What is it about a good vampire yarn that keeps a reader in thrall?  A whole genre of mushrooming series initially inspired by Dracula, then Anne Rice’s literate confessors, end up with Twilight and a Discovery of Witches as well as a vast number of throw away tomes aimed at under 20’s.  Of course, there is a host of television and movies as well: Being Human, Only Lovers Left Alive, True Blood, Underworld and Blade are only a highlight that reflects my preference for the generally broody, generally well educated and mostly well-dressed model types one never comes across in real life.  At least not in my life so far.  They all contain tales of magnificent suffering beyond human comprehension (ie: manic depression or fixation or loss of a loved one), tales of alienation (ie: exile or fish out of water), tales of being surrounded by people of limited experience or self-awareness (ie: the feelings of anyone who suffers company of limited intelligence or curiosity).  All of these are common threads that appeal to people who feel themselves to be on the outside. Personally I find the historical aspects of the novels to be the one of the best parts; but not all of these have that so it cannot be the main attraction. Of course, Keifer wasn’t bad to look at when he was young, so that didn’t hurt.

But the vast popularity of the genre and its ever increasing fan base would seem to indicate that these are all themes that are so common the general public ought not to feel so alienated after all?  Or can people just not imagine suffering in their proximate companions if it isn’t spelled out for them in a confession? Or are people just not able to believe that the person living across the hall or street suffers as they do?  I suppose if they dress weirdly or cannot speak in the right accent, stuff them.  Or perhaps they are simply too dumpy and fat to imagine they have emotional depth.

The other common theme of vampire novels is the love story between the much older semi-god and a “unique” outstanding and attractive teenager.  Honestly; when the age difference is greater than 200 years I wonder if no other reader thinks such a relationship akin to paedophilia.  But the even more intriguing aspect is how controlling the older more powerful being is in these relationships; purportedly due to their ever so much greater accrued life experience and physical indestructability.  Isn’t it borderline sick for a teenager to fantasise about being controlled by someone more powerful than themselves?  In Midnight Sun Edward Cullen reveals just how meticulous his control was from start to finish; what would under new laws be considered coercive and punishable by prison time even if you put the stalking aside.  The Vampire Diaries aren’t much different.  The most implausible part of those being the idea that anyone more than 100 years old would bother with the pretence of going through high school an Nth time.

But I do understand the attraction of wanting to be with someone more interesting than the people around you.  Deep down I believe Doctor Who is basically a vampire. He’s millennia old, changes human companions as frequently as most people change their shoes or jacket, and never stays in one place too long lest outsiders recognise to what degree he’s not quite like them. 

But is it just that they’re more interesting than normal life, or is it also the lifestyle without perceived consequences or being free to be histrionic and just pick up and leave when you fancy?  Whatever it is, it is mesmerising from Adam and Eve to Lestat and Louis to Selene and Michael they are beautiful to watch.