Cirque Du Freak

Infobox Book |
name = Cirque du Freak


image_caption = Cirque du Freak 1st ed. front cover for the UK and Ireland
author = Darren Shan
country = United Kingdom
language = English
series = The Saga of Darren Shan
genre = Young adult, Horror novel
publisher = Little, Brown
pub_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 trilogy, which is part of The Saga of Darren Shan, 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 and 2004

Plot summary

Darren Shan and his two friends, Steve Leonard (Known 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 the man at the circus points out that the flyer states that for each flyer, only two tickets may be purchased. So they play a game of chance to see who will go with Steve (who put in more money than anyone else and who went to get the tickets). It is decided that Steve will cut up blank paper, the size and shape of the ticket, put in a container and toss the pieces of paper into the air. Darren somehow wins the ticket by closing his eyes and reaching blindly into the air.

Darren and Steve become amazed by the fantastic and rather disturbing show. However, halfway through the performance, Steve recognizes the "spider charmer", Larten Crepsley, from a magazine he read on vampires. He slips away from Darren after the show to confront Mr. Crepsley (which the magazine calls Vur Hortson and thus Steve does as such) with the idea of becoming his assistant. Mr. Crepsley, wary, tests Steve's blood and finds it to be "bad blood." 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 flute and mind control (as he had seen Mr. Crepsley 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 Darren's 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 Darren's luck, Mr. Crepsley procures the antidote, but the cure is extremely rare and cannot be replaced. Mr. Crepsley agrees to save Steve but only if Darren becomes his assistant, and a half-vampire. Darren reluctantly agrees to these terms in order to save his best friend, but runs, trying to break his deal with Mr. Crepsley. He later finds that he cannot control his vampiric urges, and nearly bites his little sister, and draws blood from his smaller friend, Alan. He fears his half vampire side may become public knowledge. So he decides to return to see Mr. Crepsley, in urgent need of help. Mr. Crepsley helps him fake his own death in order to escape without his family realizing the truth. Also, Darren feels that if he dies, his family would mourn and (hopefully)get over his death. But if he just ran away, his parents and sister would continually hope that he would come back, and forever hope to see him walk up the drive... That wouldn't have done to think about his family in so much pain.

After he is buried, and his funeral is over, he is dug up again by Mr. Crepsley. What he doesn't know is that the night that Darren and Mr. Crepsley went to cure Steve, the boy had become conscious and seen Darren and Mr. Crepsley in his room. Suspecting that Darren had turned vampire, he had followed him since then. Discovering Mr. Crepsley grave-digging and then his former best friend emerging from the grave didn't shock him. He had already guessed what Darren and Mr. Crepsley were up too. Cursing and claiming that Darren stole his destiny, he swore to himself that he would kill Darren. He and his master. Later, he runs away, and Darren says nothing about Steve, but retreats with Mr. Crepsley into the night to drink and live as how a vampire should.

Film

A film adaptation 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 Massoglia as Darren and Josh Hutcherson as Steve.

It has been rumored the movie will come out in February, 2009.