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Vampire Hunter D #4
Vampire Hunter D Volume 4: Tale of the Dead Town
When a floating city becomes the target of a rash of vampire attacks, only one man can restore the oasis.
"The City," a tiny metropolis of a few hundred sheltered citizens floating serenely on a seemingly random course a few feet above the ground, has long been thought safe from the predation of marauding monsters. It seemed like a paradise.
A paradise shattered when an invasion of apparent vampires threatens the small haven. While the Vampire Hunter known only as "D" struggles to exterminate the scourge, a former denizen of the city, the attractive Raleigh Knight, and the brash John M. Brassalli Pluto VIII seize control of the city lurching it onto a new and deadly course. D's travails are just beginning.
201 pages, Paperback
First published January 31, 1986
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 59 reviews
August 2, 2021
This installment grabs the creative cognitive gears of sci-fi fantasy. Volume four of Vampire Hunter D, Tale of the Dead Town will leave readers in aweÌý by it's closing. This particular story is unique in many ways. There are so many new and fresh ideas introduced into Hideyuki’s world of gothic horror. An aimless floating city harbors a new terror, vampire of course, and D is conveniently right there to answer the summons. The mayor is in distress, his daughter has been attacked, and the people of thus isolated town fear the dahmpir. New villains and heroes are introduced, all equipped with new special attacks and skills that won't leave you bored. Trying not to dive to deep into this one, but the most promising aspect of this book is its setting.
Tale of the Dead Town is unique in its own right. The town floats along the frontier, so many feet off the ground to protect its citizens from the dangers of the world around them. As seen in other novels, the frontier is no place for the weary, and so the citizens are more than willing to listen to their beloved mayor Ming who seems to hold all the cards. Does he really care for the people, or is there some other motive? Most are convinced. The town is SAFE. There is no need to LEAVE. But the horrors that really await the town are far more disturbing then one can imagine.
In some ways, one could that Science and Setting are the antagonists of this particular novel. And what a fun, harrowing experience it is!
As for D, he has always been incredible with his sword, but in this volume, his skills are upped a notch yet again. Can D really split lightning with his sword?! Incredible.
5 out of 5 stars.
F. D. Gross
Tale of the Dead Town is unique in its own right. The town floats along the frontier, so many feet off the ground to protect its citizens from the dangers of the world around them. As seen in other novels, the frontier is no place for the weary, and so the citizens are more than willing to listen to their beloved mayor Ming who seems to hold all the cards. Does he really care for the people, or is there some other motive? Most are convinced. The town is SAFE. There is no need to LEAVE. But the horrors that really await the town are far more disturbing then one can imagine.
In some ways, one could that Science and Setting are the antagonists of this particular novel. And what a fun, harrowing experience it is!
As for D, he has always been incredible with his sword, but in this volume, his skills are upped a notch yet again. Can D really split lightning with his sword?! Incredible.
5 out of 5 stars.
F. D. Gross
October 7, 2022
A floating metropolis with no destination in mind shelters a few hundred citizens wishing to be separated from the deadly affairs of the surface world. The place has long been free from the dangers of marauding monsters and criminal assaults. That all changes when a vampire seems to have infiltrated and tainted the seemingly peaceful town from within. Is it truly a floating paradise, or is it a dead town with dark secrets waiting to be uncovered? With the unexpected help of a scientist's daughter named Raleigh, the sly Doctor Tsurugi and the wild vagabond hunter known by his exotic alias John M. Brassalli Pluto VIII, D unravels the twisted secrets of the town and they're more dreadful than even he was prepared for.
This addition of the Vampire Hunter D saga was a bit all over the place with all of its jumping around in the air. It starts off more engaging and interesting than the other three, but it has trouble focusing on a single thing at a time. Constant enemy ambushes, town infighting, monster invasions, squabbling side characters and a bunch of whacky subplots going on all at once. While it did have trouble keeping my focus at times, the ending wraps everything up together surprisingly nicely, giving the main villain good motivations, a big twist with a secondary villain and some nice callbacks to some of D's past clients from previous books. Having a whole action horror thriller set in a floating haunted town in the sky was also really cool.
The action was good, the comedy was handled better and the world building is still extremely interesting. I liked the banter between D and John and also enjoyed having John as an unpredictable wild card character that constantly had the potential to steer the plot and circumstances any which way.
My rating: 3.7/5
This addition of the Vampire Hunter D saga was a bit all over the place with all of its jumping around in the air. It starts off more engaging and interesting than the other three, but it has trouble focusing on a single thing at a time. Constant enemy ambushes, town infighting, monster invasions, squabbling side characters and a bunch of whacky subplots going on all at once. While it did have trouble keeping my focus at times, the ending wraps everything up together surprisingly nicely, giving the main villain good motivations, a big twist with a secondary villain and some nice callbacks to some of D's past clients from previous books. Having a whole action horror thriller set in a floating haunted town in the sky was also really cool.
The action was good, the comedy was handled better and the world building is still extremely interesting. I liked the banter between D and John and also enjoyed having John as an unpredictable wild card character that constantly had the potential to steer the plot and circumstances any which way.
My rating: 3.7/5
October 11, 2011
Folks, I give you Mr. John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII (yes, really).
...So, that happened.
Anyway! I don't know if it's improving, or if I'm just growing numb to the terrible writing, but the prose in this one seemed marginally better than the previous two that I read (v.1 and v.2). Also, this one was blessedly free of rape. If my memory does not fail me, there weren't even any rape attempts! Or even idle threats of rape! MIRACULOUS. Which isn't to say it did particularly well by its one vaguely significant lady character, but hey, small favors.
D stopped in his tracks. As he slowly turned, Pluto VIII must've sensed something in the Hunter's face, and, giving a cry of surprise, the biker leapt back a good ten feet. "Didn't I tell you not to look at me all serious like that? Just thinking about that mug of yours gives me a powerful urge to jerk off, you know. At this rate, I'm liable to fall in love with you if you don't watch it."
...So, that happened.
Anyway! I don't know if it's improving, or if I'm just growing numb to the terrible writing, but the prose in this one seemed marginally better than the previous two that I read (v.1 and v.2). Also, this one was blessedly free of rape. If my memory does not fail me, there weren't even any rape attempts! Or even idle threats of rape! MIRACULOUS. Which isn't to say it did particularly well by its one vaguely significant lady character, but hey, small favors.
November 5, 2021
This was the worst in the series so far in my opinion. Although I appreciate the attempt to make a more detective version of D, he didn't quite make the sherlock holmes cut. He kind of goes from place to place and he doesn't seem to solve anything before it's too late. The character Pluto VIII does his job better than him. Largely the story was boring because of this and only the final chapter was of significant interest with all of the revelations. But the payoff wasn't quite there for me. Like I said, D doesn't really accomplish his goal and for some reason allows the mayor to continue on in his maniacal ways.
July 12, 2024
Den er rimelig cool, ligesom alle de forgående Vampire Hunter D bøger nu en gang er. I mine øjne ikke den stærkeste indtil videre, men stadig rigtig god. Der er har før været elementer af "detektiv bog" i serien (ret meget i #2), men den her er klart den mest "detektiv bog" af bøgerne indtil videre(jeg tror genren enlig hedder krimi, men det føles ikke som det rigtige ord, for det er mere klassisk i udtrykket). Selvom jeg normalt ikke er den største fan af detektiv bøger (forstiller jeg mig, har aldrig læst en) gør det ikke noget når detektiven er D (det er hovedpersonen, en halv vampyr vampyr-jæger der hedder D, han er cool)
October 3, 2017
but with vampires.
It's been established in previous books thatDrathe Sacred Ancestor spent much of his existence conducting strange and mysterious experiments. And I'm surprised he kept doing it, because almost all of them ended not just in failure, but in hilarious and tragic failure. As soon as the mayor of the town mentioned that a strange man had appeared in town two hundred years ago and told him about something, I knew that 1) the man was Dracula, 2) he was trying another experiment, and 3) everything was going to end badly. And I was right on all counts. No one said these books were full of mysterious plot twists.
The titular dead town is a floating city that travels faster than a horse a few feet above the ground, thus making it safe from most of the dangers of the Frontier. But somehow, a Noble made its way on board the city and the mayor's daughter has been attacked! Thus, the mayor hires D to figure out the problem and investigate the situation. But maybe the dead town is the other floating city that attacks the first city while it is traveling. Or maybe it's also the ruins of the Nobility that the floating city passes over at the end of the book? No, I think it's the first floating city because everyone turns into vampires.
Much like Raiser of Gales, the Sacred Ancestor is always trying to find a way to improve the Nobility and prevent their inexplicable decline. And much like Raiser of Gales, it doesn't work right. Here, we learn something that's pretty obvious, which is that being turned into a Noble induces personality changes and generally makes a person into a monster. Maybe it's the hideous bloodlust, maybe it's some kind of hormonal change, and maybe it's because the Nobility are literally creatures of the night, but only the best, strongest, most beautiful, most $SUPERLATIVE of the Nobility can resist its effects. He tells the mayor of the floating town about his experiments, and the mayor conceives of the idea...what if it was possible to be a Noble without the cruelty? To live forever, to heal from all injuries, to be stronger and faster and better than any mortal? Wouldn't that be a wonderful gift to humanity?
Sure it would, if it worked. It never works, and it doesn't work here either. And as for what happens, well, I refer again to the title of the book.
It did seem like the superlatives were turned down a bit from previous books. Often something is done in less than a second, or less than a minute, or D kills fifty people before a man can blink, but the thing about superlatives is that if everything is the greatest or fastest or most beautiful X, then it all becomes background noise. The one that did stand out to me only did because it was even more superlative than the other superlatives:
I was going to write "why are they worried about dhampirs if those are the statistics?" but that would be stupid. They're worried because they're dhampirs. Even ignoring how bad humans are at statistics and how we like to generalize single incidents out into stereotypes, humanity was ruled by literal vampires for millennia. That...
Well, actually, it obviously didn't make that much of an impression, considering the mayor's plan.
I knocked off a star for the ending, which I thought was much too rushed and left too many unanswered questions. What happens with the vampire disease? D is moving on, but is the town really just going to keep going? Wait, the mayor is a cyborg? Couldn't we have a few more pages to deal with this? I know the Vampire Hunter D books are pulp, but I would have liked a bit more of a foundation for the ending rather than just seeming to want to resolve things too quickly.
Previous Review: Demon Deathchase.
Next Review: Stuff of Dreams.
It's been established in previous books that
The titular dead town is a floating city that travels faster than a horse a few feet above the ground, thus making it safe from most of the dangers of the Frontier. But somehow, a Noble made its way on board the city and the mayor's daughter has been attacked! Thus, the mayor hires D to figure out the problem and investigate the situation. But maybe the dead town is the other floating city that attacks the first city while it is traveling. Or maybe it's also the ruins of the Nobility that the floating city passes over at the end of the book? No, I think it's the first floating city because everyone turns into vampires.
Much like Raiser of Gales, the Sacred Ancestor is always trying to find a way to improve the Nobility and prevent their inexplicable decline. And much like Raiser of Gales, it doesn't work right. Here, we learn something that's pretty obvious, which is that being turned into a Noble induces personality changes and generally makes a person into a monster. Maybe it's the hideous bloodlust, maybe it's some kind of hormonal change, and maybe it's because the Nobility are literally creatures of the night, but only the best, strongest, most beautiful, most $SUPERLATIVE of the Nobility can resist its effects. He tells the mayor of the floating town about his experiments, and the mayor conceives of the idea...what if it was possible to be a Noble without the cruelty? To live forever, to heal from all injuries, to be stronger and faster and better than any mortal? Wouldn't that be a wonderful gift to humanity?
Sure it would, if it worked. It never works, and it doesn't work here either. And as for what happens, well, I refer again to the title of the book.
It did seem like the superlatives were turned down a bit from previous books. Often something is done in less than a second, or less than a minute, or D kills fifty people before a man can blink, but the thing about superlatives is that if everything is the greatest or fastest or most beautiful X, then it all becomes background noise. The one that did stand out to me only did because it was even more superlative than the other superlatives:
"I happen to have the latest statistics. The proportion of dhampirs who’ve caused that sort of tragedy while on the job is no more than one twenty-thousandth of a percent."Calculating that out, that's only one in two million. How many dhampirs are there in the world, that they can determine statistics that precisely?
I was going to write "why are they worried about dhampirs if those are the statistics?" but that would be stupid. They're worried because they're dhampirs. Even ignoring how bad humans are at statistics and how we like to generalize single incidents out into stereotypes, humanity was ruled by literal vampires for millennia. That...
Well, actually, it obviously didn't make that much of an impression, considering the mayor's plan.
I knocked off a star for the ending, which I thought was much too rushed and left too many unanswered questions. What happens with the vampire disease? D is moving on, but is the town really just going to keep going? Wait, the mayor is a cyborg? Couldn't we have a few more pages to deal with this? I know the Vampire Hunter D books are pulp, but I would have liked a bit more of a foundation for the ending rather than just seeming to want to resolve things too quickly.
Previous Review: Demon Deathchase.
Next Review: Stuff of Dreams.
June 2, 2012
his novel was a bit different than the first and third novel which I enjoyed a lot. The second book was a bit different. When I say different I say about the way the tales are told. Some are works have become less descriptive and more action-driven. To me it's not always that good. This is a rich world and it's a shame that we are losing it. These novel begins as D saves a woman (not so different as all other novels) and meeting an "ally" as he journey to his next job in a floating city. There he will find that things are not always what they seem to be. The story is quite straightforward. A vampire (or two) is stalking the city but they are of a different breed as they need blood to survive they have other qualities different from the noble vampires. As the tale follows the detective D he finds some hidden secrets by some of the characters. In all the tale there isn't anyone capable of harming D (as in the previous novels). I enjoyed Pluto VIII (the "ally" of D) and in the end I was pleased by the tale.
Criticisms
- There are always a young girl needing rescue
- The movie-script look alike. This upsets me. The first novel didn't appear that way but this is something I am currently facing in latter novels.
- The long chapters. (not that big criticism)
- Maybe is just the translation but some bits are quite odd to decipher what a heck is happening.
- Vampire Hunter D; our hero is quite a character. Is anyone capable of defeating him? Is any character in all next novels capable of making him sweat a little? Godlike.
Good
- Vampire Hunter D: The Hero is quite an amazing "super-hero". All it's power and his talking hand (should appear more) and the feelings of other vampires and humans have around him. (This is the good part the bad part is explained above)
- The Setting & World: The setting of this series is amazing. With each book we get more info about Kikuchi view on the Frontier in the world he created and contributed with 33 novels and half a dozen short stories this world is getting better.
- The postscript: The author himself writes a postscript in the end of each novel that gives us some information about how this world came to be. Not particulary about the novel but the motifs and the why's. It's quite good.
- Yoshitaka Amano drawings are always great. Specially the covers.
Conclusion
This was my fourth book of Vampire Hunter D and as I said before the setting is amazing but this tale lacks more information about the world, nobility or even D. I was pleased with the tale and I will continue reading the novels but I am not happy where the tales are going. If you are a fun of Vampire Hunter D first novel then read these one but if you are new don't begin here. If you enjoy Vampires I would also advice you to read these novels. Maybe I will try reading another kind of book by Kikuchi.
Manga novel (released by DMP). Illustrated by Saiko Takaki.
This manga was as the previous ones... weak. As I read the novel I was floaping the pages so I could "see" the action. In those strange and confusing parts I saw the Manga to fill me in. In the next novel I won't have these companion book. But either way; in my opinion, it was not as good as the novel.
Criticisms
- There are always a young girl needing rescue
- The movie-script look alike. This upsets me. The first novel didn't appear that way but this is something I am currently facing in latter novels.
- The long chapters. (not that big criticism)
- Maybe is just the translation but some bits are quite odd to decipher what a heck is happening.
- Vampire Hunter D; our hero is quite a character. Is anyone capable of defeating him? Is any character in all next novels capable of making him sweat a little? Godlike.
Good
- Vampire Hunter D: The Hero is quite an amazing "super-hero". All it's power and his talking hand (should appear more) and the feelings of other vampires and humans have around him. (This is the good part the bad part is explained above)
- The Setting & World: The setting of this series is amazing. With each book we get more info about Kikuchi view on the Frontier in the world he created and contributed with 33 novels and half a dozen short stories this world is getting better.
- The postscript: The author himself writes a postscript in the end of each novel that gives us some information about how this world came to be. Not particulary about the novel but the motifs and the why's. It's quite good.
- Yoshitaka Amano drawings are always great. Specially the covers.
Conclusion
This was my fourth book of Vampire Hunter D and as I said before the setting is amazing but this tale lacks more information about the world, nobility or even D. I was pleased with the tale and I will continue reading the novels but I am not happy where the tales are going. If you are a fun of Vampire Hunter D first novel then read these one but if you are new don't begin here. If you enjoy Vampires I would also advice you to read these novels. Maybe I will try reading another kind of book by Kikuchi.
Manga novel (released by DMP). Illustrated by Saiko Takaki.
This manga was as the previous ones... weak. As I read the novel I was floaping the pages so I could "see" the action. In those strange and confusing parts I saw the Manga to fill me in. In the next novel I won't have these companion book. But either way; in my opinion, it was not as good as the novel.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 7, 2020
3.5 Stars
I didn't like this one quite as much as previous volumes but it was still good. There's a floating city with a vampire running loose, but, of course, there's a lot more to the story. The cast of characters wasn't quite as strong as previous volumes.
Still a great series, looking forward to the next volume.
I didn't like this one quite as much as previous volumes but it was still good. There's a floating city with a vampire running loose, but, of course, there's a lot more to the story. The cast of characters wasn't quite as strong as previous volumes.
Still a great series, looking forward to the next volume.
September 20, 2024
That's crazy man.
Hey Pluto what was that about jacking off to D? Can you repeat that part? It just seemed like an odd thing to say out loud, directly at someone.
Hey Pluto what was that about jacking off to D? Can you repeat that part? It just seemed like an odd thing to say out loud, directly at someone.
January 16, 2023
Content warnings: violence, gore, talking carbuncle, blood, weather disaster
In this volume, Vampire Hunter D stumbles upon a biker and a family that’s been eliminated by radiation poisoning with only a teenager surviving. Things only get stranger from there when the new trio make their way to a literal wandering village inhabited by several thousand people. The mayor has some specific problems with Nobility, but the poisoned family’s home might have the key to all the goings-on.
The mystery here can literally only happen in the world of the Frontier. There’s science that feels like magic and fantasy that is ripped straight from horror. The architecture and depiction of the moving town is also something really rad. There’s allusions to the mechanisms that are firmly rooted in 90’s-style sci-fi, with a rudimentary understanding of computer and cyberpunk mechanics. It’s present enough to give the genre’s grounding, but not so much that not knowing the specifics will interrupt immersion. The intrigue driving the story is also deeply human, where the reasons behind the town’s ailments perfectly map to “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.�
I won’t go into specifics, but if medical horror is your jam, you’re going to be well-fed.
In this volume, Vampire Hunter D stumbles upon a biker and a family that’s been eliminated by radiation poisoning with only a teenager surviving. Things only get stranger from there when the new trio make their way to a literal wandering village inhabited by several thousand people. The mayor has some specific problems with Nobility, but the poisoned family’s home might have the key to all the goings-on.
The mystery here can literally only happen in the world of the Frontier. There’s science that feels like magic and fantasy that is ripped straight from horror. The architecture and depiction of the moving town is also something really rad. There’s allusions to the mechanisms that are firmly rooted in 90’s-style sci-fi, with a rudimentary understanding of computer and cyberpunk mechanics. It’s present enough to give the genre’s grounding, but not so much that not knowing the specifics will interrupt immersion. The intrigue driving the story is also deeply human, where the reasons behind the town’s ailments perfectly map to “the road to hell is paved with good intentions.�
I won’t go into specifics, but if medical horror is your jam, you’re going to be well-fed.
November 23, 2022
all reviews in one place: ;
About the Book: A traveling city, entire metropolis, on an unknown course, and a very strict policy for boarding it or leaving, that almost left D on the other side of the door, except� Against all odds, they have found themselves in need of a vampire hunter, better still if one’s as skilled as D, for who or what could possibly hide here, where every citizen can easily be accounted for?
My Opinion: If I haven’t warned you yet, let me do so now: do not play a drinking game where you take a shot every time D’s described as gorgeous, you will end up in the hospital. Other than this annoying flaw that continues through all of the books, the story was pretty good. An interesting concept of a traveling town, where motion and walls were meant to keep everyone safe from what’s outside. But a single threat on the inside of the walls has turned it into a death trap.
About the Book: A traveling city, entire metropolis, on an unknown course, and a very strict policy for boarding it or leaving, that almost left D on the other side of the door, except� Against all odds, they have found themselves in need of a vampire hunter, better still if one’s as skilled as D, for who or what could possibly hide here, where every citizen can easily be accounted for?
My Opinion: If I haven’t warned you yet, let me do so now: do not play a drinking game where you take a shot every time D’s described as gorgeous, you will end up in the hospital. Other than this annoying flaw that continues through all of the books, the story was pretty good. An interesting concept of a traveling town, where motion and walls were meant to keep everyone safe from what’s outside. But a single threat on the inside of the walls has turned it into a death trap.
September 2, 2022
Today's post is on Vampire Hunter D: Tale of the Dead Town by Hideyuki Kikuchi and art by Yoshitaka Amano. It is 167 pages long and is published by Dark Horse Published. The cover is a close up illustration of D. The intended reader is someone who likes dystopian, horror novels. As it is the fourth novel in the series, it would be helpful to have read the first three novels for context. There is some mild foul language, mild sexuality, and violence in this novel. The story is told from third person god perspective. There Be Spoilers Ahead.
From the back of the book- When vampires attack a floating city, only one man can save paradise.
The City, a tiny metropolis of a new hundred sheltered citizens floating serenely on a seemingly random course a few feet above the ground, has long been thought safe from the predation of marauding monsters. It seems like a paradise.
A paradise shattered when an invasion of apparent vampires threatens the small haven. While the Vampire Hunter known only as "D" struggles to exterminate the scourge, a former denizen of the City, the attractive Lori Knight, and the brash John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII seize control of the City, lurching it onto a new and deadly course. D's travails are just beginning.
Review- This is a very fast paced novel with a lot of characters and the reader gets to see a newish side of D, during his interactions with others. It starts with D helping Pluto and Knight fight off some beasts on the frontier. They head to the floating city where somehow a vampire has gotten on board and is feeding on the citizens. This is the first novel that directly references any of the previous novels, the girl from the first novel and what is learn about the Scared Ancestor from the third novel. The plot is more than just find the vampire with all the characters in this novel. From Pluto with his strange body jumping ability to the doctor who has some strange fighting training, there is more than just what the reader has gotten from the previous novels. I hope that future novels are done more in this style.
I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
From the back of the book- When vampires attack a floating city, only one man can save paradise.
The City, a tiny metropolis of a new hundred sheltered citizens floating serenely on a seemingly random course a few feet above the ground, has long been thought safe from the predation of marauding monsters. It seems like a paradise.
A paradise shattered when an invasion of apparent vampires threatens the small haven. While the Vampire Hunter known only as "D" struggles to exterminate the scourge, a former denizen of the City, the attractive Lori Knight, and the brash John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII seize control of the City, lurching it onto a new and deadly course. D's travails are just beginning.
Review- This is a very fast paced novel with a lot of characters and the reader gets to see a newish side of D, during his interactions with others. It starts with D helping Pluto and Knight fight off some beasts on the frontier. They head to the floating city where somehow a vampire has gotten on board and is feeding on the citizens. This is the first novel that directly references any of the previous novels, the girl from the first novel and what is learn about the Scared Ancestor from the third novel. The plot is more than just find the vampire with all the characters in this novel. From Pluto with his strange body jumping ability to the doctor who has some strange fighting training, there is more than just what the reader has gotten from the previous novels. I hope that future novels are done more in this style.
I give this novel a Four out of Five stars. I get nothing for my review and I bought this novel with my own money.
January 5, 2015
I get so conflicted with these novels. The ideas are amazing, but the execution and the language... are so bad.
On the way to a job in a town, D sees a caravan that has been attacked. He kills the creatures, but the girl has been exposed to leaking radiation from the engine. Another traveller, a biker has stopped to help, and he goes by the mouthful of a name of John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII and he insists that you use the full name.
D is hired by an automated floating town. Imagine that? A town; with an industrial district, streets, houses, pubs, schools, and land to grow crops, all set out on a massive nuclear platform that allows it to power along, moving seemingly randomly around the countryside. It even has room for a graveyard and a park with a fountain.
This process has been going on for hundreds of years. Some people here are oddly long lived, others are physically huge, and they have even made a medicine to combat inbreeding. But the Mayor has a problem; there is a vampire in town and he has hired the dhampir to deal with it.
D brings the girl to the town; they have to let both his guests in even though they are not pleased to do so. The doctor turns out to be an expert in martial arts. Dr Tsurugi tries to help, but too many people are terrified of dhampirs. The girl, Lori Knight, turns out to be part of a family that was thrown out of the town.
D starts his investigation at their old home. It has been left abandoned, which is odd with space so limited.
The doctor finds that the vampirism is spread by infection; it is a disease not a bite. But who could have made such a thing? And then he discovers the Knights were chemists.
*
There are battles with pirate-controlled automated towns, a plague of vampires, attacks from above, sand vipers, and someone who can turn incorporeal, possess other bodies and harry D’s every act.
Interestingly, for the first time, they talk of the way D’s incredible beauty works on both men and women. Pluto VIII complains that if he keeps looking at him like that, he will have to jerk off. I snorted.
But, as always, he rides off alone on his cyborg horse with the demon on his left palm, for his next adventure.
On the way to a job in a town, D sees a caravan that has been attacked. He kills the creatures, but the girl has been exposed to leaking radiation from the engine. Another traveller, a biker has stopped to help, and he goes by the mouthful of a name of John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII and he insists that you use the full name.
D is hired by an automated floating town. Imagine that? A town; with an industrial district, streets, houses, pubs, schools, and land to grow crops, all set out on a massive nuclear platform that allows it to power along, moving seemingly randomly around the countryside. It even has room for a graveyard and a park with a fountain.
This process has been going on for hundreds of years. Some people here are oddly long lived, others are physically huge, and they have even made a medicine to combat inbreeding. But the Mayor has a problem; there is a vampire in town and he has hired the dhampir to deal with it.
D brings the girl to the town; they have to let both his guests in even though they are not pleased to do so. The doctor turns out to be an expert in martial arts. Dr Tsurugi tries to help, but too many people are terrified of dhampirs. The girl, Lori Knight, turns out to be part of a family that was thrown out of the town.
D starts his investigation at their old home. It has been left abandoned, which is odd with space so limited.
The doctor finds that the vampirism is spread by infection; it is a disease not a bite. But who could have made such a thing? And then he discovers the Knights were chemists.
*
There are battles with pirate-controlled automated towns, a plague of vampires, attacks from above, sand vipers, and someone who can turn incorporeal, possess other bodies and harry D’s every act.
Interestingly, for the first time, they talk of the way D’s incredible beauty works on both men and women. Pluto VIII complains that if he keeps looking at him like that, he will have to jerk off. I snorted.
But, as always, he rides off alone on his cyborg horse with the demon on his left palm, for his next adventure.
December 5, 2012
**Warning! This review contains spoilers**
D finds himself on a drifting town where there is something sinister happening behind the scenes.
Mr. Kikuchi has taken me on a wild adventure with the dangerously beautiful Vampire Hunter D, yet again. This tale read as a mystery story to me. The characters were colorful, and in my case likable. Even D’s frenemies (friend-enemy) appealed to my better nature.
John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII was my favorite! I knew there was something off about this guy and that he meant harm to the hero of the story, but I still liked him. I think it was his outspoken, bold personality. For example, he outright told D that his appearance aroused him. Of course the way he said it had a vulgar ring to it. But it amused me. Mr. Pluto VIII had a special ability that even caught D by surprise. That surprise lasted all of a few seconds before D kicked his butt. *grin*
Dr. Tsurugi was the only character I didn’t quite get. He seemed incomplete. He was a mystery when the story started and just as much a mystery when the story ended. However, I did like the mention of the characters from the first book. Dear old Dr. Tsurugi fell in love Doris, but she didn’t return his sentiments. Why, you ask? She’s still in love D. Duh! That explains why the doctor detested D in the beginning, but by the end he realized why she loved him.
Okay, back to the story�
I think the dynamics of the storyline is what appealed to me more. Toward the end all kinds of surprises were brought about. Like the mayor being an android� Never saw that coming. But what was more interesting is his goal for the town, which of course ended in disaster. In some twisted way he had good intentions.
I can’t say this is one of my favorite tales from Mr. Kikuchi, but was an enjoyable read still the same. Looking forward to volume 5.
D finds himself on a drifting town where there is something sinister happening behind the scenes.
Mr. Kikuchi has taken me on a wild adventure with the dangerously beautiful Vampire Hunter D, yet again. This tale read as a mystery story to me. The characters were colorful, and in my case likable. Even D’s frenemies (friend-enemy) appealed to my better nature.
John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII was my favorite! I knew there was something off about this guy and that he meant harm to the hero of the story, but I still liked him. I think it was his outspoken, bold personality. For example, he outright told D that his appearance aroused him. Of course the way he said it had a vulgar ring to it. But it amused me. Mr. Pluto VIII had a special ability that even caught D by surprise. That surprise lasted all of a few seconds before D kicked his butt. *grin*
Dr. Tsurugi was the only character I didn’t quite get. He seemed incomplete. He was a mystery when the story started and just as much a mystery when the story ended. However, I did like the mention of the characters from the first book. Dear old Dr. Tsurugi fell in love Doris, but she didn’t return his sentiments. Why, you ask? She’s still in love D. Duh! That explains why the doctor detested D in the beginning, but by the end he realized why she loved him.
Okay, back to the story�
I think the dynamics of the storyline is what appealed to me more. Toward the end all kinds of surprises were brought about. Like the mayor being an android� Never saw that coming. But what was more interesting is his goal for the town, which of course ended in disaster. In some twisted way he had good intentions.
I can’t say this is one of my favorite tales from Mr. Kikuchi, but was an enjoyable read still the same. Looking forward to volume 5.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 5, 2015
Now, although I collect these books, I've never really found the writing particularly good, however for this particular novel it was :S
The thing about Kikuchi's imagination, it was far beyond its time. Who would have thought of a floating island powered by nuclear energy replicating the Frontier life? Post apocalyptic life does that to you.
I think it's amazing how he fused such modern day technology with that old Western sort of life, it was just to show how the Nobility had pushed them backwards, yet they still attempted to increase their safety through focusing a lot of weaponry and homes.
Oh yeah, cyborg horses.
So, with this novel D comes across a young woman who was rescued by a man named Pluto VIII, the girl needs medical attention so they venture out (more like these people follow D) out into the wastelands where they come across a floating island which happens to be D's next assignment.
The island was made to keep the evil of the nobility out, however it seems it still managed to get in.
OOooooo, interesting read.
The thing about Kikuchi's imagination, it was far beyond its time. Who would have thought of a floating island powered by nuclear energy replicating the Frontier life? Post apocalyptic life does that to you.
I think it's amazing how he fused such modern day technology with that old Western sort of life, it was just to show how the Nobility had pushed them backwards, yet they still attempted to increase their safety through focusing a lot of weaponry and homes.
Oh yeah, cyborg horses.
So, with this novel D comes across a young woman who was rescued by a man named Pluto VIII, the girl needs medical attention so they venture out (more like these people follow D) out into the wastelands where they come across a floating island which happens to be D's next assignment.
The island was made to keep the evil of the nobility out, however it seems it still managed to get in.
OOooooo, interesting read.
Read
July 22, 2020Better world building and D is far less a mcguffin.
Pros: Less roids up Mad Max Rambo types they’re a few and that’s fine, but way more normal people in bad situations. This was written after Fist of the North Star and before Jojo and it oddly fits right in there.
Female character are less Princess Aurora clones.
D isn’t a McMuffin finally( he’s never a Mary Sue, because his success and failures are predicated on the other characters actions). D for the first time has to be powerful for powers sake and it well done.
Cons:
In a effort to make villains and heroes actions “gray� they still have the rollercoaster of assertions from the previous stories, this is ok for a few characters but everyone flip flops roles too often.
There are areas of the book that loses the train of thought and it clumps the wrong character actions together, this isn’t bad writing per se, but sometimes it’s needlessly done to make their actions overly cryptic.
Pros: Less roids up Mad Max Rambo types they’re a few and that’s fine, but way more normal people in bad situations. This was written after Fist of the North Star and before Jojo and it oddly fits right in there.
Female character are less Princess Aurora clones.
D isn’t a McMuffin finally( he’s never a Mary Sue, because his success and failures are predicated on the other characters actions). D for the first time has to be powerful for powers sake and it well done.
Cons:
In a effort to make villains and heroes actions “gray� they still have the rollercoaster of assertions from the previous stories, this is ok for a few characters but everyone flip flops roles too often.
There are areas of the book that loses the train of thought and it clumps the wrong character actions together, this isn’t bad writing per se, but sometimes it’s needlessly done to make their actions overly cryptic.
August 5, 2016
I think I've become more used to the writing style of this author and the translator, as this volume flowed easier for me. These stories are written third person omnipresent, yet they have a different flow than many of the modern novels. The author and the translation (and it is my understanding that the translations are very well-done) reads more like someone that is describing scenes as they are played out, i.e. as though their describing the anime as it's running, including the questions that may arise while watching a show. It almost breaks the "show, don't tell" rule, yet this author handles it rather well.
This volume is full of action, mystery, intrigue, and interesting characters. The world-building is fascinating, and well-developed, making it easy to see and sense the world that our characters are moving through.
This volume is full of action, mystery, intrigue, and interesting characters. The world-building is fascinating, and well-developed, making it easy to see and sense the world that our characters are moving through.
February 24, 2015
In this book, D encounters a girl ravaged by radiation and a strangely jovial biker with the improbable name of John M. Brasselli Pluto VIII. They are taken aboard a floating city that would appear to be paradise. Touching the ground for only brief moments, the inhabitants are free of the attacks from the Nobility—or are they? The author has pulled yet another rabbit out of his sleeve, giving a new twist on the Frontier wasteland and showing that even Paradise has its cost. Intelligent, suspenseful and riveting, this novel suffers only a little from the overblown phrases that plague the earlier translations. D’s unearthly beauty is reiterated but by now the devoted fan of this series can ignore it to concentrate on the intriguing storyline.
July 23, 2022
Not much to say about this one. It was kind of a little generic. There's a few memorable parts, but on the whole, the book is a bit on the forgettable side. The book is worth reading just for that. One thing I do have to say is that everyone who picks it up, please read the author's note. It's kind of hilarious, and gives a bit of insight into some of the silliness that can go on behind the scenes in the publishing industry.
September 20, 2007
This book sort of reads more like a mystery story than the rest of the books in the series. It takes place almost entirely on a giant town that moves slowly across the frontier. D spends most of his time trying to figure out what exactly is going on, while the town is being destroyed around him.
This book is a good example of how thoroughly Kikuchi has thought out the world that his books take place in. He explains the background to the town, why they are constantly moving, and, by the end of the book, why the events happened as they did. He again introduces "guys with cool abilities", which is sort of a staple of his writing.
This book is a good example of how thoroughly Kikuchi has thought out the world that his books take place in. He explains the background to the town, why they are constantly moving, and, by the end of the book, why the events happened as they did. He again introduces "guys with cool abilities", which is sort of a staple of his writing.
April 13, 2011
Another Vampire hunter D book. It much like any other with a few differences that made it more enjoyable than most. D actually got something of a personality. He's still the quiet mysterious figure, but I think he had more dialogue in this story than any other. There were interesting characters and while tragic things happen to the main female character...nothing absolutely horrible happens.
The ending felt a bit anti-climactic, and it was a shorter story. D is still the ultimate in over powered Gary Stu like characters, but these books are brain candy. You hop on board for the world and awesome vampire shenanigans.
The ending felt a bit anti-climactic, and it was a shorter story. D is still the ultimate in over powered Gary Stu like characters, but these books are brain candy. You hop on board for the world and awesome vampire shenanigans.
September 28, 2012
So far the least favorite of the Vampire Hunter D books. The story line and imagination were ok. I enjoyed the science fiction portion of the floating town and everything it entailed, including the mystical stuff about Pluto VIII. My major problem with this book is the odd way D was portrayed throughout the entire thing. The other two main characters were able to affect D just by their actions, which really doesn't happy very often. Also, I feel like the character depth of Dr. Tsurigi (sp?) just abruptly ended. I enjoyed the reference to the first book at the end, but for the most part wasn't rivited. I put the book down multiple times before finishing it.
May 27, 2022
Really enjoying this series so far. Especially since I grew up on the two classic horror/sci-fi/western anime films as a kid. This book told a pretty good mystery with a few twists and turns. D, as always, is a pretty cool hero. Stoic, but still managing to have a personality where you understand when he does feel something and express it in his own way. He’s not snarky or making a dumb quip every 5 mins like most people think all heroes should do these days. A dying breed these days in most forms of entertainment. Had a good time with it and can’t wait to move on to book 4.
July 30, 2010
typical Vampire Hunter D novel, fluffy, overwritten, Gary Stu out the wazoo. but still a fun read, if you're looking for fluff. first in the series where the main female character is neither raped, nor almost-raped... I must admit that the first 3 were a bit diminished by their reliance on those scenes for 'see how much her life sucks' drama. The later books mostly avoid this trope, and the overflowery language improves as well.
January 4, 2012
The story was good but the characters weren't as interesting as in the first book. I didn't care as much about what happened to them as I did in #1. It would have been nice to know a bit more about Lori and her thoughts.
The writing style and even the design of the book made the reading a lot easier though and I find myself wanting to read more of these things.
There were still a lot of "beautiful visage" descriptions about D but at this point it's just funny instead of annoying.
The writing style and even the design of the book made the reading a lot easier though and I find myself wanting to read more of these things.
There were still a lot of "beautiful visage" descriptions about D but at this point it's just funny instead of annoying.
October 25, 2008
This invocative and goregeous writing style coupled with a grim, grotesuqe, and astounding plotline makes Kikuchi one of my favorite authors. The story of this Dampir goes back and back in time and yet none of his adventures have acutally happened yet!
Taking place in 12,090 AD gives this horror-story a bit of a sci-fi kick! Love it!
Taking place in 12,090 AD gives this horror-story a bit of a sci-fi kick! Love it!
July 18, 2011
Like the first Vampire Hunter D, it was refreshing, and much, much better than the previous two books (volume 2 & 3). I love the style, the atmosphere, and the over all feel of this post-apocalyptic-Victorian-vampire-western-sci-fi. If you enjoyed the first one and tolerated the dip the author took in the next two, you will really enjoy this novel.
August 3, 2011
At first I was enjoying this more than the first three, though partly for the possibly unintentional comedy value I think. I found it easier to read, either because I had got used to the writing/translation style r because it was better crafted. However, the ending was a bit anti-climactic especially when you consider all the build up at the start.
October 18, 2019
This novel is a good continuation of the Vampire Hunter D novels. Its a quick and easy read and the translation is good so it was easy to follow. Its less an action/horror novel and more a mystery which is ok but I don't think is the strength of the D character. Overall its a decent Scifi/horror story.
December 31, 2019
Compared to the three first books, this one was amazing. No raping of girls, good characters, and the introduction of something truly terrifying that will, hopefully, come back later in another book!
Full review on my blog:
Full review on my blog:
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