
A Taint in the Blood
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Narrated by:
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Todd McLaren
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By:
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S. M. Stirling
Long ago, homo nocturnus ruled the Earth, able to manipulate the forces of nature at their most basic level. Before the dawn of recorded history, they were overthrown, leaving behind them only legends - our legends of shapeshifters and blood-drinkers, of cruel gods and evil magicians, of ogres and goblins, succubi and incubi.
But a strain of their blood lives on in humanity, the genes themselves bending the forces of probability to reunite. Secret clans used their half-understood abilities to hide from the witch-finders and the normal humans; occasionally one would be detected, a Giles de Rais or an Elizabeth Bathory. Then, in the 19th century, the discoveries of Mendel and Darwin enabled them to understand what they were and to breed back the full range of their dark powers.
Now, in the 21st century, they rule the world again in secret; only the Brotherhood fights them, in a clandestine war of terror and assassination, of Wreaking and silver-inlaid knives. Adrian Breze was born into that war, but he defected to the side of humanity, and for decades he was the Brotherhood's most effective fighter, just as his twin sister Adrienne is the Council of Shadow's strongest. Now he has retired, weary of the endless struggle, but Adrienne has her own purposes, and they don't include letting her brother live quietly in his mountaintop retreat near Santa Fe. To force him out, she kidnaps his human lover, Ellen Tarnowski, and the war is on again - with the future of humanity at stake. For the Council of Shadows is ready to emerge into the light, with a plan that will reduce humans once again to the harried prey of the creatures of darkness.
©2010 Steven M. Stirling (P)2010 TantorListeners also enjoyed...




















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Better than reading printed.
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If you enjoy the love, romance and blood-drinking genre, Steve may put some depth and thought, as well as LOTS of very vivid prose, to the characters, how they grow as people, before during and after. The central couple slept together for six months, broke up, and now rediscover love amidst terror, horror and courage.
Drinking blood feels like what wine can only try to be - imagine full scale telepathy as your demon lover makes love, knowing just what gives joy and what causes pain, and preys upon your final heart beat despair and personality dissolution.
He also makes evil as real and nuanced as having a nice meal - and the choices that make us less bad and perhaps even good just as real, if a bit less scary.
Having just finished reading and now auditing, I can say that the reader adds serious value, as Steve has been making "voices" come alive.
"New Moon" and Buffy get real
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Sex crazed Vamps
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Stirling is generally a good, well researched author who has worked in a variety of speculative fiction genres. I have read most of his novels and have enjoyed them immensely. This most recent work is the exception. Apparently he has decided to jump on the vampire bandwagon with a vengeance, and has created a work of supreme awfulness. Todd McLaren has narrated all of Mr. Stirling's work that I have listened to, and again usually does a very good job. In this reading he sounds embarrassed from time to time. No wonder. Save your money or credits and pass this one by.
Aweful, just aweful.
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Trying to Like it. Trying to Care
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Charlie G.
Unlistenable
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Blech! This is Nasty on So Many Levels
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Mr. Stirling: You are one kinky dude.
I have no words, only a feeling. Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.
P.S. I do love your books on The Change.
Not what I was expecting
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