I found this fair-condition softcover at a local Savers thrift shop, and couldn't resist the Bizarro Fiction spin on Cthulhu and vampires!

Told in short, choppy chapters, this is an account of a vampire apocalypse - that is, an apocalypse that threatens the world's vampires. See, these vampires live on a world composed largely of blood, but it seems that they've been outstripping their resources and the blood is running out. As if that weren't bad enough, the sunlight may be coming, which will of course doom the light-sensitive folk. And as if THAT weren't bad enough, there's a group of teen-vamps who want to shortcut the apocalypse by summoning Cthulhu, though they don't know whether he'll restore the darkness and save the vampires or will just destroy anything. [My bet's on the latter - though when we first meet Cthulhu he's hanging out at a shabby little diner, trying to get them to make him a hamburger without pickles. He HATES pickles.]

Cthulhu is also fond of LOLcats, and apparently invented the internet when his attempt at a career as a sushi chef failed. [Yeah, it's that kind of story.]

We spend time with a happily-married vampire couple who are coping with the sudden death of their infant - which, given the situation and their natures, doesn't bother them quite as much as one might imagine. (See the cover-art.) Then there's the teenage daughter who's off baby-sitting while the grownup vamps attend a meeting - nothing says "impending apocalypse" like a meeting, right?

It's always tricky trying to describe bizarro fiction, as part of the fun is encountering each new weirdness and trying to work out how - or if - it fits into the story. While this one isn't quite as much fun as the Carlton Mellick books I've read, I did enjoy it.

I'm adding this book to the Vampire bookbox, which will be on its way soon. Hope someone enjoys it!

This book rode to the end of the line in the Vampire Bookbox.

I'm not quite sure what to say about this book. I always find reviewing bizarro fiction hard, since it really is all about the experience, and not so much about the content that makes that up. I suppose if I was a more creative type, I could try to write a review that mirrors that feeling, but I'm not. I enjoyed this book at least as much as I've enjoyed other stories like this, and found the characters more engaging than many bizarro tales I've tried. The pacing is fast, but surprisingly even and easy-to-read for a story juggling so many elements. There were points where I felt like I would have liked to see a certain aspect explored further and/or used more, but I never got frustrated.

If bizarro fiction is a genre you like, you'll probably have fun with this book, and if you have not read this genre, this probably wouldn't be a bad intro!

Heading out as one of the starting books in the Otherworldly Bookbox

Sounds too strange to pass by without giving it a go~
pulling from the Otherworldly box.

Well, this one just didn’t do it for me. Looks like bizarro fiction is not my cup of tea~ But thank you both for passing this along and giving me a chance to give it a try.

From the otherworldly bookbox. I'll be passing it on.

Received in the Misc. Ray Box.

Released into the Misc. Ray Box.

Please enjoy!

received as part of a bookbox ray

releasing at LFL on 196th