-- I read a book called "Silk" and rather liked it, but I can't remember the last name of the writer. Caitlin C-something.

Caitlin Kiernan, maybe? I read that: it creeped me out and I adored it.

I read a book called "Silk" and rather liked it, but I can't remember the last name of the writer. Caitlin C-something. Gosh, that was a couple of years ago -- I can't remember if it was explicitly about vampires or more about psychic vamps.

Silk, by Caitlin R. Kiernan. No vampires, but plenty spooky due to manifestations of urban spider spirits. (twitch, twitch, twitch)

Caitlin is an *exceptional* writer; the only quibble I ever have with her work is that she is completely incapable of writing anything "happy". Creepy, evocative, spooky, delirious? Yes. Happy? No.

That's it! Thanks.

I know I don't have that book anymore; I think I lent it to my sister. I'll have to find it again.

I read the novel "Carrion Comfort" awhile back. I remember thinking it would have been a much better book if it had been edited down by at least a quarter. I'll have to look up the novella. Can anybody tell me where I might find it?

I like Poppy Z. Brite, but found "Exquisite Corpse" too icky for me. It seemed that she delved into the depths of depravity just for the sake of shock. Maybe that was the point, but I didn't find the story gripping, which probably means she didn't do her magic and make me identify with gay Asian youth and serial killers. So I never re-read it, and that book went off to the used bookstore with a lot of unloved other books.

For vampire stories, I'm also fond of Suzy McKee Charnas' The Vampire Tapestry (may be too science fictional and not horrific enough for the rest of you, though), George R.R. Martin's Fevre Dream (vampires on Mississippi steamboats), Richard Aickmann's "Pages from the Diary of a Young Girl" (very traditional, but exquisite writing), Joanna Russ' "My Dear Emily--" (which may very well be a response to the latter, I only realized while writing this sentence), and Fritz Leiber's "The Girl with the Hungry Eyes."

For someone who doesn't think of herself as a fan of vampire novels, I seem to have read a lot of them.

Richard Aickmann's "Pages from the Diary of a Young Girl" (very traditional, but exquisite writing),

Where would I find this?

I really liked Fevre Dream. I should unearth it from my shelves and re-read it.

I got the title slightly wrong: It's "Pages from a Young Girl's Journal." I think the easiest place to find it (still in print, also likely to be in libraries) is Alan Ryan's Penguin Book of Vampire Stories. Oh! Which also has the Fritz Leiber, one of the novellas that makes up The Vampire Tapestry, and C.L. Moore's "Shambleau," which I love with a mad passion. And really lovely romantic vampire story called "Bite Me Not; or Fleur-de-Feu" by Tanith Lee.

It doesn't have Jane Yolen's "Mama Gone," which is another terrific vampire short story, about grief.

Alan Ryan's Penguin Book of Vampire Stories.

I can't remember if I have this collection or not. I'll check when I get home.

Fevre Dream was wonderful. Then again, George R.R. Martin generally is.

and C.L. Moore's "Shambleau," which I love with a mad passion.

I sent Teppy a collection of all of C.L. Moore's Northwest Smith stories. Best exotic gothic space adventure stories ever!