First Book Summary

The first book in this fast-paced, page-turning series starts off with: "I've always been fascinated by spiders." These are the words of Darren Shan, an average 12-year-old boy, who goes to school with his best friend Steve Leonard (nicknamed Steve Leopard).

Their friend Alan arrives to school one morning with an interesting flyer advertising an illegal and mysterious traveling freak show: Cirque du Freak, which has just arrived in town. Darren and his friends pool their money together, but only end up being able to get two tickets, due to the circus policy. Steve gets one ticket, and by luck, chance, and destiny, Darren ends up with the second ticket.

They attend the Cirque, and see acts from contortionists to snake-boys, but one catches both boys' attentions: Mr. Larton Crepsly and his performing tarantula Madam Octa. Using a tin flute, the old, orange haired man can command the spider to do close to anything, including killing a goat in front of the live audience.

After the show, Steve lags behind, telling Darren to meet up later, but Darren waits and watches as Steve confront Mr. Crepsly. "I know who you are,” he says, "You're Vur Horston. You're a vampire."

So Steve convinces Mr. Crepsly/Vur Horston to turn him into a vampire's assistant, but after a blood check, Steve is pronounced evil blooded, and cannot become a vampire. With this news, Steve swears himself to the life of a vampire hunter and runs off.

Darren, infatuated with Madam Octa, formulates a plan to steal her, and does, making sure include a note of blackmail to the vampire. Things go well as Darren commands Madam Octa to perform similar novelty tricks, until his sister Annie bursts into the room, causing the spider to bite Steve, sending him into paralysis.

Darren searches out Mr. Crepsly, who stayed behind after the Cirque left, and finds him in the same abandoned theater. After some convincing, Mr. Crepsly agrees to give Steve the antidote for the bite, if Darren becomes his assistant. The deal is grudgingly agreed upon, and Darren is "blooded," by trading blood from the vampire to the human through fingertips.

Steve is administered the antidote and makes a full recovery, while Darren tries to outrun his fate as a half-vampire. After accidentally sucking the blood from his friend's sports injury (passing it off with a showy vampire joke) and almost biting his sister, Darren accepts his fate and goes back to Mr. Crepsly, who is once again waiting for him in the theater.

They make a plan to elaborately fake Darren's death, including the breaking of Darren's neck. This scheme goes without flaws, save for a mysterious visit during the viewing, where pictures are taken of Darren's fingertips. After many tearful goodbyes, Darren is buried in his coffin, only to be dug up soon after by Mr. Crepsly, completing their plan.

Directly after his being dug up however, Darren runs into his friend Steve again, who threatens Darren's life: "I'll grow. I'll get older and stronger and braver. I'm going to devote my entire life to developing my body and my mind, and when the day comes...when I'm ready...when I'm fully equipped and properly prepared...I'm going to hunt you down and kill you"

So ends their encounter and Darren leaves his home, with his new master Mr. Crepsly.

CONTINUE TO BOOK II => THE VAMPIRE'S ASSISTANT