Sexy/Not Sexy Werewolves?

DavidZahir · Oct 12, 2009

I have a dear friend who loves vampire stories, but feels even more strongly about werewolves. She feels--with some justice, imho--that lupine shapeshifters have not gotten their erotic due.

Now, in terms of films and television, one obvious reason for this would be the relative expense of depicting werewolves.

But in terms of other media, the problem seems (again, imho) to lie with certain assumptions about werewolves which are really tied to Hollywood, rather than folklore. As long as the werewolf is nothing but a beast, then the stories around same tend to fall into the same patterns. Unless one either changes the rules in some way (allowing your werewolf to retain his or her mind to some extent perhaps) or delving into the story from a new direction (a thrillseeker, maybe, who tries to arrange their loved to become a werewolf, adoring the very danger involved).

Halloween is almost upon us. What do others think?

SFLP · Oct 13, 2009

There are lots of fabulous erotic werewolf and other shapechanger stories out there. Ellora's Cave/Jasmine Jade has a special category for it. Lists more than 300 books.

http://www.jasminejade.com/c-39-shapeshifter.aspx?mode=5

If you go to their advanced search, and search for wolf (check "search descriptions") you'll see that a large number of the shapechanger books are werewolves.

It's actually an enormously popular...um...not really sure if I would call it a sub genre, but it's quite a popular subject on most sites that sell erotica. At least, it's true of every major online erotica publisher that I can think of.

Oukami · Oct 13, 2009

There's also Kelley Armstrong's books, though I could be wrong here. They might just be romance ... but there was a couple of rude scenes in them. Here's a link to her homepage though.

http://www.kelleyarmstrong.com/aOT05.htm

JMBlackman · Oct 13, 2009

Honesty, I think werewolves are infinitely sexier than vampires. They're alive, hot-blooded, animalistic and to some degree--natural. I've enjoyed some Kelley Armstrong (mentioned above), but what really made me fall in love was Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. The MC found herself sexy because she was a werewolf: powerful, comfortable and liberated in her own skin (or fur).

dnic · Oct 13, 2009

Dittoing Blood and Chocolate. One of the few books that I can pick up and read again. I love the fact that the female MC is comfortable with it. Good grief, why is it that every time there's a female vampire, she's either- a. a nympho, or b. villain-ess, or more often, c. a combo of both? For whatever reason, I see less of that issue with werewolves.

meeeeegin · Oct 13, 2009

Hmm, I have to say I find werewolves far more attractive and sexual than vampires because they're part human. They feel the sexual urges as a human would. As far as movies and film go with werewolves Blood and Chocolate did the lycan sexuality justice, Kelly Armstrong is amazing and LKHamilton is a goddess. Movies...eh...the only movies i've seen that actually made me have some kind of reaction were Skinwalkers (though I'm gonna have to say the werewolves in that movie when in wolf form...well it was horrid.), Van Helsing, and Underworld.

Synonym · Oct 13, 2009

I've written a Para/Rom that I'm busy polishing because I find them sexier too.

I decided to kick a lot of the 'assumed' characteristics out the window. They aren't tied to a full-moon. Don't lose their minds and turn into ravening monsters while changed. I did keep a pack or brotherhood community feel to their relationships and a rigid tradition that they follow. They have a few characteristics that are more advanced than a straight human, because of their nature. It makes the story much more flexible, for me at least.

DavidZahir · Oct 13, 2009

If I may -- are your werewolves then particularly dangerous to those around them? I ask because that seems to be part of the sexiness of both vampires and werewolves, at least in many people's eyes.

Synonym · Oct 13, 2009

No. Not any more dangerous than humans, which can be bad enough. They work to fit in with humans, keep their true nature hidden. I've built a world with some magic, it's got shapeshifters so why not? The witch community cooperates with them to cover up accidental 'outings'.

JMBlackman · Oct 13, 2009

DavidZahir said:
If I may -- are your werewolves then particularly dangerous to those around them? I ask because that seems to be part of the sexiness of both vampires and werewolves, at least in many people's eyes.

Mine can be dangerous. Just like people, they can be criminals and psychopaths. Philanderers...

Fallon Blake · Oct 14, 2009

I definitely think werewolves are sexier than vamps. Give me hot-blooded and animalistic any day over cold and undead. I think werewolves have definitely received their fair due in the erotica and erotic romance genres. Kate Douglas, Lorie O'Clare, Treva Harte (and I could go on here) have very sexy and very popular erotic series about wolves.

DavidZahir · Oct 14, 2009

Many thanks for your information. I've even used stuff here in a posting on my blog: Are Werewolves Sexy?

Gotta admit, though--your descriptions don't hint at what I would call the stuff of real danger involving werewolves per se. Seems to me allowing the werewolf to simply retain their full human consciousness removes some of the ambiguity and menace which is part of what I'd find so interesting (and my friend Lulu as well). Part of me hears or reads "shapeshifter" and responds with "Cool!" I suppose what attracts me is if lycanthropy is some kind of inherent obstacle beyond an analogy to mixed-race unions.

meeeeegin · Oct 14, 2009

DavidZahir said:
If I may -- are your werewolves then particularly dangerous to those around them? I ask because that seems to be part of the sexiness of both vampires and werewolves, at least in many people's eyes.

Mine are beyond dangerous but thats because in my books most of my werewolves are centuries old...the mind tends to wear after a while...

Synonym · Oct 14, 2009

David,

I would say if that is what attracts you, write it that way. Mine are dangerous to each other, i.e. a trial doesn't take very long and they don't put up with troublemakers. I guess that danger and menace don't have the same attraction for me. But, it's a romance and I tried to keep it lighter.

damiriji · Oct 18, 2009

I agree that werewolves and vampires have a certain attraction. Don't forget the werecats though. I recently read a book with a weremouse. LOL It was a riot.

Misa Buckley · Oct 18, 2009

I have the vaguest idea of a story about a female werewolf. If I can get more of it, I might write it for NaNo.

Rowan · Oct 20, 2009

JMBlackman said:
Honesty, I think werewolves are infinitely sexier than vampires. They're alive, hot-blooded, animalistic and to some degree--natural. I've enjoyed some Kelley Armstrong (mentioned above), but what really made me fall in love was Blood and Chocolate by Annette Curtis Klause. The MC found herself sexy because she was a werewolf: powerful, comfortable and liberated in her own skin (or fur).

Love Blood and Chocolate! I love the vamps but I also agree that werewolves are just as sexy. Laurell Hamilton created some incredibly sexy shifters (wererats, werepanthers, werebears, weretigers, werewolves...) in her Anita Blake series (if only you can ignore Anita)...

meeeeegin · Oct 21, 2009

damiriji said:
I agree that werewolves and vampires have a certain attraction. Don't forget the werecats though. I recently read a book with a weremouse. LOL It was a riot.

AH HA! They are my favorite! I've been trying to write a book to focus mainly on them! A lot of sexual tension!

JMBlackman · Oct 21, 2009

Rowan said:
Love Blood and Chocolate!

Me, too.

It's just a nice, little tale. Girl meets boy. Boys falls hard. Then, girl reveals she's a werewolf and boy flips out and tries to kill her. Girl gets stuck in half-human/half-wolf form. Haha. Bad break-up.

Rowan said:
Laurell Hamilton created some incredibly sexy shifters (wererats, werepanthers, werebears, weretigers, werewolves...) in her Anita Blake series (if only you can ignore Anita)...

AGREED. Hamilton's supporting characters tickle me to no end, but Anita herself? After the first few books, she just started slipping to the wayside for me. But I will stick around for Jason Schuyler for however long he exists. Mm-mm-mm.

P.S.
I love your username. Rowan has become one of my favorite names. One I hope to name kids o' the future.

Zoombie · Oct 21, 2009

See, the thing is, vampires are great for a one night stand. They're centuries old, and thus are REALLY good at the deed...but, they're also jaded and cynical which means they're kinda shitty for a long term relationship. Add to that the fact that they can only go out at night and they'll wanna drink your blood...yeah.

But werewolves! Werewolves are also great for a one night stand (for reasons we've already touched on here) but they're also fabulous for a long term relationship. They have that whole pack mentality thing, and they are so cuddly and fuzzy!

meeeeegin · Oct 21, 2009

JMBlackman said:
AGREED. Hamilton's supporting characters tickle me to no end, but Anita herself? After the first few books, she just started slipping to the wayside for me. But I will stick around for Jason Schuyler for however long he exists. Mm-mm-mm.

Jason...i love him so much! He's pretty much amazing!!!! She should use him more. Why doenst she use him more???

JMBlackman said:
P.S.
I love your username. Rowan has become one of my favorite names. One I hope to name kids o' the future.

Ioan....Pronounced Yo-An...love that name!

Zoombie · Oct 21, 2009

Also, its the smelling/scent thing...that's a big factor in both vampires and werewolves. But when a werewolf is smelling you, s/he's not doing it to eat you. He/She is just...ya know...enjoying the scent.

I think about this way too much

JMBlackman · Oct 21, 2009

Zoombie said:
They have that whole pack mentality thing, and they are so cuddly and fuzzy!

You make a great point. They're like built to have families and be in the PTA. Wow. Perfect marrying material? They'll pick up the kids and keep your feet warm at night and snuggle you endlessly.

Zoombie said:
Also, its the smelling/scent thing...that's a big factor in both vampires and werewolves. But when a werewolf is smelling you, s/he's not doing it to eat you. He/She is just...ya know...enjoying the scent.

I think about this way too much

Wait, why don't you think they're not smelling you to eat you? What if they're ravenous, uncontrolled beasts? Wouldn't they want to eat you even more than a vampire? I mean. A vampire wants a little suck, but a werewolf would want a big ol' bite.

JMBlackman · Oct 21, 2009

meeeeegin said:
Jason...i love him so much! He's pretty much amazing!!!! She should use him more. Why doenst she use him more???

He got a book nearly all about him. And he's a minor character. You can only expect so much.

meeeeegin · Oct 21, 2009

Zoombie said:
But when a werewolf is smelling you, s/he's not doing it to eat you. He/She is just...ya know...enjoying the scent.

I think about this way too much

that totally doenst mean its not going to eat you...

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