#blood of Dracula font

[canon-in-too-deep]

Tumblrary Directory

Imprints: in_D Press (main)

This directory is ongoing and updated as needed. Everything listed as Free is indeed free to use (for personal use only), just please leave credit and consider liking/reblogging or following this blog. Any errors found, feel free to let me know. (づ◕⩌◕)づ For free access to my files/library, click the link and request access (and send a sworn oath written in blood to never violate the sanctity of the library).

Note: I do not use AI to make these. Just my own mediocrity ᕦ(◕⩌◕)ᕥ

Free Typesetting Resources

Font Book

Dingbat Book for Dinkuses

The Blue Fairy Book (Font Sampler Edition) edited by Andrew Lang

Typesetting Template (Affinity, Letter Folio): Notes for Typesetting Template and Tutorial for Typesetting Template

Font Recs

Typesetting Tips

Free Public Domain Typesets

[Books listed in order of upload date. Previews and details of each typeset can also be found in their original posts.]

Persuasion by Jane Austen (Letter Folio)

The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson (Letter Quarto)

Frankenstein by Mary Shelley (Letter Folio)

The Merry Adventures of Robinhood by Howard Pyle (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

Peter Pan by J. M. Barrie (Letter Folio)

Dracula by Bram Stoker (Letter Folio)

The Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft (Letter Quarto)

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (Letter Folio)

The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

The Invisible Man by H. G. Wells (Letter Folio)

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald (Letter Folio)

The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare (Letter Folio)

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde (Letter Folio)

The Divine Comedy by Dante Alighieri (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

The Odyssey by Homer (Letter Folio)

Tales of Space and Time by H. G. Wells (Letter Folio)

The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton (Letter Folio)

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

The Book of Dragons by E. Nesbit (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

Much Ado About Nothing by William Shakespeare (Letter Folio)

Twenty Thousand Leagues under the Sea by Jules Verne (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky (Letter Folio)

Around the World in Eighty Days by Jules Verne (Letter Folio)

Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

Leave it to Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse (Letter Folio)

Lord Peter views the body by Dorothy L. Sayers (Letter Folio)

The Room in the Tower by E. F. Benson (Letter Folio)

Right Ho, Jeeves by P. G. Wodehouse (Letter Folio)

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells (Letter Folio)

Metamorphosis by Franz Kafka (Letter Quarto)

Poirot Investigates by Agatha Christie (Letter Folio)

Grimms' Fairy Tales by Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm (Letter Folio)

The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux (Letter Folio)

Andersen's Fairy Tales by Hans Christian Andersen (Letter Folio)

The Legend of Sleepy Hollow by Washington Irving (Letter Quarto)

Shakespeare's Sonnets by William Shakespeare (Letter Folio)

The Raven by Edgar Allan Poe (Illustrated) (Letter Octavo)

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery (Letter Folio)

A Journey to the Centre of the Earth by Jules Verne (Letter Folio)

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen (Letter Folio)

Notre-Dame de Paris by Victor Hugo (Letter Folio)

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (Letter Folio)

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum (Letter Folio)

The Blue Fairy Book (Font Sampler Edition) edited by Andrew Lang (Letter Folio)

A Princess of Mars by Edgar Rice Burroughs (Letter Folio)

Ivanhoe by Sir Walter Scott (Illustrated) (Letter Folio)

The Mysterious Affair at Styles by Agatha Christie (Letter Folio)

Emma by Jane Austen (Letter Folio)

Paradise Lost by John Milton (Letter Folio)

Moby Dick by Herman Melville (Letter Folio)

Black Beauty by Anna Sewell (Letter Folio)

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Brontë (Letter Folio)

Carmilla by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu (Letter Quarto)

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Arthur Conan Doyle (Letter Folio)

The Velveteen Rabbit by Margery Williams (Letter Quarto) (Illustrated)

Heart of Darkness by Joseph Conrad (Letter Folio)

The Enchanted April by Elizabeth Von Armin (Letter Folio)

All Quiet on the Western Front by Erich Maria Remarque (Letter Folio)

The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Letter Folio)

A Study in Scarlet by Arthur Conan Doyle (Letter Folio)

A Modest Proposal by Dr. Jonathan Swift (Letter Octavo)

The Railway Children by E. Nesbit (Letter Folio)

The Sign of the Four by Arthur Conan Doyle (Letter Folio)

White Fang by Jack London (Letter Folio)

The Call of the Wild by Jack London (Letter Folio and Letter Quarto)

The Republic by Plato (Letter Folio)

Notes from the Underground by Fyodor Dostoyevsky (Letter Folio)

The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes by Arthur Conan Doyle (Letter Folio)

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett (Letter Folio)

Pollyanna by Eleanor H. Porter (Letter Folio)

1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue, originally composed by Captain Grose (Letter Folio)

Utopia by Thomas More (Letter Folio)

A Room with a View by E. M. Forster (Letter Folio)

The Extraordinary Adventures of Arsène Lupin, Gentleman-Burglar by Maurice Leblanc (Letter Folio)

The Aeneid by Virgil (Letter Folio)

Don Juan by Lord Byron (Letter Folio)

Lamia by John Keats (Letter Quarto)

The Prophet by Kahlil Gibran (Letter Quarto) (Illustrated)

The Trial by Franz Kafka (Letter Folio)

Gorgias by Plato (Letter Folio)

Phaedrus by Plato (Letter Folio)

The Innocence of Father Brown by G. K. Chesterton (Letter Folio)

The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame (Letter Folio)

The Murder on the Links by Agatha Christie (Letter Folio)

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen (Letter Folio)

Little Women by Louisa May Alcott (Letter Folio)

Free Calendars/Planners

2025

Personal Typesets (My Fics)

The Flowers We Pick

Free Graphics

Dividers

Headers

[see-arcane]

The Vampyres--The Bones and Blood of the Book

Good news! I’m not dead and the book isn’t either! Just shambling slowly through the wasteland of the publication process. It’s been a bit since I last waved this bloody morsel around. So, consider this a progress report on the state of the novella, the prospective publishing options, and a few other questions that have been bouncing around in the inbox.

EDIT:

I have a website now! For some reason.

It's See Arcane Scribbles.

Smaller Edit:

Got a Spotify too for story soundtrack goodness:

COVERS

First things first—and the first part of a finished book is the cover. Here are some mockups I’ve been juggling, starting with the original placeholder. They’re far from perfect, but I’m proud of what I managed with a fairly skinny graphic art skill set.

FINISHING, FORMAT, AND FINANCE*

*(OR, THE HEADACHENING)

Copyright: Technically speaking, you have the copyright to your own writing once you put it to paper or screen. But this is somehow a different thing from a legally-binding registered copyright, which everyone declares is a must-have if you want your work to be protected with more than a non-textual trust-fall exercise, hoping nobody steals your work and runs.

That said, electronic registration with the copyright office is $65, or $45 to register one work by one author.

ISBN: I only recently learned the words behind this acronym. ‘International Standard Book Number.’ It’s the ID on a book that marks it as unique and helps commercial booksellers and libraries circulate it. Each iteration of a book—paperback, digital, hardcover, new editions, et cetera—has its own ISBN. When you’re publishing on your own, you purchase ISBNs through a service called Bowker.

One book/version’s ISBN costs $125.

There are better bargains the higher the number of books and/or versions you go, starting at a bulk of 10 books for $295. But as I only have the one (1) skinny novella on the table, that’s a no-go. Which begs the question of how many ISBNs are in store for this little monster. It depends on how many formats I go with.

eBook: The quickest and most cost-efficient option across the board for any self-publication service. Short, sweet, no printing pains of trim sizes or distribution costs or formatting, oh my. Nice.

Paperback VS Hardcover: …But I am now and forever a sucker for physical media. Even though it’s a teeny brochure of a thing, I want to hold a physical copy of The Vampyres in my hands! So bad! And every service I’ve looked through has stated the obvious: Hardcover costs more than paperback. My heart won’t break if I have to stick with paperback to spare everyone’s wallets—hardcovers are pricy in both directions!—but I am a little torn. Especially as physical size might affect the price too.

Here we have two of my favorite quick reads, an anthology of Poe stories and Clive Barker’s novella, The Hellbound Heart.

The Poe book is a clothbound hardcover. 6.5 x 4.5 inches, a bit over 120 pages.

The Hellbound Heart is roughly 8 x 5 inches (about standard for a novella), at 164 pages. But unlike Poe, it looks like Barker took some liberties with the spacing and font size.

Standard size dimensions cost less than unique cuts, which means that whether paperback or hardcover, I sadly have to say goodbye to the petite palm-sized edition I was hoping for. On the upside, good news to us crap-vision readers—the font’s going to get H U G E in order to make the book more than a pamphlet with delusions of grandeur.

Audiobook: The fact is, my voice is not up to the task of reciting anything with appropriate gravitas and I think we’ve all been spoiled by @re-dracula and assorted other podcasts’ skill in orating. I don’t have the cash to hire a professional and I’m not about to accept anyone’s freebie offers. I won’t pickpocket friends for their talent. If an audio version ever comes along for any story of mine it’ll be down the road when it proves worth the format’s effort and cost.

REVIEWS (and a Foreword!)

It was the best of times (People reading the thing! Commenting on the thing! Good good good—), it was the worst of times (The Mortifying Ordeal of People Reading and Commenting on the Thing). Time for what every advice site declares a book absolutely must have the moment it’s thrust into the wild.

Reviews, reviews, reviews.

I’ve already bitten several bullets and passed copies out to a handful of fellow scribblers to scrutinize, their reviews destined to be hung up like literary gold stars on their bookselling site of choice, my own included. Now comes my preliminary grovel to readers en masse to please drop a review, a comment, a blurb of any shape or size where you can once The Vampyres drops. I’ve already gotten some early comments that have consisted mostly of screaming. Screams also count as a review.

As an aside, there are two folks in particular who I reached out to who exist in the stratosphere of Coolest People in the Vampiric Lit scene. They promptly exploded me into disbelieving giblets when they told me, yes, they’d be happy to read my little story and offer up a review and a foreword for the book respectively.

I’m not sure what the decorum here is, but for safety (and surprise’s) sake, I’ll not name names. But they are names I’ve been happy to come across for the past two years while neck deep in the undead book club. I’m infinitely grateful to both of them and am waiting on pins, needles, stakes and kukri blades by my inbox so I can pin their words up inside the book itself.

FUTURE SCRIBBLING

To get one of the biggest questions out of the way, let’s talk about Barking Harker.

My very own object lesson on sunk cost fallacy.

I wrote my way through a goddamn cinderblock of text without even grazing the finish line of the first section of the story. A story made of so many convoluted triple-decker layers of subplots and side characters that it had the structural integrity of a monolithic Nature Valley granola bar, just waiting to fall apart under its own weight. Such is the hubris and curse of too-many-words-itis. The Vampyres remains a miraculous fluke, jotted down during an overdue break from BH’s slog. Not just because I tripped and fell into finishing the story, but because it’s comparatively compact! Brevity at last!

For those still craving the assorted gothic and ghoulish promises of the initial novel idea, don’t worry, those aren’t going anywhere. I’ve just crumbled the metaphorical bloodstained granola by my own hand and have done the sane thing of parsing out the various subplots to become the foundations of their own stories. Which they really should have been from the get-go. Insert 100+ clown emojis here.

On that note, I am turning into WIPs Georg over here. Good god.

I hesitate to throw myself all-in again and make promises of X Story that may leave me spinning my mental wheels or ballooning the plot out into a behemoth that can’t be steered back on course. Even so, here’s a peek at a few ideas I currently have on the brain.

So.

Not exactly lacking for stories. It’s just a matter of seeing which of them breaks ahead of the herd and squeezes out into the publication ether first.

LAST BIT  

Blah, blah, requisite reminder that I have a Ko-Fi where you can donate a buck or commission my best attempt at art, blah. Any pennies are a help.

But I’m betting very few of you came around here for my doodles. Somehow, a good amount of people tripped into this pit with me because you enjoy the rambles and horrors I’ve written over the years. Maybe some of you will even buy my book once it’s out. And you, there, on the other side of the screen—you’re reading this right now. You made it all the way to the bottom of this pile of exposition just because you wanted to. So, thank you.

Thank you for reading this far. Thank you for reading before and reading what’s to come. Thank you for giving me the confidence to even consider shouldering my own work out into the wider world.

Thank you.

P.S. If you want to re-read the preview, go here!

[argocitycosplay]

Dracula 2000

I’ve spent way too much time trying to figure out why this film is so hated. I’ll admit, the font used on the titles is a little over the top and the use of classic Dracula protagonists names for modern characters is a little irritating, but honestly – look at that opening shot of the Demetre… The blue cast that contrasts with the red blood on the people and on the sails. It’s amazing. The…

[gaykarstaagforever]

The oversized skulls are a bit much, and I'm distracted by whether that hood shape makes sense with the size of a human head. And there is weird artifacting or lighting on the cape. But it has a cool vibe. And they went with the classic Dracula R in the font.

Penguin once again, with a Universal Monsters movie poster style. Unfortunately, Dracula looks like he's irritated that a tourist took his picture without asking.

Obviously an old one, from a time before the novel was so culturally ubiquitous. They're selling it with a funky drawing of one of the book's weirder moments. Dracula and vampires weren't suave and sexy yet, they were just creepy monsters who ate babies. This shows that. I respect it. Love the batwing arm cape.

Good color contrast, simple but still ominous, and I like the flocks of bats. One of the older and better castle / moon ones.

This feels like a new one, trying to look old. That bat costume lady feels like you Googled "vampire public domain," then took an early lunch.

Why are the As upside-down? To be like fangs? Fine, I guess, but then format the word to be shaped like a mouth. Which would also be weird, but if you're going to bother...

This is the first legit crap one. What is with the same bug image, mirrored? At least use bats. I don't understand the point of cursive fonts in the first place, and this proves why. Who is this for? What is the point? Bad is better than mediocre, and this is dreadfully mediocre. Blegh.

Castle Bran and the moon yet again, but now the moon is a gooey blood puddle. With some flying foxes sprinkled in. It's fine, for a boilerplate inoffensive edition for a Walmart shelf. At least there aren't inexplicable insects.

Bela Lugosi in front of Cinderella's Castle, during a hurricane. Meh. The screaming face in the red part of the cape is a nice touch for what is otherwise kind of whatever.

I mean, it's a tie-in reprint. I like the title font.

Weird choice of photo. He looks confused. But I'm not familiar with this show, so maybe it means more to you if you are.

Odd to go with a sensual romance novel-style for an illustrated educational version, since those are usually for children. And this isn't even a scene in the book. But I like the garish colors and "Hammer Horror meets Goosebumps" vibe. It's fun, at least.

[sidhewrites]

21! Who even knows! but we're having fun! Also i forgot to establish that only kaz can read the fancy spell book so just kind of accept it for now.

Project Info

Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

[Action and rising tension. Make the next scene shorter]

From our hiding place, Josie opens the book, and turns it towards me. "You're the one who bled on it, so you get to read it. What does it say?"

"I don't know -- I can't--" I fumble, looking everywhere but the book.

"You have to," Josie insists.

"You can do it," Lucy says gently. She reaches out, putting a hand near my shoulder. Not close enough to touch, but enough that I feel a certain coolness prickling on my skin. My heart flutters, and I'm grateful she doesn't say the quiet part out loud. Because if I can't do this, the entire town is doomed to be sucked off into the afterlife to be tormented by ghosts for the rest of eternity.

I swallow hard, squeezing my eyes shut, and let out a long, steadying breath. When I open them again, the page is exactly the same as before, but I understand the symbols on it now, as easily as if it were written in English. Ending the visitation of unwelcome Guests, it reads, which, I suppose, is the polite way of putting it.

I read aloud, desperate for Josie to understand the directions better than I do. Lucy's presence is a reassuring balm, keeping me as focused as I ever could be under potential-apocalypse-induced stress. And I think I do pretty well, since Josie's face goes from fear to confusion to bemused acceptance as I read. Once I'm done, I turn to her and say, "What's the SparkNotes version, teach?"

"We need to create a cage," she says. "Something made of this world to trick him into thinking we've given him a new bodily host, one stronger than the skeleton he's haunting now."

"Cool," I say, and then say it a few more times for good luck. "So the locks of hair or pieces of ourselves? Just -- you know, making sure I understand."

"That's to create the body."

"Cool," I say again, because I am a font of eloquence in even the most trying of times. "So what goes into a body?"

"Uh...The spell didn't clarify. Usually, though, it's kind of just..." She mimes cutting her hand open.

"If you say blood sacrifice out loud I'm going to go join the ghosts."

"It's just that it's the most powerful! You know, the blood is the life and all that. It contains an intrinsic piece of you."

"Don't use my love of Bram Stoker's Dracula against me." I hug Renfield closer. He's still unconcious, but his breathing is even, and getting stronger by the minute. If she even thinks of getting close to him with a knife, I'll -- okay, I won't kill her, but I'd do something drastic.

"We could do other things. Saliva, a personal valuable, a hair clipping."

"That one. We do that one."

Josie sighs, but ultimately agrees. "Okay. A lock of hair from all of us with a physical body.

"Aw, no witchcraft for Lucy," I say, and pull the multi-tool out of my pocket and pulling out the tiny scissors while Josie looks around for something to use. She settles on a nearby metal urn meant to hold flowers, long-since rusted over and dented. "How much hair do we need?" [Establish a bit earlier in the story kaz always has a multi-tool on her in one of her pockets, and also that she wears cargo shorts. ]

Josie shakes her head, expression tight. "Some. I don't know." I wonder if this is the first time she's ever done real witchcraft like this. I know she's done chaos magic in the past -- rituals coupled with intent that help you with things you're already doing, like study for a test or get the job she wants. But I have a feeling this is more than even she ever imagined doing.

Rather than sitting around in discomfort, I let Renfield go just long enough to cut off a three-inch-long piece of my hair, faded pink and sad-looking. My side-shave is growing in unevenly as well, but I don't know if I've ever cared less about my hair than right now.

Josie takes it from me, and places it carefully in the urn. I snip off a bit of Renfield's fur as well, and do the same. Then I hand the tool over to Josie, who adds her own hair to the urn. She pauses, looks at me, and doesn't even give me a chance to say please no before switching the scissors for the multi-tool's tiny knife and drawing it along her hand, just enough to draw a bit of blood. She hisses, but holds her hand out, letting a few drops fall into the urn before flexing her fingers and handing the tool back to me.

"Thank you for the biohazard," I say, stashing it in my pocket.

"I'm sorry."

I pause, fighting every urge to be sarcastic at her about apologizing, and nod at the spell book. "What's next?"

"We have to perform an invocation. A chant," she adds, glancing at me pointedly. I don't like that she knows I don't know the meaning of the word invocation, but whatever. "I'll write it down. Kaz, can you read it again?"

As I reread the magic words (invocation, ugh), Josie transcribes it into her notes app, much to Lucy's fascination. She leans over Josie's shoulder, watching Josie's hands fly across a digital keyboard, barely holding in her questions about how the touch-screen works.

"Okay. We have to say it together," Josie says. "Power of three. Just trust me."

I do. We both do. Josie puts one hand over her heart, and the other on the urn. Our chanting is uncertain and unsteady, and we have to pause when Josie's phone times out and goes dark.

She fumbles with the settings so it won't do that again, and we start over. It's clumsy, and I feel like this would work better if we were speaking in perfect unison, but Josie had always told me magic was as much about intent as it was the ritual itself. I don't know how this works, and I have to fight to stay focused on reading the words, rather than whether or not my intentions are strong enough or whatever. I picture a psychic beam of make this work at the urn.

After long enough, it works. A faint blue light spreads out from our hands, lighting up the old rusted metal until it glows.

I stop chanting for a second, looking around to cheer on our success, but Lucy and Josie keep going, shooting glances my way. I fumble and rejoin them, going over the last few lines and desperately hoping that I didn't fuck up everything. But the glowing doesn't fade, and we finish more or less confidently.

"Okay," Jose says. "Let's go get this guy." But when she glances up, any hint of confidence fades. "Well. Um. Hm."

Lucy and I follow her gaze, though we don't have to look up very far. Our work has attracted the attention of other ghosts around the cemetery -- half-formed specters, shapeless auras. The dead stand around us in a circle. And above us, the sky has turned a sickly green, reflecting off the clouds and giving the world an evil look.

Tag List

@adaughterofathena

@ambreeskyewriting

@carnelianflames

@feather-dancer

@halfbloodlycan

@nadunacreates

@serenanymph

@vigilantdesert

[noahsbookhoard]

All the books I read in 2024 (in reverse chronological order)

Vacation by Deb Olin Unferth

A Local Hbitatation (October Daye #2) by Seanan McGuire

Summer Sons by Lee Mandelo

The Stardust Grail by Yume Kitasei

Winter Spirits short story collection

The Agatha Christie Book Club #1 by C A Larmer

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson

Retour à St Mary (Cosy Christmas Mystery #1) by Carine Pitocchi

Le Père Porcher (Chroniques du Disque-Monde #20) by Terry Pratchett

Soie by Alessandro Baricco

Prince Caspian (The Chronicles of Narnia #2) by C S Lewis

A Day of Fallen Night (Root of Chaos #0) by Samantha Shannon

Alias Grace by Margaret Atwood

When Among Crows by Veronica Roth

My Roommate is a Vampire by Jenna Levine

Somewhere Beyond the Sea (Cerulean #2) T J Klune

The Sword Catcher (Chronicles of Castelane #1) by Cassandra Clare

La Dame du manoir de Wildfell Hall (The Tenant of Wildfell Hall) by Anne Brontë

L'amant by Marguerite Duras

The Restaurang at the End of the Universe (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy #2) by Douglas Adams

Une belle vie by Virginie Grimaldi

Dracula by Bram Stoker

Wintersmith (Discworld #34) by Terry Pratchett

Everyone In My Family Has Killed Someone (Ernest Cunningham #1) by Benjamin Stevenson

What Feast at Night (Sworn Soldier #2) by T Kingfisher

Le Bastion des Larmes by Abdellah Taïa

If We Were Villains by M L Rio

War and Peace by Leon Tolstoi

The Kaiju Preservation Society by John Scalzi

Rule of Two (Darth Bane Trilogy #2) by Drew Karpyshyn

Les Dragons by Jérôme Colin

Hotel Magnifique by Emily J Taylor

Le dieu d'automne et d'hiver by Pauline Sidre

Les Possibles by Virginie Grimaldi

A Close and Common Orbit (Wayfarer #2) by Becky Chambers

The Outsider by Stephen King

Once and Future Witches by Alix E Harrow

Tous les silence ne font pas le même bruit by Baptiste Beaulieu

Trois battements un silence by Anne Fakhouri

Kiss Kiss by Roal Dahl

Assassin's Apprentice (Realm of the Elderlings #1) by Robin Hobb

Halloween Party by Agatha Christie

Artificial Condition (Murderbot Diary #2) by Martha Wells

The Light Throught the Leaves by Glendy Vanderah

Et que ne durent que les moments doux by Virginie Grimaldi

The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim

Ring Shout by P Djeli Clark

The Rest of the Robots (Robots #2) by Isaac Asimov

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë

On the Way to the Wedding (Bridgerton #8) by Julia Quinn

Our Missing Heart by Celeste Ng

Book of Blood I by Clive Barker

Ilos by Marion Brunet

Babel by R F Kuang

Rosemary and Rue (October Daye #1) by Seanan McGuire

Thud! (Discworld #34) by Terry Pratchett

Sea of Tranquility by Emily St John Mandel

Les aventures de Billy et du Pyrobarbare : la forteresse du chaudron noir by Bob Lennon

Space Opera by Catherynne M Valente

Magie et Sentiments : les secrets de Longdawn by Ariel Holzl

A Confederacy of Dunces by John Kennedy Toole

It's in His Kiss (Brigerton #7) by Julia Quinn

Les Cinq by Matthieu RochelleDid You Hear About Kitty Karr by Crystal Paul Smith

The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe (The Chronicles of Narnia #1) by C S Lewis

How to Raise a Kraken in Your Bathtub by P Djeli Clark

An Appointment with Death by Agatha Christie

The Oleander Sword (The Burning Kingdoms #2) by Tasha Suri

Time to Orbit : Unknown by Derin Edala

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini

4.48 Psychosis by Sarah Kane

Under the Whispering Door by T J Klune

The Moth Keeper by Kay O'Neill

Cain's Jawbone by E Powys Mathers

Darth Bane : Path of Destruction (Darth Bane #1) by Drew Karpyshyn

Du thé pour les fantômes by Chris Vuklisevic

Labyrinthes (Caleb Tracksman #3) by Franck Thiliez

The Long Way to a Small Angry Planet (Wayfarers #1) by Becky Chambers

Le dernier des siens by Sibylle Grimbert

Five Little Pigs by Agatha Christie

Going Postal (Discworld #33) by Terry Pratchett

House of Hollow by Krystal Sutherland

Blanche-Neige et les lances-missiles (Du temps où les dieux buvaient #1) by Catherine Dufour

When He Was Wicked (Bridgerton #6) by Julia Quinn

The Lord of the Flies by William Golding

Celle qu'il attendait by Baptiste Beaulieu

Jusqu'à ce que mort s'ensuive by Olivier Rolin

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller

The Umbrella Academy Vol 1-3 by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bà

Il était deux fois (Caleb Tracksman #2) by Franck Thilliez

Camp Damascus by Chuck Tingle

To Sir Phillip With Love (Bridgerton #5) by Julia Quinn

Le papillon des étoiles by Bernard Werber

Beren and Luthien by J R R Tolkien

A Hat Full of Sky (Discworld #32) by Terry Pratchett

Le manuscrit inachevé (Caleb Tracksman #1) by Franck Thiliez

The Murder of Roger Ackroyd by Agatha Christie

Akata Witch (Akata Witch #1) by Nnedi Okorafor

Romancing Mr Bridgerton (Bridgerton #4) by Julia Quinn

The Devil and the Dark Water by Stuart Turton

An Offer from a Gentleman (Bridgerton #3) by Julia Quinn

Delicious in Dungeon vol 1-14 by Ryoko Kui

Doctor Who : the Star Beast by Gary Russell

La promesse de l'aube by Romain Gary

The Jasmine Throne (The Burning Kingdoms #1) by Tasha Suri

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adam

The Illiad by Homer (trad Emily Wilson)

The Viscount Who Loved Me (Bridgerton #2) by Julia Quinn

The Me You Love in the Dark by Scotty Young

The Duke and I (Bridgerton #1) by Julia Quinn

Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie

Nona the Ninth (Locked Tomb #3) by Tamsyn Muir

The Catcher in the Rye by J D Salinger

House of Leaves by Mark Z Danielewski

The House in the Cerulean Sea by T J Klune

I, Robot (Robot #1) by Isaac Asimov

Monstrous Regiment (Discworld #31) by Terry Pratchett

The Faceless Old Woman Who Secretly Lives in your Home by Jeffrey Cranor and Joseph Fink

Fullmetal Alchemist Vol 1-27 by Hiromu Arakawa

The Remarkable Retirement of Edna Fischer by E M Anderson

All System Red (Murderbot Diaries #1) by Martha Wells

Veiller sur elle by Jean-Baptiste Andrea

Julius Caesar by William Shakespeare

Segurant le chevalier au dragon by Emanuele Arioli

Chanson Douce by Leila Sleimane

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

He Who Drowned The World (The Radiant Emperor #2) by Shelley Parker Chan

Et à la fin ils meurent by Lou Lubie

Flowers for Algernon by Daniel Keyes

Coraline by Neil Gaiman

The Wee Free Men (Discworld #30) by Terry Pratchett

Fourth Wing by Rebecca Yarros

Harrow the Ninth (Locked Tomb #2) by Tamsyn Muir

Histoire de coming out by Baptiste Beaulieu and Sophie Nanteuil

Heartstopper Vol 1-4 by Alice Oseman

The Old Guard by Greg Rucka

The Seven Deaths of Evelyn Hardcastle by Stuart Turton

Le Comte de Monte-Cristo by Alexandre Dumas

La Cicatrice by Bruce Lowrey

Farenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Us by Sara Soler

Gideon the Ninth (Locked Tomb #1) by Tamsyn Muir

[vertoludum]

im always thinking about how bram stoker did everything but write in gigantic font BLOOD = SEX. the way lucy needs blood transfusions from three different men other than her fiancée/husband and they all decide to keep it a secret from him or else he'd be consumed by jealousy, the way dracula was obviously seducing everyone and drinking their blood (or trying to) the way he shoos his brides when they're scaring the hoe (johnathan) and yells "this man is mine" (🤨) it's like okay you get me. tell me more.

[glittergroovy]

[azlovesem]

I have trouble believing snu movie critic oeriod yheyrexsll stupud. An old dracula mivie yyyyeeeyyyy the best a tired old tale no one cares sboyt at sll doesnt mattwr how good it is. Nobody needs to see dracula move ever again. The earth is dying atoubd yiu im glad youll sll be in caskers doon. Im happy uour hiuse is butibg fuck uour movie rat face nobidy likes uou people. Period they hate your exisrence is an insult to life sir. I csn obliterate snything sby man has ever fibe dince the first nosforooooyu orcehatever thatvatupid movues cslled. Maybe its ok great youre sll fuxon deqd as desth asz a vampire anyway. Ull never ever match me. Three more mediocre starwara movue fir fuxkn stupud eat people from north smerica. Mediorcre mediocrity is you name vompared to Azriel.

i woukdntbtry yo n as je sn epic or any remake. I dont give a fuck for yhese peipke or theur stupid ustless oarentd ill tirch thrm all and laugh inbtheyr face like i just did but way worse CB if i saw these degeneeste losers in perdon.z nobone cares snymore they font need yiurbold fusty nothing american.. what i just ssud easteood youyelliw brlky fuck smerica ili said cubt. Whats up? Fuck yiu vlint bitch. Ive snihilated yge smerican idesl and nahe. No obe guves a fuck ill bury sll yoyf baby seals. Bsby sesls i said bitch ambericsn fuckn goof. Look everyone on earth at the rat faced fuckn viwards. I had thst gire oit in csli trump whatvd up fet ass fuckn goof!!? Yiyr oen hare uou over 100 000 000 people ate on jy tesm. Im theuf keader in your iwn nation. O said fuck uou smericsbs youreceat cowardsZ look ir gitks like me better. Ahh hs the eorkd sees your true coloyrs clint eastwood yheyre rlyliw. I saud your oropke are yelliw burch and yhry like me better thsn johnnwsyybe. Ahhboyta war blood murder thruw snericsbs off a bridge type dhut. Lets go to war!!!!!

[cedarboughs]

I visited Forks, Washington this week, which is on a bit of land amidst reservations and logging cut blocks and national parks, a place where the local burger joint still charges $4.00 for strawberry lemonade and calls it “Vampire punch,” written on the menu in what I’m pretty sure is the font used for the title on the cover of Twilight. It’s a beautiful area, and solemnly atmospheric, gothic in its fundamental character, isolated on a peninsula in the pounding Pacific, the apex of all that makes the Pacific Northwest unique – surrounded by primordial hemlock forest, perpetually in shadow and concealing countless silent mossy hollows where who-knows-what could be lurking. A centre of deep-rooted social conflict between capitalist resource extraction, indigenous tradition, poverty-driven job seekers, and conservationists driven far from the heartland seeking out the last ancient places still worth protecting. Pretty much the perfect setting for a haunting supernatural novel populated with a cast of outcasts and subtly, allegorically exploring those conflicts and the purpose of shadows and forests to the many outcasts of America and those on the literal and euphemistic edge—

And Twilight is the fantasy novel that laid claim to it?

Im not upset, it just feels like there could have been more, like Meyer could have really dug into the place and its literary feel, or like it could have been written by an author more familiar with the region. And, er, less Mormon.

Like, imagine: the vampire mythos intentionally contrasted with the American capitalist ethos of sucking the land dry for sustenance. I know that there’s like good vampires and villainous vampires, right? And that the vampires and werewolves are at odds because reasons? Imagine that one clan of vampires stays out of the sun beneath the trees, where they can hide in humble shadows, while another stays out of the sun in boardrooms and limos and penthouses using power as a means to blood. To commit the ultimate Washington State heresy and put a Fleet Foxes lyric in a Twilight-adjacent post, the men who move only in dimly lit halls and determine my future for me. Imagine shape-changer tricksters based in the real mythology of the Northwest (there’d have to be more ravens; see Eden Robinson’s Trickster Trilogy.) Imagine our human heroine, disillusioned with her home in some flyover state where the sun glares constant and remorseless, plants shrivel in the dry air, and the sky induces borderline agoraphobia, entering into this world first through a love of the woods and the life-filled solitude of the place itself, and then realizing the solidarity she feels with one (or two? And on some level all) of the ultimate outcasts, thriving in the shadows of the cedars for almost the same reason. And imagine the ultimate conflict being a truce of solidarity between indigenous Tricksters and the one group of vampires, who are descended from colonists but have tried to minimize the blood-sucking that their economic system I mean vampiric curse requires of them, against the true vampires, who like Stoker’s Dracula being of old nobility have built everything around it, who’d take away the trees that both factions of rivals love – the spirits more ancient than any of them – because they shelter in their own trees of steel.

I should admit that I haven’t actually read any of the Twilight books in full, and it’s been more than ten years since I saw one of the movies, so for all I know, all of this might actually happen. But from everything I’ve heard, I doubt it. And I want to make it clear that I don’t hate the series or anything. It’s not 2009 anymore and I’m not in late elementary school anymore. It’s more like, I’m a bit melancholy thinking about the wasted storytelling potential of a place and concept that has so, so much potential.

[gaykarstaagforever]

Considering it has been in the public domain since 1962 (and for longer in the US), anyone and everyone can publish an edition of the Dracula novel. And since everyone is already familiar with it, you really don't have to worry about marketing it.

But also, like...there are HUNDREDS of editions of this book out there. Why would someone buy yours over another one? And also, vampires are cool.

All this taken together leads us to the amazing variation of covers for this book over the last 127 years.

(Some of these may be for strictly digital editions, or fanart. People who upload to Pinterest are garbage at providing accurate descriptions. But they're all going for the same cover-art vibe, so I've included them.)

(Also I tried to avoid comic book / children's illustrated adaptations, only because those aren't literally the same Stoker novel. ...But some of those are fun, so get bent, me.)

This will be more than one post. There are a lot of these. I'll cross-link them when I'm done.

The original 1897 edition, and still probably the best. LOOK at this. Blood red, narrow, imposing font on sickening yellow, the leg of the R dropping below the line as an ominous red fang, pointing to Stoker's name. Golden Age of novels, indeed. Just goddamn perfect. This is going to be hard to top, right out the gate.

Valiant effort. Just the original with roasted edges, with a stock photo of Castle Bran and a giant full moon draped over it. This castle + moon thing comes up a lot.

Also I have no idea what this sequel by "Dacre Stoker" is the hell about. This book is public domain so anyone can publish whatever fanfic / sequels they want about it.

...Dacre Stoker is apparently legit Bram's great-grandnephew, and is a gym teacher from Quebec who used to be an Olympic athlete and coach. Now he just writes or co-writes Dracula books. Good on him, I suppose.

Obviously an edition post the Coppola movie, what with the castle that is very nearly the one from the movie, and the field of impaled people at sunset. It's fine for what it's going for, I guess.

This is the one from the hardback edition I have, in that this is on the dust jacket I threw out because fuck those things. The actual book is black with a simple red title font.

I don't know what the legal status is of whoever using this Boris Vallejo painting for this. I assume they paid to use it. Especially since they edited the expected half-naked lady out of the original:

I love Vallejo, but using a desaturated, censored version of this kick-ass painting? Either use the original and rock the vibe, or fuck off. Lame.

...Blue? Crude sketch of a random castle? White font? I mean I know the text is free so you want to keep production costs low, but this is just lazy crap.

Nice 1960s theater poster vibe with this one. Good work.

When I think Dracula, I don't think "2010s gritty emo reboot of Red Riding Hood." Don't know why anyone would. But I'm sure the original emo / goth PC wallpaper you stole from 2006 made someone's Evangelical coworker slightly annoyed.

Simple, artful, story-relevant. Font is going a bit too hard with the Steampunk signage thing, but it's inoffensive.

This is...a choice. I mean, this IS a scene from the book, and the art is okay. Just a weird choice for the cover, especially with the obviously lazy lasso tool selection and cropping. This doesn't really represent the overall tone of the novel, which is not about old men being irritated. I guess it is certainly distinctive...?

[movies-tv-more]

BRAM STOKER’S DRACULA 4K Blu-ray Steelbook 

To celebrate the 30th anniversary of Francis Ford Coppola’s retelling of Dracula, a steelbook will be coming home in time for Halloween on October 4, 2022. 

Special features on the 4K disc:

PREVIOUSLY RESTORED IN 4K

DOLBY VISION/HDR PERSENTATION OF THE FILM, including the original theatrical English subtitle font for texted instances

NEWLY ADDED "Love Song For A Vampire" Music Video by Annie Lennox

NEWLY ADDED Blood Lines – Dracula: The Man, The Myth, The Movies Featurette

(x)

[gaming-thoughts-by-an-idiot]

The Call of Cthulhu

Spoilers ahead :)

Chapter 1:

"Okay, aah, shark-"

"Okay, lots of blood. Cool cool cool"

"Ew, I dont like this game and I'm only a min in."

"Uh, how do I 3rd pov"

"What's the controls like?"

*camera sensitivity, vibration, invert*

" *half laugh* wow, thank you, so helpful"

"Alright then"

"Onwards we go"

"To crouch press B??? NO??? EEE! IF IT SAY X TO RUN I AM GONNA CRY"

"Omg I'm so scared"

"Theres a meme for the face I'm making, the harold in pain."

"This is very scary"

"Can I run?"

"WHAT WAS THAT????"

"Ok, maybe our octopus baby is just scared of the light... that's ok, that's good."

"I have a lamp and I'm not afraid to use it. I'm actually scared if I dont"

"He speaks to me"

"Did lovecraft dude make the octodaddy a man?"

"Pff, I went from 'imma piss my pants' scared, to calling cthulhu Daddy"

"From the cover pic, cthulhu got a dad bod"

"AAAAA DONT FIGHT??? IT SAYS HOW TO RUN, BITCH-"

"Thank god, it was a dream"

Main character: I hate whiskey

Me: same

"Can i turn this shit music off?"

"The phone is ringing... imma ignore it"

"I dont like auto save games, especially not when i cant manually save aswell"

"Yoo, wtf is this? Hes like a pokemon"

"Or it's like level up skyrim and fallout"

"Omg fiiine"

"Would be fun if there were a sherlock Dracula game, like debunk him"

"Oooh, I get to choose my character points, like dragon age"

"Most on investigation... and strength ofc, no wait, I dont want that, one less... medicine or occult info... hmmm... i have zero % on occult... guess I'll do that then"

Sanity: confident in your abilities and your cartesian mind-

Me: a what?

*googles*

Me: logical and self aware, ok I guess

"This is interesting"

"So, she was a psychic? If she just 'sees' things"

"So far? Good game"

Pierce: something's queer-

Me: yeah, me

"Isnt it like, if you talk about or draw or whatever, it draws power to cthulhu?"

"I'm gonna find that honking car outside his building, and set it the fuck on fire"

"Darkwater island? I have to think of something else, but it sounds familiar?"

Chapter two:

"Basic achievement! Yay :D"

"Darkwater sound like a very nasty homebrewed beer"

"The loading screen is so slow, it takes me back to windows 96"

"Aa- I think the game got offended, suddenly it moved fast"

" 'Enter madness' lmao, same"

"What would happen if a boat didnt want to take him to the island?"

" 'A game by Cyanide studio' spooky"

"Scary stones in the water"

"I like the fonts of the title"

"I mean, some whale ships had it coming"

"I failed the skill test, wow, rude. Put points into medical, people"

"I was on the 'he started it', and now I'm not allowed to drink, ugh... I have to play by me, not what can get me things"

"Wait, those are the same thing. Damnit"

"Oh lookie here, a woman. How do I know? Shes clearly wearing lipgloss!"

"Damn, this game isnt good for me, I'm failing all of these dialogues. I'm a terrible detective"

"The captain is just watching me as I go through his stuff"

Captain Fitzroy: us men of the sea are superstitious folk.

Me: as you should.

"Killer whales are fucking assholes"

"I have heard of the depths, yes"

"Love me some mythology"

"Like, why, would you put the dead whale, back? How is it even on land??? Did they drag it? Or did it just appear ON land? Cuz bruh, I wouldnt even touch it then"

"I dont wanna look at a leg that's been on a dead man, ew"

"Tell me about the hella whale"

Me: I snooped through you shit, heres my thoughts-

Him, as he should: wtf??? Dont touch my shit

Me: understandable, have a good day

"Wtf is the jetty?"

"Thanks man, I'm about to talk to people and make more mistakes"

"No wonder I'm a failing detective"

"My sherlock days are behind me, I'm a fool"

"Hes running like hes not wearing shoes, and theres puddles on the ground"

" 'They were all burnt up' that's so fucking creepy"

"I can lockpick????? Fuck. Yes."

"I broke it :("

Pierce: statue of saint dude for sailors, vandalism, cant even say what language

Me: angry language

Bootleggers: if this (didnt pay attention) gets out, we will get in trouble with you-know-who.

Me: Voldemort?

"Oh, I had a lighter"

"How do I turn it off"

"Hah! You think you can fight me! Oooooh ouch, the penis, she kicked it"

"Ugh, this game is hard. This is why I always die quickly, I just cant stop being sassy"

"Cat looks like she needs to pee"

"Oh no, ah, if I do this, I might owe her a favour... HMMMMMM, god... am I gonna regret this? Probably"

"Yes."

"I dont like to say this, but she should get laid or, ya know, SLEEP, Go and sleep in a soft bed, take a bubble bath... wait, did they have bubble baths at this time?"

"Google says 1940, and this is like 1800 something... go take a relatively warm bath, Cat."

"Shes so angry, is she ok?"

"She needs a hug. Not from me, nuuuh"

"In a romance movie or something, Pierce and Cat would date"

"... or am I thinking fanfics"

"See! Anger and strength isnt the way to go."

"I clearly made a mistake asking for her help. Next play through. Is gonna be better"

Chapter 3:

Game: enter madness

Me: already there, baby

"Its odd that her husband had the final saying on the grave location..."

"Me avoiding the main quest, only to do exactly what the main quest wants me to to do, ugh"

"Okay! The guy, mr winchester is very angry and very scary- and I just got an achievement that says just that"

"I dont understand the way to choose level points, but ok"

"So from what I saw, the couple did have a fight... but there were also a third person... so that's not arson or a crime of passion... but I guess I'll have to say it was a fight"

"Eyy, I got a point I can use on something"

"This is odd"

Pierce: the lyrics of the drunken sailor-

Me: I know that one!

"I want to read lovecraft's books, but they sound extremely scary"

"Hahahha! He burned himself with the lighter"

".... that was a skull... a skull just, flashed in the corner of the scene, what"

"Its so dark in here, isnt there any light???"

"Lol, not gonna lie, the kid's drawings are like the Slenderman game"

"Oh no... the kid got the vision too"

"Huh, that painting kinda looks like pierce"

"!!!PERSON IN MASK"

Officer: where did he go??? Theres no way out!!

Me: dude, they're legit marks on the floor, secret bookcase

"Having some trouble with this damn puzzle"

"Eyy! I found norway on the globe"

"Italy looks like a shoe, and Norway looks like- well, better not say it"

"Damn, either I am really stupid...or this is actually hard"

"Gotta take a pic of the map"

"OH YOY BLOODYBFUCKI-- ARE YOU SERIPUS ARE ANFNAKBQKHDA I AM GOING TO FUCKING SCREAM"

"WOW, OK, HERE I AM- OH THANK YOU XBOX FOT THE ACHIEVEMENT, SO HERE I AM, TOOK A FUCKING PHOTO OF THE FUCKIBG MAP, REALIZING I CANT READ MAPS- AND I, JUST FOR LAUGHS, DECIDE TO PRESS IN THE COMPASS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE GLOBE! AND GODAMN WOULDNT YOU KNOW HHHHHHHHHHH I'm so irritated."

"Wouldnt we hear it? If the person ran down there?"

"I wanna say, if this dude stole a painting? Just let him? This is a scary cave"

"I dont want to go there alone ;-;"

Chapter 4:

*spooky Blair witch type of thing hangs from ceiling*

Pierce: it's a dream catcher

Me: *sweating*

"I dont like that the lamp needs more oil, it gives me amnesia vibes"

"Nothing might happen if I touch the 'dream catchers', but I'm not gonna test that, crouching squad"

"Eating that huge whale must've made the sailors mad, crazy mad"

Sailors: we're gonna die, horribly

Cthulhu: here you humans go, a snack :)

Sailors: praise the lord!

Cthulhu: >:(

"100% what happened"

Pierce: OH MY GOD, WHATS GOING ON IN HERE? HMM

Officer: *softly* finally, there you are-

Pierce, not softly: SHUSH, WE ARE NOT ALONE

*very clear echo in the cave*

Officer: fuck. This is your fault, clearly, ugh

Pierce, still not quiet: LETS MEET DOWN THERE

"... theres a bloody, nasty hole in the ground... dont say it dont say it-"

"CTHULHU'S VAGINA"

"Or, I guess butthole"

"Oh no, we fell into it, terrible."

"Ew, 'the pit of horror', yeah xbox, this is definitely that"

"Oh wait, I was here earlier :)"

"Oh my god... I was here earlier D:"

"Cthulhu daddy will speak to me soon uwu"

Pierce: *picks up latin book*

Also Pierce: I cant read latin :(

"Oh... oh ok, 'Y' is where u take away the lighter"

"I dont think that's latin, m8"

"Keyboard smash sounds"

"Wow, they really just assumed cthulhu's gender"

"I wonder if the officer is gonna become a sacrifice"

"UHM???"

Cultist: ah! I... I feel him-

Another dude: shh~ you're gifted, indeed. Let him pass through every part of you.

Me: ... ew what

"Oh fuck. Omg. I thought that was it for me."

"I'm just crawling around, and then a dude, WITH A LAMP walks past me, I just froze, actually held my breath"

"Bradley died, the Charles dude is alive and looks like what a baby would look like, if Charles and cthulhu had a baby"

Chapter 5:

"I'm at the hospital:)"

"That was not a nice thing, I dont want to be a subject, sir"

"Wtf was that"

"BRADLEY IS THAT??? WHO IS THAT"

"I dont like this"

"I'm in a patted room"

"Guess I'll sleep then"

"Oh, where am I now? This looks like a clean place"

"For a 1800th standard"

"OH! Damn, I feel so dumb. Leviathan. Cthulhu, ugh."

"Go on, mr leviathan"

"Hes not very nice to me"

"Alrighty female person, lead the way"

Marie: find a way to get past these dudes lmao

Pierce: how???

Marie: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

"Hhhh, the game tells me to be stealthy, I'm scared"

"I can hide in a closet, oh no, I dont like"

"Almost caught"

"This is stressful"

"I'm lost :)"

Pierce, pulls a random switch: have I? UwU activated something?

"Ok, apparently I'm doing something right"

"????? Ok, ok, I'm in, ok..."

"Dude wtf"

Chapter 6:

"I'm doing this in one go, baby"

"I chose to tell the truth to the wife of the crazy man"

"No, I'm trying not to drink"

"Cat is here at the wife place"

"Digging through some stuff here, tell me more"

"Its good to invest in charisma, look at all this info"

"So, he just saw a vision of the Sanders dude stare at the painting... and scratch his eyes out... and Pierce is like 'I must see it', bro???"

"Okaaay, let's look at the painting that's gonna drive you mad :)"

"Is this like smile dog?"

"Omg, ew ew??? Wtf is that????"

"Run run run"

"Hhh, this reminds me of Alien isolation"

"I broke a glass to get a knife"

"RUN"

"I JUST SCREAMED"

"AND I JUST DIED"

"That was a loud scream too, its 2am"

"Omg i cant do this, I keep dying"

"What happens if I just stay in the closet? Will he die from a heart attack?"

"Think I'll call it quits, and try another day :)"

"He just screams, I'll try and grab a knife"

"Nah, I died..."

"Uuugh"

"Hmm, it's not scared of the light"

"I'm just trying shit, cuz it's still scary, but idk what to do now"

"Hmmm... died again"

"Okay, another day"

[docrotten]

HORROR OF DRACULA (1958) – Episode 109 – Decades of Horror: The Classic Era

"I am Dracula and I welcome you to my house." Are you falling for that old trick? Join this episode’s Grue-Crew - Chad Hunt, Whitney Collazo, Daphne Monary-Ernsdorff, and Jeff Mohr along with special guest Dick Klemensen (since 1972, the editor and publisher of Little Shoppe of Horrors Magazine - The Journal of Classic British Horror Films) - as they enter the House of Hammer once again with one of the company’s best, (Horror of) Dracula (1958).

Decades of Horror: The Classic Era Episode 109 – (Horror of) Dracula (1958)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

ANNOUNCEMENT Decades of Horror The Classic Era is partnering with THE CLASSIC SCI-FI MOVIE CHANNEL which will now include video episodes of The Classic Era! Available on Roku, AppleTV, Amazon FireTV, AndroidTV, Online Website. Across All OTT platforms, as well as mobile, tablet, and desktop. https://classicscifichannel.com/

Jonathan Harker begets the ire of Count Dracula after he accepts a job at the vampire's castle under false pretenses, forcing his colleague Dr. Van Helsing to hunt the predatory villain when he targets Harker's loved ones.

IMDb

  Director: Terence Fisher

Writers: Jimmy Sangster (screenplay), Bram Stoker (novel)

Music by: James Bernard

Cinematographer: Jack Asher (director of photography)

Production Design: Bernard Robinson

Makeup Department:

Philip Leakey (makeup artist) (as Phil Leaky)

Roy Ashton (assistant makeup artist) (uncredited)

Special Effects: Sydney Pearson

Selected Cast

Peter Cushing as Doctor Van Helsing

Christopher Lee as Count Dracula

Michael Gough as Arthur Holmwood

Melissa Stribling as Mina Holmwood

Carol Marsh as Lucy Holmwood

John Van Eyssen as Jonathan Harker

Valerie Gaunt as Vampire Woman

Olga Dickie as Gerda

Janina Faye as Tania

Charles Lloyd-Pack as Doctor Seward

George Merritt as Policeman

George Woodbridge as Landlord

George Benson as Frontier Official

Miles Malleson as Undertaker

Geoffrey Bayldon as Porter

Barbara Archer as Inga

Paul Cole as Lad

Whitney had a “reel” treat when she first saw (Horror of) Dracula at Geoffrey Rayles’s Rayle Archives in Lenoir, NC where she was able to view the 1958, 35mm, Technicolor print along with a couple reels of the early 1960s re-release. Of course, she loved the movie. What’s not to like with Cushing, Lee, and Gough? For Chad, (Horror of) Dracula changed the way he looked at the Count and, along with The Curse of Frankenstein (1957), this one is his favorite Hammer film. Chad also has a heck of a story about the first time he saw the film at his grandparent’s house. Daphne had great fun watching Cushing and Lee, especially in the few scenes they had together in (Horror of) Dracula. Jeff is a big fan of Dracula (1931) but also loves Lee’s more feral, animalistic interpretation in (Horror of) Dracula. 

You might say Dick Klemensen gives truth to the statement, “If you show it, he will come,” when he drove over two hours across the state to catch a showing of (Horror of) Dracula at a drive-in theater in Des Moines. According to Dick, if you want to show someone a Hammer film who has never seen one, this is it. The film has everything: action, blood, fights, and pacing.

Incidentally, if you haven’t read an issue of The Little Shoppe of Horrors Magazine, edited and published by Dick Klemensen since 1972, head on over to their website and order yourself an issue (or two or three). They’re stock full (at about 100 pages of 8-point font) of interesting articles and art about classic British horror films.

Also be sure to check out The Men Who Made Hammer shorts (running between 15 and 60 minutes each) featuring Dick and produced by Constantine Nasr on the Scream Factory Blu-ray releases of the following Hammer films: X the Unkown (1956, Jimmy Sangster), The Brides of Dracula (1960, Jack Asher and Terence Fisher), The Curse of the Werewolf (1961, Roy Ashton), The Phantom of the Opera (1962, Anthony Hinds), The Kiss of the Vampire (1963, James Bernard and Bernard Robinson), The Lost Continent (1968, Michael Carreras & film commentary), and Frankenstein and the Monster from Hell (1974, Roy Skeggs). The other entry in The Men Who Made Hammer series features Tony Dalton (author of Terence Fisher: Master of Gothic Cinema, 2021) discussing Freddie Francis on The Evil of Frankenstein (1964).

October is a great month to revisit this Hammer gem! As of this writing, (Horror of) Dracula is available for streaming on HBOmax.

Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror: The Classic Era records a new episode every two weeks. Up next on their very flexible schedule is one chosen by Daphne, Antonio Margheriti’s The Long Hair of Death (1964) starring Barbara Steele!

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans: leave them a message or leave a comment on the site or email the Decades of Horror: The Classic Era podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com

To each of you from each of us, “Thank you so much for listening!”

Check out this episode!

[grailfinders]

Fate and Phantasms #52: Vlad III

It’s only a week until October begins, so this build is frustratingly close to being well timed. Anyway, today on Fate and Phantasms we’re building the Son of the Dragon, Count Dracula! Kind of. Vlad III is an Undead Warlock/Shadow Sorcerer, who’s all about cribbing as much as he can from Bram Stoker, whether he wants to or not.

Check out the level-by-level breakdown below the cut, or the build summary over here!

Race and Background

The noble Vlad III Dracula wasn’t a Vampire, but you are, so you get +1 to Wisdom and +2 Charisma. You also have 60′ of Darkvision, Vampiric Resistance to necrotic damage, and the ability to suck the blood from willing, restrained, or grappled (by you) creatures with your Bloodthirst. This deals 1 piercing damage and 1d6 necrotic damage, healing you and reducing the target’s max HP by the amount of necrotic damage it deals. Drinking blood this way also gives you a Feast of Blood, giving you advantage on Strength and Dexterity saves and an extra 10′ of movement for a minute. Feasts stack, so feel free to go on a blood sugar high for big bursts of speed.

I called you noble in the last paragraph, and I meant that both in personality and literally. Nobles have proficiency in History and Persuasion. Honestly all servants should have History as a proficiency, and vampires can warp the minds of those under their thrall.

Stats

Strength is going to be your highest stat: shoving chunks of metal through people takes some elbow grease. After that is Dexterity, you’re so fast on your feet it’s like you’re flying. Third is going to be Charisma; it’s not just how charming you are but how spooky you can be, and you are very very spooky. Fourth is Intelligence: your madness enhancement doesn’t affect you that badly; at least not in terms of your smarts. Your Constitution’s a bit low, but you can always get that from other people. Finally, dump Wisdom. You agreed to show up as Dracula, so you’re clearly not in your right mind.

Class Levels

1. Warlock 1: Today we’re answering the question on everyone’s mind: can you be your own patron? The answer is yes! Kinda. Taking your power from The Undead Count Dracula, you gain Pact Magic using your charisma to cast and a Form of Dread. You also get proficiency in Wisdom and Charisma Saves, and two warlock skills. I’d think vampire lore would fall under Arcana, and you’re pretty scary, so grab Intimidation too.

As a bonus action, you can use Form of Dread to transform into a monster for 1 minute, gaining 1d10 plus your Warlock level in temporary HP. Once per turn when you make a damage roll from an attack, you can force it to make a wisdom save or be frightened of you until the end of your next turn. You’re also immune to the frightened condition while transformed. You can use this a number of times equal to your proficiency bonus per long rest. Basically, this is your version of rage, except it doesn’t prevent you from casting spells.

Speaking of, grab the cantrips Chill Touch for some spectral hands gripping at your fores, and Eldritch Blast for some ranged spears. For first level spells, False Life will make you even tougher, thanks to your increased HP, and Arms of Hadar will give you a short-range spear burst.

For weapons, the Spear is an obvious choice for the impaler.

2. Sorcerer 1: Have I mentioned you’re a vampire? That also qualifies you for the Shadow Sorcerer class! First level sorcerers get more Spells that also use your charisma to cast. This time multiclassing spells is easy: Your warlock levels have their slots, and your sorcerer levels have theirs. You can also cast warlock spells with sorcerer slots or vice-versa. Shadow sorcerers also get Eyes of the Dark, enhancing your darkvision to 120′ feet, and Strength of the Grave, meaning you might not die when you die, as long as you aren’t taking radiant or critical damage. Y’know, like from the sun or a stake to the heart. This only works once per long rest though, so don’t go counting on it.

For your spells, Mage Hand will let you caddy around some extra spears in case yours get “lost”, Message will let you telepathically communicate with your thralls, and Control Flames will give you an extra bit of dramatic flair. Also, grab True Strike. Your favorite targets for impalement are pretty small, so some advantage wouldn’t hurt. 

For first level spells, Charm Person is a gimme for a vampire, and you should also   grab Sleep. Drinking blood? Best done on a sleeping person. Waiting for them to fall asleep? Dumb. Make their dreams happen literally so you can make your dreams happen figuratively. 

3. Sorcerer 2: Second level sorcerers become a Font of Magic, giving you sorcery points equal to your sorcerer level, and the ability to burn spell slots for more points and vice versa.

For your spell, Ice Knife broadens the range of materials you can stab people with. To be fair, you could always flavor your eldritch blast as just “whatever’s nearby at the time”, but having spells with different types of damage is good for you. Diversify.

4. Sorcerer 3: Third level shadow sorcerers get another part of their Eyes of the Dark to kick in at this level. You know the spell Darkness without it taking up a spot on your list, and if you cast it with three sorcery points, you can also see through it.

You also get two kinds of Metamagic, letting you customize your spells the way you want. Extended Spell doubles the duration of a spell, up to 24 hours, and Distant Spell doubles the range of a spell if it has one greater than touch or lets you cast touch spells from 30 feet away.

For your spell, grab Shadow Blade. It does psychic damage, but so do all impalings if you do them right.

5. Warlock 2: Second level warlocks get Eldritch Invocations, letting you customize your you the way you want. Armor of Shadows lets you cast Mage Armor at will on yourself. You’re pretty squishy, and that fancy outfit you’ve got on isn’t going to offer much protection. You also get a second invocation at this level, but just grab what you want, we’ll switch it next level anyway.

For your spell, grab Cause Fear. Fear: you cause it. It’s really that simple.

6. Warlock 3: Third level warlocks get their pact boon: the Pact of the Blade lets you summon a magical weapon to your hand as an action for even fancier stabbing. You can also turn a magical weapon into your pact weapon if you want as part of a 1 hour ritual. So swap out that other invocation now for Improved Pact Weapon, adding 1 to your attack and damage rolls with your pact weapon, and letting you use it as a spellcasting focus.

For your spell, grab Hold Person. This lets you grab hold of a person using magic, restraining them for the duration if they fail their wisdom saving throws. Vampires typically go for more of a hypnosis angle, but the effect’s the same so I wouldn’t sweat the details.

7. Warlock 4: You’re finally grabbing your first ASI at seventh level. Planeshift Ixalan gave us the vampire race, but it also gave a vampire-specific feat. Vampiric Exultation lets you spend an action to partially transform into mist, giving you a flying speed of 30′ that lasts for 10 minutes. You can use this once per short rest.

To further sell this new mist-based form of travel, grab Misty Step as your spell for this level. Now you can totally transform yourself into mist and teleport 30′ away. For your new cantrip, grab Frostbite for even more of the grave’s chill.

8. Sorcerer 4: Fourth level sorcerers also get an ASI. The Piercer feat increases your strength by 1 to get rid of that pesky odd number, and you can reroll one piercing damage die per turn. Scoring a critical piercing hit also adds one more die to the damage roll.

For your spells this level, Friends is Charm Person but less taxing on the slots, and Knock lets you invite yourself into people’s homes! It’s also really loud, so if anything it’s probably better as a distraction while you move towards the real way you’re sneaking in somewhere.

9. Sorcerer 5: Fifth level sorcerers get third level spells. Haste adds 2 to a target’s AC, gives it advantage on dexterity saves, doubles its speed, and gets an additional action on each of its turns. After the spell ends, the target can’t move or take actions for a turn, so get out of the limelight before that happens.

10. Sorcerer 6: Sixth level shadow sorcerers can summon a Hound of Ill Omen, a medium sized direwolf that counts as a monstrosity instead of a beast. You also summon it with half your sorcerer level in temporary HP.  For three sorcery points, you get a hound that will chase down one creature who was within 120′ of you when it was summoned. It can pass through objects as difficult terrain, taking damage if it stops inside something. It can only move towards the target though, and only use its action to attack the target. If the hound is within 5′ of the target, they have disadvantage on all saving throws caused by your spells. The hound sticks around for 5 minutes, or until it or its target is at 0 hp. According to Stoker, you can turn into a wolf, so this is a nice compromise that won’t get fur on your suit.

Erupting Earth lets you make spears launch out of the ground in a 20′ cube, forcing dexterity saves for any creatures caught inside, and turning the whole area into difficult terrain, requiring one minute per square to clear away. Don’t let the bludgeoning damage fool you, these are totally spears.

11. Warlock 5: Fifth level warlocks also get third level spells. Gaseous Form lets you make your form gaseous, with a flying speed of 10′. You also get advantage on strength, dexterity, and constitution saves. There’s a lot of overlap between this and the exultation, but if you need to get through a wall, there’s no substitute.

You also get a new Invocation at fifth level. Thirsting Blade gives your pact weapon the Extra Attack feature, letting you make two weapon attacks in a single attack action.

12. Warlock 6: Sixth level Undead warlocks become Grave Touched. You don’t need to eat, drink, or breathe, and can replace an attack’s damage type with necrotic damage. If you’re in your Form of Dread, you can add an extra damage die when dealing necrotic damage as well.

To complete the effect of the Legend of Dracula, we’re also grabbing Animate Dead for some undead minions.

13. Warlock 7: Seventh level warlocks get fourth level spells. Shadow of Moil lets you wrap yourself in, well, shadows, dropping the light within 10′ of you by one level (dim to darkness, bright to dim). You get resistance to that pesky radiant damage, and taking hits from something within 10′ of you causes shadow spears to shoot out of your body, dealing 2d8 necrotic damage to whatever hit you.

You also get another Invocation at this level. You can use Gaze of the Two Minds to see through another humanoid’s senses for a turn, but you can use your action on each turn to maintain the connection. Not everyone has proficiency in a disguise kit, and now you don’t need to try.

14. Warlock 8: Use your next ASI to round out your Wisdom and Charisma for better saves against other spells and worse saves against yours. We’re also grabbing a spell from the Undead spell list, Greater Invisibility. Getting caught is for mortals, don’t do it.

15. Warlock 9. Ninth level warlocks get 5th level spells. Negative Energy Flood forces a ton of bad juju into a creature based on their constitution save. If it kills them, they pop back up as a zombie that isn’t really under your control, but will go around biting people anyway.

You also get another Invocation! The Unearthed Arcana Superior Pact Weapon adds gives your pact weapon a +2 to attacks and damage that doesn’t stack with the improved pact weapon. Hold on to IPW for now anyway, we’ll have something to replace it with a little later.

16. Warlock 10: Tenth level undead warlocks become a Mortal Husk. You resist necrotic damage now, which you already could, but you’re totally immune in your Form of Dread. Also, when you hit 0 HP, you can make your body explode. This deals 2d10 plus your warlock level in necrotic damage to creatures within 30′, and you show up again at 1 hp where you died. You keep all your stuff, and gain one level of exhaustion. After you revive this way, you can’t do so again for 1d4 long rests.

For your cantrip at this level, grab Infestation. Technically Dracula can control rats, but fleas are the biggest we can do on short notice.

17. Sorcerer 7: Seventh level sorcerers get fourth level spells. Blight lets you suck the life out of a creature within range, dealing 8d8 necrotic damage on a failed constitution save. It’s also weirdly effective on plants for some reason.

18. Sorcerer 8: Use your ASI to increase your Constitution for some more health and better concentration saves. 

19. Warlock 11: Eleventh level warlocks get a Mystic Arcanum, a sixth level spell they can use once per long rest. Create Undead lets you make fancier undead minions, Ghouls. 

20. Warlock 12: Your final level gives you one last ASI, which will boost your Charisma for higher spell saves. Also, at this level you can replace that Improved Pact Weapon that’s just sitting around with Lifedrinker, adding necrotic damage to your pact weapon’s attacks equal to your charisma modifier.

Pros:

The combination of sorcerer points and warlock spell slots is really powerful. Use your sorcerer slots as normal, then right before a short rest you can turn your warlock slots into points, and get a lot of spells back for almost free.

You have multiple ways to defy death, and plenty of way to pad your life total as well, making you a bit tougher to kill than your HP total would suggest.

Your distant spells and minions helps you keep a combat presence over a wide area without having to put in all the legwork or opening yourself up for attack. If you’re willing to spend only one short rest a day on just zombie upkeep, you’ll be able to make 15 zombies a day, or maintain control of 24, for absolutely no cost. Add to that the occasional wight and Hound of Ill Omen, and you’ve got a veritable undead horde on your hands. Even if your enemies wade through your zombie army, you can just fly away from them and their dumb whip. Sorry, wrong Dracula.

Cons:

Your health total and AC aren’t great, especially for someone who’s waving around a melee weapon. If you do get cornered, it could be a short fight, especially against paladins. Your low constitution also means low concentration, so keep your distance if you’re charming someone.

Your low wisdom score can be an issue when up again magic users. Fortunately, you being charmed won’t directly affect your minions, so you’ve got a way to break free.

Mixing spellcasting classes means you don’t get ninth level spells. An army of the undead doesn’t mean much to someone who can just wish you were never born.

Next up: He’s so fluffy, everyone’s gonna die!

[finding-my-truth]

Got a question for Aunty Mal? Simply perform a blood sacrifice and/or bring your question to https://discord.gg/hCVcDPf