Piercing the Darkness: Uncovering the Vampires in America Today

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Summary: this book is just what you may be looking for!!
Review: during the time i bought this book,it was just what i wanted/needed! i was looking for some help and ways to learn connections to know what is really out there in the so called 'vampire community'. Katherine Ramsland does a eXecellant job telling what is(the vampire community),as she eXplores & travels through the scenes and writes her eXperiences with them as well as they're own. I strongly reccommend it to anyone searching out there!

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Summary: What a pity.
Review: Given that the subject matter is pretty interesting, I found the book hard to read, mostly because of Ramsland's scattered organization, wierd investigative techniques, and uneven coverage. As befits an Anne Rice scholar, she refers constantly (even relentlessly) to Rice's books, even when it makes no sense to. Considering the constant references to Goth culture, it would have been nice if she'd given us a coherent definition of it first. Also,frankly,some parts of the book were just goofy: the "vampire porno" viewing session (which told us what?), her personal experiences with an "emotional vampire" (which was obviously a personal rant), and the whole encounter with Wraith, the 'real' vampire, which left me feeling that she is so gullible that the rest of her book is seriously questionable. Over all, I would still like to know more about this subculture. I just don't want Ramsland to write anything else.

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Summary: Why this book is....by J.Raoh
Review: I am a part of the culture that this book was based upon, and I met Ramsland once over a glass of wine in a NYC themed resturaunt. She did do a good deal of research on the culture, yet she presented the material that would sell her book, she did not portray the true vampyre culture. The book is to centered around the homosexual communities attraction to the vampyre, and spends to many pages describing a supposed murderer, whom is confessing his sins to Ramsland, which is both lacking in intelligence and in care for the way that the vampyre culture is portrayed in the public eye. Ramsland should have kept to the original concept of "what happened to Susan Walsh?" If you must read this book, be sure to find a used copy, and to be prepared to still be left with the question of if the vampyre culture is serious or a group of underachieving youths whom are looking for an outlet to express themselves.
The vampyre culture is much more than what Ramsland presented in this book. It has roots dating back to the days when the Pagan was the way and may even go further back than that. Granted Ramsland did portray the surroundings of the night clubs very well, she did not find anyone that could give her an inteligent argument as to why people do beleive in vampyres, or why the vampyre is more than jsust an outlet for those seeking an escape from the captivity of everyday life. Ramsland did go through a good deal of trouble to find " real vampyres", however she became more concerned with blood drinking and the purpose of it when she did have a conversation with a "real vampyre". Very disatisfied with the books ending and how it strayed away from the original concept.

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Summary: I'm glad I bought this at Buck-A-Book
Review: I found this book very disappointing because it presented itself as a work of investigative journalism, but soon turned into a socio-psychological treatise on the allure of the vampire image in modern society. Too much of the book was philosophical speculation; too little of the book was hard journalism. Ramsland's writing style is hardly riveting, and I skipped dozens of pages to find interesting parts. Too often she writes pages and pages of dialogue with "vampires" who are obviously dysfunctional and emotionally disturbed, expressing themselves with bombastic language a la Anne Rice, Poppy Z. Brite, and Giles of Buffy fame. I found it very hard to wade through page after page of this drivel. There were some insights, but nothing that hasn't been thoroughly revealed by others in previous works.

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Summary: Represents the local 'scene', however.....
Review: I gave this 1 star because that's as low as Amazon will let you go. Where does this lady get her information? What really upsets me is the way she approaches the "West Memphis Three". I've got news for you Katherine...they were not a "satanic cult". Why don't you and HarperTorch publishing get your s#@!t together and get your facts straight before you decide to print this garbage.

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Summary: informative
Review: I read this book about 6 mths ago, but from what i can recall, i remember being very much entranced by it and not being able to put it down. It is basically about this woman (katherine ramsland) adventure into the "dark" vampire world and her encounters with different people. The only part i would say that did not intrigue me was the part about role playing. Those chapters may be skipped. Overall, an average book.

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Summary: Not at all that it claims to be...
Review: I sat in my chair for a good while trying to figure out a way in which to not completely trash this book, and could come up with none. While the back of the book promises to take one "deep inside the little known yet growing 'vampire' subculture," it instead drags you through page after page of homo-erotic vampire sex stories. Even the chapter on vampire roleplaying (LARP)degenerates into more homo-erotic nonsense by the end. Is there sexuality in the vampire subculture? Most certainly. Are homosexuals and bisexuals a part of this culture? Yes, they certainly are, and they have their stories to tell too. I just wish it would have been for one chapter instead of the entire book.
In many great vampire works we see the sexual tensions of vampires (Between Louis and Lestat in 'Interview with a Vampire' for example). But it is purposefully underspoken and leaves the viewer/reader to wonder about the true nature of vampires, whether real or lore. Ms. Ramsland can't seem to get past Ms. Rice's work and the more sexually promiscuous vampires she has encountered. Her work on Rice's books was certainly more insightful and enjoyable.

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Summary: AMAZING YET DISTRUBING
Review: I STRONGLY SUGGEST THAT PEOPLE WITH WEAK STOMACHS DO NOT READ THIS. IT WAS ON THE OTHER HAND VERY INFORMATIVE, AND IT GIVES YOU A UNIQUE LOOK AT WHAT REAL VAPIRES THESE DAYS ARE!

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Summary: Absolutely fantastic!
Review: I think Ramsland did a great job going into the minds of 'vampires' today. I am quite interested in vampires, maybe obsessed, and she did such a good job describing the scenes and the blood lettings that it was like you were there with her. You joined her on her journey through the clubs and streets at night. I could not put this book down. Absoluely great book!

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Summary: One of the best books on the topic
Review: I took this book out of the library, and I read it cover to cover in a single night. I have since read it three times and each time I find more and more that I seem to miss each time I read it. I found Ms. Ramsland's book to be a veritable treasure trove of insights into the vampire subculture and a glimpse into a darker world than most of us dwell in. She uncovers many secrts that Im sure many would prefer had stayed buried, and which, like the vampire myths themselves shall go through the ages to become the basis of many new myths and modern folklore. I would have given this book and its author 10 stars if I could.