AUTHOR:

Susan Sizemore

BOOKS:

I Burn for You (2003), I Thirst for You (2004), I Hunger for You (2005), Master of Darkness (2006), Primal Heat (2007), Primal Desires (2008), Primal Needs (2008).

RECENT:

Dark Stranger (2009)

FORTHCOMING:

Primal Instincts in August, 2010

OTHER MEDIA:

YouTube clips like this one. Oh, my!

MERCHANDISE:

Dark Stranger does not fall into the Primes chronology, but is in fact a novel of the type that the vampires of Sizemore’s world read themselves, part of The Vampire Bookclub. Confusing, but clever.

GENRE:

Paranormal Steam

SETTING:

Seemingly everywhere.

SEX:

With titles like Primal Desires and I Burn for You, what do you think?

OUR HEROINE(S):

Beautiful, sensual, independent and troublesome.

OUR HERO(ES):

“Primes” -- altruistic alpha vampires. 

LOVE RIVAL(S):

Rarely, if ever.

SIDEKICKS:

Irrelevant.

VOICE:

Third person

VAMPIRE MYTHOLOGY:

There are three distinct subsects of vampires: Clans, Families and Tribes. The Clans are aristocratic, the Families are assimilationist and the Tribes are amoral. Primes (adult males of their Clan) often hold everyday though exciting jobs such as bodyguard, Special Forces member, etc.

STATUS:

Secret.

SOCIETY:

Modern day.

NOTABLE POWERS:

Telepathy, immortality, prophetic dreams, mad skillz in the bedroom.

CREATION:

Born; they consider themselves kin to humans, just another branch on the evolutionary tree.

WEAKNESSES:

All the usual, although modern medical therapies make it possible for vampires to eat garlic and go out in the sun.  

FOOD SOURCE:

Regular food and some blood--particularly the heroine’s blood.

OTHER LEGENDS:

Space aliens in Dark Stranger. Plus assorted werefolk throughout.

ANALYSIS:

Dark Stranger actually throws some SF in there, in the form of a futuristic intergalactic space war, which is a twist you don’t often see in these books. Otherwise, a lot of forbidden romance angst, procedural drama and, of course, sex.

QUOTE:

“In the early days of the expansion the vampires had settled a world under a very different type of star than the one Terra orbited. One where daylight cast by a giant red star did them no harm.” -- Dark Stranger (2009).

AUTHOR:

Charlaine Harris

BOOKS:

Dead Until Dark (2001), Living Dead in Dallas (2002), Club Dead (2003), Dead to the World (2004), Dead as a Doornail (2005), Definitely Dead (2006), All Together Dead (2007), From Dead to Worse (2008), Dead and Gone (2009), A Touch of Dead (2009) and various short stories published in many different anthologies, and many of which are important to the chronology.

RECENT:

Dead in the Family came out in May

FORTHCOMING:

Harris has revealed that she has contracted for three more Sookie books. Also, The Sookie Stackhouse Companion, written by Harris herself, will be available in February, 2011.

OTHER MEDIA:

True Blood, on HBO.

MERCHANDISE:

Merchandise abounds, including custom designed jewelry. Oh, and let’s not forget the “uniquely carbonated, slightly tart, lightly sweet  blood orange drink” Tru Blood.

GENRE:

Paranormal Chick Lit.

SETTING:

Bon Temps, Louisiana for the most part, with a lot of action in Shreveport and the occasional visit to the Big City.

SEX:

Prevalent and adventurous.

OUR HEROINE(S):

Sookie Stackhouse, telepathic waitress and part fairy, irresistible to all.

OUR HERO(ES):

Vampires Bill Compton and Eric Northman.

LOVE RIVAL(S):

Bill and Eric, as well as werewolf Alpha Alcide Herveaux, weretiger Quinn, werepanther Calvin Norris and the long-implied devotion of boss/shapeshifter Sam Merlotte.

SIDEKICKS:

Human – Tara and Amelia the witch; Vampire – Pam; Other – Sam and Jason.

VOICE:

First person, the simple prose of simple Sookie.

VAMPIRE MYTHOLOGY:

Fairly basic. The vampires insist that they suffer from a communicable medical condition and are not in any way magical creatures.

STATUS:

The Great Reveal brought about by the Japanese invention of artificial blood is several years behind us.

SOCIETY:

Modern, mostly small town South.

NOTABLE POWERS:

Strength and healing, various mental abilities, blood sharing can create psychic connections.

CREATION:

Made.

WEAKNESSES:

They are literally “dead until dark” leaving them vulnerable to daylight slayings. Stakes through the heart and silver cause problems. Sunlight burns. Cannot enter a house without an invitation, and this can easily be revoked.

FOOD SOURCE:

Tru Blood or its classier cousin, Royalty; blood from willing humans called “fangbangers.”

OTHER LEGENDS:

Weres, shapeshifters, psychics, fairies, various mythological nasties.

ANALYSIS:

Sookie Stackhouse isn’t one for high falutin’ lyrical prose; her language is remarkable only for its ordinariness. And all this crazy shit happens to her all the time, but she still has to get up and put on her apron and go to work for tips at a bar. Essentially, she is the best example of the Every Woman one could ever hope to meet, and as she recounts her bizarre life in the most commonplace of terms, she is utterly, endlessly charming.

QUOTE:

“Someone had put Jace Everett’s ‘Bad Things’ on, and just about everyone was singing along.” -- Sookie (indulging in a little shameless True Blood pandering), Dead in the Family (2010). 

AUTHOR:

Stephenie Meyer

WEBSITE:

www.stepheniemeyer.com

BOOKS:

Twilight (2005), New Moon (2006), Eclipse (2007) and Breaking Dawn (2008). (Also Midnight Sun.)

RECENT:

The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner: An Eclipse Novella was released June 5.

FORTHCOMING:

Nothing announced, but hardly unlikely.

OTHER MEDIA:

The third movie in The Twilight Saga, Eclipse, comes out worldwide in July.

MERCHANDISE:

Is there what! You can even get Twilight bedsheets.

GENRE:

Paranormal Teen Melodrama.

SETTING:

Forks, Washington and surrounds, mostly.

SEX:

Comes -- heh -- into its own in Breaking Dawn, is apparently transcendent, but is mostly confined to behind closed doors. And after marriage!

OUR HEROINE(S):

Bella Swan, obsessive teen.

OUR HERO(ES):

Edward Cullen, obsessive vampire.

LOVE RIVAL(S):

Jacob Black, obsessive werewolf.

SIDEKICKS:

Human -- Jessica and (the much nicer) Angela; Vampire – Alice Cullen; Other -- Jacob’s pretty sidekicky, for all that he’d like to be more.

VOICE:

Bella’s, with some Jacob in the fourth book. Midnight Sun is all Edward.

VAMPIRE MYTHOLOGY:

They sparkle! Their otherworldly beauty has a kind of evolutionary rationale; they evolved the ability to be so pretty all the better to eat us. All vampires live under the shadow of the feared Volturi, who punish those who bring their species into disrepute.

STATUS:

Secret.

SOCIETY:

Modern, though the Volturi exist in timeless feudal splendor.

NOTABLE POWERS:

Speed, strength, grace and beauty, obviously. If a human had any special latent psychic powers, these are magnified after turning.

CREATION:

The painful venom of a vampire is injected into a human with a bite; if the victim is not drained of all blood, they become a vampire after three agonizing days.

WEAKNESSES:

One must chop them up and burn the pieces. Direct sunlight is to be avoided only because it will reveal the vampires as unique.

FOOD SOURCE:

Blood, either human or “vegetarian” (animals).

OTHER LEGENDS:

Werewolves. Hot, hunky werewolves.

ANALYSIS:

Edward and Bella. Need more be said?

QUOTE:

“You are bizarrely moral for a vampire.” -- Bella, Eclipse.

AUTHOR:

MaryJanice Davidson

WEBSITE:

www.maryjanicedavidson.net

BOOKS:

Undead and Unwed (2004), Undead and Unemployed (2004), Undead and Unappreciated (2005), Undead and Unreturnable (2005), Undead and Unpopular (2006), Undead and Uneasy (2007), Undead and Unworthy (2008),

RECENT:

Undead and Unwelcome (2009).

FORTHCOMING:

Undead and Unfinished is out July 6.

OTHER MEDIA:

Audio books.

MERCHANDISE:

No. Wait. No?

GENRE:

Vamp Romantic Comedy with a touch of Urban Fantasy.

SETTING:

The Twin Cities, Minnesota, with a side trip to Wyndham Werewolf country.

SEX:

Yes, indeedy. Betsy and Sinclair get it on.

OUR HEROINE(S):

Betsy Taylor, former office worker turned Queen of the Dead

OUR HERO(ES):

Sinclair, powerful for his mere 90 years and always clad in a designer suit.

LOVE RIVAL(S):

Karen was Sinclair’s early ladyfriend and Betsy had a bit of a thing for a cop early on, but these two were meant for each other. And prophesied, no less!

SIDEKICKS:

Human -- doctor Marc and heiress Jessica; Vampire -- the tiny and efficient Tina.

VOICE:

First Person, the adorably vapid, vulgar and vain Betsy Taylor.

VAMPIRE MYTHOLOGY:

Vampires are territorial and tyrannical, with only the oldest and strongest attaining status… until the arrival of the foretold Queen who would rule them all (though this is not always respected by Betsy’s bothersome subjects).

STATUS:

Secret.

SOCIETY:

Modern, and wacky.

NOTABLE POWERS:

Super strength and speed, hypnotism, incredible sexual appeal (Betsy, in particular, can also stay awake for some of the day, touch crosses, say words like “God” and “Jesus”, read minds, heal cancer, remain impervious to a stake through the heart and also see dead people, all of which is considered a mark of her divine royalty).

CREATION:

Betsy was turned when she was bitten by a group of feral vampires; months later, a roadside fatality, she rose as a vampire. So, that’s how it’s done.

WEAKNESSES:

All the stuff to which Betsy is immune, and which makes her so unique.

FOOD SOURCE:

Unwilling and glamoured humans (Betsy prefers criminals) and each other. But Betsy will try to blend and drink anything.

OTHER LEGENDS:

Ghosts, Satan, and significant crossover with Davidson’s Wyndham Werewolves series.

ANALYSIS:

A winning formula of reluctant Queen, recalcitrant humans, defiant minions, smitten leading man, action, adventure, backbiting romance and fashion. Plus, the funny! 

QUOTE:

“‘What’s going on, God?’ I whined. ‘Sure, I haven’t exactly been a frequent flyer for church, but what did I do to deserve this? I was a pretty good gal. I was kind to children and dumb animals. I even volunteered at soup kitchens, for Christ’s sake! Okay, so, yeah, I was kind of materialistic, but quality costs. I don’t think it’s a sin to want the best shoes money can buy. For one thing, they last forever. For another—pride of ownership. Am I right? So, come on. If Hitler wasn’t a vampire, how come I am? Well?’” -- Betsy, Undead and Unwed (2004).

AUTHOR:

L. J. Smith

WEBSITE:

 www.ljanesmith.net

BOOKS:

The Awakening (1991), The Struggle (1991), The Fury (1991), The Dark Reunion (1992), The Return: Nightfall (2009)

RECENT:

The Return: Shadow Souls (2009)

FORTHCOMING:

The Return: Midnight isn’t out till March, 2011.

OTHER MEDIA:

The Vampire Diaries premiered on The CW this season past, and after a very slow start, became absolutely unmissable. Also, a video game was produced in 1996.

MERCHANDISE:

It’s a CW show, so, of course! You can even get the T-shirts at Hot Topic!

GENRE:

Paranormal Teen Melodrama.

SETTING:

Fell’s Church, Virginia.

SEX:

On everyone’s mind, no doubt.

OUR HEROINE(S):

Elena Gilbert, orphan teen with the face of an angel.

OUR HERO(ES):

The darkly brooding Stefan Salvatore, vampire.

LOVE RIVAL(S):

His wicked (and more interesting) brother, Damon, also a vampire. These two make Cain and Abel look like the Winchesters.

SIDEKICKS:

Psychic Bonnie, sensible Meredith and ex-boyfriend Matt.

VOICE:

Third person.

VAMPIRE MYTHOLOGY:

The usual.

STATUS:

Secret, though the people of Fell’s Church must be at least as oblivious as those of Sunnydale if they haven’t worked it out.

SOCIETY:

Small town South -- Elena attends Robert E. Lee High -- in the early 90’s, which brings with it a lot of questionable wardrobe choices.

NOTABLE POWERS:

Speed and strength, can turn into animals, invade dreams, and -- if trained correctly -- even control the weather.

CREATION:

Blood exchange.

WEAKNESSES:

The sun, though this can be offset by wearing lapis lazuli. A stake made of white ash wood is effective against even the oldest vampire.

FOOD SOURCE:

Humans. Warm, yummy humans.

OTHER LEGENDS:

Werewolves, spirits, demonic (or otherwise otherworldly) powers, alternate realities and astral travel.

ANALYSIS:

The original teen vampire romance series, this outlandish tale takes its heroine from High School royalty to engaged teen to vampirism, self-sacrifice, death, resurrection and a Hell dimension. Also, in the latest book, there’s a magical flower that can turn a vampire human. A flower! Pure, unadulterated guilty-pleasure nonsense.

QUOTE:

“Interesting things happen in the dark… sometimes.” -- Damon, The Awakening (1991).

AUTHOR:

P. N. Elrod

BOOKS:

Bloodlist (1990), Lifeblood (1990), Bloodcircle (1990), Art in the Blood (1991), Fire in the Blood (1991), Blood on the Water (1992) Chill in the Blood (1998), Dark Sleep (1999), Lady Crymsyn (2000), Cold Streets (2003), Song in the Dark (2005), Dark Road Rising (2009) The first six books are also available in two omnibus editions.

RECENT:

Dark Road Rising and The Devil You Know, a limited-edition novella, in 2009.

FORTHCOMING:

“Dark Lady”, a new Vampires Files story, will appear in the anthology Dark and Stormy Knights (edited by Elrod), out July 10.

OTHER MEDIA:

Audio books of the first two titles in the series.

MERCHANDISE:

A… you guessed it… Café Press Store.

GENRE:

Paranormal Detective. Vampire noir!

SETTING:

1930’s Chicago.

SEX:

Ahem! A gentleman never tells.

OUR HERO(ES):

Now for something completely different… a series of books about a dude! Meet Jack Fleming, P.I., nightclub owner -- and Vampire.

OUR HEROINE(S):

Jack’s kick-butt girlfriend, lounge singer Bobbi.

LOVE RIVAL(S):

Jack and Bobbi are eternal.

SIDEKICKS:

Partner Charles Escott.

VOICE:

First person, the Sam Spade-esque Jack.

VAMPIRE MYTHOLOGY:

To ensure that the vampires don’t overbreed, genetics have made most of the human population immune to vampirism. Most vampires retain their human traits and often fit in to the community with ease, and yet prejudiced vampire hunters still will not suffer them to live.

STATUS:

Secret.

SOCIETY:

Kinda like that episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation when Picard gets trapped on the Holodeck as Dixon Hill.

NOTABLE POWERS:

Immortality; youthful appearance; rapid healing; heightened senses; can hypnotize mortals, walk through walls, and disappear at will.

CREATION:

Exchange of blood. However, it’s rare for a human to actually turn; most humans appear to be immune.

WEAKNESSES:

Can’t tolerate sunlight and is "dead" during daylight hours; no reflection; no need to breathe and no heartbeat. They can be killed by the always reliable stake through the heart, and the even more reliable beheading. (Jack doesn’t have a problem with entering homes without invitation or ordinary vampire repellents such as crucifixes or garlic.)

FOOD SOURCE:

Animal blood at the stockyards.

OTHER LEGENDS:

1930s Chicago mobsters; Myrna the Ghost. 

ANALYSIS:

A clever, wry and reference-heavy twist on the traditional noir genre. If you want to read about vampires, but are not terribly interested in shoes, complicated romantic intrigue or Rhage’s pulsating manroot, these may be the books for you. 

QUOTE:

“I wasn’t supposed to be like this. I was a normal guy with parents in Cincinnati, friends, a girlfriend, my own business. I liked flashy clothes, reading dime magazines, and was trying to turn myself into a writer one of these nights. So what that I was also a vampire?” – Jack, Song in the Dark (2005).