more vampire novels

[snick_backup]

Now that McKinley has written a vampire novel, clearly it's Patricia McKillip's turn next.

Other vampire novels of interest:

Fevre Dream, by George R. R. Martin, of all people. Actually the only novel of his I've read. Set on the Mississippi River way back when, mostly takes place on the magnificent titular paddle wheeler. Goes the route of vampires as a whole other species.

The Truth, by Terry Pratchett. Not actually a "vampire novel," but the vampire in it is adorable - he's the reason for that quote a while back. He loves flash photography (or the Discworld equivalent thereof) and dedicates himself wholeheartedly to it, even though he disintegrates with particularly brilliant flashes and has to be reconstituted. He is a vegetarian vampire, as the Cullens would say.

The Stress of Her Regard, by Tim Powers. I have not read this but want to, as I understand it's vampires + Byron, Shelley, and co. Mostly I'm interested because I discovered Powers as an author after I was in a writing workshop of his, and because he wrote a pirate book I actually liked. (Which, incidentally, is the nominal basis of the next PotC movie, but that's a whole other thing.)

"The Unicorn Tapestry," by Suzy McKee Charnas. A novella rather than a novel, with possibly the least sexy vampire sex scene every, among other things. The vampire in it is truly a cold, unappealing creature. Or possibly just a deluded human. Or possibly it's his psychologist that's a bit unhinged. In any case, this made a formative impression on me when I was younger, and is the reason that I still fundamentally disbelieve the "vampire = sexy" meme. Symbolically, the vampirism is the sex; actual copulation is redundant.

Others? Believe it or not, vampires aren't really my thing. Now that I'm a Buffyite, though, I've gotten sort of interested in the different modern representations of them.

Oh, I've also been meaning to see Let the Right One In, which someone on the flist was talking about just today; Daybreakers, which sounds like it might have some interesting worldbuilding, if nothing else; and Night Watch, which may or may not have vampires - I am unclear. It's supposed to be good, though.

Comments

[dragonpaws.livejournal.com]

I know you're not looking for recommendations specifically, but I have to mention Blindsight by Peter Watts. It's out by Tor but you can also read it online.

VERY good, sciency, psychological, set-in-the-future approach to vampires. Definitely my favorite vampire version ever. I'd love to hear what you think!

(P.S. Read Sunshine, wasn't a big fan, but a lot of McKinley kinda bounces off me.)

[dragonpaws.livejournal.com]

Oh, and Night Watch? Ah-MA-zing. LOVE it. Don't remember any vampires, though. But there is time travel!

[snickfic]

Blindsight! Yes, it's on the mental list, too. I admit, vampires + space kind of boggles my mind, but possibly in a good way, judging from all the good things I've heard about it.

A lot of McKinley bounces off me, too. For some reason, this one stuck.

[ladyofthelog.livejournal.com]

Okay, this is so bizarre - I've read loads of vampire novels, but I haven't heard of any of these books aside from the Pratchett one. Huh.

My brain has powered down, but I'll see if I can scrounge up some recs for you in the morning.

[slaymesoftly.livejournal.com]

I've always been a vampire whore - although many of the genre books being written make me want to barf. I think most of the best vampire books (meaning there is a vampire in there somewhere, not necessarily that they are all about the vampires) have been written by non-genre authors. I'll definitely be checking out some of these. They sound like they'll be my kind of book.

[cindergal.livejournal.com]

You probably know this already, but "Let the Right One In" was first a novel - it's on my to read list as well. And the English language version of the film (called "Let Me In") is being released on October 1. The trailer looks very cool, although it probably won't be as good as the original. But Richard Jenkins is in it, so I want to see it if only for him. :-)

[snickfic]

I think most of the best vampire books have been written by non-genre authors.

Agreed. In fact, that's basically what all of these are. None of these are stock urban fantasy or horror authors. And I completely forgot to mention The Graveyard Book by Neil Gaiman, although it must be admitted that the word 'vampire' does not actually appear anywhere in the book.

[snickfic]

Oh! I didn't realize it was a novel first. I'd certainly want to see the original version of the movie before I saw the American version, though - as you see, it seems likely they'll sand off all the interesting edges.

[penny-lane-42.livejournal.com]

Oooh. I haven't read any of these, but they sound fascinating. Especially the ROMANTIC POETS.

Definitely watch Let the Right One In. It's weird and awesome.

It's funny: I don't actually care much about vampire as vampires, but a lot of my favorite shows involve them. Strange.

[antennapedia.livejournal.com]

The idea of a McKillip vampire novel is an awesome one, if brain-breaking!

[snickfic]

I know! It breaks my brain, too. But in a good way. I mean, if she can take on "The Lady of Shalott" and make it worthwhile (The Tower at Stoney Wood), then I've no doubt she could do unique and fabulous things with vampires.

[rahirah]

The Stress of Her Regard wasn't exactly vampires - or if it was, they were very non-standard ones. More Medusa, IIRC. It's one of my least favorite Powers books, so I didn't devote too many brain cells to remembering it.

[snickfic]

Hmm. I thought someone had mentioned vampires in connection to it. Oh, well. I'm interested in it for the romantic poet angle, if nothing else. I really appreciated how Powers wove the fantastic and the historical together in On Stranger Tides, and I'm interested to see if he does it as well in this one.

Out of curiosity, which are your favorite Powers books? I liked what I've read very much, but there's still a lot I haven't gotten to yet.

[snickfic]

I know, romantic poets!

I don't actually care much about vampire as vampires

Yeah. I don't, either. Yet I find it really interesting on an intellectual level to see how different writers deal with them and fit them into the worldbuilding.

[antennapedia.livejournal.com]

More suggestions, mostly from the ever-helpful Mr Pedia:

Poppy Z Brite, Lost Souls.
Lucius Shepard, The Golden.
Bram Stoker if you've never read it before.
Sheridan Le Fanu, "Carmilla", if you continue in a mood for the classics.

[snickfic]

Ooh, thank you! I'll have a look at these. I confess, I never have read Dracula. I know, shame. But I really ought to, just to see where all this originated.