Dracula's Guest and Other Stories

Rupert Degas demonstrates that he was the perfect choice of narrator for Bram Stoker's collection of macabre short stories. Degas's graceful use of pauses adds a deliciously suspenseful edge to each work. With impressive versatility, he fluidly transitions from harshly accented peasant to appropriately haughty nobleman. With a dramatic flair, he expertly delivers both hushed tones and frenzied exclamations. Degas is guaranteed to make listeners' hearts race even when they already know what's coming. His performance of these superb classics will enhance its appeal for any fan of nightmare adventure. S.M. (c) AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine

February 25, 2013
Having demonstrated a wry touch in his reading of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s Brigadier Gerard stories, narrator Rupert Degas shifts gears smoothly with his narration of nine lesser-known works of terror from the author of Dracula. The title story—a section of the famous novel cut prior to publication—is a splendid introduction to both Stoker and Degas. Within a few short passages, the experiences of English solicitor Jonathan Harker, on business in Europe, change dramatically—particularly when he hears warnings against travelling on Walpurgis Night. Without added sound effects, Degas makes the reader hear the threatening cries and quiet isolation Harker experiences after his driver abandons him as night falls. A versatile array of accents enables Degas to ably portray all the stories’ many characters. “Burial of the Rats,” in which a tourist to France must flee for his life, is another highpoint.

April 1, 2013

A fine collection of nine short stories by the author of Dracula. As stated in the excellent liner notes, the fear of pursuit, entrapment, torment, and death underlie these tales. The threat may come from the supernatural, as seen in the title story, along with "The Judge's House" and "The Secret of the Growing Gold." In the rest, the terror rises from the natural world. Particularly good examples include "The Coming of Abel Behenna," in which Stoker presents the tragic outcome of a contest between two lifelong friends to win the hand of the same woman, and "The Burial of the Rats," in which a man stumbles into a dangerous part of Paris trying to escape a mob of robbers. Reader Rupert Degas does an excellent job in presenting these tales. VERDICT This solid collection of the macabre is a must for horror fans.--Stephen L. Hupp, West Virginia Univ. Parkersburg Lib.

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