Vampire novels have long been a favored subject in the human escape from reality. Though certain ideas invariably remain, the past century has brought about notable variations in the vampire theme.
Variations in Vampire Fiction and Film
Most notably, Anne Rice's "Interview with the Vampire" series, and the corresponding features films made from these books greatly renewed public interest in vampire fiction and brought new ideas to the forefront.
In addition, films like Blade and Underworld have changed the norm of the traditional vampire theme.
Blade, a half-vampire, half-human anomaly, chooses to fight his murderous urge to feed on humans, instead hunting other vampires, avenging himself and his mother and protecting mankind.
The female lead in Underworld, chooses to help and eventually befriend, a human, even though he has been bitten by a Lican (werewolf), the mortal enemy of vampires and has already begun the change that will make him become one.
Twilight Takes the Vampires to A New Level
Vampire comics, films and of course, books can now be found in every genre, from humor to romance, mystery, action, sci-fi and the traditional horror, though arguably spanning the widest within the genre of Young Adult fiction.
All this in consideration, it was no surprise when the 2005 release of Stephenie Meyer's first novel "Twilight" was released and immediately hit bestseller lists.With the subsequent release of the three sequential novels, as well as the feature film based upon the first book, which will be followed in turn by a film for each of the following novels, Twilight's popularity is only increasing.
Dozens of fansites and message boards, fanclubs meeting at libraries and bookstores debate plot and characters daily. Though this is no phenomena within itself, perhaps what is most surprising is the wide age span of women involved in all the excitement. From the young adults that the book is aimed toward, to the twenty and thirty-something fringe, to the 40's and 50's, and yes, even the senior crowd, women are enthralled with Twilight's characters and story.
Meyer's Secrets to Success
Foremost, one simply cannot ignore Meyer's brilliant writing. Written in first person narrative, her voice is fluid, engaging, and gives the reader no choice but to invest in the story and enjoy the varying and poetic sentence structure.
Her "God-given" talent aside, who else can we thank for Meyer's success, but Brigham Young University. Yes, BYU, the largest Mormon university in the US is, indirectly at least, responsible for perhaps the most popular vampire novel since "Interview with the Vampire".
This may seem a conflict of interest at first, but after reading the novels, Meyer's religious influences definitely come through, making the Twilight books not only appealing to a wider readership, but also surprisingly moral. With an astounding lack of pretense, Meyer manages to breech such issues as dishonesty, cursing, substance abuse (including caffeinated beverages, if only flippantly) and the more carnal sins of murder, cannibalism, and of course pre-marital sex. The latter seems an underlying theme throughout the series, though it isn't openly discussed until the third book, "Eclipse".
Perhaps most amazing is not the lack of sin. but the emotional intensity and sensuality that fuels the series.
In the tradition of Anne Rice's characters, Meyer's vampires share human emotions, such as love and loneliness, but also possess an impressive amount of morality and conscience, at times serving as role models, as well as protectors of the heroine, a mere mortal teenager.
Perhaps a reflection of our nation's current longing for peace, this evolved vampire tale advocates tolerance and morality and fights prejudice with a vengeance, all the while telling an exciting, sexy story that multiple generations will sympathize with and enjoy.
Heidi Griffin - Heidi has written for numerous local newspapers and magazines, as well as several internet sites. She specializes in film theory and ...
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