The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings

by Brad Steiger

Overview

Taking a serious look at all things werewolf, from the Middle Ages to the Internet, Steiger's book "leads the pack" on the phenomenon with 250 essays containing current and comprehensive information. 150 photos.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781578593767
Publisher:	Visible Ink Press
Publication date:	09/01/2011
Series:	The Real Unexplained! Collection
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	384
File size:	12 MB
Note:	This product may take a few minutes to download.

About the Author

For five decades, award-winning writer Brad Steiger was devoted to exploring and examining unusual, hidden, secret, and otherwise strange occurrences. He wrote over 2,000 articles and more than 180 titles, with over 17 million copies in print. His titles include Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Houses; Real Encounters, Different Dimensions and Otherworldy Beings; Real Aliens, Space Beings, and Creatures from Other Worlds; Real Visitors, Voices from Beyond, and Parallel Dimensions; Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside; The Werewolf Book; and Conspiracies and Secret Societies. Steiger was a former high school and college teacher and a veteran of broadcast news magazines. From 1970-73, his weekly newspaper column, "The Strange World of Brad Steiger", was carried domestically in over 80 newspapers and overseas from Bombay to Tokyo. He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, on February 19, 1936. Steiger was married to Sherry Hansen Steiger. He died on May 6, 2018.

Editorial Reviews

Gr 9 Up—Guiley's timely, though not stellar, update of the 2005 edition presents vampires as real. Gone from the title in this edition is "…and other monsters," which, rather than reflecting a change in content, is more accurate. Most of the other revisions are additions of recent movies and books, such as those by authors Charlaine Harris and Stephenie Meyer; also new is that this work has color illustrations. At times the organization is confusing. For example, "Arts and Entertainment" includes the role of vampirism in literature, film, and TV, but readers must use the index to discover that much of what is mentioned in this section is elaborated upon in other parts of the book. Also, while all-capitalized words indicate cross references, that is not explained. It is impossible to determine which source in the extensive bibliography matches which entry. In Steiger's alphabetized collection of lycanthropic lore and pop culture, most entries have undergone scant revision since 1999, and that in the form of rewording. Around 20 new entries include coverage of the series "True Blood" and "Twilight." Pieces with tenuous ties to werewolves and shape-shifting have been omitted. The writing is riddled with conjecture; the author says of the imprisoned Elizabeth Bathory, for example, that "perhaps she could only hear the ghostly echo of the screams of pain and the pleadings for mercy of her six hundred victims." Sources are sketchy and some are decades old, and doubts about authenticity linger.—Jennifer Prince, Buncombe County Public Library, NC

School Library Journal

"Another good spell-binding Brad Steiger classic! This book will be hard to put down once you get started."— Alternate Perceptions magazine

"The Werewolf Book is wonderfully thorough, exhaustively detailed, and affordable."— American Reference Books

"Brad Steiger's magnum opus, a labor of deep scholarship elegantly written. As a reference source, it is invaluable for anyone interested in pursuing the werewolf."— Ancient American Magazine

"Provides detailed information on a wide variety of mythical creatures and the culture surrounding them."— Book News

"The book is written in Steiger’s usual popular style, and ... it should be popular."— Booklist Online

"From A to Z, Brad Steiger presents a true encyclopedia of werewolfism, a reference masterpiece, overflowing with fascinating information to make readers think and shudder."— Fate magazine

"...a very professional encyclopedia from one of the field's masters, covering all things shapeshiftery and not just “men who are hairy on the inside”"— Fortean Times

"If werewolves, hairy shape-shifting monsters, and silver-bullets are your thing, then you’re in for a big, big treat! An excellent, fully updated, and massively expanded, edition of The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings is most definitely a title to sink your teeth into!"— Mania.com

"It is with reverence to its awesome scope that we recommend it to anyone even marginally interested in the topic."— Rue Morgue magazine

"Another classic for the ages, Steiger continues to educate and entertain. I eagerly await his next book to come."— The Examiner

"… a fascinating collection of articles … " – Magonia Review of Books

"There are historical as well as pop culture entries in this encyclopedia, and I think that's what makes this book so different. Most people do not sit down and read an encyclopedia from cover to cover, but with this book, the reader can do exactly that and not feel overwhelmed with information. [T]his encyclopedia will appeal to more than just the average werewolf/vampire lover."— VOYA

From the Publisher