The Vampire Tapestry

Carnas' 1980 novel is a truly enlightening read, giving an unusual insight into the existential identity crisis of a deranged and murdering vampire. Based on a vampire whose condition stems from a biological mutation, rather than a bite, these five short stories, although all somehow connected to the protagonist, Dr. Weyland, earned Carnas the Nebula Award for Best Novella in 1981. The villain of the short story collection, an innocuous college professor who runs a sleep study on his students to find victims, is a refreshing take on human evil. Furthermore, Carnas' titillating and enjoyable narrative does not rely on a handsome, brooding male vampire protagonist to entertain her readers. Although many readers have found the lack of gore and horror to be less than entertaining (Dr. Weyland doesn't even have teeth!), Carnas' take on the modern vampire stays true to its roots and deliver an intense psychological thriller that ties five very different narratives into a multi-faceted and overall absorbing read.