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| Dark Ages Nosferatu, DA Clan Novel #1 | 
 enlarge | Author: Gherbod Fleming
Publisher: White Wolf Publishing
Category: Book
Buy Used: $15.99
New (3) Used (10) Collectible (1) from $15.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  5 reviews
Sales Rank: 1040031
Media: Paperback
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.3
Dimensions (in): 7.1 x 4.3 x 0.8
ISBN: 1588468178
Dewey Decimal Number: 813
EAN: 9781588468178
ASIN: 1588468178
Publication Date: July 1, 2002
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Condition: very clean copy in very good condition. no rips or writing. ships in bubblewrap.
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Product Description
It is the year 1204, and the city of Constantinople burns. For the immortal monsters who have spent eternity in its shadows, it is both a cataclysm and a call for vengeance. Malachite, leader of the city's Nosferatu, hunts through the ashes and dodges crusaders to find the Patriarch Michael, the vampire who founded the city as the expression of his immortal dreams. Malachite's search brings him beyond the city walls and sets him on a quest that will restore the Patriarch's dream-or damn it forever. Dark Ages: Nosferatu begins the epic thirteen-part series of Dark Ages Clan Novels, chronicling a vast conflict among the vampires of the Middle Ages. The War of Princes begins here
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| Customer Reviews:
 Good start to an interesting series. December 28, 2003
4 out of 4 found this review helpful
The historical setting of Nosferatu is a good place to begin this series. The sack of Constantinople marks a turning point in history and marks the end of an era, for both Cainite society and human civilizations. Refugees flee the burning city, while a new power supplants the old. Thus is introduced Malachite, leader of one of the scion families formerly of the Triumvirate, which has fallen with the loss of Michael and the disappearance of the Dracon.
Malachite attempts to salvage what is left of The Dream and believes the key to this lies in finding the Dracon. We are introduced to some important characters who will be central in novels following Nosferatu in the series. The telling of Malachite's embrace and the independent scenes involving examples of savagery and heroism are well written and create vivid pictures with words. If you removed the vampire element, this book would still be an engaging book to read ~ the fact that the characters are vampires give them additional depth and afford the author creative latitude in weaving a wonderful tale that is worth the telling.
Get this book and begin a journey that will leave you wanting to learn more about many of the things introduced on each page. You won't be disappointed.
 Gherbod's Nosferatu (DA) falls short. June 14, 2004
3 out of 3 found this review helpful
I loved Fleming's Nosferatu from the clan novel series, but I'm unimpressed with this kick off to the Dark Ages series. The story slugs about for the first 150 pages where we witness Malachite getting bitch slapped about for the entirity of it's pages. Malachite seems to reflect none of the resourcefulness that his character and clan seem to define. Malachite's conflicts are prodominantly internal and while fine in the core of a series it is an odd way to kick off a series. This book seems more like the written collection of a few amateur players' game sections. I could heardly hear Malachite's religious conviction for the constant wailing of the appetite of the beast. This I'm sure is the author's intent, but it just made the story seem to revolve around the character's indulgence (a trait better suited for Toreador.) I wished they had focused on the humility and steadfastness of the clan. The female mortal doctor was an odd addition to the cast of characters. I wonder why she was even added. Malachite's comatose child takes up too much text. I'm disappointed. I think Fleming does good work though and I expect his future work to make up for this little stumble.
Welcome To The Crusade, A Vampire's View December 18, 2004
The basis for this series is the idea that Constantinople was a city largely owned and run by vampires. Vampires far more focused on creating a 'civilization' than the modern clans are, i.e., the have a dream of their own. Religion plays an unexpectedly large part. It drives the decisions of Malachite, who was a bishop while alive, and an intensely worshipful Nosferatu in his undeath. The worship has been displaced, however onto Michael on of the rulers of the city, who is a true elder.
But the city of the dream has come to naught. In 1204 the invasions of the crusades come to the walls of Constantinople, and Christian knights, Turks, and even pagan barbarians overrun the city. Malachite, entering the city to find Michael and try to save the dream must face the horror of invading kine and kindred come to kill and plunder. Malachite's quest for understanding is the sum of the story, as Fleming uses him to introduce the themes that will haunt this series.
As a character, Malachite has some shortcoming. He is a 300 year old vampire in the service of one of the rulers of the city, and all he seems to be able to think of is finding someone who will set things right. That and worry on perpetually about the state of his scions. I would have preferred some stronger at the center of the story rather than someone who is always looking under a rock (or a tomb) for what to do. He also shares a common trait of Camarilla vampires - a tendency to mourn his state as a fallen creature.
No doubt Fleming will make something more of Malachite before the series ends. The purpose of this book is to outline the focus of the series, and set a scene where mysticism, insanity, and betrayal are the great themes. And while the book starts very slowly, it eventually accomplishes exactly that as it picks up speed. The world is divided into those who will want to read this series no matter what (like me), and those who, if they read this, will go no further. Being a vampire never seems to be any fun anymore.
A great tale marvelously written July 9, 2005
This is the first of the Dark Ages Clan Novels, which is a series of books written specially to shed some light (and darkness) on the nightly life of some noteworthy Canites (or Vampires) of White-Wolf's Dark-Ages: Vampire Role-Playing Setting. Although the books are mostly intended for the Role-Playing audience, The writers are of extraordinary talent and the writing lets the stories be graspable by more "mundane" readers.
This, the first of the novels, tells the story of the Nosferatu named Malachite, which is a leader of some influence within his clans members in the city of Constantinople.
His Character is well presented and I'll leave the plot-line for your own entertainment...
Great start to the series February 24, 2007
This is the first of the dark ages saga and the first actual clan novel ive ever managed to get through. I tried, many years ago to read the modern age clan novels without much luck. Having recently gotten back into the obession that is the World of Darkness ive started to, upon reading this novel, buy any and all dark ages vampire i can get my greedy mits on.
I find this particular novel a great start to the series starting with the fall of constantiople and its Nosferatu elder Malachite and his Leper knights. Its all ways best to start a vampire novel series with blood slaughter and burning of a pretty city. What i find fascinating about it is, from a roleplayers point of veiw, actually getting into the mind of a member of the clan and the different ways of using certain disciplines. Like using Auspex to read if someone is lying to you. Little things like that made me turn the page. One downfall of this clan novel is that i felt the writer wanted to explore characters of other clans but obviously couldnt cuz these would be touched on at a later date so it often left me feeling that the other characters from the other clans where just 2 dimential and not really important. I guess i must just be paitent! Will look forward to the rest.
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