Peeps: Vampires Who Do More than Just Whine

Spike's so awesome he's even a BAMF pumpkin.

As a Buffy fan, my favorite character was Spike. Not because of my penchant for blonds and accents (though that helped-- never believe that that didn't help) but rather because he seemed to be the only character that didn't spend all of his time bemoaning his life. Everyone else was all "Oh, woe is me, my entire existence is crap!" and Spike was all "Um, okay, yeah, while you're doing that Imma have sex with your girlfriend and drink all your booze. Wanker."

I respect that in a vampire. Action, not emo. Which is why Peeps, the first part of my Karyn-Assigned-Homework (hereafter known as KAH) is awesome.



A 19 year old loses his virginity and instead of just having a walk of shame the next morning he finds himself craving red meat, hearing things no one else can hear, smelling things no one else can smell, and accidentally infecting all of his subsequent girlfriends with Vampirism. (He feels really bad about it, though. Practice safe sex, kids. It'll keep you and the villagers you'll feed on alive.)

But instead of moping or whining or sparkling, Cal takes action. Because Cal is awesome, from Texas, and a real man. Does he cry and moan? No! He gets a cat and an apartment and a job, my friends-- a calling in life. Cal takes action, kicks ass, and takes names. (All while being adorably, sympathetically clueless.)  

When you Google Image "You're
gross" this pops up.  Total coincidence.

So now Cal is parasite-positive (a "peep". Get it? Get it?) and works for a secret Manhattan-based organization tracking down other peeps, running around in sewers, and generally being awesome and going on gross tirades about the various parasites that exist in our world today, in our brains, and in Howler monkeys. By giving so many examples of how parasites have encouraged evolution, integrated themselves into our lives, and keep entire ecosystems from going caput, Scott Westerfield (that's the author-- did I mention that?) makes it not only fascinating aside from the vampirism, but almost reasonable that vampires exist.

Also, you get a whole new appreciation for how gross you are. Seriously. You're gross. Go wash your hands right now, plz.

Overall, an awesome book. There's a second one in the series that I need to track down and read, but until then it stands on its own as pretty cool. Approved for consumption.

Next up, "Tithe" by Holly Black. There are fairies in this one. Sweet.