Paranormal Romance & Urban Fantasy discussion

If a character has an amputated leg (from war) and he was turned years later (into a vampire) would you expect the leg to stay amputated or would you expect it to grow back? What would your preference be? Why? Please express your thought process.

It depends on the AU rules. I think either choice is fine as long as the reasoning is in the world building.

In some worlds, vampirism includes regeneration. For example, in Lynsay Sands' Argeneau series, the virus pushes cellular regeneration to it's optimal state so older people get younger, sick people are healed, etc., which is actually why vampires need blood supplements. In many series, limbs will grow back. It allows for change.

In other worlds, vampirism freezes people, so there's no change: no hair or nail growth, etc. Like the Twilight series. Anne Rice's vampires reverted to their frozen state during their sleep.

And then sometimes vampirism is just another word for "alternative human." Vampires are their own species, with their own rules. Lara Adrian's Midnight Breed vampires heal, but only to a point. They’re vulnerable enough to scar.

So basically, I think all options are there, so the regeneration choice needs to be made after you've decided what characteristics your plot requires. There's a lot of psychological angst available if your vampires can never change (and are trapped in time), though it makes them physically invulnerable. On the other hand, physical vulnerability can build up suspense and drama because death is attainable. Vampires are not immortal, so fighting means more when there's such great risk.

I'd expect it to stay amputated.

In my vampire world view, vampirism can cure injury sustained while a vampire but not pre-existing injury. Take aging as an example: turning into a vampire freezes someone's age at the point they are turned rather than making them younger. The same applies to injury: irreparable physical injuries are fixed.

Interested to hear other views.

Thanks guys. Love the deep thoughts. I like scientific approaches, myself, but it's all fantasy really, so I'm trying to connect the two. Of course, I want to know how people feel about it, not to mention, due to issues of the HEA vs. acceptance of the self, i.e. subplots.

I like the thought of a "flawed" vampire. What's the point of a presumably attractive, perhaps irresistible supernatural being if he/she is perfect in all ways. If not a physical disfiguration, then a psychological one would make the vampire more interesting. I hope this does not invite criticism of my perception of a disability as a flaw. Quite the opposite, but it's often difficult to make observations/comments with every perspective in mind in books and certainly in life. But a good book should take a characters experience and reality and expand it in a way that makes it interesting for readers, independent of what ilk or personal physical makeup they may be - with or without limbs.

Marishka wrote: "I like the thought of a "flawed" vampire. What's the point of a presumably attractive, perhaps irresistible supernatural being if he/she is perfect in all ways. If not a physical disfiguration, the..."

Beautiful.

I don't have a deep analysis to add... but I agree that it varies by series mythology... True Blood took this idea to the extreme when Jessica was turned vampire as a virgin and her hymen grew back EVERY TIME...

In Guild Hunter that paraplegic has a chance of his spine healing when his transformation into a vampire ends...

I think, especially with TV mythos, aging has to be accepted since actors can't de-age and CGI only goes so far...

Iain wrote: "Jessica was turned vampire as a virgin and her hymen grew back EVERY TIME..."

LOL! I forgot about that! The TV stuff is something to consider too. Duh on my part.

I guess in the end, what's really important is that the book is internally consistent. I'm having trouble remembering small details like that when world building for my books, like for instance the genealogy of an immortal family - if so and so is 100 years old, how come he looks 30 and not 15 or 25? Haha, troublesome :0)

I should add, the protagonists aren't turned into immortals, but born that way...

Anyway, enjoy the process of creating!!

Marishka wrote: "I guess in the end, what's really important is that the book is internally consistent. I'm having trouble remembering small details like that when world building for my books, like for instance the..."

Marishka wrote: "I should add, the protagonists aren't turned into immortals, but born that way...

Anyway, enjoy the process of creating!!"

Consistencey. I always wondered how Stan Lee and other comic creators kept track of these things over decades. Sometimes, I wonder if they figured out they made a mistake and then corrected it with the next release with an explanation. Trouble is so much fun! LOL!

Keep it gone. Why? Because it happened before he was turned. If it had been after he was turned it would be a different story. It needs to stay gone and will make it a more interesting read. Think of it. Have you ever read a book about a vampire that was missing a leg? I have not.. yet.. so far....

Lynn wrote: "Keep it gone. Why? Because it happened before he was turned. If it had been after he was turned it would be a different story. It needs to stay gone and will make it a more interesting read. Think ..."

Thanks Lynn, I haven't either, and I like the para series of photographer, Michael Stokes.

Wrath starts out nearly blind in Black Dagger Brotherhood and eventually goes fully blind... and I want to say I've read something with other permanent injuries... in a mythology where injuries from certain weapons can't be regenerated

Dani wrote: "Thanks guys. Love the deep thoughts. I like scientific approaches, myself, but it's all fantasy really, so I'm trying to connect the two. Of course, I want to know how people feel about it, not to ..."

To expand, I like it most when there's more of a scientific reasoning (rather than purely magic) behind regeneration in paranormals. In Nalini Singh's Guild Hunters, a human has to be tested to be a candidate for the change, and it's a process. So the paraplegic Iain mentioned might be cured, but they aren't sure because it's never been tried. The number of human candidates is, and has always been, small.

I really like the setup behind Lynsay Sands' Argeneau vamps, which is basically a bot virus. The virus works to fix any cellular damage and uses the hosts blood to fuel that process. Because human cells die constantly, the "infected" must replenish their own blood supply with supplemented blood. Fangs evolved to ease that acquisition. They avoid the sun not because of magic or an allergy, but because of the cellular damage and need increased need to feed. Regenerating a limb fits in the world, but the vampire would need to feed often.

There's a werewolf in the Patricia Briggs series who is an amputee. Interestingly, if the guy had a pack that could have aided magically, he could have healed, but he was a lone wolf at the time. It created nice drama in being a "freak" amongst freaks. It's tough being different around dominants. I think it makes more sense than the werewolf in Kresley Cole's Immortals book where he cuts off his leg to escape imprisonment knowing that it will eventually grow back.

Sherrilyn Kenyon's Dark-Hunters can heal, but they need Dream Hunters (or other gods) to help them. They can't heal mortal damage on their own. Of course, Artemis would probably never change an amputee in the first place.

I like the power to regenerate limbs, but mostly with a scientific reason. If it's a magical reason, I prefer the process to be imperfect and rely on the strength of a group (coven, pack, etc.) for healing. You need friends! I don't really like it when vampires and shifters are nearly physically invulnerable.

Lynsay Sands has really been exploring the science side of things in recent books, with the evil doctor cutting vampires in half and seeing how long they can last that way and still be healed with a blood infusion... and the animal hybrids more common in New Species / Breeds books than Lynsay Sands world...

Kate Daniels has the special silver composition developed by Roland that was used to disgfigure Derek's face, and Dr. Doolittle has his spine broken which takes a long time to repair...

If I remember, in Guild Hunter, you have to be descended from an angel to be able to be turned into a vampire... and I think vampirism/angelness can fix physical injuries, but not genetic abnormalities (like the librarian angel's twisted wing)

Thanks Iain and Lisa. The silver stuff I'm curious about. I've been doing research and trying to find the source of this element in the folklore. I love the science stuff too but I want a way to explain it all. I've written leeches into a short story. They can preserve blood up to six months-enzymes versus coagulation and deterioration. Much easier to explain than the silver. I'll have to read Kate Daniels.

Bunnycore wrote: "Silver has religious properties. Depending on which lore you look at. Who created vampires? That has something to do with it. Some believe it was Artimis in Greek Mythology. Her Silver bow was stol..."

I love all this back story. Such a mystery.

Sabina Kane series explores the religious aspects a bit in later books with Kane and Abel being characters I think...

Kate Daniels is great for learning a ton about many religions/mythologies... altho all religions lead to Roland somehow...

John Charming and the Pax Arcana world takes the route of faith makes reality... people THINK something is true, like vampire fighting lore, and it becomes true... kinda like that Doctor Who episode where the entire world regenerates him back to youth with cell phones and healing thoughts...

Iron Druid Chronicles also has faith-based constructs of Jesus and the Virgin Mary and many other religious figures... when its not focusing on Greek/Roman mythology, Celtic mythology, and the Coyote from Native American mythologies...

This has gotten off-topic, but yea... Roland is basically so old that basically every religion is based on him... Generally each book reveals 1-2 more myths or religious parables that are really about Roland in KD world... you finally meet him in books 7-10

There are a ton of series I have had to give the first book 2-3 tries only to end up loving the series once I got sucked in...

Silver also has antiseptic properties. We currently are using commercial band aides for our kids with a silver coating to aide faster healing. I hope my kids are not vampires... :0)

Marishka wrote: "Silver also has antiseptic properties. We currently are using commercial band aides for our kids with a silver coating to aide faster healing. I hope my kids are not vampires... :0)"

LOL!

I joke that me and my coworkers are vampires... work overnights 9pm-6am... from about August to April I can go most days never seeing the sun from the time I leave for work until I get home...

Iain wrote: "I joke that me and my coworkers are vampires... work overnights 9pm-6am... from about August to April I can go most days never seeing the sun from the time I leave for work until I get home..."

That sounds like an intro to a story too...

If so, it would be witty and wistful. What do you say, Dani? You should go for it, with lain's blessing :0)

I meant, with lain's blessing of course. I wasn't implying that lain was already giving an implicit okay. Sheesh...language can be hard lol

Fine with me

You guys have been awesome with the input. thanks so much