Throughout history, the human imagination has inspired the creation of fantastical creatures and sinister monsters. Perhaps one of the most well known is the vampire, a bloodsucking human cursed to forever prey on victims in the night. Vampires have lived in legends and stories of many cultures around the world. As the cultures evolved, so too did these tales. Today, some maintain the vampire is not just a man-made invention but rather a real creature. Mainstream media such as movies and television shows have carried vampire lore to many generations and will continue to do so for years to come. Readers discover the origins of vampire lore, how the vampire has evolved, and what it is like today.