FORKNI-L
FORKNI-L Digest - 9 Nov 2006 to 10 Nov 2006 (#2006-48)
Fri, 10 Nov 2006
There are 6 messages totalling 179 lines in this issue.
Topics of the day:
1. Sunlight & Mr. Stoker (5)
2. My FK moment
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Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 14:41:59 -0800
From: April French <daomir_darkfell@y.......>
Subject: Re: Sunlight & Mr. Stoker
The modern concept of the vampire is due in large part to Stoker and
Dracula (although more from the Hamilton Deane stage play and the
Universal film starring Bela Lugosi), but Stoker in turn drew from an
already-established literary tradition, books like The Vampyre by
John Polidori and Varney the Vampire by James Malcolm Rymer. Much of
what Stoker used in his book is drawn from Eastern European vampire
legends (vampires becoming wolves, needing to be invited into a
house) and werewolf legend as well (hairy palms and such). Also, the
idea of turning into vampire bats came straight out of Stoker's head.
And as previously stated, the idea of a vampire being vaporized by
the sun is due almost entirely to FW Murnau's Nosferatu. I always
though Screed looked rather like Max Shreck. But the idea of a
psychic link between vampire and lover (victim?) is Stoker's.
The modern concept of the vampire as sexy comes from the stage
play; they took the decrepit old man-Dracula and turned him into a
kind of stage magician type.
The vampire legend is a wonderfully amorphous thing. The modern
vampires of today bear no resemblence to the vampires of legend. The
vampires in my original fic are quite different from the vamps in my
fanfic, and they're more interesting to me because of it.
~April (who probably just repeated everything everybody else said,
but did want to put her two cents in)
Libby Singleton <libratsie@s.......> wrote:
The great thing about vampire legends is that they vary so much
from culture to culture that there's ton of information to choose
from if you don't want to create your own "rules." Seems like I
recall hearing that our modern Western concept of vampires do take a
lot from Nosferatu (I'm very sick so that may be mispelled) and the
novel Dracula.
I rather like the "rules" applied to our FK vampires. I had to think
why I like them flying so well, and decided it probably comes from
being a lifelong superhero/comic book fan. I love to dream I'm flying
and just love to think about anyone else being able to fly.
In a number of legends, vampires are vicious, inhumane, horrible
creatures, not handsome or able to pass in human society. Of course
that definitely would not have worked in the FK universe. I know
people who dislike most modern vampire books/stories because the
vampires are too humanize, but I can't stand the absolute gore and
bloodshed of the vicious, not-human-at-all vampire stories.
In my opinion, Screed was probably the most original of the FK
vampires (of course I'm very biased and will admit it). He wasn't
suave, wasn't handsome in most people's eyes, and was more Nosferatu
in appearance than the other vampires we see ( - even including
Perry, the dog). He was animal like in some ways, yet very human in
others. Although he says at one point there's nothing tastier than a
wench, we learn in Fever he prefers and craves rats because that's
what he first tasted.
Like any writer's creation, FK didn't have to stick to any specific
rules because the "traditional vampire rules" depends on exactly
whose legends you are talking about. Also, it just occured to me that
because vampire legends used to traditionally be oral legends passed
down through oral story telling, the "rules" would shift and mutate
through the ages.
--Libs (with a very high fever due to a sinus infection)
~Knightwalker: Forever Knight Fan Fiction
-- http://www.geocities.com/knightwalker1228/index.html
~The Corvina: Original Fiction, Poetry and Fan Fiction
-- http://www.geocities.com/runeshard/index.html
"I move the stars for no one." -- LaCroix (via David Bowie)
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Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 15:30:56 -0800
From: Libby Singleton <libratsie@s.......>
Subject: Re: Sunlight & Mr. Stoker
Anyone thinking we "ruined" the vampire legend by making "modern
romantic" vampires such as those in FK as well as many paranormal
romances should consider that it could be argued these "sexy"
vampires are our own vampiric legend. Perhaps it is because we rely
so much on visual media these days whether it is Forever Knight,
Buffy the Vampire Slayer, or any "drool worthy" vampire.
If one was to get very literary and academic, one could argue that
the FK vampires who oversee those of their kind who have gone
animalistic/murderous are, in fact, killing the "old legend" of the
monstrous and bloodthirsty vampire. This argument could be continued
in the matter of carouches. The reason they are considered the lowest
form of FK vampire is because they are more animalistic (though not
necessarily savage). The modern sexy FK vampire such as Jeanette,
Nick and LaCroix would see themselves as civilized and carouches as
uncivilized barbarians.
--Libs
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Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 17:57:24 -0800
From: Kristen Fife <fenix23fyre@y.......>
Subject: My FK moment
Listening to a song by Jordan Knight, and the album
shows an angst-ridden man leaning over a baby grand.
He isn't blonde, but oh, the parallels! ;)
Kristen Fife, Author
http://writersweekend.com - Spend a Passionate Weekend With Your Muse
http://scarletmuse.com -An Erotic Writer's Conference
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Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2006 19:32:50 -0500
From: bluefaerymagick <bluefaerymagick@a.......>
Subject: Re: Sunlight & Mr. Stoker
I'm also working on an original vampire novel where vampires do not combust
in sunlight, but their eyes are very sensitive to it. I applaud Kristen
Fife for being willing to share her ideas about her vampires on list. And
others who have shared in the past. I've never been one to share my ideas,
except for the post i made a long time ago about why some vampires who are
brought across on FK have a link/bond with their master and why some don't.
And recently when i did share some scenes from my vampire story in a writing
class that i'm taking, (I have a bachelor's, i just wanted to take this
writing class), someone wrote a parody of my story and posted it for the
class to read, the teacher removed it at my request, the student flipped out
and dropped the class, then the student got permission and rejoined the
class. After that experience, i sent in a rough draft of my story and had
it copyrighted. So, my goal at this point is to avoid problems as much as
possible.
I'm a little uncomfortable remaining on list because this isn't the first
time that someone has said a little something that they were doing in a book
that i also have in my story. Or someone will post their theory about
something and i'll feel the same. Yes, i know with vampires that anyone's
story will be similar to someone else's to some degree. However, i've felt
before that it's a bad idea at this point to be on the list with people
sharing ideas/theories (example: the topic we had going a while back about
flying is I think when i got to thinking that being here might be a bad
idea), and i can't ignore the feeling anymore. Someone could feel like i
copied them from their post, be it something they are using in a story or
not, and i just don't want to open myself up to that kind of drama.
I hope everyone understands why i'm leaving, that i'm not saying that
anyone has done anything wrong, (I like those discussions about vampires)
it's just that i'm uncomfortable remaining on list. And i wanted ya'll to
know why i left. But i may return one day after my story is completed :)
~Sierra
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Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 15:27:02 +0100
From: P J <blue_twingo772@y.......>
Subject: Re: Sunlight & Mr. Stoker
From: Don Fasig <argent@c.......> :
>Nick, LaCroix, and Janette often smoldered but that was about it.
Other vampires (ex the vietnamese vamp and the suicidal playwrite)
burst into flames and were almost immediately consumed. <
I think age is the crucial factor here.
The Vietnamese vampire burst instantly into flames because he was
just about 20-25 years old. Erica, the playwright took a little
longer to implode.
The same goes for staking, I believe. Richard, Nat's brother
vanishes instantly when he gets staked - he's just a few days old.
Others who are older can even be revived when the stake is pulled out
in time (LC in "Night in Question").
I always wondered why LC has suffered from burns in the flashback
of "Be my Valentine" while Nick, who is hardly a year old at this
time, escaped unscathed. The explanation I made up for myself is that
LC possibly fed Nick from his blood to secure his saftey during his
exposure to the light and got himself weakened in the process.
> In the aforementioned episode, LaCroix seemed almost casual
about his exposure, while in another (The Hunted I think) he was so
desperate to elude the sun that he was willing to abandon Janette
rather than risk the few seconds necessary to help her along. <
Isn't it heart warming to see whom he regards as really important? LOL
Here I also like to think that LC might already be weakened in an
earlier skirmish with the Hunters that isn't shown.
From: Angela Gottfred <agottfre@t.......> :
>I believe it goes all the way back to Klaus Murnau's film, Nosferatu. <
Which is still one of the most effective vampire movies I've ever
seen. Actually his name was Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau and he was born
in the same town where I am from: Bielefeld, a nice little town in
eastern Westphalia. :)
Regards, Petra.
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Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2006 10:32:23 -0700
From: Angela Gottfred <agottfre@t.......>
Subject: Re: Sunlight & Mr. Stoker
> Actually his name was Friedrich Wilhelm Murnau
Thanks for the correction, Petra.
Your humble & obedient servant,
Angela Gottfred
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End of FORKNI-L Digest - 9 Nov 2006 to 10 Nov 2006 (#2006-48)
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