Finding Our Humanity in Paranormal Literature
53
characters, these assertions would be uncontestable; however,
paranormal literature includes female paranormal heroines exploring
their sexual identity, as well as bisexual and gay/lesbian characters. This
is evidenced in Patricia Briggs’ Mercy Thompson series, the main
character in Kim Harrison’s Rachel Morgan series, several main
characters in Emma Holly’s books, and Cassandra Clare’s Young Adult
Mortal Instruments series.
In addition, paranormal literature has increased readership to
include male readers and Young Adult readers, particularly where the
paranormal intersects with urban fantasy, in more adventure-focused
books such as Jim Butcher’s Dresden Files series, Kim Harrison’s
Rachel Morgan books, Jeaniene Frost’s Night Huntress books, or Ilona
Andrews’ series about main character, Kate Daniels. These reasons,
alone, do not account for the genre’s popularity.
Sales of young adult novels of the genre have shown young
readers’ support for reading, in general. “ ...[S]ales of young adult and
children’s books in 2012 were up 13.1 percent over the previous year.
And the category outpaced all others among e-book sales, increasing 117
percent, compared with a 41.8 increase in sales of adult fiction” (Cook).
An increase in popularity of the genre for Young Adults is also explained
by the amusing fact that vampires are relatable to teenagers because they
are “metaphorical teenagers anyway”:
They stay up all night and sleep all day. They hunger for what
they can’t have, and are never satisfied. They are the original
emo-goths, dressing in black, going without sleep, exuding a
brooding, outsider sexiness. Vampire literature allows teenagers
to think about sex and violence without censorship. It appeals to
young men, because vampires are dangerous, super-fast and
super-strong. It appeals to the romantic in young women [...].”
(L. Rosenberg)
While this helps to explain why vampires and paranormal literature may
appeal to younger readers, as well as to romance novel fans, it does not
explain why a generation of readers would gravitate towards a genre in
such a way.
What these texts do offer is a reflection of the human experience,
thereby making them appealing to readers who find themselves searching
for entertainment, but also for meaning in their own lives. Simply having
and showing strength, living in creative settings, or holding archetypal