“Thoughtful Ramblings” is a feature where we discuss bookish subjects. These posts are just our own thoughts about certain topics that may get us hot under the collar and we need a good rant or just things we want to share with fellow bloggers and readers.
Vampires – Killers or Lovers?
After seeing an article on the Guardian’s blog regarding Stephen King’s thoughts on ‘romantic’ vampires, I started having a ponder myself. But first, here’s what SK said:
“Here’s what vampires shouldn’t be: pallid detectives who drink Bloody Marys and work only at night; lovelorn southern gentlemen; anorexic teenage girls; boy-toys with big dewy eyes,” writes Stephen King in the introduction to his move into original comic book writing, American Vampire. “What should they be? Killers, honey. Stone killers who never get enough of that tasty Type-A. Bad boys and girls. Hunters. In other words, Midnight America. Red, white and blue, accent on the red. Those vamps got hijacked by a lot of soft-focus romance.”
I must admit that even though I do like paranormal romance novels containing vampires, and I enjoyed the Twilight series (although I’m definitely not a die-hard fan) I do sort of agree with Mr King.
When I first began reading horror novels, vampires were the villan, the evil creature with which us humans had to kill or it would kill us, such as Dracula by Bram Stoker (one of my all time fav books), Necroscope by Brian Lumley, Salem’s Lot by Stephen King. If the vampire novels weren’t in the ‘horror’ camp they still at least kept the ‘horror’ of vampires very much alive in their story – such as Interview with a Vampire by Anne Rice. I adored these books, especially the characters, but these vampires were still killers.
Even Spike from Buffy started out a deliciously evil vampire that relished in killing and drinking blood, a vampire that stalked his prey without remorse. But even he eventually succumbed to love and practically became Buffy’s puppy dog. I say this with much affection as I LOVED Spike, and Buffy was one of my all-time favourite shows!
It does seem that authors are opting for the softer vampire. Vampires now seem to be either love interests or private investigators in the genre’s of paranormal romance and urban fantasy. And although some of the UF novels are fantastically dark and gritty such as the Joe Pitt series by Charlie Huston, they still aren’t what I’d call true ‘horror’.
I have even started to see a shift with zombies to the romantic side – I’m not sure I can get on board with this. It’s hard to believe that these supernatural creatures can be the love interest with its body putrefying and decaying and bits falling off! Not to mention the smell!
But then I began to think how paranormal romance has a huge following. Did this genre, which stemmed from urban fantasy, grow so big because it opened up the world of vampires and other supernatural beings to the wider audience? Not everyone is like me and wants to read horror, or read how a vampire rips out the throat of its victim to drink the warm fast flowing blood. Some want to read about these creatures but in a softer light.
I think there’s a place for all these sub-genre’s, but are there just too many books that now romanticise vampires? Should vampires be brought back to their true monstrous, evil nature? What do you think – should vampires be killers or lovers?
22 Comments
Why does it have to just be a case of "or"? They can be more complex than Tinkerbell – I'm sure they're big enough for more than one emotion, and thus state, at a time.
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Hi Catherine – What I'm really asking is if there are just too many books that romanticise vampires and not enough novels that write about vampires stripped back to their true nature. I go into my bookshop and find it hard to find real 'horror' for all the urban fantasy/paranormal – I love both genres, but I feel one is being favoured by writers over the other.
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It's more directed at the fact that it's always a case of either/or – in these discussions, everywhere, there's no room for complexity. Vampires stem from humans, who are good and bad along an entire spectrum. You can find vampires that are lovers to the point where they have sex in the blood of victims, or the lovers that will take glee in killing a thousand men to protect the ones they love. It's not exclusionary.
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My title & question are probably misleading as I'm not saying "either/or" I'm just saying that there seems to be a huge amount of books that romanticise vampires than there are for those of us who like to read about vampires in their true form. As I've said I like both and there's a place for all genres – I just wish there were more books that catered for those that love 'horror' – a bit more balance maybe?
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Definitely killers – I do think vampires have become a little too mainstream (Twilight to blame) and have become too soft. I like my vamps dark and evil.
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I would prefer the softer approach because I tend to avoid true horror. Too terrifying for me. I don't mind having evil vampires though as long as the story doesn't give me nightmares.
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Really good article Carolyn!
I have read and enjoyed my fair share of paranormal romance with vampire heroes. But I often have a problem with them. When the heroine happily gives up her mortality, says good-bye to sunshine, food (ice cream and chocolate I mean come on!
, the ability to have children all in the name of marrying her immortal lover. There are some excellent ones – Jeaniene Frost's series deserves a mention. I also love the Twilight books.
But, I think I'm with you. I like grittier vampires. Even if they are 'good' I like those that blur the lines – that can do good deeds but are never the less ruthless.
Dracula is an amazing book because Dracula is so horrifying.
Give me gritty and dark vampires anyday!
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I like my vampires both ways. I like them as the good guys and girls, as well as the bad ones.
And I agree with the zombie thing. I like zombie novels, but the idea of romance between human and zombie gives me the chills… in a bad way!
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I prefer my vampires as killers I really like Ilona Andrews vampires in the Kate series and the buffy vampires (ignoring 'soft' Spike and Angel).
I do feel its unusual to see a book where the vampires are actually evil – although now i'm thinking about it the vampires in Kat Richardsons Greywalkers series are pretty nasty.
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I'll take my vamps either way!
I tend to like a mix of the two, rather than one over the other.
In the novel series I authored, the vampires are not a bunch of crazed killers, but they do get bloody. Even balance.
I tend to agree with you though. In general, the shelves are over populated with romantic vamps. While I do love reading them, sometimes I wish there were more that stuck with tradition.
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Nothing wrong with a romantic vampire once in a while, but at their heart they're killers. It's a blood lust after all, isn't it?
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Amen Stephen King!
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Interesting question I would say I like a little of both but I think lately the have been overly romantic. I think a lot of it comes down to the bottom line in publishing when twilight sold millions every publisher wanted their own twilight franchise. I've really backed away from vamp fiction because it's overwhelming and I'm burnt out! The only exception is J.K.Beck and Jeanine Frost and her Cat and Bones series they are doing unique things with vampires
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Cheshire Cat – Hehe – a girl after my own heart. I love how you just come out with it, no beating around the bush LOL
Kah Woei – I like softer vamps too, so you're definitely not alone. Zombies give me nightmares
Laura – Thanks! I hadn't thought about it like that but yes, the women do seem to be giving up a lot without much difficulty. I *must* read Jeaniene Frost series as I keep hearing about it. I have it on my shelf too, so I will make it my new year's resolution to read the series! Yay, for dark and gritty
Kate – I like both too, but I can't find as many in the horror camp as I would like. And yes, zombies and romance does not sound right lol
cardnoc – I've heard good things about the Kate Daniels series – I have that one on my shelf too so I will definitely get around to reading it very soon. I loved Buffy, one of my all-time favourite shows, and I loved Spike as naughty Spike and smitten Spike – I just loved Spike! LOL
Amber Riley – I like them both too, I just wish I could find more of the 'horror' kind in my bookshop but they are always hidden amounts the piles of PNR or Urban Fantasy – don't get me wrong I love these genres too, I just wish it was more balanced
Rabid Fox – There is certainly nothing wrong with a romantic vamp – as I said in my post. I like both, but the romantic vamp seems to be the most popular amongst writers at the moment, and I miss the horrific vamp that bad through and through.
Serena – LOL Amen!
Kai (FSOM) – Yes, I agree – they are more romantic at present and I miss the scary kind. I liked the Twilight books but I'm not a huge fan. I think they certainly changed the direction of the vamp towards the romantic – maybe it will change back some day or at least the scary vamp will come back in fashion?
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I think vampires are killers and seducers… Their instict should be after blood not a relationship! That said, I do enjoy the odd loved up vamp (such as Spike!).
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I'm one of those who likes both the romantic and scary vampires. Vampires are the ultimate "bad boy (or girl) redeemed by love" archetype. I want my vampires dark and scary without completely losing their humanity, including the potential for softness.
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I favor Carrie Vaughn's approach here: Vampires are human, just like normal humans. They can be bad guys or good guys, just like human beings can be bad or good. The whole blood-drinking thing takes some handling, of course, but in the end it's the choices that we make which make us heroes or villains.
-LupLun
Lupines and Lunatics
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Hi Carolyn,
great post!
I personally don't think there's an actual lacking, but rather that maybe you're looking in the wrong places? If you're not finding what you want in your corner bookstore then try Amazon and browsing horror book blogs for more ideas and suggestions. While I personally don't love horror, I have read and enjoyed some, and there are still many vampire books in that genre. I haven't read it but The Strain by Guillermo del Toro was one I heard about, as well as the famous Justin Cronin's The Passage, and authors like Scott Sigler write similar stuff. Trends are cyclical, and while right now maintsream might be leaning in favor of PNR and UF, that's only what's currently getting media attention and big store displays. Horror as a genre is still going strong and scary; too scary for me though,lol Hope that helps:)
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Oh, and I've also heard the 13 Bullets vampire series by David Wellington and The Vampire's Assistant by Richard L Byers are good, but Idk personally since I haven't read them.
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Nikki-ann – I think you're right, vampires can be seducers as that can have nothing to do with love or romance. I like Spike, and as I mentioned above I liked him both ways, when he was bad and when he was loved up! I just think he's great!
Sylvere ap Leanan – I like those kind of vampires too, but I also like the kind that have lost their humanity and are just evil hehe
LupLun – Very true, but I would still like to see more of the evil kind on the shelves in bookshops.
Bella – I will have to disagree – I think there is definitely a lack of real 'horror' containing vampires and if you read my blog or my tweets you will be well aware that I have a special relationship with Amazon – we are practically joined at the hip LOL So, I am looking in all the right places and of course if you search for horror on Amazon then you get a few but they are still mingled in with PNR and urban fantasy so you do have to sift through to find what you want. I have The Strain and The Passage on my shelf but haven't read them yet so can't really comment on those. I don't think 'horror' as a genre is going strong – it definitely hasn't disappeared altogether but it does seem as though writers are opting for the softer vamp at the moment.
I also have 13 Bullets
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well I admit that since I dont much enjoy horror I probably have a skewed perception lol
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Excellent discussion! I think that vampires have become too warm & fuzzy and have wandered too far away from their origins. They can be sexy bad boys, but shouldn't be too romanticized as let's face it, they need to drink our blood in order to survive. I need my blood, thank you very much! As for Spike, I preferred him evil, before he became Buffy's puppy dog….
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