🦇 Vampires

The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories

✍️ Various
Reader Score
4.4
(1 review)
$20.00
Temporarily out of stock

Currently unavailable

This book is sold out right now. Leave your email — we'll let you know if it comes back, and you'll get 10% off any book today.

In stock now — readers of this book also loved:

Gothic Tales of Vampires - Terrifying Tales of the Undead ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Various
Gothic Tales of Vampires - Terrifying Tales of the Undead
$18.99
86
The Tales of Nosferatu - Short Stories showcasing the Evolution of the Vampire Legend ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
1
Various
The Tales of Nosferatu - Short Stories showcasing the Evolution of the Vampire Legend
$22.99
83
The Haunting of Hill House -16% 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
7
Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House
$9.99 $12.00
92
Frankenstein in Baghdad ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ahmed Saadawi
Frankenstein in Baghdad
$19.00
86
There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby: Scary Fairy Tales ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby: Scary Fairy Tales
$18.00
86
The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story -47%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
3
Stephen King
The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story
$18.00 $34.00
86
📚 WHAT THE BOOK IS ABOUT

A 1989 anthology of thirty-two vampire stories edited by Alan Ryan.

This collection focuses on the multifaceted nature of the vampire archetype. It includes narratives about undead beings and living creatures alike. The editor highlights hedonistic and doomed portrayals of the monster. The book spans various settings from predatory hunts to bedroom scenes. It reflects the horror landscape of 1989 through diverse authorial voices.

Key Themes
undead creatures hedonistic vampires doomed figures
Literary Context

Released in October 1989, this book sits within the late twentieth-century horror publishing boom. It reflects the enduring fascination with gothic fiction and supernatural themes during that era. The collection captures a specific moment in literary history before the modern vampire renaissance.

Difficulty
●● Medium
Recommended For Fans Of
Bram Stoker · Anne Rice · Shirley Jackson · The Penguin Book of Ghost Stories
🦇
Vampires
🏛 Penguin Books 📅 1989 📖 640 pages 🌐 English 📔 Paperback ISBN: 9780140124453

📝 Description: The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories

The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories presents a curated collection of thirty-two tales featuring the frightening creature known as the vampire. Edited by Alan Ryan, this volume gathers narratives that display the character in all its forms. The stories explore male and female vampires, those who are alive or undead, and figures who are on the prowl or confined to the bedroom. The anthology captures a wide spectrum of vampiric nature, portraying creatures that are hungry and hedonistic as well as those that are doomed. Published by Penguin Books in 1989, this compilation offers readers a diverse look at supernatural fiction. Alan Ryan serves as the editor for this collection of various authors. The book is organized to showcase the versatility of the vampire archetype across different contexts. It includes stories where the creature is on the prowl and others set within intimate domestic spaces. The text highlights the hedonistic aspects of vampirism alongside its tragic, doomed dimensions. This volume suits readers interested in classic horror literature and gothic traditions. It provides a broad overview of vampire fiction from the late twentieth century perspective. Those seeking modern reinterpretations or contemporary urban fantasy may find the source material dated. The collection remains a specific snapshot of horror publishing from 1989, offering a distinct look at how the genre was curated during that period.

💎 Our verdict on The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories

“
🩸
Horror Reads editorial team
Horror desk
This anthology successfully showcases the versatility of the vampire archetype across different contexts and eras. Alan Ryan’s curation highlights both the predatory instincts and tragic fate of these creatures, providing a comprehensive spectrum of vampiric nature. The collection excels in presenting male and female vampires who are either alive or undead, offering a rich tapestry of supernatural fiction. It is best suited for fans of gothic traditions and classic horror who desire a historical perspective on the genre. While it may lack the immediacy of modern works, its value lies in its archival quality and the distinct voice of 1989 horror publishing.
✓ EDITOR'S REVIEW

📖 Why choose it

📖

Why this book is worth reading

Readers seeking a broad overview of the vampire archetype will find this collection particularly rewarding. It offers a curated look at how the monster was portrayed in the late twentieth century, moving beyond simple tropes to explore hedonistic and doomed dimensions alike. Those interested in the evolution of gothic traditions and classic horror literature will appreciate the diversity of settings, ranging from predatory hunts to intimate bedroom scenes. The volume is ideal for scholars or enthusiasts examining the multifaceted nature of vampirism through varied authorial voices. However, readers looking for contemporary urban fantasy reinterpretations may find the source material dated, as it captures a distinct moment in horror history rather than modern trends.

⭐ Reader reviews

The starting rating comes from the team Horror Reads —

Reader rating

4.4
Based on 1 reviews
5
0
4
1
3
0
2
0
1
0
H
Horror Reads editorial team

This anthology successfully showcases the versatility of the vampire archetype across different contexts and eras. Alan Ryan’s curation highlights both the predatory instincts and tragic fate of these creatures, providing a comprehensive spectrum of vampiric nature. The collection excels in presenting male and female vampires who are either alive or undead, offering a rich tapestry of supernatural fiction. It is best suited for fans of gothic traditions and classic horror who desire a historical perspective on the genre. While it may lack the immediacy of modern works, its value lies in its archival quality and the distinct voice of 1989 horror publishing.

✍️ More books by this author Various

Weird Tales: The Unique Magazine (Cram Edition)
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Various
Weird Tales: The Unique Magazine (Cram Edition)
$27.95
86
Read →
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Various
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
$30.95
86
Read →
The Horla
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Various
The Horla
$23.95
78
Read →
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Various
The Works of Edgar Allan Poe
$41.95
86
Read →
The Horla
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Various
The Horla
$34.95
86
Read →

🏛 Books from this publisher Penguin Books

Frankenstein (Netflix Tie-In): Introduction by Guillermo del Toro
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Mary Shelley
Frankenstein (Netflix Tie-In): Introduction by Guillermo del Toro
$18.00
86
Read →
In the Miso Soup
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Ryu Murakami
In the Miso Soup
$17.00
81
Read →
The Ash House
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Audrey Chin
The Ash House
$14.99
81
Read →
The Moonlight World: Volume 3
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.5
Tunku Halim
The Moonlight World: Volume 3
$8.99
78
Read →
Starve Acre
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Andrew Michael Hurley
Starve Acre
$18.00
86
Read →
Frankenstein in Baghdad
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
Ahmed Saadawi
Frankenstein in Baghdad
$19.00
86
Read →

You might also like

See more →
Gothic Tales of Vampires - Terrifying Tales of the Undead ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Various
Gothic Tales of Vampires - Terrifying Tales of the Undead
$18.99
86
Read →
The Haunting of Hill House -16% 🔥 Bestseller
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
7
Shirley Jackson
The Haunting of Hill House
$9.99 $12.00
92
Read →
Frankenstein in Baghdad ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ahmed Saadawi
Frankenstein in Baghdad
$19.00
86
Read →
There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby: Scary Fairy Tales ✨ New
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
1
Ludmilla Petrushevskaya
There Once Lived a Woman Who Tried to Kill Her Neighbor's Baby: Scary Fairy Tales
$18.00
86
Read →
The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story -47%
★★★★★
★★★★★
4.6
3
Stephen King
The Penguin Book of the Modern American Short Story
$18.00 $34.00
86
Read →

Have a question about this item?

Ask about the edition, condition, delivery or anything else — we reply by email or phone, usually within a day.

Horror Terms

Terms in this book

Vampire →
Home Genres
Cart
Wishlist