The Immortal Dracula

The Universal Library #4

by Robin Bailes

Part of the Universal Library series of horror/comedy books inspired by classic horror films of the 1930s. The stories are set predominantly in the present day but with a classic feel, tongue-in-cheek delivery and many references to the original films and other horror movies for film fans to spot. The books can be enjoyed in any order (although you may get more out of them by reading chronologically as characters do recur, weaving in and out of the series). In the late 19th century, vampire hunter Bella embarks on a decades-long quest across Europe and the world, in search of her nemesis, Count Dracula. Over a hundred years later, the discovery of a mysterious tomb in the Carpathian mountains leads to archaeologist, Maggie Moran getting lost in a snowstorm and winding up at a strange castle, where the elderly Count who lives there gives her shelter. Months later, the mysterious Lazlo Edlemann, a handsome and wealthy European, arrives in the little West Country village of Bunston Standing, capturing the heart of local woman, Carla Van Sloan. But when Carla becomes ill, Edward Chandler starts to wonder about Edlemann. Edward was an Anglican Priest, living in London, until a crisis of faith forced him into a lengthy sabbatical, now he will need all his faith to save the woman he loves from the dark forces that have been unleashed, a quest that will be informed by events that occurred a century earlier.

Genres: Horror

307 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 18, 2020

About the author

Robin Bailes is the writer and presenter of the web-series Dark Corners, based around comic reviews of old B movies and serious retrospectives of cult classics. Robin's love of old movies, and particularly the Universal horror cycle, was established by an old collection of Famous Monsters of Filmland (the seminal fanzine created by Forrest J. Ackerman), nourished by a film buff family, and is now inspiring a series of comedy/horror novels beginning with The Mummy's Quest and now running to 4 titles. The books are informed by classic horror, and are peppered with references to old movies and cult literature. The books are also a reaction to Universal Studios' baffling and uninspired efforts to turn their legacy into a comic book franchise. The latest title is The Immortal Dracula.
Outside of Dark Corners, Robin has written and directed the comedy/drama web-series Coping (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5XG...), among many other intriguing and diverse projects, as he attempts to make a living from writing. He also volunteers at the Cinema Museum at Elephant and Castle in London, and can be found behind the cafe for most silent film screenings. You can learn more about Robin (if you really want to) on his website, robinbailes.com.
Twitter: @DarkCorners3, @robinbailes
Facebook: Dark Corners of This Sick World

Reviews

[Helen Leedham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Romp of a read

What with one thing and another the first book I've managed to finish in 2020. Lots of clever references to previous vampire incarnations and actually felt really nice to check back in on characters from previous Universal Library books. True fan, fiction that doesn't read like fan fiction at all. Thanks Robin

[Gwen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally, after teasing us for three books, Robin introduces us to the "man" himself, Dracula. He is one of the most famous and recurring characters in pop culture, but I think the book does a good job of sticking to the classic Dracula tropes, while still having some new ideas and ways of looking at the character. I loved seeing old characters and getting to know new ones. They are always well-rounded and realistic people. Like the other books in the series, it is funny and clever. The horror and comedy are balanced well. I was laughing out loud one page and genuinely chilled the next. The little winks and nods to the book and various film adaptations were fun to spot. Elements that are introduced pay off later and the ending is very satisfying. It's just really well written and enjoyable. If you want to have a good time reading a well crafted story, look no further than this series.

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Finally came around to this book
(might be a book hoarder, don't care)

Mr. Bailes
You are a storytelling tease. And as i watch My Dark Corners,
I can easily imagine you giving some of these lines in that oh so
"english" way you do.
Lines like "Dinner Time" Then almost half the book goes by before
we get back to it. (narrowing eyes)
That being said, it all came together very satisfactorily.
because he was younger but still couldn't take a punch.
( I laughed out loud at the use of garlic products, clever)

P.S. not to be a knit picker, but now I really wonder about that cat from the first book.
But there was such a duality to her, especially near the end. What did she know and who was she really taking instruction from?

P.P.S. if you don't continue this series, well, just don't. They are great reads.

[NECaruso · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another well-woven chapter in the Universal Library, introducing another handful of three-dimensional characters to the ensemble and doing right by Dracula.

I'll underline that: Dracula was spot on. Dracula the sexy has been done, this time around the sexiness was shown up for the smokescreen it is and the inherently abusive, predatory nature of the beast was highlighted, then underlined with several parallels just to make sure you got the picture. When you stop and think about it, Dracula really is the forty year old man telling the barely legal girl how mature she is for being with him, but carried to the furthest, most controlling extreme.

Anyway, I'd go on about how much I liked the faith arc, the representation, and a humanizing treatment of an ingenue-type, but I don't want to stray from the points about Dracula. Solid book, will read again.