Vampires Are

by Stephen Kaplan, Carole Kane (As Told to), Joel Martin (Foreword by)

Dr. Stephen Kaplan founded the Vampire Rsearch Center in 1972, and is considered the world's greatest expert on modern vampires (from back panel blurb)

256 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1983

Reviews

[Werner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Note, April 8, 2020: I just edited this review to correct a minor typo.

A serious parapsychologist and occult researcher (he was responsible for unmasking the so-called "Amityville Horror" as a hoax), Dr. Kaplan is the founder of the Vampire Research Center, located on Long Island, for the scientific study of all phenomena related to vampirism. This nonfiction book gives a basic introduction, in an engaging and popular style, to the fruits of the Center's years of research. Fans of fictional vampires might (or might not!) be disappointed to learn that he hasn't unearthed any verified instances of any actual, Undead supernatural vampires --though the book does describe his series of unverified phone conversations with a female caller who claimed to have been made a vampire in 16th-century England and to be presently preying on humans in Florida. He does, though, supply a good compendium of vampire lore, history of ideas about vampires, possible scientific explanations for vampire-like phenomena observed in the past and present, and a look at the modern cultural phenomenon of living people who adopt various vampire-like behaviors. An indispensable starting point for any reader with an interest in the nonfictional aspects of this subject!

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

The results of parapsychologist Stephen Kaplan's attempts to find out whether vampires really exist. Describes lots of sad kids in costume who would now be called emos or Goths, along with some sexual deviants and a few truly intriguing cases of people who made fairly convincing cases to Dr. Kaplan that they really are vampires. At least they believe it.

[Snow · Rating 2 out of 5]

I don’t believe in vampires, but do have a certain fascination for the lore. Initially this was a promising read with some outdated speech. It was sometimes funny and other times intriguing to read about self identified vampires. However, it’s clear Kaplan could have used some more skepticism. The use of weasel words and anonymous authority is at times overwhelming. Worst of all is the writing about satanic cults and baby killing blood drinkers, topped off with Stephen and his gang almost getting possessed by demon vampires because of some young woman’s trickster shenanigans. It’s clear from these passages Stephen was tapping into the satanic panic hysteria and used that cultural authority to tell a grand tale. Of course, we now have the benefit of hindsight. At the time of writing this book it was truly believed by a large amount of the public that Satanic rituals were claiming the lives of innocent Americans. Decades later and many lives ruined, it was accepted that the moral panic about Satanic Ritual Abuse were essentially false. I’m really stressing this point because i do feel it gives useful insight into the mind behind this book. On the case of Elizabeth, which still fascinates some today, again I feel Kaplan could be more of a skeptic. The way he ends that chapter (and most chapters in the book) feels very much like a child’s belief in Santa Claus.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I found this book to read on the Internet Archives. It's the story of Stephen Kaplan's Vampire Research Center and his studies on vampires. It's fascinating to read, especially the conversations with Elizabeth, a real vampire! I loved this book!

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fascinating to me. Probably ridiculous to most. I actually do get the feeling that Kaplan was sincere, and it's a pity this kind of research is no longer taking place (as far as I'm aware). Though I can't say that I found his evidence too persuasive (I mean his strongest case is a series of phone calls with a woman who claimed she was a vampire) but I did like his categorisations of the classes of people who claim to be vampires.

I liked his visit to those people too, you get a good sense of the kind of personalities that lead towards people claiming to be vampires. One of the categories is a mysterious type that outwardly doesn't seem to have any personality or psychological defects, they just require blood. Who knows what causes it, and Kaplan can only speculate, especially as most of those he classes as "real" refused to be subjected to medical or psychological analysis.

I certainly didn't find it dull to read! Kaplan litters it with anecdotes of all kinds of people calling up. From pranks, to people that feared they had been attacked by vampires, to crazy people who threatened to kill him and his team for his 'satanic' research.