Cirque Du Freak
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| Cirque du Freak | |
 Cirque du Freak 1st ed. front cover for the UK and Ireland |
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| Author | Darren Shan |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Series | The Saga of Darren Shan |
| Genre(s) | Young adult, Horror novel |
| Publisher | Little, Brown |
| Publication date | 4 January 2000 |
| Media type | Print (Paperback & Hardback) |
| Pages | 192 pp (first edition, paperback) |
| ISBN | ISBN 978-0006754169 (first edition, paperback) |
| Followed by | The Vampire's Assistant |
Cirque Du Freak (Cirque Du Freak: A Living Nightmare in the United States) is the first novel in The Saga of Darren Shan by Darren Shan. It is part of the Vampire Blood series, which comprises a total of twelve books; Cirque Du Freak, The Vampire's Assistant, Tunnels of Blood and nine other novels. Cirque du Freak was first published in Great Britain by HarperCollins in 2000, and was later published in the Vampire Blood Series in 2003.
[edit] Plot summary
Darren Shan and his two schoolmates, Steve Leonard (often referred to as Steve Leopard) and Tommy are excited when their friend Alan comes to school one day with a flyer advertising the "Cirque Du Freak", a freak show. The boys pool their money but can only purchase two tickets, so they play a game of chance to see who will go with Steve (who put in more money than anyone else).It is decided that Steve will clip blank paper, the size and shape of the ticket, put in a bag and toss into the air. Darren wins the ticket by, closing his eyes and reaching blindly into the air.
Darren and Steve become mesmerized by the fantastic and disturbing show. However, halfway through the performance, Steve recognizes the "spider charmer," Larten Crepsley, from a book he read on vampires. He slips away from Darren after the show to confront Mr. Crepsley (who he calls Vur Hortson) with the idea of becoming his assistant. Mr. Crepsley, wary, tests Steve's blood and finds it to be "bad and evil." Steve, enraged, threatens the vampire before leaving, not knowing that Darren has witnessed all of this in secret. Darren, now somewhat fearful of Steve for wanting to become a "murderous, evil creature", runs home after eavesdropping on Steve and the vampire instead of going back to Steve's house as planned. He avoids Steve at school for the next week or so, too afraid of what he has done to talk to him.
Meanwhile, Darren becomes interested in Mr. Crepsley's poisonous spider, Madam Octa, who is involved in his act. He eventually decides to steal it and keeps it hidden in his closet. He learns how to control the spider through a whistle and mind control (as he had seen Mr. Crepsly do in the show) and finally grows the confidence to show Steve. However, while he is demonstrating his abilities, his sister walks in throwing off his concentration. The spider, now free of Darrens' control, bites Steve, sending him into a coma-like state. Darren, now fearful for his friends life, Goes to find Mr. Crepsley in hope for a cure. And to Darrens luck, Mr. Crepsley procures the antidote, but the cure is extremely rare. Mr. Crepsly agrees to save the boy but only if Darren becomes his assistant, and a half vampire. Darren agrees to these terms in order to save his friend, but runs, seeing that its too late, what he had agreed to become. Later finds that he cannot control his vampiric urges. He fears his half vampire side may become public knowledge. So he decides that he would return to see Mr. Crepsley, in urgent need of help. He decides to fake his own death in order to escape without his family realizing. After he is buried, he is dug up again by Mr. Crepsley. When Steve realizes that Darren had faked his own death, he becomes angry with him, feeling betrayed. In a rage, Steve then vows to Darren that he will search for him until he finds him and then end Mr. Crepsley, and Darren's, life.
[edit] Movie
A movie of Cirque Du Freak started filming in February 2008, based on the first three books in the Cirque Du Freak series. It is being filmed in New Orleans and it is directed by Paul Weitz and produced by Lauren Shuler Donner. The film stars Chris J. Kelly as Darren Shan.
[edit] External links
- Darren Shan official website
- Cirque Du Freak information
- Cirque Du Freak Movie Infomation on IMDB.com
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