Sick and Tired of Vampires!!!

[Karn Maeshalanadae]

Well, JD is right, but I can only simply speak from my own experience, and I've yet to get through any decent vampire story, with the possible exception of 'Salem's Lot.


Simply put, however, vampires in general, no matter how diamond a story concerning them might be, still are a bit too cliche and worn to actually merit anything more than a yawn from me, at least as a writer. I either make up my own types of monsters, or deal on those with less public spotlight. (Chimeras, manticores, rakshaskas, nagas, and the like coming to mind.)

Perhaps that's really why I don't actually care for most horror, seeing as how most kinds of creatures and beings are worn thinner than stopped light. Poe is a huge exception to that, however....even this century and a half later, it's still so embedded in American history nobody's really tried to make any major plays off his work....

[Dimentio]

Originally Posted by WizardofOwls

Is anyone else as sick and tired of vampires as I am? It's all anybody seems to be writing about these days. Gods, give me a break. Can't even look at the book shelves in Wal-Mart these days without seeing them everywhere. Ever since Anne Rice gave vampires personalities (and turned them into pansy wimps) it seems everybody has had to jump on the bloodsucker bandwagon. There are other interesting supernatural creatures you know. The one that jumps to mind that doesnt seem to get much page time these days are the fey. Maybe 2 or 3 writers writing about them. Give vampires a break... or a much needed stake.

The only being more overestimated as a creative ingredient is the zombie.

[j. d. worthington]

Originally Posted by Teresa Edgerton

I recently reread one of the stories that JD mentions up above: Carmilla, a classic vampire story that has influenced many, many other writers since LeFanu wrote it. No aversion to sunlight for the vampire there, although she does have to spend a certain amount of time in her grave in order to "survive."

There are also other things about Le Fanu's handling that I quite liked. The fact she has to remain with some anagram of her original name, for instance; the fact that she herself is a victim (though this is so quietly inserted that many miss it) of that "enormous machinery of hell" Le Fanu was so fond of; the subtle insinuation that she may still be present even at the end... or is that the steps of her own entrapment that the narrator hears? and so on. A lot of subtle layers to that tale, which one isn't likely to catch without several readings; and some of which will escape those who haven't read a good deal of his other work, as he reuses certain very nuanced ideas in different ways through different tales.

No, in the hands of a genuinely great writer, the vampire still has a great deal to offer, though not always in the traditional role we have come to associate with the figure. But then, that is part of the hallmark of creative genius: to take even the oldest tropes and breathe new life into them, to allow the reader to "see them with new eyes"....

[mirinda]

Werewoman. I've just never seen a paranormal love story section, and as I've never read them I'm not saying I don't like them, just that I've never seen them myself, of course I wasn't looking before. And the fact that my bookstore has remodeled something the past 3 times I've been in there doesn't help.

I don't have a problem with Vampire books or anything else for that matter, if I don't like it I don't read it. However not being able to find something I do want has been a thorn in my side since borders doesn't allow you to order books in and pay when you pick them up anymore and I don't have a credit card, so if it's not there and not on ebay I'm out of luck.

There is no "right way" to write a vampire. They aren't real so you can pretty much interpret any mythical thing however you want. Unless you're going to go with the first person who ever wrote about them, then I guess that would be the "original way" not exactly the right way.

That's exactly right Conn. You shouldn't cross out a whole group of books based on one you didn't like. Every writer has a different take on the same thing and if you don't at least read a few how can you decide you just "don't like any vampire books" I thought Sunshine by robin mckinley was good and it's not like any other vampire story I've heard.

[Werewoman]

Mir,

Borders won't order books anymore? That's nuts! What do you do if you get a summer reading assingment? I go to Books-a-million or Barnes and Noble and order my son's summer assignments. I don't even bother checking the shelves. Hundreds of other kids have to buy the same book, too.

It's no wonder you're so frustrated trying to find what you want. Is there another book store there you can go to instead of Borders?

[Rodders]

Daybreakers trailer released | SciFiNow

Saw this. Could be quite interesting.

[Saeltari]

Wow! I knew there was more than one reason why I dislike Borders. I go to B&N. I like their card and they will order a book, no charge and call you when it is in. I really quit using Borders when I found myself regularly leaving seriously offended or leaving so I wouldn't strangle the workers in the store. But that's another story, oddly enough there are no vampires in it...

On subject, I like vampires and am fine still reading them, actually working on some of my own. I was trying to avoid cliches and found myself feeling like I was dancing on glass trying to avoid being cut, then I decided to revel in them, to bathe myself in cliches and found myself luxuriating in decadence. *sigh*

Although I like to go back and look at the histories so if people whimper about me stealing ideas and I can simply state that I have raided the vaults of history, plumming the depths of its crypts in a desperate search for its blood and those life giving veins of fact.

[Who's Wee Dug]

What got me back into reading Vampire type stories was Lucius Shepard's "The Golden" a whodunit with a difference.

[Teresa Edgerton]

I used to alternate between Borders and Barnes and Noble, but when I realized I was having better luck finding what I wanted at Borders I pretty much stopped going to B & N.

Originally Posted by Saeltari

I really quit using Borders when I found myself regularly leaving seriously offended or leaving so I wouldn't strangle the workers in the store.

I have few interactions with the staff when I go into a bookstore (I like to wander around and browse on my own) so I wouldn't know if all their stores are as bad as the one near you. My only problem is that they don't let you use debit cards.

[Saeltari]

Ahh, but that was the problem you see. One store, two stores I could forgive that. Luck of the draw thing. But 5 different stores in 3 different states... I am only so patient.

I too prefer to just enjoy browsing, can spend hours in a bookstore. But every once in a while I have a question or a request and, at least in Borders that seems to be where things go downhill. Long as I don't have to talk to them or drink from the horrid swill that is Seattle's best at the coffee shops that often decorate their stores I am ok in them anymore.

In general I just avoid them. I do like their staff picks idea, though. Just wish they made their own staff picks a bit better.

There is a Borders about 5 - 10 minutes walk from me even now but I still drive 20 - 30 minutes away to go to the B&N instead.

I get my vampire fix there, and write my vampire cliches there as well..