Dacre Stoker, der Nachfahre des Dracula-Autors Bram Stoker, holt den Ober-Vampir zurück. Im FR-Interview spricht er über den Hype und die Auferstehung des "wahren Draculas".
Mr. Stoker, Sie sind der Urgroßneffe von Bram Stoker, dem "Dracula"-Autor. Mussten Sie sich aufgrund dieser Verwandtschaft in der Schule oft Witze anhören?
Oh, ja. Vor allem an Halloween hieß es immer: "Huhu, wer traut sich in das Haus der Stokers?" Aber alle kannten Dracula nur aus Filmen. Keiner hatte das Buch von Bram Stoker gelesen. Ich habe es selbst erst im College gelesen für eine Arbeit über seine Motive, den Roman zu schreiben. Click Here to read more ...
Tell those bayou bloodsuckers from "True Blood" to step aside, too.
More than 112 years after he first climbed out of the coffin, the world's most famous vampire is back -- and he's bloodier than ever.
"Dracula the Un-Dead," released this month in the United States, is a sequel to Bram Stoker's 1897 classic written by Dacre Stoker, the original author's great-grandnephew.
The book, co-written by Dracula historian Ian Holt, picks up 25 years after the Victorian-era monster is supposedly killed in the original and is based in part on 125 pages of handwritten notes that Bram Stoker left behind.
Monday, 19 October 2009 "When people think of Dracula they think of handsome Bela Lugosi," said Holt, a gothic type wearing a T-shirt featuring the 1920s Hungarian actor heart-throb who starred in the first Broadway play based on Stoker's book, as well as the subsequent 1931 movie.
"Dracula was nothing like that. He was old and hunched over, had hair on his palms, and bad breath," Holt told AFP in an interview.
"He was out of the grave, he smelt like death," added Stoker. "We're going back to the original characters."
It was Holt -- whose passion for the theme stems from Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 "Dracula" movie -- who initially came up with the idea of a sequel to the Irish writer's 19th century work.
In search of data, he stalked descendants of the historical Transylvanian-born Vlad III Dracula of Wallachia, better known as "Vlad The Impaler", toured Europe on the vampire's tracks, met with scholars, and joined the Transylvanian Society of Dracula.
In 2003, he said, he came up with the idea of getting backing for a sequel novel from the Stoker family, who had lost the copyright early in the 20th century.
And Dacre, one of a score of close family scattered across Britain, Ireland, Canada and the United States, signed on. "He had Bram's genes and the name," said Holt.
From then on, the two worked together, studying notes left for the original work by Bram Stoker, writing the plot and building characters.
"We go back to the original but we don't leave it at that," Stoker said.
The sequel is set in 1912, 25 years after the finale of the first epistolary novel, as a series of chilling murders in London and Paris triggers a vampire hunt across Europe and unleashes terror of "the prince of darkness."
After careful analysis of 19th century notes left by Stoker, a theatre director who minutely researched background for the original novel, the two revived one of the old characters and added in a few, including a Scotland Yard detective and a lesbian vampire countess.
More significantly perhaps, Dacre Stoker also opted to throw his ancestor into the novel.
Why create a Bram Stoker character? "He was misunderstood, mysterious, no one knows why he wrote Dracula," the great-grandnewphew said. "He died without knowing the success of his iconic character. His life was a struggle."
Talks are under way to produce a movie version of the book, though the authors refused to say who with.
But if they have their say then Johnny Depp could play Dracula and Catherine Zeta-Jones star as the blood-sucking lesbian countess.
"When people think of Dracula they think of handsome Bela Lugosi," said Holt, a gothic type wearing a T-shirt featuring the 1920s Hungarian actor heart-throb who starred in the first Broadway play based on Stoker's book, as well as the subsequent 1931 movie.
"Dracula was nothing like that. He was old and hunched over, had hair on his palms, and bad breath," Holt told AFP in an interview.
"He was out of the grave, he smelt like death," added Stoker. "We're going back to the original characters."
It was Holt -- whose passion for the theme stems from Francis Ford Coppola's 1992 "Dracula" movie -- who initially came up with the idea of a sequel to the Irish writer's 19th century work.
In search of data, he stalked descendants of the historical Transylvanian-born Vlad III Dracula of Wallachia, better known as "Vlad The Impaler", toured Europe on the vampire's tracks, met with scholars, and joined the Transylvanian Society of Dracula.
In 2003, he said, he came up with the idea of getting backing for a sequel novel from the Stoker family, who had lost the copyright early in the 20th century.
And Dacre, one of a score of close family scattered across Britain, Ireland, Canada and the United States, signed on. "He had Bram's genes and the name," said Holt.
From then on, the two worked together, studying notes left for the original work by Bram Stoker, writing the plot and building characters.
"We go back to the original but we don't leave it at that," Stoker said.
The sequel is set in 1912, 25 years after the finale of the first epistolary novel, as a series of chilling murders in London and Paris triggers a vampire hunt across Europe and unleashes terror of "the prince of darkness."
After careful analysis of 19th century notes left by Stoker, a theatre director who minutely researched background for the original novel, the two revived one of the old characters and added in a few, including a Scotland Yard detective and a lesbian vampire countess.
More significantly perhaps, Dacre Stoker also opted to throw his ancestor into the novel.
Why create a Bram Stoker character? "He was misunderstood, mysterious, no one knows why he wrote Dracula," the great-grandnewphew said. "He died without knowing the success of his iconic character. His life was a struggle."
Talks are under way to produce a movie version of the book, though the authors refused to say who with.
But if they have their say then Johnny Depp could play Dracula and Catherine Zeta-Jones star as the blood-sucking lesbian countess. Visit the Dracula the Un-Dead website.
Bram Stoker's own blood runs through the veins of a sequel to his 1897 novel "Dracula," which goes on worldwide release this month, in a work penned by his great-grandnephew who is hoping to revive the original vampire myth.
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All Rights Reserved
Library Journal Reviews
September 1, 2009
Dracula the Un-Dead
BYLINE: Patricia Altner
SECTION: REVIEWS; Fiction; Pg. 109
LENGTH: 223 words
Stoker, Dacre & Ian Holt. Dracula the Un-Dead. Dutton. Oct. 2009. c.416p. ISBN 978-0-525-95129-2 . $26.95. F
This sequel to Bram Stroker's Dracula (1897) takes place in 1912, 25 years after the events of the first novel. The survivors of the encounter with Dracula are still haunted by the horror. Mina and Jonathan Harker's marriage is strained. Their adult son Quincy knows nothing of Dracula, and his parents hope-in vain, as it turns out-to keep him ignorant of past events. Jack Seward barely sustains his sanity with heroin. Arthur Holmwood hides in his manor, while an aged Dr. Van Helsing impatiently awaits the vampire's return. A demonic force begins insinuating itself into their lives. Death stalks them and those close to them. Meanwhile, Bram Stoker remains a bitter author who has had little success with his fictional version of Dracula. How he knew anything about the events of years ago is one of many mysteries explored here. VERDICT The authors (Stoker is a descendant of Bram, and Holt is a noted Dracula historian) skillfully explore the nature of evil while weaving together several complex plotlines throughout this mesmerizing story. Readers who enjoy dark fantasy with fast-paced action will plow through this book, not wanting to stop. [See Prepub Alert, LJ 6/1/09.]-Patricia Altner, BiblioInfo.com, Columbia, MD
Dracula: The Un-Dead Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt Dutton,Oct 2009, $26.95 ISBN 9780525951292
Twenty-five years has passed since the horrific events of 1897 ended with Dracula turning into dust; none involved have moved on as each remains haunted by the encounter with the Count. Mina and Jonathon married, but neither obtained closure when the vampire was killed; stressed and estrnaged, they conceal from their son Quincey what happened. Seward survives with heroin while Holmwood became a hermit. Their mentor Van Helsing obsessively lives for the return of Dracula as the vampire’s death was his life’s goal so he has nothing else. Scotland Yard believes Van Helsing was involved in the unsolved Ripper murders.
In 1912, Stoker is frustrated as he struggles to convert his horror thriller Dracula to the London stage. However, although the author knows the full truth, he and the others except perhaps the ever vigilant Van Helsing are unprepared for a gruesome serial killer horrifying London. Scotland yard once again believes a fanatic Van Helsing is deeply connected to the killings, but too old to perform them. Those involved with what happened back then find themsleves and their loved ones under siege as if Van Helsing’s belief the Count will return from the dust has occurred. The survivors of the previous encounter regroup to battle evil again although they are unsure who stalks them.
This is a super vampire thriller that brings forward the stars of Dracula into the Edwardian Era with a where are they now tale. The clever story line is fast-paced while introducing the audience to the survivors of the previous horrific encounter to include Bram Stoker. Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt explore the essence of evil and good through a cast of humans who have used psychological defense mechanisms to barely survive and a vampire who may or may not be Dracula, but has the same attitude re the food chain as well as a thirst for the blood of vengeance. Filled with terrific twists fans of Dracula and those who appreciate a strong historical urban fantasy will relish the THE UN-DEAD.
On August 16, Dacre Stoker and Ian Holt came into Los Angeles to support the first annual Vampire Con and promote their forth-coming novel DRACULA: THE UN-DEAD. Attendence was excellent for the panel they did with other experts on the continuing fascination the public has with vampires. Afterwards, they were interviewed by a Portugeuse television show, and many people visited their booth to find out more about their book. From teenaged Goth girls to college professors, it swiftly became apparent that Dacre and Ian were in their element with a crowd of other hardcore Dracula fanatics.
Stoker, Dacre & Ian HoltDRACULA: The Un-DeadBram’s great-grandnephew teams up with Dracula buff Holt to reclaim vampire lit from the unholy, unlettered legions churning out today’s fang-and-cloak stuff.This big, blood-filled kitchen sink of a debut boasts a vast cast of characters: Bram Stoker himself, as well as his nefarious Count, Jack the Ripper, Jonathan Harker, Dr. Van Helsing, Oscar Wilde, “blood Countess” Elizabeth Bathory, a mysterious Eastern European actor and a whole bunch of extremely hot (but also extremely cold, being dead and all) vampire chicks of uncertain gender preference. Bathory is definitely the heavy of the story, and it seems she’s spoiling to outdo the number of grisly murders she is said to have committed in life, aided by a coterie of spidery bloodsucking assistants. As befits a multigenerational saga that springs from a book that had few survivors, some familiar characters are on the other side of the live/dead line, and some—well, some are indeed in the undead camp. There’s lots of good old-fashioned polymorphously perverse degenerate romping (“Every orifice in her body became his plaything”). Stoker and Holt are careful not to go too far afield from the conventions of the original; Van Helsing, for instance, comes armed with “crosses, wafers, holy water, a wooden stake, a Bowie knife, and a crossbow armed and ready to fire,” rather than some postmodern substitute for all that good wood and metal. Yet this competently (but no more than competently) written sequel—endorsed by the Stoker family, the publisher assures—has plenty of contemporary twists, including a weird Darth Vaderish turn at the end that some Bram-faithful readers may find magnificently silly.Flies and spiders, master! Big, messy, lots of fun—and not Stephenie Meyer.
