Earl Peirce, Jr.

Why this truly magnificent story by Earl Peirce from 1936 is not more well known, is incomprehensible. Though it appeared in the pulp magazine, Weird Tales, you can throw your preconceptions — and prejudices — in regard to pulp out the window. This is one of the finest short stories dealing with vampirism you will ever read. Modern day stories on the subject are either geared toward those seeking the bad-boy-vampire-meets-high-school-babe-and-they-fall-in-love, or those who wish to wallow in brutality and bloody gore. This is neither. What it is, is a well written and conceived, and finely crafted pulp tale that feels real, and has an impactful ending you’ll never forget.

Arthur Duryea has not seen his father Henry for twenty years. The reason is his Aunt Cecilia's stories about the night his infant brothers were found in their cribs, drained of blood, and her terrible beliefs and superstitions regarding the cause. But finally she has died, and father and son are reunited. Peirce gives the narrative a swift pulp pace, but makes it atmospheric, and involving. He parses the past out slowly, and we gobble up each morsel as quickly as we can.

A lodge in Maine is meant to be a bonding time between a father and son who have been separated for too many years. But there is a storm, a book in a bag reeking of decay, and suspicion. And then there is a startling, powerful conclusion you won’t soon forget. This is an absolutely terrific story. There is no blood, no gore, and yet it drips with suspense and maybe even a slight chill. An amazing story I only came across because I enjoy pulp. Stories like this are the kind of find that makes all the searching worthwhile.

This is a clean read as per blood and gore, and is in fact elegantly told, but with an earthiness that makes it a great piece of short fiction. While I purchased this for less than a dollar, you don’t have to. I’ve discovered it is available FREE at Gutenberg. I highly recommend it. It will only take you thirty minutes to read, and you’ll never forget it once you do. A terrific bedtime read. Here is the link to download the short story FREE at Gutenberg — http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=the doom of the house of duryea… (mere)