iDrakula

by Bekka Black

Overview

The classic vampire story that started it all gets new life for a generation of connected teens

18-year-old Jonathan Harker is diagnosed with a rare blood disorder after visiting a Romanian Count. His girlfriend Mina and a pre-med student named Van Helsing team up to investigate the source of the disease. The teenagers discover a horrifying truth: the Count is a vampire. The harrowing events unfold through emails, text messages, web pages, Twitter feeds, and instant messaging—the natural modernization of Bram Stoker's original Dracula, which was written in letters, diary entries, and news clippings.

"Bold, innovative , and warped. . .an insanely imaginative tour de force."

–James Rollins, New York Times bestselling author

"Black expertly interweaves story and technology in this timely Dracula tale."

–Rebecca Maizel, author of infinite Days

"What happened?"

"Not sure. I was fine when I went to bed."

"But?"

"But I dreamed that someone got into my room."

"Who?"

"I don't remember his face. He was tall, thin, pale…I was paralyzed. And then my neck hurt and my mouth was full of…"

"Of what?"

"Blood. My mouth was full of blood."

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781402244674
Publisher:	Sourcebooks
Publication date:	10/01/2010
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	160
File size:	9 MB
Age Range:	12 - 17 Years

About the Author

After a childhood often spent without electricity and running water, Bekka escaped the beautiful wilderness of Talkeetna, Alaska, for indoor plumbing and 24/7 electricity in Berlin, Germany. Used to the cushy lifestyle, she discovered the Internet in college and has been wasting time on it ever since (when not frittering away her time on her iPhone). Somehow, she manages to write novels, including the award-winning Hannah Vogel mystery series set, in all places, 1930s Berlin. The series has received numerous starred reviews and the first book, A Trace of Smoke, was chosen as a Writer's Digest Notable debut.

She lives in Hawaii with her husband, son, two cats, and too many geckoes to count. iDrakula is her first cell phone novel.

After a childhood often spent without electricity and running water, Bekka escaped the beautiful wilderness of Talkeetna, Alaska, for indoor plumbing and 24/7 electricity in Berlin, Germany. Used to the cushy lifestyle, she discovered the Internet in college and has been wasting time on it ever since (when not frittering away her time on her iPhone). Somehow, she manages to write novels, including the award-winning Hannah Vogel mystery series set, in all places, 1930s Berlin. The series has received numerous starred reviews and the first book, A Trace of Smoke, was chosen as a Writer's Digest Notable debut.

She lives in Hawaii with her husband, son, two cats, and too many geckoes to count. iDrakula is her first cell phone novel.

Read an Excerpt

Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray:

June 11 8:14 PM
Renfield had a psychotic break. Carted off to Bellevue. More l8r

Wth? Details?

June 11 8:16 PM

Jonathan?

Text message from Mina Murray to Lucy Westenra

June 11 8:16 PM
Renfield went nuts. No details. Meet @Zen?

k

Don't bring fake id. Not scraping u off floor again

;)

From: Jonathan Harker
To: Mina Murray
Subject: Renfield
Sent: June 11 9:02 PM

Mina,
Here's Mr. Renfield's take on it:

Harker,
>As I am sure you are aware, my son Randolph is indisposed.
>He was scheduled to fl y to Bucharest tomorrow to meet
>with an important client. Can you go in his stead? The
>client requested you specifically, as Randolph apparently
>discussed you with him. The client was quite insistent.
>Although you are only a summer intern, I trust that we can
>quickly train you to carry out Randolph's duties
>satisfactorily. As I'm sure you are aware, it is a wonderful
>opportunity for you. Please make your own flight
>arrangements and then fill out an expense report for
>reimbursement.

Then he rattled on like always. Indisposed? They hauled Renfield Jr. past me screaming. He actually bit the head off a little gray mouse he caught in the cafeteria.

Short version: I'm off to Romania tomorrow. First time out of the country by myself. Wow, huh? How could I say no to a free trip to Europe?

I'll be stuck here in the cubicle catacombs until the middle of the night getting ready.
Want to swing by my dad's tomorrow and ride with me to the airport?

I know Renfield Jr. and Lucy haven't seen each other in months, but somebody should tell her what happened to him. I'm sure Renfield Sr. won't. Sorry I'll miss your jujitsu tournament. You'll just have to kick butt alone.
J

From: Tepes Travel
To: Jonathan Harker
Subject: Your Trip to Bucharest
Sent: June 11 9:02 PM

*********************************************************
THANK YOU! Travel Reservation Confirmation
*********************************************************
Dear Jonathan:
Thank you for booking your travel through Tepes Travel. Your trip to Otopeni Bucharest Airport (OTP), approximately 12.4 miles from Bucharest city central, is confirmed. A summary of your reservation is provided below.
Your Tepes Travel Trip ID is 3141 5926 5358
Ticket(s) issued on Thu, Jun 11 at 09:01 PM EST.

*********************************************************
ITINERARY
*********************************************************

For your boarding pass, use reference code QENDYN for online or airport check-in.
Fri, June 12
New York, NY (JFK) to Otopeni Bucharest (OTP)
Flight: Delta Airlines KL 9080 operated by KLM Royal
Dutch Airlines
Depart: 3:55 p.m., New York, NY (JFK)
Arrive: 6:00 a.m., Amsterdam Sat June 13 (one day later)
Flight: KLM 2701, operated by KLM Royal Dutch Airlines
Depart: 2:15 p.m., Amsterdam
Arrive: 6:10 p.m. Otopeni Bucharest (OTP)
Total Travel Time: 19 hrs 15 mins

*********************************************************
PRICING
*********************************************************

1 adult: $949.20
Taxes & fees: $110.00
Total: $1059.20

Text message from Jonathan Harker to Mina Murray

June 12 1:30 AM
Where r u?

Getting Lucy home. She puked. Ewww

Wear gloves. Lol. C u tomorrow?

Of course. How's Renfield?

Nothing new

Can't believe u r deserting me for the wilds of Romania tomorrow!!! Will miss u

U'll be too busy ripping people's arms off

But all by myself

Editorial Reviews

"Dracula is coming, but he's arriving on the shores of 2010 New York instead of 1897 England, with cell phones and laptops replacing the letters and newspaper clippings of Stoker's era. Forget the modern vampire, who sparkles in the sunlight and struggles with the desire for blood. Black brings Bram into the modern age with e-mails, smart phones and websites, all while preserving the brooding heart and vicious nature of Dracula, the literary ur-vampire... Though the restrictive page layout moves the narrative along at a brisk pace, this design-heavy book doesn't satisfy itself with simple IM transcripts; browser "screenshots," "attached" jpegs and smart-phone—framed text conversations (complete with those cute little speech balloons) alternate with more conventional-looking e-mails. There are nods to vampire lore in both URLs and webpage titles, and Mina's heartfelt final e-mail to Lucy blends a traditional goodbye with the ephemeral nature of today's digital technology. While not for the Gothic scholar, this bite-sized retelling of the seminal vampire novel won't drain anyone's attention span. (Horror. YA) " - Kirkus

"At first glance, this take on Bram Stoker's Dracula-told exclusively through text messages, Web browser screens, e-mails, and various photo and PDF attachments-looks like shameless pandering. But check out the first text: "Renfield had a psychotic break. Carted off to Bellevue. More l8r." It's an opening gambit indicative of Black's storytelling instinct, which consistently proves itself able to transcend gimmick. The format, with its realistic images of iPhone and iPad screens, actually lends the book a chilling sort of one-shock-per-page pulse-and let's not forget that Stoker organized his novel with the letters and diaries of his time, too. Black's enjoyable modifications turn the plot into a love triangle (well, actually, counting the count, a love pentagon): Mina is a jujitsu-practicing romantic; Jonathan, a womanizing cad; Lucy, his boozy booty call; and Abe Van Helsing, a premed student ("He's old," e-mails Mina, "twenty or so"). For every in-joke that weakens the otherwise serious mood ("Drakipedia"), there is an inspired idea (the five pages of bounced e-mails during Jonathan's captivity). Fast, inventive, creepy, and sure to be popular. " - Booklist

""The gimmick--Bram Stoker's tale retold entirely via smart phones, text messages, PDFs, etc.--results in a surprisingly upsetting one-shock-per-page pulse. And all those auto-rejected e0mails from Dracula's lair? Shudder." - Booklist, Top 10 Horror Fiction for Youth" - Booklist

From the Publisher

Dracula is coming, but he's arriving on the shores of 2010 New York instead of 1897 England, with cell phones and laptops replacing the letters and newspaper clippings of Stoker's era. Forget the modern vampire, who sparkles in the sunlight and struggles with the desire for blood. Black brings Bram into the modern age with e-mails, smart phones and websites, all while preserving the brooding heart and vicious nature of Dracula, the literary ur-vampire. Presuming readers have a familiarity with the classic tale, the plot and characterization are understandably thin, though the restrictive page layout moves the narrative along at a brisk pace--this design-heavy book doesn't satisfy itself with simple IM transcripts; browser "screenshots," "attached" jpegs and smart-phone–framed text conversations (complete with those cute little speech balloons) alternate with more conventional-looking e-mails. There are nods to vampire lore in both URLs and webpage titles, and Mina's heartfelt final e-mail to Lucy blends a traditional goodbye with the ephemeral nature of today's digital technology. While not for the Gothic scholar, this bite-sized retelling of the seminal vampire novel won't drain anyone's attention span. (Horror. YA)

Kirkus Reviews