What do you think?
Rate this book
The Delicate Dependency
They are cool to the touch and alluringly beautiful in their ageless youth, and their fathomless eyes are the eyes which transfix..The secrets they guard are rendered in the iron doors and gothic traceries of Notre Dame. Their arts and science are the light of civilization. Their consciousness, so old, so vastly superior, stands vigil over human progress. They were the Illuminali, They are the vampire. The players in this story are: Dr. John Gladstone, a fashionable London virologist on the verge of altering history; his elder daughter Ursula, enticed by the lure of immoratlity; his younger daughter Camille, bereft of reason, bestowed with genius; and the Lady Hespeth, whose obession is a mask of the unimaginable.
382 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1982
57 people are currently reading
3280 people want to read
About the author
Michael Talbot
71 books292 followersMichael Talbot was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1953. As a young man, he moved to New York City, where he pursued a career as a freelance writer, publishing articles in Omni, The Village Voice, and others, often exploring the confluence between science and the spiritual.
Talbot published his first novel, The Delicate Dependency: A Novel of the Vampire Life as an Avon paperback original in 1982; though never reprinted, it is regarded a classic of the genre, frequently appearing on lists of the best vampire novels ever written, and secondhand copies have long been expensive and hard to find. His other horror titles, both cult classics, are The Bog (1986) and Night Things (1988).
But despite the popularity of his fiction among horror fans, it was for his nonfiction that Talbot was best known, much of it focusing on new age concepts, mysticism, and the paranormal. Arguably his most famous and most significant is The Holographic Universe (1991), which examines the increasingly accepted theory that the entire universe is a hologram; the book remains in print and highly discussed today.
Michael Talbot died of leukemia in 1992 at age 38.
Talbot published his first novel, The Delicate Dependency: A Novel of the Vampire Life as an Avon paperback original in 1982; though never reprinted, it is regarded a classic of the genre, frequently appearing on lists of the best vampire novels ever written, and secondhand copies have long been expensive and hard to find. His other horror titles, both cult classics, are The Bog (1986) and Night Things (1988).
But despite the popularity of his fiction among horror fans, it was for his nonfiction that Talbot was best known, much of it focusing on new age concepts, mysticism, and the paranormal. Arguably his most famous and most significant is The Holographic Universe (1991), which examines the increasingly accepted theory that the entire universe is a hologram; the book remains in print and highly discussed today.
Michael Talbot died of leukemia in 1992 at age 38.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews
July 28, 2014
4.5 stars! This book was fantastic!
Set in the Victorian era, this story quietly kicks the crap out of the vampire novels of today. Beautifully written with an intriguing plot and unique characters, I can't say enough about how enjoyable this book was.
Doctor Gladstone, a scientist in London during the Victorian era, accidentally ran over a man who walked in front of his carriage. Due to this man's, (Niccolo's), resemblance to someone Doctor Gladstone once saw in a painting,(and due to his vague suspicions as to Niccolo's true nature), this stranger is invited into Gladstone's home. Before you know it, one of Dr. Gladstone's daughters, Camille, has been kidnapped and the adventure begins.
This is a vampire story, but these are not vampires you've read about before. Unlike Rice's or King's, these vamps have been around for millennia. What are their true motives, why have they kidnapped Camille, and what do they plan to do with her? You will have to read this to find out.
With pacing that at times is slow and at other times at breakneck speeds, this story captures the reader and drags them along. Even the slow paced periods were interesting, because the reader is constantly learning new facts, but is unsure as to where they fit into the big picture. Like a jigsaw puzzle with unusually shaped pieces. With fun train and carriage chases, crazy plot twists and flat out "Oh My God" moments, this novel was a real treat.
This is a book of quiet horror. If you are looking for lots of blood and gore, this tome is not for you. However, if you're looking for a literary piece with depth and meaning...look no further.(I would equate this work to the excellent literary horror of the 80's-such as Peter Straub's "Ghost Story", for example.) Well written, (with a vocabulary that forced me to use my Kindle dictionary quite a bit), this book delivers not only a quiet horror story, but also fodder for the mind. I found the concepts that were introduced fascinating and fun to think about. To what would you devote your life if you were immortal?
Lastly, I would avoid reading the introduction until you're finished with the book. I read it after I was finished and was very glad that I did so, because almost the entire plot is laid out there and I think it would have ruined my enjoyment of this tale.
Because I did find the pacing just a tad slow at a couple of points, I deducted half of one star. That is the only negative thing I have to say about this novel. Other than that, it comes with my highest recommendation to fans of dark fiction, gothic horror stories and quiet horror.
*I was provided a free copy of this book from Valancourt Books to honestly review and that is what I have done.*
Set in the Victorian era, this story quietly kicks the crap out of the vampire novels of today. Beautifully written with an intriguing plot and unique characters, I can't say enough about how enjoyable this book was.
Doctor Gladstone, a scientist in London during the Victorian era, accidentally ran over a man who walked in front of his carriage. Due to this man's, (Niccolo's), resemblance to someone Doctor Gladstone once saw in a painting,(and due to his vague suspicions as to Niccolo's true nature), this stranger is invited into Gladstone's home. Before you know it, one of Dr. Gladstone's daughters, Camille, has been kidnapped and the adventure begins.
This is a vampire story, but these are not vampires you've read about before. Unlike Rice's or King's, these vamps have been around for millennia. What are their true motives, why have they kidnapped Camille, and what do they plan to do with her? You will have to read this to find out.
With pacing that at times is slow and at other times at breakneck speeds, this story captures the reader and drags them along. Even the slow paced periods were interesting, because the reader is constantly learning new facts, but is unsure as to where they fit into the big picture. Like a jigsaw puzzle with unusually shaped pieces. With fun train and carriage chases, crazy plot twists and flat out "Oh My God" moments, this novel was a real treat.
This is a book of quiet horror. If you are looking for lots of blood and gore, this tome is not for you. However, if you're looking for a literary piece with depth and meaning...look no further.(I would equate this work to the excellent literary horror of the 80's-such as Peter Straub's "Ghost Story", for example.) Well written, (with a vocabulary that forced me to use my Kindle dictionary quite a bit), this book delivers not only a quiet horror story, but also fodder for the mind. I found the concepts that were introduced fascinating and fun to think about. To what would you devote your life if you were immortal?
Lastly, I would avoid reading the introduction until you're finished with the book. I read it after I was finished and was very glad that I did so, because almost the entire plot is laid out there and I think it would have ruined my enjoyment of this tale.
Because I did find the pacing just a tad slow at a couple of points, I deducted half of one star. That is the only negative thing I have to say about this novel. Other than that, it comes with my highest recommendation to fans of dark fiction, gothic horror stories and quiet horror.
*I was provided a free copy of this book from Valancourt Books to honestly review and that is what I have done.*
November 30, 2014
This IS the best vampire novels I have read to date. I actually was Michael Talbots roommate in late 1980, living on the corner of 89th street and Central Park West in NYC, with his cats Niccolo and Lucretia (I forgot the other two cats names). He was a fascinating man to talk to. While I was living at the apartment he was still finishing up "the delicate dependency" and when the book came out he offered one to me with an inscription. He left that particular weekend as did our other two roommates. I in turn stayed home with nothing in particular to do on that weekend. Even though I was so not into vampire novels at the time (I was 21 and was reading more books to the likes of Harold Robbins and Jacqueline Susan), I decided to give it a chance. Michael had a very cozy, somewhat ominous living room/study with a very comfortable large, cozy sofa. I didn't leave that sofa the entire weekend since I could not put this book down. It was riveting. The scene was certainly set with only a reading light on with rainy and dark skies outside. I will never forget it.
October 24, 2016
Hands down, one of the best vampire novels I've ever read. Hats off to Valancourt once again. One more thing: I know I tend to get overly enthusiastic about these old books, a feeling I know is not shared by everyone and I apologize about babbling so, but seriously, I can't help it. I know when I've got my hands on something good, and well, this one definitely is among the cream of the crop.
There are just some books that make me feel like I've been wrapped up in a cocoon of perfect happiness while reading them, and this novel is one of those. Not only is The Delicate Dependency a fun story with a number of unexpected twists and turns, it also has that Victorian-style pulpy aesthetic that I love so much. Once I started reading it, I was beyond happy that it turned out not to be your average vampire novel, but something that moved well beyond the same old same old and into the realm of just pure reading pleasure.
What's lovely about this novel is that there are so many twists and turns here that as soon as I thought I had it figured out, everything changes, and then once I thought I had it sorted "this time", I was happily and completely wrong. And as I said earlier, the novel has that amazing Victorian ambience complete with elements of that pulpy aesthetic that I just love -- an old dark house with lots of secrets, a very well-sequenced set of pursuit-and-evasion scenes that I think I held my breath through, and much more, all leading up to a stunning conclusion.
I was happy as a little clam curling up with my succession of chai lattes and this novel , which is so very different and actually more satisfying than any other vampire novel I've read in a very long time. Readers who are looking for the standard sinking of fangs into the neck may not find this one to their particular tastes, nor will readers looking for yet another vampire romance likely find satisfaction here. Talbot has written a fine, intelligent book here, but most of all, it's just plain fun.
Obviously, very very highly recommended if you enjoy older, forgotten books like I do. This one definitely has my name on it. Caution: do NOT read the intro first, and whatever you do, do NOT read any reviews that give away the show. I'm not even going to go into subtext here because it will wreck what happens, and the fun is most definitely in watching things unfold.
for basic plot with absolutely NO spoilers, you can go to my reading journal.
There are just some books that make me feel like I've been wrapped up in a cocoon of perfect happiness while reading them, and this novel is one of those. Not only is The Delicate Dependency a fun story with a number of unexpected twists and turns, it also has that Victorian-style pulpy aesthetic that I love so much. Once I started reading it, I was beyond happy that it turned out not to be your average vampire novel, but something that moved well beyond the same old same old and into the realm of just pure reading pleasure.
What's lovely about this novel is that there are so many twists and turns here that as soon as I thought I had it figured out, everything changes, and then once I thought I had it sorted "this time", I was happily and completely wrong. And as I said earlier, the novel has that amazing Victorian ambience complete with elements of that pulpy aesthetic that I just love -- an old dark house with lots of secrets, a very well-sequenced set of pursuit-and-evasion scenes that I think I held my breath through, and much more, all leading up to a stunning conclusion.
I was happy as a little clam curling up with my succession of chai lattes and this novel , which is so very different and actually more satisfying than any other vampire novel I've read in a very long time. Readers who are looking for the standard sinking of fangs into the neck may not find this one to their particular tastes, nor will readers looking for yet another vampire romance likely find satisfaction here. Talbot has written a fine, intelligent book here, but most of all, it's just plain fun.
Obviously, very very highly recommended if you enjoy older, forgotten books like I do. This one definitely has my name on it. Caution: do NOT read the intro first, and whatever you do, do NOT read any reviews that give away the show. I'm not even going to go into subtext here because it will wreck what happens, and the fun is most definitely in watching things unfold.
for basic plot with absolutely NO spoilers, you can go to my reading journal.
February 28, 2022
4.5 Stars
Vampire fiction is not normally my thing, but this novel was captivating. The prose was beautiful, evoking a Gothic, timeless atmosphere. The character work of both the humans and vampire was wonderfully complex. Likewise, I found the history and vampire lore absolutely fascinating.
I loved that the doctor used his medical training to approach vampirism from a position of science. The book played the perfect balance of studying the nature of vampires while still keeping their mysticism.
My only concern with this book was the conversation surrounding the characters with mental disabilities. I imagine the author was using the speech and beliefs of the time period, but I still was turn off by the language choices, including the use of the r-word. I also expected a bit more from the ending so I was slightly underwhelmed by the conclusion.
Yet overall, I really loved this novel and would highly recommend it to other horror fans. Even if you (like me) normally hate Vampire fiction, this is definitely a novel to experience.
Vampire fiction is not normally my thing, but this novel was captivating. The prose was beautiful, evoking a Gothic, timeless atmosphere. The character work of both the humans and vampire was wonderfully complex. Likewise, I found the history and vampire lore absolutely fascinating.
I loved that the doctor used his medical training to approach vampirism from a position of science. The book played the perfect balance of studying the nature of vampires while still keeping their mysticism.
My only concern with this book was the conversation surrounding the characters with mental disabilities. I imagine the author was using the speech and beliefs of the time period, but I still was turn off by the language choices, including the use of the r-word. I also expected a bit more from the ending so I was slightly underwhelmed by the conclusion.
Yet overall, I really loved this novel and would highly recommend it to other horror fans. Even if you (like me) normally hate Vampire fiction, this is definitely a novel to experience.
May 23, 2018
“I told you,” she said bitterly. “I warned you at the very beginning that you were blind and did not see what others would see.”
An absolute must read for the vampire aficionado. It should be better known.
The Good: the most original ideas about vampires I’ve read. My favorite - vampire "monks" safely riding out the Dark Ages in monasteries with their books.
The Great: an alternative history in which everything in the Library of Alexandria was preserved. (You know you were pissed off the first time you read about that... and every time you thought of it thereafter)
The Bad: it’s an exhaustive exercise in paranoia. It’s one lie after another after another. Also the MCs are dislikable, Ursula most of all. As both of these are best seller trends I’m again surprised more people don’t know about this book.
I’ll end with Niccolo’s words:
“Never trust the vampire, for everything they say and do is for some other purpose. They will play a cruel and enigmatic ‘game of the mind’ with you and it will be up to you to solve the puzzle...”
Want to read
June 16, 2017A novel of the Vampiric Life
This hardcover is number 40 of 200 copies printed and is signed by:
Brian Everson - Introduction
Thomas Walker - Artwork
This hardcover is number 40 of 200 copies printed and is signed by:
Brian Everson - Introduction
Thomas Walker - Artwork
Read
November 30, 2018This book has unfortunately ground to a halt for me. I just can't seem to get into it, and I'm not going to push it further.
The book is very well written with some innovative and clever ideas, but is rather quiet, like watching a long, drawn out three dimensional chess game.
This story is valorizing vampires as the good shepherds of humanity, forgetting that sooner or later the shepherd cuts the sheep's throat, roasts its flesh and consumes its life.
This story will suit those who enjoy quiet strategic games and psychological second and third guessing.
Don't expect violence, gore, and hot-blooded action.
DNF'ed at 61% (quite late in the game for me - I usually decide much earlier. I.e. I really tried with this book...) without rating.
The book is very well written with some innovative and clever ideas, but is rather quiet, like watching a long, drawn out three dimensional chess game.
This story is valorizing vampires as the good shepherds of humanity, forgetting that sooner or later the shepherd cuts the sheep's throat, roasts its flesh and consumes its life.
This story will suit those who enjoy quiet strategic games and psychological second and third guessing.
Don't expect violence, gore, and hot-blooded action.
DNF'ed at 61% (quite late in the game for me - I usually decide much earlier. I.e. I really tried with this book...) without rating.
July 29, 2014
** actual rating 4.5**
I absolutely loved this book. Somehow I missed this one along the way and I have no idea how that appened. Some people refer to it as a horror classic and I would not really have a strong argument against that. THIS is how vampires should be portrayed and I am happy to say that this book has nothing in common with "The Series That Shall Not Be Named Here".
This is the story of a doctor in Victorian times who becomes involved with vampires when they kidnap his autistic daughter. He then teams up with a society lady who is in similar circumstances and together they embark on a whirlwind trip that spans three different countries.
The writing is this book was superb. The pacing is a little slow and there is not a lot of blood and gore in this book so it was different from some other vamp books I have read in the past. Some of the descriptions were a joy to read, for example the description of a villa in Italy filled with treasures and antiques was just awesome. I also loved the subtle nod to Bram Stoker, our hero finds himself in a situation not unlike Jonathan Harker. It is a complex tale as well, the doctor at times finds himself unwillingly drawn to the vamps, mostly because of their superior knowledge. The vampire legend in this book was great too, check out this explanation after the doctor notices something strange in the stride of vamps:
"Why does a child walk differently from an adult? he countered. "Each age has it's vocabulary of movement. How often have you noticed that a young girl no longer walks like a girl, but a woman?......If you observe them closely you will notice that a twenty year old man moves differently from a thirty year old man.......It is quite natural that you may see my walk as strange. You are observing the gait of a thousand year old man."
Nice!
As an added bonus to the great story and great writing, there is a WTF Moment late in the book that reminded me of when I found out the the head vampire was actually the mothers new boyfriend in the 80's classic movie "The Lost Boys". In other words, Holy Shit!!!
Highly recommended to horror fans and a must read for fans of anything vampire!
I absolutely loved this book. Somehow I missed this one along the way and I have no idea how that appened. Some people refer to it as a horror classic and I would not really have a strong argument against that. THIS is how vampires should be portrayed and I am happy to say that this book has nothing in common with "The Series That Shall Not Be Named Here".
This is the story of a doctor in Victorian times who becomes involved with vampires when they kidnap his autistic daughter. He then teams up with a society lady who is in similar circumstances and together they embark on a whirlwind trip that spans three different countries.
The writing is this book was superb. The pacing is a little slow and there is not a lot of blood and gore in this book so it was different from some other vamp books I have read in the past. Some of the descriptions were a joy to read, for example the description of a villa in Italy filled with treasures and antiques was just awesome. I also loved the subtle nod to Bram Stoker, our hero finds himself in a situation not unlike Jonathan Harker. It is a complex tale as well, the doctor at times finds himself unwillingly drawn to the vamps, mostly because of their superior knowledge. The vampire legend in this book was great too, check out this explanation after the doctor notices something strange in the stride of vamps:
"Why does a child walk differently from an adult? he countered. "Each age has it's vocabulary of movement. How often have you noticed that a young girl no longer walks like a girl, but a woman?......If you observe them closely you will notice that a twenty year old man moves differently from a thirty year old man.......It is quite natural that you may see my walk as strange. You are observing the gait of a thousand year old man."
Nice!
As an added bonus to the great story and great writing, there is a WTF Moment late in the book that reminded me of when I found out the the head vampire was actually the mothers new boyfriend in the 80's classic movie "The Lost Boys". In other words, Holy Shit!!!
Highly recommended to horror fans and a must read for fans of anything vampire!
December 5, 2023
I can see why Talbot exploded into the horror scene with his first novel, The Delicate Dependency, as it ranks up there with the best vampire tales. The 80s had a slew of vampire novels that rewrote the genre, such as Carrion Comfort and They Thirst before the 'urban fantasy' craze took over. Talbot's contribution here also stands out from the pack and gives another unique twist to this trope.
Set in the late 19th century, our main protagonist is a budding virologist living in London named Dr. John Gladstone; he is obsessed with finding a cure/prevention for the flu, which took his wife way too soon. While this starts off rather slowly (and indeed, the pacing is the only thing that made me round down 4.5 stars to 4), introducing Gladstone and, his remaining family (two daughters) and colleagues; Talbot also gives us a brief history of Gladstone from childhood to his present maturity. Things start to kick off when a man falls in front of his carriage one day, which badly breaks both of his legs. Gladstone takes him to his hospital and patches him up, but there is something really odd about the guy, named Niccolo.
Niccolo refuses food and water, and insists on having the windows in his room boarded over while he stays there. After a week or so, the other doctors and nurses have had just about enough of Niccolo and Gladstone is amazed that his wounds have almost healed in any case. After helping him to sneak out of the hospital, Gladstone takes Niccolo to live in his mansion. Shortly after that, Niccolo reveals that he is a vampire.
What is unique about Talbot's vampire really makes the novel. Vampires here are not the blood thirsty parasites offing humans right and left, but long lived beings that have continued to evolve, mentally and physically. Niccolo is 'only' 400 years old or so; a young vampire compared to the rest we meet later on. Most of the vampires here are scholars of a sort, using their long lives to continue their projects in all kinds of scientific fields. Vampires permeated/permeate Europe and indeed, even ancient societies, as scholars, bards, even having one serve as the Pope around 1000 C.E. Monasteries were often full of vampires!
After introducing the vampire via Niccolo, the story really starts to move, especially when Niccolo and someone else (another vampire) kidnap Gladstone's 'idiot savant' daughter (she plays piano). Gladstone, with some help from a woman named Hespeth, track the vampires to Paris and set off to rescue her. Then things get really crazy...
If you are expecting blood and gore, this will not be the book for you. Rather, Talbot gives us a slow burn here, with vampires acting in a way as custodians of society, influencing society from the highest levels (vampires constituted the original illuminati for example), but I will stop to avoid spoilers. Talbot also takes us on a tour of history along the way, dropping hints and more of the role vampires have played in Europe and beyond. He also gives us a slam bang denouement that I did not expect. Highly recommended for any vampire fan. 4.5 fangs!
Set in the late 19th century, our main protagonist is a budding virologist living in London named Dr. John Gladstone; he is obsessed with finding a cure/prevention for the flu, which took his wife way too soon. While this starts off rather slowly (and indeed, the pacing is the only thing that made me round down 4.5 stars to 4), introducing Gladstone and, his remaining family (two daughters) and colleagues; Talbot also gives us a brief history of Gladstone from childhood to his present maturity. Things start to kick off when a man falls in front of his carriage one day, which badly breaks both of his legs. Gladstone takes him to his hospital and patches him up, but there is something really odd about the guy, named Niccolo.
Niccolo refuses food and water, and insists on having the windows in his room boarded over while he stays there. After a week or so, the other doctors and nurses have had just about enough of Niccolo and Gladstone is amazed that his wounds have almost healed in any case. After helping him to sneak out of the hospital, Gladstone takes Niccolo to live in his mansion. Shortly after that, Niccolo reveals that he is a vampire.
What is unique about Talbot's vampire really makes the novel. Vampires here are not the blood thirsty parasites offing humans right and left, but long lived beings that have continued to evolve, mentally and physically. Niccolo is 'only' 400 years old or so; a young vampire compared to the rest we meet later on. Most of the vampires here are scholars of a sort, using their long lives to continue their projects in all kinds of scientific fields. Vampires permeated/permeate Europe and indeed, even ancient societies, as scholars, bards, even having one serve as the Pope around 1000 C.E. Monasteries were often full of vampires!
After introducing the vampire via Niccolo, the story really starts to move, especially when Niccolo and someone else (another vampire) kidnap Gladstone's 'idiot savant' daughter (she plays piano). Gladstone, with some help from a woman named Hespeth, track the vampires to Paris and set off to rescue her. Then things get really crazy...
If you are expecting blood and gore, this will not be the book for you. Rather, Talbot gives us a slow burn here, with vampires acting in a way as custodians of society, influencing society from the highest levels (vampires constituted the original illuminati for example), but I will stop to avoid spoilers. Talbot also takes us on a tour of history along the way, dropping hints and more of the role vampires have played in Europe and beyond. He also gives us a slam bang denouement that I did not expect. Highly recommended for any vampire fan. 4.5 fangs!
Read
November 28, 2018I simply could not get into this. I read about 60 pages or so and could not get past the idiot Dr. Gladstone. He pissed me off.
October 15, 2014
Wow. This is one of the best vampire novels I've read. The writing is lush and evocative, the plot is engaging and it's well paced. The vampires here are good but not nice, alien in their thoughts and mannerisms yet beautiful and captivating. I did flag a little during the chase/escape portions but overall I thoroughly enjoyed it and would recommend it to any vampire enthusiasts, or fans of more unusual and subtle horror.
February 28, 2017
Potentially the most confusing and boring thing I have ever read, despite being billed as one of the greatest vampire books ever written. A good concept completely ruined by so-called twists that only serve to make the story more boring by snatching away the only likeable events and characters and slapping us with dashes of racism, sexism, and transphobia in their place. This yet another example of the "marketable vampires" trend, in which authors try to liven up their concept with random vampires, no matter how ill-suited to the story they are. In addition to having silly or unpronounceable names, the characters simply do not matter, or if they do beware, because it will suddenly be revealed after a hundred pages of falling in love with them that they are someone completely different and not half as interesting. Perhaps this could all be forgiven if the plot were actually exciting, but it isn't. Great promise peters out into a dull slog through ridiculous non-mysteries and setting changes meant to distract the reader from the fact that nothing worthwhile ever actually happens. You will spend hours or days on this book only to realize in the end that there is only one page left and there has yet to really be a plot that you care about. This book does not have an ending so much as it simply ends with the characters wandering off into the sunset after a "climax" completely devoid of conflict or closure. The only reason I give any stars at all is because the aesthetic is nice enough to compel one to drag all the way through to the point at which the pages stop having words on them, as there really is no quantifiable ending.
January 13, 2016
This book took me for a ride and gave me a pounding. We had a raucous love-affair. I very rarely react to books with a jaw-drop, but this novel got both that and a, "WHAT?! WHAAAAT?!" out of me. My heart was actually racing at the end! I still break into mystified and enamored giggles when I think about this book. "Oh, you clever, clever thing!"
I will tell you what I can. This is a vampire novel, but forget about all the vampire novels you've read or the television series or movies you've seen. These vampires are SMART, as in, almost an entire race of ancient Holmesian immortals (and hey, the Sherlock Holmes hat even makes an appearance). Not to say there isn't some level of bloodlust and sexual power to them, there is to an extent, but this book gave me the best take on vampires I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy.
The prose is dense and descriptive (it hooked me in right away), the characters are intriguing and complex, and the Victorian atmosphere is enchanting. This book has earned itself a place in my favorites and deserves at least a re-read if not multiple readings.
I will tell you what I can. This is a vampire novel, but forget about all the vampire novels you've read or the television series or movies you've seen. These vampires are SMART, as in, almost an entire race of ancient Holmesian immortals (and hey, the Sherlock Holmes hat even makes an appearance). Not to say there isn't some level of bloodlust and sexual power to them, there is to an extent, but this book gave me the best take on vampires I've ever had the pleasure to enjoy.
The prose is dense and descriptive (it hooked me in right away), the characters are intriguing and complex, and the Victorian atmosphere is enchanting. This book has earned itself a place in my favorites and deserves at least a re-read if not multiple readings.
December 27, 2014
Fantastic addition to vampire mythology. Very different take on "the work of the vampire". No sparkly, romantic, warrior vampires here but instead an ancient highly evolved species. Can't say more, don't want to tip their hand, but but they are here, have always been here... watching us, the rabble.
October 15, 2012
I just re-read this brilliant book for the third time. What a wonderful twist on the vampire legend. I can't believe this is out of print. It's too enticing to forget.
May 10, 2018
4.5 stars.
this book was a little slow for me. the vampires didn't seem all that vampirish. but I really liked the reveal at the end. I loved that part in fact. i liked the vampires way more than i did the humans. they were by far more interesting. i didn't think the dr. was so smart. he creates a deadly strain of the flu and wants to keep it? pray tell good dr, what good can come of this? kill him! just kill him off! i won't say if they do or not but can i please stay at the Italian villa?!
if you like or love the vampires chronicles, you'll probably like this.
this book was a little slow for me. the vampires didn't seem all that vampirish. but I really liked the reveal at the end. I loved that part in fact. i liked the vampires way more than i did the humans. they were by far more interesting. i didn't think the dr. was so smart. he creates a deadly strain of the flu and wants to keep it? pray tell good dr, what good can come of this? kill him! just kill him off! i won't say if they do or not but can i please stay at the Italian villa?!
if you like or love the vampires chronicles, you'll probably like this.
August 4, 2014
The Delicate Dependency: A Novel of the Vampire Life
by +Michael Talbot
Started July 27, Finished August 3, 2014
Read a friend's review and thought I'd like it
Think of it...a world filled with the vampire that our protagonist, Dr. John Gladstone, a Victorian physician, has recently discovered. But what exactly has he discovered and what has happened to his sweet younger daughter, Camille, not to mention his beautiful older daughter, Ursula. Will the vampire take them both before he can save them? Then there is his secret scientific research. Is there a plan to destroy mankind?
What a wonderful writer and story teller Mr. Michael Talbot was. He tells this story in first person by the good Dr. Gladstone himself. John and his sidekick Lady Dunaway walk, run, travel by train, boat, carriage...whatever will get them to their destination the quickest. John's understanding and love of knowledge keeps this story going and interesting.
The story is well written, especially for a first novel. The characters were believable. I was concerned for their safety. John endured many twists and turns and seemed to somehow always find his way clear of any major catastrophes. I wanted him to be successful. Yet I wanted to find out more about the vampire race and what was really motivating them. The vampires in this book were different than any other books, stories, movies or graphic novels I have ever seen. There was something for mankind to learn from the wisdom of the vampire...they took their time to complete what they needed to do.
It took me longer than usual to completely read this 390 page book. I wonder if the vampire wisdom of savoring art might have influenced me. I did feel like I was quietly reading every word. Differently than I normally read.
This book was a 4.5 stars for me. I rounded it up to 5 stars
Highly recommended
by +Michael Talbot
Started July 27, Finished August 3, 2014
Read a friend's review and thought I'd like it
Think of it...a world filled with the vampire that our protagonist, Dr. John Gladstone, a Victorian physician, has recently discovered. But what exactly has he discovered and what has happened to his sweet younger daughter, Camille, not to mention his beautiful older daughter, Ursula. Will the vampire take them both before he can save them? Then there is his secret scientific research. Is there a plan to destroy mankind?
What a wonderful writer and story teller Mr. Michael Talbot was. He tells this story in first person by the good Dr. Gladstone himself. John and his sidekick Lady Dunaway walk, run, travel by train, boat, carriage...whatever will get them to their destination the quickest. John's understanding and love of knowledge keeps this story going and interesting.
The story is well written, especially for a first novel. The characters were believable. I was concerned for their safety. John endured many twists and turns and seemed to somehow always find his way clear of any major catastrophes. I wanted him to be successful. Yet I wanted to find out more about the vampire race and what was really motivating them. The vampires in this book were different than any other books, stories, movies or graphic novels I have ever seen. There was something for mankind to learn from the wisdom of the vampire...they took their time to complete what they needed to do.
It took me longer than usual to completely read this 390 page book. I wonder if the vampire wisdom of savoring art might have influenced me. I did feel like I was quietly reading every word. Differently than I normally read.
This book was a 4.5 stars for me. I rounded it up to 5 stars
Highly recommended
November 9, 2011
Waaaay before the current vampire craze, there was this book. It is absolutely one of the best books I have ever read...a masterpiece. It is hard to find now (used is all, I think..eBay). But what a book. I plan to read this book again. It has been a while...
October 16, 2021
This book was amazing from beginning to end.
Highly recommended.
Highly recommended.
August 2, 2020
I’m going to divide my blame for not loving this book half on the book itself, and half on the fact my personal life has been rather busy the last couple weeks.
The Delicate Dependency is quiet (more like non-existent) horror so academic it makes Peter Straub read like Stephen King. The end result is a well-written slog, an intelligent and quizzical take on vampire lore I admired without totally enjoying.
Good for fans of vintage slow-burns and vampire aficionados. Those looking for scary vampire stories should look elsewhere.
The Delicate Dependency is quiet (more like non-existent) horror so academic it makes Peter Straub read like Stephen King. The end result is a well-written slog, an intelligent and quizzical take on vampire lore I admired without totally enjoying.
Good for fans of vintage slow-burns and vampire aficionados. Those looking for scary vampire stories should look elsewhere.
February 24, 2021
Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained Angels unawares...
I really liked this book, - recommended by my friend - it's an old book and one that I didn't know about.
Set in the Victorian era, where Dr Gladstone is thrust into the world of Vampires, when his youngest daughter is kidnapped.
It's evocative and beautifully written with a different take on the Vampire mythos. V" "V
I really liked this book, - recommended by my friend - it's an old book and one that I didn't know about.
Set in the Victorian era, where Dr Gladstone is thrust into the world of Vampires, when his youngest daughter is kidnapped.
It's evocative and beautifully written with a different take on the Vampire mythos. V" "V
September 18, 2024
DNF — not bad, but it is all rather silly. And it’s not worth reading any more of it.
April 22, 2015
Now here's a classic that was out of print for a criminally long time. Michael Talbot's Victorian vampire novel is a majestic achievement, an epic alternate history about a world existing just beneath the surface, yet guiding and influencing everything.
Gone are the ghoulish Nosferatus and seductive Draculas; instead, Talbot's vampires are detached and alien (emphasized by their particular way of walking, different from men), driven by arts and science, serving as guardian angels to mankind.
It all starts to come to light when the musically talented daughter of one Doctor Gladstone is abducted by his patient, a young and seemingly ageless Italian man called Niccolo. Gladstone tracks their trail from London to Paris and to the shores of Italy along with a new acquintance, Lady Dunaway. In the process, the age of the ageless vampire will come to an end.
The Delicate Dependency is more a historical novel in the vein of Tim Powers (think 1983's The Anubis Gates or 1989's The Stress of Her Regard) than outright horror. The detailed descriptions of Victorian London and fin-de-siècle Paris (with frequent snippets of French and Italian languages) bring out the atmosphere just right, enveloping but not suffocating the reader in a rich tapestry of history. The realism is palpable, and when the novel begins to stretch its bounds, the style remains constant, making it all that little bit more believable.
Against this elaborate background the characters manage to come to their own as well. Gladstone is a man of learning driven by the search for his daughter, but there are different sides to him, especially in the early part of the novel. The elder daughter, Ursula, is seduced by the idea of ageless vampirism. Lady Dunaway undergoes several twists during the course of the story, first hunting vampires because they took her son and then just hunting them, like a prototypical vampire hunter.
But the stars of the novel are the vampires, paternally guiding mankind throughout centuries, protecting us from our own follies. Each vampire is unique, possessing some talent worth preserving; decisions to turn men into vampires are cool and calculated, in the service of a higher purpose. For instance, there's Ilga, a mathematical genius who can predict the future as well as it can be calculated; Hatim, a falconer with an almost supernatural connection with his falcons; and so on. And somewhere above everyone else looms the mysterious, ancient Lodovico, the key to everything that happens in the novel. In the most remarkable deviation from tradition, Talbot's vampires abhor violence.
Not much criticism can be levelled against the novel; the writing is excellent throughout, and despite the immense amount of exposition and detail it never gets tiresome. However, things do stagnate somewhat during Gladstone's imprisonment in Paris, and some plot twists are a bit forceful, but in the grand scheme of things such grumbles are barely noteworthy. It's the big picture that counts, and Talbot's novel is as epic as they get.
The Delicate Dependency is a gorgeously beautiful book, gone far too soon but luckily now available again. It's a very, very welcome return. Highly recommended.
Read all my reviews at mikareadshorrorfiction.wordpress.com.
Gone are the ghoulish Nosferatus and seductive Draculas; instead, Talbot's vampires are detached and alien (emphasized by their particular way of walking, different from men), driven by arts and science, serving as guardian angels to mankind.
It all starts to come to light when the musically talented daughter of one Doctor Gladstone is abducted by his patient, a young and seemingly ageless Italian man called Niccolo. Gladstone tracks their trail from London to Paris and to the shores of Italy along with a new acquintance, Lady Dunaway. In the process, the age of the ageless vampire will come to an end.
The Delicate Dependency is more a historical novel in the vein of Tim Powers (think 1983's The Anubis Gates or 1989's The Stress of Her Regard) than outright horror. The detailed descriptions of Victorian London and fin-de-siècle Paris (with frequent snippets of French and Italian languages) bring out the atmosphere just right, enveloping but not suffocating the reader in a rich tapestry of history. The realism is palpable, and when the novel begins to stretch its bounds, the style remains constant, making it all that little bit more believable.
Against this elaborate background the characters manage to come to their own as well. Gladstone is a man of learning driven by the search for his daughter, but there are different sides to him, especially in the early part of the novel. The elder daughter, Ursula, is seduced by the idea of ageless vampirism. Lady Dunaway undergoes several twists during the course of the story, first hunting vampires because they took her son and then just hunting them, like a prototypical vampire hunter.
But the stars of the novel are the vampires, paternally guiding mankind throughout centuries, protecting us from our own follies. Each vampire is unique, possessing some talent worth preserving; decisions to turn men into vampires are cool and calculated, in the service of a higher purpose. For instance, there's Ilga, a mathematical genius who can predict the future as well as it can be calculated; Hatim, a falconer with an almost supernatural connection with his falcons; and so on. And somewhere above everyone else looms the mysterious, ancient Lodovico, the key to everything that happens in the novel. In the most remarkable deviation from tradition, Talbot's vampires abhor violence.
Not much criticism can be levelled against the novel; the writing is excellent throughout, and despite the immense amount of exposition and detail it never gets tiresome. However, things do stagnate somewhat during Gladstone's imprisonment in Paris, and some plot twists are a bit forceful, but in the grand scheme of things such grumbles are barely noteworthy. It's the big picture that counts, and Talbot's novel is as epic as they get.
The Delicate Dependency is a gorgeously beautiful book, gone far too soon but luckily now available again. It's a very, very welcome return. Highly recommended.
Read all my reviews at mikareadshorrorfiction.wordpress.com.
April 15, 2016
You've got to stick with this one, because you can't know at first how amazing this novel is. It's all revealed at the end, where you realize how mind-boggling the genius and mounds of research it took to put this together this book is. Add to that the paranoia of anyone who crosses these creatures' path, and you have not just one of the greatest vampire tales of all time, but possibly THE best. It even makes you think twice about religion, that's how much of a mind-fuck it is. If I could, I'd give this six stars.
December 12, 2008
One of my favorite Vampire books. Has some unique premise about the origin and history of vampires. The vampires are elegant and romantic. I read it in the early 80's. It's difficult to get (although in recent years a few copies come onto Amazon occasionally) but definitely worth the effort for vampire book fans
August 20, 2019
I enjoyed the prose. The ending felt rushed and left some, in my opinion, unanswered questions.
April 13, 2024
Probably the best vampire book I've ever read.
June 8, 2025
I prefer my vampires to be kinky perverts, not nerdy scientists.
January 11, 2015
The book: The Delicate Dependency: A Novel of the Vampire Life
The author: Michael Talbot, late American author of several books on "quantum mysticism" (plus this book, obviously).
The subject: A Victorian scientist is thrust into the world of vampires, powerful and intelligent beings who crave knowledge rather than blood.
Why I chose it: It is one of my boyfriend's favourite books and he implored me to give it a try.
The rating: Four out of five stars
What I thought of it: We all know it: vampires are not meant to sparkle. But what are they meant to be like? They've been interpreted in myriad different ways, and I've encountered some of them (many as a result of my boyfriend's fascination with vampires). I've never encountered any like these before though. The idea of vampires being evolved beings more concerned with running the world than drinking blood, using their immortality to become highly intelligent? Brilliant! I really liked the idea of them being what people have referred to as the Illuminati. The Victorian setting was also very well imagined. Sometimes high concept books like this suffer from a lack of plotting, but this one certainly didn't, though I thought Ursula would play more of a part. There's a lot of foreshadowing cleverly weaved into the story as well. Unfortunately I am thick as two short planks so missed all of this careful work along the way, but maybe I will re-read the book in future and be able to.
This was a really enjoyable book with a unique taken on the vampire myth. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy fiction with a Victorian setting, vampire novels, horror or all three.
Just one more thing: Not really anything to do with this book, but whenever I think of vampires and what they're meant to be like I think of this video.
More relevant: this book was out of print for years, but last year was published again!
The author: Michael Talbot, late American author of several books on "quantum mysticism" (plus this book, obviously).
The subject: A Victorian scientist is thrust into the world of vampires, powerful and intelligent beings who crave knowledge rather than blood.
Why I chose it: It is one of my boyfriend's favourite books and he implored me to give it a try.
The rating: Four out of five stars
What I thought of it: We all know it: vampires are not meant to sparkle. But what are they meant to be like? They've been interpreted in myriad different ways, and I've encountered some of them (many as a result of my boyfriend's fascination with vampires). I've never encountered any like these before though. The idea of vampires being evolved beings more concerned with running the world than drinking blood, using their immortality to become highly intelligent? Brilliant! I really liked the idea of them being what people have referred to as the Illuminati. The Victorian setting was also very well imagined. Sometimes high concept books like this suffer from a lack of plotting, but this one certainly didn't, though I thought Ursula would play more of a part. There's a lot of foreshadowing cleverly weaved into the story as well. Unfortunately I am thick as two short planks so missed all of this careful work along the way, but maybe I will re-read the book in future and be able to.
This was a really enjoyable book with a unique taken on the vampire myth. I would definitely recommend it if you enjoy fiction with a Victorian setting, vampire novels, horror or all three.
Just one more thing: Not really anything to do with this book, but whenever I think of vampires and what they're meant to be like I think of this video.
More relevant: this book was out of print for years, but last year was published again!
September 24, 2014
So, in the interest of full disclosure, i picked this book up because i saw that Jillian Venters wrote the foreword to the reissue, and she and I used to hang out in the same online milieux, so i thought i'd give it a spin.
And i really liked it, in the sense of old-school vampire stories, where the vampires are alien and sinister and bizarre and terrifying, and you-the-reader only find them compelling in any way if you yourself are somewhat alien, sinister, and/or bizarre. By which i mean, not new-school vampires of the teen-idol, sparkling-abusive-boyfriend variety.
The conception of vampires in this is outstanding. They don't care about humans as anything more than esoteric chess pieces in an Illuminati-scale dangerous game. Even the beautiful ones don't care about love, even the ones that still tarry with human foibles like sex. I loved that aspect of the ride of the plot, and there's a twist at the end which i found pretty progressive for when the book was initially written, though if it were a 2014 novel, i'd expect it to have been explored more deeply.
I gave it three stars though because i grew to despise the narrator, in that i found his characterization to veer into the unreal--he got shouty and petulant at completely unrealistic times, to the point that I began to wonder whether the twist at the end was going to be that he was insane and delusional, but thankfully, no.
The writerly part of my brain got a bit twiggy about the malaprops too, like the use of the word "seraphim" as a singular term. (Hi, seraph?) Or the description of a deerstalker as a "two-peaked cap," which is every kind of wrong, in both linguistic and haberdashery terms. Those kinds of errors jostled up against what i felt were some really original and cool concepts in overarching theme. So yeah, three stars.
Still very glad i read it, and would recommend it to others with a yen for a vampire novel with an interesting and unusual approach.
And i really liked it, in the sense of old-school vampire stories, where the vampires are alien and sinister and bizarre and terrifying, and you-the-reader only find them compelling in any way if you yourself are somewhat alien, sinister, and/or bizarre. By which i mean, not new-school vampires of the teen-idol, sparkling-abusive-boyfriend variety.
The conception of vampires in this is outstanding. They don't care about humans as anything more than esoteric chess pieces in an Illuminati-scale dangerous game. Even the beautiful ones don't care about love, even the ones that still tarry with human foibles like sex. I loved that aspect of the ride of the plot, and there's a twist at the end which i found pretty progressive for when the book was initially written, though if it were a 2014 novel, i'd expect it to have been explored more deeply.
I gave it three stars though because i grew to despise the narrator, in that i found his characterization to veer into the unreal--he got shouty and petulant at completely unrealistic times, to the point that I began to wonder whether the twist at the end was going to be that he was insane and delusional, but thankfully, no.
The writerly part of my brain got a bit twiggy about the malaprops too, like the use of the word "seraphim" as a singular term. (Hi, seraph?) Or the description of a deerstalker as a "two-peaked cap," which is every kind of wrong, in both linguistic and haberdashery terms. Those kinds of errors jostled up against what i felt were some really original and cool concepts in overarching theme. So yeah, three stars.
Still very glad i read it, and would recommend it to others with a yen for a vampire novel with an interesting and unusual approach.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 124 reviews