Why Mixed Breed Vampires Are a Fictional Controversy

There are some who argue that in the realm of fiction, the concept of mixed breed vampires is a misnomer. After all, vampires are a creation of the imagination and therefore aren't bound by real-world rules. From a fictional standpoint, however, why are there people who claim and make a big deal that there is no such thing as mixed breed vampires?

Verisimilitude: A Key Concept in Speculative Fiction

The concept of verisimilitude, or the appearance of being true or real, plays a crucial role in speculative fiction. This genre of writing creates a new universe with its own set of rules, which are often similar to our own but allow for fantastical elements that cannot exist in our real-world universe. Speculative fiction, therefore, is built on the idea of alternate realities with their own consistent rules and logic.

Original Universes vs. Alternate Universes

Consider the difference between The Walking Dead, Star Wars, and Game of Thrones. Each of these universes contains elements that challenge our natural understanding of the world, such as zombies, aliens, and dragons. However, these beings are real within their respective fictional contexts.

For instance, in The Walking Dead, zombies exist according to the universe's rules, which include being mindless, slow, and contagious through biting. The rules that create these zombies don't necessarily apply in other universes. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, for example, zombies that appear in one context are explained by a different set of rules, such as a virus infection.

Rules of Vampirism: A Spectrum of Universes

A similar situation applies to the concept of vampires. Vampires in literature and fiction operate under a range of rules, from the suave and civilized Dracula of Bram Stoker's novel to the fierce and relentless vampires of True Blood. Each universe has its own internal logic and set of rules that define the nature of vampires.

Example: Vampirism in Key Works

In Bram Stoker's Dracula, the titular character is an archetype of an animated corpse who can create more of his kind through conversion. In True Blood, vampires are more aligned with the LGBTQ community and face social persecution. Meanwhile, in From Dusk till Dawn, vampires are depicted as brutal and evil. This demonstrates the wide variety of rules that govern vampires in different fictional worlds.

When considering the existence of mixed breed vampires, the issue revolves around whether the same rules that govern one type of vampire also apply to another. For example, in the Vampire: the Masquerade world, vampires from different clans can mix their blood, but this doesn't work for vampires from different bloodlines. The rules in one universe don't necessarily carry over to another.

Conclusion: The Flexibility of Speculative Fiction

While it is true that the concept of mixed breed vampires might seem out of place in some fictional universes, it is entirely possible in others if the rules of that universe allow for it. There is no inherent contradiction in having different versions of vampires, each governed by their own set of internal rules.

Through verisimilitude, speculative fiction creates rich, immersive worlds that challenge and expand our understanding of the fantastic. Whether a character is a mix of different types of vampires is not a matter of right or wrong, but rather a matter of whether the rules of the universe in question permit it. So, the argument that there are legitimate reasons to disallow mixed breed vampires is ultimately a function of the specific rules and logic of the fictional universe being explored.