The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, The Vampire Accountant

IF you have never been fortunate enough to see a look of utter surprise race across a werewolf face, I highly recommend you do so- Fred

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, The Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes is one of my favorite books of all time. The truly awesome Drew Hayes has once again delivered a fun, sweet, interesting set of protagonists who turn the expectations of the genre on its ear.

This book has plenty of surprises! I know that naming the types of creatures we meet could dull the charms of Fred for a first time reader. So here is a short, non spoiler synopsis.

Fred lived a boring life until one day Fred woke up dead. Even then his life didn't change much beyond his allergic reaction to sunlight and his use of a bit of creative accounting (cooking the books for a local hospital) in exchange for blood. A year after his heart stopped beating Fred was still an accountant, still had no friends, and generally (un)life wasnt any different then life.

Life was terribly uninteresting, until Fred, trying to do something different, went to his ten year high school reunion and his life changed (for the better).

Drew Hayes writes Freds tale in diary format (something that I usually loath, but in this case it works) allowing us the great pleasure of enjoying Freds delightfully intelligent and slightly self-deprecating narration. Throughout the entire book Fred comes to realize that he is interesting, and fun, and can have friends, and even maybe a drop dead gorgeous girlfriend. By the way, Fred appreciates his girlfriend, they compromise and do things to make the other one happy, and directly ask one another questions. Rather than having a stupid misunderstanding drive the books plot forward, Hayes instead writes Freds tale with life moving the plot forward. Also, thank Ganesh, no explicit sex scenes; when Fred has sex he says in his diary he had sex, and that is it. He knows we dont want to read the details, so he doesnt share them.

I had always tried to be eco-conscious, but realizing I could actually live to be affected by environmental disasters had doubled my efforts- Fred

Each of the 5 short stories introduces you to one of Fred's new companions. Each of the short stories is great. My favorite story is A Vampire at the Reunion, but all of the stories are delightfully fun.

Drew Hayes, like in his other series NPCs and SuperPowereds, has taken an old tired genre and made an actually great, original book that is truly enjoyable.

I highly recommend this book, and its sequel (Death and Untaxes) to anyone, anywhere, and any age (above the age of 10.)

The Utterly Uninteresting and Unadventurous Tales of Fred, the Vampire Accountant by Drew Hayes via Amazon

Previously on Boing Boing:

To do in LA: '30/90,' photo essays by Star Foreman, Jan. 29