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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