Are Angels, Werewolves, Ghosts, Gods, Elves, the next Vampires?

[TheQueen]

I was at the bookstore about a month ago and when I went looking for Harry Potter 7 I noticed that aside from the vampire novels that were EVERYWHERE there were other genres bursting out of bookshelves. I saw a whole shelf devoted to a series of angel themed books that I'd never heard of. There were also werewolves and witches.

So, when I saw this poll and slideshow, I was wondering myself. What is the next vampire craze?

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/06/22/the-new-vampires-9-possib_n_620202.html

http://i.huffpost.com/gadgets/slideshows/7784/slide_7784_103541_large.jpg

There has been a lot of talk over the past year or so about how angels will be the next vampires, and a slew of teen angel lit has come out recently, most of which features handsome angels who have fallen from grace. One of the greatest vampire writers of them all, Anne Rice, is leading the way: her most recent book is called "Angel Time" and is the first in a series called "Songs of the Seraphim."

Other books that have taken angels as their subject include "Fallen" by Lauren Kate and "Hush Hush" by Becca Fitzpatrick, both out in the past year.

[figmentmom]

The vampire craze has not, unfortunately, run its course, I see. :rotfl

[Doug11]

Well, the new season of True Blood on HBO features werewolves to fight with the vampires. This season premiere and this week's episode both ended with a vampire going against a werewolf. Last week, the vampire won. The previews of next week's episode suggest this time the werewolf might get the better of the brawl.

if the stuff on bookshelves at my house is any indication, angels are very popular right now. ha!

[Garyhoov]

I don't think anybody can predict the next craze because crazes are, by definition, illogical and un-predictable.

Whenever something like this comes along, every book publisher and film studio starts working on their own crappy version until the market is completely swamped with trash variations. People get sick of it and move on to something that we'll find out about when it happens.:shrug

[Christy]

What was it before vampires? Wizards? :lol I don't know.

Yes, crazes are interesting. Silly bands, wtf? :rotfl

[TheQueen]

I have to admit though, if I were a teen girl, which some have claimed I am at heart, I would find the whole angels thing kinda interesting. I think the elves thing too. I'm surprised a line of books with that theme hasn't taken off.

In the comments section, some were asking about zombies. Ew, gross. I mean I know vampires are dead and all, but at least they appear "normal." You know. When some of them aren't glittering and all. But zombies?? I-C-K!

[BeeJay]

I know that women are kinda the target audience anyway, but anything with a big fixation on blood is gonna lose me. I watched a little bit of that show "The Gates" this weekend, and the opening scene where the vampire lady props a guy she just bit over a clogged sink so he can fill it up made me feel queasy. (I can just barely stand to watch when I give blood for the Red Cross.)

I don't know why it bugs me so much. A small cut or whatever I'm OK with, but when it starts just pouring out...ergh. I check out a little.

[TheQueen]

I know that women are kinda the target audience anyway, but anything with a big fixation on blood is gonna lose me. I watched a little bit of that show "The Gates" this weekend, and the opening scene where the vampire lady props a guy she just bit over a clogged sink so he can fill it up made me feel queasy. (I can just barely stand to watch when I give blood for the Red Cross.)

I don't know why it bugs me so much. A small cut or whatever I'm OK with, but when it starts just pouring out...ergh. I check out a little.

I think part of the reason why the Twilight books are so popular among women, and I'm sure this has been written and dissected about ad infinitum, is that the authoress has eliminated a majority of the threat and violence that used to be the hallmark of vampire characters. In the larger arena of past vampire characters, they're pretty tame. I tend to think of the Twilight series as more of a romance series that happens to involve mystical creatures. Which of course is what's happening in the romance publishing world.

http://www.esquire.com/cm/esquire/images/holiday-with-a-vampire-bad-books-1208-lg-49490350.jpg

[TheQueen]

Oh, and monsters have totally invaded the classic literature world as well with mashups. Most prominently featuring Jane Austen's books.

http://micaiahsellsout.files.wordpress.com/2009/11/pride-prejudice-zombies.jpg

http://elusivek.files.wordpress.com/2009/10/sensesensibilityseamonsters.jpg

http://jennifermorrill.files.wordpress.com/2009/09/mr-darcy-vampyre.jpg

[TheQueen]

Oh dear Lord.


LOS ANGELES — Robert Pattinson isn't the only famous vampire in his family.

Genealogists say the 24-year-old "Twilight" star is related to Vlad the Impaler, widely cited as the inspiration for the main character in Bram Stoker's "Dracula."

Researchers at Ancestry.com discovered that Pattinson and the Transylvanian leader (real name: Vlad III Dracula) are connected through their relationship to the British royal family. Prince William and Prince Harry are Pattinson's distant cousins; Vlad the Impaler was their distant uncle.

Also connected to the prince's lineage and therefore to Dracula? Stephenie Meyer, the author of the "Twilight" series.

The latest big-screen installment in the popular vampire saga, "Eclipse," opens June 30.

[figmentmom]

Oh dear Lord.

And old Vlad was some guy, huh? *shudder*