GEEKchocolate

I have a reading policy when it comes to sci-fi and fantasy: I will not read part of a continuing trilogy or series without having read its predecessors. It just makes sense.

When Engines of the Apocalypse arrived unexpectedly for review I broke that policy – albeit unwittingly – and I have to say that I'm very glad that I did!

You see, I had never heard of the Twilight of Kerberos series. I hadn't read a review, had never heard of the tomb-raiding adventurer, Kali Hooper, and in going about my professional geeky research duties had never come across a press release for it. My first meeting with the heroes (and villains) of Twilight was when I opened the HarperCollins package.

There was no indication that this was number X of Y in a series other than a brief “Also by the same author” blurb on the back – ignoring it, I set to reading and was immediately hooked. By the time it became clear that Kali had had a previous adventure earlier in the series I didn't care.

From The Hunger, The Lost Boys and Near Dark, through to modern action romps such as Underworld and Twilight to the novels of Anne Rice, Poppy Z Brite and Barbara Hambly the vampire myth has been a pervasive staple of sci-fi and fantasy since the genre’s beginnings. Most modern interpretations on the legend see the vamps shedding their Stoker-esque Transylvanian castles and coffins for New York studio apartments, tinted-windowed sports cars and other trappings of a decadent, contemporary (un)lifestyle.

However they appeared the undead traditionally remained in the domain of fantasy horror geeks and roleplayers. But in 1998 – just 18 months after Buffy the Vampire Slayer premiered in the US – the then little known writer/director Joe Ahearne brought the genre into the UK mainstream.

Last winter I happened to be in my local library checking out something or another to do with the local MP and, as is usually the case, I stopped by the Sci-Fi/Fantasy section. This is only ever a good idea if I have nothing else to do that day as my library has a pretty impressive collection in that section.

I thumbed a few things and put them back down, and feeling pushed for time I was about to run off when a particular title caught my eye – ‘A Madness of Angels’.

I’d never heard of angels referred to collectively as ‘a madness’ before, so I picked it up, had a quick look at the blurb, and checked it out. I’m glad I did.