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1lampbane
Jul 30, 2006, 10:44 pm

Anyone ever read Delicate Dependency?

2carratona
Jul 31, 2006, 9:34 pm

I'm looking to start a new series...any one a fan of the Vampire Earth books?

3allthesedarnbooks
Aug 9, 2006, 11:22 am

Hey all! *waves* My favorite vampire books are, without a doubt, the Nightworld series by L.J. Smith. They're marketed for young adults, but there's some pretty cool world building (not all the books focus soley on vampires, there are also witches, werewolves, shapechangers, etc.) and they're very well written. My favorites of the series would probably be the first one, Secret Vampire, Daughters of Darkness, and The Chosen. Her Vampire Diaries books are also good.

I recently read The Fledgling by Octavia E. Butler, which I loved, and I definitely want to read more by her. Has she written other vampire books? Anyone here read them?

I'm also currently in the middle of Mary Janice Davidson's Betsy Taylor books. I've read Undead and Unwed, which was amazing, and Undead and Unemployed, which started out slow but eventually improved. I just purchased Undead and Unappreciated and have it on my TBR pile.

What are some of your favorite vampire books?

4The_Holy_Terror
Edited: Aug 10, 2006, 1:32 am

Hi allthesedarnbooks! I also loved the Nightworld series, but isn't it a shame it's not finished? Argh! L.J. Smith was one of the author's that really set me on the path of loving vampire fiction.

I also really liked Undead and Unwed and I agree that Undead and Unemployed wasn't as good, at least at first. And then Undead and Unappreciated kind of fell flat for me. I'll eventually read the others in her series, but they'll have to wait.

One of my favorite's right now is Charlaine Harris and her Sookie Stackhouse series. (Even though the last one was, um, not the greatest.)

I'm also catching up on Laurell K. Hamilton at the moment. I finished Cerulean Sins this past week and now I'm about halfway through Incubus Dreams. I can't say I'm too happy with Laurell right now. Does Anita have to have sex with everything that moves? I heard Danse Macabre is better than the last couple in the series so I'm working my way up to it.

5deargreenplace
Aug 10, 2006, 4:02 am

Hi, I haven't joined yet, but I'm a big fan of Buffy, and I'm looking for recommendations for literary vampire books. I'm reading The Historian just now, and I've read Dracula and The Moth Diaries, but things like Anne Rice and Laurell K. Hamilton have never really appealed to me, though I've never ready anything by either author so am open to recommendations.

What does everyone think? Is there such a thing as a good literary vampire book?

6lampbane
Aug 10, 2006, 11:50 am

deargreenplace: Again, I bring up "The Delicate Dependency", which I found a little more intellectual than say, Anne Rice. I think it's out-of-print, though.

7deargreenplace
Aug 11, 2006, 5:43 am

Thanks, lampbane :) I'll see if I can track it down anywhere.

8Amiziras
Aug 11, 2006, 8:59 pm

This message has been deleted by its author.

9Amiziras
Aug 11, 2006, 9:00 pm

I was just cataloguing my copy of The Delicate Dependency and noticed the ongoing conversation. From the moment I read it on the ferry to Ireland in 1983 it's been my favourite vampire novel. It's a shame that Talbot wrote only one worthwhile novel; there's so much here to play with and to enjoy again at every re-read. Great book.

It would also help if I could spell. *reposts message*

10Sue.k.
Nov 24, 2006, 5:53 am

im gonna be very typical here and say Anne Rice. Since ive been reading her stuff for say the last 5 years i havnt been able to take any other writers serious. maybe someone out there could share some info on other writers so i may broaden my horizons???

11nickhoonaloon
Nov 24, 2006, 3:41 pm

I think I`ll give you the same suggestions I gave to deargreeplace some time ago - if I was you I`d try the original vampire writers like Polidori and Le Fanu. You should find plenty of info on the web about them.

There are various Vampire anthologies knocking around in UK remainder shops - I have one which contains extracts of vampire stories in a variety of styles, from a variety of times. If they don`t have them where you are, there are sure to be some available cheaply on the net.

12Sue.k.
Nov 27, 2006, 3:39 am

Thanks nickhoonaloon, ill be sure to check it out.

13nickhoonaloon
Nov 27, 2006, 4:26 am

I forgot to mention - if you`re really into vampire stuff, the silent film Nosferatu (Todd Slaughter, Max Schreck) is widely available in the UK retailing at around £1 ( $2 US ).

How much anyone enjoys it will depend on how much they can deal with very old silent films - I love it myself, though it`s imperfections are all too obvious.

No doubt some people will be buying them cheap to sell on E-Bay to overseas buyers. the only reason I`m not myself, is that I`ve tried that before with other films and not had much luck !

14bluetyson
Nov 27, 2006, 4:48 am

You are probably not likely to be able to sell those for much, given anyone can download it. :)

http://www.archive.org/details/nosferatu

15bluetyson
Nov 27, 2006, 4:49 am

Speaking of which though, I found out a few days ago that there are a couple of sequels to Whitley Streiber's The Hunger.

Has anyone read those?

16bluetyson
Nov 27, 2006, 4:52 am

You'll find some vampire stories here, too, if some older tales are what you are after :-

http://www.gutenberg.net.au/sfproject.html

17Sue.k.
Edited: Nov 27, 2006, 5:04 am

Thanks again nick. and yes, i REALLy love vampire novels and movies, i still love the old Bram Stoker Dracula movie. Yet i have not read the book, but i will be buying it soon. Ive done some quick research on the authors you mentioned, and have already added a few novels to my 'wishlist'. here they are:

Uncle Silas - A Tale of Bartram-Haugh Sheridan Le Fanu

The Three Gothic Novels Horace Walpole, William Beckford, John Polidori, Lord Byron

Polidori's Vampyre John Polidori, J. R. Planche, Darrell Schweitzer

In a Glass Darkly Sheridan Le Fanu

'The Vampyre' and Other Writings John William Polidori

so nick, whats your view on this list if you have any, or can you recomend any other books?

18bookmasterjmv
Nov 27, 2006, 10:23 am

Howdy all.

I never really considered myself a fan of vampire stories. That is, until I read Twilight by Stephenie Meyer. It was really enjoyable and the Cullen family was fun to watch.

Anyone have a good suggestion for a follow-up to Ms. Meyer's book that I'd enjoy? (Other than New Moon, of course, as I have that on my to-be-read shelf.)

19Jargoneer
Nov 27, 2006, 11:16 am

I recommended this on another thread but it's so good I'll recommend it again - Fevre Dream by George R R Martin.

20nickhoonaloon
Edited: Dec 5, 2006, 12:00 pm

Sue k

Somewhat belatedly - I thoroughly enjoyed In a Glass darkly if you have a certain type of mind - which clearly I have - you`ll like this - I think it`s quite unique. You should certainly try it.

Carmilla also good.

I have a book called Three Gothic Novels, but a different selection to the one you mention. Mine is the one shown on the Touchstone.

One that`s not strictly a vampire book, but you might like it - The saragossa Manuscript by Count Jan Potocki. Very strange, but fun. If you like the idea of a book where the central character is at one point pursued by cartwheeling corpses, this is for you.

PolidoriThe Vampyre should do the job.

Sorry for late and hasty reply.

21FicusFan
Dec 10, 2006, 7:36 pm


I have The Delicate Dependency but have yet to read it.

Well its hard to tell what type of book to suggest without knowing what type of vampires you want to read about. There are so many ways now to do them: mindless blood thirsty fiends, tortured soul, sexy vampire, funny vampire, spy vampire, detective vampire, evil vampire, vampire as good guy.

Some suggestions that cover all the bases:

I have read Mary Janice Davidson's Queen of the vampire series. I enjoyed that it was more about vamps, mysteries, and humor, with little romance. The romance was a bigger element in the last book, I thought. I also don't like that they are basically taking one book and splitting them in 2, these are thin books to begin with. On top of that they have moved into HC and I don't buy them, so I have to wait for the PB.

I read LKH's Anita Blake series, though hate the sex stuff in the last 3-4 books. I guess I keep reading because I like the other characters, and Anita has become so slefish and nasty, I keep hoping she will die horribly.

I have the last couple of Anne Rice's books to read, and they are more like a punishment, than an enjoyment.

Tanya Huff has a series called Blood that has vampires and is set in modern day Toronto. The first book is Blood Trail. P.N. Elrod has a series with a vampire detective set in 1920s chicago. The first book is Bloodlist. They are ok, though both are pretty bland.

I really liked The Vampire Tapestry by Suzy McKee Charnas and 2 books by Barbara Hambly, Those Who Hunt the Night and Traveling With the Dead, they are a series and Don Simon Ysidro is what a real vampire would be like if they were real. She said there are 1-2 more books to come, but who knows when. I often re-read them.

Kiss of the Vampire by Nancy Baker which was also published as The Night Inside, but may be oop under both names.

Ancestral Hungers by Scott Baker, Stand alone

Lost Souls by Poppy Z. Brite, Stand alone

Midnight Blue: The Sonja Blue Collection by Nancy Collins
There are several books in the Sonja Blue series. There are few others after this omnibus.

The Time of Feasting by Mick Farren is the start of a series that follows the story of a vampire coven.

Bound in Blood by David Thomas Lord with fallen angels as vampires.

Already Dead by Charlie Huston a noir detective story with a vampire as the POV.

Daylight by Elizabeth Knox set in Europe it has to do with religion, history (WWII) and a family of vampires.

Necroscope by Brian Lumley the start of 13-14 book series which is about a man who can talk to the dead. He uses his skill to fight the vampires who wink in from an alternate universe and prey on humans. The vampires are old-fashioned baddies in this one.

John F. Merz does a series that is like one of those spy thrillers, but the POV is a vampire, and works for the vampire council. It starts with The Fixer

Fred Saberhagen has a series that uses Dracula but he is mostly a good guy, along the lines of the Godfather. He looks after his human descendents. The Dracula Tapes is the first.

Kim Newman has a series that is like the old Casino Royale movie - its set in Victorian England and everybody is a vampire, and its regular people who are odd. The first I read was Anno Dracula

Chelsea Quinn Yarbro has a couple of series. She uses historical settings, often ancient, for them. Her vampires are goody-goodies and I find the books too bland.

The one I am enjoying the most right now is by Kim Harrison. There are a lot of things going on, not just vampires. The first book in the series is Dead Witch Walking and hers is the best of the Anita-Blake wanna-bes.

If you want hip-hop urban vampires L.A. Banks writes something called The Vampire Huntress Series. I haven't tried it, but other who have say the slang can be tough to understand sometimes. Minion is the first.

22williemeikle
Dec 12, 2006, 7:59 am

Hello from a newbie here...

My fave book is Anno Dracula by Kim Newman

I am a Scottish author, with five novels published in the States and three more coming in 2007/8, all in the independent fantasy and horror press. My work has appeared in the UK, Ireland, USA, Canada, Greece, Saudi Arabia and India. I have also got several supernatural scripts currently on option, including four shorts, and a supernatural thriller feature.

The Watchers Series is my retelling of the 1745 Jacobite Rebellion in Britain. Bonnie Prince Charlie, and all his highland army, are Vampires and are heading south to claim the British throne. The "Watchers" of the title are the guards of the old Roman wall built by Hadrian, now reinforced to keep the vamps out. It is constantly patrolled by officers of the Watch, two of whom become the main protagonists of the series.

I got the idea on a walk along what is left of the wall, and by the time I'd had finished my walk and had a few beers the first part of the trilogy was fully formed in my head. Think "ZULU" or "Last of the Mohicans" with vamps and you'll get a feel of what it's all about.

Watchers: The Coming of the King
Watchers: The Battle for the Throne
Watchers: Culloden!

My next book, Eldren: The Book of the Dark, is also a vampire novel set in West-Coast Scotland, and is coming soon from Black Death Books.

23kfainges
Mar 25, 2007, 10:54 pm

Although a huge fan of Anita in the earlier books, the books have been getting shorted and more expensive as you go along. The last was cut off way too soon.

I too love Anno Dracula

I am glad Willie mentioned his books, because I must admit, I am rather fond of my own.

Destiny Sets and Tamal's Journeys.

I would love to know what people think. You can read the first chapter free of charge at Reader's Eden. Just search by author name to check out both.

24Antares1 First Message
Apr 26, 2007, 4:53 pm

I just finished reading Danse Macabre. Anita is still having sex with just about anyone and everyone, it had plot potential. Although, the characters do spend a lot of time talking about issues (before, during and after sex). There were times I just wish they'd move on. The whole finale climax (no pun intended) seems short changed in my estimation.

25Jenson_AKA_DL
Apr 26, 2007, 4:59 pm

I really like vampire stories as well! My fave is Twilight and there a whole bunch of other YA vampire stories I like too:

Glass Houses and The Dead Girls' Dance by Rachel Caine

Got Fangs? and Circus of the Darned by Katie Maxwell (I also like her adult romances with the same underlying storyline written under the name of Katie MacAlister.

Blue Bloods by Melissa de la Cruz

Peeps by Scott Westerfeld

I'll have to stop by later and list the rest....

26VictoriaPL
Jun 8, 2007, 8:47 pm

I seem to have a lot of YA vampire fiction too.
Twilight and Peeps, which have already been mentioned. I also like The Darkangel Trilogy by Meredith Ann Pierce and Amelia Atwater-Rhodes' books as well. I recently read Fevre Dream by George R.R. Martin and that was really different in atmosphere than the others on my vamp shelf. I'm a fan of Sonja Blue, too.

27stillethel First Message
Nov 29, 2007, 10:33 pm

Hello all!

This is my first visit to LibrayThing & I may never leave.... Oh so much info & all beautifully sorted!!!!!!

I came because I love the Anita Blake books Yes, she does seem to have sex with everyone. That is a bit off putting at times (a bit TOO much) but the sex doesn't much bother me. In the Meridith Gentry series, also by Laurell K. Hamilton, the is as much sex to be sure..... but something is missing for me. Is it the kick-ass Anita-type character? or the fact that Merry is always needing to be saved???? I don't know.

If you're looking for vampires who DON'T have sex - I love the Anne Rice books too - but it bothers me just a little that they live forever WITHOUT sex.... What kind of eternal life does that sound like?????

Anyway - enough of my rant..... Any suggestions since I have most of Anne Rice (love the vampires & the witches, hated the Taltos though) and most of Laurell K. Hamilton????

I have a lot of Sherrilyn Kenyon too - but they are a bit "mushy" for me in this mood.

Picked up a Christine Feelan, but started (oops) in the middle of the "Dark" series and can't seem to force myself through the first chapter.

Either way, I am looking for suggestions.

Christmas break is coming & I can read all the "I won't be tested on this info" books that I want.......... But I don't know what I want.

Thanks!

28stillethel
Nov 29, 2007, 11:08 pm

OOOOOooooohh!!

Sounds fun!

Good luck to you and your book sales.

I look forward to reading them.

29stillethel
Nov 29, 2007, 11:16 pm

Those sound fun too!!!!!

So many books & soooo little time & money.

How does one become a proof-reader?????

Maybe I can cut down on the cost of my book habit?

Good luck with your booksales!

30NickieAsher
Edited: Nov 30, 2007, 7:51 am

Salem's Lot by Stephen King is one of the best vampire books I ever read. They are not hot and sexy, they are frightening and evil.

Single White Vampire by Lynsay Sands has some scenes so funny that I almost peed my pants reading them.

Edit: stillethel...go to writer's forums and offer your services as a beta reader to the ones who write vampire fiction. ;) Lots and lots of writers use betas.

31Morphidae
Edited: Nov 30, 2007, 9:49 am

The Southern Vampire series that starts with Dead Until Dark by Harris is a good "non-mushy" vampire series with just a little bit of sex.

32stillethel
Dec 1, 2007, 11:28 pm

JCCoy,

Thank you - what do you mean "writer's forums"??

Sorry to sound so uninformed, but I am uninformed and there is only one way out of that.

Being a "beta reader" sounds very interesting.

Thans for getting back to me.

33stillethel
Dec 1, 2007, 11:30 pm

Morphidae,
Sounds good - I'll try that out.

Wish I'd joined earlier - I love the idea of a Halloween book list!

See ya!

34stillethel
Dec 2, 2007, 12:06 am

JCCoy,

Maybe I should reconsider as I cannot spell the word "thanks" correctly.

I read the pologue of "Single White Vampire and laughed out loud.

I will be heading to the bookstore asap for that and the "Dead Until Dark" suggested by "Morhidae".... This one seems funny as well and don't we all need a giggle now and then?

Thanks to you both!

35NickieAsher
Dec 2, 2007, 8:44 am

stillethel, writer's forums are sites that have message boards like this right here, except they are for writers. You would want to find one for writers and readers. If you want to take a look at a top writers site go to AbsoluteWrite and go to the forums and check out the area for beta readers. The site is huge, with a lot (I mean a lot) of writers, so don't freak out, just take your time and look around. You can get an idea of what beta readers are all about. You don't have to be a member to poke around. I use two kinds of betas, other writers (to see my technical screw ups that I can't see) and non-writers (to tell me what they like and don't like).

In exchange for getting to read, you would be expected to render information to the writer about your opinions, likes, dislikes and why or why not you like the work.

Also, readers are expected to give feedback rather fast. Nothing I hate more than giving someone a piece of work and their taking weeks to respond. Or worse, not respond at all. It leaves you scratching your head thinking...what was the problem?

36stillethel
Dec 9, 2007, 3:57 pm

JCCoy,

Nifty! Thank you!

I will try that.

Thanks for the details, I'd have been lost on my own.

Stillethel

37Storeetllr
Dec 16, 2007, 10:03 pm

Hi, I notice no one's mentioned Sunshine by Robin McKinley, which I loved. These vamps are also not hot and sexy, but the novel is not quite as scary as Salem's Lot, which was one of the scariest things I've ever read.

38stillethel
Dec 26, 2007, 2:18 am

JCCoy,

I am making a shoping list (for books of course - I'll by some food too, but books are my focus)

I know I looked up your books when we first "spoke", but now, I can't find you on amazon.com....... I know there were some I wanted to read right away.

Two questions: 1 - where/how to find your book list????
2 - which would you recommend (what's YOUR fav?)

39stillethel
Dec 26, 2007, 2:24 am

Storeetllr,

I will check Shunshine out - thanks!

Stillethel

40NickieAsher
Dec 27, 2007, 11:12 am

stillethel, I don't have a book list made on Amazon. Just look at my library here and you'll see what I read. All the vampire books are tagged as such. My favorite...I think, is Lover Revealed, by J.R. Ward. The whole series is excellent, but Butch is my favorite character.

41Nzingha
Jan 1, 2008, 11:57 pm

Hi, allthesedarnbooks

I've read "Fledging" by Octavia Butler its sad but the author died some time last year. It was obvious that she had a series ready to go. Octavia Butler is known for her sci-fi writings, for which she has won prizes. I've read almost all of Ms Butlers books and Fledging was one of my favorites.

Nzingha

42cjlib
Apr 11, 2008, 2:28 pm

Has anyone read The Society of S? It's pretty good and I would recommend it. It's similar to Stephenie Meyer in that it's a coming of age young adult vampire story. (It's written in first person). Hope you try it and tell me what you think.

43cynthiadogmom
Apr 12, 2008, 8:22 pm

I'm surprised that no one had mentioned Chelsea Quinn Yarbro's Saint Germain novels. For those who like vivid historical detail along with the blood, these are marvelously written. The half dozen or so books span two millenia, from Rome to Nazi Germany. Fascinating stuff.

44GirlMisanthrope
Apr 12, 2008, 11:22 pm

Cynthia,

I am slowly collecting all of the Saint Germain novels. Did you read them in order of timeline or in the order they were written?
Just wondering if you have an opinion.

45cynthiadogmom
Apr 19, 2008, 5:10 pm

I think I read them in the order that they showed up in the SF Book Club brochures!

But since I've reread them a couple of times, I think they read better in the order that they were written; the first novel is disappointing if you read all the history before that. You only get a hint of how old he may be in that first book, and with each subsequent book we see many more layers - like an archeological dig.

46EagerReader
Apr 22, 2008, 10:24 pm

My favorite vampire series is the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris that many people have mentioned. I'd also like to recommend Bloodsucking Fiends by Christopher Moore to anybody who likes humor and silliness mixed in with their vamps and other supernatural creatures. It's a very entertaining read. I haven't read his follow-up, You Suck, yet, but plan to soon.

47NicNacNoodle
Edited: Jun 21, 2012, 7:04 pm

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48Louise_Lake
Jun 16, 2014, 4:11 pm

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49Graham_and_Wolf
Jun 23, 2014, 5:56 pm

The Vampire Academy series is good so far (though we haven't read many of them yet). Dracula, of course, is a favourite, and we're really enjoying Written in Red, which focuses (so far) on shape-shifters more than vampires, but is a really neat take on both.

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