Part III of the #ASD13DaysofHorror Challenge
Prompt: Vampire
“How good and thoughtful he is; the world seems full of good men--even if there are monsters in it.”
-Bram Stoker (Dracula)
Today is the vampire day of the challenge! I'm not sure if I can express how excited I am. I love vampires. They are such a classic monster. Halloween cannot be complete without at least one great vampire flick or book. Luckily, people have been fascinated by vampires for centuries, and the world is never short on new vampire stories. That being said, it was difficult for me to choose just one for this prompt. So, I picked three!
Pictured above:
The Sumach - a shorty story by Ulric Daubeny, pictured here in M is for Monster, a compilation of monster-themed short stories. The Sumach was originally published in Daubeny’s short story collection The Elemental in 1919.
Dracula - a Gothic horror novel published in 1897 by Irish author Bram Stoker.
Let the Right One In - a fictional vampire novel published in 2004 by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist.
As I said above, The Sumach is from M is for Monster. I purchased this years ago at a Barnes & Nobel and never regretted it. This short story collection is so much fun! Each story is monster-themed and travels through the alphabet: A is for Alien, B is for Banshee, C is for Carnivorous Plant (you get the idea). I never shy away from owning short story collections. They are a great way to get to know new authors (even if they are centuries old like Ulric Daubeny).
I always recommend Dracula to anyone who wants to try reading classic Gothic fiction. I've read this book three times as you can probably tell from the cover's condition. This novel is chock-full of analogies. Written in a time when the then incurable syphilis was raging through cities and not totally understood by science, many believed vampirism was used to personify this horrifying condition. I'll stop there because I could truly write an essay on this book, in fact, I did in college. Read it for yourself and see what you think. My only warning: the language is "old" and therefore sometimes difficult to read. Take it slow. It's worth it.
Vampires always seem to be associated with romance. There is something inherently enticing about them. And although I usually stay far away from the romance genre, I absolutely loved it in Let the Right One In. Twilight as nothing on this book. Let the Right One In is an adult book filled with violence, bullying, and a generous sprinkle of romance. It's a modern, unique love story between two teenagers, one just happens to be a vampire. It sounds corny, but I promise it's not. If you're not ready for the book at least check out the movie adaptations (they stay pretty true to the novel). The Swedish version is called Let the Right One In like the novel. The American version is Let Me In. They are both great, but the American version is a little gorier in my opinion.
Whatcha Drinkin'?
Of course, I had to pair these vampire stories with a bloody looking Pomegranate Martini. Pomegranate martinis are usually my go-to on any cocktail menu when I'm out. They are a light, clean drink that's difficult to mess up. Plus, they look like blood in a glass, perfect for Halloween.
“Are you OLD?" "No. I'm only twelve. But I've been that for a long time.”
- John Ajvide Lindqvist (Let the Right One In)
Pomegranate Martini
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Yield: 1 serving
Total Time: 5 minutes
What You Need:
- ¼ cup pomegranate juice
- 1 ounce vodka
- ½ ounce Triple Sec or any orange-flavored liqueur
- ½ a lemon juiced
- Pomegranate seeds for garnish (optional)
What You Do:
1. Add pomegranate juice, vodka, Triple Sec, and lemon juice to a shaker filled with ice. Shake vigorously for twenty seconds.
2. Strain into martini glass. Garnish with pomegranate seeds if desired.
**Looking for more vampire fiction? Check out Anne Rice. She is kind of the "Vampire Queen" in the literary world. She is probably best known for her novel Interview with a Vampire which was made into a movie in 1994 starring Brad Pitt.
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