Nothing is a teenager searching for his origins in a suburban wasteland until he encounters Zillah, Molochai, and Twig, a trio of ancient vampires traveling in a black van. They drink Chartreuse and blood while drifting through the Southern United States toward New Orleans. The narrative tracks Nothing’s physical and psychological transition as he discovers his biological connection to these predators. Alongside them, human musicians Ghost and Steve navigate a landscape of bars and occult rituals, attempting to rescue Nothing from a lineage defined by consumption and addiction.
Readers of transgressive horror and gothic fiction choose this book for its visceral focus on bodily fluids, substance abuse, and outsider identity. It appeals to those interested in the nihilism of the early nineties underground music scene and the physiological mechanics of supernatural beings. The audience finds a depiction of vampires as hedonistic parasites rather than romantic heroes. A reader walks away with a concrete understanding of how isolation drives the need for kinship, even when that belonging requires a violent rejection of human morality.
Escapist; a moderate read.
Best for readers like The Curious Generalist. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1992
- Language
- EN
