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Doctor Who and The Curse of Fenric
These days most folks associate Doctor Who with folks like David Tennant and Matt Smith. But die-hard fans of the show remember the Time Lord's previous incarnations. One of the last episodes of the series original run aired in 1989. Long before Twilight or The Vampire Diaries or True Blood or Being Human, the world's most famous time traveler encountered vampires in "The Curse of Fenric."
Viewing this episode today can jar a bit. Apart from the different format (4 episodes of 25 minutes each) and a very different Doctor (Sylvester McCoy as this middle-aged, almost clown-like eccentric whose mask slips every now and then, revealing the ages-old schemer within), we confront the budget. The very small budget. As a result, special effects don't seem all that special by our standards. In particular, the really old vampires--or haemovores as the Doctor dubs them--all too obviously consist of people in rubber masks. In those days, though, the show (officially at least) aimed at an audience of children. Which makes for another bit of disorientation, at least to Americans. As Harry Potter shows, the Brits don't mind showing elements of real horror to children.
During World War II, the Doctor arrives off the Northumrian coast with his companion Ace (Sophie Aldred), a teenaged semi-juvenile delinquent with severe parent issues. She trusts and even loves this 
oddball man she called "The Professor" though. A pair of misfits exploring time and space, with the Doctor acting as surrogate father.
The town of Maiden's Point turns out to have quite a history. A viking ship landed her over a thousand years ago, leaving descendants as shown in the names on gravestones. Today a government station exists to eavesdrop on German transmissions and decode them using the ULTIMA machine, a primitive computer. Commander Millington (Alfred Lynch) is in charge, and has his own agenda. A brilliant scientist named Judson works on ULTIMA but also hopes to use it to translate runes found in catacombs beneath the local church. A team of Soviet soldiers have arrived with orders to steal ULTIMA, because (as everyone knows) the western powers have only a temporary alliance with Communist Russia. After the war, tensions and rivalries will erupt once more. Millington knows this as well. That is why he has been storing up nerve gas, as part of his own plans.
Ace pretty soon befriends a couple of girls her own age, Jean and Phyllis, relocated from London and staying with an extremely stern old woman Miss Hardecker (Janet Henfrey). They are among the first 'taken' and transformed. For under the water of Maiden's Bay the ship of the original viking settlers 
remains. More, some of those vikings begin to stir--no longer human but malformed things called haemovores, clawed vampires not unlike the look Johnny Depp assumed in this year's Dark Shadows. In truth these "fresh" haemovores make far more frightening creatures than the men in rubber masks and gloves that emerge out of the water and threaten all those nearby. Very Night of the Living Dead, that.
Interestingly (and much more in accord with folklore) these vampires suffer no ill effect from sunlight, but find a certain psychic 'tone' generated by pure faith unbearable. Thus a Soviet officer keeps them at bay by holding up the hammer-and-sickle from his uniform, the emblem of Communism in which he totally believes. Ironically, the local Vicar fares less well. He has too many doubts, especially amidst a war in which too many innocents die.
Fenric it turns out is the name of an ancient Evil bested by the Doctor in a chess game and so trapped in a vase, one found in the catacombs under Maiden's Point church. As he was imprisoned, Fenric managed to reach across time to the far future, when a polluted ruined Earth supported the last remnants of humanity--the grotesque Haemovores. One such, dubbed the Ancient One, he pulled back to the ninth century and used to prepare for this day--when Fenric escapes and faces the Time Lord once more!
"The Curse of Fenric" marked one of the last episodes featuring the Seventh Doctor (Matt Smith, the current one, numbers Eleven). Produced while Margaret Thatcher was Prime Minister, it can be seen (as were several such) as a critique of her Conservative policies. Millington's ruthless plans, for example, involved letting the Soviets steal ULTIMA in order to use the machine to kill them via a built-in booby-trap. Likewise other episodes heaped scorn on ruthless competition, on the natural consequences of conservatism carried to an extreme, etc. Many assume this helped end the series' production. Certainly the show had ever-increasing sophistication in terms of storyline and character development. By then, everyone knew adults watched Doctor Who. And perhaps inevitably over the course of the series' run, almost every kind of icon from fiction made its appearance--from ghosts to sea monsters and werewolves to invading aliens (lots of those) and omnipotent gamesters. Little wonder the show had several vampires. This might be the most "pure" form the Doctor ever encountered. At least so far.
The 2003 DVD of this story edited all four episodes into a full-length film, redoing the special effects and including twelve minutes of unaired footage.
Anyone else remember "The Curse of Fenric" and its Nosferatu-esque undead?
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When Were Vampires Ever Scary?
Often times when I hear people pissing and moaning about the vampires of Twilight, The Vampire Diaries and so on, I can’t help but do an internal eye role. They usually say the same old things, like…
"Vampires aren’t supposed to fall in love, that’s not scary!"
"Vampires kill humans, they don’t befriend them!"
"Vampires are supposed to rip humans to bloody shreds!"
And the biggest comment of all is…
"Vampires are supposed to be scary, like the used to be back in the day!"
That last comment is the one that stops me every time. I always have the instant urge to ask them, "When were vampires ever scary?" Yes, there are loads of scary modern day vampire films and books that showcase truly terrifying vampires, like 30 Days of Night for example. But those that are complaining are talking about vampires in entertainment from "back in the day." The first vampire movies and books. I hate to break it to the haters, but those weren’t scary, and not only that, but they feature a lot of the things people hate so much nowadays.
Take Bram Stoker’s Dracula for example, it’s the big vampire book that started it all. The classic book features and epic romance, a dapper and handsome vampire, and more. See, even vampires books from back in the day had romance and sexy vampires. And is Dracula scary? No. Not once when I was reading the book as a child was I afraid. It has elements of horror, it is indeed a horror novel, but it’s not any scarier than many of our modern day vampire novels that people bitch so much about. Of course, Dracula is better than those books in countless ways, but using the "vampires are supposed to be scary!" argument as a reason why it’s better does not work.
The thing is, I can’t think of a single vampire film or book from ages ago that’s truly scary, and that is why the argument about how new vampires in entertainment are lame because they aren’t scary like they once were, bothers me. Yes, vampires in classic stories and old black and white films weren’t cute fluffy bunnies, but they weren’t terrifying beasts either. They didn’t brutally mutilate their prey like in recent vampire horror films. They had an element of horror, but not in a nightmare-worthy way.
I can think of a 101 reasons to hate books like Twilight, but it not being scary like it’s "supposed to be" is not one of them.
So, to those that complain about modern vampires not being scary like before, I ask, "When were they ever scary?"
- Moonlight
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True Blood Releases First of Three Bloody Season 5 Posters
Season five of the True Blood won’t be here until June 10th (booo!) but until then HBO is giving us all sorts of goodies to tide us over until the big day. So far they have released a round of trailers showing glimpses of an action-packed season, behind-the scene footages, a teaser poster, and lots of characters posters. Now, True Blood Outreach has released the first of three fan posters HBO plans on using to promote the fifth season of its hit vampire series.
The fan poster contains a bloody hand print and has the clever text “GIMMIE FIVE” (which obviously symbolizes the show’s fifth season) underneath. Well done to the fan that created it. Check out the poster for yourself:
It’s not the greatest poster in the history of forever, but it’s nice and humorous. I look forward to the next round of fan posters.
HBO is definitely going all out on the promotion of Season 5, but then that has been the case with every single season so far. Here’s hoping it’s not all for nothing and they deliver a kickass season. True Blood has disappointed me enough in the past and I’d rather not have another terrible season. Season 4 was MUCH better than Season 3 (which was god awful), so hopefully the show continues to improve and Season 5 is even better.
I have high hopes though, the various previews of Season 5 have been fangtastic so far. I am loving all of the sneak peeks. For those of you that missed it, here is another look at the first full trailer for Season 5 of True Blood:
True Blood returns to HBO on June 10th.
What are your thoughts on all of the promotions so far? Are you getting more and more excited for the fifth season of True Blood? What are your hopes for Season 5?
- Moonlight
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Vampires, Trolls, Elves and More!
Every now and then I fall so in love with a series of books that I go into this obsessive book mode and read every book back to back as quickly as humanly possible. This is what’s currently happening with Rob Thurman’s Cal Leandros series – I am its latest fangirl. The series has some badass vampires in it, but better yet, it also has a wide assortment of other supernatural beasties. So if you’re looking for something with vampires and more, then this is definitely a series to check out.
The Cal Leandros series follows Cal, a cocky survivor, and his brother Niko, a perfectly controlled warrior, as they try to save Cal from his father’s side of the family. Cal, who appears to be entirely human, is actually half monster, and his sadistic monstrous side of the family wants him back. During their quest to save Cal from unknown horrors, the brothers cross paths with a horrific troll living under a bridge, a stunning vampiress, a mischievous puck, deformed werewolves, boggles in the park and much much more.
The world Thurman has created has many classic supernatural beings that we know and love, but the author put her own twist on them, making them fresh and new and horrifying. The world this series is set in is surprisingly innovative and captivating. While the storytelling is rocky in the first book, the story itself is beyond excellent, as is the story in every book so far. I am highly impressed with the tale this author has weaved.
But, while I adore the story, with its mystery and horror, I have to save that I equally love the characters themselves. Many authors struggle with characters, they have a difficult time portraying them to readers. But Thurman does not have that problem. You know each character inside and out, and you love what you see. Each character has a unique personality and is perfect for the story. There’s a depth to each person in this series.
Even if you don’t care much for the other supernatural beings in this book, I still suggest giving it a shot. There are vampiric main characters, and they are totally amazing, but they are just the icing on top of the already awesome cake.
Check out the official Cal Leandros website for info and reading order.
Has anyone else read this series? If so, what did you think?
- Moonlight
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Fleur de Feu
Some spoilers follow.
I am a huge fan of British author Tanith Lee. Her Tales of the Flat Earth for example make for one of the most original epic fantasies (if you can call them that) ever. Likewise her books about the vampiric family the Scarabae as well as an undead re-telling of Snow White ("Red As Blood") make her among the authors all fans of this website at least should check out.
Her best tale, however, remains "Fleur de Feu", which you can find in numerous short story collections such as Dreams of Light and Dark as well as Blood Thirst: 100 Years of Vampire Fiction and The Penguin Book of Vampire Stories. Here is a vampire tale unlike any you have ever read, probably the most haunting and certainly among the most beautiful. I read it aloud to the lovely lady who agreed to become my wife, and her eyes shone when the story came to its bittersweet end...
In an unidentified land stands a castle. Within the castle lives a young skullery maid, a girl who's known nothing but life here. The lord of this castle is a grim man, obsessed with the death of his wife and daughter years ago. He knows how they died. Every one knows. Outside the castle, each night, the creatures who drained their blood swarm over the walls and fly amid its turrets. Vampires of the air, they woo the castle and its occupants. With every sunset, they seek a way inside. But every door and window remains sealed, just as drums and cannon and singers make a steady outpouring of noise until dawn--all the drown out the voice of those who wish to be allowed inside...
So matters have proceeded for year after year.
Until one night, the King of the Vampires finds a tiny crack in the castle's defenses. Via a circuitous route, he finds himself in the containing area where a the Lord keeps a pet lion. A battle ensues, during which the Vampire King suffers great wounds before the lion falls, its blood slaking the thirst of his destroyer. The battle attracts attention. Which in turn leads to the wounded vampire finding himself wrapped in chains. In his capture, the Lord hopes for more than revenge... The castle contains a domed garden, and within that garden a rare bush, the fleue-de-feu or bite-me-not. Its flowers offer sure protection against the undead, but only if they bloom. This bush has never bloomed. None know what magic is needed to make the bush give forth its flowers, but their hope is that the blood of the Vampire King will do the trick.
Meanwhile, the Lord makes an inspection of the castle, seeking any further means of entry the waiting vampires might use. Along the way, for the first time, he spies the skullery maid and proclaims her the very image of his lost daughter! He elevates the girl, dressing her in fine clothes and giving her delicacies to eat. She hardly understands. No more than she comprehends the ceremony they mean to do with some captive and a special bush in the garden--an event which she is now expected to attend.
But whereas all others look upon the Vampire King and see a demon, she needs but one glance to see him as beautiful. So beautiful she cannot let them do him any harm.
Herein lies a tale, a love story, that almost shouldn't happen. This vampire, for example, really is a demon. He has never been human. Nor can she ever join him in undeath. In this world, that just isn't how it works. Mind you, she doesn't even understand that. All she sees is something wonderful and lovely to behold. She speaks from her heart, in action rather than words because he understands no human tongue. Likewise his own actions, beginning with a whim but then becoming a series of choices, speak. Louder than any mere sentences. The lonely young girl who cannot even read. The powerful lord of the flying vampires. How odd, how unlikely, yet how utterly right somehow they should find one another. Love one another even.
I'm not going to spoil how the story proceeds, except to say that question that may have occurred in reading the above precis are indeed answered.
Exactly how did the Lord's wife and daughter come to die at the fangs of the vampires? Why is the Lord so convinced this skullery is his child reborn? In the end, do the vampires enter the castle--or are the people inside preserved, and if so how? Finally, what is the magic that makes the fleur-de-feu bloom?
Honestly, I cannot recommend this story enough. Have any of you read it? Care to share your reactions?
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The Hauntingly Beautiful Poetry of Conrad Aiken
There are quite a few lovely vampire poems that have been penned, but one of my (many) favorites is Conrad Aiken’s The Vampire. This chilling and bloody poem captures both the allure and horror of the vampire. Published in 1914, The Vampire is a poem about a remarkably beautiful vampiress who captures the hearts of men and eventually leads them to their doom. I adore this poem and highly recommend it to the poetry lovers amongst us. A haunting preview is below:
S
he rose among us where we lay.
She wept, we put our work away.
She chilled our laughter, stilled our play;
And spread a silence there.
And darkness shot across the sky,
And once, and twice, we heard her cry;
And saw her lift white hands on high
And toss her troubled hair.
What shape was this who came to us,
With basilisk eyes so ominous,
With mouth so sweet, so poisonous,
And tortured hands so pale?
We saw her wavering to and fro,
Through dark and wind we saw her go;
Yet what her name was did not know;
And felt our spirits fail.
We tried to turn away; but still
Above we heard her sorrow thrill;
And those that slept, they dreamed of ill
And dreadful things:
Of skies grown red with rending flames
And shuddering hills that cracked their frames;
Of twilights foul with wings;
And skeletons dancing to a tune;
And cries of children stifled soon;
And over all a blood-red moon
A dull and nightmare size.
They woke, and sought to go their ways,
Yet everywhere they met her gaze,
Her fixed and burning eyes.
Read the second half of The Vampire here. It is most definitely worth a read.
Do you enjoy poetry about vampires? What are your thoughts on Conrad Aiken’s The Vampire?
- Moonlight
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The Power of a Vampire After Death
The wonderfully varied and unique history of vampires has always fascinated me and I am consistently amazed by what people long before me once believed. One such belief was what happened after a vampire was destroyed. Hundreds of years ago, when the belief in vampires was very real, people thought that not only did a vampire have great power during life, but also when it was officially dead. The power was in its ashes.
In vampire folklore, the ashes of the burned corpse or burned organs of a vampire, mixed in a drink and taken as a kind of medicine, were thought to have the power to heal those who were victims of vampires. In Slavic lore, however, it wasn’t a vampire’s ashes, but the ashes of a burned caul (a membrane that covers a newborn’s head at birth) that was powerful. Consuming the ash of the caul was said to heal the victims of a vampire attack.
In some parts of the world, it wasn’t the ash, but the smoke from the vampire’s burning organs that were desired. This smoke was believed to ward evil and villagers would pass through this smoke in order to cover themselves in protection.
A Romanian account from the 19th century tells the story of a crippled man from Cujmir who died, but apparently, didn’t stay dead. Soon after this man’s death his relatives began to fall ill. For some the illness was so great that they died, while others simply felt their legs weakening. The weak legs suggested to the relatives of the crippled man that he was to blame for their ailments, so they dug up his body. What they discovered was a body gorged with blood and curled up in the corner of the grave. They sliced open the corpse, removed the heart and burned the organs to ashes. The ashes were then mixed with water and given to the relatives suffering from illness and weakness. All of them recovered.
So even after death, the vampire continued to have power, and this time, it was the power to heal. Or so they believed.
- Moonlight
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