I feel so dirty on this one.
First, I feel sick just putting any Twilight picture on here. I’ll make things better for myself with a picture at the end. Second, this isn’t supposed to be a Twilight bash, so I’m going to get some history out of the way first. Okay, maybe a rant and I hope people answer the question too.
Prior to Twilight, vampires were menacing and vicious. Even the good ones had moments of going bad or a reason for why they were neutered. Angel had a soul. Spike had a chip in his head. Morbius still had a moral compass. Yet, they still killed and took on a monstrous appearance at times. Unless you’re in a comedy or a kid’s show, a vampire needs to be a monster. Then came Twilight and vampires are now seen as . . . I don’t even know what to call them. Eunuchs? Bitches? It isn’t even the series fault because Meyers never set out to destroy the vampire mythos. It’s the idiot fans that never knew real vampires or are harboring long desires for David Boreanaz only they want him to look like he did in the 90’s.
As much as readers and vampire fans cringe if someone says the word ‘twilight’, writers got nailed on this one. I remember reading about publishing companies rejecting anything that had vampires because they were getting swamped with Twilight clones. I don’t remember this ever happening with Harry Potter. Somewhere in this time, people were made to believe that anyone could write a book because Stephanie Meyers did it. So, they all tried to do exactly what she did and, somehow, they did it worse. This in turn made it a challenge and near death sentence for an author to write about vampires. As someone whose second series will be vampires, I’m angry because I’ve been planning mine since 1999. Though, mine will definitely be the blood, gore, and violence vampires. No daytime disco ball, high school trolling bloodsucker that thinks mortal jailbait will make the perfect wife because (I assume) she smells better than the other girls. Seriously, Angel did it better and it was revealed there was a reason for him being there beyond waiting a wife.
So, what do I look for in vampires? Viciousness. I can get behind a hero vampire just as much as I can get behind the monster. For me, a vampire can have a consciousness, but they have to always be at war with their monster side. There needs to be the drinking of blood and the path of bodies in their wake. Whether it be victims or villains, I don’t care as long as that ferocity and bloodlust is there. I enjoy them having a seductive, sensual appeal too because there’s always been something about the vampire mythos that makes them attractive to mortals. It can be hypnosis, an aura of attraction, or being damn hot, but their attractiveness is one of the things that sets them apart from the ugly monsters. A drooling werewolf (with or without shirt) will make you run on sight. A charming vampire that you don’t realize is a monster will bring in the suspense of ‘will the mortal figure it out or is this one a snack?’
Again, not to bash on Twilight, but you really can’t avoid that when vampires come up. Yes, I got in a vampire discussion over the weekend with a stranger and it did not go well. So, throw your hat into the ring on this one. What do you, as a reader, look for in the beloved bloodsuckers? Here’s a palate cleanser for the Mr. Shparkles picture:
Forgot caption
It’s so beautiful
Legends of Windemere 
One word…Nosferatu … I am not a big fan of the Hollywoodization of Vampire Lore… If not Nosferatu then Count Chocula… love them chocolaty marshmellows
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I thought Nosferatu was the beginning of the Hollywoodization of Vampire Lore.
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german film and a lot truer to Vampire Myth… not the Bram Stoker Vampire myth which he partially ripped off… Still Dracula is an excellent book that has never transitioned well for me into movies… Film Dracula put the vampire in a tux and made him Suave and handsome…
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I’m confused. Are you saying Bram Stoker ripped off Nosferatu or the other way around? Because I read that Nosferatu was loosely based on Dracula. Also, I do have one issue with Nosferatu. It’s the source of the sunlight death part of the mythos, which didn’t exist beforehand. Prior to that it was weaker in sunlight, which I felt made them a bigger threat to mortals. Now you can take a vampire out with a tanning lamp.
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Nosferatu still gives me the creeps when I watch it… other Vampires I find laughable… but that’s just me…
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I think vampires will always be a thing for personal interpretation but that said I would say the creatures in greek mythology and other mythos where they feed on energy, or the soul would be closer to Succubae in origin in D&D a lesser Demon if I remember correctly, but in myth closer to what you described… and that may have been part of the sexualisation of the Vampire… I do have a big problem though with vampires that have a conscious as all myths Stoker’s included Vampires had no soul and driven solely by hunger…
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Succubus use sex to get the energy of a victim up and then feast on the life force. Incubus go after the women. The similarity is that energy and blood are both seen as life force, so the terms were even interchanged at times. Vampires probably came off the older myths and the blood was added to make them more primal and scarier. At least that makes sense to me.
The conscience is a grey area for me. If the vampire is the monster and villain then definitely no conscience. Yet, you do need one if you’re going to make the vampire a ‘hero’ or simply the focus of the story. Most times it’s done poorly. I think a great example of it working is Angel. Cursed to have a soul and it goes away if he has a moment of pure happiness, so it’s definitely played up as a downside. The vampires that have a conscience with no explanation are weak.
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John Polidori’s 1819 novella “The Vampyre” was the first to give the vampire Charisma influencing the genre to present day… mythos similar to vampire mythos dates back to almost the stone age in oral traditions, including creatures like Succubae which were all precursors to the modern Vampire as we know it… pre 1819 they were perceived in various states of decomposing although decomposition seemed to occur slower than with regular dead
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The decomposing thing is interesting. Though, I can see how that vanished when the charisma came into play. Sounds like vampires were a type of zombie at one point.
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the being bit by a vampire was fairly recent in how one became a vampire… at one time in one culture it was believed that if an animal crossed your grave, another time and culture believed this is what happened to suicides. The mostly fed off livestock in those days… but yes Zombies are also a precursor to vampire myth as they were essentially (un)dead in the traditional sense of the word… and ya it’s kinda hard to find a guy whose nose has been eaten away and flesh is falling off with bodies of bloated gasses very attractive isn’t it
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There was also the belief that a werewolf became a vampire when it died. I’m starting to wonder what the world’s first monster was. Not counting things that really existed and could eat you. It’s just amazing how much crossing over there is with some creatures.
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I would assume the first monsters are as old as man, exaggerations of those real threats and explanation for those occurrences that had no explanation…for example the first herder had half his herd die couldn’t be explained but it happened ( could have been mad cow disease, or depending on the species domesticated but for the sake of argument say cows) or even when we were still hunter gatherers and a cave population suffered high mortality (the plague) without explanation it becomes something of dark spirits… even today there are things science can’t account for or discount (Alien mythos for example)
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Good point. I could see some of them being misunderstandings of real creatures too. A version of mermaids were born from seeing manatees or something like that. They saw the tails and jumped to weird scurvy-induced conclusions.
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as I said once before I wanted at one time to write a fantasy book that dispelled the myths and gave evidence to what it may have been things like your manatee thing but go through hundreds of creatures in the genre… halflings = pigmies… etc…etc I have the opportunity to do this in my romance as I begin in the stone age and I could weave it into the story quite easily and I may do that… but not to the degree of a fantasy book and in the confines of a Romance… it sounds like it could be a challenge that would be fun later on in the story… but my characters are not at the point of creating mythos in their history yet… they are still only grunting and groaning…
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Very interesting. They could always do cave painting to show what they see. Bad drawings could confuse further generations.
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Nosferatu was loosely based upon Dracula but remained true to the Vampire mythos Pre Stoker also… Vampires were (un)dead and original myth does not describe them as being sensual creatures but terrifying creatures… Stoker sexualized the Vampire Myth… in my humble opinion Nosferatu is a better representation of the myth… than the Hollywood takes…
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Depends on the mythos in a way. The Lamia from Greek mythology was associated with vampires during later translations. We tend to think of the European mythos and the blood drinkers. Eastern vampires feed off breath or spirit too. So, now I wonder: what makes something a vampire? Is this something else that is open to interpretation by a person?
I never got a creepy vibe from Nosferatu. I thought he was a little silly, but I saw it when I was in college and was already well into vampires.
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I am a Rice fan so I love Vampires with personality who have far more seductive and sensuous than they are gruesome. I prefer them human-like with human emotions and qualities.
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I agree. I think vampires have the best design for humanity than the other monsters. That’s what makes them so appealing in and out of their stories.
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I agree with you—I haven’t read all of them (in fact I lost interest in the third book about halfway through)—but I love that her Vampires have so MUCH emotion. They are almost more ruled by their emotions and whims than humans are. The cold-as-ice vampire could work if they were frightening, which Sparkly Cedric certainly is not.
And Charles: I agree with your frustration that now the Vampire “genre”/mythos is tainted. I’ll admit, Twilight was big when I was in high school, so that was my first big introduction to them in print (I watched Angel re-runs and loved them), but I’ve since found other (better) examples. I’ve played around with a few different vampire story ideas but I definitely struggle with feeling that I’m working under the shadow of Ms. Meyers.
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I didn’t like Lestat. He was to fabricated for the masses rather than carrying a story well of being made by the Maker…that came later in a whole different book. Didn’t like that.
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I didn’t like him in Interview, but I actually did like him more in The Vampire Lestat—I liked that you got to see more of him rather than this crazed, cruel creature we got in Interview.
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I had that issue when I looked at my vampires again and then I realize they’re entirely different. She went for the romantic vampire. Mine are warrior vampires that will be doing a lot more fighting than making out in a pine tree. People probably need to be reminded what else a vampire can do besides romance.
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I think the best way to combat it is by doing that—playing and tweaking the current/canon mythos to make it new. There are obviously some things that you can’t change, but what fun is it if every vampire is exactly the same? The TV show Vampire Diaries is a guilty pleasure of mine and one of the reasons is because the vampires are so well done—and there’s a whole unique creation myth along with some other interesting traits.
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I got into True Blood for a bit. Then it stopped being a lot about the vampires, but I only made it through Season 4. I think I’m going to stick to this vampire/established mythos theme for the week. At least as best as I can because I have a ‘how to write magic duels’ post that I promised for Wednesday.
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That’s what I’ve heard about True Blood—never sounded like something I would enjoy long term. I’ll be interested to read what you have to say about the vampires!
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Might take me until Thursday to do it. I just realized that the character origin I had planned is nearly vampiric. An alien that drains life through suckers in her palms and has to use a suit to keep her hunger in check.
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That certainly is a cool adaptation!
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It was unintentional. I wanted her to have a way to handle bigger, stronger enemies, so I thought up an energy drinker and the rest went from there. She’s closer to Samus Aran of Metroid than vampires.
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I totally left out the word “appeal”….went to get my coffee came back….but you got it.
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vampires = viciousness. YES.
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How can anyone not see how well that math works? I should add that vampires know how to comb their hair too. 🙂
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Right? Maybe some writers and Hollywood folks failed at math. And lol @ the combing hair comment. 😀
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His hair really bugs me. I guess Voldemort killed him so violently that the part of his brain responsible for hair maintenance was damaged. If you want a laugh, check out pictures of ‘Buffy Twilight’ and ‘Blade Twilight’. Some really good ones out there.
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Thanks for the tip Charles ^_^ I’ll definitely go check those out! Could use some more laughs to get through this Monday morning.
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Monday is never pretty.
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I look for viciousness and a true enjoyment of blood in Vampires, even if they regret what they did later. Twilight was just romance with pointy teeth.
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True on both points. Do they ever explain why Sparkle Vamps don’t eat humans?
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The doctor/leader won’t let them I guess. He’d have to repair them otherwise.
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Possibly. The ‘wussies’ excuse could work too. They look like they’d be more concerned with getting dirt on their clothes than eating.
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True enough.
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Loved the Buffy-Twilight pic. Awesome. Agree. Bring back the Dracula-esque vampire that is evil and has SUPERNATURAL abilities and is not the product of some virus.
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Honestly, I can handle the virus. I can handle most origins. I just want them to be vicious monsters again. I miss the vampire that actually bites and drinks from a living being. At least make the non-hunters suffer like Angel.
Which story did the vampire virus? I remember it in Blade, but has it been done a lot.
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Yeah, it was in Underworld, too, and a few other places.
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Totally forgot about Underworld. I thought they had a genetic mutation thing with two brothers. One was a vampire and one was a werewolf and most people watched for Kate Beckinsale in tight clothing.
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It was a genetic mutation caused by a virus, I think. And Kate Beckinsale in tight clothing is always a plus.
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That’s really what Twilight was missing.
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I’ve always seen vampires as (I think) they should be; monsters. They only appear human because they want us see them as such. Their only concerns should be their sanctuary and satiating their thirst. I see the idea of love, to them, as a way to try and recapture some form of humanity that they may long for. Reproduction, (i.e. turning a new vampire) is a means to strengthen numbers when the number of hunters is greater than their own.
I never saw Bram’s version of the Count as human. While the book never states how he come to be a vampire, the movie adaptation, in which he curses God for the death of Elizabeta, is about the closest to humanity as I (dare to) see him. Even still, it’s rage in its purest.
I do like some of the newer forms of vampire. I find the Underworld universe to be interesting. Rice’s work is okay… But, I can’t help but to return to my original point. They are soulless creatures, cursed by an insatiable hunger and damned to walk amongst man, in man’s image. To suggest they are human is silly. To think that they spar… To think that they spark… (Oh god, I can’t even say, let alone write it!) It’s just ridiculous.
There are many VERY interesting adaptations to the mythos: 30 Days of Night, Lifeforce… Hell, even The Lost Boys! I’ll stick with where the horror is, in which the vampires are what they should be, and hope to be a little startled with something that was meant to be terrifying. As for portraying the creatures of the night in written works, I hope for originality like no one has ever seen…with a touch of what they were originally meant to be, in the image I make of them.
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Finding that balance is tough, especially if the vampire is the focus and not just the monstrous enemy. I think that’s one of the difficulties with keeping vampire stories. If they’re the monster then we all know how it will end. Final battle with the sun and a chunk of wood coming into play. Maybe a decapitation, but keeping them as the original monsters has possibly forced authors to find new angles. Unfortunately, one of the lemons seems to have won the battle.
I do think vampires can be portrayed as humans if they were once human. The turned ones have their memories from an old life, so I find it feasible that they still have an interest in holding onto part of that life. It all comes down to the origin of the vampire for how human they are. A born vampire or one that has been around for centuries shouldn’t have as much humanity as one that was turned at the beginning of the story. I think this aspect and angle gets tossed away too often or obsessed on. I’d like to read a story where vampires are trying to find a way to live a normal life, which could be a nice twist that doesn’t destroy them like sparkling and claiming jailbait.
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Oh, I absolutely agree. There have been too few stories (that I have seen), around such an angle. Stories that come to mind often use this character type as the supporting character. Take the TV show, Moonlight, for instance. Mick Angel is friends with Josef Kostan, who is very content with his condition. He, however, (as I remember it) continues to live as normal a life as possible, until Mick’s own ambitions bring trouble to his doorstep.
Angel also comes to mind, but this is an obvious choice. He not only struggles with the thirst, but with his alter ego as well.
Blade, who struggles with his condition while dealing death to the undead.
It’s a short list, and I’m sure I’m missing a few good ones, but…case in point. Take out the cutesy crap and give me horror.
Love your points on the varying degrees of vampirism, and have alluded to something of the sort in my first book. It only makes sense that the newly turned vs. the older (or pure-blooded) vampires be on two different ends of the spectrum. I can imagine a tremendous battle with one’s self, having to live countless years with the thirst, all the while watching loved ones pass away. This alone makes for a great story; the idea that a centuries old creature can remain some form of humanity? I would think that that curse would only become more powerful, and having to find new ways to get around it would be an interesting journey to follow…
Does the character become complacent in his role, such as Josef? Or does he find himself battling his inner demons for all eternity, such as Angel?
So many different possibilities, so often unexplored. A shame, really.
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Forgot about Moonlight, which is foolish because I can see it across the room on the shelf. There was an old show called Forever Night, which I think dealt with a vampire that was also a detective. Never saw it though.
Older vampires have been shown to hold onto bits of their past for some parts of their life. Though they all seem to go full monster before they have to be put down.
I’m still working on my vampires because I’m working in a fantasy world full of magic. The series deals with a war between the old world vampires (those weakened by the sun) and the new world vampires (those with unique powers and don’t lose their strength). This is an event that happened before my current series, so people are going to see the new world vampires appear at times. They’re actually assimilated into the other cultures, but they have a central government. Part of it is that they know they could destroy and conquer the world, but then they would lose their food source. Better to get along and entice willing people to get a little drained because they only kill if they’re starving. Added in live births to them too. It’s gotten very complicated and I’m trying to retain the violence and brutality of them while making them part of the common species of the world.
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Yeah, Twilight vamps me no likey. Although I think even if we examine Twilight it was just the “Cullen” family that was “good.” All the rest of the vamps behaved as vamps should, even if there was that unfortunate sparkly business. I’m still never going to bother with books 2-4 though.
Did you know the original vamp, Dracula, wasn’t actually affected by the sun like most modern vamps are? It was later movies that added that trait. Although I think the movie of it sucks, Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter was a fairly enjoyable read. A sort of new take on vampires, but they’re still monsters. And they can be out in the sunlight, like they used to be. It was refreshing, especially considering the vampire overload. I’m sure they’ll swing back around again. Besides, zombies are the big thing right now.
Did you ever see this vid? Almost makes the whole Twilight fiasco worthwhile. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RZwM3GvaTRM
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Yup. He was weakened, but not killed. Nosferatu is where the sunlight death was added. It also wasn’t as easy to kill them. I read somewhere that originally it was a stake to the heart and then a beheading. You needed to do both or death wouldn’t take.
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Pingback: Human No Longer – Kathryn Meyer Griffith | Penny Dreadful Books and Reviews
I look for spark—I’m kidding. I’m really really kidding. Even Angel’s soul was a little much for me at times (Loved his show though, and he was better when they allowed him to be witty).
In the Buffy-verse, I preferred Spike – because even with a chip in his head and being all moony-eyed over Buffy, you knew he was still evil – neutered evil, and later working to be a good man, but still with that core war going on. It had a complexity that I loved. And I loved to hate Drucilla.
I enjoy Anne Rice, and I enjoyed the Vampire Chronicles – but in their raw emotional state, her vamps could be a little too much. I preferred her Mayfair Witches series more. I loved Blade and I loved Underworld because of the complexity – but also because there were some honest-to-goodness monsters within the ranks, and darkness within the souls of the heroes as well.
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I didn’t like the Spike in love with Buffy thing. That felt so strained. Maybe it works to have some human and some monster to bring more depth to the overall vampire mythos.
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I disliked that whole subplot, and most of season 6, but went with it for the way he genuinely liked her mother and protected Dawn (never mind the whole Dawn thing…). I think I enjoyed that juxtaposition between the monster he was and the human emotion he still had.
Sometimes I think they throw in the human emotions to make the horrific bits – the monster – even more horrible.
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I gave up around then. One reason was that I was a Xander fan and he was fading away.
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Xander was one of my favorites. He came back pretty well in 7 and he rocked Season 8 in the comics – well, as far as I’ve actually read, anyway. 🙂
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Forgot what I moved onto around that time. I wander away from television a lot.
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I started watching it when I was in college (remarkably, I watched more American television in Ireland than I ever did at home), and was hooked. Now, I only watch TV if its on Netflix and I can reliably watch it – either spaced out in 20-45 min chunks through the week with the kid or in huge blocks on Sunday.
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I cut out a lot when I decided to go author. Freed up a lot of my time. In college, I watched a lot of movies and pro wrestling. Also a lot of anime.
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