Vampires, an online guide
- Nathan Herald
- Dec 5, 2021
- 6 min read
Updated: Dec 7, 2021
This is a digital guide to the world of vampires, the classic bogeyman of literature.
But Why?
Vampires are some of the oldest and most terrifying spooks that have haunted humanity since we began keeping records. Long considered to be hideous, disgusting and/or repellent, Vampires got a major makeover with the late actor Bela Lugosi, who's dashing good looks made everyone sit up and feel their heart rate increase.
I'm going to try and keep the sexy time vampires to a minimum, as they're traditionally not thirst traps, but at this point in time, it's difficult to not get a bad case of the hot and bothered for them.
Books
Dracula by Bram Stoker
The granddaddy of all vampire stories. While there may have been others that had come before (See Carmilla below), Dracula was the one that firmly implanted the concept of a blood sucking fiend into the hearts and minds of Europeans. Detailing the travels of a solicitor who is enlisted by the mysterious Count, and his efforts to subsequently save his new wife from the fiend.
Carmilla by Sheridan Le Fanu
Not only does this predate Dracula by several years, it also hints at a same sex attraction between the vampire and the main character, yet does not demonize the homosexual undercurrent. The main character longs for a friend, and seemingly finds one in the figure of Carmilla. As Carmilla and Laura become closer, Laura begins to show signs of vampire attack.
30 Days of Night by Steve Niles and Ben Templesmith
The Town of Barrow, Alaska is so far North that once winter hits, the sun does not rise for a full 30 days. Many of the townsfolk leave for the season, but the locals stay on. Unknown to them, a clan of vampires have discovered Barrow, and decide to make it home for the month, as they have no worries about the effects of sunlight. Now it's up to a few residents to take on the collective might of a clan of vampires.
Salem's Lot by Stephen King
Stephen King's second novel tells the story of a writer who returns to his childhood hometown to write a novel, but quickly runs afoul of an Austrian immigrant who is planning on opening a antique store in town. It just so happens that this immigrant is an ancient vampire who is planning on turning the entire town into vampires.
I Am Legend by Richard Matheson
Set in a post apocalyptic pandemic that has killed most of humanity and turned the survivors into "vampires", I Am Legend tells the story of Robert Neville, a lone survivor who is trying to survive. But the question eventually becomes who is the real monster, when society changes from the traditional status quo to something new.
Websites
World of Darkness
One of the largest RPG systems in the United States, White Wolf's World of Darkness is a blanket term for their different RPG systems, their flagship game being, of course, Vampire: The Masquerade. Each player plays as a vampire from a different Clan (who all have different abilities) as they scheme and maneuver against each other and outside forces that are trying to destroy them.
Vampires.com
A vanity blog that discusses anything related to vampires. From reviews of books and movies, to recollections of meetings with vampires and their ilk, vampires.com is a nice little stopping off point for those who may be starting out on their supernatural adventures.
Brittanica.com
What does an encyclopedia have to do with vampires? Under normal circumstances, not much. They do however, have a rather comprehensive overview of what these creatures are, including an extensive history of the creatures. Their entry on characteristics is exhaustive to say the least.
Taliesin Meets the Vampires
Another blog that deals with vampires, this is updated regularly, and seems to focus mostly on movies and the like. While seemingly limited in scope, the reviews are heavily thought out and examine all aspects of the production.
Vampireaesthetic.tumblr.com
No list about vampires would be complete without at least one tumblr page. This is a nascent site that is vampire themed, but the What We Do in the Shadows meme absolutely slayed me, so I chose to include it.
Movies
The Lost Boys (1987)
Two brothers move to California and quickly discover that the local gang is a lot more dangerous than most. As Michael falls in with David and his gang, Sam joins forces with a duo who claim to be vampire hunters. The movie was originally a major success and helped "rehabilitate" the image of vampires into sexy, desirable creatures. I consider the soundtrack to be one of the all time best.
Nosferatu (1922)
German silent film that has become a cult classic, and an icon of horror cinema. The hideous Count Orlok is seeking a new residence in Wisborg, Germany and takes an interest in his real estate agent's wife. After the Count moves in, the local populace begins to die off. While nearly lost to a copyright challenge by the Stoker estate, several copies survived, and became a classic of cinema.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992)
Written by Joss Whedon, and staring Kristy Swanson, Luke Perry, Donald Sutherland, Paul "Peewee Herman" Reubens, and Rutger Hauer, Buffy the Vampire Slayer details the story of Buffy, a high school senior who discovers that she is The Slayer, destined to fight vampires. Now, she's got to plan for prom, deal with her snooty boyfriend, compete with the cheerleaders, and fight a bloodsucking plague that in engulfing the town.
Vampire Hunter D (1985)
In the year 12,090 AD, survivors living in the remnants of a nuclear holocaust must not only try to eke out a living in the ravaged world, but must also deal with the depredations of vampires. A local peace officer, Doris, is attacked by a vampire lord. Fearing the worst, she hires the mysterious D, a vampire hunter with secrets of his own to defeat the 10,000 year old noble.
From Dusk till Dawn (1996)
Two criminals take a family hostage in an effort to get into Mexico. Along the way, they stop off at a strip club to get their bearings and plan their next move. Unfortunately for everyone in their party, this place is a hangout for vampires. What ensues is a chaotic, bloody, violent, goofy romp through sheer mayhem, with some surprises and tons of lowbrow humor.
Games
Castlevania
A classic side scrolling masterpiece of 8-bit production that started an entire franchise of games across a multitude of platforms. The original Castlevania puts you in control of Simon Belmont, who is tasked with traversing Count Dracula's castle in an effort to put the vampire down permanently. Notoriously difficult due to slow controls and no save feature (you had to beat the game in one sitting, or start over from the beginning - every time).
Vampire: The Masquerade
The flagship title from White Wolf Studio's World of Darkness imprint. Vampire: The Masquerade allows you to become one of the undead yourself. Heavy investiture in intrigue, politics, backstabbing, and inscrutable behavior are hallmarks of this role-playing game series. They also had a Live Action Role-Playing version called The Mind's Eye Theater where you could act out your character's actions in real time.
Magic the Gathering: Shadows over Innistrad
Magic: the Gathering has been around since the mid-90s, and has garnered quite the following. The concept behind the game is that you play as a planeswalker, a magic user who can tap into the firmament of a land and draw power from it to summon creatures to fight for you, spells to attack your opponent or protect yourself, and power artifacts of immense potential. Shadows over Innistrad was an expansion set that focuses heavily on vampires, and the newest expansion tied to Innistrad concerns itself with a vampire wedding.
One Night Ultimate Vampire
Based off the same concept as Mafia, this game takes the idea of the traditional whodunnit and gives it a twist. Each player is randomly assigned a role, and it's up to the players to determine who is the vampire. Each round lasts approximately 10 minutes, and is ridiculously easy to pick up. There are other expansions as well, including werewolf, alien, and super villains.
Vampire (Die Nacht der Vampire)
Taking the role of a vampire hunter, each player explores Castle Gruselstein, attempting to capture vampire tokens by throwing garlic at them. once all the vampires have been caught, the Count himself appears. At the end of the game, whomever has the most vampires wins.
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