I was thinking about when I started reading paranormal and I started going back, way back. First, I thought about my teen years and two books that were very important to me, that I read and reread. Namely, John Wyndham's The Chrysallids and Phylliss Gottlieb's Sunburst. I won't get too far into the is-it-paranormal-or-not debate. Both of these could be named futuristics, though in my own mind I see them under the umbrella of paranormal. More importantly, both books have psi powers. This appealed to my teenaged self, though I did reread them as an adult and the stories held up well.
But, I realize, these are hardly the first paranormal-type books I read. I cut my teeth on The Wizard of Oz and its sequels (okay, fantasy), The Black Stallion series (with its time travel episodes, among other things), The Tripods series by John Christopher (okay, science fiction), and I can't not mention Lord of the Rings, although I do think of it as fantasy.
Anyway, I realize what I can't remember is when I read my first shapeshifter or werewolf. I would guess in a romance, but which romances I don't know, and it could well have been a fantasy, too. (I didn't read Anne Rice, btw.)
My personal tastes run towards shapeshifters, not sure why. Maybe it's simply because I'm not a night person! But when did you read your first vampire and/or shapeshifter. What teen or childhood reads were important to you?
(By the way, if you like futuristics, Angela James is giving away a digital copy of a soon-to-be-released futuristic, Forget About Tomorrow by Liz Kreger.)
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8 comments:
My first werewolf story that I remember was in a children's book of horror stories. The werewolf was not particularly evil or good he was just a werewolf and eating a 3 year old was just his way of life. After all werewolves have to live too.
But yeah probably not the kind of werewolf you'd meet in a romance.
:)
S.J.
Yes, the werewolves of horror stories, especially older stories, and today's romance heroes and heroines are quite different, er, beasts.
I bet if someone studied it, they could see a progression over the last ten or twenty years as these characters have changed.
I have never read much horror, so I don't remember werewolves from my childhood.
I remember when I was young I read a book about a vampire who ended up staying with a family during Christmas. It wasn't romance, but it was the first significant book I can remember that involved a vampire.
As I became a teenager I discovered Dracula and then Anne Rice's vampires. That's what really sealed the deal for me.
Werewolves didn't start appealing to me until I was just nearing adulthood. I can't remember if there was a particular book or story that got me started on it, but I loved watching some werewolf movies. That's what really got me started writing about shapeshifters.
Great blog post, by the way. Have a great day.
Much Love Always,
Rose Marie Wolf
www.rosemariewolf.com
Thanks, Rose Marie!
The only movie werewolf I saw was A Werewolf in London. I liked it a lot, but not realy an HEA there! They need to revise *g*
First vamp was Stephen King's Salem's Lot, I hated that movie(as in OMGOMGOMG AACK! OMG!) and then the book terrified me too. Ew! Then, I read Anne Rice's books and thought, you know, these dudes would be hawt if they could have the sex. *blinks* Laurell K Hamilton, thank you so much for givin em Vamp Viagra or whatever the crap it was. LOL! Love vamp romances. I tend to write them a touch campy because I'm a big chicken about them still though.
As for werewolves, again with Stephen King. I read Cycle of the Werewolf which is a short story. Loved the heck out of it too. Now, this is one of the few stories of his that I actually like as a movie too (Shining is the other). In fact, I almost (almoooost) like the movie better. Gary Busy and Cute Corey (can't keep those two straight) make it for me. Fun, campy and just creepy enough to be scary. Now, I'll admit that the wolf dude is scary, but I'll also tell you this.. despite WHO he is (no spoilers) he's also sorta hot. Can't help it, to me he is. *sighs* Now I read every werewolf/shifter book I can. I have my favorites, but I'll try any author once.. maybe twice.
Stephen King is one of those authors I think I should read more of, because he's an amazing writers. (And I have read Firestarter and The Stand.) However, I'm a bit of a fraidy cat, so I have a hard time bringing myself to read his books.
But if Cycle of a Werewolf is a short story, I might be able to get through it. I'd be curious to see his take on a werewolf.
The first horror I remember reading was a Scholastic Books anthology called "Night in Funland and Other Stories." The first story, "Night in Funland" by William Peden (I can't believe I still remember the author's name!) was so chilling, I didn't get on a ferris wheel for years! There wasn't a paranormal creature in it, but for a story to have such an impact that I remember it vividly over 30 years late, must have been a heck of a well-written story. :)
I haven't heard of that one, Carolan, but obviously it had impact!
(I can no longer ride the ferris wheel, though that's my fear of heights.)
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