In honor of the recent release of a certain movie with vampires and quivering-lipped girls, I thought of how different authors have portrayed vampires over the ages.
For example, traditional fiction describes vampires as somewhat captivating creatures with lothario tendencies. In Eastern European folklore, however, they were simply re-animated corpses.
In some fiction, sunlight is the death of vampires, while in others it’s just a nuisance. Vampires in most fiction, however, seem to maintain a pallid complextion.
Some vampires are soulless demonic creatures that have survived hundreds of years. Some are simply people infected with a parasite/virus that makes them cannibalistic and withdrawn from those not like them.
And let us not forget the garlic/holy water/turning into a bat/sleeping in a coffin stereotypes of old.
For me, I’m a traditionalist. I prefer my vampires afraid of daylight, dashing but dangerous, cursed creatures that don’t just fall in LUV at the drop of a lady’s handkerchief. That’s not to say I’m against human/vampire romance, but I prefer the vampire to nosh on a few necks before he finds The One.
So, what about you? Do you prefer the old-school vampire, or are you loving the new twists?
More than One Way to Make a Vampire
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Chris Eboch
Greg R. Fishbone
Nick
lindajoysingleton
Parker Peevyhouse
Joni Sensel
I prefer the old school vampires too, however, I do like taking a more biological view on them.
Old school never addresses the stink problem, or the fact that they’d have to have some kind of circulation issue.
I agree about the necks thing, though. Very much. Part of the vampire’s appeal is their inherent selfishness. These are individuals who chose to prey on other people rather than face death. What kind of person makes that choice? (This is excluding those who are forced to change). How does immortality change them once they realize just how long a hundred years are?
“Old school never addresses the stink problem”
Ha! I never thought of that aspect. Regarding who chooses to do such a thing,
I remember on one episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, a kid wanted to become a vampire because he had a brain tumor and felt like he was too young to die. I suppose that’s as good a reason as any!
I’d have to say Joss Whedon’s vampires are still my favorite to this day. Spike is a vampiric icon. He embodied ruthlessness and bloodlust with humor and British swagger. If vamps are always destined to fall in love with a mortal, I say Angel did it best. He was a lover and a fighter who could go bad simply by making love, the one benefit his soul makes possible. Talk about forbidden love! Angel can kick Edward Cullen’s sparkly bottom any day of the week.
Agreed. There should be some sort of consequence to sweet bliss, other than “I’m going to live longer than you, and I don’t have to worry about carbs.”
I like books that have to do with vampires because they way they are discribed in the books.
Thank you, Rebeca! I agree, it’s important to have excellent description in order to enjoy a good book.