It’s a strange thing, but Seth Grahame-Smith started a whole new genre of publishing (the hijacked classic), and his name is still relatively unknown. Sure, we know his book. Pride and Prejudice and Zombies sold like nobody’s business when it’s quirky premise first caught the business by surprise. “What if I cut and paste literature’s greatest romance novel alongside new selections replete with zombie mayhem?” Sounds like a silly idea, but it worked like a charm. PP&Z was a witty, if completely ridiculous, piece of work that left me smiling long after I turned the last page and started recommending it to my friends.

What followed was a metric crap-ton of books with a suspiciously similar premise, all melding classic literature with supernatural mishaps, usually to comedic effect. Ironically, the genre continued without any further word from Grahame-Smith…  until now. Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter, is his extraordinarily anticipated “sophomore effort.” It’s also a heck of a lot better than his last book. If nothing else, Lincoln’s text is all his, which means (in spite of obvious novelty factor) we have no clue what he’s going to do next.

The premise is obvious, so it’s bothersome to relate. Bottom line, Lincoln was not only one of our nation’s defining presidential leaders…he also hated vampires. A lot. In the biographical style meant to playfully invoke respected historical biographer David McCullough, Honest Abe the Slayer’s life unfolds—from his childhood, political campaigns, loves, and ultimately the Civil War, which Grahame-Smith argues was secretly a conflict between unholy legions and the righteous.

Whether or not this classifies as a “good” book will depend on your expectations, even more so than other works of a fantastical nature. Grahame-Smith doesn’t possess a particularly original writer’s voice, nor is his prose fluid. But that’s not really the point, is it? In the hands of a guy like Joss Whedon, a concept like this could really soar. As is, it is at times very witty, but at others kind of annoying. (Vampires are responsible for slavery? Really?!)

But that’s not to suggest it’s a waste of time, either. This kind of reading is perfect for airport waiting or long flights. Matter of fact, in a recent trip to Florida and back, I saw this book everywhere. The folks who were reading it looked pretty enthralled. It’s easy to turn the brain off, appreciate the concept for what it is and how Grahame-Smith pulls it off: completely deadpanned, as if he meant every word.

If I sound a bit cynical at the end of the day, it’s because I’m not completely sold on Grahame-Smith as a solid writer. There’s great potential, and this book is fun if nothing else. But a humorist of serious weight and substance, he is not. Give it some time. More concepts like this, and he might actually pull off a real classic among them. If nothing else, Abraham Lincoln, Vampire Hunter will appeal to a niche audience. They will eat this up.

In a couple years, Seth Grahame-Smith will be a celebrity author. Mark my words.