10/31/06: J.N. Williamson: "Herrenrasse" (1991)Let's break from the program and finish up our Halloween FilmFest with some fine literature.
Under The Fang was published in 1991 under the banner of the Horror Writers of America. It's a collection of short stories about our world after the vampires have finally taken over. In the process, there's an awful lot of assimilation--or perhaps we should say dhimmitude.
"Herrenrasse" is the most political of the tales, and also the subtlest--despite its title being German for "master race." J.N. Williamson has built a reputation as a horror writer who could stand to tone down his ambitions. In this case, however, Williamson is perfectly visionary.
A guy named Harry is seeking revenge against the vampire who killed his family. He soon finds himself trapped in a coffin that was laid out by the savvy bloodsucker. That's after Harry's checked out the vampire's bookshelf, which includes titles such as
How To Be Happy in a Bivivified Society.
While awaiting the vampire's return, Harry is remembering how he invited a vampire into his social circle--and how vampires had conquered the world "with no more protest than they had encountered":
Three [vampires] who were prominent pretended to be happy when they heard that they possessed powers other than the "gift" of immortality. "Why, that's enough," they murmured, smiling--"isn't it? We can't change shape. We don't need real blood now, as scientists can explain. We ask a chance, that you don't legislate against us, force us to live a lie. Let our contributions prove themselves."Then the vampires started slaughtering innocents. Nobody dared to complain. As Williamson explains, "Harry hadn't bothered urging his wife and family to prepare or run. He hadn't wanted to look foolish; bigoted; paranoid."
The undead Edward Sayers returns to find Harry trapped, and proceeds with the most terrifying torture imaginable. Sayers starts a meaningful dialogue so that the two can better understand each other. This begins with Sayers lecturing Harry about who's really the true victim. The vampire is bored and seeks spirited debate with the living. His plan is to treat Harry as a talkative pet.
Naturally, Sayers does most of the talking. Harry just wants to read--novels, since he isn't allowed newspapers--but Sayers has to keep rambling on about "the
lies intended to discredit [his] kind." Also, Sayers isn't happy about how the living have been instructed to throw a beheaded vampire's ashes into the river: "Harry, one is either serious about pollution and the environment or not."
Harry, however, turns out to be a clever enough mortal. He reminds us of John Bolton. The story is exceptionally enthralling for a chatty vampire tale, and it'll be hard to find a better conservative campfire tale for next Halloween.
Under The Fang, incidentally, was edited by veteran horror writer
Robert McCammon. No reason to smear him with suggestions of being a Republican, but we'll be covering some of McCammon's own fiction in the future.
Make it your own: Under The Fang is currently out of print--which is probably due to vampires infiltrating the publishing industry. The good news is that you don't have to feel bad for picking up
a cheap used copy.
