We have seen quite the string of vampire novels in publishing the last few years. From Anne Rice to THE HISTORIAN to TWILIGHT, every time I have heard someone in the publishing business say the whole vampire thing had run its course… along came another successful vampire book to prove that it had not.
America apparently loves vampires! And I’m still getting more vampire novels in my Inbox than perhaps any other genre/trope.
What do you think? Is the public still ready for fresh takes on vampirism? Or is it time to break out the garlic?
This is perhaps the funniest wrap-up of the final Twilight book, Breaking Dawn, complete with pictures of Rob Pattinson.
(warning: there is a few bad words — Nathan, feel free to delete this post if you think it’s inappropriate, you know I don’t want to offend you):)
https://community.livejournal.com/lion_lamb/1651773.html?page=1#comments
I don’t think they will ever die completely. I have been catching up on True Blood over the weekend, and I was actually thinking about what it was about the vampire genre that is so eternally appealing. Not so much the watered down, YA version, but the scary and dangerous type. There’s just something about them that is fascinating to us.
I predict that the genre will go out of fashion in the near future for a few years, given the saturation of the market right now. (My bookshop has a separate vampire section!). And then someone will write something new and fresh and it will come back in again…
personally, I’m quite sick of reading about vampires.
Once there’s a really good vampire book (i.e. twilight) there can be one or two other good ones, but please, STOP THERE.
I want to read original stories, and vampires are no longer original.
Having just finished Stargazer by Claudia Gray, I have to vote undead. Vampires are just too attractive!
The Underworld movies also helped in revamping vampires. And as long as someone can accomplish a delicious new twist on an ages old storyline/genre, then I’m willing and ready to read. Or buy a ticket.
The vampire has become a deep archetype of the unrestrained id or ego. Consequently, vampire fiction always manages to rise from the grave when given new blood. That is, when a writer takes the undead villain/hero in a new direction.
I think that’s why Charlaine Harris’ Southern Vampire novels are so popular, as was the Blade comic book/movie series.
Perhaps next we will see vampires genetically engineering dinosaurs, only to learn that they are merely programs in a computer-generated dream world. On second thought, maybe not.
Please, God, let it end!
I’ve loved vampires since I was a a preteen, though I’ve read neither Anne Rice, nor Twilight. I did read the Anita Blake novels, which were great before they became porn. If I found something that different again, with a great voice, I’d pick it up.
But as a general rule, enough with the vampries already. I’m sick of hearing about them, and between the books, movies and tv shows it’s impossible to keep anything straight. And, oh the titles!
If you’re writing a vampire book, do yourself a favor, and think of a completely original, unique title (i.e. nothing with light, night, blood, dark, darkness, shadows, or bite).
Vampire novels are classics. And remaking the movies seems to spark new interest.
Okay, totally giving away my age here, but when I was sixteen Christopher Lee as Dracula was just the sexiest thing ever in movies. Over the years the interest in vampires hasn’t gone away. Anne Rice wasn’t the first to make vampires popular. The TV show Dark Shadows came along before she did, and all the Dark Shadow movies, and the remade series. I’ve been watching vampire movies and reading vampire books since 1962 when I saw my first Christopher Lee movie.
My co-worker just wandered by and I showed him this post. “Are vampires finished? Not if my wife’s ‘to read’ pile is any indication.”
Saying Vampires are dead is like saying fantasy died with Tolkien.
Morgan
My problem isn’t with vampires in general. My problem is with the novels which are knock-offs of bestselling vampire novels, like TWILIGHT. Enough already!
To use TWILIGHT as an example, I wish the people responsible for the knock-offs getting onto the shelves would understand that TWILIGHT is not a huge bestseller simply because it has vampires in it. TWILIGHT is a huge bestseller because the author intuited the emotional needs of her target audience and fulfilled those needs in a powerful way through story. She could have just as easily used any kind of not-quite-human character and had the same end result.
Therein lies the lesson I’m trying to put into practice in my own writing. Forget the trends and just a write the best doggone story you can. If it’s got vampires, fine.
😉
I sure as heck hope they aren’t finished. Of course, I’m biased. My own contribution to the cannon of vampire lore debuts tomorrow. I’ll let you know in a few weeks if market agrees vamps need a good staking. But I’m pretty sure the public hasn’t has their fill yet.
Emily, your comments refreshed me. I always try and zig when the world is zagging, and love authors who do the same. Dan Simmons’ The Terror not only steps outside the box, he crushes it, and it’s great to learn about some new creature while at the same time fearing it for all your worth.
There are loads of legends that can be revitalized, and I get the sense that vampires are just an easy go-to for a number of pat metaphorical issues. I played with the subject m myself in my novella [called HorrorCon, available through Amazon ;^)] but I tried my best to go in a very different direction.
In fact, I long for another show like the “X-Files”, that was able to bring so many different myths into the fold. “Fringe” seems to be trying to do that, as well, but the show doesn’t really grab me. A book series that could go in any number of horrific directions with consistent characters would be ace, in my opinion.
Not going to die. After all, they’re immortal.
Unless we start genetically engineering every baby to be good at sports, vampires will always be popular. As long as there are teenage nerds, vampires will sell.
I don’t think they will ever fade out of the scene. As long as the books have unique twists….. 🙂
Nathan:
How is the YA horror market in general? I mean real horror, not paranormal romance. I’m working on a werewolf thing.
I vote undead. There are plenty of ways to make a vampire tale appealing.
The story can be approached from the vampires perspective, as with Anne Rice, or from the victim’s perspective, like Twilight.
The vampires are usually old, opening up story lines that are not confined to one lifetime, or one geography.
The vampire can be both the hero and the villain, making it an intriguing character.
Vampire stories have been around for hundreds of years. I just Googled “the first vampire story” and the all-knowing Internet told me that the first English version of a vampire story was published in 1819 (John Polidori’s “The Vampyre”), but myths of “blood drinkers” stretch back to the ancient Babylonians. The popularity of the vampire myth has only grown since then. I see that trend continuing.
jude-
Although this blog posts suggests otherwise, I don’t actually trend watch and don’t suggest authors do either. This is more just speculative.
Not dead, just lying dormant…vampire stories, dragons, were wolves, fairies, etc… these stories will never die, but sometimes you wish folks would give them a rest.
Now is one of those times.
let’s face it. Anything well written has a shot. After Twilight, though, it would have to be REALLY well written.
Whoops, sorry. I’ve been into well-written vampire fiction since the day at age 14 when I first read Annie Rice and Poppy Z. It’s almost two decades later and I’m still into the genre. I’m more interested in well-realised protagonists who are not the raison d’etre of the story but form a strong part of the plot. They just happen to be vamps, that’s all.
*I Am Legend* scared the absolute zippitydoodah out of me.
Not because of the vampires.
*Twilight* made me feel like I was falling in love for the first time.
Not because of the vampires.
It’s about the power of story. People know it when they feel it, and Stephie can count millions of reasons why that’s what really matters to readers(and LOL at Stephen King while she’s doing it).
I agree with Kimber An…
“My problem isn’t with vampires in general. My problem is with the novels which are knock-offs of bestselling vampire novels, like TWILIGHT…”
I recently tried to read another vamp book that claimed, “Fans of Twilight will LOVE this series.”
Nope. Not really.
Because the vamps aren’t the point. The power of story is.
Vampire stories have been good fodder for the imagination for generations, they aren’t going to die off. They do need to evolve. Frankly, I’m bored of vampires. But that doesn’t mean someone won’t come out with a new twist that makes them exciting again.
In my opinion, a good story is a good story. If you tell it well, people will read it (hopefully). And besides, vampires are pretty much the greatest. I know I’m a fan…
I don’t believe vampire fiction will ever truly die. Like so many who have already posted, I’ve been a fan of it since I was a wee lass. I don’t see ever NOT being a fan of it.
As long as it’s written well!
I still prefer LJ Smith’s Vampire Diaries to the Twilight Series. I loved Damien. Screw Stefan.
I’m particularly happy to see people wanting strong, scary, old-school vampires again. That’s what I wanted too, so I wrote one. [Nathan, I’ll give you the next shot if the agent I talked to on Saturday declines it. If you’re interested. 😉 ]
I think there are a lot of people out there like me who really like the possibilities of playing with a species made to prey on humans, and not just in the romantic sense. Please, please, please, give me something that isn’t a freaking romance! I mean, I like paranormal romance. I buy a lot of it. But I want something dark! I want something visceral! And I want to not have to write it myself all the time while I wait for Kim Harrison’s next book.
Thanks, Nathan. I think that’s good advice, to avoid trend watching.
Really now, who can grow tired of the great vampire metaphor? Desire and demise appeal to almost anyone, no matter what the spin.
78 Bloody comments and counting!
word verification: difiz
My writing group has at least one vampire novel going and it is to die for!!!!
I vant to drink your blood
how does that ever get broing?
Hey, Nathan:
This very question was on my mind over the weekend. I’ve been having a lot of editors and other agents I know tell me they are tired of the same old thing when it comes to vampires, but that they are still selling regardless. By and large many of the queries that I see in my own inbox (and there are quite a lot of vampires ones still!) don’t seem to have enough of a fresh take on it.
But at the same time that editors say they are tired of seeing vampires and want something else, you read this in PW’s deal column:
“Rachel Kahan at Putnam preempted Christopher Farnsworth’s debut, Blood Oath, and two subsequent novels, via Alexandra Machinist at Linda Chester, who made the major six-figure world rights deal amid multiple initial offers. The series of books centers on a vampire sworn to protect the U.S. president against supernatural threats; Putnam will publish Blood Oath in 2010, with Berkley to publish titles in paperback beginning in 2011.” (from the 3/23/2009 issue)
I can only conclude that there is still a market for the right book. Like you, though, I feel the trend is not the thing to follow, here. The story needs to be powerful and well-written regardless.
Thanks for weighing in, Jennifer! Couldn’t agree more.
I absolutely hate vampires. However, I loved the Twilight series. My point is that if it’s well-written or has a new angle, maybe the subject matter doesn’t matter so much.
I’m thinking vampires are here to stay. Hmmm… perhaps I’ll throw one in somewhere. Random vampire or token vampire! 🙂
I’ve never liked vampires, always thought they were stupid, and figured they would have gone the way of wide bell-bottomed jeans or polyester disco suits a long, long time ago. Shows you what the hell I know.;-)
Word ver: bardlif – sounds like the name of a vampire.
Margaret Yang – that was the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time:
“…and then Buffy staked Edward.” The End.
Thanks!
Zombie books are on the rise, I’ve noticed. Perhaps it’s time for a war of the undead. 😀 Zombies v. Vampires. Muwaha.
Saw a little-known Swedish movie recently (recommended by Netflix) that I thought was extraordinary. Guess others thought so, too, since it’s apparently in development as an American flick now:
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1139797/
Now, I don’t ever have monster, vampire or horror movies in my queue, so there were other reasons Netflix recommended it, and they were right.
Aren’t Vampires by definition in the “undead” genre?
Ok, so that was snide, but I sometimes can’t help myself.
Anyway I think that all calls for the death of genre X or Y will turn out to be premature. What is really happening is that there are a flood of similar works, and the imagination is exhausted.
But as soon as someone creates a new and updated story that turns the dead genre into something compelling, we find the once dead genre rising again like Dracula from his crypt.
I like some stories with vamps – like the series by Jeaniene Frost – but when I start reading about local school kids calling the police (Boston Latin) to report vampire attacks…
something’s not quite right…
What a silly question, Nathan. Everyone knows vampires can’t die 🙂
The fact is, there will always be readers of all ages wanting a new vampire novel.
Vampires are like an archetype. They’ll always be with us in some shape or form. Nathan only goes back to Anne Rice – what about Bram Stoker? And the Hungarian folktales before him? Zombie fiction is trying to horn in but forget it. Zombies can compete with sexy blood sucking aristocrats.
vampires won’t go away while the news is all about rich people sucking the US economy dry.
because the metaphor is just too obvious.
Not everyone likes vampire stories and for those folks it must seem that the genre has gone on for far too long, but for those of us who do, there’s always some new delightful take on the old trope.
‘Twilight’ was a little too simpering for my taste. Give me Charlie Huston’s ‘Already Dead’ series instead. Or Dean James’ fussy Simon Kirby-Jones who is kind of a gay undead Miss Marple. These are definitely not books meant for kiddies.
They are dead when a reader is not in the mood to read them. But moods change fast, especially for me, because I’m perimenopausal. I could be back in the mood for vamps before the next sunset.
I read what I like and I write what I like. And if reader x or writer x tells me I’m wasting my time on a dying pursuit, they can bite me. If x is an agent, then I would listen, ruminate, and then write a vamp novel if it is what I felt compelled to write.
And I DO NOT understand why a genre should “die for a bit” as mentioned in an earlier comment. Read what you want to read, write what you want to write, and let others do the same.
I’m not a fan of the genre myself but I think that the idea of vampire tackles something very deep, connecting with the deepest hopes (and some of the deepest fears too, but the hopes come first) of humanity, so no way they’re gonna end for good. They might hibernate for a while though, I wouldn’t mind. But I don’t think they will just now.
First time posting here. 😀
I love vampires, and have been writing about them for quite some time. I do agree that it has to be fresh. I haven’t read Twilight yet, but it’s on my TBR pile.
I don’t think vampires will ever die, but there may be up and downs, highs and lows..
Cheers,
Erin K.
Well, ahem, as I’m writing one myself though I’m not calling it that, but something else, I would say no, they’re um quite “undead,” so to speak, but I do get discouraged at the presence in the marketplace of so many of them.