Myth: How Far is Too Far?

[varkat]

An interesting question arose in the comments section of Rob Thurman’s guest blog a few weeks ago about how far a writer can take something from mythology away from its roots and still call it by its name of origin.  In other words, are vampires still vampires if they can walk about in the sunshine and don’t need to drink blood to survive.

I gave

Comments

[ext_253192]

If a story is good enough, I don't think I would stop reading just because it doesn't meet my expectations of a myth - HOWEVER - the story has to be good enough. But even with that, and even if I enjoy the story, some things do annoy me

[varkat]

I like my vampires with bite, but that's a preference. The first time I encountered vegetarian vampires (I think the explanation involved fruit bats), I thought it was adorable. It was a middle-grade book, and I wish I could remember the author or series title so that I could pass it along.

As I mentioned, though, vampires already =are= completely different from one culture to another, so I'm not sure any one tradition has the market cornered on their attributes. Of course, to your point, they're called different things in the different languages, but in translation....

how far is too far

[ext_680094]

As long as it's explained why a vampire doesn't need blood or that it's the ring that makes ot okay for him to walk in daylight, I'm okay with most of the variations on paranormal romance creatures I've read (and there have been a lot

how far is too far

[juliepitzel]

It goes back to telling a good consistent story. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro had a vampire who could walk around in daylight as long as he had grave earth in his shoes, Anne Rice's vamps needed to feed less as they aged and there are stories with vampires who are born. I like a twist on the myth otherwise we're going to get the same stories over and over.

[varkat]

Jessica and Julie, I'm with you. I think that as long as the author can pull it off and keep it consistent, variety just adds spice.

[elfmama]

I too like the new twists on an old story. One of the things I liked about Twilight was the Native American spin Meyers put on the werewolf legend. ( i was always team jacob)

Like vampires, the myth of the Fae spans the globe and that's what makes it so fascinating to me- are Fae tall or small, winged or not, good or bad. Even within a culture the fae's character will vary with the particular tale, sometimes they help humans, sometimes they're the enemy as if, like humans, they can't be stereotyped.

[varkat]

And there are so many fae creatures that you can find one for any occasion!