Fiction & Mythology—How Many Types of Vampires are There?

In popular folklore, vampires are depicted as creatures with fangs that feed on humans by consuming their blood. Vampires have been a recurring theme in the folklore and stories of different cultures for hundreds of years, particularly in Europe. Nevertheless, their existence has become less widely believed in modern times. But you don’t need to believe in vampires to enjoy them in fiction.

My first encounter with paranormal fiction came when I discovered The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris and I fell in love with her vampires. It happened one night when I saw the pilot of True Blood on HBO and I knew I wanted more. So I started with the first book, Dead Until dark, then binged-read the whole series.

While watching Blood Ties on TV I knew I had to read The Blood Books by Tanya Huff, so I grabbed "Blood Pice." Although I love all things fantasy, I may have developed a slight vampire addiction.

I have binge-read many series, old and new, and while most vampires go the traditional route and drink blood, I discovered there are several more types of vampires than most of us are familiar with.

Let’s take a look at how vampires are categorized based on their feeding habits and abilities.

Blood Drinkers: The Classic Choice

The quintessential vampire, the blood drinker, is what most people picture when they hear the word. These creatures appear across cultures and have roots reaching back to ancient Greek mythology. Blood drinkers rely on human blood for sustenance, hunting humans to maintain their vampiric existence. While some lore suggests a single feeding can sustain a vampire for weeks, most require more frequent meals to stay healthy.

In fiction, we sometimes meet the so called “vegetarian vampires” who chose to feed on animal blood for ethical reasons. Yes, I’m talking about “Twilight” but I’m certain there must be other books too.

Books that feature classic, blood drinking vampires: Bram Stoker’s Dracula (Count Dracula), The Southern Vampire Mysteries by Charlaine Harris, Interview with the Vampire by Anne Rice, The Vampire Diaries by L. J. Smith, followed by many other books. I have two series, Chimera Trilogy and Paranormal Misadventures, featuring traditional blood-feeding vampires.

Beyond Blood: Alternative Appetites

Here’s something you might not know, but I find fascinating. Vampire lore isn’t limited to bloodsucking creatures of the night. Here are some intriguing variations:

Emphatic Vampires 

These vampires feed on human emotions, drawing strength from love, fear, or any intense feeling. If that sounds exciting, you should check out Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series (Moroi vampires). 

Elemental Vampires

These vampires are unique. They’re connected to an element and can harness its powers. If you’re intrigued, Elizabeth Hunter has an entire series based on this: Elemental Mysteries.

Aside from this, some interpretations of creatures like “energy beings” in certain fiction could be seen as elemental vampires.

Variations on a Theme: Special Cases

• Nosferatu: Also known as Disfigured Vampires, Nosferatu possesses grotesque physical characteristics, often a result of their long lifespan or the transformation itself. The iconic portrayal in F. W. Murnau’s silent film, Nosferatu (based on Dracula) established the grotesque appearance associated with Nosferatu vampires.
• Genetic Vampires: Unlike traditional vampires, genetic vampires are not undead; rather, they are a unique species with distinct genetic characteristics. A good example is the Sanguinati family in Anne Bishop’s “The World of Others” series.

• Malkavian Vampires: These mentally unstable vampires, often referred to as Insane Vampires, struggled with their transformation, leading to erratic and dangerous behavior. White Wolf’s Vampire: The Masquerade role-playing game (Malkavian Clan)

Other Vampire types with Uncommon Appetites

Psychic Vampires

Similar to Psi-Vampires, these vampires drain psychic energy, often leaving their victims feeling drained, confused, or even with headaches. They might prey on psychics, telepaths, or even just people with strong emotions. The Blood of the Vampire by Florence Marryat has a perfect example of a psychic vampire. 

Energy Vampires

A broader category, these vampires can feed on various forms of energy, not just psychic or emotional. This could include ambient magical energy, electrical fields, or even the life force of plants. One Dark Night, a horror movie released in 1982, features Karl “Raymar” Raymarseivich, a Russian psychic vampire who gains power by terrifying young victims to death and feeding on their life force. In the TV series What We Do in the Shadows, Colin Robinson is an “energy vampire” who drains people’s life forces by boring or frustrating them. In the Dresden Files series by Jim Butcher, several creatures, like the Red Court of Vampires, feed off a broader spectrum of energy, including magical power.

Bat Vampires

They are a monstrous variation, sharing traits with bats, transforming into them, or having bat-like features. For instance, the original Dracula could turn into a bat. In Anne Rice’s “The Vampire Chronicles” some vampires can summon swarms of bats to aid them. In Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the vampires can’t actually turn into bats, but they can kinda look like bats for a short while.

Dhampirs

The offspring of a vampire and a human, Dhampirs often possess some vampiric traits but are not full vampires themselves. They might be resistant to vampiric powers or have heightened senses. The characters Dimitri Belikov and Rose Hathaway in Richelle Mead’s Vampire Academy series are Dhampirs, with human and vampire heritage.

Conclusion

The great thing about mythical creatures in fiction is that you get to create your own rules and history. The concept of the vampire continues to evolve in fiction. Perhaps vampires are adapting to a changing world, where mental and psychic energy hold more sway than physical strength. While it is a theory worth considering, it also emphasizes how vampires are constantly being reimagined. Whether you prefer the gothic chills of Dracula or the thrilling action of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, there’s a vampire story out there for everyone.