Thursday 25 April 2013

V is for Vampires

Vampires have always been popular characters in literature so I though my V post could take a look at some of those characters and how writers have made them unique to their own universes.

Dracula - Bram Stoker's creation which was the template for most modern vampires. Although the character was based in part on Vlad the Impaler, Dracula is a much richer character than just a brutal killer. He is seductive, charming, a nobleman and a sorceror.

Angel, Spike and Drusilla (Buffy the Vampire Slayer) - Joss Whedon's vampires are all vicious killers with super strength. They look human but have a 'game face' which they reveal when they're going to feed. Angel is a 'good' vampire because he's got a soul, but other vampires in Angel's world are the old fashioned all-bad human killers.

The Cullens - Edward & co from the Twilight series are 'vegetarian' vampires who eat animal blood and not human blood. There are other traditional, human-eating vampires in the books as well. Sunlight won't kill them, but it makes their skin sparkle in a very non-human way. They don't grow fangs, but their teeth are razor-sharp and they have venom which will turn you into a vampire - if they don't kill you first. Some of these vampires have different abilities as well - mind reading, precognition and causing pain with their mind are just a few of those. The Volturi are an interesting addition, as the closest thing the vampires have to a legal authority.

Stefan & Damon Salvatore (The Vampire Diaries) - In one episode of TVD Damon says 'no sparkles'. These vampires are more traditional, although Stefan exists on a diet of animal blood and Damon generally drinks blood stolen from blood banks rather than feasting on people - other vampires in the world are less discriminating. The origin of vampires is explained with the introduction of the Original Vampires.


Who is your favourite fictional vampire?

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