Fundamentals of Vampire Fiction - Page 2

Tony Bava · 03-19-2012, 02:00 PM

One of my favorite bits of vampire lore is that they cannot enter a house unless invited. I don't watch True Blood but I understand this was a factor on the show. I like the idea that a vampire is so powerful but he can be stopped if you can resist his charm.

Freeshadow · 03-19-2012, 07:11 PM

AFAIR this isn't a vampire-specific limitation. Altough I can't enumerate other mythological species sharing this hindrance ATM I remember there were some

Btw. Does somebody have a reading recommendation for someting like a mythological species encyklopedia?
RPGs mostly borrow only pieces of myths for their creatures backgrounds. I seems like a promisingly interesting read to check what the genuine roots are.

dadioflex · 03-20-2012, 08:31 AM

Wikipedia is as good a place as any to start researching monsters. I own an "encyclopaedia" of monsters I got off Amazon but I barely look at it. Start with Slavic folklore and then go nuts opening tabs.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_mythology

Penforhire · 03-20-2012, 11:41 AM

The far-Eastern Rakshasa is yet another type that touches on some vampiric traditions.

I'll second the Wikipedia recommendation. Lots of people poo-poo it because it is croud-sourced but it is usually an excellent starting point.

I have an old yellowed copy of a mythological dictionary that was a valid attempt. Here is a modern reprint -- http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Cla...2257891&sr=1-1 .

Another excellent source of "real" mythology is Joseph Campbell but his works are more like episodes of Connections than an encyclopedia.

Steven Lyle Jordan · 03-20-2012, 01:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by teh603

What would you consider the fundamentals of vampire fiction?

To be ridiculous.

Excuse me... I should have said: To take an ancient xenophobic reaction to foreigners and raise the stereotypical and prejudicial stories and myths about them to ridiculous levels. Then reduce them all to cheap chick-lit.

Yeah. That's what I meant to say.

ScalyFreak · 03-21-2012, 11:51 AM

Speaking as a reader of vampire novels, who loved Anne Rice;'s books, loathe Twilight, and thinks Carmilla and Bram Stoker's vampire are awesome: There needs to be drawbacks to being a vampire. Far, far too often, it seems they get all the perks from their modern creators/authors, but none of the drawbacks.

Which specific drawbacks, that I care less about, and a good writer should be able to explain them within the setting they place their vampires, but the drawbacks need to be there. An all-powerful super-being that can control the minds of its prey, walk in daylight, shape-shift at will, and can't be killed except by one single method, while capable of loving, having children, and walk freely among the humans it feeds from, is an utterly a ridiculous concept.

I like real vampires. Predators who hide in plain view of their prey, undetected, deadly, and unstoppable. And... very rare, its survival depending on its ability to stay hidden, and vulnerable to a few things that said prey could get their hands on easily if they knew what to look for and how to use it. (Oh, and the reason you must be invited before you can walk into my house? The hearth spirit living in my fireplace stops all super-natural beings from entering unless I invite them in. Very handy.)

VydorScope · 03-21-2012, 08:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

Speaking as a reader of vampire novels, who loved Anne Rice;'s books, loathe Twilight, and thinks Carmilla and Bram Stoker's vampire are awesome: There needs to be drawbacks to being a vampire. Far, far too often, it seems they get all the perks from their modern creators/authors, but none of the drawbacks.

This. And yes I have made this mistake (not with any vamps though...). But hey everyone can learn right?

gmw · 03-21-2012, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ScalyFreak

[...] (Oh, and the reason you must be invited before you can walk into my house? The hearth spirit living in my fireplace stops all super-natural beings from entering unless I invite them in. Very handy.)

I agree about there needing to be a downside to being a vampire, but I particularly liked the bit I quoted above. I'm sitting snug in my house with it's fireplace and hearth, thinking about all those poor suckers with their central heating and no fireplace, so vulnerable to vampire attack.

speakingtohe · 03-21-2012, 11:53 PM

I have no vampire lore to contribute although I have enjoyed reading the posts.

For saleability I would include another genre or two.
Most paranormal books I have read were filed under mystery. Some are mystery/romance, some mystery/horror etc.

Of course not everyone likes mystery, but if the book is 'just' a vampire book it would not be my first choice. Then again it probably is for many.

Helen

Xanthe · 03-22-2012, 01:03 PM

Ilona Andrews has written his/her vampires (husband-wife team) as undead creatures that are totally mindless killing machines, stripped down to basically skin and bones whose muscles have contracted to the point where they usually walk on all fours. They are controlled by the minds of necromancers, who use them as servants and couriers. There's nothing romantic or alluring about them at all, and if the necromancer breaks concentration the vampire goes rogue.

Though, it is amusing when the vampires have to go out in daylight and are coated in fluorescent-colored zinc oxide sunblock.

03-20-2012, 11:41 AM	#19
Penforhire Wizard Posts: 2,230 Karma: 7145404 Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Southern California Device: Kindle Voyage & iPhone 7+	The far-Eastern Rakshasa is yet another type that touches on some vampiric traditions. I'll second the Wikipedia recommendation. Lots of people poo-poo it because it is croud-sourced but it is usually an excellent starting point. I have an old yellowed copy of a mythological dictionary that was a valid attempt. Here is a modern reprint -- http://www.amazon.com/Dictionary-Cla...2257891&sr=1-1 . Another excellent source of "real" mythology is Joseph Campbell but his works are more like episodes of Connections than an encyclopedia. Last edited by Penforhire; 03-20-2012 at 04:29 PM.

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03-19-2012, 02:00 PM	#16
Tony Bava Junior Member Posts: 2 Karma: 74274 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: San Diego Device: iPad 2	One of my favorite bits of vampire lore is that they cannot enter a house unless invited. I don't watch True Blood but I understand this was a factor on the show. I like the idea that a vampire is so powerful but he can be stopped if you can resist his charm.

03-19-2012, 07:11 PM	#17
Freeshadow temp. out of service Posts: 2,815 Karma: 24285242 Join Date: May 2010 Location: Duisburg (DE) Device: PB 623	AFAIR this isn't a vampire-specific limitation. Altough I can't enumerate other mythological species sharing this hindrance ATM I remember there were some Btw. Does somebody have a reading recommendation for someting like a mythological species encyklopedia? RPGs mostly borrow only pieces of myths for their creatures backgrounds. I seems like a promisingly interesting read to check what the genuine roots are.

03-20-2012, 08:31 AM	#18
dadioflex Dyslexic Count Posts: 526 Karma: 5041991 Join Date: Aug 2008 Device: Palm TX, Advent Vega, iPad, iPod Touch, Kindle	Wikipedia is as good a place as any to start researching monsters. I own an "encyclopaedia" of monsters I got off Amazon but I barely look at it. Start with Slavic folklore and then go nuts opening tabs. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavic_mythology

03-21-2012, 11:51 AM	#21
ScalyFreak Sith Wannabe Posts: 2,034 Karma: 8017430 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: I'm not sure... it's kind of dark. Device: Galaxy Note 4, Kobo Aura H2O, Kindle Fire HD, Aluratek Libre	Speaking as a reader of vampire novels, who loved Anne Rice;'s books, loathe Twilight, and thinks Carmilla and Bram Stoker's vampire are awesome: There needs to be drawbacks to being a vampire. Far, far too often, it seems they get all the perks from their modern creators/authors, but none of the drawbacks. Which specific drawbacks, that I care less about, and a good writer should be able to explain them within the setting they place their vampires, but the drawbacks need to be there. An all-powerful super-being that can control the minds of its prey, walk in daylight, shape-shift at will, and can't be killed except by one single method, while capable of loving, having children, and walk freely among the humans it feeds from, is an utterly a ridiculous concept. I like real vampires. Predators who hide in plain view of their prey, undetected, deadly, and unstoppable. And... very rare, its survival depending on its ability to stay hidden, and vulnerable to a few things that said prey could get their hands on easily if they knew what to look for and how to use it. (Oh, and the reason you must be invited before you can walk into my house? The hearth spirit living in my fireplace stops all super-natural beings from entering unless I invite them in. Very handy.)

03-21-2012, 11:53 PM	#24
speakingtohe Wizard Posts: 4,812 Karma: 26912940 Join Date: Apr 2010 Device: sony PRS-T1 and T3, Kobo Mini and Aura HD, Tablet	I have no vampire lore to contribute although I have enjoyed reading the posts. For saleability I would include another genre or two. Most paranormal books I have read were filed under mystery. Some are mystery/romance, some mystery/horror etc. Of course not everyone likes mystery, but if the book is 'just' a vampire book it would not be my first choice. Then again it probably is for many. Helen

03-22-2012, 01:03 PM	#25
Xanthe Plan B Is Now In Force Posts: 1,894 Karma: 8086979 Join Date: Jan 2010 Location: Surebleak Device: Aluratek,Sony 350/T1,Pandigital,eBM 911,Nook HD/HD+,Fire HDX 7/8.9,PW2	Ilona Andrews has written his/her vampires (husband-wife team) as undead creatures that are totally mindless killing machines, stripped down to basically skin and bones whose muscles have contracted to the point where they usually walk on all fours. They are controlled by the minds of necromancers, who use them as servants and couriers. There's nothing romantic or alluring about them at all, and if the necromancer breaks concentration the vampire goes rogue. Though, it is amusing when the vampires have to go out in daylight and are coated in fluorescent-colored zinc oxide sunblock.

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