The first time I ever read F. Paul Wilson, in the early eighties, it was the quasi Vampire novel, The Keep. Although the antagonist of that book wasn't truly a Vampire, The Keep read like a vampire novel.(and a very good one at that)
Well Wilson decided he would write another Vampire novel and Midnight Mass is the result of that endeavor. Now Wilson thinks there aren't any redeeming qualities in Vampires, citing the fact that some authors romanticize even glorify the bloodsuckers in their recitals. With that in mind Wilson has written a book about Vampires as the merciless, venal, malevolent creatures they are supposed to be.
MIDNIGHT MASS
Plot
They came out of the East, starting shortly after the fall of the Iron Curtain. They were unstoppable overrunning country after country killing millions, no billions or converting people into nocturnal monsters. Now they were entrenched in the East coast of America. They had a method, convert the religious and secular leadership, convert them and make resistance seem hopeless, they had a plan, transform all humans at first to a point of saturation, then using them only as food or breeding, harvesting at will. The Vampires also had allies, they left some of the lowlives and dreck alive to watch over them and seek out new victims during daylight, this unholy vanguard are called the "cowboys but, the Vampires the have a vulnerability.
The Story
The Vampires certainly seem invincible but in a small New Jersey town an unlikely cadre of citizens are fighting back, a pinprick at first but gradually a ripple. Meet Father Joe - a disgraced priest, Sister Carole - a one woman vigilante, Rabbi Zev - a rabbi with a cross, and Lacey - the feisty niece of Father Joe. Together and with the help of the congregation, they take back Father Joe's church, St Anthony, which the vampires, and cowboys, had taken over and made into a grisly, macabre, killing Temple.
In addition cowboys are being killed and displayed upside down from trees or telephone poles and even a couple Vampires including one of the strongest has been dispatched
In the overall plan of the Vampires, this little rebellion seems insignificant but they thrive on fear and no dissension can be tolerated, so help is sent from New York Vampire headquarters to stem the unrest.
Conclusion
I'll admit I'm a little ambivalent about Midnight Mass. F. Paul Wilson is one of probably my three or four favorite authors. I have read every book he has written including the inscrutable end of the Adversary series, Nightworld - which is mysteriously not in publication - so I tend to be favorably inclined toward the good doctor but I do have some issues with this book.
Good
The Wilson writing style is still there, so the story is very accessible and understandable. His writing is also fluid and a pleasure to read. There are no unnecessary use of large words which the average Joe would have to look up. The story as a whole flows well and is fast paced. The book itself, at three hundred and thirty-two pages is short in this day and age of word processing and there are no dead or boring chapters.
Bad
Where I thought the book fell short was the premise of the book itself. I found it a little incredulous why or how legions of malevolent creatures would descend on the West from the East, as Gengis Khan or Tamerlane did centuries prior, merely because of the collapse of the Soviet Empire.
There was no explanation of how this event precipitated such an invasion nor of what was keeping them from doing so sooner. It was like they were hibernating or metamophosing. Any reasonable explanation would have been welcome.
Another thing I didn't like was, the Vampires were ruthless, yet their servants, the cowboys, from whom they depended on for daytime protection, seemed less than efficient, in some cases screw ups.
Overall
First, this is a good book and if you can discount my aversion to origin of the plot, I think you might like Midnight Mass. No it's not a classic but it is enjoyable, nonetheless, for fans of tongue in cheek horror plus a sequel may be forthcoming. I found the book to be innovative and the Vampires vulnerability well thought out. I enjoyed this book quite a bit, therefore it is deserving of a Final Rating of low four stars / high three stars rounded to four stars because of the author.
Midnight Mass
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They make an unlikely fifth column: a disgraced priest, a bomb-making nun, a cross-wearing rabbi, and a lesbian atheist. But desperate times call for desperate alliances, and these are most certainly desperate times. You see, the undead have pretty much won. They've taken Europe, the Mid East, and most of Asia. They crossed the ocean and turned the US government. They've consolidated their hold on the East Coast and are honing their plans for the rest of the country. The survivors exist in fear and isolation, with no one to rally to. Until Father Joe Cahill decides to take back his old desecrated church and say mass again. Just once.Publisher's Note:This full-length novel is over 400 pages long and set in the same world as the F. Paul Wilson novella of the same title that was published by Pulphouse over a decade ago. Lavishly illustrated by Harry O. Morris with dustjacket, endpaper, and interior artwork, and limited to just 448 copies, this Limited Edition won't last long!From the Author's Note:"Midnight Mass was born out of my dissatisfaction with the tortured romantic aesthetes who have been passing lately for vampires. Stephen King gave us the real deal in 'Salem's Lot, but what gives since then? I wanted to get back to roots--go retro, if you will--and write about the soulless, merciless, parasitic creatures we all knew and loved."
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