The book can be summarized as, "deranged." Most expect vampires and random violence in memoriam of serial killers is enough. This horror story goes deeply into psychotic interplay of its main character that is coming of age, a young vampire named "Nothing."
Published in 1992, the popular title, "Lost Souls" is only preceded by a 1990 computer game and album by the Raindogs, a Celtic band with a similar amount of title popularity. There is no similarity to the movie, television show, video game or any other product on the market; including, another novel titled "Lost Souls" by Lisa Jackson published in 2008.
Though the title is popular, the novel itself intrudes on the sensitive minds of the United States population. In fact, the use of Goth and Industrial Culture for setting the time and place has made it uniquely acceptable to Goth and Industrial culture. On several occasions, I remember thinking, "So this might be why this particular type of person feels they are rulers of the Goth scene." I always wondered.
The redeeming part of the book is in the flowing, almost poetic descriptive voice which frequently changes tone in reference to various characters. The tone and rhyme of the book almost makes the plot a secondary event. Everything is realistic and attentive to all five senses.
Immersed in calmly plodding charm, reading it feels warm like a day roaming around in the South on a hot summer day. The black vans, hitchhikers, incest and other spindling references to a few 1970's serial killers, becomes a montage of various input near lush green fields. The few discrepancies in subplots are barely notable; such as, should the female vampires be lesbians according to the character breakdown? Should there be a stronger female presence in the book, beside the writer?
Considering "Lost Souls" a hybrid, it combines horror, fantasy, erotica, vampires and serial killers. While, I could say anyone interested in these topics would enjoy the novel, it frequently attacks the morality of an average person. Squeamish readers should be forewarned, because it will offend at least one of the many natures.
Quirky Books
The Goth Bible by Nancy Kilpatrick
Lost Souls by Lisa Jackson
