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98th out of 129 books
—
73 voters
The Science of Vampires
by
Katherine Ramsland (Goodreads Author)
· Are any vampire myths based on fact?
· Bloodsucking villain to guilt-ridden loner—what has inspired the redemption of the vampire in fiction and film?
· What is Vampire Personality Disorder? What causes a physical addiction to another person’s blood?
· Are there any boundaries in the polysexual world of vampires?
· How could a vampire hide in today’s world of advanced forens...more
· Bloodsucking villain to guilt-ridden loner—what has inspired the redemption of the vampire in fiction and film?
· What is Vampire Personality Disorder? What causes a physical addiction to another person’s blood?
· Are there any boundaries in the polysexual world of vampires?
· How could a vampire hide in today’s world of advanced forens...more
Paperback, 304 pages
Published
October 1st 2002
by Berkley Trade
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A good book, if a bit scattered and disorganized. Ramsland really covers three topics, whatever the title might actually imply about the book's focus. First off, she discusses the cultural history of vampires, from Eastern European folklore, to Bram Stoker's iconic re-invention, to the dawning of the vampire as Romantic anti-hero. She also discusses the modern development of the vampire into a sort of New Age god, and its implications in modern spiritual circles.
Secondly, she talks about the sc...more
Secondly, she talks about the sc...more
Oh my long lasting love of vampires has finally panned out to more than just the fiction/horror shelves. I, first and foremost, have to applaud Katherine Ramsland's sheer force of will, vampire myths and tales have been around since the Egyptians, and just plodding through all that information takes more sanity than I even have.
Anyone who may question the actual science of this book need only to look at Ramslands credentials: a masters degree in Forensic Psychology, another masters degree in Cli...more
Anyone who may question the actual science of this book need only to look at Ramslands credentials: a masters degree in Forensic Psychology, another masters degree in Cli...more
I have never read one of these "science" of books before. (Yes, I read Science of Discworld but that is a real science book). This was at one of those really, really cheap bookstores. It was under $5.00.
Which was still too much for it.
Here's a list of problems.
1. Nothing new in terms of analysis of Dracula. In fact, I'm not convinced Ramsland even read Dracula.
2. Nothing new about vampires in general. In fact, Ramsland quotes from many other books, which you are better off reading. Check out Va...more
Which was still too much for it.
Here's a list of problems.
1. Nothing new in terms of analysis of Dracula. In fact, I'm not convinced Ramsland even read Dracula.
2. Nothing new about vampires in general. In fact, Ramsland quotes from many other books, which you are better off reading. Check out Va...more
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A unique and quite fascinating book written with the assistance of a battery of professionals: medical doctors, neurophysicists, physicists, forensics, psychiatrists, etc on how vampires could be actual "living" entities. It shows, through the use of science, how each of the "special abilities" of vampires can be explained in scientific terms. An absolutely fascinating book. I wish there were more like it to explain other (previously considered) "mythological" beings.
For anyone interested in va...more
For anyone interested in va...more
Read this. Just do it. Especially if love macabre facts as much as I do. If you are strictly about the vampire fiction, then I guess I'll give you a pass and say that perhaps you should not read this as it may bore you. This takes real life facts about death and dying that, one, explains the suspicions people had in earlier centuries about people being vampires or preyed on by vampires, and two, how perhaps vampirism could exist in the modern scientific world. Fascinating stuff for me!
35 books/2010
My bestest buddy bought this book for me because I love me some vampire fiction. I was excited AND dubious, because the words "science" and "vampire" were together in a title. I was afraid it might be cultish and silly and perhaps filled with too much science lingo. I was wrong! There is a bit of science talk which I sort of skimmed, but it's pretty anthropological with insights into Dracula and other literary bigwigs.
My bestest buddy bought this book for me because I love me some vampire fiction. I was excited AND dubious, because the words "science" and "vampire" were together in a title. I was afraid it might be cultish and silly and perhaps filled with too much science lingo. I was wrong! There is a bit of science talk which I sort of skimmed, but it's pretty anthropological with insights into Dracula and other literary bigwigs.
Dec 22, 2008
Kirsten
marked it as couldn-t-finish
This started out as an amusing concept, but the author couldn't decide whether it was going to be tongue-in-cheek, or a serious look at the concept of vampires, how it's evolved through the ages, etc. This resulted in frustration, as I tried to figure out what was bad science done tongue-in-cheek, and what I was supposed to be taking semi-seriously.
The vampire lover and science nerd in me collide!!! From history to religion to science, this book is fascinating!!! I have never looked at vampires the same way since.
Really great book if you want to understand the vampire subculture and haematophilia.
makes the impossible seem believable!
BORING
Fascinating and broad-ranging discussion of how vampires might work if they were real, from folklore to modern role-playing. The science isn't so deep it gets dull, and there are lots of interviews and first-hand accounts to keep the author's voice from growing monotonous.
Just began this book. I got into Twilight, and now I'm going to start reading everything that has anything to do with vampires ever because I'm a dork
absolutely brilliant. did a paper for college on this book. got an A
disturbing, awesome, same lady who did bio for Anne Rice
This book was alright. Nothing that great
May 11, 2013
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marked it as to-read
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marked it as my-wishlist
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Dean Petersen
marked it as to-read
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I've loved books since I was 3, and the library was a highlight of my childhood. I've been fortunate to be able to find great joy in what others have written and sometimes to give this to readers. I follow my own muse, because it leads me on interesting adventures. If others benefit, so much the better.
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