Death's Excellent Vacation

Image of Death's Excellent Vacation
Author(s): 
Release Date: 
August 2, 2010
Publisher/Imprint: 
Ace
Pages: 
352
Reviewed by: 

Everyone needs a vacation, even the undead and especially the immortal. With Death’s Excellent Vacation, editors Charlaine Harris and Toni L. P. Kelner have presented readers with 13 out-of-this-world stories from some of today’s best-known and beloved paranormal writers—including the editors themselves. Authors such as Jeff Abbott, L. A. Banks, Sarah Smith, and Daniel Stashower all contribute stories to the collection, including many others of notoriety in the paranormal genre. Ranging from eerie to intellectual and downright hilarious, the anthology has something for everyone and a little bit of everything included.

Vampires, ghouls, ghosts, and demons—all make appearances in this collection of stories about what the supernatural do when they’re off the clock. This newest compilation proves to be a wild ride on the supernatural side ranging from a brand new sexy Sookie Stackhouse story, to the otherwordly tale of one demon dog’s unique European tour. Each story, while not involving what one may consider a typical vacation, does ring true to the theme “because everyone—and everything—needs a break from the routine.”

Lovers of the genre will enjoy the uniqueness of each story and the variations in writing style and characterization woven into one book. However those not familiar with paranormal literature and its peculiarities may find themselves confused by the changing personas created by each writer. Vampires, for instance, take on different characteristics and weaknesses depending on the creator of each story. Some writers allow their vampires the joy of the sun during their vacays, while others keep them far away within the confines of darkness for fear of excruciating death. While sometimes difficult to follow, this varying outlook is one of the things that make this work an interesting resource for readers of the paranormal.

As with any short story collection, one can sit down and read straight through or pick and choose. In the end, diehard fans of the paranormal and newbies will all find a story to perfectly fit their vacation reading within Death’s Excellent Vacation’s magical pages.

A deliciously spooky addition to anyone’s summer reading.