Forum:
Hello everyone! I have been beginning to work on my vampire novel, and over the summer I began some research on both vampires in folklore and in fiction so I figured I'd share the resources that I looked at here since they've helped me a lot in terms of developing my own lore. Also might be interesting just if you want to delve down the rabbit hole.
For Folklore:
Vampires, burial, and death: folklore and reality by Paul Barber was one of the books I looked to at folklore. I like this one because it has some translated texts of accounts of vampires from the past.
One I just started reading, is The Vampire: origins of a European myth by Thomas M. Bohn. This promises to look at vampire lore from the west as well as the east, and then at vampirism in modern times. Haven't read enough yet to say how good it is, though.
For Fiction:
Books:
Carmilla by Sheridan LeFanu is excellent. It's also very explicitly gay, which is interesting since it was written in the 1850s.
Dracula by Bram Stoker is definitely a necessary read if you haven't already read it before like I did.
Right now I'm reading Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice. I have some gripes about it so far in terms to how certain characters are described, but there are parts of it that I do like in terms of writing style and I did connect with the characters a lot before things started to get a bit weird. Either way, still an important cultural milestone I think in terms of books written from the perspective of vampires.
Movies and Media:
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a fun tv show in general if you're thinking of vampires, and I really like it, though never finished it.
Additionally, the original Nosferatu is an important cultural milestone as I believe its the first instance of sunlight killing vampires?
Sinners just came out this year, and is very good, and I'd highly recommend it. I shan't say more, other than you need to experience the film for yourself since already including it on this forum is a bit of a spoiler on its own.
Also, if you like video games, I'd highly recommend Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines. It has some problematic aspects that didn't age well, but it's still a very good game and holds a special place in my decaying heart. This game was actually the very piece of media that inspired my characters for my own vampire story, so I'd say its important! There's also Vampire the Masquerade Requiem but I've only played the very beginning of that.
There's also the Twilight series too but I'll be honest, it didn't really catch my attention all that much apart from some moments that I could laugh at. Still an important cultural milestone I suppose, both in regards to the movies and the books. Not sure either are an undertaking I'd put myself through as of now. I think I'd have to be in a very particular mood for that.
Anyways, that's all I can think of for now! Feel free to add recommendations of any form of vampire media or research you've found, whether it be for fictional vampires or those found in folklore!
Report Topic
Permalink
