I write vampires. I love vampires. But I admit, lately, I’m feeling overwhelmed by the plethora of vamps. They are everywhere. On the silver screen. On the small screen. Crowding out non-vamp books in bookstores. Featured in magazine articles and bloggers everywhere are swooning over this fabulous ‘new’ trend of the vampire. (New? Seriously?) Vamps are in the grocery aisles, tempting me to munch their sugary sweetness. They want me to sip down blood-orange soda, and indulge in vamp-ish truffles. They are on my clothing, bedsheets and shoes. They twinkle, shimmer and drool blood.
Whew! Enough already?
Actually, no. I embrace this indulgence in one of the most popular ‘monsters’ we’ve had throughout the ages. Sure, the vampires we like to read in our romances are a bit sanitized from those original, horrific vamps who would as soon rip out their victims throats than even consider drinking blood from a plastic bag stolen from a blood bank. I can deal with that, because romance is just one ‘genre’ within the realm of vampires we have to choose from. Not in the mood for swooning, broody, aristocratic vamps? Pick up a horror book or check out Let The Right One In. The Nightwatch and Daywatch books and movies are another great horror choice. Vamps can be found in fantasy, mystery, action-adventure, erotica, young adult, manga, just to name a few. True Blood and The Vampire Diaries are more great choices on TV. So many choices! I love it.
So what about you? Do you feel it’s time for vamps to climb back into their coffins and just give us a break? Or do you embrace it like I do, and wonder how soon before book stores actually put in a ‘Vampire’ section? What’s your fav genre of vamps to read about or watch
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21 comments:
Hi Michele and Lyndsay! I have to admit that sometimes I get very frustrated with the sheer volume of vampire stuff hitting the market. Vampires have always been a huge draw for me but I am not into the sparkly, sanitized vamps that are so popular right now. The plus side is that I do have a wide variety to choose from and that gives me the opportunity to try new authors and movies. I mean, I do get to choose! Another cool thing is that vamps are hitting the kiddie market too and so I can introduce these things to my little ones. Kid lit and cartoons now have vampire characters and it can be a lot of fun to read/watch with the kids. Sounds a bit hypocritical since I don't like PG vamps but I like G rated ones:)Go figure.
personally I love all the vamp attention....I've been a huge fan of anything vampire (or paranormal) since I was a kid. I'll say I embrace it...so the Hubby thinks I'm a little nuts....he thought that anyway LOL.
I would have to agree with you both Ann and Kris! While I have been a vampire fan since I was little, I don't much care for the Sparkly kind either - or people reasoning that we like them because it's just now starting to get popular (again) but it is nice to have a nice variety out there.
I have been a huge vamp fan ever since Interview wtih a vampire and I have never got tired of it. I think that its good that there is such a variety of vamps because it allows all different age groups to enjoy them. I prefer my vamps tall, dark, sexy as hell and a lot dangerous but I respect authors take on vamps that are more kid appropirate.
Well, I'm quite divided on that topic myself. I've been indulging my fascination for vampires for nearly twenty years now, but lately there's such a big influx of new stuff, remakes and whatnot that I feel kind of overwhelmed. First, with greater quantity the quality starts lacking (I was knee-deep in ParaRoms last year and debated whether I had accidentally ended up in the seventh circle of hell). The other problem is that I have no chance to review all these books - *especially* when most authors go for the serial form and you suddenly are faced with the adventure of keeping track of ten to fifteen vampire series. Not an easy feat.
I like vamps, and I am ok with them being everywhere, but that doesn't mean I have to like every iteration, y'know? I like my vamps dark, sexy, powerful and brooding. I mean, the Count from Sesame Street is one thing, but give me Gary Oldman over these teeny boppers any day! (Buffy/Angel wannabes!).
Thanks for the giveaway!
~bella
I'm not feeling the overload yet. I like the variety and all the choices. My favorite genre of vamps are those in the urban fantasy. They're dark and gritty.
joderjo402 AT gmail DOT com
I'm still riding pretty high on the vamp wave. I like what so many authors are coming up with their own unique vampire mythologies.
I like vampires of all types. I like the wide variety to choose from. I don't think we can have too many of them
Thanks for the contest.
Great post. I love vamps. I love reading about them and watching them and dont think I will ever get tired of it. I do like vamps of all types but the psychic ones are my least favorites. A Vamp section in the bookstore, where do I sign up?
Thanks!
I really don't mind all the vampire books. Every author writes them in a somewhat different way.
seriousreader at live dot com
@Anna: I know what you mean. I've read a few children's books and I I feel that vampires tend to look toothless in kid's books (for obvious reasons - I like my vamps darker and grittier). Of course, my passion for vampires started with "The Little Vampire", so I'm also being hypocritcal:)
Confession: My vampires are bad guys.
:D
Genella deGrey
I was hooked into reading vampire books when I came across Anne Rice's books while in high school. Since then I've read a lot and it's great to see so many authors spinning their own crimson tales. Like someone else said, there should be a Vamp section in bookstores. I also love all of the YA vamp books, as well as a ton of the manga and anime vamp series too.
I have always loved the supernatural and scary but I must admit I more recently began becoming interested in vamps once again with the recent wave of popularity. I think this is mainly because now they are easier to relate to but still with the myticism and excitement of something different and most of the time dangerous. Though I don't prefer some of the variations I do still like the availability.
Thanks for the blog and all of the activity this month! It's been a great lead up to Hallowen!
I dont think there could ever be too much vampire out there. Vampires and paranormal in general is a way for people to get away from the normal everyday way of things and just enjoy something more fun!!
amyturci(AT)yahoo(DOT)com
I have to say I embrace it all. I've been watching vampire movies since I was a child. The first one I saw was with my grandfather it was Dracula of course. My grandfather always loved horror and I watched right along with him, but Dracula and I can't remember the name of the Werewolf movie I've both of these many of times and they've always stuck with, I guess besides name of Werewolf movie...LOL
I don't think I'll ever tire of Vampire movies or books or whatever. They have definitely evolved over the years, but that is interesting to everyone has their own views some good, some bad it's a matter of opinion and my opinion is keep the vampires alive...
I'm into different genre's of Vampires, I like to read urban fantasy, romance, erotic, ya and history....
Take a break from Vamps? NEVER!!
I waited for years for good vampire books that didn't scare me to death and I'm not ready to give them up!!
Oh, I have no complaints! I love vampires! And vampire books having there own isle in book stores would definitely make it easier!:)
I love that vampires are getting so much attention, I just wish that those vampires weren't of the sparkly nature that give vampires a weak reputation.
Valorie
morbidromantic@gmail.com
You can never have to many vampire books I love the newer ones like Angela Knight writes about. I also love Nina Bangs vampires the books will make you laugh out loud. I say more paranormal please.
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