Vampires in the Lemon Grove: Stories

Amazon Best Books of the Month, February 2013: Karen Russell's first two books (St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves and Swamplandia!) were triumphs of craft and imagination, heralding an exciting new voice in fiction. Her new story collection, Vampires in the Lemon Grove--eight strange tales that might be described as the descendant of Bradbury's The October Country, if that book had been written in the throes of a fever dream--will only expand that reputation. Russell doesn't (or maybe can't) limit herself to any particular genre: The title story leads with a twist on its seemingly undead subject; the prairie Gothic of "Proving Up" draws an apocalyptic landscape worthy of Lovecraft; and "The Graveless Doll of Eric Mutis" examines the dawn of conscience in a thoroughly spooky coming-of-age story worthy of its title. Despite their range, all are tied by Russell's inventive language and her boundless, dark vision. Vampires is at once lush and stark, and above all, thrillingly unnerving. --Jon Foro