For works of fiction you might want to look at the work of Anne Rice, Fred Saberhagen, Chelsea Quinn Yarboro, Poppy Z Brite, Peter Tremayne, Laurell K Hamilton, and new authors are popping up all the time.

For non-fiction, try and find anything by Kim Newman, Raymond T McNally, Colin Wilson and Sondra London has some interesting views, although not everyone agrees with them.

** From Alt.Vampyre.Faq **

[3.01] What books about vampyres are currently available?

Fiction:

For a list of vampire fiction, e-mail David C. Mudie's (mudie@eecs.berkeley.edu) for his _Suggested Reading for alt.vampyres_, or wait for it to be posted to the net.

Non-fiction:

Travis S. Casey wrote all opinions unless stated otherwise.

Barber, Paul. _Vampires, Burial, and Death_
THE book to read if you're at all interested in the origins of the vampire myth. Barber takes several actual accounts of vampire plagues, analyzes the various popular theories on where the vampire myth came from in light of them, and comes up with his own theory. Along the way, he touches on many other areas of legend and gives a great deal of detail about how bodies tend to decompose.

The following info comes from Alyce Wilson; some of it overlaps with what Travis Casey has written. The info has been reformatted to fit better into this FAQ, but the content has not been changed. Recommended Vampire Reading List (Non-Fiction) - This list may be reposted as long as this header is retained. Compiled by Alyce Wilson [amw108@psuvm.psu.edu]. Updates/corrections should be e-mailed to above address. >:-[ (I vant to suck your e-mail account time!)

Aylesworth, Thomas G. _Vampires and Other Ghosts_. Circa 1975.
A surprisingly complete children's guide to vampires (with some inaccuracies by way of omission -- lack of space).

Brosnan, John. _The Horror People_. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1976.
A general overview of the history of horror films (primarily in America). Concerned with the *people* involved in horror films -- actors and producers/directors. Features a large section on the Hammer vampire films starring Christopher Lee.

Bunson, Matthew. _The Vampire Encyclopedia_. New York: Crown Trade Paperbacks, 1993.
A compendium of vampire lore and theory. Lists movies, myths, and literary references.

Carter, Margaret L., ed. _'Dracula': The Vampire and the Critics_. Ann Arbor, Michigan and London: UMI Research Press, 1988.
A collection of critical essays about Stoker's _Dracula_ and its connotations in society as a myth and as a novel.

Dresser, Norine. _American Vampires: Fans, Victims, and Practitioners_. New York and London: W.W. Norton and Co., Inc., 1989.
Explores the myth of the American vampire; data collected through questionnaires to students, porphyria patients and vampire fans. Additional data was taken from the media. Documents how Americans identify with and imitate vampirism.

Glut, Donald F. _The Dracula Book_. Metuchen, N.J.: Scarecrow Press, 1975.
Expands on Dracula material from his previous book. Discusses the vampire image in respect to Count Dracula. A self-proclaimed contribution to the "Draculamania" of the 1970s -- the "years of the bat."

Jones, Stephen. _The Illustrated Vampire Movie Guide_. Vol. I London: Titan Books, 1993.
It does what it says. It says what it does. A comprehensive guide to all international movies with a vampire theme or something approximating one. Even includes movies where vamps make brief appearances (such as _The Magic Christian_). Rates each movie from 1 to 5 bats.

Leatherdale, Clive. _Dracula, The Novel and the Legend: A Study of Bram Stoker's Gothic Masterpiece_. Wellingborough, Northamptonshire: Aquarian Press, 1985.
Traces the vampire legend through myth and literature. Provides analytical perspectives on Dracula's role in culture and sociology.

McNally, Raymond T. _A Clutch of Vampires: These Being Among the Best from History and Literature_. 1974.
A collection of factual accounts of (so-called?) actual historical vampires, as well as some fictional stories. [McNally also wrote excellent book on historical Vlad Tepes, a/k/a. Dracula.]

Ramsland, Katherine. _The Vampire Companion: The Official Guide to Anne Rice's The Vampire Chronicles_. New York: Ballantine Books, 1993.
A cross-referenced guide to Rice's vampire books, as well as _The Witching Hour_, which shares some characters with _The Vampire Lestat_ and _Tale of the Body Thief_. Recommend reading the chronicles *and* TWH before reading this guide.

Senf, Carol. _The Vampire in Nineteenth Century Literature_. Bowling Green State University Popular Press, 1988.
Examines the progression of vampires from myth to Gothic villain, to modern literature.

Summers, Montague. _The Vampire: His Kith and Kin_. New York: E.P. Dutton and Company, 1929.
Classic work by the noted vampirologist. Although a little difficult to read by modern standards, a valuable work because of its extensive documentation.

Twitchell, James B. _The Living Dead: A Study of the Vampire in Romantic Literature_. Durham, N.C.: Duke U.P., 1987.
Looks at female and male vampires in poetry and prose of the Nineteenth century. Good for understanding of evolution of vampire myth in literature.

Robert D. Herrick II reviews these books. If you know of more books that should be brought to my attention, e-mail and I'll check them out.

Guiley, Rosemary E. _Vampires Among Us_ New York, NY: Pocket Books, 1991.
Contains a lot of information about 'real' vampires like the vampire of Highgate Cemetery and various people who claim to be vampires. Entertaining, at the very least, it also contains a good bit of legend that is quite useful.

Melton, J. Gordon. _The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead_ Detroit, MI: Visible Ink Press, 1994.
A really good source for learning about vampires and related topics. Some of the topics seem a little cheesy (like a description of Castle Dracula), but overall an excellent buy. For $16.95 (in 1995), you just can't get more information in one place. [FAQ note: The 1999 Second Edition retails for $19.95]

What follows is a list of books prepared by London "Rakshasa" Myers that may be of interest to writers as sources of inspiration or merely to get an idea of what is out there to look at the moment for ideas and other things such as that. Many are just good reads and have already been inspirations for many people to go on with their writing. The opinions expressed below are those of Rakshasa, and not necessarily those of the FAQ maintainer. Therefore, please forward all questions about this portion of the FAQ to Rakshasa at SLH4W@cc.usu.edu.

Bainbridge, S. (1994). _Blood and Roses_. New York: Diamond Books.
Fiction book about the "other vampire" in England at the time of Dracula. Personally I found it hard to get into.

Brite, P.Z. (1993). _Lost Souls_. New York: Dell Books.
Fiction story about three vampires-Molochai, Twig and Zillah- two friends-Ghost and Steve-and Nothing, a boy who's lost in the world. Personally it's one of my favorite vampire books.

Campbell, J.L. (1985). J. Le Fune in ed. _Supernatural Fiction Writers: Fantasy and Horror_ (Vol. 1-3). Ed. E.F. Bleiler. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons.
Discusses the authors of Fantasy and Horror stories in great detail, including who or what inspired their stories.

_Vampire Stories_. (1993). Ed. Richard Dalby. Castle Books.
Forwards and introductions to some of the early vampire stories written by Peter Crushing. Stories include Carmilla, Dracula's Guest, Varney the Vampire and the short unfinished vampire story by Lord Byron.

Hurwood, B.J. (1981). _Vampires_. Quick Fox Publishing.
History and myths of vampires. Very informative book with discussions on vampires in most cultures. Hurwood goes into different ideas of where vampire myths came from and where and why myths surrounding them sprung up.

Kaplan, S. (1984). _Vampires Are_. ETC Publication.
Dr. Kaplan, a noted vampirologist, sets his findings down in a book for all us to read. The beginning of the book is about who he goes about investigating vampires and identifying fakes from real vampires over the phone. The second part of the book is information and ideas on where vampires came from, why they are like they are, the diseases that cause vampire like symptoms, vampire probability tests, and little know facts. Highly informative.

Kiraly, M. (1994). _Mina_. New York: Berkeley Books.
Fiction book about Mina's life after the death of Dracula.

Machiavelli, N. (1981). _The Prince_. New York: Bantam Books.
Not a vampire book, but a must read for anyone interested in vampires. Machiavellian theories are commonly linked to vampire powers.

Mascetti, M.D. (1992). _Vampires: The Complete Guide to the World of the Undead_. Viking Studio Books.
My personal favorite. Mascetti explains ideas of myths surrounding vampires, everything from being staked at cross roads to why vampires in the old horror movies rose from their coffins with their arms up. It's also the only book I've come across that discusses modern traditions and their link to vampire history. Mascetti discusses all the famous "Vampires" in history as well.

Rice, Anne. _The Vampire Chronicles_ (Interview with the Vampire, The Vampire Lestat, Queen of the Damned, Tale of the Body Thief, Memnoch the Devil)
All books I'm sure are discussed in this FAQ at length.

Romkey, M. (1993). _I, Vampire_. New York: Fawcett Gold Medal.
Fiction story of David and his fight against the historical murderer, turned vampire: Jack the Ripper. Many historical figures play vampiric parts.

Romkey, M. (1994). _The Vampire Papers_. New York: Fawcett Gold Medal.
Fictional story of David... and his historical friends... continued.

_Vampires: Two Centuries of Great vampire stories_. (1987). Ed. Ryan, A. Doubleday & Company, Inc.
Along the same line as _Vampire Stories_. A collection of Vampire stories.

_Book of Dracula_. (1992). Ed. Shepard, L. Wings Books.
Collection of vampire stories and other horror stories, including Poe and Dickens.

Shepard, L. _Encyclopedia of occultism and parapsychology. (1985). Vol. 1-3. Michigan: Gale Research Company.
Look under headings on Vampires and Sex for vampire topics. Informative on how vampires are seen though the occult's eyes, and how early Christian churches views vampires.

Stoker, B. (1992 ed). _Dracula_
Another Fiction book I'm sure the FAQ already deals with.

some good books

Dracula "original version is better than the Adaptations and more detailed"

Carmilla

Varney the Vampire

The Hunger: "much better than the butchered movie based off of it"

Queen of the Damned

Lestat the Vampire

Interview with the Vampire

Books that deal with Vampires from a more academic level rather than a fantasy/fictional level:

Konstantinos' Vampires

Matthew Bunson's The Vampire Encyclopedia

J. Gordon Melton's The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead

Dudley Wright's Vampires and Vampirism: Legends from Around the World

Leonard R.N. Ashley's The Complete Book of Vampires]

Montague Summers' Vampire in Lore and Legend

Books that are purely fictional:

Charlaine Harris' The Southern Vampire Novels (3 at the moment with another one due this spring)

L. A. Banks Vampire Huntress Legend Series (4 in this series, that I know of)

L. J. Smith's Vampire Diaries Series (I believe there are 4 in this series as well)

Jeanne Kalogridis; The Diaries of the Family Dracul Series

Katie MacAlister's Sex and the Single Vampire, Sex, Lies, and Vampires and A Girls Guide to Vampires (more of romance vampire novels)

Lynsay Sands' Single White Vampire, Love Bites and Tall, Dark and Hungry(more of romance vampire novels)

Nina Bangs' Night Bites and Master of Ecstasy(more of romance vampire novels)

E. E. Knight's The Vampire Earth Series

Darren Shan's Cirque du Freak Series (aimed mainly at pre-teens and teenagers)

Barb & J.C, Hendee's books, Dhampir, Theif of Lives, and sister of the Dead.

I know not if I am allowed to post anything other than lists of books, and I apologise profusely if I have broken any rules, but I must ask...

Where can I find text pertaining to the vampire lore and mythos?

I do not wish to buy fantasy or horror novels, but I wish to learn more of vampirism - especially if any can be found written from the point of view of a vampire him(or her)self.

I eagerly await a reply, whether it be to scold me for breaking rules or to enlighten me with the knowledge I seek.

Did you want modern or historical?

Can't think of any original texts but you might want to look at the work of Montague Summers:

http://www.unicorngarden.com/vampires.htm

And then there's this site which aims to build up a collection of European Vampire Lore:

http://www.shroudeater.com/

Don't mean to disappoint you but good luck with finding a Vampire POV : there's so much roleplaying crap around any decent stuff is buried.

Another book to add to the list here of non - fiction:

'The Natural History of the Vampire' -- by Anthony Masters

A good fiction series

The Last Vampire (6 Book Series)

By: Christopher Pike

Companions of the Night by Vivian Vande Velde is a pretty good Fiction.

You people forgot one of the most helpful of them all. The science of Vampires by Katherine Ramsland. This is probably the best one out of all of them. Check it out, youll agree.