Vampires--are back in business, and truth be told--despite many forms of questionable
fiction trying it’s damnedest to take away the eternal swagger and glamour that comes
with being an immortal blood-sucking demi-god--vampires have never *not* been cool.
Yeah, because thankfully--despite, for the most part, their pale, ashen image being driven
through the mud for a while--on the sidelines, literature has always been consistently creating
some of the most awesomely terrifying depictions of the blood-thirsty paragons of gore and
immortality.
Thankfully for us, there are some awesome entries to choose from for this list.
Let’s get to it.
Hello horror fans, what’s going on, and once again welcome back to the scariest channel
on YouTube--Top 5 Scary Videos.
As per usual, I’ll be your horror host Jack Finch, as today, we curiously take a look
at the Top 5 Scariest Vampires In Literature.
Roll the clip.
For the curious amongst you--that clip was from the massively underrated 2014 semi-historical
vampire pseudo slasher--Dracula Untold, which is a surprisingly awesome vampire flick--and
pretty fitting for this blood-based literature list, because come on--we all know that vampires
in literature are massively underrated for the most part.
And that’s because, well--the progenitor of all vampire fiction, Bram Stoker’s Dracula,
is always held up as the benchmark for it--and often to its detriment--because I’ve got
news for you.
Vampires have evolved, man.
And now they’re much more terrifying.
Obviously, we have to pay our dues to Dracula though--but from an even deeper stance of
literature, we have to give homage to John Polidori’s The Vampyre--with a Y--written
way back in 1819--the progenitor of even Dracula himself.
Vampires, man--they’re ancient.
Kicking off at Number 5 - I Am Legend
Zombie.
Vampires.
Who knew that such a hodgepodge could become a genuinely terrifying hallmark of literature?
Well, for those of you that have read Richard Matheson’s phenomenal 1954 sci-fi horror,
I Am Legend--you’ll know that’s exactly what it is.
Genuinely terrifying.
And although it *was* a half-decent movie, please don’t lump this novel in with the
2007 Will Smith Blockbuster--because the entire film kind of missed the point.
But hey, that’s not why we’re here, is it?
Written by Richard Matheson, I Am Legend tells the tale of Robert Neville, a reluctant scientist
and the sole survivor of a vile pandemic that has ravaged the planet, a blood plague that
seemingly turns humans into vampires.
Throughout the opening of the novel, it is alluded to that this plague was a result of
a devastating war--and this plague was openly spread via mosquitoes kicked up in the subsequent
debris of society.
Which--you know, is already a pretty terrifying notion.
Now, I won’t go into too much detail about the actual narrative--because there is a *lot*
to be enjoyed in this novel, and if you can get your hands on it--I’d highly recommend
reading it.
It’s not too long at all, and Matheson paints a vividly bleak picture throughout.
The reason that I Am Legend’s zombie-vampire-plague-ridden carriers end up on this list though, is because
of Matheson’s attention to scientific detail--and as Robert Neville scours the wasteland of
Los Angeles, learning more about the swarms of fleshy-blood-thirsty-rippers--that roam
the streets at night--we’re gradually given a real sense of physicality as to the bleak,
feral existence Matheson’s vampires are subject to.
And--I won’t even go into detail about the ending without fear of spoilers--but if you’re
partial to a bit of existentialism in vampire literature, then please--read this novel,
because it’s ending is a whole different kettle of fish.
It *will* make you think twice about vampire folklore--and the legend that comes with it.
Swinging in at Number 4 - Fevre Dream
Again--if you’re in the mood for a fantastically written, relatively concise novel about terrifying
vampires--and the resounding implications that come with immortality, please--read George
R.R Martin’s fantastic 1982 novel--Fevre Dream.
And yes--that’s correct, before George was weaving Westeros and creating perhaps the
fines fantasy series ever written, he was also indulging himself on immortal vampires
that commandeered a Mississippi Riverboat in the mid 1800s.
Now, if I had to choose--purely from a technical perspective, Fevre Dream may actually be one
of the most complete and compelling works of vampire fiction ever written.
If you’re a fan of Martin’s prose, then you’ll find exactly the same kind of verve
and style here--and what it serves to do is wholeheartedly humanise his immortal vampires,
and turn them into a much more complex kind of monster.
Like with most of Martin’s work--there is no black and white here, but instead shades
of grey--and, as you may imagine, that’s a pretty difficult thing to do with vampires.
However, the reason it only makes its way in at Number 4 though--is that, purely from
a horror perspective, it’s not entirely as terrifying as some of our other entries--but
it terms of depth and complexity, Fevre Dream is second to none.
It tells the tale of Abner Marsh, a grizzled steamboat captain in the mid 1800s--who is
down on his luck during a particularly bleak financial crisis--but then contacted by a
mysterious, soft-spoken aristocrat.
A man named Joshua York--who promises to finance a brand new riverboat for Abner, an opulent
vessel named Fevre Dream.
And whilst, obviously--yes, this novel is centred on vampires--I’ll say no more, because
the way the immortal society of vampirism is woven into this novel--is a beautiful thing
to witness, and the subsequent opposing Bloodmasters that are spawned from it--is a concept rarely
looked at in vampire fiction.
Two words.
Vampire Jesus.
Next up at Number 3 - The Vampire Court
And whilst throughout the fantastic Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher--there are many
forms of vampires and the subsequent vampire courts that come with them--there’s no doubting
that *the* most terrifying, malevolent and purely evil vampire organisation, is the White
Court--although thankfully for us, they’re all pretty damn evil--and Harry Dresden has
been doing his damnedest to bring about their downfall one by one--as is the case with the
Red Court.
Now, vampires in Jim Butcher’s universe come in many different shapes and forms--almost
like a melting pot of pretty much every vampire custom and creation that we’ve seen in fiction,
which is pretty damn awesome in it’s own right--but it’s with the societal structure
and ancient hierarchy where Butcher’s vampires truly shine.
The White Court, for example, is an order of vampires that feed purely from human emotion,
and they satiate their Hunger through the consumption of, essentially, the human spirit.
Because of their propensity for lifeforce, rather than actual human blood--the White
Court prefers to avoid any direct confrontation with their enemies--and for the most part,
they’re a court of schemers and ploy-makers hidden within the shadows.
Essentially, the White Court are the East Indian Trading Company of the Vampire World,
and they pull the strings on the rest of the blood-sucking immortals.
On the other hand though, there was also the Red Court--a vile sect of fleshy-bat like
humanoid creatures--that used the glamour of a skin-mask to disguise themselves as humans,
living and preying on society for years on end.
As more akin to the traditional vampires of legend, The Red Court were particularly dark
in their approach to feasting off of human blood, and operated mainly in Central and
South America--where they reared entire villages of humans like cattle to feed upon.
Then there’s the Black Court--a diminished sect of vampires who were essentially born
from the stereotypical Dracula of Legend, but were hunted and eventually destroyed thanks
to Bram Stoker’s novel--which in Butcher’s universe, was published as a how-to guide
for the layman to hunt down vampires.
Don’t you just love The Dresden Files?
Swinging in at Number 2 - The Wamphyri
We cannot make this list without laying down Brian Lumley’s incredible Necroscope Series--and
I’m fully aware that many of you Top 5 Scary viewers are particular fans of his resounding
horror series.
The thing is though, Lumley completely shook up the concept of what makes a vampire so
fervently, that in some cases--it’s hard to tell where monster of folklore legend begins--and
alien parasitic monstrosity begins.
And believe me, don’t worry--I say that as a good thing, not a bad thing.
In Lumley’s Necroscope series, first written in 1986--gone are the classic interpretations
of the vampire legend, and instead--Lumley’s vampires are a leech-like parasite from an
ancient world, deep in the cosmos.
Through a painful, and grotesque process--these alien leeches attach to their host, and begin
a symbiotic life-cycle that grants them their immortality of legend, as well as many other
devious superhuman machinations.
What makes Lumley’s Wamphyri so awesome though--is that they’re essentially the
vampire version of Marvel’s Symbiotes--and their life-cycle is wholly similar to that
of a fungal creature--transforming it’s host through a slow, spore-ridden process
that turns them into the immortal villains that populate Lumley’s Necroscope Series.
Because of that incredibly unique process though--the Wamphyri leeches can also infect
other non-human entities, such as in a few cases--foxes or wolves--and then so begins
Lumley’s absolutely awesome fictional explanation as to the nature of werewolves and lycanthropes
that populate his horror series.
The thing is--in Necroscope, the Wamphyri are so damn ancient, and so adept at understanding
the parasitic process that creates them--in the later series, they move into an entire
industry of breeding lesser versions of vampires to enact their bidding, whether across the
Earth or on starside.
In fact--Lumley’s depiction of vampirism in the Necroscope series is pretty damn bleak--and
the one *true* evil against humanity, are the Wamphyrii--because eventually, even the
most purest of hearts succumb to their will.
Also, vampire cannibalism.
Yeah, that one's not been done much before.
And finally, coming in at our Number 1 spot - The Higher Vampire
And--whilst we’re talking about hunting vampires--we cannot talk about blood-thirsty
monsters in literature without taking note on the resounding works of Andre Sapkowski,
with The Witcher Saga--that rightfully deserves its place at our number one spot.
Now, in my opinion, Sapkowski’s depiction is *the most* complete, compelling and intriguing
creation of vampires in horror--in the whole of literature--and I know that’s pretty
damn hyperbolic--but really, if you’ve read his work, or played any of CD Projekt Red’s
fantastic video game series--you’ll know exactly the impact that vampires have on its
world.
And I say world--because the most intriguing notion of Vampires in The Witcher Saga, is
that--not unlike Lumley’s Necroscope series--these ancient entities are from another planet entirely.
Well--not exactly another planet, so to speak--but another dimension.
Another Sphere.
Now, I’ll try not to spoil anything--but, to be fair, speaking about the Conjunction
of The Spheres isn’t exactly giving anything away.
In Sapkowksi’s world--vampires aren’t created, or turned, or otherwise conjured
into existence.
They’re born, just like humans are--and exist as corporeal beings, who can manipulate
their body at a molecular level--in blood and matter--just as easy as we can breathe.
Over a thousand years before The Witcher Saga begins, during the Conjunction of the Spheres--different
realities where monsters and magical entities reside freely on their own plane, collided
and merged with our world--which eventually necessitated the need for The Order of the
Wolf, and the many Witcher’s that came with it--as you know, someone had to try and keep
a lid on all of the chaotic magic going on.
Honestly, I could speak about The Witcher saga all day--but as far as vampires are concerned,
there is so much to feast on.
The Bruxa, the Katakan, the Alp--grotesque, mutagenic versions of vampires created from
humans and the corporeal, dimensional beings that are absolutely terrifying.
Regis, the awesome, ancient vampire who’s best friends forever with Geralt.
The Unseen Elder.
The list goes on, and on--and if you’re a fan of vampire fiction, and are yet to delve
into the works of the Witcher series--please, consider this a reminder.
Because as far as vampires are concerned--there’s nothing else like it.
Well, there we have it horror fans--our list for the Top 5 Scariest Vampires In Literature.
What did you guys think?
Do you agree?
Disagree?
Have any more to add?
Let us know your thoughts down in the comment section below, as well as any choice picks
of your own.
Before we depart from today’s video, if you’d like to continue on with your vampire--werewolf--or
monster binge--then please, make sure you check out our neatly compiled monstrous playlist--floating
neatly at the side.
And you know, enjoy yourself.
Unfortunately, that’s all we’ve got time for in today's video--cheers for sticking
around all the way until the end.
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