Children of The Night, by Dan Simmons

This is a good book, in the sense that it is well written, supposedly historically accurate and enjoyable. I say that this is the kind of book you read when you are not looking for something deep, that will enrich your existence and leave long lasting impressions on your mind. This is, however, a fun read that can give you a bit knowledge in Romanian history and language, and a few hours of enjoyment. After all, this is a vampire story.

It's a very different vampire story, though. This is nothing like Anne Rice's deep philosophical battles and emotional narratives, nor the dark, dreary, and yet romantic Bram Stoker text. It all begins in post-Ceaucescu's Romania, with a group brought together by a powerful business man. The description of this tour creates the cultural and geographical backdrop for the rest of the story and introduces some key characters. From there you are transported to the psyche of a female, American M.D., working at a Romanian orphanage. You experience her dilemmas, her frustration with the health care structure, her repulsion and disgust with local work ethics and lack of professional competence (which has been called "the American abroad syndrome"). Towards the end of her soujourn, she comes across a baby in terribly poor state of health, whose only hope of survival lies in seeking treatement in the modern medical resources of western countries. Beneath this surface lies a great mystery and this boy's immune system may hold the cure to many of mankind's worst diseases.

In "Children of The Night" you will not find the terror you'd encounter in a Christopher Lee movie. Dan Simmons' vampires, the strigoi, don't inspire much fear or have the sex appeal of other mythologies. As a matter of fact, the different mythos in this story is it's greatest strength and, maybe also, it's greatest weakeness. You will find your share of dark mystery, but it may just not spook you. Although it's an entertaining page turner kind of book, filled with historical and scientific facts, it's no great masterpiece of literature. It would make a really cool Hollywood movie, in my opinion, but it's not on a par with other vampire stories I've read.