‘Salem’s Lot, published in 1975, was an archetypical, but very popular vampire horror novel that embraced Pre-Anne Rice era traditions of a monstrous vampire feeding off of humanity. The book’s Wikipage is here. Again, the book is much more adult in nature, but is widely considered an essential vampire book, and most people are introduced to it in their teens or early twenties. -Michele
Salem’s Lot by Stephen King
Pocket Books, 1999
ISBN: 0671039741
Availability: New or Used
Some would say that Salem’s Lot, Stephen King’s second novel, published in 1975, is really the book that introduced him to the world. Ostensibly, it offers itself as a vampire tale about a writer named Ben Mears who returns to a small town in Maine called Jerusalem’s Lot, The town soon becomes infected by vampires, and Mears leads a varied group who must battle them. King has called this take on vampires his way of updating Dracula, but it reads as more than just a subgenre stab in Bram Stoker’s direction. The book actually feels less like a vampire tale than a whirlwind description of a small town that becomes the victim of a European antique dealer living in a house that overlooks the town. Setting is important here, for the panorama of a small town permeates the entire work. Stylistically, Salem’s Lot is set apart from other vampire tales. The story flashes from one character to another and the reader gets to know the individual inhabitants of the town. Readers advisory note: Salem’s Lot may especially appeal to readers of vampire tales who are looking for more than the typical straightforward approach, since setting becomes a character in its own right. Highly recommended for public library collections.
Media connections:
Salem’s Lot, 1979 television miniseries
Salem’s Lot , 2004 television miniseries
Salem’s Lot. 1995 UK radio miniseries
Contains: violence.
Review by William Simmons
Our Essential Vampire Series is an attempt to highlight the history of Horror conventions by topic through both MonsterLibrarian and the history or the genres.