Under the Fang

by Robert McCammon (Editor), Nancy A. Collins (Contributor), Richard Laymon (Contributor)

THEY'VE WON...

They came in the night, to the towns and cities. Like a slow, insidious virus they spread from house to house, building to building, from graveyard to bedroom and cellar to boardroom. They are ancient and deathless, sun-shy and bloodthirsty. For millennia their vile compulsion kept them in the darkest corners of the human imagination. But the dark-hearted hoardes are conquerers now, and those who survive are forced to live

UNDER THE FANG

In this unparalleled feast for the imagination, America's premier horror writers have created a world of vampirism run amok. From Moscow to Tokyo, New York to Los Angeles, vampire kingdoms rise and fall; their unholy religions, fiendish science and depraved entertainments hold ghastly sway. Come share this terrifying vision of a future...

Their time never passes. Their time is now...

Contains:
The Miracle Mile - Robert R. McCammon
Dancing Nitely - Nancy A. Collins
Stoker's Mistress - Clint Collins
Does the Blood Line Run on Time? - Sidney Williams and Robert Petitt
Red Eve - Al Sarrantonio
We are Dead Together - Charles de Lint
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage - Chet Williamson
Advocates - Suzy McKee Charnas and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
Special - Richard Laymon
Herrenrasse - J.N. Williamson
Duty - Ed Gorman
Midnight Sun - Brian Hodge
A Bloodsucker - David N. Meyer III
Prodigal Sun - Thomas F. Monteleone
There are No Nightclubs in East Palo Alto - Clifford V. Brooks
Juice - Lisa W. Cantrell
Behind Enemy Lines - Dan Perez

Genres: Horror, Vampires, Anthologies, Short Stories, Fiction, Fantasy, Science Fiction

336 pages, Mass Market Paperback

First published January 1, 1991

About the author

Pseudonyms: Robert R. McCammon; Robert Rick McCammon

Robert McCammon was a full-time horror writer for many years. Among his many popular novels were the classics Boy's Life and Swan Song. After taking a hiatus for his family, he returned to writing with an interest in historical fiction.

His newest book, Leviathan, is the tenth and final book in the Matthew Corbett series. It was published in trade hardcover (Lividian Publications), ebook (Open Road), and audiobook (Audible) formats on December 3, 2024.

McCammon resides in Birmingham, Alabama.

Reviews

[Kenneth McKinley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Under The Fang - edited by Robert R. McCammon

The Miracle Mile - Robert McCammon

McCammon always serves up his readers platter after platter of stories with three-dimensional characters and layers of atmosphere. The Miracle Mile is no different. Survivors of the apocalypse try to find one last glimmer of joy from a favorite family vacation spot.

4 out of 5 stars


Dancing Nitely - Nancy A. Collins

After the Uprising, life as a vampire is very different. A glimpse in the life of Maldives the vampire as he goes out to the club. An entertaining look at how the undead's world would be.

5 out of 5 stars


Stoker's Mistress - Clint Collins

Bram Stoker thought he was writing a fictional tale about vampires. It's a good thing for them that he didn't know the truth.

4 out of 5 stars


Does The Blood Line Run On Time - Sidney Williams & Robert Petitt

Dugan joins the resistance after seeing the lead vampire destroy the only thing he loved in this vampire apocalypse. Absolutely loved the writing and the plot. Perfect.

5 out of 5 stars


Red Eve - Al Sarrantonio

Spoiled, loud-mouthed brats learn a new lesson...the hard way. An okay story that you could see the ending coming from a mile away.

3 out of 5 stars


We Are Dead Together - Charles DeLint

A young gypsy learns that it is better to be true to yourself then live your life as a lie. A moralistic scene rather than a complete story. Still a decent rendition.

3 1/2 out of 5 stars


Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage - Chet Williamson

Being together for all eternity has different meanings in a world ruled by vampires. Richard finds out this and what true love really means. Great story written with such eloquence by Williamson.

5 out of 5 stars


Advocates - Suzy McKee Charnas and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

What to do with a captured vampire that isn't limited by sunlight and can feed off of other vampires as well as humans. Advocates touches on sociological questions that could possibly arise during the vampire apocalypse but then never really goes anywhere, no conclusion, nothing. Its too bad. A story with this good of writing shouldn't end by the reading being indifferent and shrugging their shoulders before they move on to the next story.

3 out of 5 stars


Special - Richard Laymon

Falling in love with the prisoners is never a good idea in a vampire apocalypse, especially when the humans are supposed to only be around to be slaves and procreate. But, for Jim, the heart wants what the heart wants and for some reason Diane is special. A fun tale that I actually like from Laymon. The guy can flat out write when he's not trying to be a horny 13-year-old.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars


Herrenrasse - J.N. Williamson

Harry is captured by the vampire that kills his family. Instead of disposing of Harry, the vampire decided to make Harry his human "pet" to keep him company. A confusing tale that tries to show Harry outwit his captor. Eh.

2.5 out of 5 stars


Duty - Ed Gorman

Keller doesn't like his job, but someone has to do it in the vampire apocalypse. A great story where the delivery is the best part.

5 out of 5 stars


Midnight Sun - Brian Hodge

This one knocked my socks off. Think of John Carpenter's The Thing with vampires instead of an alien.

5 out of 5 stars


A Bloodsucker - David N. Meyer III

A quick and fun little diddy about the price of fortune and fame in the vampire apocalypse.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars


Prodigal Son - Thomas F. Monteleone

A vampire scientist discovers a vaccine that will allow him to be exposed to sunlight. Following a successful trial of using himself as the first test subject, Vandemeer finds himself walking along the beach right before sunrise for the first time since he became a vampire. He meets a human and is surprised that his hunger doesn't overtake him. What has this vaccine done to him? Monteleone's solid delivery still doesn't make up for a mediocre ending.

3 out of 5 stars


There Are No Nightclubs in East Palo Alto - Clifford V. Brooks

A group of humans are tired of being scared and suppressed by the vampires in the apocalypse. They learn to play instruments, form a band, and write songs of rebellion to try and feel less weak, less afraid. But in the apocalypse, you never know who you can trust, even yourself. A solid story with interesting characters and nice twist on the ending.

4 out of 5 stars


Juice - Lisa W. Cantrell

A bootlegger in the apocalypse finds that they have just as much to fear as the original ones did during prohibition. My first time reading Cantrell, a fairly well-known author from the eighties. Juice was creative and an engaging read. Cantrell doesn't have an extensive catalog, but I will be grabbing what she did publish.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars


Behind Enemy Lines - Dan Perez

Here's an author I've never heard of, but with Behind Enemy Lines, he dishes out an engrossing tale militaristic vampires versus a band of human rebels. I'm a sucker for great characters and Perez delivers.

4 1/2 out of 5 stars


UNDER THE FANG is one of the best anthologies you'll run across. There are only a couple of clunkers in the 17 offerings. There were a few authors in there that I'd heard of but had never read yet. Now I've got a few more writers to look for in my used book store outings. And that's going to be your best bet to find and pick up UNDER THE FANG, since it was released in the 1980s. I recommend that you do. It's chock full of wonderful bloodsucking tales.


OVERALL = 4.11 out of 5 stars

[Will Errickson · Rating 3 out of 5]

Decent early ‘90s horror anthology about vampires taking over the world. Stories by Williams, Hodge, Cantrell, and Gorman are best; some others very good; only a few so-so. A lot of good writing even if the tale itself is underwhelming. Maybe not truly essential, but a fair enough read! Full review:

http://toomuchhorrorfiction.blogspot....

[Jess Haines · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nearly every story within this book is powerful and compelling in its own right. I’ll address each individual story, but overall this is one of my favorite anthologies. It’s dark, it’s gritty, and it doesn’t hold back on addressing some of the darker aspects of humanity. This book is not for those with a weak stomach, because there are descriptions and situations in it that could very well have you throwing up in your mouth a little. Think Stephen King’s THE BACHMAN BOOKS–particularly the story Rage. In other words, it’s well written, but dangerously inappropriate material.

I love it. It embodies everything I’d ever want in a collection of horror stories. Sometimes it isn’t just the vampires who are monsters, and the people who take part in the carnage can make them look positively kind in comparison. It makes your hair stand on end, it makes you cringe, it gives you chills—and several of the stories really make you think beyond the horror of the moment. Realize that this is a collection of horror stories, so there are some atrocities described in a few of them that may make more squeamish readers uncomfortable.

Now, a breakdown of each story with my thoughts and individual ratings:

THE MIRACLE MILE by Robert R. McCammon

The story of a man driven to desperation by the changes in his world. Easily the most fucked up of the lot. It’s gorgeously written and will drive you down into despair and madness right along with Kyle and his family as they search for one last miracle in his childhood playground.

Rating: 5/5

DANCING NITELY by Nancy A. Collins

This is possibly the most tongue in cheek (I’m using that description very loosely) of the lot. Night clubs have become a whole new breed of WTF. Human “pets” in cage matches fight each other to the death using weapons meant to wound so the vampires below can catch the falling blood in their mouths. There’s a whole sub-culture that has sprung up around these fights. Our hero, Mavrides, goes on the hunt at a match for a date. After reading this one, you’ll never think of vampires, sex, and one night stands the same way again.

Rating: 4/5

STOKER’S MISTRESS by Clint Collins

This story seemed to be much ado about nothing, as it was mostly centered around the politicking of vampires who are already in charge of everything. There’s something about deciding who will be the Big Bad for the next 300 years. Insert metaphors about how Bram Stoker’s work was all just one great big metaphor for the oncoming onslaught by vampires, more metaphors about how the dumb humans didn’t listen so now look what has become of them, all the while inserting (genteel) evil cackles and daintily keeping one’s pinky in the air as we sup from the throat of a supplicant, and, ohhhh, look how eeeeeeviiiiil we are since we’ll be killing them instead of turning them, etc, etc. It was all a little too pompous and political for my tastes. It wasn’t poorly written, but this one didn’t do it for me.

Rating: 2/5

DOES THE BLOOD LINE RUN ON TIME? by Sidney Williams and Robert Petitt

As the title implies, this one is about how “cattle” are shunted around the country via train. Members of the human resistance take exception to the treatment of their fellow man and fight back. This one had some awesome battle scenes with moments that remind me of Ash kicking ass in Army of Darkness, but the ending may shock and/or slightly disappoint you.

Rating: 3/5

RED EVE by Al Sarrantonio

This one is the most surreal of the bunch. Vampires observing the history of their kind, the fall of humanity, the rise of vampires as master. It has a more poetic feel to it than the rest, and I love the imagery used. I find it to be the most decadently evocative story of the anthology.

Rating: 4/5

WE ARE DEAD TOGETHER by Charles de Lint

I adore this story to pieces. Mostly because I love stories about the Romani (gypsies), and I find that this one really captured all the things I loved about gypsies as they appear in the World of Darkness (hey, I’m a gamer nerd, what can I say?). This was a beautifully rendered piece that shows that even a traitor to the human race can learn the folly of their ways and recant.

Rating: 5/5

CALM SEA AND PROSPEROUS VOYAGE by Chet Williamson

This story is one of the most heartbreaking, even discounting the first in the book. A couple have fled to a cabin deep in the woods to hide from all of the changes that have been made to their world, only going to the city on day trips for supplies when absolutely necessary. For the most part they live off the land. Fearing discovery by the rogue feral vampires (ones too starved and changed by government experiments to be controlled), they have built quite a cozy retreat for themselves, far away from any remaining humans or vampires who might kill or enslave them. But then the unthinkable happens, and one of the pair becomes desperately ill. While this one has some of the more graphic descriptions in it, none of it feels gratuitous. Expect to tear up (and gag a bit) during this one.

Rating: 5/5

ADVOCATES by Suzy McKee Charnas and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro

What if the vampires encountered something that, to all appearances, was one of their own—but could walk in the day and fed upon the blood of both humans and vampires? One such creature is captured and experiences the new justice system that has been put into place by the vampire overlords. They don’t understand that, to this thing, they are human—and he is the only true vampire, here long before any of those who now vie for the same food source. A fascinating concept, but the story felt weighted down by a lot of bickering on the part of the vampires and a lack of activity. Not bad, but it didn’t really hold my interest as much as the other stories.

Rating: 3/5

SPECIAL by Richard Laymon

This one ranks up there on the Fucked-Up-O-Meter. Humans are being bred for food by certain vampire camps. The vampires enlist human men to be both foot soldiers to guard them during the day, and to hunt down fresh food and act as stud to captured women. One such soldier, Jim, finds a woman who strikes him as special. He does everything he can to make this valiant and defiant warrior-woman his. Don’t worry—the guy starts out as very despicable (warning: rape ahoy), but he definitely redeems himself in the end. If you look past the WTFery to the message beneath, this is a hell of a powerful story, and one of my favorites in the anthology.

Rating: 5/5

HERRENRASSE by J.N. Williamson

Harry knows that Edward is a vampire, and that the vampire killed his wife and daughter. He seeks revenge against this abomination against God—but finds himself trapped in the vampire’s lair, and then kept as a pet to keep Edward company. Though Edward is a soulless creature, he finds himself becoming attached to Harry, caring for him, reading with and debating various subjects (religion, philosophy, politics, etc) with him. What might Edward do once he realizes how much he truly needs and depends on Harry? Another favorite of mine. Utterly beautiful execution.

Rating: 5/5

DUTY by Ed Gorman

This is a sad and lonely story about a man who takes it upon himself to be the one to send infected townsfolk to their final rest. You see how utterly tragic it is for him when he has to put down one of his own, as well as how the other townsfolk view him. Poignant and beautifully written.

Rating: 5/5

MIDNIGHT SUN by Brian Hodge

A secret cadre of humans are hiding in the Arctic wastes, holed up and passing beneath the notice of the vampires—until now. A paramilitary unit is sent to both test a new scientific breakthrough that lets them walk in the day, and to subjugate the last remaining human resistance. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, but just like the previous story (DUTY), it’s surprisingly an emotionally painful read.

Rating: 4.5/5

A BLOODSUCKER by David N. Meyer, III

Take a walk in the shoes of an undead literary agent. Makes 15% look like a small price to pay now, doesn’t it?

Rating: 4/5

PRODIGAL SUN by Thomas F. Monteleone

This is one of the most moving stories in the anthology, and another personal favorite. Vandemeer, a vampire scientist, accepted the price of becoming a guinea pig for a new serum that may allow vampires to walk in the sun. The process is painful, but you can imagine the benefits. While walking outside of the lab and experiencing the surf and sand close to sunrise for the first time since his change, he encounters a lone human. She teaches him a new lesson about humanity and compassion. And he realizes that his real work may not lie in the lab, but in doing something greater.

Rating: 5/5

THERE ARE NO NIGHTCLUBS IN EAST PALO ALTO by Clifford V. Brooks

A first person narrative by a human hiding in an underground colony of vagrants composed of the few humans who remain free of–though they are occasionally hunted by–the vampire masters on the surface. You never learn his or her name, but you see the hopelessness, the way the world has changed, and the fear of losing their girlfriend, Gail. It all culminates in a shocking but fitting close.

Rating: 3.5/5

JUICE by Lisa W. Cantrell

Juice. It’s like moonshine. The government only allots a certain amount of blood to the vampires now, and all the humans have to come to government-run facilities to donate regularly so that the vampires don’t kill off or turn all of their supply. Sometimes, though—sometimes one of the vamps wants more. It’s all about supplying the juice. (Warning: this is another one that, while quite good, will set off your WTFery meter.)

Rating: 4/5

BEHIND ENEMY LINES by Dan Perez

A trio of vampires in the military out on patrol are caught by humans. The leader recognizes one of the humans as his lover from when he was alive, and that helps him remember who he was, and who he should be. Not quite as emotionally impactful as the other stories, but still a decent way to end the anthology.

Rating: 3/5

This isn’t the only book I’ve read that addresses a post-apocalyptic world where vampires have taken over everything, with humanity forced into servitude under their undead masters. However, it is the best. I cannot recommend it more highly to fans of vampire horror stories where the vampires are reveling in their darker nature instead of moping over the beautiful sadness of death (a la Louis from Anne Rice’s INTERVIEW WITH THE VAMPIRE). If you liked Stephen King’s SALEM’S LOT or David McAfee’s 33 A.D., chances are you will enjoy this book.

4.5/5

[Kasper Kade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gritty. Brutal. Thought-provoking. Everything I love about horror fiction. Under the Fang is the best anthology I've ever read. I'm glad I found this at a used bookstore. Robert R. McCammon is one of my favorite authors, and this anthology was his brainchild. He is the first contributing author and he also served as editor. Some of these stories are great, and most are good. A few didn't land for me, but all were well-written.

[Little Timmy · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great horror book. Some of the things that happened to the humans under the Vampire reign were very disturbing when you thought about them. Superb collection of short stories in this shared world. Very recommended

[Benji's Books · Rating 5 out of 5]

Man, this was such a good anthology, with maybe two stinkers in the whole bunch. Surprisingly, the first tale penned by Robert McCammon, which I was most looking forward to, was actually not my favorite.

No, my favorite would go to "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage" by Chet Williamson. That story was heartbreaking, yet beautifully done. There were quite a few sad tales in here, especially the first one by McCammon, but I do believe this one takes the cake.

To rate anthologies is a hard thing to do since we all enjoy different things and these stories are all really different, so I won't bother rating them all individually. However, this collection was great and if you love horror or vampires, this is essential. Especially with a segment involving Bram Stoker's Dracula being based on true events.

[Karl · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is copy 278 of 750 signed numbered copies.

[Terence · Rating 2 out of 5]

Another read from my lost youth :-) This was during my "vampire" phase in my mid to late teens.

As usual with an anthology, it's a mixed bag. As I remember, most of the stories were OK; some stank. The primary draw was that all the stories depicted a world under the control of vampires in some way.

[Riju Ganguly · Rating 2 out of 5]

This anthology, themed around a Vampire-ruled US, contains seventeen longish stories. They were all very grim, gritty, and dark. I was particularly enamoured by the following tales~
1. Robert R. McCammon's "The Miracle Mile";
2. Sidney Williams abd Robert Petitt's "Does the Blood Line Run on Time?"
3. Ed Gorman's "Duty".
More of such crisp and compact tales would have made the anthology more effective. It would have certainly benefited if tales from Paul F. Wilson's 'Midnight Mass' or Kim Newman's 'Anno Dracula' universe would have been included.
'Nuff said.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being as its a collection, not every piece sang to me, but enough of them were absolutely brilliant that there's only one rating to give it.

[Merlot58 · Rating 4 out of 5]

31/2⭐️. This was a pretty good short story collection. There were a couple of clunkers for me, but not many. The collection is focused on vampires, so there were a lot of similar themes in many of the stories, but some authors managed to find some new takes on the bloodsuckers.

[Vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I bought this collection probably over 20 years ago, but it's SO good that I've held onto it all this time over multiple moves. It's the best horror anthology I've ever read--barely a clunker in the bunch. The premise for all of the stories is that vampires have taken over the world, and humans are on the defensive. It's great fun to see how different writers interpreted the assignment. The stories go in so many directions; it's not all The Walking Dead, but with vampires.

The vampires are idealized, swoony romantic partners in exactly ZERO of these selections.

A few of the standouts:

"The Miracle Mile", Robert McCammon: One of the bleakest stories in the bunch is by McCammon, the editor. A human family contemplates their changed world, and that all I'm going to say.

"Dancing Nitely", Nancy Collins: Just as bleak as above for different reasons, this story looks at the end of the world from the nightclubbing vampire's point of view. I loaned this book to a friend and this was her favorite story. I've heard her recount it to others at least six different times.

"Does the Blood Line Run on Time?", Sidney Williams and Robert Pettit: a tale of the human resistance and motorcycles. The ending is a surprise and it's a bummer.

"Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage", Chet Williamson: A couple who survived the apocalypse fighting vamps side by side face an uncertain future when one of them becomes terminally ill.

"Special", Richard Laymon: a human who works in the service of vampires has a change of heart after meeting a kickass bow and arrow wielding resistance fighter.

"Herrenrasse", J.N. Williamson: a man seeking revenge for his murdered family is taken captive by the vampire who killed them. Over years, an unexpected, table-turning relationship forms.

"Duty", Ed Gorman: it's no fun being the local slayer.

"Midnight Sun", Brian Hodge: humans fight vamps with technology in the Arctic. Simultaneously tragic and hopeful.

"There are no Nightclubs in East Palo Alto", Clifford V. Brooks: A young protest singer sees things go from bad to worse in a vampire-run media culture.

[Angela · Rating 4 out of 5]

A terrific (in every sense of the word) collection of short stories on a vampire theme by a variety of Horror writers, such as Nancy A. Collins, J.N. Williamson, Charles de Lint, and many more. The entire world is ruled by vampires, and these are their stories...

Check out the Suzy McKee Charnas and Chelsea Quinn Yarbro collaboration, in which their respective creations, Edward Weyland and le Comte de Saint Germain, meet at last. But check it out in your own copy because I can't bear to part with this one.

[Charles · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very fine horror collection, about a world ruled by vampires. One of the best stories is "Does the Blood Line Run on Time?" by Sidney Wiliams and Robert Petitt.

[Jansen · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've been a lifelong vampire fan, but I have no idea how "Under the Fang" escaped my radar. It wasn't until a good friend of mine gave me her copy that I finally had a chance to read it. Published in 1991, this collection of stories reads almost like a novel. Vampires have taken over the world and try to live normal lives although at night. Humans are now on the fringe of society and either serve as cattle to the vampires or live like outlaws in the mountains or wherever they can be free. The stories can be gory and sadistic, such as in "Dancing Nitely" where humans are forced to fight against vampires in a cage match; the vampires essentially beat them like pinatas and allow the blood to pour down to eager vampire club patrons below. But the vampires don't always win. In "Special" the vampire protagonist falls in love with the fiery human woman who refuses to be a victim when she is captured in a raid. The vampire ultimately turns on his own and helps her and her human friends form a resistance outpost in the estate that once terrorized the region. The stories reminded me of Charlaine Harris's "True Blood" series with the vampires establishing themselves in the world. I also saw some touches that have been used in more recent vampire films, such as the vampire that sleeps in the bathtub covered in clothing in "The Miracle Mile", the collection's opening story. If you're a vampire fan and haven't yet read this collection, I highly recommend it.

[Cassandra Glissadevil · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 coffins
Vampires conquer Earth...meh.
Not my blood type. Nary a scare. Solitare, hidden vampires petrify me . Evil, monstrous, ugly vampires terrify. Vampires should be rare and threatening like exotic flesh dissolving tumors.

Humans are the minority in Under the Fang. Mundane stories with vampires replacing humans. Vampires want to be like us. BORING...with one exception- "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage" by Chet Williamson was a terrifying tale. . Put a stake in it.

[Daniel Hood · Rating 5 out of 5]

A short story collection from multiple writers all about vampires? Sign me all the way up! I myself am very intrigued by stories of vampires and things of the like. This little gem was unearthed by my wonderful girlfriend and I am entirely grateful of her discovery. This book is short but absolutely stocked with great content. A dozen plus mini stories are included in this collection but I must say that Calm Sea and the Prosperous Voyage is my ultimate favorite.

[Elton Alwine · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great little anthology book. I read it over 10 years ago so it's a lil foggy, but I enjoyed it enough to keep it. And I think I'll reread it again soon enough for Halloween 🎃

I learned about a new (old) author in this anthology, Lisa W. Cantrell, who wrote the haunted house books athe Manse and Torment, both of which are now favorites of mine.

[Gaby]

Out of 17 stories, I give 5/5 to four of them....
Stoker's Mistress by Clint Collins
Does The Blood Line Run On Time by Sidney Williams and Robert Petitt
Special by Richard Laymon
Duty by Ed Gorman

Pair reading this book with plastic vampire fangs and a pint of warm human blood.

[Erik Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

The finest vampire short fiction

[Jace Killjoy · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book about 30 years ago when it was new. I remember loving it. parts of it were so powerful they stuck with me to this day. I wish I still had my copy.

[Caitlin · Rating 2 out of 5]

eh

[Steven Jay · Rating 5 out of 5]

Edited from original review of May 16th, 2023

A great collection of "What If" stories, authors envisioning Earth & Humanity under Vampire rule. Definitely a 5-star story collection!

Introduction: McCammon doesn't wait for the first story to hit you with fear...he hits you with it in the intro!

He is a man writing what may be his & his fellow survivors' last moments before darkness descends & the vampire's hour is once again at hand.


The Miracle Mile by Robert McCammon: A trip down memory lane & family beach vacation in a vampire apocalypse causes a man's bitterness with a vampire takeover to reach the boiling point. (Very depressingly dark ending) So-So

Dancing Nitely by Nancy A. Collins: Welcome to Club Vlad! Vampires-only & every possible grotesque thing you'd expect in a nightclub in a vampire-run world. Good

Stoker's Mistress by Clint Collins: The world belongs to the monarchy of the undead. The king reveals a captured traitor who almost helped a famous author expose & destroy the Vampire race. Good

Does the Blood Line Run on Time? by Sidney Williams & Robert Petitt: A Human vampire helper betrays his master, seeking out the Human resistance to stop a shipment of Humans to the local Vamps. So-So

Red Eve by Al Sarrantonio: A celebration/remembrance thing about a war against Vampires that left Earth uninhabitable. (A Twilight Zone ending from Al Sarrantonio) Dull/Bad

We are Dead Together by Charles de Lint: A Gypsy woman regrets her family's selling their loyalty to a vampire. Good

Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage by Chet Williamson: Hiding in a cabin in the woods after Vampires took over years earlier has solidified the love of married couple Jill & Richard. Even faced with the threat of some dangerous, feral beast-type of vampire hasn't shaken them. But that all changes when Jill starts slowly dying from cancer. Good

Advocates by Suzy McKee Charnas & Chelsea Quinn Yarbro: A story that deals in a society's morality. An unusual vampire is caught by vampire authorities after attacking dozens of other vampires & leaving them in vegetative states. He is put on trial to decide whether he is to be executed or forced into being studied. Dull/Bad

Special by Richard Laymon: Jim & several other Human vampire helpers gather women for their masters to be used as blood banks or breeding stock. An encounter with a strong woman changes Jim's loyalties. So-So

Herrenrasse by J.N. Williamson: A man seeking to kill the vampire for his family's grisly deaths is instead captured by the monster & instead of being killed, is turned into a pet. They slowly begin a battle of wits, philosophy & emotion. So-So

Duty by Ed Gorman: A man who has a job that makes him despised. Dull/Bad

Midnight Sun by Brian Hodge Another story that plays on the theme of "society/morality". Human resistance groups hide in the most inhospitable & isolated parts of the now vampire-run world. One such group near the Arctic comes under attack...because the Vamps have found a way to thwart their biggest vulnerability. Good

A Bloodsucker by David N. Meyer III: A celebrity agent vampire who turns his clients. Dull/Bad

Prodigal Sun by Thomas F. Monteleone: With a vaccine, a vampire scientist has accomplished the impossible: surviving sunlight exposure. As tests continue, a chance meeting with a Human woman at night reveals something else may have changed. Good

There are No Nightclubs in East Palo Alto by Clifford V. Brooks Humans protest Vampire rule Vietnam War style through slogans & songs. Dull/Bad

Juice by Lisa W. Cantrell: A Human who bootlegs black market blood for Vampires is confronted by a Human resistance group. Good

Behind Enemy Lines by Dan Perez Roy, who is a Vampire fighter pilot, and his buddy are shot down by Human resistance forces. Roy is captured & a shocking truth is revealed. Good

[Calphamore · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved all the stories in this book. I think the idea is unique because it's not a story about vampires taking over the world, it's about after they already have. I've never seen anybody write this before, and I found it very enjoyable because it shows the world as vampires manage it, where their sick and strange needs are priority.
What do vampires do for pleasure? Where do they socialize? Don't they need humans for blood? Each story shows a new angle of the state of the world, and even if one story doesn't intrigue you, the next one surely will!
Gruesome and sensual... for vampires, I don't think there are two better words.

Sort of spoilers ahead:

One of my favorite stories/chapters was 'Special' which is about a group of humans who essentially farm humans for the vampires by kidnapping women and impregnating them to multiply the human population, while the vampires harvest blood from them periodically.
Another favorite: 'Dancing Nitely' in which vampires gather at a late night 'club' to drink blood from the waitresses and watch a pair of humans fight to the death inside a cage for entertainment.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's usually difficult to rate an anthology or even talk about it as a single, cohesive work, but this one really impressed me. Not only are all the stories original to this volume (as far as I can tell, at least), but the quality is remarkably consistent, bar one or two stinkers.

Vampire stories, as we all know, come in a whole bunch of moods and vibes: Sensual, Spooky, Sleazy, Silly, Strange. As the theme of the collection is rather dystopian, almost all of the stories in this book make you feel Sad. The tone is so relentlessly bleak that when one of the authors allowed for a spot of optimism or humor, I relished it.

I'm not going to go over each story individually, but I will for my three favorites:

1. "Herrenrasse", by J. N. Williamson: Troubling on an elemental level, despite being almost completely free of violence and having a somewhat triumphant resolution. Dehumanization depicted so casually you start to fear for your own personhood.

2. "Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage", by Chet Williamson: Profound love and loyalty torn asunder by two devastating betrayals.

3. "There Are No Nightclubs in East Palo Alto", by Clifford V. Brooks: A lovelorn story about activism and counterculture that brings a whole new meaning to the term "selling out".

If you aren't going to read it beginning to end, I'd say that "Does the Blood Line Run on Time?" and "Behind Enemy Lines" are skippable.

[Susan]

The Miracle Mile • novelette by Robert R. McCammon
Dancing Nitely • shortstory by Nancy A. Collins
Stoker's Mistress • shortstory by Clint Collins
Does the Blood Line Run on Time? • novelette by Sidney Williams and Robert Petitt
Red Eve • novelette by Al Sarrantonio
♥"We Are Dead Together" by Charles de Lint RE-read 7/8/2015
Calm Sea and Prosperous Voyage • novelette by Chet Williamson
Advocates • novelette by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and Suzy McKee Charnas
Special • novelette by Richard Laymon
Herrenrasse • novelette by J. N. Williamson
Duty • shortstory by Ed Gorman
Midnight Sun • novelette by Brian Hodge
A Bloodsucker • shortstory by David N. Meyer, III
Prodigal Sun • shortstory by Thomas F. Monteleone
There Are no Nightclubs in East Palo Alto • shortstory by Clifford V. Brooks
Juice • shortstory by Lisa W. Cantrell
Behind Enemy Lines • shortstory by Dan Perez

[Stacy Simpson · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was as book with a bunch of short stories about vampires. Vampires are really not my thing so you can tell where I am going to go with this.

A few of the stories were well done mostly the one by Robert Mccammon but it does give some interesting views to how other people view vampirism.

After reading this I was less than thrilled with it so it will be on its way to another destination but it still leaves me to wonder why people are attracted to becoming a vampire? They drink blood which is appaling to me...So you look good sometimes....And you live forever so what....Give me a good old fashion demon any day and let the vampires turn to dust!

[Jay Rothermel · Rating 5 out of 5]

A powerful original anthology. Too long out of print!

McCammon edited Under The Fang, and his story, which leads the anthology, does not disappoint. He lays out the geography of the disaster, the scope of its human toll, and the dead-end of survivalist fantasies as a solution. All that's left for the family it depicts is remembrance and a stoical embrace of family suicide (or murder-suicide) as finale. McCammon handles this poignant material without surrendering to bathos or cynicism. It is a fine piece of work. 

Full review:
http://jayrothermel.blogspot.com/2021...

[Redsteve · Rating 4 out of 5]

A collection of short stories set in a future where vampires have won the war with humanity. Unlike many anthologies, there are no terrible or “throwaway” stories in this book – they range from good to excellent. Individual tales are told from varying points of view: vampires, human collaborators, resistance fighters, refugees and humans just trying to make do. For the most part, this is a grim future indeed. Includes stories by McCammon, Nancy Collins, Charles de Lint, Chelsea Quinn Yarbro and others.

[Tony · Rating 4 out of 5]

A real wonderful short story collection published by the Horror Writers of America (HWA). The underlying premise of all the stories is that vampires have risen and are now in control of the world. The tales themselves come from multiple viewpoints, from survivors, freedom fighters, and even the vampires themselves. A really wonderful collection, and worth reading by anyone into vampire horror fiction.