Author: Vince Platania, Jr.

Whether you consider trade paperbacks and graphic novels the same thing or not, the point is that format is becoming increasingly popular in modern times.  And by that format I mean more pages than a typical comic book bound with a spine as opposed to stapled.  More and more comic fans are moving exclusively to the format of graphic novels, and graphic novels are more appealing to the non-comic fan as well.

For years and years the standard format for comic books was 22-32 pages stapled together in what some refer to as floppies, while others refer to them as funny books (even when they’re not comical).  And even though comics originated in magazine format, many resisted the change to the format of graphic novels for a long while.  It is something special to get that short serial every month and anticipate the next month’s arrival with bated breath.

Had graphic novels been prevalent in the days of old, though, before comic shops were popular and comics were typically only found in spinner racks in the local drugstores, then I’d imagine that tune would change.  More times than not, one would pick up a comic and read it and never see the next issue.  Had they been in the format of graphic novels people would have been able to keep up with the story instead of being left at a cliffhanger eternally unresolved every time they picked up a comic.

With trade and hard cover collections of classic comic books these days many old time fans can go back and read all the issues they missed, but it isn’t quite the same.  It’s not fresh and pertinent anymore, even if they are still good stories.

Another reason for the shift of fans to the format of graphic novels and trades is the cost.  Trades or graphic novels are typically anywhere from $8-20, and hard covers $16-50 give or take a few dollars.  With trade collections usually 4-6 issues worth of a serial comic are collected, and the same amount of pages for original graphic novels in some cases.  At the current standard of $3-4 per issue for a floppy, you stand to save anywhere from $4-16 for buying in the format of graphic novels!

There will always be proponents of the monthly single issue serials as opposed to graphic novels, just as there will always be proponents to printed comics as opposed to digital comics.  But one cannot argue the advantages of collecting graphic novels and trade paperback collections.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/the-appeal-of-graphic-novels-900377.html

About the Author

THE BEGINNING AND END OF THE MARVEL SECRET INVASION
Throughout the course of the History Of Marvel Comics there has been one name that has stood above all others as the icon of the Marvel Universe: Spider-Man. Why people love this popular character so much isn’t exactly unknown either.

Author: Charlie Brown

Horror books and the Increasing Number of Sub Genres

What is a sub genre? A sub genre is what could be described as a category within a category. For example, “Horror” is a genre (or category), but “Surreal horror” is a genre of “Horror”, thus “Surreal horror” is a sub genre of “Horror”. More and more sub genres for horror books are emerging.
Why is this relevant? Well, it’s relevant because based on these new sub genres authors are actually finding their own niches to write particular types of horror books. Rather than looking at genres as a source for confinement, one should look it simply as a means of labeling and convenience. Think of alphabetizing your horror books or stacking them in chronological order, that’s sort of what we’re doing when creating more and more precise labels.

What does the future hold? Well, that’s where we start going the ever lengthening path of speculation. Horror books have a lot of potential futures, however, when it comes to the expanding realm of sub genres I believe its safe to say that there’s not many more to come. Now let’s not forget about crossing two sub genres, such as surreal extreme horror, or extreme erotica horror (although extreme can often contain an abundance of erotica and still be considered extreme horror), there are countless combinations horror books can have these days. Some find the ever expanding realm of horror books confusing, I among many others in the industry find it to be incredibly exciting, especially with the ever improving quality of working being released in this day and age.

What better place to find that then in the depths of extreme horror books? Some are pushing against the ever growing popularity of extreme horror books, claiming the works are not literary but just gore fests to appease the hordes. Well, this may be true in some respects, but one cannot deny the effect extreme horror is having on our industry. So, let the folks have their extreme horror and if you’re into more literary work, well then just read more literary work! A simple solution hm? Simple yet many seem not to understand it, but alas, this is not a new trend in our field my friends.

So in the end, what sub genre is best? Well, obviously, that is purely up to the reader. Granted, the sub genres lend themselves to pretty much open ended creativity, but the frequency of high quality work in those sub genres of horror books are very high. The only way for you to discover what your favorite sub genre of horror books is to well, give them a read! See what you like! And most of all, support the horror books industry so that everyone benefits.

For more information and updates on horror books visit Dark Regions Press at:

Horror books and Fantasy books and Science Fiction books at Dark Regions Press

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/literature-articles/horror-books-and-the-increasing-number-of-sub-genres-1174133.html

About the Author

Dark Regions Press is the publisher of many fine Horror books, Fantasy books and Science Fiction books. We’ve published such renowned authors as Bentley Little, Kevin J. Anderson, Michael Arnzen and many more!

Author: Wadzanai Nenzou

If you are a horror movie fan you already know how intense an experience these types of films can be. There are some horror movies that combine humor with the storyline as a way of letting the audience catch their breath. Other “scary movies” maintain the fright factor throughout the film. Which movies you like depends on your own personal tastes but here is a list of the top 10 horror movies of all time in no particular order. These are big screen events that every horror aficionado should see at least once.

1. The Blob

Who can forget this cool movie that dates back to the 1950s. This horror movie starred Steve McQueen as a young tough with a heart of gold who battled the fierce outer space blob of goo that was devouring everyone in its path. The remake of this horror classic was not nearly as good as the original version which became a drive in staple for a number of years. This was a movie that was created when people were less jaded and although the special effects are indeed laughable by today’s standards at the time when this movie was released the audience let their imaginations provide them with the best scenes.

2. Jaws

This Steven Spielberg production still is one of the cinema greats and definitely deserves to be listed among the top 10 horror movies of all time. Who cares if no one really got to see a great deal of the marauding shark demon, this was another big screen flick that catered to imaginary fears and shocked audiences around the world with surprisingly little onscreen carnage being shown.

3. Friday the 13th

This modern day horror movie is still reeling in viewers and attracting new fans. Although an entire series of Friday the 13th films have been produced it is still the original that people remember best. Jason and that hockey mask are indelibly etched into the minds of all who have seen this “creeped out” thriller.

4. House on Haunted Hill

Is another early movie that still managed to latch onto those fears of the unknown and shock millions of frantic fans. This was a film that specialized in creating horror scenes that were more emotional than visual.

5. The Exorcist

During the 70s few films attracted the fervent publicity that this one did. When it was first released people stood in extraordinarily long lines for their chance to be part of the audience. Linda Blair shot to stardom as the young girl possessed by a demon and that scene showing her head spinning round like a top can still create chills for anyone who rents this movie. The fact that several people associated with this horror movie were injured or killed even led to conjecture that there was an “Exorcist” curse. Of course this type of gossip only made the movie more popular among the millions of horror fans around the world. The Catholic Church even had a few choice words to say against this film, but nothing was able to defeat this horror movie at the box office in its heyday.

6. Jeepers Creepers

This is a movie that was created along the lines of Friday the 13th. You have two young people who are drawn into an underworld of murder, horror and nightmarish fears as well as a hulking, maniacal killer who is set on wreaking carnage and destruction on anyone in his path. This movie formula has been the basis for a number of great horror movies and Jeepers Creepers found box office gold among an audience consisting mostly of teens and young adults.

7. Candyman

This was a 1992 release based on a story written by horror master Clive Barker. You have to love a horror movie that captures the supernatural effects of pure horror and blends them with those “oh, so believable” urban legends. By the time this movie is ending everyone in the audience is convinced that there is a “Candyman” lurking somewhere in their neighborhood.

8. The Sixth Sense

Paranormal activity has always been a staple for many horror flicks but this movie elevates extra sensory perceptions to a brand new level. The young boy who is the central character can really see and speak to departed souls. For him this is a traumatic fact because some of these lingering spirits are truly “horrific” to look at since most of them have suffered a violent death. The twist for this movie is that the psychologist who is helping the young “medium” deal with his fears is also one of these departed spirits but the kind hearted psychologist does not yet realize that he has died. This movie qualifies as a “tearjerker” as well as being one of the best horror movies of all times.

9. The Blair Witch Project

This horror movie was released in 1999 and it was created with a shoestring budget. It became a runaway hit even though there was very little to see in the way of true horror or special effects. This was a psychologically powerful movie that catered to people’s superstitious beliefs and it raked in millions at the box office. College students, a New England town, witches and a video camera are the main components of this film. The plot is a bit disoriented and it is difficult to keep track of what is taking place on screen but the fear factor for this movie flew off the chart. Even today you have people who are convinced that this really was a project undertaken by a few intrepid college students who became victims of the curse of the Blair Witch.

10. Night of the Living Dead

This is another 60′s black and white horror film that continues to be popular with audiences. The story begins in a graveyard where zombie-like creatures are walking about. These are dead people who have come back to life and are out to literally devour any humans they find. A small group of individuals hide in a house and attempt to fend off these monsters. The living dead are not easy to kill and resourcefulness is the key to survival. This is one of those horror movies that lets the audience use their imagination which is one of the reasons that it has become such a classic favorite.

There are many other great horror movies for people to watch and enjoy. Some of the newer movies are using explosive special effects and makeup to create intense scenes but true horror buffs realize that what you don’t see can often be even more terrifying than what is recorded on camera. The best horror movies captivate your imagination early in the movie and allow you to become part of the action. Thanks to new technology it is easy for horror fans to choose to watch either older films or new releases. This means you have the best of both “fright filled” worlds at your fingertips.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/top-10-horror-movies-2999924.html

About the Author
Wadzanai Nenzou Is A Writer And Owner Of Inspirational Quotes Change Lives Website. She Is Addicted To Movies From All The Genres Some Of Her All Time Favorites Are Horror Movies. For More From Her Go To Her Website
http://www.inspirational-quotes-change-lives.com/moviequotes.html

Author: Theodore Whitfield

Vampire motion picture is a special section in the category of horror movies. Vampire books have taken a particular place in the fiction already a extended time ago and are actually really well-known among the readers. So it really is no wonder that the vampire movies are these days truly profitable and entertaining.

The background of vampire movies is nearly as aged as the film industry itself. Strangely a really typical storyline has constantly been a love affair. But this doesn’t mean that the films cannot be actually shocking and thrilling at the exact same time. Let’s face it, when we’re going to watch a vampire movie, we’re expecting some truly frightening scenes. Fortunately very a great deal of vampire film makers have succeeded to bring some fantastic horror on the display.

To speak about the most terrifying vampire movies ever, we initial need to mention the 1922 silent movie Nosferatu, eine Symphonie des Grauens, according to the Bram Stoker’s classic Dracula. It was one of the very first attempts to demonstrate the vampire genre on the large display screen. This film was produced and very first released in Germany to get a restricted number of viewers. Even even though it’s virtually a century outdated, it’s nevertheless really worth watching. And definitely it has some classical scary scenes.

A lot of popular vampire movies had been created determined by Nosferatu in later many years, like Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979), Vampire in Venice (1988) and so on. About the 1979 Nosferatu a lot of experts have stated that this is the scareiest vampire film of all times. Plus it truelly is scary, no doubt about it.

The period of time soon after the second Globe War brought up numerous excellent movies. Lot of the films produced during the period of time ended up about the legendary Count. A great instance will be Horror of Dracula (1958).

The 80s brought another change – The Lost Boys – a spectacular and bloodcurdling film that has grow to be one of the favourites between many vampire motion picture fans.

As the film industry formulated, increasingly more shocking scenes came out plus it would probably be right to say, that the most horryfying films ended up mainly created soon after the 90s. Bram Stoker’s Dracula (1992), Cronos (1993) and Interview with the Vampire (1994). Really worth mentioning is also From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), even though it could be rather referred to as an action-comedy than a vampire movie.

Around the 2000s vampire movies changed again it is storylines. More action and influences of various genres came in. For instance extremely common modern vampire movie is Blade (1998) with addition to its two sequels Blade II (2002) and Blade: Trinity (2004). Another well-known vampire trilogy is the Underworld (2003, 2006, and 2009)

One of the most current greatest rated vampire movies is Let The Right One In or Låt Den Rätte Komma In (2008) It’s remarkably recognized for its innovative concept and diverse strategy.The most current vampire motion picture Daybreakers (the year 2010) also would seem being entertaining and has pretty large ratings.

And so, to summarize, I’d like to highlight two vampire movies that will definitely make you screem, shiver, see nightmares – all you’d assume from a true vampire motion picture. The winners, from very diverse genres, are: Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979) and Let The Right One In (2008)

See more regarding vampires and greatest vampire films: Top Vampire Movies

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/most-frightening-vampire-movies-ever-2980001.html

About the Author

Vampire Movies – http://www.thevampiremovies.com/

Author: Dennis Francis

For over 70 years, graphic novels and comic books are entertaining young and old alike. The medium has begun to see substantial changes in the new digital age. The characters have gone from a G. rating to a PG rating and in some cases rated R. In some ways, the characters and storylines took a step back to the 30s and 40s at a time when many of the characters were dark and violent; the villains word on the sociopathic and the hero’s code wasn’t always black and white.

Comics these days seem to possess much more intricate storylines. Sometimes subplots are incorporated in the story so when a future occurrence materializes, you are cognizant of it. the motion picture industry have taken notice of the increased complexity of comic book stories and characters; they have found new source material. This symbiotic relationship between comics and film has drawn fans from both media together to share the excitement of this amalgamation.

Whether adapted for films, television or radio back in the 40s, comics have always been inadequately translated and recycled for popular consumption. For some it is a matter of technology; it was not easy translating the unique fantasy and storytelling medium to celluloid. The digital age and a new crop of creative talent raised on comics changed all that; the new breed of motion picture creators intrinsically understood what was needed to make the transition from their love of comic storytelling. Oftentimes I was delighted at the films, despite the fact that I had a different version of what should have been done.

Over the last decade, we’ve watched heroes fall or lose their moral compass. They are usually killed for the enormous ratings potential but of course, in the comics universe that isn’t always final. Like a good Stephen Spielberg film, these creators know how to tug the right strings that cause you to feel for the characters they’re about to sacrifice. You feel cheated. The bad guy may have gotten away in spite of the determination of the fallen heroes comrades. Like any police officer or firefighter, these heroes understood the risk they were undertaking; the writers understood those risks as well and continue to play them out to the bitter end. A sense of drama often pulls you in to the point at which you feel present at the tragedy. One of the most telling features of the new stories is the incorporation of continuity of events from one book to the next; women became pregnant and had their children while battle scars and trauma continued throughout the story arcs.
The costumes changed as well, the garish colors of tight spandex began to give way to the paramilitary tones and designs.

Unlike actors, comic book characters are ageless; they only grow old when it suits the writer. Quite often the characters look and feel is updated to conform to popular sentiment; the influence of blockbuster versions of themselves in the theaters will influence the editors and artists at the company. Apart from the most popular and enduring characters in the genre, many heroes and villains have made the costume change as a way of generating interest in their books. Whether the change takes place to fit the expectations of a new generation or to conform with their cinematic counterparts heroes and villains now easily make the stylistic transition. In fact, it is difficult to recognize some of the classic characters if you’re just reentering the comic book market after a decade or two.

After many decades, comics and graphic novels have reentered the mainstream consciousness. There’s something fresh and vibrant about an industry that understands the need for change and flexibility in service of its market. I continue to read comics for those very reasons and will probably continue for decades to come. I had been enthralled as a young boy reading comic books in my bed. I read them as an adult and am just as captivated. I admit that the most consistent element in the medium has been the amazing imagination of comic creators and their ability to draw you into their world.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-and-entertainment-articles/how-comics-and-graphic-novels-make-the-cut-to-survive-the-century-2754654.html

About the Author

I’m currently producing an online series called Jax and Hellhound. This is a remake of one of my miniseries from the 80′s. Stop by my graphic novels online blog or visit my online graphic novels website for a bit of leisurely entertainment. You can read reviews or enjoy the ongoing series Jax and the Hellhound as well as others.
Go to http://www.graphic-novels.com

Author: Gen Wright
Vampires are incredible wretches and emerge throughout folklore. Here are four myths about vampires.

The Buckinghamshire Vampire

In 1196 a vampire prowled the Buckinghamshire district of England. The account is chronicled in Historia Rerum Anglicarum. The scribe of the account is an abbot named William of Newburgh. A vampire, which was the spook of a recently deceased man, assaulted his prey each evening. He was a customary vampire; one who slept during sunlit hours in a grave at the local golgotha. When the sun set the vampire would rise from the dead and assault his widow while she was asleep. It is customary in vampire tales for vampires to assault their former family members.

Even though the vampire didn’t physically hurt his widow, each evening after sunset he came back to her bed chamber and assailed and bullied her. The widow asked family members to stay with her and keep her from drifting off to sleep at night. The vampire then began attacking her family members in the house. Before long, the total town was afraid of falling asleep.

The vampire’s grave was exhumed by the local townspeople. The corpse hadn’t decayed and was in a fresh state. The villagers buried the corpse again. On the chest of the vampire they set a holy scapula. The vampire did not rise from the grave thenceforward.

The Folktale of the Vampire of Berwick

In an additional story of William of Newburgh’s Historia Rerum Anglicarum, an affluent man who lived in the hamlet of Berwick grew sick and died of plague near the boundary of England and Scotland. After his death he was reported to be wandering the streets at night. The dogs of the hamlet would bay deep into the night while the vampire was roaming. The townspeople, who were terrified that plague might spread through the hamlet due to the vampire’s proximity, dug up the corpse, dismembered it, and set it aflame. The vampire was never seen wandering the town at night thenceforward. All the same, plague still infected the hamlet and it was attributed to the idle spiritual presence of the vampire.

The Vampire Folktale of Arnold Paole

In this famous Austrian legend, a Serbian bandit named Arnold was subject to a vampire attack during a night time stroll in a graveyard. He located the vampire’s grave and beheaded the monster with a spade. The vampire curse was a legend that made the killer of a vampire turn into a vampire themselves. In an endeavor to prevent the curse, Arnold consumed a small portion of the dirt around the grave. Arnold lived an average life for several more years.

Quite a while later Arnold died from a fall where he broke his neck. Subsequent to his funeral his spirit was discovered hiding in the town late at night. Several villagers were discovered dead after dawn, all drained of blood. The bald speculation was that Arnold had fallen victim to the vampire curse. The Austrian army was assigned to investigate the matter. They dug up the corpse and were astounded by what they discovered. The corpse had not decomposed and there was new blood dripping from the mouth, eyes, and nose. The nails had grown and new skin had grown as well.

The townspeople pounded a stake into the heart of the corpse. The body began to bleed from the injury and the corpse began moaning in pain. The vampire appeared no more.

The Vampire Folktale of Peter Plogojowitz

This example was one of the most sensational and well documented cases of vampire hysteria. The myth is found in Imperial Provisor Frombald, penned by an Austrian official who witnessed the vampire stalkings of Peter Plogojowitz.

In 1725 Peter Plogojowitz, a Serbian countryman, lived in a town named Kisilova. Just after Plogojowitz’s death, at least nine additional villagers perished. They died gradually and on their death beds they claimed that Plogojowitz was attacking and strangling them after dark.

The townspeople dug up the body and closely inspected it for any sign of vampirism. They discovered that the corpse had not decayed, that the nails and hair had grown, and that a beard had grown as well. Blood was discovered in the mouth of the corpse. The townspeople staked the corpse through the heart. Blood began to run from the ears and nose. Fearful that the vampire would rise again, the villagers burned the body.

Conclusion

Vampire stories share very general elements. When a person dies and is reborn as a vampire, the monster most of the time attacks past family members first. Just before dawn the monster returns to its tomb to seek protection until the next evening. When the body is dug up it doesn’t have any signs of decay. After the remains are staked through the heart or destroyed by fire, the vampire is not seen again.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/art-articles/vampires-have-appeared-throughout-our-history-985491.html

About the Author

Gen Wright is a contributor to the online community Vampire Rave, a social network with a vampire theme. He also contributes to the Dark Network, a network of paranormal, supernatural, and darker websites.

Author: Larry Truett

I am often asked about defense in a vampire attack.  Statistically speaking, unfortunately, the odds are against you.  A vampire is far faster and stronger than you could ever hope to be.  It’s probably better that you not put up too much of a fuss and just let the vamp drain the blood from your soon to be lifeless body.  However, if (good for you!) you want to put up a struggle, here are some helpful tips.

One possible gambit is to see if the vampire will turn you into a vampire instead of draining and discarding your lifeless corpse.  This is really an excellent opportunity in disguise, as you might not ordinarily be in a position to negotiate yourself a membership in the immortal undead.  If you have anything to offer the vampire and his clan (looking great in black, affinity with wolves or bats, dentistry skills) this is the time to mention it.  Don’t be modest.  Maybe even exaggerate, vampires rarely check references.

But if becoming a vampire isn’t for you, here are some fighting tips.  (Seriously, think about becoming one of the immortal undead.  They look cool and sexy, get to stay out late, and live forever or until some idiot kills them.)

Sunlight is usually fatal to vampires.  If you are in a shady area, run into the sunlight.  Unfortunately, the Twilight Series vampires are not adversely affected by sunlight, so this won’t work with them.  If you run ito sunlight and the vampire not only follows you but also gets all sparkly you are probably doomed.  If this occurs you should point into the distance and yell “Look, Bella is in danger!”, which may buy you a few seconds to run.

If you have a crucifix or a cross (a crucifix has the body of Christ on it, a cross is just a cross) hold it up in front of you.  If this seems to pain the vampire keep holding the cross / crucifix up and back away slowly.  Some vampires are affected by a cross and others aren’t, but enough are to make this worth trying.  The size of the cross does not matter.  If the cross is a family heirloom or has been blessed it might help.  Dracula was repelled by a crucifix, so mention that if it doesn’t seem to be working.  Most vampires look up to Drac.

If you have a clove of garlic, see if that deters the vampire.  You might need to get that garlic smell going, so if you carry garlic it’s probably best to also carry a garlic press.

If you have a bottle of holy water, try splashing that on the vampire.  If the vampire’s skin starts to blister and peel you are on the right track.  This worked for Buffy, although I think she had to make the vampire drink about a gallon of holy water before they would die.

Some vampires have OCD, and have to either stop to pick up a mess or count it.  This saved Mulder on the X-Files.  Throw a full bag of pretzels and run.

Try crossing a stream or river.  Some vampires can’t cross moving water.  I know it sounds silly, but just do it.  At worst the sound of running water is sort of soothing and will drown out some of the slurping noises when the vampire is ripping your jugular vein open.

Run into a church.  Many vampires can’t enter a church or just don’t like to attend service.  If the vampire follows you in see if there are other people in the church.  Try to get the vampire to “trade up” by pointing at the other people and say “Don’t they look way more delicious then me?”.

If the cross, garlic, water, pretzels, and church haven’t worked then it’s time for the more violent stuff.  With all of these methods it is best to first be certain you actually are being attacked by a vampire and aren’t panicking because you heard a “weird noise”, which later turned out to be your neighbor or their dog.  So, just get every one to calm down for a minute, and ask the vamp to turn into a bat or something before a simple case of mistaken identity turns into an unfortunate incident.  Safety first, which most vampires will agree with.

A stake to the vampire’s heart is sure to kill him or at least slow him down.  Or make him really angry.  Try to shove the stake as far in as you can.  Use two hands, don’t try anything fancy with a mallot unless you have practiced.  The stake should be made of wood, and ideally hawthorne.  Not pine, it’s too soft.  Ash, maple, or oak might be ok.

Cutting off a vampire’s head pretty much always works.  Hopefully you have a big knife, chainsaw, or axe with you.  A big knife should have a sturdy rubber grip, because if you aren’t the first victim of the night there will be blood everywhere, and that gets slippery.  A gas chainsaw is more powerful than an electric one, and it won’t have you carrying extension cords.  An axe sounds like a good choice, but with the vampire bobbing and weaving it might not be as easy to get a clean hit as you would think.  Point behind the vampire and say “whos that better looking vampire?” (vampires are exceedingly vain), which will get them turned around and allow you that all important clean first chop.

Finally, incinerating the vampire is usually effective.  Some vampires are more flamable than others, so you might want to carry lighter fluid if you think this will be necessary.  Don’t do this if you are inside your house.

Read more about vampires at SpookyFiles.com.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/humor-articles/how-to-defend-yourself-in-a-vampire-attack-1243144.html

About the Author

I’m a vegan freelance PHP and MySQL programmer living in the San Carlos neighborhood of San Diego with my wife and our 3 cats. I enjoy hiking, reading, gardening, watching too much television, and other nerdy activites.

Author: Vivienne D’Avalon

Excerpted from an article written for the October issue of the Instant Magick newsletter (http://instantmagick.com).

Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight Series. Vampire: the Masquerade. History channel documentaries about “real vampires.” It seems literary vampires are more popular than ever, and there are more real vampires walking among us than most “normals” ever realized. They are coming out of the woodwork in greater numbers with every passing year – becoming more vocal on the internet, making TV appearances in documentaries, forming houses, holding conventions, and steadily increasing visibility as a community. The vampire subculture is experiencing a revitalization similar to that which Wiccans and the gay community have experienced in past decades. But who and what exactly are the vampires who walk among us?

Modern day vampires are a form of Otherkin. “Otherkin” is a blanket term for a variety of people including many who feel they have a non-human spirit in a human body. Otherkin include vampires and other vampiric beings; therians, which are were-beings like werewolves and were-leopards; faery-kin; angel-kin; dragon-kin; and many other varieties. Vampires are not to be confused with Goths. “Goth” is an artistic movement encompassing a “dark” aesthetic. Some, but not all, vampires are Goths. Some, but not all, Goths are vampires.

The vampire subculture encompasses many varieties of vampiric beings. The major delineations are: sanguine vampires, who consume life energy by consuming small amounts of blood; psy vampires, who primarily draw on psychic, emotional, or magickal energy; sexual vampires, which include incubi, succubi, and leannan sidhe (an Irish faery version of a vampire, succubus, and muse all in one); and of course, the donors, who are sometimes vampiric themselves, but often suffer from the opposite condition, having an overload of energy that they are constantly trying to siphon off.

Vampires are not simply playing a Live Role Playing Game (LARP or RPG) such as Vampire: the Masquerade; nor are they merely people who like to dress up in costume. Such individuals are called “vampire lifestylers.” Lifestylers do not have a physical need for blood or energy to maintain health and well-being, they just enjoy the vampire mystique. There is also a basic difference between vampires, who need energy from an outside source, particularly human, and those who are vampiric, who can take energy from other sources but don’t necessarily need it to survive and stay healthy.

Vampires may suffer from an energy deficiency for several reasons: they may be unable to access the natural, ambient, or universal energy that others have access to without thinking; they may be unable to “digest” or utilize that energy fully, like being unable to make the most of a particular vitamin; or they may naturally expend energy at a faster rate than they can take it in. This tends to be the case particularly with powerful magick users, who find themselves drained and needing to recharge after a big, sudden, or unexpected expenditure of magickal energy.

People who self-identify as vampires do so because they are conscious of what they are, and the vast majority of these choose to live by a set of rules and ethical standards designed to ensure their well-being and that of those around them. One of the best known codified versions of such a set of rules is The Black Veil.[1] Others are in the process of “awakening” or discovering what they are, which usually means taking some time to realize and acknowledge their vampiric tendencies so they can control them properly.

Most vampires are capable of harmless “ambient” feeding, drawing on the excess energy that floats around the room in large crowds of people, who naturally emanate such energy. Others “surface feed,” drawing lightly from several different individuals in a social setting (though many vampires frown on this being done without the individuals’ consent). The most intimate form of feeding is one-on-one feeding from a donor, and this must always be a consensual relationship. Deliberately targeting someone to feed from them without their consent is considered worse than rape by most in the vampire community, and one reason for this is the incredible intimacy of such a psychic connection and energy exchange. Donors often experience a kind of euphoria from sharing energy during a feeding, and many vampires are adept at refining the energy they take in, circulating it through their system, and feeding some of it back to their donor through their connection. Vampires are often donors for each other, especially when each is capable of taking in and using one particular kind of energy that their partner can offer, and easily outputting another, that their partner needs.

I recommend Michelle Belanger’s excellent book, The Psychic Vampire Codex: A Manual of Magick and Energy Work (Weiser Books © 2004) for a more in-depth exploration of the history of the vampire community, and for an introduction to modern vampirism, generally.

[1] One example can be found at Michelle Belanger’s House Kheperu site at: http://www.kheperu.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=41&mode=thread&order=0&thold=0

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To read the full article go to the October issue of the Instant Magick newsletter (http://instantmagick.com).

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/culture-articles/the-truth-about-modern-day-vampires-612887.html

About the Author

Vivienne D’Avalon is the owner of Persephone’s Haven – Lifestyle Support for Daywalkers and Dark Denizens (www.persephoneshaven.com) and a regular contributor to CroneSeraphim – no longer a “silent” majority (croneseraphim.com). She is an Eclectic gothic Wiccan, leannan sidhe, and co-founder of the Sanford/Casselberry Vampire and Shadowlore Meet Up. She is the author of “The Patriot’s Spellbook” (available through 11/4/08 with the purchase of “On the Care and Feeding of Spirits”) and “On the Care and Feeding of Spirits” (available for purchase as an ebook at www.careandfeedingofpsirits.com).

The Sanford/Casselberry Vampire and Shadowlore Meet Up was founded in January of 2008 by Vivienne D’Avalon, Lord Mordred D. Ravensword, and Lady Amethyst Ravenna. It welcomes vampires, sanguine and psy; blood fetishists; incubi, succubi, and leannan sidhe; donors; wanna-be vampires; wanna-be donors; the vamp-curious; Goths who like to hang out with real vampires; energy workers; students and researchers; and members of Shadowlore. They can be found at http://vampires.meetup.com/929.

Author: Michael Clutton

Exploring the fascination humans have with the fantasy characters in literature and film will plunge you into a world of inconsistencies and contradictions. What lies in wait are the ingredients for varieties of concocted tales that rely upon the imaginative tastes of the author’s pen. And from that pool of boundless fiction, many an author has produced a delicious treat that appears in the form of a mysterious, yet easily recognized figure. Though they vary from pen to pen, we are delighted to experience any new creative version of – the vampire.

It is the allure of vampires itself that has puzzled many. Of all the fantasy characters available to us – werewolves, witches, elves, fairies, dragons, etc – what keeps the vampire on top? Why is the vampire king of the world? Or, I should say – worlds. Vampires seem to dominate the world of horror, the world of fantasy and sci-fi and now vampires even rule the world of romance. Amazing flexibility for a character that was originally so stereotypically stiff.

Famed wordsmith, Stephen King has proven that you can take any object and make it interesting or scary. From a car to a dog to a puppet. Just let your twisted imagination run wild. So, why do so many choose to reinvent the vampire?

Perhaps, familiarity among the viewing public. Widespread popularity and the ability to “set up” the reader for a unique twist by playing on their belief that they think they know where you’re going.

Since the beginning of horror, we were able to feed from the four basic food groups – Frankenstein, The Mummy, The Werewolf and Dracula. Over the decades and with the advancements in film, these “monsters” have been reanimated many times over, often receiving a new coat of paint. Yet, none have seen the light of day more often – or in a more formats – than the vampire. We don’t even refer to him as Dracula anymore.

Calling on a plethora of spotty folklore and nearly a century of urban legends, the vampire now seems to be able to appear in any form or situation and the general public will welcome him/her with lustful glee. For some reason, vampires are just cool.

Breaking down the lust for vampire lore, we find it based in two realms of non-reality. Some authors choose to build their vampire characters from the magical aspects we’ve become accustomed to. Avoiding the sun, silver and garlic. Interacting with Weres and Fairies. Probably one of the more prolific versions of this example is the Sookie Stackhouse series by Charlaine Harris.

Now an HBO series called True Blood, this modern tale puts the girl-next-door Sookie into a world where vampires have “come out” and live openly among humans. Harris sticks to many of the traditional vampire cliches, keeping them out of the sun and afraid of silver. Sookie interacts with vampires like you might do so with the mailman. It’s a fun and compelling series that draws you into many scary situations involving werewolves and fairies in addition to your favorite vampires. Borderline believability built on a solid platform of magical nonsense. Entertainment at its best for most vampire lovers.

By comparison, some writers lean more heavily upon the supernatural world to provide you with a darker dish of vampire stew. From the realm of angels and demons, many vampires are portrayed as tortured souls cursed to live in endless damnation. Reviled and oppressed, often hunted into extinction, these more traditional vampires represent the age-old good vs. evil story lines. Demonic creatures of the night, preying on helpless humans.

Falling somewhere between these two categories, The Vampire Diaries attempts to prey on recent surges in vampire popularity by appealing to the younger audience. It does an acceptable job of offering traditional vampire clichés while relying on magical rings to let its heroes move around during the daylight.

L.J. Smith has penned a series that is both timely and fun. While at times, it’s hard to take it seriously; it does capture the romantic side of the vampire genre with the boy-loses-girl-boy-finds-new-girl-who-looks-like-old-girl plot.

Which brings us back to the allure of vampires. Why do we never tire of a good long-toothed tale? Whether you prefer the magical side or the darker supernatural side of these tales, you can still accept them for what they are. Just good entertainment.

Since vampires don’t really exist and we have countless legends to draw upon, we  can reinvent vampires in endless variations. But, it’s the well-written versions that really suck us in. It’s the romanticism of the genre. The dark creatures who live just outside reality, preying on our natural fears and skepticisms. And, who among us hasn’t admitted, at least once, that it might be fun to become a vampire? To live forever. To control your prey with eye-contact. To flash those deadly fangs and spread bone-chilling fear with just a look.

And then, of course, there’s the sex. The sexual attraction of creatures with exceptional strength, stamina and animalistic desires. To be smitten and bitten at the same time. For some, it’s a breath-taking fantasy.

With vampire tales firmly planted in either magic or supernatural ground, an unexpected anomaly has risen to the top of pop culture in the form of The Twilight Saga. Vampire purists have decried Stephenie Meyer’s artistic creation as fluffy gibberish. This is unfair, at best. After all, she’s an author. Using her imagination and creative flair, she has produced the unthinkable.

Vampires without fangs. Venom laced teeth. Skin that sparkles in sunlight but doesn’t burst into flames. Twilight falls into the magical pool. There’s nothing demonic or supernatural about it. And, Meyer includes shape-shifters as the vampire’s nemesis. Definitely the magical genre.

A tip of the hat to Stephenie Meyer for producing a compelling love story with new twists on overworked vampire myths. To do so is her right as an artist. And, the fact that she did it so well has been validated by the raging social phenomenon we know as The Twilight Saga. Who could have imagined it? Likeable vampires. Vampires that young females around the world want to fall in love with. Vampires that young males want to emulate. Yes, even vampires without fangs are cool.

Having established that vampire lore springs from magic or darker supernatural origins, one wonders when an author might attempt to offer a third option. Could these mysterious creatures exist in a reality-based world?

A new novel, JUICE: Revolution has cast aside the roots of the vampire genre and created a new one. Injected with humor, sexual tension and real-world situations, JUICE follows its protagonist through encounters with “foreigners” who display unusual, yet slightly recognizable traits.

Readers will find themselves enjoying a more believable journey into a world where the unexpected becomes plausible – without the help of magic. JUICE: Revolution spirals toward reality-based revelations that are both shocking and horrifying. Hang on while Revolution exposes an alternate reality that will literally rewrite the history of the world, as we know it.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/literature-articles/vampire-lust-lore-and-allure-1581380.html

About the Author

Michael Clutton lives with his wife and grown daughter in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. They have 3 small dogs. When he’s not working on his next book, he follows NASCAR racing and poker. Find out more about him at http://www.michaelclutton.com or follow JUICE progress at http://tastyterror.blogspot.com and share your comments.

Author: sharonmbs

So, you’ve been bitten by the ‘Twilight’ bug? Join the club! I too have fallen head over heels in love with this romance book. According to me, Edward Cullen and Bella Swan’s love story is different, not because he’s an altruistic vampire and she, a fragile human, but because the entire story is very believable and placed in a setting where you and I could possibly exist. It could actually make you speculate if the person sitting beside you is a vampire too! Other paranormal romance stories never fail to intrigue me, but with “Twilight”, it was love at first bite! (I mean love at first sight!)

Werewolves, shape shifters, half-breeds, zombies, and other members of the living ‘undead’ feature in paranormal romances. And yes, you can always expect some gruesome accounts of their ways of living. Most often, paranormal romances focus on or revolve around a primary character around which these mythical creatures exist. What follows is a suspenseful plotline relating to trials and tribulations faced by them. If the “Twilight Series” by Stephenie Meyer appealed to you, and you’re now on the ‘prowl’ for more such paranormal romance novels, then here are a few suggestions from my side. The “Breed Next Door” by Lora Leigh is a gripping romance between a woman and a shape-shifting lion breed. What follows is a story filled with their hungry passion for one another. If it’s the werewolf’s howl that haunts you, then I must say “Elizabeth’s Wolf” again by Lora Leigh, is a real page-turner. It’s also filled with little tidbits about the life of these semi-canine creatures.

Check out Diesel-ebooks if you’d love to ‘devour’ any of these paranormal romance ebooks! It’s my favorite destination whenever I want to read romance books. So, take your pick from their collection of paranormal romance ebooks and experience these immortal creatures walk amongst us!

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ebooks-articles/a-peek-into-paranormal-romance-3552516.html

About the Author

For Paranormal Romance and other romance ebooks visit Diesel ebooks