Author: Bruce A. McClelland

ISBN: 978-0-472-06923-1

University of Michigan Press, 2006

Much more than a lesson on the history of vampire slayers themselves, McClelland weaves together themes of religious intolerance and social persecution as it applies to nearly all spans of human history. Along the way, we are given insight into the development of vampire lore -- and, to a greater extent, the co-development of the seer/hunter/slayer. Through his unique viewpoints, McClelland also manages to go beyond the normal realm of vampire study; we are shown, in fact, how the vampire serves the role of a “scapegoat” in the face of elaborately constructed social norms throughout the course of history.

Beginning with an in-depth look at the development of religious beliefs in the Balkans (especially among South Slavic cultures), McClelland shows early-on how the “conflict between early Christianity and paganism and heresy” leads to the rise of the folkloric vampire. In these early times, vampires are blamed for a wide range of unexplainable phenomena. The solution? The seer/slayer -- a mirror-image of the vampire who holds special powers only attainted through one of many strange (and often coincidental) initiation rites.  

As the legend of the vampire begins to move geographically west in the mid 18th century, a change occurs: the vampire becomes more of a literary (rather than folkloric) figure. As McClelland describes, this change results in the vampire becoming “a specifically antihuman threat.” Along with the change in the vampire comes a change in the seer/slayer. This new seer/slayer belongs not to the same ritual system as the vampire, but instead to a group of scientifically-educated and rational individuals prized for their knowledge of paranormal history.

Both the literary vampire and the literary slayer are captured in their essence by legendary author Bram Stoker in 1897’s Dracula. It’s the first in a long line of steps that brings the vampire (and seer/slayer) into Western pop culture. McClelland shows throughout the final chapters of the book how vampire themes relevant to Dracula are communicated through films and television programs during the 20th century.

Although McClelland succeeds on capturing the rich history of the vampire and the vampire slayer throughout his book, perhaps the only thing left untouched is a discussion on the possible future of the duo. In today’s society -- where good and evil are distinctly categorized and scapegoats are created on a daily basis -- it would be interesting to hear the author’s thoughts on a possible resurgence of vampire-like myths. Has the legend of the vampire been replaced in popular culture by another form of evil? Or is there more to come on the slayer front, possibly in a new and updated form? Although these questions are not specifically answered by the author, he does offer a bit of wisdom in his conclusion that may provide insight for the years to come: “…the history of the concept of the vampire seer/hunter/slayer seems to reveal a well-developed and extremely subtle mechanism for heroizing that which helps a community bury the traces of injustice committed in the name of preserving things as they are.”  

The above review was contributed by:   Chris Detloff. Chris is a long-time resident of Minnesota and a graduate of St. Cloud State University with a bachelor's degree in Rhetorical and Applied Writing. In addition to freelance writing and editing duties for a variety of periodicals. Chris cites Hunter S. Thompson as his favorite all-time author.