VAMPIRE NATION by Arlene Russo Reviewed by Wyl Tatler “They Walk Among Us – the whole amazing true story” so reads the front of the dust cover, and, how can such an intro fail to sell copies? In the decade of supposed terrorist conspiracies here’s another reason to make you feel so frightened you don’t want to go out. Later on, in the Introduction, “at the very minute you are reading these words, sanguine vampires are drinking blood, while psychic vampires are draining you of your energy……………….. Vampires are all around us, in shops, supermarkets, the high street, everywhere.” The world sounds exciting at last……………..

This book purports to be an essential overview of the vampire scene in the UK, and so is the first to attempt this.
Other books have covered the same scene in America, and Vampire Nation looks to the US for some of its background as well. What it doesn’t do is give a comprehensive and acceptable definition of “the Vampire” and as a result has a bit of something for everyone.

Basically, for any of its adherents, “the Vampire” can be whatever you want it to be! In the course of its descriptions, the book assigns the notion of “real vampires” to those who drink blood (sanguinarians or sangs), or those who drink your energy (psychological vampires or psi vamps). There are blood drinkers around, but none seem to claim to live entirely on blood. One is reminded of the “breatharians” who claim they can live entirely on air, yet simply must sneak back to snack on a crafty burger now and again. As for psi vamps, we all know people who can wear you out just by standing near them. The book suggests they absorb “pranic” energy, but just what this is I am unable to ascertain and that term is hard to find in any medical dictionary. Energy vampires, it seems, are also parasitic, but just don’t want to have that messy blood involved.

The book goes on to describe “lifestyle vampires”, which I guess is what the London Vampyre Group is supposed to be all about. People who dress up, hang about Gothic environments like castles, cemeteries and stately homes, and consume a lot of books and music. If we end up being categorised as a costume and culture club, I see not too much wrong in that.

Also, the book touches on vampire crime, or, basically, killers who have a vampiric theme to their murders or crimes. This, it is true, has caused us to reflect now and again on what we are all about, and caused a degree of suspicion regarding the LVG in the media, but I don’t think the killer is quite there in most of us!

The book’s main interest value lies in the fact that it does lean heavily on actual interviews for its content, and these opinions, though often completely implausible, come over as genuine views. From the LVG, the Revamped website is quoted quite often, and there is a lot of Mick Smith quoted in those pages, although, when I asked him about it, his response was that it is always a good idea to keep a copy of your answers to writers as they do read somewhat differently when they appear in print! The best comments, in my opinion, come from Rosie Lugosi, who gives a spirited defence of club vampires and gives a timely reminder of how carefully to tread.

However, the book avoids any kind of advocacy, and treads that fine line between being involved and being detached. This may sell books to the public at large, but has a limited appeal to the scene itself. There is no index or list of websites for the reader to follow up. The writer, Arlene Russo, is the editor of the Scottish magazine, Bite Me, which the book’s cover claims, a little uncharitably, as the UK’s only vampire magazine. Surprisingly also, as the cover shows she claims to be a member of the LVG; - whatever, the book is written by an insider, and it may have carried a bit more influence and weight if this were more obvious. People do, unfortunately, judge books by their covers, and the writer is claimed there as “the UK’s foremost vampire expert”. I fear that’s going to be a hard reputation to live up to!

This book is unusual and contains good source material. If nothing else it will help you sharpen up your arguments against a hostile world.
Wyl Tatler