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Van Helsing
Deep in the mountains of nineteenth-century Carpathia lies the mysterious and mythic land of Transylvania, a world where evil is ever-present, where danger rises as the sun sets, and where monsters such as Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster take form and inhabit man's deepest nightmares -- terrifying legends who outlive generations, defying repeated attacks from the doomed brave souls that challenge them in their never-ending war upon the human race.
On order of a secret society, only a lone force of good stands against them -- the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, a man revered by some and feared by many. In his ongoing battle to rid the earth of these fiendish beings, Van Helsing must now travel to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula, and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious, a woman out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire. But unknown to all, the immortal Dracula will stop at nothing to unleash his master plan of subverting human civilization and ruling over a world of havoc, fear, and darkness...
On order of a secret society, only a lone force of good stands against them -- the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, a man revered by some and feared by many. In his ongoing battle to rid the earth of these fiendish beings, Van Helsing must now travel to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula, and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious, a woman out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire. But unknown to all, the immortal Dracula will stop at nothing to unleash his master plan of subverting human civilization and ruling over a world of havoc, fear, and darkness...
272 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2004
49 people are currently reading
1553 people want to read
About the author
Kevin Ryan
121 books21 followersKevin Ryan is an American writer of many Star Trek books and one episode. He has also written comic books and the novelization of the movie Van Helsing. He lives in New York with his wife and children.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Librarian Note: There is more than one author in the Goodreads database with this name.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 79 reviews
August 20, 2019
Yaah !! I really enjoyed this novel. The writer has a very vivid grasp on his audience and what they enjoy. Within this novel, Van Helsing makes a life of chasing monsters. Anything from werewolves to vampires. Van Helsing is a mysterious character even to himself. He doesn't remember his beginnings, but he finds out when he meets Count Dracula. The Frankenstein monster is finally given his just place in fiction. Never a dull paragraph, this writer keeps you reading and entertained. You gotta' read it!
October 16, 2021
Nonstop bloody battles against Dracula’s army of supernatural terrors. The plot is barebones, the writing falls a bit flat in some areas and the characters are pretty one dimensional, but the story never tries to be anything more than what the premise promises. It’s hardcore, fantasy escapism in its purest form.
Despite how simplistic the overall narrative is, the ending is actually very emotional and has a nice touch of tragic irony that wraps up the story in a satisfying way. A fast and fun read that’s rich with gothic cheesiness and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
I would strongly recommend it to fans of Hammer Film Productions, Vampire Hunter D, Robert E. Howard and Castlevania.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
Despite how simplistic the overall narrative is, the ending is actually very emotional and has a nice touch of tragic irony that wraps up the story in a satisfying way. A fast and fun read that’s rich with gothic cheesiness and doesn’t take itself too seriously.
I would strongly recommend it to fans of Hammer Film Productions, Vampire Hunter D, Robert E. Howard and Castlevania.
***
If you're looking for some dark ambient music for reading horror, dark fantasy and other books like this one, then be sure to check out my YouTube Channel called Nightmarish Compositions: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPs...
July 7, 2022
4,25 sterren - Nederlandse hardcover
Bij dochter, met de recencie er nog in. Recensie volgt dus later.
Bij dochter, met de recencie er nog in. Recensie volgt dus later.
November 14, 2016
This wasn't a great book, but Van Helsing is the best vampire movie ever made, in my modest opinion, so of course I would read it.
That being said, I really enjoyed the insight into the minds of characters like Anna Valerious, the Frankenstein monster, Carl and even Dracula and his brides.
I only wish it hadn't ended the way it did. I will never recover from that.
January 19, 2021
While it's not the most skillfully written literature out there it was a great deal of fun. At a dark atmosphere ring to it with great monsters to go a long with it. Might do want I normally don't and that is to watch the movie.. maybe.
October 31, 2018
Anche se non abbia ottenuto delle critiche tanto positive, il film mi è piaciuto molto.
1887. I mostri e le creature dei romanzi gotici più famosi vivono e scorrazzano per l'Europa: abbiamo Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein e la sue creatura, lupi mannari e ovviamente Dracula
(Troppo figo asdfgghjkl)
[Per chi come me ama i romanzi gotici, vedere tutti questi personaggi convivere ed interagire tra loro è fantastico. Un mega Crossover.]
Torniamo alla trama.
Il nostro Van Helsing lavora per il Vaticano, più precisamente per il gruppo segreto dei Cavalieri del Sacro Ordine della Città, che gli ordina di andare in Transilvania ad uccidere Dracula.
Arrivato lì, ha subito avuto a che fare con le mogli di Dracula e durante la lotta viene affiancato dall'ultima discendente di un antico casato nobile gitano di cacciatori, Anna. Che ve lo dico a fare, s'innamorano.
Ma quali sono i piani di Dracula, insomma che deve fa? Dracula e le sue moglie procreano, procreano ma i figli campano poco. Così, un giorno va a trovare Frankenstein e gli dice che essere interessato alla macchina che ha progettato. Gli fornisce tutto ciò di cui ha bisogno e gli permette di creare la sua creatura. Alla fine della messa a punto del macchinario, Dracula rivela i suoi piani, ovvero usare la macchina sui suoi piccoli per mantenerli in vita, ma Victor non accetta. Insomma, Victor muore mentre la creatura riesce a scappare e nascondersi.
Durante uno dei tanti scontri, la creatura incontra Van Helsing e si unisce a loro per vendicare il proprio padre. Insomma ognuno deve vendicare qualcuno!
Arriviamo allo scontro finale: si viene a sapere che Dracula era uno dei figli del capostipite della famiglia di Anna. Dracula venne ucciso dalla Mano sinistra di Dio durante una battaglia della guerra santa, ma prima di morire fece un patto col diavolo e divenne un vampiro. Il padre non ebbe coraggio di ucciderlo e così condannò tutta la famiglia e i suoi discendenti a non poter andare in paradiso finché il vampiro non fosse ucciso. [Bravoo!] Altro plot twist: Dracula, a sua volta, rivela che Van Helsing è la Mano sinistra di Dio cioè l'arcangelo Gabriele. [Guarda caso il nome di Van è Gabriel] Avviene lo scontro, Dracula :'( muore, Anna muore a causa di Van Helsing, quest'ultimo se ne torna a Roma con la coda tra le gambe, anzi no, non più: essendo stato morso da un licantropo, si è trasformato, ha ucciso Dracula, Anna gli ha iniettato l'antidoto, viene uccisa. Giusto per essere chiari. Unico aspetto positivo è che Anna e la sua famiglia sono tutti in paradiso!
La mia parte preferita è quella del ballo in maschera, stupenda!
Il libro è uguale al film non aggiunge e non toglie nulla.
Io non capisco perché i vampiri al cinema non abbiano mai successo (Twilight faccio finta che non esista) e vabbè
1887. I mostri e le creature dei romanzi gotici più famosi vivono e scorrazzano per l'Europa: abbiamo Mr. Hyde, Frankenstein e la sue creatura, lupi mannari e ovviamente Dracula
(Troppo figo asdfgghjkl)
[Per chi come me ama i romanzi gotici, vedere tutti questi personaggi convivere ed interagire tra loro è fantastico. Un mega Crossover.]
Torniamo alla trama.
Il nostro Van Helsing lavora per il Vaticano, più precisamente per il gruppo segreto dei Cavalieri del Sacro Ordine della Città, che gli ordina di andare in Transilvania ad uccidere Dracula.
Arrivato lì, ha subito avuto a che fare con le mogli di Dracula e durante la lotta viene affiancato dall'ultima discendente di un antico casato nobile gitano di cacciatori, Anna. Che ve lo dico a fare, s'innamorano.
Ma quali sono i piani di Dracula, insomma che deve fa? Dracula e le sue moglie procreano, procreano ma i figli campano poco. Così, un giorno va a trovare Frankenstein e gli dice che essere interessato alla macchina che ha progettato. Gli fornisce tutto ciò di cui ha bisogno e gli permette di creare la sua creatura. Alla fine della messa a punto del macchinario, Dracula rivela i suoi piani, ovvero usare la macchina sui suoi piccoli per mantenerli in vita, ma Victor non accetta. Insomma, Victor muore mentre la creatura riesce a scappare e nascondersi.
Durante uno dei tanti scontri, la creatura incontra Van Helsing e si unisce a loro per vendicare il proprio padre. Insomma ognuno deve vendicare qualcuno!
Arriviamo allo scontro finale: si viene a sapere che Dracula era uno dei figli del capostipite della famiglia di Anna. Dracula venne ucciso dalla Mano sinistra di Dio durante una battaglia della guerra santa, ma prima di morire fece un patto col diavolo e divenne un vampiro. Il padre non ebbe coraggio di ucciderlo e così condannò tutta la famiglia e i suoi discendenti a non poter andare in paradiso finché il vampiro non fosse ucciso. [Bravoo!] Altro plot twist: Dracula, a sua volta, rivela che Van Helsing è la Mano sinistra di Dio cioè l'arcangelo Gabriele. [Guarda caso il nome di Van è Gabriel] Avviene lo scontro, Dracula :'( muore, Anna muore a causa di Van Helsing, quest'ultimo se ne torna a Roma con la coda tra le gambe, anzi no, non più: essendo stato morso da un licantropo, si è trasformato, ha ucciso Dracula, Anna gli ha iniettato l'antidoto, viene uccisa. Giusto per essere chiari. Unico aspetto positivo è che Anna e la sua famiglia sono tutti in paradiso!
La mia parte preferita è quella del ballo in maschera, stupenda!
Il libro è uguale al film non aggiunge e non toglie nulla.
Io non capisco perché i vampiri al cinema non abbiano mai successo (Twilight faccio finta che non esista) e vabbè
July 19, 2017
Review kan spoilers bevatten.
Transsylvanië in de negentiende eeuw. Groots en ongerept. Het is een wereld waar helaas het kwaad heerst. In opdracht van een geheime orde gaat van Helsing er heen om de laatste in een edel geslacht te helpen met het bestrijden van weerwolven en vampieren. Van Helsing is vereerd en vergruisd voor zijn daden tot dan toe maar zal hij Anne Valerius kunnen redden? Duidelijk is dat de schrijver een senario schrijver is. Al zou je de film nog niet hebben gezien uit het boek kan je in je gedachten makkelijk een film maken.
Enkele fragmenten uit het boek:
- Toen ze naar hem lachte vond Victor weer dat hij kracht uit haar putte.-
-"En wat als u genoeg van die "levenskracht" zou gebruiken bij Galvani's dode kikker? Wilt u beweren dat hij dan kan opstaan en wegspringen?" schreeuwde een ander.-
-"Ik geef je het leven. En ik zal ervoor zorgen dat dat leven gekoesterd wordt."-
-Dat de naam van zijn meester hardop werd uitgesproken, scheen het wezen tot actie aan te zetten.-
- Van Helsing zou nooit ontsnappen. Met zijn reusachtige armen tilde hij de enorm zware klok boven zijn hoofd.-
- Achter hem klonk Carls protest:" Maar ik ben geen veldspeler".
_ Huize Valerius keek uit over het dorp, indrukwekkend gelegen tegen de steile rotsen van de Karpaten.-
Transsylvanië in de negentiende eeuw. Groots en ongerept. Het is een wereld waar helaas het kwaad heerst. In opdracht van een geheime orde gaat van Helsing er heen om de laatste in een edel geslacht te helpen met het bestrijden van weerwolven en vampieren. Van Helsing is vereerd en vergruisd voor zijn daden tot dan toe maar zal hij Anne Valerius kunnen redden? Duidelijk is dat de schrijver een senario schrijver is. Al zou je de film nog niet hebben gezien uit het boek kan je in je gedachten makkelijk een film maken.
Enkele fragmenten uit het boek:
- Toen ze naar hem lachte vond Victor weer dat hij kracht uit haar putte.-
-"En wat als u genoeg van die "levenskracht" zou gebruiken bij Galvani's dode kikker? Wilt u beweren dat hij dan kan opstaan en wegspringen?" schreeuwde een ander.-
-"Ik geef je het leven. En ik zal ervoor zorgen dat dat leven gekoesterd wordt."-
-Dat de naam van zijn meester hardop werd uitgesproken, scheen het wezen tot actie aan te zetten.-
- Van Helsing zou nooit ontsnappen. Met zijn reusachtige armen tilde hij de enorm zware klok boven zijn hoofd.-
- Achter hem klonk Carls protest:" Maar ik ben geen veldspeler".
_ Huize Valerius keek uit over het dorp, indrukwekkend gelegen tegen de steile rotsen van de Karpaten.-
June 6, 2012
I liked the movie and when I saw that I wanted to read it. It was a good read. It gives you another perspective of the story.
I liked Dracula already but I loved him more through the book. Van Helsing is somewhat more stern and melancholic than I imagined him, Anna has a thing for "not letting the others down", Carl is so cute and the brides, who I really liked in the movie, are bimbos.
I would recomend it to those who enjoyed the film.
I liked Dracula already but I loved him more through the book. Van Helsing is somewhat more stern and melancholic than I imagined him, Anna has a thing for "not letting the others down", Carl is so cute and the brides, who I really liked in the movie, are bimbos.
I would recomend it to those who enjoyed the film.
October 25, 2018
Time taken to read - < 1 day
Pages - 272
Publisher - HarperCollins Entertainment
Source - ?Risi member
Blurb from Goodreads
Deep in the mountains of nineteenth-century Carpathia lies the mysterious and mythic land of Transylvania, a world where evil is ever-present, where danger rises as the sun sets, and where monsters such as Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster take form and inhabit man's deepest nightmares -- terrifying legends who outlive generations, defying repeated attacks from the doomed brave souls that challenge them in their never-ending war upon the human race.
On order of a secret society, only a lone force of good stands against them -- the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, a man revered by some and feared by many. In his ongoing battle to rid the earth of these fiendish beings, Van Helsing must now travel to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula, and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious, a woman out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire. But unknown to all, the immortal Dracula will stop at nothing to unleash his master plan of subverting human civilization and ruling over a world of havoc, fear, and darkness...
My Review
So this is a book of a movie and if I seen it it was a long time ago, I remember nothing from it. Hugh Jackman plays Van Helsing and I was quite happy to picture him as I read along, he works for an organisation of the Holy order that "doesn't exist". When the book opens we meet Frankenstein, Dracula and Frankenstein's monster, we quickly move on to Van Helsing. The hired gun who hunts down the unnatural and restores order somewhat to the world. As Van Helsing's story unfolds we see him come together with the small town that Dracula terrorises and come up against his deadly opponents yet.
The book is good, action from the get go, who doesn't know Frankenstein story? Well we get a wee bit more insight into it from the small chapters he features in. We also get to meet another character of old and see some fantastic battles with "good" vs evil.
Legends, family, honour, promises, bravery, murder, fighting are just some of the themes in the book. It is under 300 pages so relatively quick to sink, hence reading it in pretty much one sitting, less than a day. It has also put me in the mood to watch the movie, I would like to read more of the adventures like this, even see some of the same characters appear, a prequel? Plenty of action, characters from the old horrors I grew up with - if you take the book for what it is I think you will really enjoy it, I did, 4/5 for me this time.
Pages - 272
Publisher - HarperCollins Entertainment
Source - ?Risi member
Blurb from Goodreads
Deep in the mountains of nineteenth-century Carpathia lies the mysterious and mythic land of Transylvania, a world where evil is ever-present, where danger rises as the sun sets, and where monsters such as Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster take form and inhabit man's deepest nightmares -- terrifying legends who outlive generations, defying repeated attacks from the doomed brave souls that challenge them in their never-ending war upon the human race.
On order of a secret society, only a lone force of good stands against them -- the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, a man revered by some and feared by many. In his ongoing battle to rid the earth of these fiendish beings, Van Helsing must now travel to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula, and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious, a woman out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire. But unknown to all, the immortal Dracula will stop at nothing to unleash his master plan of subverting human civilization and ruling over a world of havoc, fear, and darkness...
My Review
So this is a book of a movie and if I seen it it was a long time ago, I remember nothing from it. Hugh Jackman plays Van Helsing and I was quite happy to picture him as I read along, he works for an organisation of the Holy order that "doesn't exist". When the book opens we meet Frankenstein, Dracula and Frankenstein's monster, we quickly move on to Van Helsing. The hired gun who hunts down the unnatural and restores order somewhat to the world. As Van Helsing's story unfolds we see him come together with the small town that Dracula terrorises and come up against his deadly opponents yet.
The book is good, action from the get go, who doesn't know Frankenstein story? Well we get a wee bit more insight into it from the small chapters he features in. We also get to meet another character of old and see some fantastic battles with "good" vs evil.
Legends, family, honour, promises, bravery, murder, fighting are just some of the themes in the book. It is under 300 pages so relatively quick to sink, hence reading it in pretty much one sitting, less than a day. It has also put me in the mood to watch the movie, I would like to read more of the adventures like this, even see some of the same characters appear, a prequel? Plenty of action, characters from the old horrors I grew up with - if you take the book for what it is I think you will really enjoy it, I did, 4/5 for me this time.
October 3, 2008
its about a man that saves transivania from dracula that wants to populate the world with thousands of baby vampires, its a good book and an exellent movie, i love it when he is a werewolf, hes also awesome when hes a werewolf on the movie!
March 7, 2018
I wanted a trashy book and I got a trashy book.
The story is very predictable and convenient and the writing isn't very good. But it was an entertaining read and that's all I wanted. I don't remember anything about the movie, so I can't really compare the two.
The story is very predictable and convenient and the writing isn't very good. But it was an entertaining read and that's all I wanted. I don't remember anything about the movie, so I can't really compare the two.
October 31, 2018
Van Helsing was a decent book, for what it was. If you are looking for something refined and polished, look elsewhere. It is not fine literature. It is based on the action adventure fantasy movie after all. However, this book was not without its own charms.
"Deep in the mountains of nineteenth-century Carpathia lies the mysterious and mythic land of Transylvania, a world where evil is ever-present, where danger rises as the sun sets, and where monsters such as Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster take form and inhabit man's deepest nightmares -- terrifying legends who outlive generations, defying repeated attacks from the doomed brave souls that challenge them in their never-ending war upon the human race.
On order of a secret society, only a lone force of good stands against them -- the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, a man revered by some and feared by many. In his ongoing battle to rid the earth of these fiendish beings, Van Helsing must now travel to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula, and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious, a woman out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire. But unknown to all, the immortal Dracula will stop at nothing to unleash his master plan of subverting human civilization and ruling over a world of havoc, fear, and darkness... -Book Blurb
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the movie, or Dracula/Van Helsing fans. It is a fun light read full of action.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 3.5 STARS]
"Deep in the mountains of nineteenth-century Carpathia lies the mysterious and mythic land of Transylvania, a world where evil is ever-present, where danger rises as the sun sets, and where monsters such as Count Dracula, the Wolf Man, and Frankenstein's Monster take form and inhabit man's deepest nightmares -- terrifying legends who outlive generations, defying repeated attacks from the doomed brave souls that challenge them in their never-ending war upon the human race.
On order of a secret society, only a lone force of good stands against them -- the legendary monster hunter Van Helsing, a man revered by some and feared by many. In his ongoing battle to rid the earth of these fiendish beings, Van Helsing must now travel to Transylvania to bring down the lethally seductive, enigmatically powerful Count Dracula, and joins forces with the fearless Anna Valerious, a woman out to rid her family of a generations-old curse by defeating the vampire. But unknown to all, the immortal Dracula will stop at nothing to unleash his master plan of subverting human civilization and ruling over a world of havoc, fear, and darkness... -Book Blurb
I would definitely recommend this book to fans of the movie, or Dracula/Van Helsing fans. It is a fun light read full of action.
[OFFICIAL RATING: 3.5 STARS]
January 12, 2021
Kevin Ryan has managed to not only recreate one of the greatest cinematic marvels of the 21st century, but has elevated it to new heights with a richness and depth that took my breath away. The pages slipped away between my fingers as I was thrown headfirst into an epic tale of good vs evil. Literary giants the world over must surely wake up depressed knowing the greatest book has already been written smh.
I laughed, I cried, I never wanted it to end, but sadly all things must. The only thing I regret is knowing I can never experience it again for the first time. Xoxo
I laughed, I cried, I never wanted it to end, but sadly all things must. The only thing I regret is knowing I can never experience it again for the first time. Xoxo
May 15, 2019
I really enjoyed this novelization. Some folks were left disappointed that Van Helsing's character/backstory wasn't developed like Anna's, but I believe that was the point. At the end of the film, Van Helsing is not much closer to understanding his past and his memories as possibly the only source was now dead. If the writer had decided to write in a backstory, it would have cheapened Van Helsing in the film.
February 15, 2016
I read this book ages and ages ago, but I figured I should still leave a little something. I loved the movie, and the novelization added just a little more unf to the movie. So. 5 stars from this huge dork right here.
brb while I fangirl over this guy.
brb while I fangirl over this guy. 
October 10, 2018
I watched the movie before ever realizing there was a book out (I know,I know). The book/movie are pretty much in synch with each other. I liked being able to see more insight into the characters. The only thing I didn’t like was reading the whole book in Hugh Jackman’s voice. It proves how great his acting is,but I wanted this Van Helsing to have his own identity in the book.
March 8, 2019
As several other reviews mentioned, this was based on the movie, not the other way around. This made several parts of the book very cheesy, but since I normally finish a book, unless it's just too painful to read, I usually push through. In the end, it wasn't so bad, the characters even grew on me a little and I shed a few tears.
June 3, 2008
good book and movie
October 5, 2008
I love the movie, yet somehow a book adapted from a movie turned out better than the movie itself.
June 26, 2009
There was not much different from the movie in this novelization. I enjoyed it as much as I did the movie. Very quick read.
May 28, 2011
I really recommend this for Van Helsing fans!
October 22, 2013
Pretty much word for word of the film but has a very good prologue to get you into the book and how Dracula arrives in the same story as Dr. Frankenstein!
April 6, 2016
Not a very /good/ book, but it's Van Helsing.
January 2, 2020
This movie was incredibly stupid, but I still wondered if the novelization might be fun to read. To my surprise and delight, it actually was! The story is still almost catastrophically dumb, but Kevin Ryan's prose was engaging and made the silly story still a fair amount of fun to read. Recommended if you can tune out the plot and character inconsistencies and just enjoy the writing.
May 15, 2025
I grew up watching the movie over and over and over again. I loved every bit of it from the action packed scenes, the epic music, the badass characters, the funny and not too quippy dialogue, and the fantastic props and special effects. It’s one of my favorite movies of all time and this novelization is an excellent adaptation that adds into the story in interesting and nuanced ways via the characters thoughts and reactions. I loved this book!
January 24, 2013
Okay, so what came first: the chicken or the egg, the book or the movie? It’s one of life’s little mysteries along with locks on a 24-hour store and the ingredients of a hot dog. I have been debating all night if the movie was based on the book or the book was based on the movie. Why you ask? I need someone to blame and I may not just stop there. Oh no, I have plans for this book. Big plans, secret plans.
The plot was unimaginative, pedestrian and sleep inducing. The story revolved around the action and violence with a little splice of innuendo thrown in there for good measure; it did not work for this book. Ryan took all of the most beloved and feared characters in horror and simply never used them. The pace in the book was rushed. With little time for a breather, you’re knee deep in action through the whole story until the ending, which is anticlimactic and hollow.
Having so much history attached to these characters, it amazed me to find they came up short. It seems with all the fighting and running, the players were an afterthought. More description than dialogue, you end up needing to rely on your own knowledge of them to get you through. Had they not been infamous characters I wouldn’t have even remembered them. The cast was simply empty of any emotion save for Frankenstein and the friar Carl. Even that little bit of substance was like skin with no meat underneath.
The atmosphere in the book is dreary. Set in a mood of dread and anticipation, the heaviness never lets up, leaving you in a state of depression. For this I suggest lots and lots of chocolate. Ryan’s style of writing, for me, was a dilemma because it was based on a screenplay. Since I don’t know if the book was the author’s perspective or the screenwriter’s, I’m going to let this one go for now.
My rating? I give this book a 1 . With all that was available to those involved with this book I expected nothing less than greatness and neither should you. Only if it’s free, snowing and the Nyquil’s empty should you read this book
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
The plot was unimaginative, pedestrian and sleep inducing. The story revolved around the action and violence with a little splice of innuendo thrown in there for good measure; it did not work for this book. Ryan took all of the most beloved and feared characters in horror and simply never used them. The pace in the book was rushed. With little time for a breather, you’re knee deep in action through the whole story until the ending, which is anticlimactic and hollow.
Having so much history attached to these characters, it amazed me to find they came up short. It seems with all the fighting and running, the players were an afterthought. More description than dialogue, you end up needing to rely on your own knowledge of them to get you through. Had they not been infamous characters I wouldn’t have even remembered them. The cast was simply empty of any emotion save for Frankenstein and the friar Carl. Even that little bit of substance was like skin with no meat underneath.
The atmosphere in the book is dreary. Set in a mood of dread and anticipation, the heaviness never lets up, leaving you in a state of depression. For this I suggest lots and lots of chocolate. Ryan’s style of writing, for me, was a dilemma because it was based on a screenplay. Since I don’t know if the book was the author’s perspective or the screenwriter’s, I’m going to let this one go for now.
My rating? I give this book a 1 . With all that was available to those involved with this book I expected nothing less than greatness and neither should you. Only if it’s free, snowing and the Nyquil’s empty should you read this book
-As reviewed for Horror-Web.com
October 21, 2019
I've seen the movie & it was more dynamic. The story was all action with little characterization that made the story fall flat
July 18, 2017
4,5/5
E’ nato prima l’uovo o la gallina? O come in questo caso, è nato prima il libro o prima il film?
Solo in questo caso, rarissimo, è nato prima il film, come capiamo dalla copertina in cui c’è scritto che è basato sulla sceneggiatura di Stephen Sommers, regista del film.
Io adoro questo film. So che non piace a tutti per l’accozzaglia di mostri, situazioni e personaggi, ma a me è sempre piaciuto. Mi piace Hugh Jackman, adoro i costumi, e ogni volta che mi rivedo il dvd guardo sempre le papere sul set, perché sono divertentissime.
Ho comprato quindi questo libro (un affarone, 99 cent dall’olanda) perché speravo che facesse luce su alcuni punti che nel film sono rimasti oscuri, come il passato di Van Helsing.
Il libro ricalca quasi del tutto il film. Quasi, perché in effetti ci sono delle scene in più.
Si comincia con la nascita del mostro di Frankenstein, poi la scomparsa del principe Velkan e la missione di Van Helsing per sconfiggere mister Hyde.
Ci sono appunto alcuni approfondimenti lungo tutto il romanzo, soprattutto sul passato di Anna e su quello di frankenstein. Ma appunto come dicevo prima, non è rivelato nulla di più sul passato di Gabriel, sulla Mano sinistra di Dio che ha assassinato centinaia di anni prima Dracula, e sulla sua memoria perduta. Io speravo davvero con tutto il cuore che mi dicessero qualcosa di più.
Non sono rimasta comunque del tutto delusa: il libro è scritto bene, è in lingua ma non è per niente complicato da leggere, soprattutto se sapete già cosa succede nel film.
Carl è un personaggio simpaticissimo, come quando entra nella stanza in cui c’era un lupo mannaro e chiede perché lì dentro c’è puzza di cane bagnato.
Anche le spose di Dracula hanno un maggior spessore nel libro. Adoro i loro costumi nel film
Tutto sommato quindi è stata una bella lettura, avventurosa e con belle atmosfere gotiche.
E’ nato prima l’uovo o la gallina? O come in questo caso, è nato prima il libro o prima il film?
Solo in questo caso, rarissimo, è nato prima il film, come capiamo dalla copertina in cui c’è scritto che è basato sulla sceneggiatura di Stephen Sommers, regista del film.
Io adoro questo film. So che non piace a tutti per l’accozzaglia di mostri, situazioni e personaggi, ma a me è sempre piaciuto. Mi piace Hugh Jackman, adoro i costumi, e ogni volta che mi rivedo il dvd guardo sempre le papere sul set, perché sono divertentissime.
Ho comprato quindi questo libro (un affarone, 99 cent dall’olanda) perché speravo che facesse luce su alcuni punti che nel film sono rimasti oscuri, come il passato di Van Helsing.
Il libro ricalca quasi del tutto il film. Quasi, perché in effetti ci sono delle scene in più.
Si comincia con la nascita del mostro di Frankenstein, poi la scomparsa del principe Velkan e la missione di Van Helsing per sconfiggere mister Hyde.
Ci sono appunto alcuni approfondimenti lungo tutto il romanzo, soprattutto sul passato di Anna e su quello di frankenstein. Ma appunto come dicevo prima, non è rivelato nulla di più sul passato di Gabriel, sulla Mano sinistra di Dio che ha assassinato centinaia di anni prima Dracula, e sulla sua memoria perduta. Io speravo davvero con tutto il cuore che mi dicessero qualcosa di più.
Non sono rimasta comunque del tutto delusa: il libro è scritto bene, è in lingua ma non è per niente complicato da leggere, soprattutto se sapete già cosa succede nel film.
Carl è un personaggio simpaticissimo, come quando entra nella stanza in cui c’era un lupo mannaro e chiede perché lì dentro c’è puzza di cane bagnato.
Anche le spose di Dracula hanno un maggior spessore nel libro. Adoro i loro costumi nel film
Tutto sommato quindi è stata una bella lettura, avventurosa e con belle atmosfere gotiche.
March 14, 2016
Dit keer een wat ouder boek, ik heb dit doorgeef boeken gekregen via de Facebook groep het Doorgeefboek. Mijn recensie zal daarom ook op “In de boekenkast” komen te staan.
Dit verhaal speelt zich af in de 19e eeuw in de donkere bergen van Karpatië, in Transsylvanië. Dat gebied is berucht… zodra het donker is komen het Monster van Frankenstein, Graaf Dracula en de Wolfman de bevolking lastig vallen. In opdracht van een geheime orde is er een man die ze aan kan, de door sommige gehate en door andere vereerde monsterjager Van Helsing. Hij moet de machtige Graaf Dracula ten val gaan brengen. Hij gaat hiervoor samenwerken met prinses Anna Valerius. Zij wil de vampier (Dracula) verslaan om haar familie van een eeuwenoude vloek te verwijderen.. Samen kunnen ze hem wel aan… of niet? Dracula laat zich door niks of niemand tegenhouden… zal het Van Helsing en Anna wel lukken?
Het boek leest erg vlot, de hoofdstukken zijn redelijk lang maar niet langdradig. Het lijkt wel alsof het boek voor jongeren is geschreven, het is namelijk een groot lettertype. Ook zitten er een aantal foto’s in het boek, het is gebaseerd op een filmscript . Aan de ene kant vind ik dat wel leuk maar aan de andere kant wordt je fantasie beperkt als je een foto van de hoofdpersoon voor je ziet. Ik heb de film nog niet gezien (bewuste keuze).
Van Helsing’s karakter wordt redelijk beschreven. Je kan je goed in hem inleven en je begrijpt waarom hij dit doet. Dit geldt ook voor het karakter van Anna en dat van het monster van Frankenstein. Met hem had ik soms echt medelijden. Waarom moet je zelf maar lezen.
Het verhaal is spannend, zit vol met actie en humor. Er komen vampiers, monsters en weerwolven in voor. Genoeg fantasy dus. Het plot is goed, anders dan ik had verwacht maar wel passend bij het verhaal.
Ik heb genoten van dit boek en geef het 5 sterren.
Dit verhaal speelt zich af in de 19e eeuw in de donkere bergen van Karpatië, in Transsylvanië. Dat gebied is berucht… zodra het donker is komen het Monster van Frankenstein, Graaf Dracula en de Wolfman de bevolking lastig vallen. In opdracht van een geheime orde is er een man die ze aan kan, de door sommige gehate en door andere vereerde monsterjager Van Helsing. Hij moet de machtige Graaf Dracula ten val gaan brengen. Hij gaat hiervoor samenwerken met prinses Anna Valerius. Zij wil de vampier (Dracula) verslaan om haar familie van een eeuwenoude vloek te verwijderen.. Samen kunnen ze hem wel aan… of niet? Dracula laat zich door niks of niemand tegenhouden… zal het Van Helsing en Anna wel lukken?
Het boek leest erg vlot, de hoofdstukken zijn redelijk lang maar niet langdradig. Het lijkt wel alsof het boek voor jongeren is geschreven, het is namelijk een groot lettertype. Ook zitten er een aantal foto’s in het boek, het is gebaseerd op een filmscript . Aan de ene kant vind ik dat wel leuk maar aan de andere kant wordt je fantasie beperkt als je een foto van de hoofdpersoon voor je ziet. Ik heb de film nog niet gezien (bewuste keuze).
Van Helsing’s karakter wordt redelijk beschreven. Je kan je goed in hem inleven en je begrijpt waarom hij dit doet. Dit geldt ook voor het karakter van Anna en dat van het monster van Frankenstein. Met hem had ik soms echt medelijden. Waarom moet je zelf maar lezen.
Het verhaal is spannend, zit vol met actie en humor. Er komen vampiers, monsters en weerwolven in voor. Genoeg fantasy dus. Het plot is goed, anders dan ik had verwacht maar wel passend bij het verhaal.
Ik heb genoten van dit boek en geef het 5 sterren.
March 21, 2016
This book is, for the most part, a direct novelization of the film of the same name, with nothing significant added or subtracted excepting a couple of chapters detailing the backstory of Dr. Frankenstein and his creation (though I must admit that said chapters were well-done and work a lot better than some of the cringe-worthy stuff I've seen added to film novelizations). If Bram Stoker's original novel were a steak dinner with all the trimmings, then this would be a candy cane by comparison: the characters are likable but forgettable and one dimensional; the diction quotable but void of anything resembling depth or theme; the overall premise enjoyable but not particularly original... In other words, you won't ever shake the feeling that you're basically reading a cheesy Hollywood summer blockbuster (because, well, you are), but it's definitely not the worst film novelization out there, and worth checking out if you're into this sort of thing.
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