This is a list I've compiled of common vampire myths and how they appear in contemporary fiction. With the help of readers, I'm up to twelve columns, which is far too much for one page. After a lot of agonizing, I've decided to go to frames. I'm going to try to make it backwards compatible though. Let me know if you have technical difficulties. I've split this up to four columns to each of three content pages.

If a myth appears here, it means that somewhere, in some legend, movie, piece of fiction, etc. I've seen it (no matter how obscure), even if it doesn't apply to any of my examples. A question mark (?) in place of an entry means that I don't know how or whether the myth applies. An entry with a question mark (?) next to the entry means that I gave it my best guess and an entry with an asterisk (*) indicates that the answer is too complex to put in that tiny little box and I used my best approximation. The notation n/a stands for not applicable and usualy means the issue is better addressed in a previous entry. The list is grouped into subtopics, but is otherwise in no particular order. There are now annotations for most *-marked entries.

If you'd like to be helpful, please do email me with additions or corrections and I'll put them in. (Please mention vampires or myths in the subject header so I'll be sure to notice it.) I especially like to hear about myths I haven't included or answers to the question marked entries. Go ahead, argue with me, I'm nothing like infallible. If you'd like to see more, encourage me! For the people who've given me feedback, there is a credits section at the bottom of this page.

My examples are as follows:

Page One

AB - Anita Blake  

a series of novels by Laurell K. Hamilton.  

VF - The Vampire Files  

a series of novels by P. N. Elrod - includes the Jonathan Barrett books as well. 

BtVS - Buffy the Vampire Slayer 

a television show (currently on UPN) and, of course, the spinoff Angel, (currently on WB) 

WoD - The "World of Darkness"  

from the Storyteller(tm) line of products published by White Wolf 

Page Two

SY - Simon Ysidro  

a series of novels by Barbara Hambly 

VN - Victory Nelson  

a series of novels by Tanya Huff 

AR - Anne Rice  

the Interview books by Anne Rice 

SV - Southern Vampire Series 

a series of novels by Charlaine Harris 

Page Three

D - Dracula 

the classic novel by Bram Stoker 

KK - Keeper of the King  

a novel series by P. N. Elrod and Nigel Bennet 

FK - Forever Knight 

a syndicated television show 

DS - Dark Shadows  

a television show 

*note: The information on the Anne Rice column has been provided entirely by reader input (see the credits section) because while Ms. Rice has had an incredible impact on the body of popular myth in the past decade, her writing style drives me screaming up the wall and I've never made it through more than a chapter of any of her books.

The author of Evolution of the Vampire asked for a link here. I haven't read it, so I can't tell you whether it's any good.

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