Which do you like better: the old traditional vampire or the modern vampire? And why?

[Glenda]

Personally, I like the modern vampire the best and for these reasons: different powers or gifts, better looking, more human in nature, no rats, smoke, or hairy transformations, and some try to coexist peaceably with humans. To go a step further I prefer no glitter and fangs are a must. But I adore the Twilight series.

[N.A.]

Hi,
I like them both. I love Stoker's Dracula, how he tries to find redemption through Mina. I love the new stuff too, although some of it can be a little whiny. I really enjoy Vampire Diaries but am not a fan of the Elena/Stefan side of it (Whiny) :D

[Heather]

It is interesting how vampires have shifted to having other super powers now, or can be "vegetarians." I really appreciated Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire for how introspective it was about what it really means to live on forever--especially with the long list of crimes you've probably committed! I feel like a lot of modern takes on vampires are missing that side now, and I'd really like to read more recent offerings that explore that.

[Rosanna]

I think I just like 'em period. Dracula, Lestat...heck, I even loved George Hamilton in Love at First Bite! LOL Love their powers, their torment and as long as they're sexy, I'm there!

[N.A.]

LOL! Love at First Bite - haven't seen that in years :D
Must say I still loved Spike from Buffy. Sexy and sassy :D

[Rosanna]

N.A. wrote: "LOL! Love at First Bite - haven't seen that in years :D
Must say I still loved Spike from Buffy. Sexy and sassy :D"

LOL, N.A.! Spike is another good one. ;)

[Cyndi]

I definitely love the ORIGINAL vampire's the best! There were FANGS that needed to be used (and no sparkling)lol. I like my vamps to bursts of sizzle in the sunlight haha, but not only that. You could transform into other things (wolf, bat, person) and they had the power to hypnotize you just by looking into your eyes. It's the darker vamps I fell for. As stated above, Interview with the Vampire and Dracula are among my favorites, as well as the original Fright Night and Bordello of Blood. Growing up, that was what I loved.

[L.L.]

I guess I like the ones in the middle best - the ones that are more than old-fashioned monsters, and more than teenagers as well. They should be old, deadly, seductive but still vulnerable to sunlight and gory dismemberment. Otherwise you've got a romance not a proper vampire tale.

[Roxanna]

Hmmm...Jeaniene Frost's version of Vlad...
or
Bram Stoker's version of Vlad...
I will take Jeaniene's bad boy any day of the week. In fact, give me Bones...please.

[Kirsten]

Hm... I like both modern and traditional, for different reasons. I think Charlaine Harris crafted a nice balance - the vampires are all victims themselves and some struggle with humanity more than others. But there's also an underlying violence that she doesn't shy away from - even in her "good" vampires. And I'm very sorry her latest book is the last in the Sookie Stackhouse series!

[J.M.]

I still lean towards the traditional vamps. Although in my novels I have experimented a little (though fangs are always necessary, as is the lust for human blood...and definately no sparkles!). I love Dracula and the gothic tones of Interview with the vampire. I agree I liked the darker tones where the 'forever' aspect wasnt shown as some fantastic journey with no issues whatsoever. I try to give my vamps (especially in my current novel) that ancient viewpoint, and that having seen so much it couldn't possibly all be so good.

[[deleted user]]

I like both. I am quite fangirly when it comes to vampire literature, in general. There is something inexplicably captivating about the notion of vampirism. Modern vampires have many attributes that I enjoy--chiseled looks, darkness tempered by the light of the humans they once were, the idea of constantly mainstreaming to stay viable, etc. But, wow--there's just something about Bram Stoker's Dracula--cunning, wit, strength, a truly dark heart... How could you not, literarily speaking, LOVE those characteristics??

[Helena]

Modern vampires for modern ideas? Stoker's Dracula was evil - that was it. Vampires predated on gullible and weak women and had to be staked. Modern vampires are a bit more complex, with bits of both good and evil, in different mixes. (Eric the vampire is definitely a more complex character than Dracula). Modern female heroines rarely faint - just watch Buffy to see a modern approach to young girl versus evil vampire! Literature changes just like the society where it is written.

[Chris]

I enjoyed Anne Rice's vampires infinitely more than the Twilight variety. I couldn't get into the Sookie Stackhouse books, but from the first book, I definitely preferred Eric and Bill to Edward & Family.

But I will always love the Count. He was the essence of a monster confining himself to refinement - the better to get closer to his food. It's the same thought process that went into the "30 Days of Night" vamps. These vampires don't want to seduce you - they want to eat you - they succeed in being what so many modern vamps fail at ... scary.

There was a great show on Spike (hear me out) last year. It was the Halloween episode of "The Deadliest Warrior". They did vampires vs. zombies, and brought in Max Brooks (World War Z) as the Zombie expert, and Steve Niles (30 Days of Night) for the vamps. Niles made it clear that his vamps are super-intelligent "Apex preditors". They are sharks with legs and claws.

Totally revived the genre for me.

[Alan]

Can someone please explain to me why so many women find vampires so sexy and alluring? To me, they are monsters. Evil predators. Is it the bad boy vibe squared or something? Angel I could sort of get since he had a soul (I'm a big Buffy fan!) but Spike? Really?

I'm being completely sincere and honest in wanting an answer. The concept just mystifies me. Why is the monster appealing?

[Terri]

I like both depending on what my mood is, but I would like to see more evil, scary vamps in current books

[WickedLovely1]

Alan,
The "monster" is appealing to some women because modern authors have written a modern vamp. Sexy, perfect, some redeeming qualities, etc. Women like these things.

I am a huge Buffy fan, and I really liked Angel too. But Spike rocks, lol.

I think that the monster is appealing to women (or people in general) because it represents darkness and evil. It's the same as being drawn to the"bad-boy" types. Moody and brooding. Even if no one wants to admit it, the concept of darkness in a person is alluring. Maybe some women want to know that the monster still has some humanity left and can still be saved.

I prefer my vamps evil. Sinister, drinks blood, kills people in the process. And makes no apologies for it!

[Teresa]

I like the "modern vampire" better. In the older books vampires are just scary monsters. It seems like there is only so much you can do with that before it gets a little stale. The modern vampire has more sides to him/her, more avenues are open to tell stories that will entertain readers.

[Alan]

WickedLovely1 wrote: "Alan,
The "monster" is appealing to some women because modern authors have written a modern vamp. Sexy, perfect, some redeeming qualities, etc. Women like these things.

I am a huge Buffy fan, and ..."

Thanks for the response! I kinda figured it was the "bad boy" thing, which has always frustrated me LOL. Maybe it's the confidence that bad boys exude.

[Carly]

I personally like both types of vampires. Although I have to admit that I prefer the old fashioned type over the new type of vampires. The traditional vampire is feared, due to their mysterious persona, they are cold, dead, but attractive and alluring.

The new type of vampires are pensive and sometimes regret things they have done in the past. They are the "bad boy" type which I have to admit I find very attractive. I'm a sucker for a bad by with a nice smile, that exudes sex appeal, a bit of aggression and confidence. I think this is why women, especially teenage girls find they so irresistible, and attractive.

[Holly]

I like a mixture! After reading Dracula, I am set heavily in the camp that they should not burst to flames or whatnot in the sun. I do like the idea of a sexy vampire and I like a bad ass vampire. I don't want them to be evil, but I don't want vegetarians either. I want the vampire that I can awe over, but I want them to have to drink human blood and I want them to sometimes have no choice but to give into their vampire nature. Twilight vamps do not fit into this for me.

[Ava]

I for one am a fan of the modern vampire. I think that the classics are portrayed as such ballistic killers! I hate that.Dracula and Vayl (Vayl,Jaz parks series) probably played cards together but they are seen as almost two different species.

[Mirkat]

Huge Buffy fan here--Twilight not so much. I felt Meyer's vamps were seriously overpowered. No vulnerability to the sun, stakes to the heart. They need a weak spot to be more interesting, I think. Also? I will say that I hate Meyer's abuse of the word "vegetarian" (I am speaking as a vegan here). Dear Edward: eating animals (or drinking them) is the opposite of vegetarian. It just makes you a carnivore instead of a cannibal. (Yeah, I know you're not a human anymore, but you used to be--I think it should still count as cannibalism.) And the analogy also stinks because I am not walking around dissatisfied all the time because I am subsisting on (oh, noes, god forbid) tofu instead of steak. F U, Meyer. (Sorry, that just steams me!)

[Meri]

It depends upon your definition of modern I suppose. Usually, I prefer the older, folkloric type. The very recent types of vampires tend to be self-loathing, lacking in weaknesses, and more romantic than scary. As romance goes, I think the scary, darker vampires are sexier (Team Spike ftw!) because they are more indicative of the sinister side of humanity. I also like the Old World, scarcely human vampires because they feel more like creatures of the night worthy of terror.

[Colleen]

L.L. wrote: "I guess I like the ones in the middle best - the ones that are more than old-fashioned monsters, and more than teenagers as well. They should be old, deadly, seductive but still vulnerable to sunli..."

YES! This is how I like my vampires, too. Exactly. They should be intimidating, inhuman, but still, somehow, ridiculously seductive.

[A.L.]

Old style ones :) I like Dracula, Anne Rice and Nora Roberts. I don't like Twilight.

[Reed]

I like a little bit of a mix. I really enjoy the terror and savagery inflicted by the old school but I like that the new school leaves a place for experience to color their behavior (like Angel from Buffy and his pesky soul) In any event, they HAVE to have weaknesses and they MUST be killers. Not always a sun allergy and serial rapists/murderers but there needs to be both elements for it to appeal to me. For example, that Edward guy is a sad sack and a douche. Vegetarian my ass.

[Leigh]

I love the old school vampires. Dark, scary looking and well...just plain scary! Edward ain't got nothing on Dracula. Period.

[G.G.]

I can't say that I liked Edward style. Although I watched the movies they always left me with a sour taste in my mouth, so yeah, if I had to choose between him and Dracula, I'd go with Dracula. However, I LOVED the style of Vampires in the Moonlight television series. Loved Alex O'Loughlin as Mick St.John!

[Ginger]

Heather wrote: "It is interesting how vampires have shifted to having other super powers now, or can be "vegetarians." I really appreciated Anne Rice's Interview with the Vampire for how introspective it was about..."

I love Anne Rice's vampires - favorite by far! Lestat is probably my all time favorite fictional character - really love the Tale of the Body Thief when Lestat is totally screwed!

[Jodi]

Though I loved the Twilight book, I prefer the evil sinister, bad guy, to the Edward type. No confusing lines to cross.

[Natalie]

I love both but have a fondness for the classics. Dracula and his vulnerability...ah I was hooked. Then I love Anne Rice and also enjoyed reading The Historian by Elizabeth Kostova. On a lighter note, I truly enjoyed The Vampire who Loved Me by Teresa Medeiros. I love a dark, brooding vampire with a vulnerable side. Not one that glitters, although I enjoyed Twilight.

[Crystal]

I like the modern vamp. They have different immunities, powers, looks, ect. And they are sexier, lol

[Olivia]

I love the modern vampires. They look more human like and realistic and possess the certain powers which is always very interesting, you see I prefer the vampires like the cullens for twilight

[Miranda]

ok I like modern day vampires BUT will not go so far and say twilight modern... more human looking with that glamour of "perfection" that gives it more of a sex appeal. But a weakness is the dark brooding vulnerable ones, Natalie you said it lol something about that vulnerability just makes you want to read more and find out the puzzle of what made them that way.