Literature of Horror, Sci-Fi, and Fantasy

In the novel Interview with a Vampire, Anne Rice creates two unusually conflicted characters within the archetype of a vampire. While previously thought to be depraved, bloodthirsty monsters, in her novel, Rice offers a more humanistic approach, portraying her vampires as heartless yet vehement and pensive. Louis, a vampire turned by one named Lestat, narrates the majority of the novel, relaying his life story to a young interviewer. As the boy interviews Louis, he, much like the reader, is shocked to learn of the nuances of his story - his feelings. For however degraded his morals may have become, he had not yet lost all of his humanity. Throughout the novel, Louis faces countless problems with Lestat stemming from the differences in the two characters. Louis, despite being a much younger vampire who was turned by Lestat, is considerably more sensual than him. As such, the act of killing and drinking one’s blood is almost sacred, while to Lestat, it’s merely fun and games. But

When we think of the word “Gothic,” typically what comes to mind are over-dramatic teens dressed in all black. So, when this term is applied to a genre, it often results in some pretty confused looks. But the nature of the Gothic novel is unique and rooted far back in history than simply combat boots, piercings, and black lipstick. Frankenstein , written by Mary Shelley in 1818, is by no means the first Gothic novel. However, combining both Romantic and Gothic elements, it did introduce an unforgettable horror story that would continue to be parodied in the coming centuries. Ok. So maybe it does involve a rather over-dramatic protagonist who might as well be dressed in all-black considering he is sick to the point of being on his deathbed throughout half the book, but, for now, let us focus on the more literary aspects of the Gothic. In a nutshell, Frankenstein covers the life of Victor Frankenstein who, after merely two years at college, figures out how to bring a dead body