Infection Points - by Elena Pavlova (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

Urban predators hibernate between November and March. At least, they used to.

A mytho-ecologist out of Sofia University, recruited into Urban Predators Without Borders, never imagined being one of the only living inhabitants in Block 10--observing a Bulgarian nest while living in a rundown apartment, tranquilizer gun loaded with silver nitrate by his bed.

With a species-collapsing outbreak spreading from nest to nest, any variation in local vampires' habits is extremely bad news.

Science and politics collide as the symbiotic relationship between predator and prey is forever altered. Between a deadly fungus and a system set on extermination, one burning question emerges. Is this infection just biological--or is it institutional?

Review Quotes

"Hangovers, poverty-stricken students, dangerous fieldwork, conservation biology, departmental politics, inter-lab rivalry--and vampires--all packed into less than a hundred pages. This is more than just a cool new take on the hoary old vampire trope: it's a pretty good portrait of grad school. Except the vampires are the study animals, not the administration."
--Peter Watts, award-winning author of Blindsight

"Pavlova pulls a remarkable trick: making vampires feel fascinating and vulnerable. Unnerving and eerie, Infection Points turns ecology into something dark, delivers a tense tale of secrets and disease, and proves why you shouldn't give academics a firearm."
--Haralambi Markov, author of The Language of Knives

"Infection Points is layered and complex, much like the relationship between humans and vampires that it posits."
--Alex Shvartsman, author of The Best of All Possible Planets

"Original and fiercely lean, Infection Points reimagines not only vampires, but the dangers of human agendas that depersonalize, control, and ultimately ravage marginalized communities."
--Dennis Mahoney, author of Our Winter Monster and Dear Demons

"Infection Points handles eco-horror, science, and vampires with unflinching practicality and compassion. I was truly riveted from start to finish."
--Mercedes M. Yardley, three-time Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Darling

"Infection Points provides a unique and fascinating perspective on vampirism, exploring the socio-economic impact of these urban predators in Bulgaria by blending horror with academia and science with myth. The story introduces many intriguing concepts, both novel and borrowed from Balkan lore, to create a world not too far removed from our own that demands greater exploration. A curious reader will no doubt find this novella only whets the appetite, fueling the hunger for more stories where vampires are not only the subject of ethically dubious academic study but also the unwitting victims of complex human ecopolitics."
--Xan van Rooyen, award-winning author of Born of Malice and Waypoint Seven

"In Infection Points, Pavlova delivers a poignant dose of dark satire about those infected and affected by a deadly contagion. Funny, heartfelt, and terrifying--an entertaining antidote for readers looking for fast-paced eco-horror."
--J. R. Blanes, author of Portraits of Decay

About the Author

Elena Pavlova lives in Montana, Bulgaria, and is the author of numerous short stories, novels, fiction collections, and game books. Her short stories have appeared in various Bulgarian publications, winning awards from national competitions, while two of her novels have received prestigious awards: Bulgaria's National Konstantin Konstantinov Award (2019) went to Kamen and the Pirates from 5-B and the ESFS's Best Work for Children Award (2021) went to Christmas Carolers vs Hallus Beasts. She is also an accomplished translator and has translated into Bulgarian authors as diverse as Robert Howard, Robert R. McCammon, and Peter Watts. Her short stories have appeared in Samovar, Asimov's Science Fiction, and Night Shades, among others. In 2021, she was awarded the SLF's Diverse Worlds Grant.