How to Kill a Vampire : Fangs in Folklore, Film and Fiction

Introduction: the sleep of reason roduces monsters; or, the vampire and why it needs to be destroyed -- The evolution of vampire killing: a pop culture primer -- Detection, prevention and protection -- The weapons -- In praise of the slayer -- A few words on vampire suicide.;Citing examples from folklore, as well as horror films, TV shows, and works of fiction, this book details all known ways to prevent vampirism, including how to protect oneself against attacks and how to destroy vampires. While offering explanations on the origins and uses of most commonly known tactics in fending off vampirism, the book also delves much deeper by collecting historical accounts of unusual burial rites and shocking superstitions from European history, from the "real" Serbian vampire Arnold Paole to the unique Bulgarian Djadadjii. Citing examples from folklore, as well as horror films, TV shows, and works of fiction, this book details all known ways to prevent vampirism, including how to protect oneself against attacks and how to destroy vampires. While offering explanations on the origins and uses of most commonly known tactics in fending off vampirism, the book also delves much deeper by collecting historical accounts of unusual burial rites and shocking superstitions from European history, from the ?real? Serbian vampire Arnold Paole to the unique Bulgarian Djadadjii, a professional vampire ?bottler.? It traces the evolution of how to kill the fictional vampire{u2014}from Bram Stoker{u2019}s Dracula and the Hammer horror films beginning in the 1950s to Anne Rice{u2019}s Lestat and the dreamy vamps of Twilight, True Blood, and The Vampire Diaries{u2014}and also celebrates the most important slayers, including Van Helsing, Buffy, and Blade. In exploring how and why these monsters have been created and the increasingly complex ways in which they are destroyed, the book not only serves as a handy guide to the history and modern role of the vampire, it reveals much about the changing nature of human fears A fascinating investigation of what strikes fear in an immortal's heart Vampires exist. And in every culture with a legend about bloodsuckers that rise from the grave to prey upon the living, there are rules and rituals for how to destroy them. How to Kill a Vampire is the first book to focus specifically on all known ways to prevent vampirism, protect oneself against attacks, and ultimately how to destroy the undead, as documented in folklore as well as horror film, TV, and books. Covering everything from obscure legends to contemporary blockbusters, Ladouceur's unique approach to vampires traces the evolution of how to kill the fictional creatures and celebrates the most important slayers. In exploring how and why we create these monsters and the increasingly complex ways in which we destroy them, the book not only serves as a handy guide to the history and modern role of the vampire, it reveals much about the changing nature of human fears. Vampires exist. And in every culture with a legend about these bloodsuckers, there are rules and rituals for how to destroy them. How to Kill a Vampire is the first book to focus on all known ways to prevent vampirism, protect oneself against attacks and ultimately how to destroy the undead - as documented in folklore as well as film, TV and fiction. It explains the origins and uses of common tactics but also goes deeper, collecting historical accounts and shocking superstitions. Surprisingly funny, How to Kill a Vampire divulges just what strikes fear into an immortal's heart.