Brian Lumley's Necroscope books?

Hey all,

Tor has reissued the first four (but not the fifth and final?) Necroscope books in cheap ($4.99) editions. I've never been sure whether the books are worth picking up.

What are some opinions?

Also, does book four have an ending? Because it looks like the fifth and final book has gone out of print.

Haven't read that for, but sure, definitely worth it for $4.99. I thought the first book was quite good.

I doubt you'd have any trouble finding a copy of the fifth one, they've been round for a long time.

I have them all & have read the original five, recently re-read the first two & will probably get to the rest of them again someday. Awesomely pulpy covers. Lumley's vampires are like no one else's, that's for sure. No sparkly, homo-erotic, wise-cracking blood-forswearers here. Just pure, concentrated, unnatural evil. Plus spies, government shenanigans, talkative and very helpful ghosts, talkative and manipulative ghosts, alternate realities, castles, reincarnation, separate dimensions and a quite handy Mobius Strip.

I can't recall if book 4 has an ending, but I can check if you like.

What Bookmarque said. The Necroscope books are huge chunks of pulpy goodness. I can only read one at a time, though. I need long rest periods in between those volumes, or risk exhaustion. I think Lumley's short stories are much better done (look for "Fruiting Bodies"), but the Necroscope series is simply loads of fun. Subterranean Press will be publishing a new 50,000 word novella entitled 'Necroscope: The Plague-Bearer' next year.

Thanks for the feedback guys. I got a coupon from Borders for buy one, get one, 50% off. I got all four books for around $15.00.

I just wonder why Tor is re-releasing these books in new editions (which makes me feel like they're giving them a push) and not reprinting the fifth and final book?

I actually wen to their message board and started a thread to find out.

Oh my god jseger9000, you just have to read those books, they are among the best books I have ever read. I cant really go into detail without spoiling them in some way, but trust me they should be ranked among H.P Lovecraft and Richard MAtheson! I have to say, and this is saying alot, I think Brian Lumely has tob e one of the most underrated authors ever in excestience!

I have the whole set, reread them then thought about tossing them out due to lack of space. I liked the series from Vampire world 6-8 of the saga Blood Brothers, The Last Aerie, and Bloodwars the best.

Someone recommended these to me on the bus this week. told me they faded as the books progressed anyone here agree?

I have no busines responding since I haven't read them yet. But...

Most series fade as they churn along, but in this case beeg says books six through eight are her favorites. Maybe he got a second wind after he switched up characters?

Not sure if anyone's still reading this thread, but since I'm pretty familiar with all of these....

Books 1-5 were all great pulp. Original, scary, horrifying, and gripping. Definitely you should read them.

Books 6-8, which take place in the "vampire world" of Sunside/Starside, are even better than the first 5. I rate Bloodwars, the conclusion of this trilogy, as one of my favorite reads all-time. I think I may have read it 3 times.

The last 3 books, which are again back on our version of Earth, aren't nearly as good. Here is where the series indeed became "tired". The ending of the series in particular didn't feel right. They still have their moments, though, so if you liked the others, certainly at least give these a try. But try the Necroscope or Vampire World books first, as those are first-rate horror/pulp writing.

I found necroscope slow moving.

I absolutely Loved the series thus far. I've read 1-5 of the Necroscope series as well as Books 6-8 in the Vampire World trilogy. I am currently reading book 9 Necroscope The lost Years vol 1. I am noticing that lost years is begining to lose it's luster, and getting a little tedious, but is still better than alot of books that I have read.

I've just about finished reading Necroscope, it's great. I also felt that it was somewhat influenced by H.P. Lovecraft. I thought it was a great angle on the legend of the vampire, less six packs and more bloody gore if you know what I mean. It's rediculous in my opinion that any books from this series are not being published still.

I can see why they might not be. Not enough boys read anymore and girls all want sparkly vampires.

Maybe they just need to be adapted as an HBO series (Showtime would be more likely to do something like Necroscope though).

I really do need to read those books...

they're not bad, but very boy-oriented if you know what I mean. sure, there's a soupcon of romance, but it's very light. the rest is demonic creatures, espionage, ESPionage, bad guys, vampires, supernatural abilities, Mobius and his famous strip.

SuperWTFman, actually there were new Necroscope novels in 2009 and 2010.

I'm reading the first one and enjoying it. Cold war-era horror espionage. They're entertainment, great fun and never try to be more than that. Get stuck in, I say.