Vampire Boom in Literature

Vampire literature can be dated back to the 1700s, and over the years, the popularity of this subgenre of horror has come and gone. The trend was reborn in 2008, and since then, many vampire series have seen a widespread increase in popularity.. These books have captured the attention of readers all over the world. But what is it that is so alluring and captivating about vampires? What is it that causes so many to invest their money on these novels?

Many years ago when vampire literature first became popular, vampires were painted as evil characters and were more suited to the horror genre. Think Bram Stoker's Dracula and more recently, Richard Matheson's I Am Legend. Over the last few years, though, writers have begun making vampires into teen girl love interests.

If you are an avid reader you will know that most novels have the same underlying plot, especially romances. Boy meets girl, they fall in love and danger ensues to tear them apart. If we were to just consider this, many would not find these romances worth their time. But vampire novels have been successful because they take this same basic structure and add an appealing fantasy element.

The current vampire boom in literature can be traced to Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series. Meyer came at a time where vampires were not exactly the main focus in literature, giving her the freedom to recreate the vampire image into creatures that stir up the emotions of teenage girls. No longer did they see the vampires as threats, but as eye candy worth going crazy over. With her character Edward Cullen, she displays a man that is virtually perfect in every way. He has manners, class and eyes only for Bella — even if she is just a plain Jane. He's Bella's knight in shining armor. On top of that, he's super strong, has the ability to read minds and literally sparkles in daylight. Other books such as Vampire Diaries have male main characters who are vampires and that are equally desirable.

Teenage girls aren't the only ones picking up these novels. Students in college, as well as adults have begun supporting the vampire boom as well. In fact, some vampire novels like the Sookie Stackhouse series cater to an older audience and portray more adult situations. Regardless of what age you are — a hormonal teenager or a closet romantic, the romanticism portrayed in the books will hold your attention.

So maybe the vampire boom is less about the vampires than about what they represent — the perfect love. If that's the case, then the vampires, werewolves and other creatures are just pawns. At the end of the day, these vampire novels are just love stories.