The Ultimate Vampire Resource and Directory

Whenever I wander into a bookshop nowadays, my eye cannot avoid the exceedingly vast section dedicated exclusively to romantic books about vampires which have suddenly become very popular. I blame Twilight for starting it.
One might think it a novel thing to have a whole vampire section, but I think not. There are alot of these books with similar covers but different unknown authors. Yet it seems to me that every book I have lifted from the shelves and wrinkled my nose at after reading the blurb on the back, has had the same plot or is based around some other just as unoriginal idea. They're all about vampires, werewolves, and love. The same gushy romantic teenage rubbish.

On a local clothing shop which sells teenage fashion, a large poster in the window reads 'Vamp up your wardrobe' or something to that effect, with pictures of trendy teens looking mysterious in their 'vamp' fashion and dark makeup. Not to mention the vampire themed movies which continue to come out. Undoubtedly there is a huge vampire fad going on at the moment. Vampires, which were once feared by everybody (because they genuinely thought they existed) and always thought to be grotesque corpses risen from the grave, have now become good-looking immortals who smoulder with sex appeal. Yes vampires have been romanticised in films and literature for a long time now, but is it being taken too far?

So, what is your opinion? Do you like these books and the sudden rush of vampire fans (mostly 15 year old girls), or do you abhor them as much as I do? Do you approve of this fleeting fancy that has taken over the world, are you avoiding it, or are you here because you are part of it? Do you think it will permanently alter the way people see vampires?

Let them be who they are, and let those who critisize them for such, be humiliated accordingly. We were all 15 once, we all had some sort of fringe or fad that we walked with. This is no differant. Though the commercialism is worse now-a-days, I am wondering what we would turn into if we were 15 again.

You have a lovely writing style. Have you consider writing professionally?

As for your remarks... you hit the proverbial nail (stake?) on the head and driven same straight to and through the true "heart" of the matter. If only it were possible to so easily force the current continually regurgitated glut of all such formulaic vampire consumerism to eternal rest.

But... as long as demand remains, the increasingly sub-standard supply of same will continue.


- Upir'

There is no set definition on what a vampire is because it's a legend, it differs from countery to countery, time period to time period. I don't think is't fair to critisize a few authors twist on an old legend thats been subject to artistic licence for a long time.
Do I find the fad annoying yes but it's not the authors fault people loved the books and turned it into a big thing, would you still dislike the book if it was some funky teenage vampire romance no one had ever heard of?
I think it's nice that more variations are being added to the vampire myth, our centery has added it's modern twist to historical legend in a memerable way. fiftry years from now the fad will be long gone but the modern twist these inventive authors have added will be rembered even if they are not.

If there is a market....it will be filled.

Each to their own, I'm quite enjoying the trend and hope it lasts.

Gushy or no, reading should be encouraged.

Equally notable is the rise in people declaring themselves to be vampires..
and their contrived indignation that " Twilight" is crapping their style..

Fads come and go and this isn't new.Adults seems to be in the "Twilight" fad even more than teenage girls.When Underworld first came out,many people on here were going gaga over it.Remember it is just a FAD,once the last movie comes and goes it will finally die down.

There is always a market for things that are good or have been good. Without market, very few of us would be fans and perhaps Vampire Rave itself wouldn't exist.

Sometimes it's irritating, but it's also counter-productive to pay such critical attention to the people who are really enjoying something. And who knows, maybe that is exactly what they're doing.

It seems kind of odd to hate people for liking what you also enjoy.

I suspect that a large percentage of people that are offended by "Gushy Vampire portrals" feel entitled to their interpretation of vampires as being the only fitting vampire portral.

This includes those do bent on having people " get with it" and hollywood " stop misrepresenting vampires", as if their is some definitive account of vampire, as something more then fiction, fiction that adapts, and alters the arc character type.

About a month ago I was at a book shop and I noticed there were some vampire saga books on the shelf where the protagonist is a teenage girl. When I first saw it I said wow. I know it can be irritating to see what you like becoming mainstream but it can’t be really stopped. Even the ‘’dark’’ sub-culture itself was something ‘’uncommon’’ in my teenage years (speaking about my country) nowadays you see teens who are in the sub-culture all in big groups.

I find it positive and negative at the same time. It can be negative because of teens doing it for the fad, but fads always existed and positive because maybe in the future there might be less adults who fear alternative lifestyles. Still though, just because they are teenagers, it does not necessarily mean they’re doing it for the fad.

I was considered a wannabe in my teenage years because suddenly everyone was turning Goth because of Queen of the Damned, in reality I’ve been liking vampires and dark myths since I was a child.

I am also glad these type of books are finally accepted in my country considering it’s very closed minded, gushy or not at least the people of my country have the opportunity to read these type of books from here, rather than having to order them from on-line.

I feel it's all backwards!!!

Anyone else get that feeling?

Example: all the makeup they wear is the opposite of what it is supposed to be. Instead of makeup, it should be healthy clear glowing pure pale skin. Not makeup (fake pale) but actually pale as in never seeing the light of the sun EVER. I guess for this to be marketed and advertised though would be like marketing and advertising for people to not spend their money.

This is the major problem I have with the fashion.

As for books, I only read non-fiction. So the books don't bother me. However, when people read fiction and then never read any non-fiction, I find these people nearly impossible to speak to.

As for the plots, I have many original ideas for fictional stories, only I don't write fiction.

As SS said, basically, to each his/her own, live and let live. Its hard to be offended by something you pay no attention too; I rarely, if ever, find myself in the teen section of the local Borders, or the teen clothing outlets, and from what I've seen, the kids today are really no different from when I was 15-then it was the "metal look", which I took to extremes (really no different from todays teenage version of goth/vampires). As far as books go in general, hell, if it pays, and you like writing that stuff, more power to you. It reminds me of the articles I've read about Metallica, for instance; they were accused of selling out, and their drummer Lars said, when you've got ten platinum records on your wall and half a dozen houses, and a few loose million in the bank, then you can call me a sell-out. If I could write teenage fiction and make money, I'd be all over it. Theres nothing wrong with capitalizing on trends.

Fans of any genre who say " sell outs" are elitist, they feel that anything they like should not be available to anyone but themselves.. ego much?

knowledge is power and maybe they are opening their eyes to the vampire world.... how do you know that some of those "15 year old girls" arent on here?

At least they're reading.

Bela Lugosi turned on quite a few female movie goers in his day.

Even in the original Dracula, there was a sexual dichotomy: the virginal Mina and the probably not so much Lucy. There was a battle in Mina between the call of the dark, and her ordinary chaste life.

For teens, who are beset with their own hormonal battles in addition to the siren call of popular culture, the attraction to the sultry supernatural is a relatively safe way to deal with those urges.

Vampires: the romantic antihero

my personal feeling is and it is my perssonal feeling , not a fact

that the people who protest it the much or comaplina about it the much probly sometime in there past made a full out of them selfs following some kind of trend, and are embrassed about and want to ruin others fun.



i could persoanl care less, if people want to act out twlight, or stuff like that, i mean for me theres some good new books to read, yeah a lot of books are bing copyed but hey at least people are reading and spending there lives on the computer winning like a child

to fix my last sentance lol

at least they are reading and not spending there time online complaing about others, there findign some kind of life

I fully agree that most vamp novels are all the same ,and based on the same topics . I myself am writing along with my girlfriend a book to change the theme society thinks of our world . It is a life based story about two vampires living different lives ,and outcast by everyone around . The two then think almost at an end on trying to be normal in our sense .Just at the point when they give up on trying to cope with reality they then meet . As they meet they start to consider the lives they live led them to one another . It is based to describe their lives before they met and how life changes for them once they meet and start a life together . Yes it is kinda a love story but not in the same as vamps being ones of sexual control and making people fall for them . The is only so much that I can say about them now , don't want to give away too much ,but this is a chance to show our lives and world to what people will look at as more real . So may understand that this is the way we are , then some will see it as a story of sick bloodthirsty souls . For the most part I know people like us will love it. When we finish I will be sure to post about it and give all here a chance to read and see what you think . I know you will approve and enjoy . The reason all other books make us look like sick killing machine or pure evil ,where in reality we are nice gentle people with caring about our donors and not the point of just feeding for our own gain .

Gushy? Horror? Realism?
Does it matter what each other tastes are? I think it is wonderful that so much attention is brought to vampirism! It is weird that I use be ridiculed about being the Vamp Girl. Now, I have everyone ask me questions!!! It's strange and at the same time quite amazing and a good feeling to know that I am not being smirked at (not that it mattered for the smirks made me laugh) but it is nice for now. Some people (adults included) are interested in this new fad.
I too use to be a teen and remember Madonna? All that lace and neon colors?
From now to eternity there will always be some type of hype and I can say I'm glad it's about vampires!!!

Bite on I say! Bite on!!

makes me want to vomit
I recall the hordes of morons around here referring to themselves as "lycans" after underworld, when the term lycan had NEVER been used before those semi adequate and overdone movies......and then there were the "hemophages" after ultraviolet came out....and then those referring to themselves as clan names from vampire the masquerade....
me, I say I am who and what I am...what that is is up for debate, just like any of you

Daermon,

Very good point about the labels. I use my own words when I write as well. I guess from the writers perspective it's to embody a new meaning into an older term, which can only be done through creating new labels. This also makes the writing stand out and gain more popularity opposed to using the same words as everyone else.

let them have there fun to me it is kinda funny

Luckily fads are just that....fads! I cant see it lasting long, twilight has annoyed the hell out of me. Its driving me nuts! I find it so .......argh! i cant even explain it! There was life before twilight and there will be life after twilight, we just have to wait for the next COOL thing to come along and get everyones attention.

The kids are having fun, so it doesn't bother me. I'd rather they go ga-ga with the vampire stuff than have three kids by the time they're 16...

But I gotta' admit - it is kinda' wierd going to my local grocery store, to see row upon row of vampire romance paperbacks right next to the cat litter.

I am with Isis I would rather my 16 year old go crazy over Twilight then I would for her to be permissive. Its just nice to know that when once the vampire was know as a monster is now know as being a lover.

hell harry potter will have a new movie out thats a good distraction a new final fantasy and kindom hearts too lol bye bye twilight

I am just glad to see so many teens reading, than doing other things that could potentially hurt them in the long run.

The books and movies do not bother me at all. I have several nieces and nephews that are into this new 'fad.' I kinda like it, because they actually talk to me and ask me questions about the books they are reading and the movies they are watching. It has given us a better bond.

Fads are fads, they come and go with everything else in life. We all grew up with our own fads. There is no denying it.

I highly doubt that people's perspective of the vampire will be altered by the fleeting romance of several teen books and movies. People will think what they want to about any mythological creature in the world. It is their right to think what they want.

i hate how what was once unheard of, and scary...is now glamorous and fun.

Then you got these posers who say they are goth one day, prep another, and emo the next.

cest la vive i say....
now i have make the comment that regardless of the legends...and i say this in respect and love for those that are at least reading....


VAMPIRES DONT SPARKLE IN THE SUNLIGHT! lol

wouldnt that be faeries?

~W~

I don't like the romance novels or the grotesque horror ones either.
You read one, you read them all, it's just a difference of character, era and origin.
I like a novel such as underworld that has a touch of everything and keeps you interested from the start of every chapter straight through to the conclusion.
A great Novel captures, Drama, Action, Suspense, Emotions, Love, death everything all wrapped up into one.
It should be a book that's hard to put down.

I have always veiwed the herd with contempt. I find these new books to be poorly written crap. As for a trend of teens dressing gothic at least it gives me something good to look at, even if they are fake. It's better they be into vampire trends than have them all running around with their pants around their knees and confused about what color they are.

you know Wretched, that is a bold statement to start posting with, I tend to agree to an extent.

Eventually a few trendsters opt to commit to a subculture, the rest eventually go back into the fadstream.

Take it from a 15 year old girl who just finished hanging up more twilight posters on her walls.

Now this is definitely a trend, and it does piss me off to some extent...
But PLEASE take a chance to know what you are criticizing.
I have read the books twice and backwards. I hated reading before, but saw the first movie and was hooked. Now I am one of the regulars at both libraries in town.

True, there will always be preppy teens who just read the book to be cool and popular, but don't forget about the rest of us.

There is a small group of us- the ones that actually care. Last year, I used the books- then others after that- to escape the real world. Twilight has helped me through depression, physical/ emotional abuse, health problems, and everyday family drama.
I like the books because they are different. They ARE NOT at all like your typical legends, or books. Obviously the books do not come even close to real vamps, but they are original. Stephenie Meyer started Twilight with a literal dream. You can read about it on her website,

www.stepheniemeyer.com

If you do not believe me.

You hate the fad, not the books.
Pick up a copy and tell me you aren't hooked in two chapters. Forget about all the panzies who try to be goth to look cool.

They are winning by getting to you.
And anyways, the fad is going down dramatically from what it was. No one really shows their love for twilight in the school anymore.

You know, I am in my 30s and I had a hard time putting down the Twilight books. The books are a lot better than the movies.

Weather it be a gushy teenage girl vampire fad or not, I like the fact that a lot of the teenagers are reading books. Who cares what kind or type of book it is, as long as the kids are reading.

If you don't like the fad ignore it. Fads come and go through out life. They have been happening for a long time and will continue to happen, no matter who thinks what.

Be thankful the kids are reading and not out going gangs and getting into trouble.

at least they are reading

it could be far worse...they could be into gangsta rap...or disco LOL
~W~

Yeah, it was annoying at first. But I've been to any number of bookstores that all have said there's been a slowly increasing number of the demand for "vampire books" for a good 5 to 10 years before the "you-know-what" came out. I've always loved any kind of fictional fantasy book and to be honest, it was difficult to find very many here. I'm right-smack in the middle of the Bible Belt of the U.S. so it makes things that much more difficult to find when you want them... So of course, I loved it when more of my fantasy books were being pumped out... but then, as I got older, I was becoming far more able to distinguish how well a book was actually written... and to be honest... there's not that many of them. But every now and then you'll find one of those "diamonds in the rough".

So do I find this new fad annoying. Oh, gods, YES! BUT! It's also nice that these things are becoming accepted. That it's OKAY to like them now because when I was little, it really wasn't.

And let's face it people, we're all mad because out suddenly "cool, rebel against society, totally NOT mainstream" stuff is all mainstream now. We don't want that. The biggest reason as to why so many people are grumbling about this new fad is because they honestly don't WANT other people to like what they do. They want to be "different" and "out-there". And that's what annoys me MORE. The number of people that seriously have a problem with the fad because they want to be the "only ones". And believe you me, there are A LOT of those people.

I'd also like to say that I'd just read up a few more posts and vampchica has a damn good point.

When I first read the Twilight series, I was the biggest fight with my mother and I needed a way out. But instead of turning to drugs, or anything else that could harm me, I turned to Twilight.

A lot of younger people are most likely using this new fad to escape from something that's going on in their lives. It's a healthy and fun way to relieve stress.

So a good point, while you're sitting here criticizing this new fad, think about any number of kids that are using it as a way out of the harshness of their everyday world instead of using something that could harm or kill themselves and those around them.

You know what LadyRayneofDarklight and vampchica are totally right. I love to read, got hooked on reading in 8th grade and never stopped but it was like pulling teeth to get any of my friends to read a book, but when Twilight got so popular all of my friends wanted to read it and were into it and then they started reading more. All it took was the shift from reading to being geeky to reading being cool and then kids were doing it so if a fad is what it takes to get people my age to turn of the tv and pick up book then I hope the stupid fad lasts a long time.

Well I must admit I have been sucked right in with the vampire fad craze. :P
I love Twilight, yes the books are better than the films. But if it wasn't for the film, I would not of purchased the books and I was a non-reader before then.
I suppose to some it can be annoying,it was to me at first but what is the point of getting all wound up about something that is staring you in the face.
I think fads are good, they let you experience different aspects of life and style.
There is a different view on vampires now than what they used to be when they first became acknowledged. Things get blown out of proportion all the time. Sometimes it is better through change.
I suppose making vampires less scary, makes vampires more acceptable in the community.
When I was a child I went though all sorts of fads, Goth, Punk, Hippy, Emo....It was just a way of finding myself.

I know these people. Ive grown up around them. They quite annoy me. To be fair alot of people dislike this new stlye thing. It's now the "Scene" thing. The term "Emo" is passing into this now. What happened to
when it was just one term "Goth"?

I'd love the description of a vampire to go back to well dressed killers or blood sucking beasts. I have no desire to be associated in my gothic ways with these new-age things.

I try not to judge but it did cause me to get really annoyed at my now ex because she wouldn't shut up about twighlight and the lead guy. Suffice to say that relationship didn't last. With the twighlight craze, as with her, alot of people actually have little interest in vampires otherwise.

WretchedPlague


i fully agree with your pants state ment.

i rember in the 90's when dangerous minds the movie and tv series can out , and all my friends started acting like dumd ass and half of them either got into drugs because they heard it and started having sex and starting mini gangs of preppy white kids.

the badest habit i gained from that was a liking for slim shady

I will go ahead and add my opinion here--the same one that I have told my friends and loved ones.

I would rather have teens be interested in vampires, werewolves, and other fantastical beings than any number of annoying fads that teens could possibly be interested in. Even if that wish comes covered in sparkles and tight pants, I am glad the change has happened.

As Soul Shroude said, let them be who they are.

I noticed with My stories here on VR that the "Gushers", as some friends of mine call them, didn't do much with my stories.

Mine appeal to an older audience, and contain a lot of adult content.

We will see very shortly how well I do when it comes out in print, but ..I can already predict my biggest readers will be over 20.

Let them enjoy what they can. We all grow up soon enough.

I'm tempted to say I agree with 'the fellow above me', but.. they distort something when it becomes popular. soleave em alone, by all means.

but by the same token, why can't they go and, do their own thing, away from those who .. well, just don't appreciate their sheer bloody arrogance.. Oopsie, my bad.

Oh, no. They can't do their own thing somewhere else. It's become the trademark of this group to do their own thing where there is an audience.

I'm afraid we're going to have to contend with these distorters for a long time to come.

I can honestly say I've never seen any part of the Twilight series, and having seen so much of the "gush" on the Rave, I know I never will.

Gentrification, and homogenizing are distasteful to " traditionalist".

2 percent milk? Why not just drink water?

I hope my anology is not lost.

i dont its a fad i think you like them bcuz its a part of who you are . i love them myself and iam way old lol

Youve never seen/ read any of twilight, then how can you judge it?

Because others like it? Well, someone else likes everything you hold dear to yourself, you know. That shirt you are wearing? A million others have one just like it. Same with everything you have, or ever did.

If you people are going to let others scare you out of a kick ass book, then so be it.
But don't blame Twilight.

..it's NOT Twilight I'm blaming.
I'm blaming those who fad a fad and cease to trhink for themselves; I'm blaming the pleathora of junk trash that followed Twilight, [which is surprisiongly well-written, for a vampire take on Harry Potter.

Nah, I just don't like fashion: stile free-though and free-expression...

Dabbler: it wasn't lost.

I don't blame anyone for wanting to cash in on the success of Twilight. These fads go in cycles, and they're often very short-lived. Lest we forget, there was an awful lot of commercialized trash that preceded the Twilight franchise.

Look at the garbage that followed Salem's Lot (Fright Night, for example) not to mention the campy vampy garbage of the 40s and the 60s (Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein, Billy the Kid vs Dracula). And these were just the movies. THere were also horror comics, pulp magazines, and penny dreadfuls. Hardly a gold mine of top quality well-researched literature.

I'd say that the percentage of high-quality vampire entertainment is comparatively low, relative to the amount of detritus which surrounds it.

We're fortunate that much of what we're currently seeing is fairly well-acted, well-written, and slickly produced.

just throwing this out there.

i was a fan of gushy vampire stuff before it was a fad, and i'll be a fan afterwards..i'm just loving the attention the idea is getting and how much easier it is to get the stuff i already loved. :)

Lilith and ThothLesat make good points, but as this thread is so similar to my own about popularised fiction, I feel I have reason to take part here ~ and, all I'm saying is take the good with the bad, by all means, but really.. soes there have to be quite so much pap??

As so many others have said,at least they are reading something,my Girls are fans of the books,but because dad is on here, they don't dig the sparkly vampire bit,but love the plot twists since reading Twilight series they have started on "Lord of the Rings" oh and as for me being a Lycan? the term LYCANTHROPY to define werewolfs, has been around a long long time people

I absolutely can't stand this whole fad, particularly Twilight. I have a tendency to blame it for the onset too, though I guess that isn't really fair. I mean, I'm addicted to the adult supernatural/semi-erotic sagas, such as the Riley Jensen Guardian series and others of the like. What I have a problem with is that vampirism is sort of becoming a joke now, and the young ones don't know what the real deal is, nor do they really care to find out. I've found sooo many that have the mindset of "I've read the Twilight books, I've watched the Twilight movies, I watched a little of Buffy the Vampire Slayer...I'm a total kick-ass expert on vamps now!!". THAT'S what pisses me off. And websites like these are now being taken over by teenage vampire-wannabes, disillusioned about romance, looking for their Edward or Jacob. And fine, it's their life and they can do what they please with it, but the whole thing is still rather sickening to me. Perhaps that makes me a hypocrite?

RavenEyes


i dont think you are one


i get anouted with the same thing my self. well plus they make todays vampire so dang winy its annoying. i had a hard time not laughing my butt off watching new moon. good plot to much crying

Personally, (to me) the Twilight "vampires" aren't vampires at all. I think they are vampixies.

It's just a phase, it will pass.

.. and, in all fairness, 'Twilight' is well-written, unlike many others. bit like J.K. and those who came after her..

..and **hangs head** I .. I .. liked the film.

Angelus, I wasn't talking about you at all; do not fret. I was referring to others who will go unnamed.
I respect your input, actually!

It is a fad to some people, but not to me.
I, and very few others, are more than just fans. Of course, I don't think that real vamps sparkle-

(Okay, just to point out- EVERYONE uses that against Twilight. It was an original idea, invented by Stephenie herself. She is far more creative than the countless authors who just stuck to the same stories over and over. They sparkle. Get over it. The effects in the second film are actually pretty sweet, so get a new insult.)

- but I just loved the books. And now I read a whole lot more because of it.

I didn't like the first movie at first but it grew on me. I started to read the first book and I disagree that it is well written but it is not the worst thing I have ever read. Vampire movies come in waves. Vampire interest has always been there. I watched Vampira on tv when I was a kid and she had a popular show. There have always been dozens of books written. It is more in the public eye now but I think some of that has to do with the internet. News travels much faster now.

I hear people complain over sparkling skin...oh so what. These stories, all of them are fiction. Why is it so hard for some to realize this...make believe? I thought it was an interesting idea. It is such a small part of the story. I am looking forward to the next movie and I like the people that were chosen for supporting roles. She sort of humanized her vampires but so what. There is nothing wrong with romance. Some stories are written with the vampires being nothing but blood thirstry idiots. At least in these stories they have some sort of personality rather than hiss, hiss. Not all the fans are teens either. I know numerous people much older that love the movies and the books. I think there is something for everyone's tastes if they just look.

Honestly, I have not even seen any of the Twilight movies and I don't really want to... I prefer Underworld.

The thing that I hate most about this Vampire Fad lately is that when I was 14 and reading vampire novels and being my weirdo dark self, people looked at me weird and didn't talk to me. Now, it's this huge thing that EVERYONE is into and I don't like it. It's like you love this underground band but once they go mainstream everyone likes it and the band tends to change. Mankind as a whole is very confusing...

nothing funner then kids dressed in Black, saying.. why cant people be like us..

Vampires have been thought of as the sexy, romantic beings they are now for as long as I can remember. I haven't noticed an increase in the undead. Same movies as ever. Same books as ever. Same crap as ever. Whatever....
Don't care.

I personally se nothing wrong with it what so ever there are so many worse things that our kids could be into, we all had fads when we were younger.

Again, I agree with vampchica. They sparkle people! *flail* It's a truly original idea and we shouldn't get so worked up... though I admit... the first film... =.= It looked like they rolled him in glue and glitter. And then flashed a light on him... =.=

Anyways. Angelus, it's not bad to like the movie. I personally hated it but dude, I respect others who like it unless I know they only SAYYYYY they like it which apparently happens...

This fad may or may not pass soon but honestly people, we need to just kinda get over it. It's great kids are reading and it's horrible that we can't just... BE freaking HAPPY about THAT.

You people are too bunched in the hiney.

Personally i enjoyed the twilight series and thoroughly enjoyed it... But I'm not going to give a number on how many times i've read it lol.

I think it's original the way that stephanie portrayed her vampire's (But than again who would really like it if a girl fell in love with a vamp who looked like nosferatu?)

If it's getting the children reading i don't see the harm as alot of people here have said it's better to see them with a book than out getting high on drugs or getting pregnant.

If it's just a passing fad than let the young one's enjoy it while it lasts. So what if the vampires sparkle instead of bursting into flames when stepping into the sunlight apparently that wasn't brought into vampire movies until nosferatu in 1922. Stephanie's just putting her own take on something that has been around for years and if she is making a good living from it. More power to her...

Just my two cents worth... Not meaning to undermine anyone else thanks.

I begain reading the twilight books afew years before they became this huge fad or whatever and to me they jwere just another book with some new ideas for vampires and whats wrog with that im mean if there is book out there that says vampires have to be a certien i havent fond it yet though the sparkle is bit much

gothicprincess4u says something interesting to me there
the sparkles a bit much. there were a few 'additions' to the mythos tith the books, but it was well-written and, because of that, I don't mind [too much]] .. 'coz they are well-written. That said, 'coz it's a trend now, there's so much darn drivel out there as well!

i admit it is kind of funny watching the crazy for vampire diarys, when i read it 10 years ago it hjeld no intrest to me and it was a great plot

Have you all noticed that ever since Twilight was made there's been abuch of vampire stuff comming out?

I think what Tees Off So Many " Real Vamps" is that as the genre fluxes, they realize how stagnent their ideals are.

Literary Envy?

Good point, Dabbler...who makes the rules for what is and isn't a vampire anyway?
New ideas regarding vampires and vampire lore - whether we personally like them or not - is better than being stagnant. Out of all of the fluff, on occasion something good and refreshing will spring forth...eventually.

My take on all of this is simple...

Writers, publishers and movie makers have taken another thing that adults typically enjoy and made it enticing for children.

Not that all adults don't enjoy this trend and not that all teens like it either.

Anyone remember "Joe Camel"?

No, I'm not comparing a vampire fad to cigarettes. I am pointing to the marketing of the two.

Oh yea, AB

Gotta' git' them Tweens' right before they breach a new demographic!

The bestest' thing about capturing the Tweens market, is that the parents by the books, and movie tickets. Then with summer job funds the Tweens buy mercindise..

I thought Dracula 1992 was gushy too, very gushy, that's where the gush began the way i see it, Twilight was just a teen based version with glitter

Tweens, and young adults are " pedal down" over what appeals to them, after all they are flush with hormones, that drive intense responses to any stimuli, especially stimuli crafted, and delievered to their taste.

... I hate the vamp fad going on at the moment,
It's making us look ridiculous and fake even though WE are real :(

I, as a teenager, cannot stand the twilight fad. Romantic books and movies just don't get me, even if they are about creatures of the night. :/

And what I abhor even more is the mob of people my own age acting like twelve-year-olds gossiping over their latest crushes. They even have flamboyant boys my age all giddy.

As said before on the thread, first of all the books make people who have hardly ever picked up a book other then a schoolbook read. I find them entertaining to read at least, and once they read those, they might start reading other books.

That the companies jump in on it is only to be expected, they smell money and they will do whatever it takes to make a sale.

Going all out gushy on being a vampire girl beats them doing crack any time in my view. If they entertain themselves that way, acting out a fantasy or not, let them. It's healthy to explore who you are at that age.

In the end I believe those girls are not hurting anyone. The only thing that makes me cringe is when its brought up in a conversation and the person you talk to goes like "oh like in twilight?".

People who claim to be alledged vampires, are only a greater degree of pretenders to a genre. The desperation they project is so very telling.

It's all about supply in demand. It's what the people want. Personally, I love to read vampire books, but the Edward SHOWER CURTAINS are taking it too far.

Ok please no one take this the wrong way but why should it matter if they are happy them let them do it not that I am into it but because everything has a rise and a fall

Ok please no one take this the wrong way but why should it matter if they are happy them let them do it not that I am into it but because everything has a rise and a fall

Fads come and go like the time and changes all the time. nothing ever lasts long with Fads.

I agree with everyone who says at least they are reading.
The video games are put away for awhile.
I went into Booksa million and that is mostly
what hit me on almost every table
vampire books.
In small town as I live in and there is nothing at all
for the kids to do, that are not interested in sports.
I think reading helps to keep there minds from getting into trouble.

I think these new books and movies have swept the original concepts of vampires under the rug. I hate these new books where they find love after meeting some human and knowing them for a few days.... These vampires are supposed to be pretty old most of the time so one would assume they would act some what all grown up and not fall in love at the snap of a finger... They are now cliche, redundant, and dull. I love the original stories all the way up to the Vampire Chronicles by Anne Rice.... I liked those books allot, but after that it seems the books just keep getting worse.... I like them being, miserable, then happy, then savage ect ect.... Not spewing some heart felt lines that make me want to vomit because of how mushy they are...... Btw the guy that plays Edward in Twilight speaks like he is William Shatner in my opinion...

Really...The whole.......innocent girl inlove with the wreched monster is not a new one and has been a plot text since as long as there have been stories told around campfires. Hell. Look at "Beauty and the Beast."

As for My personal feelings on it. My Wife constantly reminds Me that as long as the lemmings don't carry Me over the cliff with them, I shouldn't care. Well.....not in those words exactly.*Chuckles*

As others have said. Fads come and go and.........come back again. Best to enjoy what you find enjoyable and ignore the rest.

Vampire novels have always been around since the 20th Century at least, and romantic ones as well. We didn't have the internet to discuss it all at the time. Twilight is not at fault for the romantic idea of a vampire. There have been books of this type long before that one was written and many people writing them but most don't know about it because they are by little known writers. Those who are interested in the darker side of life...those things that go bump in the night are now writing vampire novels because it is fascinating people much more at this time but I think some of it has definitely to do with the ability to communicate much better throughout the world. Yes, people didn't use the term Lycan but Lycanthropy has been a topic of interest to people for a long time. Therian didn't exist as it is used presently and Otherkin, etc. Times change and wording for things do as well. Either someone makes up a new one or is influenced by something. People need to get away from thinking the Eastern European revenant style vampire is the only one. One has to remember that even though the big publishers still want writers with experience, smaller publishers will publish novels, and people now self publish and some do ebooks, etc. It is much easier to get published in this manner or some just put their stories on a website and don't try to get them published. We now have quantity but not always quality of writing. Seems as many vampire novels that are coming out, everyone is trying to write one with a new twist, heh. This fad may or may not pass, but most usually do pass. I have been buying vampire novels for years. I have two from a series I think I bought in the eighties and never heard people talk about them and I haven't read them, lol...just added them to my collection, many still in boxes since I have had to move frequently in the last few years. Now I mostly read non fiction. My opinion is buy the books you find interesting and let the market take care of the rest. There is something for everyone. There have been fads every generation and if it annoys someone they should just ignore it in my opinion.

I find this fad annoying. About 99.9% of people who have read the twilight books have never read anything vampire related before. And the fact that teenage girls and young women are going nuts over a fictional character is just annoying.

Dont forget that the whole " Vampyre" concept was foundationed on White Wolfs LARP system story line.

Vampires provided a perfect mirror of the worst fears of the pious and perfect. Vampires were dangerous, sexually rampant, enormously powerful, absolutely unconcerned about human dignity and preservation of the soul, and finally...dead. And it was this last aspect of their nature that made them the most fascinating.

As for ... damn Twilight - most teen girls and women up to maybe 35, would naturally gush over the Lead Males of the Twilight movies.

I like the Vampire and Fantasy Renaissance that is going on, but I the strong romance involved I do not like.

Where is the Comedy and Horror and Suspense ?

As always has been and always will be, what is old becomes new and gets a slight twist to make it just a touch different, but in the end it is just the same thing. Look at fashion trends, i believe we are reliving the 80's mingled with some of the trends of the 60s and 70s.

the kids are reading soon enough they will have to grow up and embrace the real world of reality. let them have their moment of fantasy.

just my thoughts.

Well, we only need to look at the 'Lord of the Rings' movies and the series of Harry Potter films and their longevity to know that the 'Twilight' series will fade away just the same. Market trends are what it's about these days as well as multi million dollar marketing campaigns to hook the youngsters and to get them to part with their cash. Stephanie Meyers has mainly cashed into this trend and made it her own. although Im sure her intention to create a unique novel was honourable. At least since Rice.
Yes the characters and storylines are stereotyped and a lot of her storylines are full of continuity errors. However, for the 'Norm' these are escapist novels in fantasy, and like all Vampyric literature will be replaced by someone else further down the line. Having said that, it has encouraged my 16 year old neice to read books, rather than sitting on Facebook all day.

The Twilght series though perhaps offending the hardcore, is simply after all, about love and the battle for good against evil. There's no harm in that. What hacks me off is the commercialism around it. It wont be the last.

Mx

I am not interested in these gushy teenage romances with vampires, werewolves, etc.

But I am not a teenage girl. When I was a teenage girl I like millions of my counterparts were all reading teen romance novels. Swapping them, giggling and daydreaming over them. So I know that if I was a teen now I would be right into twilight and its predecessors.

Yes its a fad, and we are all influenced by them at some stage in our lives.

The fad is DEFINITELY dying down... please, respect that I AM a teenager, and am around teenagers for about nine to ten hours every day. There are Far more haters than there are lovers.

The thing is that for me, the books help me to escape. I am able to visualize it all and lose myself in the books.
I needed the books last year. Yes, needed.

I have not said this yet, because I didn't feel like complaining...

The books help ease the pain of the physical and emotional abuse I suffer from both of my parents and the harsh comments I endure every day because of my clothes, my sexual orientation, or just because I am different. This happens every single day.

Somehow, if I read between classes, at home, and pretty much 24/7 I can't hear all of the things being said or feel it as bad when my "dad" puts his hands on me.

So go ahead and bash a teen girl's way out. I'm used to people shitting on my loves already...
It just doesn't phase me enough anymore.

Not enough? Here is a poem I posted in my journal today...

Nails



The nail that sticks out the most gets hammered the hardest.

The girl that dares to be different has to pay for her indivuality every single day.

You think it is easy to be the black sheep? Think again.
I stand out, because it is what I was born to do.

I am the one that cries every night.

I am the one that is abused, because her parents don't know what to do with her.

I am the one that is stared at- you'd think people never learned it was rude.

Every day I am the one who is constantly reminded of her imperfections.

The one that hides, because she doesn't know what people will do to her if they knew the truth.

Everyone outside thinks of me as confident- right in her own skin.
It is a mask.

My dirty little secrets that explode in different directions eventually.

This is my life. I know it will improve soon, but nothing is soon enough anymore.

So, in the end, I come out looking like a rusty, crooked nail.

Well I am glad it turned My daughter on , in a way , to things that are of interest to Me . I though hate the cavalcade of whiney , cry-baby , poor little blood sucker mes . I watch The Vampire Diaries and to my happiness it has grown into a lot better than it started out to be (My girls says it pretty much has nothing to do with the books though) . I applauded it when the main vampire character Stephan drank some human blood and fed off a living female . Though it was short lived since he had to whine about it for the last minutes of the episode .
I like the fact that it turned people onto a world I have loved since I was young , but I do hate the wimp vampires that overrun the popular media now .....

I can remeber when the movie The Craft came out, next thing you know every girl in my highschool thought they were a witch. Kind of pissed me off, because all goths got ropped into this category. It seems any time a movie about vampire or witches, some teenagers seem to take it to the next level, to where they start acting and thinking they are the characters from the movies and such.