One of the first Saint-Germain books I ever read and definately one of my favorites.

Though the book is made up of five short stories that take place during different time periods, Yarbro does an amazing job of linking them together by cleverly alternating each one with a letter. By the time the reader gets to the very last letter, it's like having an after dinner mint..the perfect ending to a five course meal.

I'm not sure if I prefer Saint-Germain in modern times or older time periods, but it's fun seeing him relate to our society. It really doesn't matter, though, because I'll take him in any century I can get him!

Take the time to track this one down....it's well worth the effort.

Some neat short stories form Chelsea Quin Yarbro about her favorite Comte. Not as much historical atmosphere, but good little plots. I like the modern one best, at the end.

For those of you unfamiliar with the series, the Saint-Germain series is a series of "historical horror" fiction in which the title character and hero (yes, he is a proper hero, not an antihero as in so much vampire fiction) is a vampire who has "lived" for somewhere between 3500 and 4000 years. In the first five books of the series ("Hotel Transylvania", "The Palace", "Blood Games", "Path of the Eclipse", and "Tempting Fate") we have seen him in five novels in five different historical periods: pre-Revolutionary France, Renaissance Italy, Imperial Rome, 13th century China, India, and Persia, and Germany between the World Wars, respectively.

This book is somewhat different; it is a collection of short stories (interspersed, as always, with dated correspondence to establish the time frame) ranging chronologically from 1889-1981. Thus, if your preference is for longer stories with an overarching plot, this book may not be for you; similarly, if one of the drawing cards for the series is the earlier historical settings, this might be disappointing. Still, the stories are interesting, and provide insight into the character. Further, two of the stories, "Renewal" and "Cabin 33" are excellent, must-read stories for those fond of the series; in "Renewal", we see the initiation into vampirism of James Emmerson Tree, who we met in the fifth book of the series as the American lover of the vampire Madeline de Montalia. In that book, he was told of her nature, and warned that as her long-time lover, he would become a vampire when he died, but her refused to believe any of it, being the pragmatic modern man that he was. In this story, he is forced to come to terms with the reality of the situation. In "Cabin 33", we have the pleasure of seeing Saint Germain deal with a villain who happens to be a fellow vampire, albeit a more traditionally-minded one than himself. (Imagine the humor inherent in seeing someone attempt to impress Saint Germain with their puissance by archly informing him that they "died in 1896". This in 1980, thus making them approximately 1/40th of Saint-Germain's age, a mere puppy by comparison.)

These words, spoken by the anonymous killers roaming the night around Potter's Bluff, a quaint sea side community, are more prophetic than one would think. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's novelization of the screenplay by the screenwriters of Alien, Dan O' Bannon and Ronald Shussett, joins a very select few books that are actually superior to the film's they adapt into print (Orson Scott Card's The Abyss and Dennis Etchison's The Fog are two others). You can feel the damp chill of the fog as it swirls around those unfortunate souls caught in Potter's Bluff after nightfall. As the bodies stack up the town's sheriff digs deeper and deeper into the mystery, but the answer he finds may cost him his sanity. Highly recommended.

I got this book in a yardsale a few years ago and just recently decided to read it. This book is fantastic. Filled with exitement and surprise, it is a book for those who like a scary tale in the dark. In the book the sheriff of a small town is trieing to find out the cause of strangers found burned to death left and right. The answer is more surprising than the act.

Spider Glass is an outstanding story in the St. Germain history--but this particular volume contains "Spider Glass" only and no other stories. If you merely want to read the story, it is included, along with several other stories, in the "St. Germain Chronicles."

Only those who share the love of this special man can see the ruby studded spider in the center of the looking glass. That is because those who share his love, and his blood, cast no reflection to hide the beauty of this gift. Once again C. Q. Yarbro has let us peek into the life and heart of her vampire hero, le Comte de San Germaine. A man who has spent 4000 years searching for one woman to love him for who he is.

An excellent book, similar to it's predecessors, Messages from Michael, More Messages from Michael, and Michael's People. The layout of the book is someone different in that little asides and joking comments have now been added (in parenthesis) in the midst of many of Michael's dialogues. The information is still top-notch, however, the comments are unnecessary and distracting. That is the only 'peeve' I have with regards to this book. This is the first Michael book that Ms. Yarbro has published since Michael's People, back in the early 80's. The perspective is a little more fresh and current and easier to apply to today's ever-changing world. An excellent book, even without the benefit of having read any of the prior Michael material (although, it makes for MUCH easier reading and understanding if you have prior knowledge)

A Mortal Glamour is historical fiction about medieval nuns. As in her Saint Germain novel, _Better in the Dark_ the nuns of this French convent are going crazy. Is it bad rye? Is it demonic possession? Or is it loneliness? This is dark, but fun.

This is the first book by Ms. Yarbro that I have read that was not on St. Germain the vampire. BUT, Taji's Syndrome was excellent! It is one of the best medical thrillers I have read in a long time. It was so good I wrote to Ms. Yarbro to ask if any of her other books were medical thrillers like this one. The suspense was awesome waiting to see who would get the disease next and waiting to see if they would ever find out where the disease came from. It really shook me up as to how the disease got started and made me wonder! I don't want to give away the answers but if you haven't read this yet, it is a MUST! It is an edge of the seat kind of book and one that will make you think twice. It was great!

Or seventh, if you discount the three books that focused on Olivia. Or first (and as of this writing, only) in the Madeline series. Depends on how you look at it.

About a fifth of this book, I would estimate, is about Saint Germain himself, in the days of ancient Egypt, and some of his most formative moments. The rest of it centers on Madeline de Montalia, his former lover and vampiric "daughter", in the early ninteenth century, on an archeological dig in Egypt. The plot and characterization are excellent as usual for Ms. Yarbro; the pattern begun in the previous book (A Candle For d' Artgnan) of the editing being somewhat sloppier than in previous books is continued here; these were the first two books of the series to come out in "quality" or trade paperback editions, rather than mass-market, and frankly the editing in the previous books was better. Apparently, someone considers "quality" to be defined by the size of the book and the type of binding, rather than by efficient editing. There are about a dozen places in the book where there is a wrong word used, or a word missing, or an extra word inserted, or similar sloppinesses. Still, the book is well worth the read, and comes highly recommended.

Ever since the publication of the first Saint-Germain book, I have been hooked on Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's books. I have often wondered how she remained a relatively obscure author, given the popularity that Anne Rice has enjoyed with her vampire series. While Rice is a great author, she lacks the historical research that goes into Yarbro's books... perhaps that's a liability for some romance readers who want instant gratification, without savoring a well crafted book, for this is what Out Of The House Of Life truly is! As another reviewer remarked, I, too,have learned more of history through this remarkable lady than anywhere else, College education included! This book goes back 6,000 years, and traces the roots of St. Germaine's history- the ignoble savage, slowly, over centuries, becoming the strong, sexy, and secure vampire with a heart of gold. I especially liked learning so much about Egyptian history in this novel, and found it refreshing. Unlike her earliest novels, I recently found that Yarbro's later books have become all too predictable-- poor misunderstood vampire stands up for the underdog, and becomes persecuted once again. Same scenes, same predicable outcomes. This novel shines out from the most recent, in that, it has more to say than that. The action doesn't get bogged down for lack of a plot this time. Too bad Yarbro didn't learn from this one, and stay on this track.. I can't say the same for books about St. Germaine published right after this one, and certainly not for the ones just before it, either.

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro has created three of my all-time favorite vampires: Count Saint-Germain, Atta Olivia Clemens, and Madelaine de Montalia. Can't wait until she writes another book!

Out of the House of Life is the first book in Yarbro's Madelaine series. The book is unique in that it has two storylines. In the first storyline it is the 1820s, and Madelaine de Montalia is in Egypt on an archaelogical dig. This is highly unusual for a seemingly young person, not to mention a woman. What the other expedition workers do not know is that Madelaine is not as young as she looks: she is a vampire who rose from her grave in 1744 after meeting and falling in love with the mysterious Count Saint-Germain.

While Madelaine is immersed with the history of Egypt, she is receiving letters from Count Saint-Germain. In this separate storyline, Saint-Germain is recounting his life in the temples of ancient Egypt, from when he was first brought to the House of Life as demon, till he transformed himself until the noble "man" known to many fans of Yarbro's Saint-Germain series.

Fans of Yarbro's Saint-Germain and Olivia books, and good historical fiction in general will love Out of the House of Life.

As of May 2000, Yarbro has written 12 Saint-Germain novels and 3 Olivia novels.

I had heard nothing but wonderful things about this book and, while being extremely emotional and engrossing, I just could not get into Saint-Germain doin' the Daddy thing.

In this novel, Saint-Germain adopts an orphan and while that plot may sound fascinating...and it is...I found his daughter Laisha to be somewhat of a spoiled brat. Try as I might, I just couldn't like her.

However, there were many other, more likeable characters in this sweeping epic and out of all of the books in the series, I could definately see this one being made into a feature film. (Though "Blood Games" would make a good movie, too.) The time period was fascinating and the atmosphere richly textured. You could almost taste the strudel.

We really get to see Saint-Germain in some heavy duty emotional turmoil and for that alone, I would recommend this novel.

Be on the lookout for some delicious moments towards the end, one in particular dealing with Schnapps. It's one of my favorite Saint-Germain moments in the entire canon!

Auf Wiedersehen!

This is the fifth book in Yarbro's long-running St-Germain series, and it's one of the best. All of Yarbro's standard touches are here: the well-researched historical background (pre-WWII Germany), the narrow-minded brutality of most of the human characters, the horrors they inflict, St-Germain's involvement with a lonely woman, the danger that forces him to flee, the emotional losses he experiences, etc. etc. But there's another twist to this book: the immortal vampire becomes a father when he saves--and raises--an orphaned girl.

This presents us with a somewhat different view of St Germain than we get in the other novels in the series. Normally, the Count lives among humans and even loves a select few, but always knows that he will eventually be forced to move on. In this book, he loves in a way that he hasn't allowed himself to before. That, in combination with the more recent time period of the novel, makes the inevitable tragedy that much more poignant.

This book, the fifth in the series about the vampire Franz Ragozy de Saint Germain, was originally intended to be the last of the series. (It says so, in the "about the author" section in the back.) Of course, there are roughly a dozen more out now; Yarbro keeps getting new ideas for the character, beyond what she'd originally planned. This is unquestionably the best written of the first five books in the series, but be warned: do not read it unless you are in the mood for tragedy. It is powerfully written, and captures all too fully the trauma that struck all too frequently in that time and place; "The Sound Of Music" this most assuredly is NOT. ("Hotel Transylvania" was set in prerevolutionary France, "The Palace" in renaissance Italy in the time of Botticelli, "Blood Games" in imperial Rome at the time of Nero, and "Path of the Eclipse" during the Mongol invasion of China; this is set primarily in Germany during the period between the world wars.)

There is little of the feel, all too evident in the first three books of the series, of the cheap Gothic Romance; the characters are very real, and so are the events (in at least two cases, a little TOO real for my taste, but I can't reasonably fault the author for that; the setting and period would not have been done justice had everything turned out well.)

For those unfamiliar with the series, the Comte de Saint Germain is a vampire who has "lived" since approximately 1500 BC; he has many of the typical features of the stereotypical vampire; he doesn't age, is difficult to injure, and needs to drink blood to survive. But unlike the stereotype, he doesn't kill with his blood-drinking, and blood itself is not sufficient; there must be an emotional connection as well, and the less emotional connection there is, the less satisfying the blood is. He can be killed by severing the spine or destroying the brain; other wounds are painful, but ultimately superficial. He is susceptable to sunlight, but less so than many vampires; he doesn't care for it, but hardly bursts into flame on exposure. Essentially, he sunburns easily. Similarly, he cannot rest unless it is on his native soil, and cannot cross running water. All of these prohibitions, however, are alleviated by the expedient of wearing his native soil in the soles of his shoes, using it in the foundation of any home he builds, and filling his mattress with it, so he CAN, in fact, be seen in broad daylight in the Mediterranean summer on shipboard.

The character is an unmitigated hero, not the antihero of most vampire fiction; wealthy, urbane, kind, generous, most worthy of emulation. Still, he's a bad man to cross. The series as a whole is highly recommended, and this book is powerfully written, if EXTREMELY unsettling.

I have read just about all of of Ms.Yarbro's books and especially love the St. Germaine character. She peaks your interest in his advertures and love life. The book was slow in starting but immediately became a cannot stop reading one. I have been reading Ms.Yarbro's books for years and had lost a contact in purchasing them. Thank Goodness for Amazon and the internet. I have now completed my set of the St. Germaine chronicles as you will.I think anyone who starts reading her books will become a fan as I am.

Sincerely,

Norma

Or tenth, if you count "Out of the House of Life", which is primarily a spinoff novel about Madeline de Montalia, but which does include some of Saint-Germain's early history.

Or thirteenth, if you count "A Flame In Byzantium", "Crusader's Torch", and "A Candle for d'Artagnan", the spinoff series about Olivia Atta Clemens.

This book, set in 17th century Peru and Mexico, details what was happening to Saint-Germain while Olivia was experiencing the events in "A Candle for d'Artagnan". It is one of the best of a very good series; as usual, Yarbro's historical research is excellent, and her characters (with the exception of Roger, who seems somewhat lacking in the personality department; what does this guy do for fun? Thirteen books and counting, and I have no idea) come alive, even if I did find Saint-Germain's willingness to turn the other cheek after Dona Azul had Oaxetli poisoned somewhat out of character.

For those unfamiliar with the series, the Saint-Germain series is a series of historical horror novels in which the hero (and he IS a hero, not a villain or even an antihero as is so common in vampire fiction) is a 4000 year old vampire. The vampiric aspects are very subdued; he needs blood to maintain his strength, which is formidable, and is susceptible to running water and sunlight, but both of these weaknesses are significantly less pronounced than in much vampiric fiction. As long as he is wearing shoes with some of his native earth in the heels and soles, he can mostly ignore them; even without, he hardly bursts into flame when exposed to sunlight; in this book, he is crucified for two days in the Mexican summer, and while seriously injured, he survives (no spoiler, considering that several of the previously written books are set in later time periods). Basically, without his protective shoes, he sunburns extremely easily and extremely severely. The books are well-written, and even the worst of them so far have been well worth the read.

Alright, I have to admit it, if a vampire is in a book, I simply must read the book. I've read all sorts of vampire-literature -- from books with grammatical errors and no plot to speak of to, well, Yarbro's novels. Yarbro's novels are top-notch and although classified as "horror," the horror actually stems from our realization that a vampire could have more humanity within him than most "mortals" do. Yarbro's novels include something to satisfy everyone: a well-researched historical setting (I learned more history from Yarbro's novels than I ever learned in school -- sorry Mrs. O'Keefe!), a heart-wrenching romance, plenty of action between a hero and lots of of nasty folks, and, my personal favorite, a passionate and dashingly handsome vampire! Yarbro's writing style is intelligent and, in just the perfect spots, very suspenseful (and, hey, no grammatical errors)! A word of warning is in order: once you've read one of Yarbro's books you'll be eagerly awaiting her future releases (thank goodness Amazon.com Books has electronic notification of new releases, huh?). A novel that you will keep you thinking long after you finish the book!

This is the book based on the John McTiernan's film (not the opposite), and I found it much more interesting that other Yarbro's books (as the overpaged Hyacinths). If you like contemporary fantasy/horror as Lucius Shephard's "Green Eyes" or DeLint's "Little Country", you may like this.

Contrary to what another post has stated (and I also added this to my review of the film on dvd) this is not actually an original novel, but rather a "novelization" of an original screenplay. A novelization is an adaptation of another pre-existing work in the form of a novel. Many times a novelization will apper in print before the film is completed because the parties involved will provide the novelist with a screenplay sometimes even before filming begins. As a result, many novelizations feature scenes which were later cut, either during early preproduction, as the film was shot, or in post production on the editing floor. The second physical page of the paperback (not actually numbered page 2, but the second page (third facing page) of the book states very clearly below the title Nomads: "Novelization by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro From a screenplay by John McTiernan."
Of course it probably goes without saying (though perhaps not as I am indeed saying it) that this post is not meant as an attack or aggressive arument but rather an unemotional clarification of the facts.
As for the book itself, it is written with amazing clarity for such a surreal and complicated subject. Yarbro brings to life the inner world of Jean-Charlse in a way the film did not or could not. And overall Yarbro provides a much meatier and more easily understood narrative than McTiernan's screenplay. But then, this is the nature of the novel. The novel can enter, disect, revel and relish details and thoughts and emotions the way a 90 minute film can not.
If you are a horror fan you won't be disappointed, and if you are a fan of the film you simply must read this novelization, it is superb.

This is a fascinating novel really engrossing and riveting. I love the darkness and terror without the whole blood and guts approach of so many horror writers. The characters a really well written and you truly feel for them as they go through hell and back.
With an interesting premise of using the people that have no face to mainstream crowds in this world and turning them into something completley sinister.
Was made into a film in 1986 that is also interesting but isn't nearly as good as the book mostly becuase they just didn't explain enough of what was going on and left viewers who hadn't read the book very confused.
Contrary to a prior review this is NOT based on the movie but was written several years before(This was published in 1984, which means it was written at least a year earlier than that as opposed to the films release in 1986)I have a first printing and it makes no mention of a screenplay as I recall or that a movie is forthcoming as most screenplay novels do.