One of my friends wrote a novel about vampires for NaNoWriMo. The introduction of vampires into the story was a bit of a surprise for her, so now she's editing and is looking for information about vampires. Does anyone know of any good sources of historical superstitions about vampires? Collections of legends or anything like that? All I can think of is Dracula, which is rather obvious.
I have to admit, I'm not just asking for her, I've been wondering for a while what the actual legends surrounding vampires are. It seems like all of the authors writing about them today just pick and choose what they like and make the rest up.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
This episode of The X-Files has a hilarious take on vampires, and touches on their charisma, their obcessive-compulsiveness, and even mentions the fact that in one region, vampires were supposed to be redheads. Posted by pH (Member # 1350) on :
Vampires have ocd?
Let's see.
Ocd, check.
Stays out of the sunlight, check.
Primarily nocturnal, check.
-pH
Posted by quidscribis (Member # 5124) on :
Have you checked the character & realism board on NaNoWriMo? I saw a whole lot of vampire threads on there.
Posted by Dan_raven (Member # 3383) on :
I have a short story that blurs the line between vampirism and chronic depression. (Insomnia, tired all day, hates mirrors, etc.)
(My "Agent/Editor" gave it the following comment: I just love the ending. It is the best ending you've done. Now, we just need to change it so its not so depressing.)
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Octavia Butler's newest book out, Fledgeling has a very interesting take on vampires.
Have you tried just surfing the net? A google search for "vampire myths" came up with a ton of interesting links, including this page.
Posted by sweetbaboo (Member # 8845) on :
I can't think of the author but it's a fairly recent book titled The Historian that is all about vampires, Dracula and that sort.
Posted by Aerto (Member # 8810) on :
Best somewhat realistic take on Vampires is I Am Legend by Richard Matheson. It attempts to make scientific explanations for some of the Vampire myths and dispels others. Worth a read.
Posted by dkw (Member # 3264) on :
The Historian is by Elizabeth Kostova.
Posted by blacwolve (Member # 2972) on :
I've read The Historian I just don't know what parts of it are in line with other vampire stories. I'm really looking for myths and stuff. Not modern day interpretations, but what the modern day writers are basing their stories off of.
I did try a google book search and *shudder* there are some pretty creepy people out there.
Thanks Jhai and Aerto! I'll check those out.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:Octavia Butler's newest book out, Fledgeling has a very interesting take on vampires.
Octavia Butler has a new book out? Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
Yes she does! It's pretty good, although not my favorite of her works ... it seems too short, though.
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
I still enjoy the Buffy/Angel take on vampires the best.
Ni!
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
It was pretty darn inconsistent. Whedon repeatedly sacrificed continuity and consistency in order to make things more convenient for the plot.
That that that's wrong -- it makes for a better story, but for a worse "world" and "mythology".
Posted by El JT de Spang (Member # 7742) on :
That's the strangest typo I think I've ever seen.
Does that even count as a typo?
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
Speaking of vampires and ocd, Hubby notes that Japanese vampires can be deterred by scattering rice. The vampire will be compelled to count every grain before chasing you.
Posted by Enigmatic (Member # 7785) on :
Japanese vampires also detach their heads at night, and the head flies around to feed. They have to reattach to their bodies by sunrise. Or at least that's one type of vampire legend in Japan.
--Enigmatic
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
Try The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead (1994) and The Vampire Gallery: A Who's Who of the Undead (1998), both by J. Gordon Melton.
For what it's worth, Melton is a religious historian with the Department of Religious Studies at UC Santa Barbara. I've don't know these books, but I've seen them fairly widely in libraries. I have used his writings on new religious movements for papers when I was in school, and found them to be fairly helpful, so these might be helpful, as well.
Oh, and EDIT: because I hit "post" instead of "italics". Teach me to get on the net so early in the morning (well, early for me). Posted by Toretha (Member # 2233) on :
Dude, I thought it was only the loup garou that was deterred by scattering rice so it would have to count it. Reason was different though, you scatter 13 grains, and it has to count them before it can pass but it can only count to twelve.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
quote:Speaking of vampires and ocd, Hubby notes that Japanese vampires can be deterred by scattering rice. The vampire will be compelled to count every grain before chasing you.
Yup. That was how it came up in the episode-- Mulder threw sunflower seeds on the floor so the vampire would have to pick them up before attacking. Also, they mentioned that vampires can't stand a tied knot, have to untie it.
Posted by littlemissattitude (Member # 4514) on :
quote:Originally posted by ketchupqueen: Also, they mentioned that vampires can't stand a tied knot, have to untie it.
And for the longest time after that episode aired, that was a joke between myself and my two best friends. We all worked together at the time, and if one of us noticed someone with a shoelace untied, they would be told that they must have a vampire following them.
Got a lot of odd looks. Posted by luthe (Member # 1601) on :
Russian 0880(warning: pdf) has a list of books. And is a very enjoyable class if any of you are at Pitt
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
Porter, what did you think was inconsistent?
Ni!
Posted by Kwea (Member # 2199) on :
Everything, almost....
Posted by kwsni (Member # 1831) on :
If we can skip the condecention, I'd actually like to know, because aside from Angel and Spike and the oldest vampires on earth (the Master, Dracula, and that one cloven hoof guy) I don't see much that isn't consistent.
Ni
Posted by Bob_Scopatz (Member # 1227) on :
A friend and I came up with a vampire who was really worried about germs. He only liked artificial blood. He slept in a Tupperware coffin to keep freshness in. That sort of thing.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:If we can skip the condecention, I'd actually like to know, because aside from Angel and Spike and the oldest vampires on earth (the Master, Dracula, and that one cloven hoof guy) I don't see much that isn't consistent.
The stories about Spike and Agel compose a huge percentage of the vampire lore on those shows. So saying that everything but them is mostly consistent isn't saying much.
Especially on Angel -- there just wasn't much vampire activity at all that didn't center on Angel (or Angel and Darla) or Spike.
But to answer your question -- I don't remember many specific inconsistencies. But I do remember time and time again as Beverly and I watched the show turning to each other and pointing out yet another inconsistency that we just saw.
![[Wink]](wink.gif)
![[Eek!]](eek.gif)
Octavia Butler has a new book out? ![[Hail]](graemlins/hail.gif)
![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
![[Big Grin]](biggrin.gif)
And for the longest time after that episode aired, that was a joke between myself and my two best friends. We all worked together at the time, and if one of us noticed someone with a shoelace untied, they would be told that they must have a vampire following them.![[Roll Eyes]](rolleyes.gif)