Childe_Of_Caine
August 28th, 2006, 07:20 PM
In most instances of fictional literature, injecting elements of reality into the narrative subtracts from the overall mystique and escapism that said literature is intended to provide. Perhaps some of the most potent examples of this truth lay in the sensual, preternatural world of the vampire. I find it truly difficult to reconcile some feats of the undead living among us with modern understanding of natural and biological sciences. Indeed, should one try to analyze both the biochemisty and the physics of Dracula transmuting his physical form into the least cohesive state of matter, one would be likely to topple over from the debilitating effects of multiple anyeurisms.
Fortunately, for your suspension of disbelief--and in the interest of maintaining my personal health--I've decided to forego the applicability of science to the Lumley Universe. Instead, I've resolved to focus this post on only the "science" that exists in the pages of the Necroscope series, particularly: the "science" of the Wamphyri! So, in that vein, I present my inquiries to you fellow Lumley Fans:
1.) First off, exactly what is a Wamphyri insofar as his/her contrasts with the Lumley vampire? Do said contrasts even exist, or is the vampire simply an alternative, lesser form of the Wamphyri? Note that when I say vampire, I don't refer, as the Necroscope text often does, to the leech that resides within the Wamphyri; rather, I speak of those individuals said to be "vampirized."
2.) What are the methods of Wamphyri creation? I know of the eggson/eggdaughter method which involves the parent Wamphyri giving its egg--or one of its eggs in some cases--to a desired recipient, and I'm also aware of the spores from the Wamphyri swamps being inhaled by unwitting Szgany and developing over time into full fledged leeches thus making their hosts true Wamphri. Are there other methods, though, to create a Wamphri? Recently, I've encountered the concept of "ascension" in which a vampire eventually becomes a Wamphyri as time progresses...is there any merit to this? Additionally, there exists a method to create Wamphyri by infecting a human fetus as was the case with Mr. Bodescu; that brings me to my next question.
3.) If the distinction between vampire and Wamphyri does exist, then how does one create only a vampire? Yulian Bodescu and the thralls that he made of his mother, his cousin, her mother, and her father come to mind once more as I ask this question. He apparently placed some of his metamorphic flesh into their bodies which facilitated their metmorphoses, but how do you account for the powers exhibited by the latter three and not by Yulian's mother?
I suppose it only fair to mention that it has been awhile since I read the initial books of the Necroscope series (wamphyri, the source, deadspeak, etc). The answers to each and every one of my questions may lie in those pieces of literature, and a casual perusal of them may yield those very answers, but I'd much rather use this curiosity as a springboard for interaction with you fellow Lumley Fans. So, please give my post some thought and know that I will be overjoyed to read any and all responses :D !
...also, I ask of you LF's to forgive any typos or lack of writing consistency/coherrency. I'm writing this post in excitement and, therefore, minus my usual level of editing scrutiny. Please forgive!
Fortunately, for your suspension of disbelief--and in the interest of maintaining my personal health--I've decided to forego the applicability of science to the Lumley Universe. Instead, I've resolved to focus this post on only the "science" that exists in the pages of the Necroscope series, particularly: the "science" of the Wamphyri! So, in that vein, I present my inquiries to you fellow Lumley Fans:
1.) First off, exactly what is a Wamphyri insofar as his/her contrasts with the Lumley vampire? Do said contrasts even exist, or is the vampire simply an alternative, lesser form of the Wamphyri? Note that when I say vampire, I don't refer, as the Necroscope text often does, to the leech that resides within the Wamphyri; rather, I speak of those individuals said to be "vampirized."
2.) What are the methods of Wamphyri creation? I know of the eggson/eggdaughter method which involves the parent Wamphyri giving its egg--or one of its eggs in some cases--to a desired recipient, and I'm also aware of the spores from the Wamphyri swamps being inhaled by unwitting Szgany and developing over time into full fledged leeches thus making their hosts true Wamphri. Are there other methods, though, to create a Wamphri? Recently, I've encountered the concept of "ascension" in which a vampire eventually becomes a Wamphyri as time progresses...is there any merit to this? Additionally, there exists a method to create Wamphyri by infecting a human fetus as was the case with Mr. Bodescu; that brings me to my next question.
3.) If the distinction between vampire and Wamphyri does exist, then how does one create only a vampire? Yulian Bodescu and the thralls that he made of his mother, his cousin, her mother, and her father come to mind once more as I ask this question. He apparently placed some of his metamorphic flesh into their bodies which facilitated their metmorphoses, but how do you account for the powers exhibited by the latter three and not by Yulian's mother?
I suppose it only fair to mention that it has been awhile since I read the initial books of the Necroscope series (wamphyri, the source, deadspeak, etc). The answers to each and every one of my questions may lie in those pieces of literature, and a casual perusal of them may yield those very answers, but I'd much rather use this curiosity as a springboard for interaction with you fellow Lumley Fans. So, please give my post some thought and know that I will be overjoyed to read any and all responses :D !
...also, I ask of you LF's to forgive any typos or lack of writing consistency/coherrency. I'm writing this post in excitement and, therefore, minus my usual level of editing scrutiny. Please forgive!