Vampire flavour lit. crit.

[joysilence]

I've just come across another academic journal that may be of interest to supernatural fiction fans: the Journal of Dracula Studies, which obviously covers Bram Stoker's vampirey novel from every angle imaginable. It's in a slightly unusual format - a Wiki page linking to a host of essays in rtf. format, to be read in Word or a similar programme - but don't let that put you off! My favourite essay so far is Elizabeth Miller's Coffin Nails: Smokers and Non-Smokers in "Dracula", which explores the fact that all "marginalised" characters in the novel (i.e. vampires and lunatics) just happen to be non-smokers, while the heroes and heroines puff away like splendid, upstanding young chimneys throughout. Of course I could have told you myself that anti-smoking crusaders are evil and bonkers and headed for Hell, but I suspect that Miller's axe-grinding is more sophisticated and readable than my own ;)