Books About Vampires

[Bastet]

Hey Countess, I didn't know about Queen Noctor, could you develop a little, please? I adopted this name from Bastet, an ancient Egyptian goddess basically worshipped as a goddess of joy and protector or women. She was always identified with the cat, which also happens to be my favorite animal.

I also think the character of Louis in Interview was more interesting due to his existencial angst. But like I think I've said before, he's my least favorite character, the firt one being Claudia closely followed by Lestat (anyone who likes Lestat should read the Vampire Lestat).

[kathycf]

I think it was Polidori's The Vampyre actually. and my favorite vampire novel is I am Legend by Richard Matheson (I'm really surprised it hasn't been mentioned yet), although I'm reading Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire right now and *so far* I like it.


that's what's interested me, too. although, I have to admit I kind of like Louis' moping.

I believe you are correct about Polidori, although that book was never as widely read as Stoker's. Goodness, I forgot all about I am Legend, (it had some sci/fi elements to it) I read that years ago. It was a good story, but I found it very "claustrophobic" and depressing (imagine being the last person on earth and all your friends, neighbors and loved ones are either dead or even worse...) Thanks for reminding me of this story.

[Azazello]

There is also Sergei Lukyaneko's Others trilogy. Night Watch was based on this book. I believe 2 of the books are translated: Night Watch and Day Watch, not sure about the last one as I only have it in Russian. Brilliant read and has so much more than just vampires. The whole Good vs Evil debate takes completely different proportions there.

S.

[Pendragon]

Well, you want to go way back, the text for Varney the Vampire is probably availible somewhere on the net. It's an oldie (predated Dracula), but not bad. Try a few websites devoted to vampire literature, or just Google Varney.

[Danika_Valin]

I've read a few vampire novels, but the only one that met my expectations was Dracula by Bram Stoker. I've read Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat and Queen of the Damned by Anne Rice, and while I thought some of the characters were interesting, her writing style makes me cringe. It may be her motive to dull the wonders of the vampire world to make it more beliveable, but even though the narrator in TVL and QotD is a vampire and would not find his life as extraordinary as the reader would, sometimes I feel like Anne writes about spectacular events as if she were writing about brushing her teeth. The fact everything comes across as being so mundane makes me feel awkward. A perfect example of this is when Lestat introduces himself to the reader at the beginning of the books. I flipped through those pages without reading them.
The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova was an interesting take on the vampire novel, and even though I know little about the Ottoman Empire and Mehmed II's relationship with Vlad Tepes, I thought it was neat to give the vampire legend a historical foundation. It was very unique, and I think it was entertaining. My only complaint with the book is that it ends in a deus ex machina. I don't want to give any spoilers. The problem that continually builds through 500 some pages of text is resolved very quickly, and in my opinion, too easily. It was almost like Kostova said, "enough of this already," and finished the book just so she could get it over with.

Also, Salem's Lot by Stephen King was a disappointment. I hoped the book would give me some thrills. It didn't. I wouldn't say it was a "bad" book, but it didn't meet my expectations. Well... what can I say? It's Stephen King, after all...

[Bastet]

I had the same feeling about Kostova's The Historian. So many pages building expectation for something that in the end seemed to resolve itself so easily... It was a good book overall though, especially for those who are interested in some historical background as well as in the thriller part of a book.

[Taliesin]

If some wants there is a really good book series called Ravenloft..
the first book is called Vampire of the Mists by Christie Golden.
REally really good..

There are book series about Ravenloft?
Well, we should have guessed. There are lots of books about Forgotten Realms and Ravenloft as a world is way better than FR.

We know Ravenloft as a gothic horror RPG world. One of the best we have ever seen. (we think that it is the best published one) Truly beautiful. It is very demanding for a Game-Master, though. We run a session of Mordent combined with the Cube, but we think the traps were too ineffectual and didn't manage to almost-kill them (they were newbies to DD, still). The end result wasn't dread and horror, but surrealism, as our games tend to go.

[Bastet]

I just finished reading Anne Rice's The Tale of the Body Thief. Is there anything the Vampire Lestat cannot do? hahaha! I do love that character, but I think at this point in the Vampire Chronicles he's a little too full of himself... anyone who read this book would like to give me their opinion?

[Loveless]

I just finished reading Anne Rice's The Tale of the Body Thief. Is there anything the Vampire Lestat cannot do? hahaha! I do love that character, but I think at this point in the Vampire Chronicles he's a little too full of himself... anyone who read this book would like to give me their opinion?

Bastet, I have read The Tale of the Body Thief, and love it, and if I am not mistaken there really is nothing Lestat can't do. I do also belive at one point or another in the Vampire chronicles he does become a saint and is worshiped as one, of course, after he goes and gets his eye out by an Angel. have fun and enjoy reading the rest of the seris.

[Bastet]

Hi Loveless, in Tale of the Body Thief I liked the contrast between that amazing sense of physical power Lestat has and his sensitivity when it comes to emotions, not only when he's a mortal, but also when he's a vampire. He's definitely an extreme being! I don't wanna spoil the ending for anyone but, what happened between him and Marius caught me completely by surprise.

[stinger]

I'd have to totally agree with your rating of the "Historian". I thought it was a really enjoyable read and i'm a big vampire fiction fan.
I admit the ending appeared slightly rushed, but everything previous was pretty impressive. On the Anne Rice theme, i'm currently reading Queen of the Damned and can identify with some of the criticisms. overall she's a decent author, but does have a tendency to bore her characters.

[underground]

if you're saying that people are liking books because everyone else is doing it, then you're right. unfortunately, it'll happen all the time. just take harry potter and the da vinci code.

i've only read dracula and interview with the vampire. i find anne rice's style so dull i wonder why everyone else is into her. i'm sure i'd like to read more vampire novels if they are any good. i just find supernatural creatures fascinating.

i'd also like to see novels about hopping vampires.

[willie.meikle@b]

I've noticed recently from the internet that there are a lot of books about vampires ,I believe that the first one was Dracula by Stocker and the other writers found this book as an access for hundreds of other stories about vampires , Vlad Tipes , Transylvania ...etc.
I know that a lot of people believe that this is not good literature but lets admit it these things are successful and somehow fun .
I'm 20 years old in the last a few years I started to believe that maybe vampires are real ! every time I watch T.V theres a series or a movie about vampires, deamons
and who didnt watch Buffy anyway ?!
Its like Vampires and more other things are apart of a new culture we are forced to be part of especially if you are young , when you go to school you find everyone is reading these things and talking about it , but you dont see too many people reading books for Destoevsky or Tolestoy for example ,
, I'm not saying that all the vampires books are bad and unfortunatly I've never read anyone of them just because english is not my first language and actually I'm not so good in it and I couldnt find other books in my language .
What I'm trying to say is that its a good thing to read everything but we should always be able to evaluate what we read .

Can I be permitted a plug? If you like the historical bits of Anne Rice, you'll like this....

The Watchers Series is my retelling of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion in Britain. Bonnie Prince Charlie, and all his highland army, are Vampires and are heading south to claim the British throne. The "Watchers" of the title are the guards of the old Roman wall built by Hadrian, now reinforced to keep the vamps out. It is constantly patrolled by officers of the Watch, two of whom become the main protagonists of the series.

I got the idea on a walk along what is left of the wall, and by the time I'd had finished my walk and had a few beers the first part of the trilogy was fully formed in my head. Think "ZULU" or "Last of the Mohicans" with vamps and you'll get a feel of what it's all about.


Book 1: The Coming of the King
Book 2: The Battle for the Throne
Book 3: Culloden!

Get them from
Black Death Books
AMAZON.COM
AMAZON.CO.UK

There's "taster" excerpts to read at the Black Death Books pages

khpindustries.com

[mockingbird]

Salem's Lot by Stephen King is based to some extent on Dracula.

[Idril]

i've only read dracula and interview with the vampire. i find anne rice's style so dull i wonder why everyone else is into her.

Not that I'm a huge fan of hers or anything, but not all the Vampire Chronicles are as dull as the first. They do tend to get a little repetitive after awhile but those middle few are worth a read.