The House of the Vampire

The House of the Vampire

by George Sylvester Viereck

So you’ve read all the popular vampire series and you still want more? Do you consider yourself a fairly good reader, who doesn’t mind slightly old-fashioned writing? Are you interested in seeing the origins of today’s vampire novels? If so, you might want to check out this old-school vampire story.

The House of the Vampire is probably the first psychic vampire novel. Psychic vampires don’t drink blood. Instead, they take energy or life force or spirit or something like that from their victims. In The House of the Vampire is about a group of artists – writers, sculptors, and painters, whose creativity and spirit are being sucked away by a psychic vampire.

Reginald Clarke is a master writer, a man who can use words like nobody else. He also happens to have fantastic taste in all other forms of art, and he tends to take in and nurture less successful artists.

Reginald’s current protege is Ernest Fielding, another writer. Ernest is currently living with Reginald and trying to write the great American novel.

Jack is Ernest’s college friend, former roommate, and best friend in the whole world. Jack is away at school during much of the story, but he plays an important role.

Ethel Brandenbourg is, or was, a painter. She and Reginald were also briefly a couple. She hasn’t really painted in years, though.

Most of the story is about nervous artists being nervous artists. They make such good victims for a psychic vampire because it’s so hard to tell when they are being drained of their energy. They’re artists, after all. Are they just being overly sensitive? Are they having (absolutely natural) trouble coming up with the next great novel or painting? Are they having their life essence stolen by a vampire? Of course, evidence starts to pile up. Ethel and Ernest think they have it figured out, but nobody else believes them.

So how does The House of the Vampire compare with the Hollywood vampire stereotype?

• Drinking Blood [xmark] The vampire sucks the creative energy out of our artists.
• Has Fangs [xmark]
• Vampires Spread by Biting [xmark] According to the vampire, it just happens. It’s how you are born.
• Amazingly Strong [xmark]
• Unkillable [xmark] As far as we know, vampires are physically pretty ordinary people. It’s all in the mind.
• Weak Against Wooden Stakes [xmark] Well, no weaker than a normal person.
• Weak Against Sunlight [xmark] Not even a little bit.
• Must be Invited In [xmark]
• Weak Against Flowing Water [xmark]
• Weak Against Holy Symbols [xmark]
• Weak Against Garlic [xmark]
• Get Confused at Crossroads [xmark]
• No Reflection in Mirrors [xmark]
• No Heartbeat/Breath/Blood/Temperature/Other Signs of Life [xmark]
• Pale, Corpse-like Appearance [xmark]
• Doesn’t Age [xmark]
• Changes Shape [xmark]
• Flight [xmark]
• Wall Crawling [xmark]
• Hypnotic Powers [checkmark] Psychic powers and a ton of charisma! What a combination.
• Sleeps in a Coffin [xmark]
• Wealthy [checkmark] Not insanely wealthy, but certainly very well off.

How about some of the more modern trends?

• Sophisticated and Elegant [checkmark] Everybody likes this vampire, and he certainly has style. Not capes and things like that, but a really good sense of normal human style..
• Angsty [xmark] This vampire doesn’t feel the least bit bad about sucking people’s energy or even killing them. In fact, he sees it as his duty.
• Dark and Brooding [xmark] A little nutty, yes, but far to arrogant and cheerful to be dark or brooding.
• Really Just Misunderstood [xmark]
• A Sucker for Love [xmark]
• Looks Young and Sexy [checkmark] [xmark] I’m not sure about young, but this vampire has the charm. Women pay attention to him. So do men.
• Fluid Sexuality [checkmark] [xmark]Well, maybe. The House of the Vampire has been called the first gay vampire novel, but I’m not familiar with the cultural norm of the early 1900s. We never see the vampire get it on with another guy, but you might infer that he isn’t altogether 100% heterosexual. You might not. It’s all in how you read it.

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Where to Find It

You can read copies online through Project Gutenberg, Google Books, HorrorMasters.com, or Wikisource.

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