Michael Goldcraft, writer

Below is the 1998 letter written by Dr. Steven Atticus to his colleague, Hans Krider.  It is presented here for your edification.  It also appears prior to the Prologue within Inherited Evil. MG

• Dr. Hans Krider, Professor Emeritus
• Department of Biochemistry
• Tenque University
• Amsterdam, The Netherlands 

Dear Hans:

The biological taxonomy of a vampire, like all complexities within the living world, is more than it would appear. Therefore the classification terms vampire and vampyre are of paramount interest to those who would understand these predators.

Vampires or transitional individuals have most, but not all, of the qualities of these supreme predators. They have become vampires by infection – having acquired the infamous vampire virus by exposure – as their blood was extracted by one of the undead. Their biological transformation is almost whole and includes the genetic alteration of their reproductive gametes (eggs or sperm, as the case may be). The exception to their biological alteration is the cerebral cortex. The virus cannot cross the blood-brain barrier; the brain cells are not altered. Thus their behavior is more unpredictable. Initially, they wrestle with the Angels of Good and the Devils of Evil with each victim they take. Over a period of time, however, this dilemma becomes less of a concern. To survive they must take in human blood and then kill – or they will perish.

Vampyres, on the other hand, are conceived of parents who are either: 1) both vampyres, 2) both vampires, or 3) the parents are one of each. We refer to these offspring as full-blood individuals. The egg and the sperm from which they are conceived are both genetically altered by the vampire virus. Thus, their development as embryos within the womb is complete; it includes a significant genetic alteration of the brain. Vampyres, therefore, are the most vicious of predators. Lacking any conscience or concern, their behavior never varies. Their need for blood from human victims is not morally debated within their degenerate brains, before or after predation. It is also a fact that many are intellectually gifted. And thus they carefully select their victims to avoid capture by the human race. But there is never remorse; they are simply following their nature. They are ruthless.

Thank you again for filling in for me during my sabbatical. I look forward to our eventual return to Amsterdam and an opportunity to discuss with you the details of the above.

Sincerely,                                                                                                                                  Steven Atticus, Ph.D.                                                                                                             Panama City, Florida

The central theme of my Darke Lyfe Trilogy is a global population of vampyres/vampires, and one in particular: Harrison Van Gilter. I profiled Harrison in an earlier post.

The Trilogy has plural protagonists. In other words, several characters are faced with the same common problem: Harrison Van Gilter.  Each of my protagonists struggles in his or her own way, but each is threatened by a ruthless transgenic predator.  Chief among these people is a favorite of mine: Dr. Steven Atticus, anthropologist and biochemist.

When the trilogy begins in 1997, Steven is 61. Physically, he’s of medium height (5’ 10”), fit, with a full shock of graying hair and a neatly trimmed gray beard. He loves being out of doors, as any anthropologist would. He needs his wire-rimmed glasses both to read and to drive. Yes, he finally purchased bifocals. What I like about Steven are his values and talents. Steven is persevering, persistent, focused, and meticulous, at least in his research. He has a wonderful wife, Barbara, who is a scholar of ancient texts. They have no children.

Steven is the one who discovered the preserved corpse of a Viking Priest in a cold Canadian lake. But the Viking was more than a priest. He was, in fact, the first vampire. And Steven’s discovery rocked the scientific world, at least temporarily. Later, when a real vampyre began his predatory attacks in Panama City, Florida, Steven went there in a search for truth. He was accompanied by another of my favorite characters, the diminutive and elderly Dutch zoologist, Dr. Benkt Van Leeuwen (I’ll profile Benkt in a future post).

But Steven Atticus is haunted by his discovery. His continuing research piles up more and more evidence that vampyres (full blood individuals) and vampires (a result of exposure to the vampire virus) are real. They are loose on the world – a global population – and are responsible for countless, unsolved heinous killings, attacks, and kidnappings. Atticus is, therefore, personally driven to find a way to eliminate – or at least control – the problem he has documented.

Born October 1, 1936 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, Steven graduated from New Mexico State and received his Ph.D. from the Chicago Medical School (The Division of Biological Sciences and the Pritzker School of Medicine). Later, he completed post-doctoral studies at Cambridge University Medical Center (University of Cambridge, Department of Medical Genetics, Cambridge, England). Subsequently, he became chief of biochemical research at Tenque University, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Steven’s maternal grandmother was a Native American: Navajo. Other ancestors were primarily English and north European. His father owned a cattle ranch near Albuquerque. His mother was a bookkeeper for a local bank. Steven is the oldest of three children; he has a brother and sister.

The last book of the trilogy, Arcanum of Evil, takes place in 2012. Steven is still vitally important to the outcome of the trilogy, even though he is, at that time, seventy-six years old. He’s still a physically fit person, but he never dreamed that the nightmare of the late 1990s would come back to haunt him again in a more terrifying, more uncontrollable, and more inexplicable way.

Steven is a favorite character of mine because he’s vulnerable, gutsy, and so damn caring. I’ve put him right in the middle of the final conflict. I hope he survives.

The Darke Lyfe Trilogy consists of three novels: Ascent of Evil, Inherited Evil and Arcanum of Evil (the last is in production).  While the central focus of my contemporary horror drama is a global population of vampyres/vampires, one heinous individual stands out: Harrison Van Gilter  He’s an intelligent, albeit psychopathic, rogue vampyre, cold, cunning and cruel.  But he’s so much more.

Harrison was born March 13, 1763, in Sighisoara, (See ghee swahr’ ah) Romania.  His family later moved to, and spent extended time in, Blackpool, England, on the Irish Sea.  So who is this dark character of mine, and what’s he up to?

In the first novel, Ascent of Evil, Lieutenant John Willoughby of the Panama City Police Department interviewed a young lady who had socialized with Harrison, just before he murdered one of her best friends.  Here is how Lorie Benton described Harrison to the lieutenant.

“…he was tall, at least six foot, maybe slightly taller.  He appeared well built but very trim.  …probably weighed about 190.  He appeared to be in his mid-to-late thirties.  He was handsome in a rugged sort of way.  He had pronounced bone structure, a strong jaw, good facial features.  His nose was perfect for a man with his features… in perfect balance.  His eyes were gray, sort of silver gray.  His hair was coal black, and it contrasted strikingly with his extremely fair skin.  He has light colored skin, almost like a fashion model’s complexion.  The only other thing sort of unusual about him was his ears.  They appeared slightly…no, definitely, somewhat large.”

Willoughby: “Anything more?”

Benton: “Oh yes.  His teeth.  They were extremely white and very even.  I’d say his teeth were absolutely perfect.”

Later, Lorie described the mesmerizing effect Harrison had upon her.  In a federal court proceeding, attorney Milton Darrow asked about Lorie’s feelings when, months earlier, she and Harrison were socializing at a table in a lounge. Darrow asked if Harrison made any direct verbal requests of her.

Lorie’s reply:

“No.  That’s just the point.  He didn’t ask me to do anything.  But thoughts kept coming into my mind. …I would have gone anywhere with him.  And I would have done anything with him or for him.”

“Would you have had sex with him that night?” Darrow asked.

Lorie hesitated and lowered her head.  “Almost immediately…yes.”

When I created Harrison Van Gilter, I wanted a paramount cruel and calculating villain.  As he evolved during the writing, I found an underlying, troubling motivation within him: parricide.  Deep within Harrison’s psyche, he hates his family and wants to destroy every one of them.  This obsession is part of the mystery I’ve attempted to create.  The tip of the iceberg emerges near the end of the second book.

But Harrison is not just seductive or deeply hateful.  Harrison, in fact, loves “the game.”  The game of cat and mouse, teasing the authorities, pushing the envelope, and driving Panama City Mayor Larry Hayes to the mental brink of breakdown.  He derives the same joy when confronting Lt. John Willoughby or FBI Special Agent Mark Pierce.

And as we probe deeper into the twisted mind of Harrison Van Gilter, we discover a monumental ego: a desire for fame so hideously huge that if there was a vampyre’s hall of fame, Harrison would like his statute on the pinnacle of the roof, and only his life exhibited within.

Vampyres, the ones I’ve created, are cruel, but organized.  The global population is a political, defensive, strategic entity known collectively as the World Order of the Royal Dragon, or WORD.  And Harrison poses a constant risk to the Order.  He is #1 on their most-wanted list of rogue, outcast vampyres.

And so, Harrison continues his existence – one way or the other – while doing battle with the lowly human prey and the more capable vampyre agents of WORD, who are constantly on his trail.

In summary, Harrison Van Gilter – for all his charm and good looks – is so evil, if it came to it…he’d cut a deal with Satan.

Next week, we’ll take a look at one of the “good guys.”  I’ll profile Dr. Steven Atticus, the anthropologist/biochemist who discovered Novgor Borgund, the 1000-year-old Viking Priest laid to rest in a cold Canadian lake and who just happened to be the first vampire!

The Darke Lyfe Trilogy, as my readers know, is a horror/mystery with vampyres as the central focus.  I began writing the trilogy about six years ago.  It started when my wife and I were having a conversation one evening about vampires.  It was one of those drifting conversations that somehow led to that subject.  We were talking about my dubious writing career: I was working full-time then, but had completed a non-fiction book and numerous scientific reports and publications.

As we discussed the mythology and history of vampires, I began to wonder if a biologist could write a story in which he could portray vampires as biologically credible beings.  In other words, could a biologist make the reader believe that vampires actually exist because of a firm biological foundation of facts. Sometime after that conversation, I began a short story which evolved into the first three chapters of the first book, Ascent of Evil.

The Trilogy became my great white whale.  If I were to create a literature cited at the end of the trilogy which showed my research and scientific references, it would probably be longer than any list that followed the scientific reports I wrote for the federal government.

I write to make the reader believe, really believe.  Most writers do.  But to make you believe that that man in the mall, with such a nice tan, wearing those dark sun glasses, is in fact a real vampire?  The gauntlet was thrown down (by me) and I picked it up.  I’ve been addressing the challenge – the reality of vampires – ever since.

And out of the mind of Michael Goldcraft (I’ll blame him; why else have a pen name) came not just any ordinary vampire, but Harrison Van Gilter, rogue vampyre of the Van Gilter family, a nut-case psychopath who endangers the entire global race of these ruthless predators.  Harrison, nearly three hundred years old, is charming, cunning and cruel.  But what a dashing, murderous scoundrel he is.  He even has his own Facebook page: “Harrison Van Gilter.”  He has thus become arrogant and evil beyond my wildest night mares.

I believe in extremely rich character development and Harrison has been fun.  But…  Now he actually believes he exists.  And in an issue of the Brim Books Monthly News (a free, once-a-month email; see www.brimbooks.com) he claimed First Amendment rights because “was I not conceived within the United States?”  Harrison has many capabilities, for example he can levitate, but he also destroys much of the mythology.  He, a real vampyre predator, casts a clear reflection in any mirror.  He is made of mass and energy.

With an extremely cruel and capable antagonist to wreak havoc where he went, I needed a protagonist to pit against him.  Well, actually a team of protagonists.  And thus arose from the fictional dust Dr. Steven Atticus (biochemist/anthropologist), Dr. Benkt Van Leeuwen (elderly and diminutive Dutch zoologist), Lieutenant John Willoughby (my near-retirement chief of homocide, Panama City Police Department) and FBI Special Agent Mark Pierce (young and enthusiastic).  These and others formed the task force of Mayor Larry Hayes.  The task force was commissioned, directed, ranted at, and threatened to bring Harrison to justice or…

So science is paired with law enforcement to unravel the biological mystery of vampyres.  And Steven Atticus has just the tool to do so: the 1000-year-old corpse of a Viking Priest which he discovered in a cold Canadian lake.  Novgor Borgund was “the first vampire,” the progenitor of the vampyre race.

By now you’ve noticed the exchange in spelling: vampyre and vampire.  It’s the archaic way that the two types of predators were distinguished.  A vampyre is a full-blood, conceived of vampyre/vampire parents.  On the other hand, a vampire is a transitional predator: a human who became a vampire by exposure to the vampyre virus through an attack.  Almost no vampyre victims are left alive.  Vampires are rare and often survive to mate with a vampyre who has experienced a strong attraction to that indiviual.  Helen Drake became a vampiress and the mate of Edward Van Gilter when he fell in love with her.  But make no mistake, the great majority of predatory victims don’t live very long.

The first two tomes of the Darke Lyfe Trilogy (Ascent of Evil and Inherited Evil) are completed and published (see www.brimbooks.com).  The third and final book, Arcanum of Evil, will be released by Brothersons Press on the Spring Equinox.

I welcome any thoughts or views horror fans might have.  In the meantime, I’ll keep striving to be a better writer (a craftsman’s work is never done) and hope you’ll be a Facebook friend (see the real me at Facebook: “Michael Shannon Brim,” “Brim Books,” “Michael Goldcraft” and, of course, “Harrison Van Gilter”). 

After all, it’s all about telling a good story. MG