If you’re a fan of vampire books, you know that the genre is capable of much more than just scaring people.
Great vampire books have a way of transcending the trappings of horror to portray fear, love, passion, loneliness, alienation, lust, rage, and power like no other fiction.
Whether you’re old school “dark creatures of the night” or new school, Twilight style, there’s a breed of vampire for every type of reader. And while purists might argue that one type is better than another, it’s all a matter of taste. Whether you’re into action, romance, horror, sci-fi, or historical fiction, vampires are one of the few creatures who can cross genres with ease.
While many people believe Bram Stoker’s Dracula to be the first vampire in fiction in 1847, the honor actually goes to a short story, Vampyre, in 1819 by John William Polidori in New Monthly Magazine. Stoker’s Dracula was the first, and best known novel, however.
Since then, vampire fiction has ranged from straight up horror, to adventure, to gothic romance, to erotica, to even humor. Two decades ago, Anne Rice drew readers back to vampires with her Vampire Chronicles. This decade, vampire fiction has gotten a fresh infusion of blood with Stephanie Meyer’s Twilight books, along with all her imitators.
Below is a list of Essential Vampire Books which we’re going to add to from time to time. Some you’ve heard of, and others will be new to you, including our own novel, Available Darkness.
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Writer Ben Mears has returned home to his hometown of Jurusalem’s Lot to write a book about the Marsten House, an abandoned mansion where he had a bad experience as a child.
A vampire has moved into the house, though.
And soon the entire town is infected and Ben and a few others find themselves battling the evil scourge before it takes over the town.
Salem’s Lot captures the small town feel perfectly, and the only thing scarier than the vampires is perhaps the secrets contained in the small town.
Written in the 1970′s, Salem’s Lot is King’s second book and considered by many one of the best vampire books, and certainly helped make King a household name.
King is quoted as saying that Salem’s Lot was his favorite among books he’d written.
Available Darkness by Sean Platt and David Wright
A new breed of vampire thriller, Available Darkness spins the genre on its head creating a whole new mythology blended with action and romance.
The story centers on Caleb Baldwin, an FBI agent (think X-Files type) hunting for the supernatural serial murderer who torches his victims.One of those victims is the agent’s wife. Soon, he find the man he’s looking for, an amnesiac with no memories, but a deadly touch who is on the run with an 11 year old girl he saved from a very human monster.
Filled with government conspiracies, touches of fantasy, and an evil that threatens the world, Available Darkness is the first book of a forthcoming trilogy.
The Strain by Guillermo Del Toro and Chuck Hogan:
The visionary creator of the Academy Award-winning Pan’s Labyrinth and a Hammett Award-winning author Chuck Hogan teamed up for this vampire thriller trilogy.
The story kicks off when Ephraim Goodweather, of the Centers for Disease Control, investigates the landing of a darkened plane filled with corpses in New York.
Soon, a virus is loose and vampires have awakened to infect the world.
Part CSI, part horror, and full on action, The Strain tells the story of a group led by Eph battling an ancient and evil force in attempts to save mankind.
Twilight by Stephanie Meyers
This is the first book in the series which became one of the most successful Young Adult series ever and reinvigorated the vampire genre for a whole new readership.
The story centers on high schooler Bella who has come to live with her father in Washington state. She meets the intoxicating Edward, who turns out to be a vampire. While she falls hard for him, he fights his desire and doesn’t want to endanger her.
Too late, though, as a pack of rival vampires has targeted Bella and will stop at nothing to kill her.
Emotionally-driven with a cast of memorable characters, the Twilight Saga is more emo than horror, but there’s no shame in wearing your heart on your sleeve in this series.
The Passage by Justin Cronin
The Passage is the first book in Cronin’s forthcoming trilogy, a sprawling epic story of the aftermath of a vampiric epidemic which turns a number of people into virals, creatures who then spread their infection to others, and control them, wreaking worldwide havoc.
The Passage follows a group of survivors including Amy, a six year old girl who shares the vampire’s agelessness, but not their monstrous hunger.
Could she be humanity’s savior?
The Passage is frequently compared to Stephen King’s The Stand, and given the length of the first novel, 800 pages, it could be an even longer journey.