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This interview originally appeared in a 1996 issue
of "The Midnight Sun". The official newsletter of the International
Society of Vampires, "The Midnight Sun" was a publishing project I
ran for several years in the mid-nineties alongside my literary journal, Shadowdance.
The interview was intended to help promote Marty's latest book, Liquid Dreams
of Vampires, published by Llewellyn Press that year. Although a bit dated as
far as the release of the book goes, the interview provides useful insights
into the blossoming vampire community and observations that remain valid nearly
ten years later.
If there is one name that everyone in the [offline] vampire community knows,
it is that of Martin V. Riccardo, head of the one-man organization Vampire Studies.
From Rosemary Ellen Guiley's Complete Vampire Companion to J. Gordon Melton's
Vampire Book to the most recent addition to vampire lore, Guinn and Greiser's
Something in the Blood, Riccardo's name comes up again and again. Now, after
nearly 20 years of activity in the vampire community, Marty has come out with
another book on the topic. Liquid Dreams of Vampires is a kind of magnum opus
put out by Llewellyn Press which contains data gathered from 1990 to the present
and gains its inspiration from a lifetime of research devoted to that ubiquitous
yet elusive figure, the vampire.
MICHELLE:
When did you first get involved with vampires and vampirism?
MARTY:
I loved monster movies as a kid, but then I found the vampire the least interesting.
I guess that was because vampires are always more suggestive in their powers
and not as blatantly horrific. When I was in college in the early 1970s, I heard
a lecture by Leonard Wolf, author of A Dream of Dracula. His explorations into
the vampire mythos intrigued me.
MICHELLE:
When did you first begin to get actively involved in the vampire community?
MARTY:
In the later 1970s, there wasn't anything around that could be called a vampire
community. At that time I was reading everything I could on the subject, and
I started to lecture, which is something I still do today.
MICHELLE:
How have you participated in the vampire community?
MARTY:
For a couple years in the late 1970s I published the Journal of Vampirism, one
of the first vampire interest publications. I have had articles published in
Fate, various vampire fan publications, and other magazines. I also wrote two
pieces for The Complete Vampire Companion by Rosemary Ellen Guiley, and I wrote
an introduction for The Vampire Book: the Encyclopedia of the Undead by J. Gordon
Melton. I have been lecturing on vampires for libraries and other organizations
since 1977.
MICHELLE:
Will Liquid Dreams be your first book on the subject?
MARTY:
I had two books about vampires published in 1983, Vampires Unearthed, a bibliography
and filmography, and The Lure of the Vampire, a collection of essays.
MICHELLE:
How did you go about researching Liquid Dreams?
MARTY:
Beginning in 1990, I put a notice in the vampire fan publication Children of
the Night asking people to send me their dreams and fantasies about vampires
for my research project. After that I put notices in many other publications.
MICHELLE:
What three books or publications had the biggest impact on your view of vampires
as expressed in Liquid Dreams?
MARTY:
The Vampire in Europe by Montague Summers exposed me to the vast amount of old
lore relating to the vampire. On the Nightmare by Ernest Jones showed me the
symbolic potential of the vampire in dreams. Vampires, Burial, and Death by
Paul Barber provided interesting insights on the folklore of vampires and the
possible origins of vampire beliefs.
MICHELLE:
At the start of every book, everyone has a vision or goal which they want the
book to achieve. What would you say is your vision for Liquid Dreams?
MARTY:
My primary goal was to find out what dreams and fantasies would reveal about
the vampire image, especially on a subconscious level. As I accumulated a body
of material to work with, I realized that there is not one universal aspect
of the vampire that attracts everyone. I wanted to show that different people
are attracted to different elements of the image. It is because the image has
many dimensions that the vampire can serve as an all-purpose fantasy outlet.
I also wanted to show how old beliefs in vampires may have originated from dreamlike
experiences. In addition, I wanted to show how modern-day mortal vampires or
blood drinkers fit into the whole mythos.
MICHELLE:
Lately there has been a growing interest in vampires throughout our culture.
Why do you think this is?
MARTY:
It is my opinion that more and more people have become wary of real human relationships
in recent years due to fear of diseases, violence, and other concerns. As a
result, many turn to fantasy outlets like vampires. This is enhanced by the
notion that vampires can provide a special bonding and intimacy without sexuality.
There are many other reasons people are attracted to vampires, but this explains
the explosion of interest in this era.
MICHELLE:
What do you mean when you say the word "vampire"? What images does
it conjure up for you?
MARTY:
In the classic sense, a vampire is someone who has died and risen to a different
life, an undeath, and who sustains this state through the drinking of human
blood. But the meaning of some words changes over time so they become subjective
and relative, and the word "vampire" is more so than others. Since
we are usually talking about individuals who choose to identify themselves as
vampires, they are free to use their own criteria to decide what allows them
to use that label. I am comfortable with the use of the word vampire for those
who drink blood. However, there is less confusion when the word vampire is qualified
by terms such as mortal vampire, living vampire, or human vampire. If anyone
calls themselves a vampire in order to manipulate others, then these phonies
need to be exposed.
MICHELLE:
What are your beliefs about "real" vampires?
MARTY:
I do not believe in reanimated corpses with a need to drink blood. There are
individuals who crave blood, and these people may or may not call themselves
vampires. They are clearly different from the creatures in folklore primarily
because they never had to die first. They are also different in that they only
take blood from voluntary donors, they do not harm the people they take blood
from, and they usually take relatively small amounts of blood.
MICHELLE:
Have you met or corresponded with individuals you would term real vampires?
What are your impressions of these people? Are they dangerous or do they just
want to be accepted for who and what they are?
MARTY:
I have been in contact with blood drinkers who call themselves vampires. The
vast majority of these people are not criminal, dangerous, or insane. They simply
have a powerful orientation toward the drinking of blood. Many of them prefer
the night and dislike sunlight. Many of them dress in black and like Gothic
art, music, and literature. I have found most of them to be really nice people,
but there are occasionally a few bad eggs, which is true of any group. I don't
know if they all want general acceptance, but they do want to be treated with
respect. Since their activities involve consenting adults, they don't deserve
social harassment.
MICHELLE:
Have you had a chance to read Llewellyn's other new book and vampires, Vampires:
the Occult Truth by Konstantinos? What did you think?
MARTY:
Because I've been so busy lately, I haven't read it, but I have ordered it.
Anyone who is interested in getting my book, Liquid Dreams of Vampires
can order it by credit card by calling 1-800-THE-MOON, or they can send a check
or money order for $14.95 plus $4 for shipping and handling to Llewellyn, PO
Box 64383 (F555), St. Paul, MN 55164 (Minnesota residents add 7% sales tax).
[Note: Price has probably changed since 1996...Contact
Llewellyn first before sending money. ~Sphynx]
MICHELLE:
How do you think Liquid Dreams represents the vampire community?
MARTY:
I believe Liquid Dreams presents the vampire community in an objective and sympathetic
light. It allows blood drinkers (mortal vampires) to tell their own stories
through their letters. The book does explain how mortal vampires are stereotyped
and misunderstood. Liquid Dreams also presents letters by those who believe
in immortal undead vampires. My book, however, does not specifically endorse
or promote a belief in undead vampires.
MICHELLE:
Thanks for your time, Marty. We know it's precious. And thanks for all the insight
on your latest book.
(C) 1996
This article is presented as part of an ongoing effort to present other views outside of, as well as within, the online vampire community. Those of us who consider ourselves vampiric don't always look at things from the same viewpoint due to our life experiences. As such, the views and opinions contained in this article are entirely those of the author(s), and may not necessarily be shared by SphynxCatVP. The webmaster is not under obligation to update or otherwise keep current the contents of this article. Most importantly, only you can decide for yourself whether this article or any of the author(s) other views are useful or applicable to you - you are responsible for using your own reasoning and judgement, so judge wisely.
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