Results tagged “vampires”

Because we couldn’t get the cast of New Moon (in theaters November 20th) on Suvudu, we decided to do the next-best thing and devote the next three Mondays to our current, favorite vampires.

Today’s feature is all about The Vampire Diaries. We had to limit ourselves to just 10, but there are endless reasons why we love The Vampire Diaries. Feel free to add your own reasons.

10. It’s on the CW and therefore accessible to those without HBO (sorry, True Blood).

9. It stars improbably beautiful people in high school, who seemingly never attend class.

8. Gotta love the overly-naïve townies who camp out in creepy, mist-ridden woods that are obviously home to vampires.

7. There’s always fog. Everywhere.

(credit: TV Guide)

6. And black ravens.

5. Damon Salvatore: seriously, how many good guys have you met named Damon?


(credit: TV Fanatic)

4. You don’t have to reside in abysmal Forks, Washington in order to live openly as a vampire. You just wear a really cool ring to keep your secret safe.

3. Because we truly believe in Elena and Stefan’s love.

(credit: Unreality Shout)

2. Superhot Stefan Salvatore: Paul Wesley

(credit: Snarky Two-Shoes)

And the #1 reason why we love The Vampire Diaries…

Steamy, vampire-human love connections. Need we say more?

Because we couldn’t get the cast of New Moon (in theaters November 20th) on Suvudu, we decided to do the next-best thing and devote the next three Mondays to our current, favorite vampires.

Today’s feature is all about True Blood. Feel free to add your reasons. We had to limit ourselves to 10 but there are endless reasons why we love True Blood.

10. It’s chock-full of supernatural creatures, including, but not limited to: vampires (duh) shape-shifters, maenads, and telepaths.

9. The fabulous Lafayette. LGBT friendly. Only on HBO.

(credit: The Costumer)

8. Gotta love a southern accent, especially on a vampire.

7. Generally, synthetic blood is underused and underrated and it’s an excellent alternative to the ketchup-like crap you usually see on other vampire shows.

(credit: Hollywood Hills)

6. Unlike most shows, season two is actually better than season one.

5. Major cliffhanger endings that make you feel like you’re going to die, literally, if you don’t catch the next episode.

4. We love that Todd Lowe’s prior television role was on Gilmore Girls and now he’s on a bad-ass vampire show on HBO.

(credit: Fandomania)

3. Because we truly believe in Bill and Sookie’s love.

(credit: Bloody Good Horror)

2. Superhot Swede: Alexander Skarsgård.

(credit: Stay Frosty)

And the #1 reason why we love True Blood…

Steamy, vampire-human love connections. Need we say more?

In the darkness, demons come out to play …

and someone must bring their sins to light.

Part vampire, part werewolf, Riley Jenson knows what can happen when vamps don’t play well with others. But she’s never seen anything like this: a series of brutal murders surrounding the latest hot spot for vampire-human hookups—and the victims aren’t just killed, they’re beheaded. Now Riley is launching into action, toying with a seductive—and highly suspicious—club owner, and finding herself in the middle of another mystery: women being killed one by one, without a trace of violence.

For Riley, solving multiple cases—in a world going mad with human and vampire passions—would have been tough enough. Instead she has two jealous lovers on her hands: Kye Murphy, the amber-eyed werewolf who makes Riley’s wolf blood howl—and Quinn, the cool, elegant vamp who has over a thousand years’ experience at fulfilling women’s desires. While she’s busy juggling these two sexy beasts, Riley’s detective work takes a stunningly violent turn. Finding a murderer is now a matter of life and death. Especially since the killer has long since found her…

Oh Keri Arthur, how you do tempt us with your promise of thrills and chills. Is it any wonder that you’ve captured our reading hearts? No, it probably isn’t. Now—as in today!—Keri returns with her eighth Riley Jenson Guardian novel, Bound to Shadows, and this time Riley really has her work cut out for her: there’s a grisly murderer on the loose who has Riley in his/her sights.

Well, how would you like a sample of Keri’s new book? Would about forty pages work for you? We’ve got an incredibly generous sample for you after the jump. So go ahead and dive in. Keri’s bringing the heat on this chilly fall day.

[Fan made poster for NEW MOON; credit: Clog]

The LA Times has a lengthy article about the recent proliferation of the supernatural in media today (featuring our very own DavidM!) and we thought this would be the perfect opportunity for another poll. We promise it won’t hurt. Okay, fine. Only as much as the soft flutter of an angel’s wings against your cheek.

If you live in the Midwest, The New Vampire’s Handbook could be coming to your town next week! Come see the multi media show that accompanies the book that Publisher’s Weekly called ” a giggle-inducing, undeniably comprehensive look at the absurdity of life among with undead.”

Even if you don’t live in a big city, chances are good we’ll be coming to a town near you. See the list of dates below and here, or go here to get all the latest info on the book and tour.

Hope to see you!

Monday, October 19, 2009

Milwaukee, WI
Boswell Book Company
7:00pm - 9:00pm
2559 N. Downer Ave.
(414)3321181
Email: info@boswellbooks.com

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

Chicago, IL
7:30pm - 9:00pm
Borders Book Store
2817 N Clark St.
(773)9353909

Thursday, October 22

Madison, WI
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Borders
3750 University Ave
(608)2322600

Friday, October 23

Richland Center, WI
7:00 pm to 9:00 pm
Ocooch Books and Libations
145 West Court Street

Saturday, October 24

Viroqua, WI
1:30 pm to 3:00 pm
Bramble Books
117 S. Main Street

October 24

Eau Claire, Wi
7:00 pm to 8:30 pm
Borders Books
4030 Commonwealth Ave

October 25, 2009

Minneapolis, MN
7:00pm - 8:30pm
Magers & Quinn Booksellers
3038 Hennepin Avenue South

* note: the following blog was submitted in the evening; however, the author requested it be published this morning.

Good Evening. I am the Vampire, Miles Proctor.

As someone who’s lived through more than his share of fads (pantaloons, the telegraph, the hula hoop and the Hustle were just a few of my favorites), I can tell you that we are in the midst of a full-blown craze for all things fanged. From soft drinks to understated and tasteful pictorials in gentleman’s publications, that certain vampire je ne sais quoi has been co-opted for most every purpose you can think of.

But many of these new fictional vampires aren’t actually vampires at all. They never sleep in coffins, they don’t drink human blood - some of them even walk about in the day, their greatest fear not death from exposure to the sun, but being caught in the act of sparkling.

One of the most liberal, modern interpretations of the vampire ethos is of course Edward Cullen, the troubled teen vampire hero of the exceedingly popular and wildly inaccurate Twilight series. Cullen is so handsome, delicate and sensitive that one might mistake him for a particularly toothy, excruciatingly pale mumblecore filmmaker, rather than a fearsome, powerful creature of the night.

Not that the glittering creatures of Twilight are the first ones to get it wrong. Bela Lugosi’s theatrical Dracula was just another end of the stereotypical spectrum, albeit from an era of cartoonishly ghoulish vampires. In reality, neither portrait is definitive or entirely accurate.

I have laid out the truth, once and for all, in The New Vampire’s Handbook, about the habits and characteristics native to the true vampire. As it was written and edited by an actual handsome and successful vampire, there can be no doubt as to its accuracy —though I invite your comments as to how the reality squares with your notion of all things vampire.

Personally, I find the whole phenomenon mildly amusing, and await its passing. But I am curious as to what others think of the genteel, approachable, considerate, “new vampire” that’s so en vogue. Is the rise of vampire-lite in popular culture good for actual vampires like myself? Is it an affront to all of vampirekind? Will it outlast the popularity of Nu Metal, the Tamagochi, the Rubik’s Cube, or the Internet? I encourage you to speak freely.

I remain eternally yours,

The Vampire, Miles Proctor.

Good Evening.

Allow me to introduce myself.

I am the Vampire Miles Proctor - tailor, entrepreneur, vampire par excellence- and the author and editor of The New Vampire’s Handbook: A Guide for the Recently Turned Creature of the Night (Villard).

I’ve been a vampire for most of my 467 years. In that time, I’ve made lots of fantastic memories, and great friends with whom I’ve drained my fair share of prey.

But I’ve also met countless poorly mentored new vampires who hadn’t the faintest idea how to feed, where to meet another vampire, whether or not garlic could harm them. They lacked even the most basic knowledge, so that just surviving each night was a struggle for them. Watching them try to navigate a new world without the tools to do so was upsetting, to say the least.

After a while, I realized I had to do something to help these poor wretches, new to the fold with no one to guide them.

So I did what any self respecting vampire would do - I rolled up my sleeves, contacted my book agent, and hand picked human slaves from the likes of The Onion, The Daily Show, and Important Things with Demetri Martin to help me assemble a collection of indispensible information for the neophyte vampire. At last, The New Vampire’s Handbook has been released, putting a veritable treasure trove of information at the neophyte vampire’s fingertips, including:

• the ins and outs of your new vampiric body
• lessons on how to embrace your vampirosexuality
• fool proof methods for luring prey, faking your way through meals, and creating a four-hundred-year financial plan
• the surprising joy of scrapbooking

And that’s just the beginning. All told, there’s more than 200 pages must-have information for that no new vampire should be without.

I’ll be posting here frequently with updates and information that may be of use to the vampire community, as well as posting relevant topics for debate and discussion. When I am otherwise occupied, irritable, or tired from a long night out, I’ll have one of the human slaves do it for me. I invite you to stick around, and look forward to hearing from each and every one of you.

Thank you for your attention - and Welcome to the Night.

Eternally yours,

The Vampire Miles Proctor

Oh boy! It begins! Let the ladies of all ages begin swooning!

“An animated corpse that lusts after your blood… breaking and violating our safety with a sense of dread and horror.”

“A plague of creatures where you did not recognize their humanity… but our own inhumanity in them.”

These two quotes come from Guillermo Del Toro about his upcoming vampire book, The Strain. The Strain is his response to the rash of tween vampire love stories. Simply put, Del Toro isn’t a fan, and he wants to put out some literature featuring bestial, demonic creatures much closer to the original vampires of folklore and mythology than those found in the pulpy yarns every 12-year-old girl buries her nose in on the subway.

For more quotes, a video, and excerpts, click over to io9.com.

The barrage of fantasy and science fiction movies continues!

This time on television.

Laurell K. Hamilton, the bestselling author of the Anita Blake and Merry Gentry series, will have one of her creations brought to live action telefilm in Summer 2010!

IFC, the Independent Film Channel, has greenlit Hamilton’s Anita Blake series into production. Lionsgate and After Dark Films will produce and the series will be adapted by Glen Morgan (“X-Files,” “Final Destination”), who also serves as executive producer. The movie begins production this summer.

The telefilm will center on the character of Anita Blake, a street-savvy, down-to-earth vampire hunter with a lousy dating life and a penchant for bringing dead people back to life.

For those Twilighters out there who are craving more blood-sucking storytelling, it is time for you to go to the beginning and either go out and buy Guilty Pleasures or wait until Summer 2010!

Read the entire press release HERE!

Let the sucking begin!

What is most likely going to be the best horror film of 2008 — and one of the best films of the year, period — is getting a limited release in theaters starting today.

And it’s not Saw V.

While there’s still 2 months left in 2008, it’s damn hard to imagine any film coming out is going to top the sheer brilliance of “Let the Right One In,” a Swedish film based on the Swedish bestseller of the same name by John Ajvide Lindqvist (just released here in the U.S. in a translated edition).

This is one you can’t miss.

[More after the jump, including the trailer….]

With New York’s Fashion Week just around the corner, it’s time to take a closer look at science fiction and fantasy fashion, long unfairly maligned as an unreclaimable wasteland of silver lame unitards and zippered monster suits. But I would argue that, at its best, it can serve as the fictional equivalent of a haute couture laboratory, in which the fashion of the future—and of our dreams—can be brought to life.

1. Jane Fonda in Barbarella

I must begin with Barbarella: Queen of the Galaxy, in which outer space is imagined as a fur-lined, groovetastic after-hours lounge where Stereolab is always on the turntable. This film is the Retro Style Bible, more sixties than the real sixties could ever have been. And though Barbarella may be better known for slipping out of her fabulous outfits than wearing them, Jane Fonda’s good humor and intelligence in this role are the perfect accessories for this awesomely bizarre spider-monkey dress.

More after the jump!

It turns out Twilight is all that and a bag of chips. I know, I know, I’m like 2 years late to the snack machine, but better late than never, right?

So after 2 days of non-stop reading (substitute swimming with Twilight and my life was not so different from Michael Phelps’s Olympic regimen: eat, read, sleep a little, get up in middle of the night to read, eat some breakfast, read some more on morning commute, eat some lunch, sneak a read in at work…etc. etc.) I finish it and immediately set out as a veritable one-woman publicity machine, telling everyone to get their hands on a copy, under the promise that this is “vampire love, at it’s finest”.

Fast forward a few days and I see my good friend - let’s call her “Gemma” - at dinner. Apparently, Gemma had taken me up on my endorsement, literally verbatim, and asked a bookseller for a copy of “Vampire Love”. Unbeknownst to Gemma (and a slightly perplexed bookseller), she is taken to the paranormal erotic section and handed copies of “I Only Have Fangs for You” and “Love Bites”. Poor girl. And the saddest bit of all, she has yet to read the book! Oh well, I guess she can get in line and borrow my copy, embarrassment-free.

How many of you have read the series? Did you devour it (pardon the pun) the same way I did?

If you’re a Stephenie Meyer fan looking for a way to pass the time between the final book release in the saga last week (Breaking Dawn) and the Twilight movie in December (although it’s never too early to grab that sleeping bag and start forming a line outside the theater), check out the Breaking Dawn game that was hooked up to celebrate the latest release.

A couple days ago I brought up the subject of vampires in fiction, specifically the hoopla over Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight series. The idea wasn’t so much to unleash a storm of squee or slam posts, but to talk about vampires, why they’re hot, why they’re not.

Just a little over 24 hours into the con and in this atmosphere of pure geek energy, we’re already going seriously native: publicist April and I just had a very intense discussion about the exact shade of Edward Cullen’s hair (we settled on deep bronze), as an addendum to the more usual debate about the suitability of Robert Pattinson for the role (I’m quite happy, whereas, for April, he shall always dearly be Cedric Diggory.) Over at the Summit Pictures booth, they’re handing out Twilight movie posters; I settled for gawking at the lovely life-sized cutouts of Edward and Bella. And over at Hachette, a rep is greeting Twilight fans with the most controversial question of all: “Ed or Jake, who do you love?” Weigh in with your answer in the comments.