Vampire novels

[elzoria]

Anyone read any good vampire novels, besides Anne Rice's collection and Dracula? I'm trying to do research on the history of vampires in literature.

Am I posting this in the right place?

[Susan Gable]

Anyone read any good vampire novels, besides Anne Rice's collection and Dracula? I'm trying to do research on the history of vampires in literature.

Am I posting this in the right place?

Well, first I suppose I'm going to have to ask you how you define "literature." <G>

Because vamps are all the current rage in the paranormal romance category. There are dark vamps, there are fun vamps...

But I didn't know if you're interested in vamps who inhabit romance novels. :)

Susan G.

[elzoria]

Well, first I suppose I'm going to have to ask you how you define "literature." <G>

Because vamps are all the current rage in the paranormal romance category. There are dark vamps, there are fun vamps...

But I didn't know if you're interested in vamps who inhabit romance novels. :)

Susan G.

Literature, as in anything that has been part of a canon, like Gothic novels. I'm not looking for pulp fiction or eroticism or anything having to do with film, just classic vampire stories that helped spring up the crop of categories we have today.

I've never heard of paranormal romance. That's interesting.

Are there any good romance novels about vampires?

I'm thinking about books that would be considered classic to the vampire genre. I know there is stuff written that is, well, crap, so that's why I want to know if anyone has any recommendations. Usually, I look for recommendations on Amazon, but I'd like to see what other people say, especially writers (since we are so picky, right).

So far I've been reading short stories like Carmilla and Vampyre, but I know that there must be more about the evolution of the vampire. At one time they were despised and ugly, now they are romantic and even deal with human-like problems (I heard of one book about the vampire having problems with being overweight).

[Perks]

One series that stands out in my mind as a good bit of fun was by Steven Spruill. The titles were a little cheesy - Rulers of Darkness and Daughter of Darkness but I remember enjoying the twist on the story quite a lot. There may have been one or two others in the series, but it's been a while.

The M/C was a vampire/vampire hunter, but vampirism is actually a medical condition. They are set the Washington DC area, so that was fun for me, being my hometown and all.

[elzoria]

One series that stands out in my mind as a good bit of fun was by Steven Spruill. The titles were a little cheesy - Rulers of Darkness and Daughter of Darkness but I remember enjoying the twist on the story quite a lot. There may have been one or two others in the series, but it's been a while.

The M/C was a vampire/vampire hunter, but vampirism is actually a medical condition. They are set the Washington DC area, so that was fun for me, being my hometown and all.

I like that it mentions it as a medical condition, because that was the basis of people being vampires; it was ignorance of biology.

Cool, I'll have to check it out...

[Bufty]

Googling 'History of Vampires in Literature' brings up over 500,000 links.

[veinglory]

I have hundreds of vampire novels, good and bad--some are mentioned on my website here. http://veinglory.com/vampirebookreviews.html feel free to PM me.

Off the top of my head I would recommend 'I am Legend', 'The Vampire Tapestry' and 'All Men are Mortal' (although that last one is not about a vampire per se)

[elzoria]

I have hundreds of vampire novels, good and bad--some are mentioned on my website here. http://veinglory.com/vampirebookreviews.html feel free to PM me.

Off the top of my head I would recommend 'I am Legend', 'The Vampire Tapestry' and 'All Men are Mortal' (although that last one is not about a vampire per se)

Veinglory, you are a saint of the vampires, haha. Thanks, for your link. I am looking forward to your reviews, and I love that you put them in chronological order.

I'm trying to get a good knowledge base on vampire stories since I am writing a novel on one. I'd hate to do anything that is redundant. I also love the genre, but I'm afraid I started my fascination late :O)

You bloody ROCK!!

[Tilly]

Tom Holland's vampire novels are good :).

[veinglory]

I am in the process of putting the pages in chronological order but they are still very incomplete. Feel free to send me a synopsis if you want an opinion. I generally read a vampire novel every week so I have develop a very strong sense of the cliches in that area! (I don't write in that area myself and don't intend to...)

[Branwyn]

Night Prayers by P.D. Cacek

Courting Midnight by Emma Holly

Dark Hunter Novels by Sherrilyn Kenyon

Dark Demon by Christine Feehan

Not my particular cup of tea, I prefer Anne Rice, but my neighbor loves these books.

[Liam Jackson]

Depending upon which "expert" you read or speak to, vampires are either relatively modern constructs, or figures based on "demons" with various "vampiric" characteristics who've been around since ancient Summeria.

I never cared much for the scientific slant for vampires. It reduces the craving to a simple yet compelling biological function, and negates some of the supernatural/morality-based issues surrounding the vampire. I actually still get a small chill watching an old vamp flick in which the badguy grasps a crucifix and melts it, or the cross burst into flames.

My brother prefers vampire stores in which the entities commit evil deeds from biological complusion. Alien species, alien organisms intorduced into humans, humans suffering from rare viruses, etc...

Brian Lumley wrote a hellacious (pun intended) number of vampire stories, the Necroscope series, in which the creatures were descendents of Shaitan (Satan) and eventually found a way to cross the dimensional barrier that seperated the world of humans from a barren and nearly lifeless "hell." Good premise, but explored to death and in dire need of a stake through the heart by the time the series ended.

[icerose]

White Wolf publishes quite a few good ones. I read the templar series in the Dark Ages line. It's about vampires seeking the holy grail. Well done, I was sucked (no pun intended) into the book and the world the writers had created, and didn't come back out until it was finished.

[Sheryl Nantus]

well, MINE's coming out next year from Mundania...

*taps foot impatiently*

:D

[Gillhoughly]

For a scholar looking into vampires/folklore try slogging through Montague Sommers. Consider his stuff out of print and best found through interlibrary loan.

Historical vamps that shaped Dracula--try googling Lord Ruthven. He was way more popular than Dracula for a loooooong time. Check folklore books by William Baring-Gould, Sabine Baring-Gould.

For lighter reading there are whole series of vampire books in the romance sub-genre called paranormals. The plots are girl-meets-boy, but one or the other of them (sometimes both) is some sort of paranormal beastie. The quality of writing--as in any genre--varies. Some are light comedy, others are overwrought and angsty (popular with teens) some extremely readable, others so over the top you wonder what the writer was snorting. http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

(As a side, the paranormal genre is a hot seller and publishers are open to new writers, but warn that they're getting tired of the same-old-same-old when it comes to vampires and werewolf tales. I was just in freakin' Wal*Mart today and spotted no less than FOUR vampire titles on the racks. None was worth buying, IMHO. The ideas were just too tired, as were the recycled love scenes. "His eager, seeking lips captured her eager, seeking mouth..." Oi vey.)

For darker stuff you can mine the horror genre. Traditional blood-suckers abound, along with genetic (and sometimes ET alien) variations.

Then there are the in-betweens who have done something different with vampires.

Look up: (no particular order)

Fred Saberhagen's Dracula books
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's St. Germain series (VERY historically accurate)
P.N. Elrod's got tons of titles in four different vampire series, including a stand-alone sequel to Dracula--The Vampire Files-11 books; Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire-4 books; I, Strahd-2 books; Lord Richard, Vampire-3 books (co-written with actor Nigel Bennett who played a vampire on TV, if that's good for reseach)
Wm. Mark Simmons (Just a dang good read)
Charlaine Harris (Just READ them!) Dead Until Dark, Club Dead, etc.
Andrew Fox (Just GET them!) Fat White Vampire Blues, Bride of the Fat White Vampire
Christopher Moore Bloodsucking Fiends (which introduces one to the joys of turkey bowling when working the graveyard shift at a grocery store)

There are many others, as it is a HUGE sub-genre now, and the rules of what makes a vampire are different for each writer. Everyone has his or her own take!

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/emotePartySmiley.gif <--a cool vampire writers party!

[elzoria]

For a scholar looking into vampires/folklore try slogging through Montague Sommers. Consider his stuff out of print and best found through interlibrary loan.

Historical vamps that shaped Dracula--try googling Lord Ruthven. He was way more popular than Dracula for a loooooong time. Check folklore books by William Baring-Gould, Sabine Baring-Gould.

Fred Saberhagen's Dracula books
Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's St. Germain series (VERY historically accurate)
P.N. Elrod's got tons of titles in four different vampire series, including a stand-alone sequel to Dracula--The Vampire Files, Jonathan Barrett, Gentleman Vampire, I, Strahd, Lord Richard, Vampire (co-written with actor Nigel Bennett who played a vampire on TV, if that's good for reseach)
Wm. Mark Simmons (Just a dang good read)
Charlaine Harris (Just READ them!) Dead Until Dark, Club Dead, etc.

There are many others, as it is a HUGE sub-genre now, and the rules of what makes a vampire are different for each writer. Everyone has his or her own take!

http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/emotePartySmiley.gif <--a cool vampire writers party!

Thanks for the recommendations. I have seen some of Montague Sommers, but these others you listed will be well worth it. I am more intruiged by the historical stories that were published before Bram Stoker. After a while I will have a Phd. in Vampire Lit. :O)

[Gillhoughly]

More scholarly schtuff:

You might also want to look up books, essays, etc by Dr. Elizabeth Miller (Canadian president of The Transylvanian Society of Dracula)

J. Gordon Melton, who has an exhaustive encyclopedia on vampires that may be found in many reference shelves at the library. It will have excellent source material for you.

Dr. Norrine Dresser, Katherine Ramsland, Richard Noll, Clive Leatherdale are also names to look up in the field of vampire academia.

Oh-and when you do a "quotes" here--it's ok to edit them down to just the poster's name! http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif

[veinglory]

Vampire non-fcition covers a lot of different areas. I like 'Vampires the Occult Truth' by Konstantinos and 'The Vampire Lectures' by Rickels. Melton is a good general encyclopedia but contains enough errors to make me nervous about depending upon it as a reference.

[Akuma]

Although the books are short, go quickly, and are basically intended for younger readers, I suggest the Cirque Du Freak novels.

[aadams73]

Charlaine Harris' "Sookie Stackhouse" books. I picked up the first one a couple of weeks ago and was hooked. She writes the best characters I've read in AGES. I have since finished the next four and need to go to B&N to pick up the new one.

[JonMoeller]

I second the recommendation for P.N. Elrod's "I, Strahd" and "I, Strahd: The War Against Azalin". It's quite the pity she won't (or can't) write any more.

Stephen King's "Salem's Lot" (the book, NOT the movie) is also excellent; it's the Dracula legend transposed from the optimism of late-19th century Victorian England to the grim apathy of 1970s-era America.

-JM

[AprilBoo]

If you're looking for something with a different slant on vampirism, I'd check on The World on Blood by Jonathan Nasaw - good book altogether. The vampires in this one are more like blood-drinking mortals than supernatural vampires, and they belong to a support group that treats it like an addiction.

[madderblue]

I'm reading the Historian, quite good so far.

[jsm]

its depending on if you are after adult or children if its childern Darren Shaun is good and Vampire love another one i am into vampires aswell but thats all i can think ofhand at the mo

[Ted]

NO one mentions AW's Cathy C.? I aked about contract pitfalls and she sent me two sets of guidlines.

She also threw in her novel, Touch of Evil, (http://www.ciecatrunpubs.com/) which I'm half way through.

An excellent read!

[DeadlyAccurate]

MaryJanice Davidson writes some terrific and fun vampire novels. The main character, a tall, leggy blonde, is named Betsy Taylor and is the reluctant queen of the vampires. It's part romance, part chick lit.

Oh, and according to her website, P.N. Elrod is editing a short story collection called My Big Fat Supernatural Wedding with a drool-worthy list of writers including Jim Butcher and Charlaine Harris (and I presume herself, too).

[Maprilynne]

Definitely more in the romantic vampire genre (and YA) but Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series is really good and the second one is coming out this summer. (And, of course, she's fabulous and wonderful and one of my good friends http://www.absolutewrite.com/forums/images/smilies/wink.gif , but I also think she has a really good series.) Check it out. (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0316160172/sr=8-1/qid=1147458947/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-7844628-4204651?%5Fencoding=UTF8)

Maprilynne

[veinglory]

I resisted adding my own, but what the hell -- Broken Sword (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0006FQC8I/qid=1147463165/sr=8-1/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-6642431-4512953?%5Fencoding=UTF8&v=glance&n=551440)(e-book, Torquere Press). Anyone posting a review on amazon goes in a draw to win my upcoming novella 'Journey's End (set in the same world, upcoming from Torquere Press).

[Inkdaub]

I am also reading The Historian. I like it. It makes me feel like learning history and traveling.

[Bmwhtly]

I would certainly recommend I Am Legend - Richard Matheson. I hate the word unputdownable, but it is.

[Lady Cat]

I've ready mostly vampire romances, but Maggie Shayne's Wings of the Night series has an interesting take on vampires.

If you're into vampire romances I highly recommend Lynsay Sands, Katie MacAllister, and Amanda Ashley.

[Twilight Angel]

Anyone read any good vampire novels, besides Anne Rice's collection and Dracula? I'm trying to do research on the history of vampires in literature.

Am I posting this in the right place?

Err, those were good novels(I would be referring to the Anne Rice Collection)?

Anyway--you could read my vampire novel---of course, there's the little issue with it not being published yet...

If you want to do research on vamps in literature, here's a great site: http://www.biblioinfo.com/vamp/VampReadOnline.html

Otherwise, I've been a bit fan of L.J. Smith's Young Adult series, the Vampire Diaries. The Law of the Blood series by Susan Sizemore. And the Twilight Series by Maggie Shayne (That's just a start. My bookshelf is full of vampire books). If you want a non-fiction forensic look at vamps, Read The Science Of Vampires. I found that very interesting.

Hope that's some help.

Cindy

www.twilightdreamz.com (http://www.twilightdreamz.com)

[Spook]

If you're looking for a different spin on vamp books, Christine Feehan's Dark series (http://www.christinefeehan.com/dark_series.htm)isn't bad. I'm not much on romance novels, but this series goes into rituals of Carpathians. (My SIL convinced me to read the first in the series. Good read, just not my style.)

[BarbaraSheridan]

I highly suggest trying to get a copy of Light at the End by John Skipp & Craig Spector---Lots of snark I loved it to pieces and Lee Killough's Blood Hunt and Bloodlinks were good and you may be able to find both of the Killough in a combined edition.

Michael Talbot's Delicate Dependency was also a favorite as was the Yarbro Saint Germain series.

[FloVoyager]

Try The Delicate Dependency, by Michael Talbot. It's out of print, but can usually be found at used book stores (on-line and off-line), and is in a class by itself, imho.

[Forbidden Snowflake]

Christine Feehan with her Dark Series used to be amusing to read when I was younger.

[Inkdaub]

I am now done with the Historian. The beginning is good and then the book drags a bit. Then the story picks it up and becomes really interesting and great for at least the last half of the book. The ending is great. Overall I really enjoyed it and it was different from any other vampire story I have read.

[dceptiveophelia]

Hope you guys don't think I'm cheesy...but I really enjoyed this vampire series: The Last Vampire (6 part series) by Christopher Pike. They're YA novels, and I read them as a YA. They had a very unique approach to vampirism and lots of historical & cultural references throughout. (I was mad at the last installment, however). He also wrote an adult one called The Season of Passage, which was vampires from a sci-fi/folklorish perspecitve, (one I also enjoyed).

The Historian is on my bookshelf...I'm looking forward to reading this one, but that probably won't happen until Fall semester ends. Ugh!

[Inkdaub]

I just joined a bookclub called the Mystery Guild. One of those 'get six books for a dollar then buy four more within two years' deals. I got some good books. One of them was a two in one set of I Am Legend and Hell House by Matheson. I'll report back when they arrive and I read them.

[Krystella]

If you want a good romance vampire fic you should read Twilight. You wont be able to put that book down. It will take you a day if that if you have the free time to read it. I believe there is going to be three books to it...the second one comes out in October. It's called Twilight by Stephanie Meyer. They might even becoming out with a movie.

"Softly he brushed my cheek, then held my face between his marble hands. 'Be very still,' he whispered, as if I wasn't already frozen. Slowly, never moving his eyes from mine, he leaned toward me. Then abruptly, but very gently, he rested his cold cheek against the hollow at the base of my throat." - Taken from the book!!!

[Cathy C]

Anyone read Sunglasses After Dark (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1565048490/sr=1-1/qid=1154659669/ref=pd_bbs_1/103-5127262-9995067?ie=UTF8&s=books) by Nancy Collins? I just LOVE the Sonja Blue character.

(psst... thanks for the plug, Ted! Glad you're enjoying the books! :D )

[dceptiveophelia]

My dad has read most of the Sonja Blue novels by Nancy Collins. They're his favorite vampire stories and he's always trying to get me to read them. I'll have to take a look at those someday too.

[blacbird]

I'm surprised nobody's mentioned this one yet: I Am Legend, by Richard Matheson.

caw.

[Krystella]

But someone did already mention that book...Bmwhtly did actually...but I haven't read it...though now I might...

[J. Weiland]

If you like humor together with the blood, try Richard Laymon's The Travelling Vampire Show. Brilliant. :D

[alanna]

I've become obsessed with Robin McKinley's Sunshine. Due to packing space, I had to pick one fiction book to take with me for 4 months, and I took Sunshine. I read and reread it for 4 months (as my only fiction book, remember) and I didn't get sick of it. Not even one little bit. Re-reading it for four months means about once a week, if not more often.

There's blood, gore, humor, just a touch of romance, and... chocolate. LOTS of chocolate. Everything an extremely stressed out girl looking for a fun read could hope for!

[Liam Jackson]

I highly suggest trying to get a copy of Light at the End by John Skipp & Craig Spector---Lots of snark I loved it to pieces and Lee Killough's Blood Hunt and Bloodlinks were good and you may be able to find both of the Killough in a combined edition.

Michael Talbot's Delicate Dependency was also a favorite as was the Yarbro Saint Germain series.

Thanks for reminding me of Light at the End.
Light at the End launched a new sub-genre, "splatterpunk" that survived and thrived for several years. Skipp and Spector eventually became known as the "Splatter-punk Twins." I think the short story, by the same name, appeared in Locus magazine in 1984 and the novel came out in '86. I haven't checked recently, but I believe it's still in print. The story features a seriously malevolent antag, and a group of equally seriously (damn, I just had a grammar and syntax pain) dysfunctional protags.

Recommended reading for the horror fan.

[Betty W01]

I normally avoid vampire stories, but couldn't resist Kitty and the Midnight Hour, which raises some interesting ethical questions for the paranormally equipped. Also read the sequel, Kitty Goes to Washington. And right now, on my reading stack is a book that looks really interesting, called Benighted.

[alanna]

Twilight. Just read it. GOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOD.

[Aubrey]

For a bunch of short vampire stoires, excerpts, and true accounts all rolled up into one book, I suggest Vampires, compiled by David J. Skal. It has some great stories in there (and a hilariously terrible one called "Varney the Vampyre Or, The Feast of Blood").

Hey, are there any books out there (besides Anne Rice's) where the vampires aren't entirely straight? I always found the idea a completely straight vampire kind of hard to buy. They just don't seem like they'd be that picky as to really notice/care about gender. (I speak of course of the modern day, non asexual vampires, of course)

[Kristal]

There is a Vampire author by the name of Michael Romkey. He has like seven different vampire books.


http://www.thevampire.com/novels_violin.shtml


--Kristal

[veinglory]

Varney the Vampire is a classic, one of the first from Victorian penny dreafuls. So yes, terrible, but best understood in context.

[persiphone_hellecat]

My favorite isnt a book, but a short story in a collection. The collection is called The Bloody Tower by Angela Carter and the story is Lady in the House of Love. I adore the whole book. She uses classic fairy tales and gives them an erotic slant. Check it out.

[Akiahara]

I'm a bit late on this one... but everything I read is in the supernatural horror/romance genre.

I don't know if anyone is looking for anything like these (they blend all types of supernatural things), but I'll list them anyways.

Charlaine Harris - Sookie Stackhouse series
Laurell K. Hamilton - Anita Blake, Vampire Hunter series
Sherrilyn Kenyon - Dark Hunter series
Christine Feehan - "Dark" series (Carpathians - not my thing, personally)
Kim Harrison - Rachel Morgan series
L.A. Banks - Vampire Huntress Legend series
Kelley Armstrong - Women of the Otherworld series (not much about vampires in the beginning, but the vampire pops up more in later books & i'm sure she'll write about her in the future)
Katie MacAlister - vampire series
MaryJanice Davidson - Betsy Taylor series
J.R. Ward - the Black Dagger Brotherhood series
Raven Hart - "A Vampire's Seduction" is the first book of her vampire series.

Some of them are quite funny (MaryJanice & Kate Mac, particularly), some are typical romance (Feehan & Kenyon, though Kenyon writes better than Feehan, imo), and some are dark (Hamilton & Banks). Most of them combine it all. They're not particularly historical, but some have original stories and I think show where this genre is headed.

Just my .02.

[Shadow_Ferret]

Why are all those authors women? I'm just curious. Are there no men writing about vampires these days? Not that I'm complaining. I happen to like several of those authors, but it has me wondering what is the reason it seems to be female dominated genre.

[Akiahara]

Why are all those authors women? I'm just curious. Are there no men writing about vampires these days? Not that I'm complaining. I happen to like several of those authors, but it has me wondering what is the reason it seems to be female dominated genre.
I've never read them, but E.E. Knight is a man. :) It's a post-apocalyptic type thing, and I don't have much of an interest in it, but he's a man. :) I only included authors that I'd read in my list.

I really think that they're more fascinating for women. Hence the reason all of those books have some sort of romantic tone. Even the early Anita Blakes had a sense of sexual tension, and LKH sure made her vampires sexy. I just think the idea of the vampire as an erotic creature is more appealing than them being disgusting, blood thirsty (not just literally) monsters. I think men would focus more on the super strength/super violent idea of vampires.

Did that make any sense? ;)

[Jack_Roberts]

Anyone read any good vampire novels, besides Anne Rice's collection and Dracula? I'm trying to do research on the history of vampires in literature.

Am I posting this in the right place?

I'm enjoying Darren Shan's Cirque Du Freak series at the moment.

Give me time. ;)

Soon, if all goes well, you'll be wondering about a NEW book called...

Annabelle and Roland, The Night Children

Once an agent picks it up, that is.

[Jack_Roberts]

I'm just curious. Are there no men writing about vampires these days?

HEY!
What am I, chopped bat? ;)

Just you wait!

[Jack_Roberts]

Anyway--you could read my vampire novel---of course, there's the little issue with it not being published yet...

We're in the same boat. ;)

[Sonarbabe]

Maggie Shayne's Twilight Hunger is a great vampire story. I absolutely loved that one. In fact, her entire Twilight series is good.

*Shameless plug alert mods forgive me* Grayson Point is a vampire story as well.

[Susan Gable]

Back in July, I read a terrific debut novel called Blood Ties: The Turning. It's the first in a triology. The author's name (yes, it's a woman!) is Jennifer Armintrout.

What I liked the most about this book is the gritty realism that the writer imparted to the stories. This is not all neat and easy.

The story is told in first person POV. The protagonist is a young medical intern who gets turned against her will -- and without even really knowing what's happened to her at first. The reactions are realistic, if one can apply the term "realistic" to a vamp novel. <G>

I'll be eagerly awaiting the next novel in the trilogy.

Susan G.

[Shadow_Ferret]

I really think that they're more fascinating for women. Hence the reason all of those books have some sort of romantic tone. Even the early Anita Blakes had a sense of sexual tension, and LKH sure made her vampires sexy. I just think the idea of the vampire as an erotic creature is more appealing than them being disgusting, blood thirsty (not just literally) monsters. I think men would focus more on the super strength/super violent idea of vampires.

Did that make any sense? ;)

I tend to make my female vampires very erotic and irresistably suductive.

[MMWyrm]

I always like Jean Kalogridis' vampire trilogy. Its sorta a spin off or continuation of the original Dracula story.

[Akiahara]

I tend to make my female vampires very erotic and irresistably suductive.
But how many other male authors do? Or... how large of an audience is there for that? Unless, of course, you include very erotic and irresistable male vampires, too.

I just think the chunk of vampire novels are aimed towards women, therefore, the authors are usually women. ;) I could be wrong, I suppose, but I've never read a vampire book that was written by a man.