VLAD THE DRAC RETURNS

Anthony Daniels's dramatic reading breathes life into a marginal story. Unfortunately, making sense of the return of this vegetarian vampire depends a great deal on knowledge of the original story, Vlad the Drac. The story is reminiscent of Paddington Bear's mixed-up life with the Brown's, with a diminutive vampire in the role of Paddington. But Vlad is not a particularly sympathetic character, and only the charm and humor of Daniels's delivery makes the listener continue with the tapes. However, Daniels's talents could have been better served by a stronger work of fiction, or at least one that can stand on its own. S.G. ©AudioFile, Portland, Maine [Published: JULY 93]