Went shopping for books a few nights ago, and noticed the real depth of an issue I feared would happen. Out of all the books in the fantasy section, hardly any of the good ones weren’t supernatural. An odd complaint coming from a vampire worshiper, I know, but….there just isn’t much true fantasy left out there. None that I actually like, anyway. Well over half of all the new books at B&N had something to do with vamps, werewolves, witches, slayers, strange sado-masochistic femmes, and people that are in love with one of the above. What happened to all the dragons and wizards and elves? Did the vampires eat them or something?
Seeing this trend concerns me. It makes me wonder if I’m doing the right thing by writing a pure fantasy book as opposed to a supernatural wonder. Should I abandon my main ms. forever, or just until vampire fever wears off? And believe me, it WILL wear off. Vampires had their reign waaay back when an angsty fellow named Barnabas Collins was the primary neck biter we girls swooned over, and that was in the 60’s and 70’s. Now, 40 years later, vampires have made an incredible comeback. But…it took 40 years. That’s longer than it takes for fashion trends to come back into style.
I love vampires. I really do. I want them to stay forever. But do we have to sacrifice the meaning and mysticism of true fantasy to keep them?
