Our campaign to support the Bindery continues with the third of Castalia Library’s new line of Signed First Editions, OUT OF THE SHADOWS by Vox Day. Herewith follows a review of the 225-page book, which sets the stage for the Midnight World of MIDNIGHT’S WAR as it explains how and why, after many centuries of influencing events from behind the scenes, the vampires finally came out of hiding in order to take control of the human world.
A Masterful Reinvention of Vampire Fiction
In an era saturated with sparkly vampires and supernatural romance, Out of the Shadows emerges as a sophisticated return to what makes vampire fiction truly compelling: the fundamental terror of discovering that humanity isn't at the top of the food chain. This remarkable novel, which establishes the universe for Chuck Dixon and Vox Day's Midnight's War comics series, delivers a vampire revelation story that rivals the best works in the genre while carving out entirely new territory.
The novel's central premise—that vampires have infiltrated every level of human society and are ready to reveal themselves on their own terms—unfolds with paranoid brilliance. Rather than another story of vampires "coming out of the coffin," Out of the Shadows presents something far more ambitious and unsettling: a meticulously planned global coup that has been centuries in the making. The result is a systematic dismantling of human autonomy that unfolds with the inexorable logic of a chess grandmaster's endgame.
The protagonist's journey from human scientist to reluctant vampire aristocrat explores moral complexity without falling into brooding romanticism. Unlike typical vampire fiction that relies on action-horror or gothic romance, this novel grounds its supernatural elements in believable science and realpolitik. The life-extension technology at the story's heart provides a clever bridge between the mystical and the scientific, making the vampire revelation feel inevitable rather than fantastic.
The worldbuilding here is extraordinary. Rather than focusing on vampire clan wars or ancient origins, Out of the Shadows examines what would really happen if vampires revealed themselves in our interconnected, media-saturated world. The vampire council's manipulation of global events demonstrates a scope and sophistication that makes most fictional vampire hierarchies look quaint by comparison. This isn't just about individual predators or small covens—it's about an entire shadow civilization stepping into the light.
What sets this novel apart is its unflinching examination of power dynamics. While many vampire stories excel at showing vampirism as infection or intimate predation, Out of the Shadows presents vampirism as the ultimate expression of political and economic control. The boardroom scenes crackle with as much tension as any midnight hunt, and the political maneuvering proves more frightening than any supernatural transformation.
The novel never falls into the trap of making its vampires either purely sympathetic or simply monstrous. Instead, like the best works of vampire fiction from Dracula onward, it recognizes that the most frightening monsters are those who can make compelling arguments for their supremacy. These vampires aren't conflicted about their nature—they're supremely confident in their right to rule, and that confidence is perhaps the most chilling aspect of the entire story.
For readers seeking vampire fiction that respects their intelligence while still delivering genuine chills, Out of the Shadows is essential reading. It's a novel that understands that the best vampire stories aren't about the monsters themselves, but about what they reveal about human nature, power, and survival. In an age of surveillance capitalism and eroding privacy, the novel's exploration of hidden control systems feels particularly relevant and unsettling.
This is vampire fiction for our times—smart, political, and absolutely unforgettable. It's a book that will make you look at every powerful person differently, wondering what lies beneath their public facade. It will make you question whether humanity's position at the apex of evolution is as secure as we believe.
The Midnight World awaits. Don't miss the chance to witness its birth.
OUT OF THE SHADOWS will also be published by Castalia House in traditional hardcover and ebook editions.
Please enjoy the following excerpt from the story.
The Wall Street Journal
BUSINESS & TECHNOLOGY
In an exclusive interview, CEO Elliott Grahame reveals that his biotech startup plans to extend human lifespan by up to 25 years—and how 20,000 people will receive the treatment within the next 12 months
By David Porter
SAN FRANCISCO—The conference room on the top floor of HemaTech's gleaming South San Francisco headquarters offers a panoramic view of the Bay Area's biotech corridor, a fitting backdrop for what is almost certainly the most significant medical announcement of the 21st century. Elliott Grahame, the 38-year-old founder and CEO of HemaTech, sits across from me, looking remarkably composed for someone about to reveal that his company has cracked one of humanity's oldest challenges: extending the human lifespan.
"We're not talking about marginal improvements," Grahame says, his voice carrying the careful precision of someone who understands the weight of his words. "We're talking about adding 20 to 25 healthy, productive years to the average human life."
It's a claim that would sound like pure science fiction if it weren't backed by years of rigorous research, a panoply of successful human and animal trials, and the backing of some of Europe's most prestigious investment firms. HemaTech, which just six months ago withdrew from a highly anticipated IPO, has been operating in relative secrecy while perfecting what Grahame calls "the most significant advancement in human biology since the discovery of antibiotics."
The Science of Longevity
The technology behind HemaTech's breakthrough centers on what the company terms "Selective Cellular Regeneration Therapy" or SCRT. Without diving too deeply into the proprietary details, Grahame explains that the treatment involves a combination of modified mRNA sequences that reprogram certain cells to maintain their younger characteristics for extended periods of time.
"Think of it like this," Grahame explains, leaning forward with the infectious enthusiasm that has characterized his career since his days at Stanford's bioengineering program. "Every cell in your body has a built-in timer—telomeres that shorten with each division, accumulated damage from oxidative stress, genetic mutations that build up over time. Our therapy doesn't just slow these processes; it reverses some of them and prevents others from occurring in the first place."
The science builds on decades of longevity research, from the discovery of telomerase to recent breakthroughs in cellular reprogramming. But where others have achieved incremental success in laboratory settings, HemaTech claims to have developed a scalable, safe, and effective treatment suitable for human application.
Dr. Elodie Mitchell, a leading geneticist at Johns Hopkins who is not affiliated with HemaTech but has reviewed their published data, calls the achievement "paradigm-shifting." She notes, "If their clinical data holds up under broader application, we're looking at the biggest revolution in human health since the discovery of penicillin. The implications are staggering."
From Lab to Life
The path from theoretical breakthrough to practical application has been remarkably swift by biotech standards. HemaTech's initial trials, conducted over the past three years with a cohort of 500 volunteers, have shown consistent results: biological age markers improving by an average of 15-20 years, with some subjects showing even more dramatic improvements.
"We're not just extending the human lifespan," emphasizes Immanuel Boschwitz, HemaTech's Chief Financial Officer and Grahame's longtime collaborator. "We're extending what we call healthspan—the period of adult life that is spent in active good health. Our subjects aren't just living longer; they're maintaining vitality, cognitive function, physical capability and personal productivity well beyond historical expectations."
The treatment protocol involves an initial series of injections over six months, followed by maintenance doses every two years. Unlike daily medications or continuous interventions, SCRT is designed to create lasting changes at the cellular level.
"The elegance of the approach is its simplicity from the patient perspective," Grahame notes. "After the initial treatment period, you're essentially done. Your cells have been reprogrammed to age more slowly and repair themselves more effectively. The maintenance is really just to help the body stay on the track it’s already on."
A Grandiose Vision
As our interview concludes, I ask Grahame about HemaTech's ultimate vision. Where does this all lead?
"In the immediate term, we're focused on our 20,000-patient rollout and gathering the necessary data to support our campaign for broader regulatory approval," he says. "Medium-term, we want to drive costs down and access up—our goal is to make this affordable and available to anyone who wants it within 30 years."
"And long-term?" I press.
Grahame looks out at the Bay Area sprawl, seeming to see something beyond the immediate landscape. "Long-term, we're talking about a fundamental redefinition of human existence. When death becomes a choice rather than an inevitability, everything changes—our relationships, our ambitions, our entire social structure. We're not just extending life; we're transforming what it means to be human."
It's a grandiose vision, but sitting in HemaTech's offices, surrounded by the evidence of their achievement, it doesn't seem impossible. The company has already done what many thought couldn't be done—developed a practical, effective means of significantly extending human life. The question now isn't whether life extension is possible, but how quickly it will reshape our world.
As I leave HemaTech's headquarters, I'm struck by a final thought. We've always measured human achievement against the constraint of mortality—what we can accomplish in our limited time. If that constraint is lifted, or even just significantly loosened, what becomes possible? What problems could we solve with an extra quarter-century of healthy, productive life?
Elliott Grahame and HemaTech are betting that the answer will not just transform just individual lives but the trajectory of human civilization itself. And based on what they've already achieved, it's a bet that might just pay off.
David Porter is a senior technology and business correspondent for The Wall Street Journal. He has covered the biotech industry for fifteen years.
HemaTech expects to begin its expanded treatment program in January. For more information about their technology and treatment protocols, visit www.hematech.com.
OUT OF THE SHADOWS can be purchased in the two usual locations. If you happen to have any trouble with your credit card being approved at Arkhaven, please try NDM Express.
The sale of the first three Signed First Editions will end on Wednesday, September 3rd.
So excited about all of these books!
Huh.
Blood Technology.
Right in your face, if you will forgive the pun.