccolte, ci sono racconti belli, altri meno belli e altri ancora proprio brutti e noiosi. l'unica cosa che mi sono risultati sempre interessanti sono state le introduzioni ai racconti ricchi di curiosità e notizie.
October 24, 2020
I made it about a third of the way through this massive anthology before I gave up. While some of the stories were interesting, I'm not into vampires the way I used to be and it just doesn't interest me to read about the earliest vampire stories/movies/archetypes. Maybe when I was a teen, this would have been more interesting, but I'm really bored by it now.
February 10, 2020
From the cover you would think this is a 5 star book? But you would be wrong, the first 2 sections of the book are very good as most of the stories are good to excellent!! But in the third part in my opinion lets the book down as some of the stories are dreadful!!
October 5, 2020
Almost 4 1/2. Bloody fangtastic (cheesy but accurate) I thoroughly enjoyed this collection and am happy to include it in my permanent collection.
October 19, 2020
About 25 years since I last read this!
Read
October 12, 2012I loved this book when I was younger. One of the short stories about Elizabeth Bathory so inspired me that I have been intrigued (my boyfriend says obsessed but we will ignore him) with her for years. The story has inspired my own writing and imagination! I sadly can't remember the name of the specfic story but I definitely recommend this book if you like unique vampire stories!
July 16, 2013
A great collection of short stories from all the greats; Lord Byron, Bela Lugosi, Stephen King, Anne Rice, Ray Bradbury and the list goes on.
The one glaring omission is John Polidori's The Vampyre.
The one glaring omission is John Polidori's The Vampyre.
June 10, 2012
I loved this book. Perfect for someone who loves vampire stories and is interested in the origin of them.
Not only does it look at stories but also films
Not only does it look at stories but also films
January 8, 2014
Excellent selection.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews