Christopher Golden || Fiction

Listings: Click on the title for each work's cover and summary.

Backstory & Reviews:

"A politico-religious thriller reminiscent of the novels of David Morrell. A delightful read and a noteworthy debut by a writer who cares passionately about the stuff of horror. Harrowing, humorous, overflowing with characters and plot contortions, abundantly entertaining . . . a portent of great things to come from Christopher Golden."

--Douglas E. Winter, Cemetery Dance

In 1994, Berkley published my first novel, Of Saints and Shadows. This is how the press materials described it:

"A secret sect of the Catholic Church, armed with an ancient book of the undead called The Gospel of Shadows, has been slowly destroying vampires for centuries. Now the book has been stolen, and the sect races to retrieve it before their purpose is discovered: a final purge of all vampires. As the line between saints and shadows grows ominously faint, private eye Peter Octavian is drawn into the search. And he'll do anything to find the book . . . for Peter Octavian is also a vampire."

Of course, there's a lot more going on in the book than that, including some surprising historical figures showing up as vampires, down and dirty sex, demons, sorcery . . . a little bit of everything.

"A breathtaking story that succeeds in marrying gore and romance, sex and sentiment. A brilliant epic." --Dark News, Paris

"One of the best horror novels of the year. Filled with tension, breathtaking action, dire plots and a convincing depiction of worlds existing unseen within our own. One of the most promising debuts in some time." --Science Fiction Chronicle

"You can damn near chase me a mile these days with a vampire novel. Then, along comes Christopher Golden. His work is fast and furious, funny and original, and I can't wait until his next book." --Joe R. Lansdale, three time Bram Stoker Award winner, author of Mucho Mojo and The Two Bear Mambo

"The most refreshing books in the vampire genre since Anne Rice wrote Interview with the Vampire, [Golden's novels] are completely in a class by themselves." --Pathway to Darkness

The second novel in what I'm now calling The Shadow Saga was Angel Souls and Devil Hearts. Published in 1995, it featured the continuing adventures of the characters who survived the first book. While the first book combined elements of mystery and epic fantasy, the second is, pure and simple, a war novel. Oh, sure, there are lots of interesting scenes that take place in Hell, but those aside, it's a war novel.

"Just when you thought nothing new could be done with the vampire mythos, a fresh new talent comes along and shows us otherwise. Christopher Golden has quite a career ahead of him!" ---Ray Garton, author of Live Girls and Dark Channel

"Christopher Golden has painted an intriguing canvas, full of action, sweep and dark mythology; a novel that unfolds like a vampiric Kabuki theatre. Golden is smart and savvy; a writer with a bright future." ---Rex Miller, author of Slob and Chaingang

"If your vampiric diet has been dominated by Rice, then this book should excite the most jaded palette. A heady chili con carne composed of heretical theology, magick, violent fantasy, and shape-shifting horror. It builds to a climax that leaves the reader gasping for breath." ---Philip Nutman, author of Wetwork

Of Saints and Shadows has recently been published in France. We are hoping for further foreign sales, but it's always a shot in the dark. Those of you who've read the books might find the Venetian carnival pictures on this page familiar. They were the inspiration for the costumes worn by the main characters at the end of the first book.

"A promising debut. In his world of vampires and dark magic, Golden presents us with a complex canvas to rival Brian Lumley." --Craig Shaw Gardner, author of Dragon Waking

"Passionate . . . Excellent . . . Golden has written one of the best . . . a deep probe into the inner-wrokings of the church and a surprise explanation for vampires. [A] brilliant vampire novel in a blizzard of bloody tooth bites this year." --LitNews (published on Compuserve)

"Golden stands many time honored concepts about vampirism on their heads." --The Overlook Connection

"Golden has created a new myth. A real treat for those who are tired of ideas that are as old as yesterday's blood . . . worthy of the praise it has already received, and more." --Eclipse Magazine

I was ecstatic when ACE Books decided to rerelease them under a 'Dark Fantasy' banner, in anticipation of the release of the third book in the series, OF MASQUES AND MARTYRS, which hit stores in October, 1998. I got a lot of e-mail about the book. I want to thank everyone who wrote, and assure you that, though it may not be soon, I do plan to return to this world in the future.

"A fast-paced action thriller that will hold the reader's attention from first page to last." --The Talisman

"Golden combines quiet, dark, subtle mood with Super-Giant monster action. Sort of M.R. James meets Godzilla!" --Mike Mignola, creator of Hellboy

"A thought provoking drama. A wonderfully crafted yarn that provides extraordinary entertainment. An intriguing adult mystery, not for the faint of heart." --Murder Under Cover, Inc.