Vampire A Go-Go by Victor Gischler reviewed

Allen is a hapless grad student on the verge of academic probation at Gothic State University, an odd little institution on the rocky Pacific shores of Oregon. There is not much that can be done to salvage his GPA—except to redeem himself by accompanying the eccentric Dr. Evergreen and his cold, enigmatic wife on a research trip to Prague. Allen is none too excited to spend the summer with a professor known campus wide as a cranky taskmaster who stinks of bad cigars and gin—but Dr. Evergreen ends up being the least of his problems.

Like Edward Kelly years ago, Allen simply doesn’t realize what he’s getting into, and an unforgettable cast of characters adds to the chaos and danger of a quest for an ancient device with the capacity to restore life itself.

Vampire A Go-Go is Victor Gischler’s latest attempt to conquer all genres. Last year’s Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse was his unique spin on the post-apocalyptic science fiction genre and this year’s Vampire a Go-Go is Gischler Tasmanian Deviling all over the horror genre.

One of the first things that popped into my head while reading Vampire a Go-Go was that Victor Gischler was channeling his inner Emerson LaSalle (his invented pulp fiction writer). If memory serves there were a number of old Emerson LaSalle titles mentioned on Gischler’s old blog that show that some of the ideas in Vampire have been steeping for awhile. Particularly Battle Jesuits of Pope Town but even others like .38 Caliber Goth Girl.

Vampire is a kitchen sink novel. The kind of novel that doesn’t settle for normalcy and piles the ideas and story elements high. Why settle for a girlfriend when you can also have her be a werewolf? Every character is something else until we have a battle royal of old horror tropes running amok and wreaking havoc.

Vampire a Go-Go feels a little more in control and less chaotic then last years Go-Go Girls of the Apocalypse. But while it may be less campy it is no less fun.

The bottom line is that Victor Gischler brings a breath of fresh air to whatever genre and medium he chooses to write in and it comes as no surprise that he has been successful in crime, science fiction, horror and comics. Go out today and buy a Victor Gischler book, your day will be brightened and you’ll have a new favorite author.

About Brian

Brian loves both kinds of books -- fiction and non-fiction. He is an all around book john and reviewing roustabout. His semi-regular columns at BSC include BSC Radar Screen, The Electric Mayhem, Conversations with the Bookless and Short Thoughts on Short Fiction. He blogs at Observations From the Balcony.