Shila reviewed on 12/5/2009

The Secret History of Vampires is Daw's latest anthology. The premise of the anthology is to take very real historical events, and very real historical figures, and show the vampires lurking behind the curtains, shaping events. Thirteen stories follow this winding path and arrive at very different destinations, all of which are unique and intriguing.

The quality of the writing and the stories in this anthology is amazing. Usually, in multi-author works at least one or two tales that lack the quality of the others. This is not the case here. Each and every story is phenomenal, worthy of being reread time and again. The complete list of stories follow:
** Under St. Peter's by Harry Turtledove
** Two Hunters in Manhattan by Mike Resnick
** Smoke and Mirrors by P.D. Cacek
** Garbo Quits by Ron Goulart
** Blood of Dreams by Sarah A Hoyt
** A Princess of Spain by Carrie Vaughn
** Harpy by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro
** Honored Be Her Name by John Betancourt and Darrell Schweitzer
** Ill-Met in Ilium by Gregory Frost
** The Temptation of Saint Anthony by Brian Stableford
** Bohemian Rhapsody by Ian Watson
** Green Wallpaper by Tanith Lee
** Sepulchers of the Undead by Keith Taylor

All of the stories are original and creative. I personally love Two Hunters in Manhattan because it is about Teddy Roosevelt, and Harpy about Dracula and an improvised family in ancient Greece.

I would recommend this to anyone who loves vampires, alternative history, actual history, anthologies, or anyone who loves a great book. This will be a wonderful addition to any collection, and a purchase you'll be happy you made.

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