Teen vampire draws more than blood at book release

By Rosemary Ford
Staff writer

August 02, 2008 01:09 am

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Move over Harry Potter, there's a new literary hero in town. He can't do magic. He isn't exactly alive. But he's setting hearts aflutter across the country nonetheless.

His name is Edward Cullen, the vampire Romeo of Stephenie Meyer's "Twilight" saga. The book series details a relationship between the more than 100-year-old undead "teen" and his Juliette, a normal 17-year-old named Bella Swan.

Described in the books as "hauntingly beautiful," Edward's fan club showed up in force last night for the midnight release of the fourth and final installment of the series, "Breaking Dawn."

"Everyone wants Edward," gushed 13-year-old Rosemary Kann of Haverhill. "He's the dream man of the world."

Rosemary and friends were among the 300 who attended a release party last night at Borders in Methuen. This is the first book, since the Harry Potter series, to elicit a midnight release complete with costumed fans.

"I am really happy about how many people showed up," said Jeff Zannini, the store's general manager. Last night he and his black-clad staff had devised games, contests and even a debate to keep fans occupied for the hours leading up to the book sale.

Copies of "Breaking Dawn" were kept under wraps until the clock struck midnight. Most fans could barely contain their enthusiasm, including Diannely Antigua, an 18-year-old from Haverhill, who ordered a copy online yet still went to Borders to snag a copy last night.

"I can't even wait," she said, adding that it's all about Edward. "I want a vampire."

Several fans sported self-decorated T-shirts. Some even had fake blood dripping from their necks. Amber Lucas, 20, of Newton, N.H., and friend, Savannah Sermucknis, 15, of Salisbury donned gowns to compete in the costume contest as Edward's vampire sister Rosalie and Bella respectively. Their friend Cameron Purdie, 20, of Kingston, N.H., smeared on white make-up along with a black trench coat and aviator glasses to personify the heartthrob Edward.

"I am a huge vampire fan," said Lucas, who started reading the series after a librarian recommended it. "I like the way Stephenie Meyer changed the way vampires are depicted."

In Meyer's world, vampires can come out during the day, but avoid direct sunlight — though they won't burst into flame if caught in rays, instead they sparkle like a prism.

"Who wouldn't want a guy who sparkles?" asked Rachael Flynn, a 13-year-old from Haverhill.

Despite their beauty, vampires are still deadly creatures, some of whom pray on humans for their survival.

However, Edward is part of a family of vampires who have given up human blood in favor of animals. They live among people — Edward even attends high school. In her books, Meyer's characters deal with the complications of life and undeath while also dealing with normal teenage insecurities and peer pressure.

"She captures the essence of being a teenager so well," said 19-year-old fan Julianna Ulrich of Haverhill.

So far the first three books in the series have become New York Times best sellers, and Zannini predicts "Breaking Dawn" is set to be the best-selling book of the year. Already, worldwide sales for Meyer's first three books top 8 million copies, less than the first weekend's sales for the last Potter book, but still a large number in publishing.

Gwendolynn Scott, an 18-year-old from Lawrence came to the party last night wearing a T-shirt proclaiming herself part of the Edward Cullen fan club. She also sported a bag with the words: Love, Peace, Vampires. She had to come at midnight for "Breaking Dawn," needing to see how the characters she's "obsessed with" fare.

"I really hope Edward and Bella get married," she said.

Test your knowledge

1. Who is the first student Bella meets on the first day of school?

2. Bella tries to read "Sense and Sensibility" and "Mansfield Park," but stops reading both. Why?

3. How does Bella break her hand in "Eclipse?"

4. Which member of the Volturi has snow white hair?

5. What is Rosalie's and Jasper's last name?

Answers

1. Eric.

2. Because the heroes are named Edward and Edmund, and she's mad at her Edward.

3. She punches her best friend, the werewolf, Jacob.

4. Caius.

5. Hale.

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