Barbara Hambly's Vampires (first novel is Those Who Hunt The Night) were interesting in terms of "why are they evil" (as well as the free will aspect).
First, the vampires have to kill humans regularly to "keep their special powers".
Second, humans have to chose to become a vampire so we're talking about people who are willing to kill humans to gain "immortality". IE Completely self-centered people. Oh, the process of becoming a vampire includes willingness to submit his/her mind/soul into the "keeping" of the Master Vampire. Apparently, at any time of this process the human can "break free" of the Master's control and die.
Third, while a young vampire has to obey its Maker, it's easy for a young vampire to "accidently" kill itself and the control is lessened when the young vampire isn't in the presence of its Maker. Oh, the older the vampire is, the more likely it can challenge (with some degree of success) its Maker's control.
So while a vampire has a degree of free will, somebody who "doesn't like to murder people" isn't likely to become a vampire in the first place.
"I don't even remember Larry's Monster Hunter International series addressing it, really. "
In the first "Monster Hunter: Memoirs" trilogy, Chad and the two Harbingers attribute all necromantic magic (including all types of Undead) to the Great Old Ones (Cthulhu Mythos); presumably Larry would have vetoed John Ringo using the Harbingers to say that if it wasn't acceptable to the canon. However, that's the first place I saw that, and the only place I remember it being addressed in any detail.
Barbara Hambly's Vampires (first novel is Those Who Hunt The Night) were interesting in terms of "why are they evil" (as well as the free will aspect).
First, the vampires have to kill humans regularly to "keep their special powers".
Second, humans have to chose to become a vampire so we're talking about people who are willing to kill humans to gain "immortality". IE Completely self-centered people. Oh, the process of becoming a vampire includes willingness to submit his/her mind/soul into the "keeping" of the Master Vampire. Apparently, at any time of this process the human can "break free" of the Master's control and die.
Third, while a young vampire has to obey its Maker, it's easy for a young vampire to "accidently" kill itself and the control is lessened when the young vampire isn't in the presence of its Maker. Oh, the older the vampire is, the more likely it can challenge (with some degree of success) its Maker's control.
So while a vampire has a degree of free will, somebody who "doesn't like to murder people" isn't likely to become a vampire in the first place.
Huh. Interesting. I remember the name being associated with murder mysteries. I guess not. I'll have to look her up.
So what happens if a vampire bites someone of a different faith?
They get eaten.
"I don't even remember Larry's Monster Hunter International series addressing it, really. "
In the first "Monster Hunter: Memoirs" trilogy, Chad and the two Harbingers attribute all necromantic magic (including all types of Undead) to the Great Old Ones (Cthulhu Mythos); presumably Larry would have vetoed John Ringo using the Harbingers to say that if it wasn't acceptable to the canon. However, that's the first place I saw that, and the only place I remember it being addressed in any detail.
That would explain it. It's been a while since I read book one.