Yet Another Dracula Story

Here's a vague idea for a vampire story about Dracula I've had bouncing around my head for a while.

At some point, a clan of vampire hunters decide that there's no way to win the war against vampires conventionally, so they set out to create the anti-vampire. Using a magic ritual, they endow one of their best hunters with the Power of the Sun. Essentially, the hunter is now a sentient, humanoid sun that can kill lesser vampires just by showing up, and has more then enough power to bring down the tougher ones with other methods. He's a Hero Antagonist who does attempt to reach out to any Friendly Neighborhood Vampires he comes across, but for the most part he's a walking Mook Horror Show.

As vampires start being killed off by the hunter, many vampires go for the strength in numbers plan, rallying under the banners of powerful vampires. As the hunter exterminates the vampires, soon the only stronghold left is Dracula's castle. The story is mostly from Dracula's perspective, as he tries to keep himself and his charges (mostly himself) protected, advances his own dark agendas, and reflects on his (un)life and how vampires have changed since his time. (The last part is sort of meant to be a commentary on how the vampire sub-genre has changed over time. Basically picture Dracula hanging out with the Rice and Meyer vampires, being a dick, and you get the idea.)

I'm a little apprehensive about this idea, however. By definition, it's a derivative idea. Also, I'm worried that the antagonist might be a bit overpowered (I was thinking about giving him some weaknesses not dissimilar to traditional monster weaknesses, just for the sake of irony). Plus...it's another vampire story where those are a dime a dozen these days.

If anyone has something to say about it, it'd be very helpful.

Anything's worth reading if well-executed, derivative or not. Besides, this sounds much more unique than most vamp stories these days.

I might be taking it the wrong way, but it sounds to me like an interesting inversion of the standard horror story. The hunters have become the hunted, but instead of suddenly acting like teenagers lost in the woods, it sounds like you'd utilize the image of vampires that has been passed on and modified through countless generations and civilizations. Honestly, if you think you can write this without your self-doubt overwhelming all rational thoughts, I think you should try this out and see how it works.

I can say right now that I won't read this, but that's because I have had it up to here with all vampires, anywhere, in any form. Objectively, it sounds like an interesting concept, and if it came out in a time where the suckers weren't on every bleeping bookshelf, I would possibly give it a try.

Make sure to actually read, and understand the intricacies of, the source material if you are going to use the name Dracula.

I like the idea, though it does remind me a little of Vampire Hunter D(not that that's a bad thing). Definitely take a look at various types of vampire fiction to get some familiarity with the genre if you haven't already.

A little known vampire book I have a fondness for is called ANNO DRACULA and is basically a fan sequel to the original book, where Dracula won and married queen Victoria. By 1888, He's effectively running the British empire, all his enemies are impaled or shipped to concentration camps, and vampires live openly alongside humans, with racism and uneasy cooperation on both sides.

A lot more interesting then most vampire stuff I've seen.

edited 10th Jul '12 7:53:04 PM by hpl

It's a weird personal pet peeve of mine that sunlight doesn't kill vampires. I know it's an accepted part of the mythos, but I got started reading Dracula when I was a teenager, and the Dracula rules are the ones that stick with me.

Oh, I was surprised by a bit when reading Dracula.

Such as the fact Dracula dies because Van Helsing is cutting his head off while a texan character is staking him with a bowie knife. Somehow along the line the Texan gets dropped from every version of the story and a wooden stake becomes the ONLY method of killing a vampire.

Because apparently stabbing Dracula with a big ass knife just isn't cool enough.

edited 29th Jul '12 5:14:22 PM by hpl