Werewolves are the Vampires?

[Queen_Vicki]

Werewolves are the new Vampires?

Has anyone as of late had notice that werewolves are dominating the paranormal romance, and regular paranormal scene? Especially on LIT?What are your thoughts on this?

 

[PennLady]

Has anyone as of late had notice that werewolves are dominating the paranormal romance, and regular paranormal scene? Especially on LIT?What are your thoughts on this?

This isn't news, though. Werewolves have been a big thing in paranormal for a few years, it seems to me. And some writers, including myself, have branched into were-animals in general. I wrote stories involving were-tigers, -panthers, etc.

I don't think there's much to say about it except that it's just kind of a new fad, or maybe a fashion, since fads usually fade faster. There are lots of appealing things about it, not least of all the "alpha male," I'm sure. But like anything else it's just a device to tell a story. Some write good ones, some don't.

 

[Queen_Vicki]

Well I hope it never fades. I love werewolves,and I am writing my own little werewolf story. They are so sexy.

 

[R. Richard]

The problem with writing werewolf stories is that I can only really do it the night of a full moon.

 

[PennLady]

The problem with writing werewolf stories is that I can only really do it the night of a full moon.

If you write fast, you could write a story. A long, multi-chapter one would take MONTHS, though, eh?

 

[StrangeLife]

I totally blame it on those tanned shirtless dudes from Twilight...

 

[FAWCker]

I totally blame it on those tanned shirtless dudes from Twilight...

Twilight, Underworld, True Blood . . . .

I find it funny the way werewolves are depicted as being these savage, barely civilized creatures, yet they all have the fashion sense to shave their chests.

 

[3113]

Meh. Both are about being special and belonging to an exclusive club. I think it's all due to envy of not being able to hang with the cool-kids in high school (vampires) or with the athletic kids/jocks (werewolves).

Either the heroine (it's usually a heroine--a lonely, strange, geeky, yet uniquely beautiful girl) becomes involved with a vampire and his vampy family, is reluctantly but eventually welcomed in and becomes a cool kid (vamp)...or the same story happens with the werewolves who reluctantly but eventually welcome her into the pack.

And she gets to be with the alpha (inevitably) which means she gets to be with the star quarterback.

It's all metaphor We've just moved from wanting to join the cool kids to wanting to join the jocks.

 

[PennLady]

Twilight, Underworld, True Blood . . . .

I find it funny the way werewolves are depicted as being these savage, barely civilized creatures, yet they all have the fashion sense to shave their chests.

I suppose it's splitting hairs (haha) but in most of the stories I read, the alpha wolf especially is actually a pretty sophisticated dude who runs some kind of business (usually a nightclub or restaurant) as well as keeps his clan/tribe/whatever in line. The savage beast may lurk beneath the surface but most of the ones I've read, like I said, they are not barely civilized.

 

[patientlee]

The only werewolf I ever loved

was Michael J. Fox in Teen Wolf. Of course, I had a little thing for Marty McFly in his Calvin Kleins, so that might explain it.

 

[SecondCircle]

Werewolves, vamps, etc... they are our own little horror mythology. We've become so familiar with them that they've become tools and symbols for so many various forms of storytelling. I don't get into twilight stuff, nor do I knock it. It has its niche. It's extremely effective on the teenage mind.

Werewolves themselves have a certain allure to them. For centuries man has created half man half beast creatures, but none so simple or as tantalizing as the werewolf.

Other "weres" don't do it for me. I think that the reason werewolves work is because of the "wolf" part of it. Wolves are beautiful and majestic creatures. They are also very savage and ferocious. They are pack oriented or "family" oriented so to speak. When I think beast, they are the top ten animal that comes to mind. We have a husky, and everyone always tells us how beautiful it is, but really it's because of how closely related and how it closely resembles a wolf.

We like werewolves because of the creature they represent, the horrific qualities of their nature, and their struggle between humanity and our primal nature.

We've become so used to this mythology that they've basically become a sort of taboo sex symbol (though now it ain't so taboo). Not a bad thing, but I think they've captured our fascination in every aspect.

I think yes, they are a fad, just like vamps were before them. We all just got tired of vamps and started rooting for the other guys. The wolves. The savages.

And for the record, my brother is a werewolf and never once shaved his chest, so the TV shows are inaccurate.

Though I have to admit, with a dude like Alcide, why wouldn't we root for the wolves?

 

[desertslave]

I've seen the trend in mainstream paranormal. Patricia Briggs' series is a favorite of mine. I'm still partial, however, to vampires. They've always seemed more seductive to me than the wolves...feed at your throat vs. rip your throat out.

(Note: I'm entirely pretending that the Twilight nonsense never existed.)

 

[Bramblethorn]

I've seen the trend in mainstream paranormal. Patricia Briggs' series is a favorite of mine. I'm still partial, however, to vampires. They've always seemed more seductive to me than the wolves...feed at your throat vs. rip your throat out.

(Note: I'm entirely pretending that the Twilight nonsense never existed.)

Same here.

I do wonder whether it's "more werewolf stories" or "fewer vampire stories"; vamps have been so heavily exposed lately that maybe some authors are starting to look for something less crowded. I also seem to be seeing a few "succubus" type stories in the bookshops that probably would've been written as vampire stories five-ten years ago.

On a side note, I can't believe I got to this thread before Naoko.

 

[damppanties]

And for the record, my brother is a werewolf and never once shaved his chest, so the TV shows are inaccurate.

What?!

 

[StrangeLife]

Though I have to admit, with a dude like Alcide, why wouldn't we root for the wolves?

That might work from a male perspective but since part of the allure of supernatural creatures is the prospect of becoming one of them it seems odd that women are into weres.

Lets examine the prospects...

Becoming a vampire gives you: everlasting life (sort of), everlasting youth, irresistible sex appeal, superior physical abilities (without the need for sweating in a fitness center) and the best excuse ever for sleeping all day.

Becoming a werewolf gives you: lots of bodyhair and an uncontrollable urge to turn into a big dog once a month and eat people.


I'd say the were sounds like a tough sell for the average girl...

 

[horrorotica]

As a bit of a horror writer myself I am really turned off by werewolves and vampires. So overdone these days.

 

[Bramblethorn]

Becoming a vampire gives you: everlasting life (sort of), everlasting youth, irresistible sex appeal, superior physical abilities (without the need for sweating in a fitness center) and the best excuse ever for sleeping all day.

Just be sure you're getting that version of vampirism. Some of the others make lycanthropy look pretty good. Walking corpses who can't bear crosses, obsessive-compulsives who can't pass a pile of rice without counting every grain... though I think what Bowie got in The Hunger comes pretty close to the worst.

 

[Queen_Vicki]

Werewolves, vamps, etc... they are our own little horror mythology. We've become so familiar with them that they've become tools and symbols for so many various forms of storytelling. I don't get into twilight stuff, nor do I knock it. It has its niche. It's extremely effective on the teenage mind.

Werewolves themselves have a certain allure to them. For centuries man has created half man half beast creatures, but none so simple or as tantalizing as the werewolf.

Other "weres" don't do it for me. I think that the reason werewolves work is because of the "wolf" part of it. Wolves are beautiful and majestic creatures. They are also very savage and ferocious. They are pack oriented or "family" oriented so to speak. When I think beast, they are the top ten animal that comes to mind. We have a husky, and everyone always tells us how beautiful it is, but really it's because of how closely related and how it closely resembles a wolf.

We like werewolves because of the creature they represent, the horrific qualities of their nature, and their struggle between humanity and our primal nature.

We've become so used to this mythology that they've basically become a sort of taboo sex symbol (though now it ain't so taboo). Not a bad thing, but I think they've captured our fascination in every aspect.

I think yes, they are a fad, just like vamps were before them. We all just got tired of vamps and started rooting for the other guys. The wolves. The savages.

And for the record, my brother is a werewolf and never once shaved his chest, so the TV shows are inaccurate.

Though I have to admit, with a dude like Alcide, why wouldn't we root for the wolves?

Stop lying. Your brother is not a werewolf

 

[SecondCircle]

I must say, these types of supernatural beings have stepped out of the horror category and into mainstream everything.

And this is where I tend to agree with horrorotica. I don't really view them as scary or horrific anymore. Usually now, you could consider them dark fiction. Sure underworld was a cool movie way back, Dracula and wolf man are classics that inspired our fear and fascination, and twilight made teenage girls swoon over these all the sudden "sexy" creatures.

In writing, I stray from them now. I think they've evolved so much that we've made these creatures our friends now. Sure they are still portrayed as dark or scary, but they are not. Not anymore.

In very isolated cases though, they can be, if we would just quit painting them as sex symbols.

 

[SecondCircle]

We can do what we want with these creatures. I'm not saying they can't be used for good stories outside of horror, but it's sorta over saturated now.

I like the idea of a vampire being portrayed as a sorta man like parasite. That's basically what they are. A monstrous humanoid that would suck your body dry until all that was left was a deflated skin sack and bones. I picture Nosferatu being this way. But maybe without all the ridiculous super hero powers and stipulations.

Super speed and strength? Thought hearing? Can't cross a body of water out of coffins? Needing an invitation into a home before coming in? These were devices that used to be used to freak us out a little, or add story twists to the creatures. Now they just seem dumb and stretch our suspension of disbelief to tiring extremes.

I think rolling over and barely being able to see a pale face in that dark corner of your room would be enough. Or waking up fatigued and pale with strange marks on you. Or being cornered by three odd looking men in a parking garage with bulbous snakelike fangs dripping with saliva as their dark eyes pored over your body.

We reinvented them and told some great tales of love and struggle. Can we just go back to the basics now of getting our bodies eaten by that strange devil in the dark?

 

[3113]

Part of a Pack

Becoming a werewolf gives you: lots of bodyhair and an uncontrollable urge to turn into a big dog once a month and eat people.

I'd say the were sounds like a tough sell for the average girl...

Naw. Ladies love their doggies and enjoy the thought of romping in a park like a wolf, having lot of teeth to bite into bad guys, superior doggy senses and, once again, a pack. Because whoever messes with you, messes with the pack and the pack will take 'em down.

I'm telling you, that's why vamps and werewolves are back in style and staying in style with the girls. Obviously, the beauty angle helps (werewolves, too, are athletic and beautiful), but unlike being a ghost or demon or whatever else, both vamps and werewolves promise girls they'll be part of a larger group. The vamps are always part of some kind of family now. And the wolves are part of a pack.

And that is always appealing to women readers. Being part of some cool group, on the inside, always doing things with them, never alone, never without friends...that's the biggest plus--outside of the special guy who is obsessed with the girl (wolves are portrayed as faithful mates, after all, another attraction for women readers). You're part of the pack, and the pack has your back.

 

[sr71plt]

I thought it was just that every girl is looking for a bad boy.

 

[3113]

I thought it was just that every girl is looking for a bad boy.

Well, that, too. But they can't be really "bad" just misunderstood and a bit of a rogue. And the woman has to be able to redeem them by understanding them Hence, the huge popularity of modern werewolves and vamps who don't like killing or hurting people. Not really bad. Just misunderstood.

 

[sr71plt]

Hence, the huge popularity of modern werewolves and vamps who don't like killing or hurting people. Not really bad. Just misunderstood.

And I bet they use condoms too.

 

[SecondCircle]

I haven't seen werewolves being a big turnoff because of the hair and being a big dog man and all. (Shit, sorry, I meant turn-off. We learn every day.)

I think this is usually because the girl isn't actually in love with the beast half. It's the human half she goes for. Well in most cases anyway. The bad boy thing is accurate, as well as the girl seeing the inner good in him and falling for him.

But I don't think it's the same as falling head over heels for a mangy overgrown dog.

Unless... unless someone is just into that.