What's with all the damn vampires?

Jack Silkstone · 08-18-2011, 06:03 AM

In all seriousness what's with the fascination that everyone has with Vampires at the moment. Everywhere I look at the moment it's all Twilight this True Blood that. More to the point what's with all the shimmering and romance crap. Doesn't anyone else wish Blade would come back and slice his way through the whole lot?

JeremyR · 08-18-2011, 06:32 AM

Vampires have always been popular, since Dracula.

But it's "Urban fantasy" that is really popular now. Not just vampires, pretty much every supernatural thing you can think of.

JeremyR · 08-18-2011, 06:38 AM

And actually come to think of it, even Blade got turned into that. The TV show Blade only featured him as a minor character, with most of the focus being on a newly created female vampire...

I think it's just the demographics of the book buying market. It's become a lot more female, with male nerds mostly reading comics or manga these days, as opposed to SF or fantasy

carpetmojo · 08-18-2011, 07:00 AM

Well, see, all the zombies have died, and the Christians are having a rest from their labours (not for long, though, I'll bet).

fjtorres · 08-18-2011, 07:51 AM

It's all the closet necrophiliacs out there.

Jack Silkstone · 08-18-2011, 07:52 AM

I'm trying really hard to bring back the action thriller but I'm seriously concerned that the market has turned entirely to this Urban Fantasy segment that Jeremy mentions.

http://www.primalunleashed.com

fjtorres · 08-18-2011, 08:45 AM

Okay, seriously, given the current economic, social, and geopolitical situation, real life *is* an action thriller.
People are turning to fantasies and escapist fiction just as they did the last time things were this bad (and worse); back in the 30's, the chosen vehicles were pulpy reads, superhero comics, and musicals--now it is vamps/weres/zombies, superhero movies, and (lack-of) talent shows.
Adventure stories have been broadly defined as "somebody else having a bad day".
Well, we all get enough of that on the daily news and TV procedurals for free; those looking to forget daily woes would rather deal with the horrors of the real world metaphorically, by proxy, as brainless zombie hordes, soulless bloodsucking vamps, and covert monster weres.
I'm sure there's a dozen psyche PhD theses being compiled on that right now.

jersysman · 08-18-2011, 09:03 AM

Jack, I am sure that there is room for your action thrillers. As mentioned above, it's a cycle. I remember when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s there were a lot of action thrillers at the time and not too much SF or anything.

Just write what you want and are comfortable with and I am sure that it will find a market.

DixieGal · 08-18-2011, 09:15 AM

I never understood the attraction of the sexy tortured vampire. What use is super vamp strength if they can't change your flat tire in a mall parking lot at 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

fjtorres · 08-18-2011, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I never understood the attraction of the sexy tortured vampire. What use is super vamp strength if they can't change your flat tire in a mall parking lot at 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

On the other hand, there's no need to worry about him leaving the toilet seat up.

The femvamps, of course, make for real cheap dates (no need to wory about the price of lobster salad). But there is always the risk they'll be shoe fetishists...

DiapDealer · 08-18-2011, 09:56 AM

There hasn't been a single vampire mentioned in any book that I've read for nearly a decade. Perhaps their literary coup has been slightly exaggerated by those who don't seem to like others liking vampire romance?

miguel1626 · 08-18-2011, 09:58 AM

Twilight and the host of abominable Vampire books/shows/movies spawned by Twilight have ruined the genre for me. I'm currently under a self-imposed blanket moratorium on any vampire-related media.

5thWiggle · 08-18-2011, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I never understood the attraction of the sexy tortured vampire. What use is super vamp strength if they can't change your flat tire in a mall parking lot at 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

Besides, they're only after your body anyway. Zombies, OTOH, love you for your BRAAAIIINNNSSSS.

ilovejedd · 08-18-2011, 10:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DixieGal

I never understood the attraction of the sexy tortured vampire. What use is super vamp strength if they can't change your flat tire in a mall parking lot at 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

You can have both. I think Angel (played by David Boreanaz in Joss Whedon's Buffy the Vampire Slayer and self-titled spin-off) handles the sexy tortured vampire thing quite well without being totally emasculated. Of course, I do like Spike much better.

Never did like Twilight, though, even with my penchant for vampire fiction. I tried reading the first book but couldn't go beyond the first two pages. Also tried watching the movie but I seem to always fall asleep after 15 minutes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by carpetmojo

Well, see, all the zombies have died, and the Christians are having a rest from their labours (not for long, though, I'll bet).

I thought the zombies were controlled by vampires and both the Catholics and Church of England have (competing) secret sects that battle the demons and the undead?

Steven Lyle Jordan · 08-18-2011, 10:35 AM

It's the "dangerous sex" and "turning the bad boy/girl" themes... that stuff never gets old.

In fact, maybe we need a new mythological character: A nymphomaniac that will die if they don't have fantastic sex every night...

(Added to story ideas folder)

08-18-2011, 06:03 AM	#1
Jack Silkstone Jack Silkstone Posts: 14 Karma: 100034 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle, iPad	What's with all the damn vampires? In all seriousness what's with the fascination that everyone has with Vampires at the moment. Everywhere I look at the moment it's all Twilight this True Blood that. More to the point what's with all the shimmering and romance crap. Doesn't anyone else wish Blade would come back and slice his way through the whole lot?

08-18-2011, 10:35 AM	#15
Steven Lyle Jordan Grand Sorcerer Posts: 8,478 Karma: 5171130 Join Date: Jan 2006 Device: none	It's the "dangerous sex" and "turning the bad boy/girl" themes... that stuff never gets old. In fact, maybe we need a new mythological character: A nymphomaniac that will die if they don't have fantastic sex every night... (Added to story ideas folder) Last edited by Steven Lyle Jordan; 08-18-2011 at 10:37 AM.

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08-18-2011, 06:32 AM	#2
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	Vampires have always been popular, since Dracula. But it's "Urban fantasy" that is really popular now. Not just vampires, pretty much every supernatural thing you can think of.

08-18-2011, 06:38 AM	#3
JeremyR Guru Posts: 973 Karma: 2458402 Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: St. Louis Device: Kindle Keyboard, Nook HD+	And actually come to think of it, even Blade got turned into that. The TV show Blade only featured him as a minor character, with most of the focus being on a newly created female vampire... I think it's just the demographics of the book buying market. It's become a lot more female, with male nerds mostly reading comics or manga these days, as opposed to SF or fantasy

08-18-2011, 07:00 AM	#4
carpetmojo Wizard Posts: 3,117 Karma: 9269999 Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: UK Device: Sony- T3, PRS650, 350, T1/2/3, Paperwhite, Fire 8.9,Samsung Tab S 10.5	Well, see, all the zombies have died, and the Christians are having a rest from their labours (not for long, though, I'll bet).

08-18-2011, 07:51 AM	#5
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	It's all the closet necrophiliacs out there.

08-18-2011, 07:52 AM	#6
Jack Silkstone Jack Silkstone Posts: 14 Karma: 100034 Join Date: Jul 2011 Device: Kindle, iPad	I'm trying really hard to bring back the action thriller but I'm seriously concerned that the market has turned entirely to this Urban Fantasy segment that Jeremy mentions. http://www.primalunleashed.com

08-18-2011, 08:45 AM	#7
fjtorres Grand Sorcerer Posts: 11,732 Karma: 128354696 Join Date: May 2009 Location: 26 kly from Sgr A* Device: T100TA,PW2,PRS-T1,KT,FireHD 8.9,K2, PB360,BeBook One,Axim51v,TC1000	Okay, seriously, given the current economic, social, and geopolitical situation, real life is an action thriller. People are turning to fantasies and escapist fiction just as they did the last time things were this bad (and worse); back in the 30's, the chosen vehicles were pulpy reads, superhero comics, and musicals--now it is vamps/weres/zombies, superhero movies, and (lack-of) talent shows. Adventure stories have been broadly defined as "somebody else having a bad day". Well, we all get enough of that on the daily news and TV procedurals for free; those looking to forget daily woes would rather deal with the horrors of the real world metaphorically, by proxy, as brainless zombie hordes, soulless bloodsucking vamps, and covert monster weres. I'm sure there's a dozen psyche PhD theses being compiled on that right now.

08-18-2011, 09:03 AM	#8
jersysman Wizard Posts: 1,747 Karma: 3761220 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Pennsylvania Device: T1 Red, Kindle Fire, Kindle PW, PW2, Nook HD+, Kobo Mini, Aura HD	Jack, I am sure that there is room for your action thrillers. As mentioned above, it's a cycle. I remember when I was growing up in the 60s and 70s there were a lot of action thrillers at the time and not too much SF or anything. Just write what you want and are comfortable with and I am sure that it will find a market.

08-18-2011, 09:15 AM	#9
DixieGal Hi There! Posts: 7,473 Karma: 2930523 Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Ft Lauderdale Device: iPad	I never understood the attraction of the sexy tortured vampire. What use is super vamp strength if they can't change your flat tire in a mall parking lot at 2 o'clock in the afternoon?

08-18-2011, 09:56 AM	#11
DiapDealer Grand Sorcerer Posts: 27,552 Karma: 193191846 Join Date: Jan 2010 Device: Nexus 7, Kindle Fire HD	There hasn't been a single vampire mentioned in any book that I've read for nearly a decade. Perhaps their literary coup has been slightly exaggerated by those who don't seem to like others liking vampire romance?

08-18-2011, 09:58 AM	#12
miguel1626 Great Old One Posts: 189 Karma: 998538 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: L1 Orbit Device: Kindle Oasis 2, iPad Pro, iPhone 8 Plus	Twilight and the host of abominable Vampire books/shows/movies spawned by Twilight have ruined the genre for me. I'm currently under a self-imposed blanket moratorium on any vampire-related media.

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