A friend of mine suggested the theory that vampires are demon-possessed, which sounded plausible and interesting, yes, but thematically, I just don't like the notion of vampires...not being themselves. For a satisfying story, a vampire's got to be its own being. Do you know of anything I could read on the subject, particularly something that dicusses vampire mythology from everywhere it's sprung up? (I read the Wikipedia article, of course, but there's only so much that stuff covers.) I checked my library, and the only book on vampires is apparently written by a complete mental case who thinks that the immortal bloodsucking sort is real, or is at least pretending that they are, and recounting legends and things as though they are rumours and/or historical fact, complete with various touched-up photographs and general creepiness of the unpleasant variety. :p

I did get a book on Slavic mythology which will probably contain something about vampires; I've been too busy reading Terry Pratchett to delve into it just yet.

I will definitely read Dracula! I've always wondered how good it actually is, because pop culture's turned it into something very campy, but I've heard some various people rave about it recently, and I ♥ classic literature. Buffy will, unfortunately, have to go into the box along with Doctor Who of Things No-One Will Rent For Me And I Can't Afford To Rent Until I've Got A Job. I've always been vaguely intruiged by it, though.