A couple of months ago we got a press release from the Horror Writers Association. It read, in part:

The Horror Writers Association (HWA), the international association of writers, publishing professionals, and supporters of horror literature, in conjunction with the Bram Stoker Family Estate and the Rosenbach Museum & Library, proudly announce the nominees for the Bram Stoker Vampire Novel of the Century Award™, to be presented at the Bram Stoker Awards Banquet at World Horror Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, on March 31, 2012. The Award will mark the centenary of the death in 1912 of Abraham (Bram) Stoker, the author of Dracula.

A jury composed of writers and scholars selected, from a field of more than 35 preliminary nominees, the six vampire novels that they believe have had the greatest impact on the horror genre since publication of Dracula in 1897. Eligible works must have been first published between 1912 and 2011 and published in or translated into English. The winning book will be announced on March 31, 2012. HWA will also celebrate its twenty-fifth anniversary on that date.

We at MonsterLibrarian.com are here to help you learn a little about these titles. Here’s a link to a page we’ve created with reviews of each of the nominated books. Some of these are now out of print or difficult to find (The Soft Whisper of the Dead was a limited edition of only 2,800 copies) but if you search your existing collection you may find these books are already on your shelves. Even if they aren’t, and you can’t snag yourself a copy, this is a great time to showcase your vampire novels and movies. Chelsea Quinn Yarbro has just come out with the twenty-fifth book in her Count Saint-Germain series, Commedia della Morte. Nominee Hotel Transylvania is the first book in that series. Richard Matheson’s I Am Legend has been made into three movies since it was published in 1954.

Want to find out more about the authors and their works? Click on the name of the author of each nominated book on the list below.

Nominees for HWA’s Vampire Novel of the Century

The Soft Whisper of the Dead (1983) written by Charles L. Grant.

Salem’s Lot(1975) written by Stephen King.

I Am Legend (1954) written by Richard Matheson.

Anno Dracula (1992) written by Kim Newman.

Interview with the Vampire (1976) written by Anne Rice.

Hotel Transylvania (1978) written by Chelsea Quinn Yarbro.

I personally have a hard time believing that it’s possible to pick ONE vampire novel from the past hundred years as having the most impact on the horror genre. But a list? That’s interesting, and it gives us- reviewers, librarians, educators, and readers- something to talk about and to share with others.  So several of our reviewers volunteered to write reviews for the books on the list. Some of the books were treasured possessions, others were library copies or first time reads.

I learned new things from reading about the books and their authors. Four of the named books were first in a series- Charles L. Grant wrote twelve books set in Oxrun Station; Chelsea Quinn Yarbro just published the 25th title in her Count Saint-Germain series, which begins with nominee Hotel Transylvania; Kim Newman’s Anno Dracula is the first in a trilogy; and Anne Rice followed Interview with the Vampire with so many other vampire tales that I’ve lost count. Three of them were published in the 1970’s- Salem’s Lot, Hotel Transylvania, and Interview With the Vampire. Interview With the Vampire, Salem’s Lot, and I Am Legend have all been made into movies. I was surprised to find that a few of the books are difficult to track down or out of print- Hotel Transylvania is only availalble as an ebook,  Soft Whisper of the Dead had a very limited print run, and reviewer Sheila Shedd had to send away for her copy of Anno Dracula. Again, check  your library shelves to see if you already own these. You might.

Even if you don’t own the books and can’t get them, this is still a great opportunity to showcase your vampire books and movies (no sparkles allowed). Chelsea Quinn Yarbro’s Commedia della Morte comes out this month, for starters; and if you click here you’ll find a list of additional titles as well as a few links to help you fill out your display. This is also a gold mine for discussion.  Here are some interesting questions to get you thinking…
 

• Is it possible for there to be one vampire novel with more impact than any other?
• Do you agree with the novels nominated for the award? Is there another book you’d include?
• Which book do you think will win the award? Which one would you like to see win the award?
• Did any of our reviews intrigue you enough to check out the book, if you haven’t already?

This inquiring mind would love to know! Enjoy, and please leave a comment!