Vamp continuity question- spoilerish

**Fenton Hardy** · September 7th, 2009

'Salem's Lot is one of my favorite books. I re-read it about once a year.

Something has always hovered below conscious thought (rather like Jimmy Cody and the pool table) that finally has popped into my head.

How is it that Barlow gets into the Petrie's house without having been invited?

Any answers? Ideas?

Thanks!

**aeroplane** · September 8th, 2009

I'm sure there is a final and definitive answer that SK or someone else here could provide........

But without having seen that answer, my opinion is that it is somehow tied to Mark attacking Straker. As a result, Barlow is offered an opportunity to avenge this attack. So under those circumstances, he can come in uninvited. That doesn't make perfect sense, but it is the best I can do here.

Of course one could also ask a similar question about Barlow in Eva's boarding house. Granted that one is easier to answer because he could have found a drunk Weasel Craig coming home after dark.

**wally wonder** · September 8th, 2009

we're never told, are we? i assume somebody opened the door for him, maybe one of the elder petries. wouldn't have put it past barlow to tell them some story when the door was opened. kinda doubt he brought over a cake or anything like that. and he probably was more imaginative than saying he wanted a drink of water or that he needed to use the telephone, probably some story to due with their kid.

**fredo** · September 8th, 2009

Maybe because he's the Big Daddy Blood Sucker and don't need no invite. Sounds good anyway.

**aeroplane** · September 9th, 2009

Somewhat similar but there are a lot of people on IMDB who are on the forums for the miniseries and would love to know how Barlow is able to get into Floyd/Ned's jail cell without having been invited into the jailhouse.

**bopropadop** · September 9th, 2009

Hmmm...

**michal** · September 10th, 2009

VERY good question. But maybe it is about him being a Type One vampire (if you haven't read the Dark Tower series it covers this topic pretty well). Perhaps Type One don't need an invitation. That will also explain why he had to come on his own instead of sending one of his slaves.

**bio_chem06** · September 10th, 2009

If you look into "vampire" stories, there are always places where vampires explain misconceptions. Maybe this is one of those liberties of story telling, a misconception that says, "vampires have to be invited". I don't remember in the book where it specifically says they must be invited. Am I wrong, it has been a while since I read the book...

**aeroplane** · September 10th, 2009

I still think it has more to do with Mark than Barlow.

Because if I were Barlow and could come and go as I please inside of houses around the town, without an invitation, one place I would have certainly gone to was to Parkins Gillespie's house.

**sam peebles** · September 11th, 2009

It might just be a slip up. It's been awhile since I read it, but I think even Dracula had to be invited in Stoker's book, so I don't think Barlow being the "master" or a type one would allow him to enter uninvited.