While the Harris books are fun, they aren’t particularly good, are they? (And arguably, the TV show is even better.) And you’re surprised Stephanie Meyer isn’t here at all?

That’s actually not a bad list at all, I think. Justin Cronin’s “The Passage” actually seems like an interesting omission, as well as the Swedish “Let the Right One In.”

I also think Brian Lumley’s “Necroscope.” The most original idea about vampires I’ve ever read.

@Matt: I agree. A pretty good list. I would have liked to see Cronin’s novel included (He had to be in the batch of 35).

The list looks as if the association was going for books that added to the cannon of vampire literature. I haven’t read Yarbro, Grant, or Newman’s novels (I have heard good things about Ano Dracula), but it seems the top six does advance the cannon in some way. Anne Rice, whether she accepts the title or not, is the queen of vampire lit and Twilight, as prominent as it is, is a bad Sweet Valley imitation of what Rice did with Interview. (Though both, Harris and Meyers, novels probably were in the short listed 35.)

Missing Steven Brust’s ‘Agyar’

Better novel than all the others put together, IMO

I might have included The Historian, by Elizabeth Kostova, but otherwise I like the list.

While I typically don’t get into the undead genres too often, Anno Dracula’s alternate history and literary melting pot scenario drew me to it. And I have to say… It’s one of the coolest books I’ve ever read from both a fantasy/science fiction nerd standpoint, and as a literature enthusiast. Must read for anyone who has both these qualities.

Ditto The Hisotrian and the Necroscope series. Harry Keough was a much more compelling character than Harry Potter. Then again, the Necroscope series was not for children…

I’ve read “I Am Legend”, I’ve read “Salem’s Lot”, and I’ve read “Interview with a Vampire”. I’ve heard of “Anno Dracula” but I have not heard of the other two books on that shortlist. From what I know “I am Legend” deserves to be there. “Salem’s Lot” deserves to be there. One book that is missing that even Stpehen King would suggest is probobly “Carrion Comfort” by Dan Simmons. The vampires are not traditional in the blood-drinking sense, which may be reason why it might be omitted. Many reviews have said its the best modern take on the vampire since King’s own “Salem’s Lot” King himself said it was the third scariest novel, ever. That’s some high praise. Praise or not though, its a damn good read.

Salem’s Lot is not the best choice for a spot in the final six. I can think of several books more worthy than this Stephen King dud. Someone mentioned The Historian by Elisabeth Kostova. Now both of these books are long and tedious at times, but whereas Salem’s Lot is a thinly veiled regurgitation of Dracula, The Historian has a pretty unique story and undeniably great writing. Salem’s Lot is nowhere near King’s best work and it seems like it just ended up here because Stephen King is Stephen King and he’s adding some weight to a an award that virtually no one knows about.

Sad to see that Poppy Z. Brite’s Lost Souls isn’t on the list. What a lusciously written book.

Twilight is the best vampire book ever. Maybe second only to Breaking Dawn.

One of the very best vampire novels is “The Delicate Dependency,” by Michael Talbot. It’s better than several on this list.

I quite enjoy Charlaine Harris’ books (though my favorite books by her are from the Aurora Teagarden series instead), but they are so completely different from Anne Rice that I find it impossible to compare the two. I would have to say that Harris’ books are often so lighthearted that they don’t seem to be horror, which is obviously not the case with Rice. Meyer’s “Twilight,” is again, despite its popularity, too different to be compared to Rice. But what sort of criteria are used in determining whether or not something is the ‘best’ of the century? Popularity should probably be one.

I guess I am curious to know whether Harris and Meyer were on the list of the original 35.

One of the best vampire novels to come along is quite some time (yes, Twilight, Hunger et all) is Deborah Harkness in her first of a trilogy called ‘The All Souls Trilogy’ number one, a Discovery Of Witches. Read and enjoy. I can’t wait for summer and the next one called ‘Shadow Of The Night’. I can see the novels as movies in my head!
Sorry, Kathleen but if we are judging books on popularity I don’t want to play. Popular appeal is NOT what makes a good vampire novel. I really enjoyed Anne Rice at the beginning of her vampire journey … but got really bored two books in … thank goodness for Queen Of The Night because I would have turned away from her series and writings. Her religious books are very narrow in view and presentation in my eyes.

I do agree that Anne Rice’s Interview with the Vampire is one of the best vampire books aside from Bram Stoker’s Dracula. However, I am curious why Elizabeth Kostova’s The Historian did not make it to this list?

I really enjoyed Octavia Butler’s “Fledgling” – but it’s not one you see mentioned often among “undead” books.