Renfield: Slave of Dracula
by Barbara Hambly
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Description
A fresh take on Bram Stoker's "Dracula" focuses on the obsessive devotion of Renfield to his vampire master, embarking on a personal mission to hunt down Van Helsing that sets the stage for the ultimate confrontation between the living and the undead.Tags
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by Ape
Member Reviews
Barbara Hambly's Renfield: Slave of Dracula is not only good storytelling, but great prose ...rich, imaginative, poetic. It is a unique take on Renfield, the madman in Bram Stoker's Dracula. In Hambly's novel, Renfield, is the central character. He is a driving force in the added action that distinguishes Renfield: Slave of Dracula from the original Dracula. Hambly also managed to add depth and character development to the original story. However, she did this without changing the storyline of Stoker's Dracula. Characters in Dracula who were given short shrift (namely Lucy's three suitors), who existed to give eccentricity (Quincey Morris) or to be effected by action (Godalming and Seward) are give more prominence and development in show more Hambly's book -- without becoming different people than they were in Dracula. I think this was a very disciplined and respectful thing for Barbara Hambly to do. And she did it very effectively. I actually developed a little crush on Quincey Morris while reading Renfield: Slave of Dracula. Not only did I enjoy the novel all the way through; I was thoroughly satisfied with the ending. I definitely reccommend this book to Dracula fans and vampire fans. show less
Hambly tells the Dracula story from the perspective of Renfield, a patient in Dr Seward's asylum. In the original novel, Renfield is a relatively minor character who is killed by Dracula after Renfield betrays him to the vapire hunters. Hambly adds a wife and child to Renfield's history and manages to keep him in the Dracula story until the end by an interesting plot twist that I really don't want to give away.
This novel is told in much the same style as Dracula, through the use of letters and journal entries, and the feel of the story is much the same as the original. Her prose is downright creepy in spots, and the plot twists keep the reader's interest, but never lose contact with the original story. My only concern is that readers show more not familiar with Stoker's original book won't get the full effect and may miss some of the story. show less
This novel is told in much the same style as Dracula, through the use of letters and journal entries, and the feel of the story is much the same as the original. Her prose is downright creepy in spots, and the plot twists keep the reader's interest, but never lose contact with the original story. My only concern is that readers show more not familiar with Stoker's original book won't get the full effect and may miss some of the story. show less
At first, I thought Renfield was going to be a retooled version of Bram Stoker's original classic, played up from the perspective of Dracula's wretched apprentice. There was even one point where I put the book aside and told my wife that I wasn't going to finish it; that I was having a hard time getting into the story. I'm glad now that I relented and finished. The book was actually very good. Hambly takes you on a Gregory Maguire-esque ride into Renfield's maddened world that will leave readers satisfied. In my opinion, the twistedness of this book ranks up there with some of horror fictions best writers. The prose was thick in places, which threw me off at first, and some literary references were lost on me, however, as the story drew show more on, these elements seemed to fade into the storyline with ease. It would be impossible to write a story such as this without drawing on the original, and the beginning is wrought with it, however, having laid the ground work, Hambly moulds the story into something I found to be very enjoyable. show less
I enjoyed this book which looked at the events described in Bram Stoker's Dracula from Renfield's, John Seward's and Van Helsing's point of view. I especially liked the interactions between Renfield and Dracula's wives.
Both a nod to the original Dracula, and an example of Barbara Hambly's excellent knack for historical fiction. Kind of overblown, but true to the genre that way.
Both a nod to the original Dracula, and an example of Barbara Hambly's excellent knack for historical fiction. Kind of overblown, but true to the genre that way.
Both a nod to the original Dracula, and an example of Barbara Hambly's excellent knack for historical fiction. Kind of overblown, but true to the genre that way.
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Author Information
Awards and Honors
Awards
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Is a retelling of
Common Knowledge
- Original title
- Renfield: Slave of Dracula
- Original publication date
- 2006
- People/Characters
- R. M. Renfield; Dracula; Lucy Westenra; Mina Murray (Wilhelmina Murray, Mina Harker); John Seward (doctor); Catherine Renfield (show all 22); Vivienne Renfield; Violet Westenra; Dr. Hennessey; Arthur Holmwood (Lord Godalming); Jonathan Harker; Abraham Van Helsing; Quincey Morris; Countess Elizabeth; Nomie; Sarike; Hardy; Langmore; Viscount Godalming; Lady Brough; Lady Georgina Clayburne; Gelhorn
- Important places
- London, England, UK; Bistrița, Romania (as Bistritz); Budapest, Hungary; Castle Dracula, Wallachia, Romania; Transylvania, Romania; Varna, Bulgaria (show all 9); Carpathian Mountains, Romania; Tihuţa Pass, Romania (as Borgo Pass); Galatz, Romania
- Dedication
- For George...With special thanks to Neil Gaiman
- First words
- R.M.R.'s notes. 20 May. 7 flies, 3 spiders. I've filled many notebook pages and scraps of paper with these daily reckonings.
- Quotations
- The blood is life. - Count Dracula
What other are you, if not the tool of my power, willing and blind? - Count Dracula
You think dark thoughts in the dark of the graveyard watch, out here on the eastern edge of the world. - Quincey P. Morris - Last words
- (Click to show. Warning: May contain spoilers.)My beloved, I will write to you when we reach Calcutta. Until that time, and always, know me to be, Forever, your loving husband, Renfield
Classifications
- Genres
- Fiction and Literature, Horror, General Fiction, Fantasy, Historical Fiction
- DDC/MDS
- 813.54 — Literature & rhetoric American literature in English American fiction in English 1900-1999 1945-1999
- LCC
- PS3558 .A4215 .R46 — Language and Literature American literature American literature Individual authors 1961-
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 338
- Popularity
- 93,373
- Reviews
- 12
- Rating
- (3.27)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 4
- ASINs
- 4
