| "Thicker Than Water" | |
|---|---|
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| Author | Harry Turtledove |
| First Appearance | Fantasy Book |
| Collected | No |
| Genre(s) | Fantasy horror |
| Publication date | March, 1986 |
"Thicker Than Water" is a vampire-themed short story by Harry Turtledove. It was first published in Fantasy Book, March, 1986, ed. Dennis Mallonee & Nick Smith (Fantasy Book Enterprises). It has not been reprinted.
The story appears to be set in medieval France, based on the characters' names and their Catholic practices. A vampire, starving and desperate, makes its way into an unnamed village and begins preying on villagers. However, its presence is soon detected, and it falls to Guillaume, the carpenter and his brother Raoul, the weaver, to save the village.
The title refers to the adage "blood is thicker than water." This statement is first attested in writing in 1180 by the German poet Heinrich der Glïchezäre, although its popular usage may be older.
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