Best Vampire Books
With the last Twilight installment maneuvering to cinemas later this season - vampire literature seems to be springing up from every direction. In light of the finish to Stephanie Meyer's popular tale, this is a top ten list of the best vampire books that you need to really sink your teeth into.
10. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
One of the first vampire novels ever written, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu electrically brings to life the female vampire in Carmilla. The story begins with protagonist Laura who lives in the picturesque town Styria. 1 day, surprise carriage crash brings Carmilla thundering into Laura's life and instantly both girls become inseparable clinical vampirism. Although this novel is slow at times, stay with it because the mysteries surrounding Carmilla unfold to bring you face to handle with the very first lesbian vampire. The writing sees energy since it reaches a climatic ending with the arrival of baron Vordenburg who appears as this tales response to Van Helsing. Steeped in original mythology and published in 1872, Fanu supplies a classic view of the vampire whilst linking it to Victorian concerns about female sexuality. An excellent read!
9. Dracula by Bram Stoker
It would be impossible to compile a'best of'vampire fiction without paying homage to the text that kicked it into action. Join Jonathan Harker as he journeys to Transylvania to meet up the elusive Count Dracula. Harker, when wandering the castle through the night, falls under the spell of three female vampires and escapes the castle just in time. Not long following a storm brings Count Dracula to England and places the young Lucy Westenra directly in his path. The style and language of this novel may be inaccessible at times to a contemporary reader but persisting with each page is well worth it, especially with the arrival of Van Helsing. Dracula and Helsing's relationship is depicted in an intense cat and mouse game, with Harker's fiancée Mina getting caught in the middle. With iconic imagery (the vampire as a shape shifter and the fundamental stake-through-the-heart killing method) Bram Stoker's story is worthwhile read for true addicts of vampire fiction.
8. Fangland by John Marks
This reinvention of Stoker's Dracula places the vampire in the twenty-first century in a post 9/11 New York. Fangland mimics the form of Dracula since the story unfolds via different emails and journal entries, once we follow Evangeline Harker on her behalf work to uncover stories surrounding the elusive Ion Torgu. Playing upon the rumours surrounding Transylvania, Marks'novel cleverly transposes vampirism for the current reader; news readers are killed in dangerous territories, disease is spread via communication and the setting may be the TV production industry. This satirical book offers a refreshing new voice on the planet of vampire fiction since it cleverly draws your awareness of modern society and its flaws. Sink your teeth to the murky, blood stained world of Fangland and watch as Stoker's novel is resurrected in the current day.
7. Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
Lost Souls is vibrant and the vampires are sensual, sexy creatures. Brite was only a tender nineteen years of age when she wrote Lost Souls and this permeates through whilst the novel drives home an actual teen spirit. The vampires take drugs, have identity crises'and embody the trauma to be a teen in this engaging novel. The characters are brutally real and the most fascinating aspect of this novel is the freedom Brite grants her characters in terms of their gender and sexuality. By far the most compelling character could be the vampire Nothing. Raised by a human family, Nothing cause searching for his real family and true identity. It is his journey that resonates deeply as you actually feel for his urge to figure out who he's, a journey we all go on as teenagers.
6. Empire V by Victor Pelevin
This postmodernist vampire novel by Victor Pelevin can be an innovative and snappy read. Roman A. Shtorkin becomes a vampire and just like the vampires before him must learn how to socialize, whilst living alongside their human counter parts. With vivid imagery and a remarkably modern feel this book is one to sink your teeth into. Pelevin cleverly positions humans as others in this chilling tale and creates an accurate and sharp critique of modern civilisation. Much like Fangland this novel laughs at a unique postmodernism and has a sharp bite that is a far cry from the mushy tone of a specific romance-vampire novel. Essential read for almost any blood-thirsty vampire fanatic.
10. Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu
One of the first vampire novels ever written, Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu electrically brings to life the female vampire in Carmilla. The story begins with protagonist Laura who lives in the picturesque town Styria. 1 day, surprise carriage crash brings Carmilla thundering into Laura's life and instantly both girls become inseparable clinical vampirism. Although this novel is slow at times, stay with it because the mysteries surrounding Carmilla unfold to bring you face to handle with the very first lesbian vampire. The writing sees energy since it reaches a climatic ending with the arrival of baron Vordenburg who appears as this tales response to Van Helsing. Steeped in original mythology and published in 1872, Fanu supplies a classic view of the vampire whilst linking it to Victorian concerns about female sexuality. An excellent read!
9. Dracula by Bram Stoker
It would be impossible to compile a'best of'vampire fiction without paying homage to the text that kicked it into action. Join Jonathan Harker as he journeys to Transylvania to meet up the elusive Count Dracula. Harker, when wandering the castle through the night, falls under the spell of three female vampires and escapes the castle just in time. Not long following a storm brings Count Dracula to England and places the young Lucy Westenra directly in his path. The style and language of this novel may be inaccessible at times to a contemporary reader but persisting with each page is well worth it, especially with the arrival of Van Helsing. Dracula and Helsing's relationship is depicted in an intense cat and mouse game, with Harker's fiancée Mina getting caught in the middle. With iconic imagery (the vampire as a shape shifter and the fundamental stake-through-the-heart killing method) Bram Stoker's story is worthwhile read for true addicts of vampire fiction.
8. Fangland by John Marks
This reinvention of Stoker's Dracula places the vampire in the twenty-first century in a post 9/11 New York. Fangland mimics the form of Dracula since the story unfolds via different emails and journal entries, once we follow Evangeline Harker on her behalf work to uncover stories surrounding the elusive Ion Torgu. Playing upon the rumours surrounding Transylvania, Marks'novel cleverly transposes vampirism for the current reader; news readers are killed in dangerous territories, disease is spread via communication and the setting may be the TV production industry. This satirical book offers a refreshing new voice on the planet of vampire fiction since it cleverly draws your awareness of modern society and its flaws. Sink your teeth to the murky, blood stained world of Fangland and watch as Stoker's novel is resurrected in the current day.
7. Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite
Lost Souls is vibrant and the vampires are sensual, sexy creatures. Brite was only a tender nineteen years of age when she wrote Lost Souls and this permeates through whilst the novel drives home an actual teen spirit. The vampires take drugs, have identity crises'and embody the trauma to be a teen in this engaging novel. The characters are brutally real and the most fascinating aspect of this novel is the freedom Brite grants her characters in terms of their gender and sexuality. By far the most compelling character could be the vampire Nothing. Raised by a human family, Nothing cause searching for his real family and true identity. It is his journey that resonates deeply as you actually feel for his urge to figure out who he's, a journey we all go on as teenagers.
6. Empire V by Victor Pelevin
This postmodernist vampire novel by Victor Pelevin can be an innovative and snappy read. Roman A. Shtorkin becomes a vampire and just like the vampires before him must learn how to socialize, whilst living alongside their human counter parts. With vivid imagery and a remarkably modern feel this book is one to sink your teeth into. Pelevin cleverly positions humans as others in this chilling tale and creates an accurate and sharp critique of modern civilisation. Much like Fangland this novel laughs at a unique postmodernism and has a sharp bite that is a far cry from the mushy tone of a specific romance-vampire novel. Essential read for almost any blood-thirsty vampire fanatic.
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