Clan Novel: Ravnos covers events that start immediately after the end of the Setite book, and fits nicely with it, particularly since both were written by Kathleen Ryan. The events start on July 28, 1999 and continue through October 12 of the same year. It is Book 8 in the original clan novel saga, and was published in January 2000. This book was another of the highlights of the series, and the skillful character work makes me hunger for more fiction from Kathleen Ryan.

Our primary Ravnos is Khalil, who was extracted from Calcutta during the Setite novel. A few more Ravnos make appearances, but they have all been killed by the end of the book. Apparently, most of the clan has been destroyed by the awakening of some very powerful old vampire, which is possibly the founder of that clan. And frankly, it’s probably him stepping in to correct one of the game system’s most tragically baked-in bits of racism. The clan is primarily Romani in origin, and their clan curse is a compulsive need to lie, cheat, and steal. This is not the best look for the World of Darkness, so it’s better to destroy them all and allow something else to arise from the ashes. Kathleen manages to sidestep some of the worst of this by having Khalil be an Indian of the Untouchable caste, and the book probes the edges of that different set of culturally reinforced classism. (Continue Reading…)

Clan Novel: Assamite generally remains aloof of the beginning of the war between the factions. It does not get deeply involved until the second phase of the war that was particularly highlighted in the Lasombra novel, and ends with events on October 6, 1999. It is Book 7 in the original clan novel saga, and was published in December 1999. It was written by Gherbod Fleming, who provided five of the thirteen novels in the set.

This book’s central conflict is Fatima’s assignment to kill the biggest player behind the Sabbat war on the American east coast — Cardinal Monçada, and how it conflicts with Fatima’s affection for his childe, Lucita. I’m glad the Lasombra book came before this one, as Lucita is more difficult to appreciate here; she’s more crass in this book than the brash and confident we saw previously. There’s an excellent sapphic scene between Fatima and Lucita that not only shows their affection for one another, but is strategic as well – Fatima having Lucita’s blood inside her masks her presence from the wards protecting the temple from outsiders. This plays a critical role in the showdown under the temple in the third act. This is some of the best action in the series. (Continue Reading…)

Clan Novel: Tremere covers events that start after the fall of Atlanta and into the second phase of the war between the Sabbat and Camarilla on July 18, 1999 and continues through September 24 of the same year. It is Book 12 in the original clan novel saga, and was published in June 2000. While this book is next to last in the series, all the events within it end before the conclusion of half of the books in the series. While its placement in the series order should reveal major events leading up to the end, it never quite delivers on that promise. It was written by Eric Griffin, who also wrote the Tzimisce book. (Continue Reading…)

Clan Novel: Lasombra covers events that start after the fall of Atlanta and activity in Washington, D.C. really get rolling on July 16, 1999 and continues through September 22 of the same year, following the second phase of the war covering the assaults on Buffalo and Hartford. It is Book 6 in the original clan novel saga, and was published in September 1999. It was written by Richard Dansky, and this (along with one story in the Anthology) is his sole contribution to the saga. While I was updating blog posts in the back catalog, this name tickled memories. Connecting that he contributed to this series is one of the inciting events that caused me to start on this journey. He has published two original stories with PseudoPod, including “Good Advice” — the second full length story to go out across our feed — as well as “Connecting Door,” which remains one of my favorite stories about the horrors of traveling and the misery of the thin walls of hotels. He lent his voice to two more stories in our first couple of years. Checking out his other work here is worth your time.

https://pseudopod.org/people/richard-e-dansky/

https://pseudopod.org/2006/08/25/pseudopod-002-good-advice/

https://pseudopod.org/2007/11/16/pseudopod-064-connecting-door/

(Continue Reading…)