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maderrI do not, in fact, hate vampires to the point I want nothing whatsoever to do with them.
What I hate is the sheer lack of creativity in dealing with them.
I swear everytime a new vamp story is released on Torq, it sounds just like all the others. There is nothing so drastically different that I go 'oh, that sound interesting' - though here I have to say that's not entirely true. They released a book about blind vampires.
Four of the most disappointing stories I've ever read in my life.
But there is vampire stuff I like, and I studied them to death back when I was researching embrace. The funniest part about the documentary I watched the other night was that I could have done a much better job presenting the history of vampires -- though I concede I know nothing about the modern clubs and rpg and cults and stuff. Still, I know the history. Lord Ruthven and Dracula were the books that set the world toward the vampires we know now, and beyond the obvious drawing upon of Vlad The Impaler by Bram Stoker, there was also Elizabeth Bathory (which the documentary mentioend) and Giles de Rais (which it didnt', because the documenary was spineless).
The scientific aspects were covered rather well, but let's face it -- precious few fangirls care about the scientific history of vampires. Why this body happened to still be in good condition, why it looked like it was fed. The vampire fandom, outside those who apparently live as vampires (as opposed to Christians and such? I don't know, that was sort of interesting, though the documentary did not do them justice I feel), is more interested in the romanticism that was brought to the fore by Anne Ricewho needs to be subjected to the cruelest torments in the darkest reaches of hell.
The angst. The pain. The suffering. The constant need to fuck. All sorts of whacked out shit. I admit I read most of those books, there was a couple of chars I even liked and I was willing to tolerate her aggravating writing style to read more about them (for the curious, I liked Armand and Marius - and man was his book a disappointment. I finally gave up entirely after that let down).
So these days I'm more frustrated by the fact that everyone does the same regurgiated crap instead of trying something new. Angsty Vamp Preys Upon Human With Whom He Falls In Love. Every now and then its a werewolf instead of a vampire, and there is token fighting between the "species who have always hated each other yet no reason is given for that hatred" before they're fucking like bunnies.
How exciting.
There are vamp stories I like, however. The top three are Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Trinity Blood. I havae the comics/novels/anime for each, or will as they are released.
I think my greatest problem is that ultimately vampire/human can never really be made to work. Humans are food, I maintain and ever will that it's hard to have amorous feelings for your steak. Of course, this is often negated by the fact that humans, of course, are turned into vampires. Hence the Eternal Suffering and Torment of Men Forced to Feed Upon Their Fellowsthough given the frequency with which they score and how hot it apparently it is to have your blood sucked, I don't see the problem.
So I figured, once, that there was only a few ways such a relationship could ever really work. Either vamps are not considered Mortal Enemy #1, an idea that ultimately proved too cmplicated (at the time), or they are put in a position in which they are not predators, but slaves. To be even more demeaning, wouldn't it be fun to call them Pets?
This would also allow one to maintain the 'pretty' aspect of vampires - well dressed, fancy, someway or another part of High Society. Furthermore, it would allow one to play with the role of master/slave, and the concept of an unwilling vs. willing slave. Finally, all of these, one realized, would be perfectly suited to a vaguely victorian-type society, perhaps a trifle later - set in a period when much but not enough was known about medicine and blood and other such things. The sort of environment which would pay proper homage to the roots of fictional vampires, a true gothic type setting, with maybe somthing frilly - flowers, maybe -- to play counterpoint to the blood and illness and dark.
All it lacked was a fitting title - but upon reading bad fiction - ...by the vampire's dark embrace.
That is to say, I'm ticked off enough that I will shortly be rehauling and resuming work on Embrace.
Now I go to get coffee.
What I hate is the sheer lack of creativity in dealing with them.
I swear everytime a new vamp story is released on Torq, it sounds just like all the others. There is nothing so drastically different that I go 'oh, that sound interesting' - though here I have to say that's not entirely true. They released a book about blind vampires.
Four of the most disappointing stories I've ever read in my life.
But there is vampire stuff I like, and I studied them to death back when I was researching embrace. The funniest part about the documentary I watched the other night was that I could have done a much better job presenting the history of vampires -- though I concede I know nothing about the modern clubs and rpg and cults and stuff. Still, I know the history. Lord Ruthven and Dracula were the books that set the world toward the vampires we know now, and beyond the obvious drawing upon of Vlad The Impaler by Bram Stoker, there was also Elizabeth Bathory (which the documentary mentioend) and Giles de Rais (which it didnt', because the documenary was spineless).
The scientific aspects were covered rather well, but let's face it -- precious few fangirls care about the scientific history of vampires. Why this body happened to still be in good condition, why it looked like it was fed. The vampire fandom, outside those who apparently live as vampires (as opposed to Christians and such? I don't know, that was sort of interesting, though the documentary did not do them justice I feel), is more interested in the romanticism that was brought to the fore by Anne Rice
The angst. The pain. The suffering. The constant need to fuck. All sorts of whacked out shit. I admit I read most of those books, there was a couple of chars I even liked and I was willing to tolerate her aggravating writing style to read more about them (for the curious, I liked Armand and Marius - and man was his book a disappointment. I finally gave up entirely after that let down).
So these days I'm more frustrated by the fact that everyone does the same regurgiated crap instead of trying something new. Angsty Vamp Preys Upon Human With Whom He Falls In Love. Every now and then its a werewolf instead of a vampire, and there is token fighting between the "species who have always hated each other yet no reason is given for that hatred" before they're fucking like bunnies.
How exciting.
There are vamp stories I like, however. The top three are Vampire Hunter D, Hellsing, and Trinity Blood. I havae the comics/novels/anime for each, or will as they are released.
I think my greatest problem is that ultimately vampire/human can never really be made to work. Humans are food, I maintain and ever will that it's hard to have amorous feelings for your steak. Of course, this is often negated by the fact that humans, of course, are turned into vampires. Hence the Eternal Suffering and Torment of Men Forced to Feed Upon Their Fellows
So I figured, once, that there was only a few ways such a relationship could ever really work. Either vamps are not considered Mortal Enemy #1, an idea that ultimately proved too cmplicated (at the time), or they are put in a position in which they are not predators, but slaves. To be even more demeaning, wouldn't it be fun to call them Pets?
This would also allow one to maintain the 'pretty' aspect of vampires - well dressed, fancy, someway or another part of High Society. Furthermore, it would allow one to play with the role of master/slave, and the concept of an unwilling vs. willing slave. Finally, all of these, one realized, would be perfectly suited to a vaguely victorian-type society, perhaps a trifle later - set in a period when much but not enough was known about medicine and blood and other such things. The sort of environment which would pay proper homage to the roots of fictional vampires, a true gothic type setting, with maybe somthing frilly - flowers, maybe -- to play counterpoint to the blood and illness and dark.
All it lacked was a fitting title - but upon reading bad fiction - ...by the vampire's dark embrace.
That is to say, I'm ticked off enough that I will shortly be rehauling and resuming work on Embrace.
Now I go to get coffee.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 02:56 pm (UTC)ooooo, i'm curious, who's he? and now i want to write a vampire story just to see if you'd like my kind of vamp. {eg}
no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 03:05 pm (UTC)Serial killer in France circa Joan of Arcn - he was one of her right hand men, I think. He liked to kidnap children, mostly boys, and do sadistic things to them. There's some argument, I think, as to how much of it he really did, but most seem pretty certain he was a sick fuck. There's all kinds of sites and stuff on him.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 04:08 pm (UTC)but on a recommendational note: Christine Feehan's Dark Series. her vampires are more powerful and not really vampires. and they don't have any of the angst that you find for lots of vampires. yes, they have to find their mate or risk turning into a soulless demon, but overall, they like being who they are and don't bother hiding it. hehe, one even uses her powers to put on magic acts.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 04:54 pm (UTC)I shall look it up and add to my wishlist ^___^
no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 10:49 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 04:35 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 04:54 pm (UTC)Yeah, I've read before he was one of the first -- first known/caught anyway.
I guess that would be the right way to spell her name ^^:; I didn't want to botch it.
I freaked Kitty out the other day with my knowledge of serial killers >_>;; Studying them is interesting, though. I know way too much about the Jack the Ripper mess than is probably healthy.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 05:18 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 05:28 pm (UTC)Probably Jack, simply for the sheer 'what the bloody fuck actually happened' factor. From sheer Wow, that's fucking whack, Bathory is a close second.
no subject
Date: 2007-03-31 06:48 pm (UTC)It is interesting what the human mind is capable of. My own interest in the subject of serial killers may have frightened a few people. Buying said encyclopaedia on Easter a few years back might have done so as well.
I do like Bathory myself. She lived close enough, too. Jack was all the way in London.
I also have an avid interest in anti-heroes and villains. Go figure. *sheepish grin*