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In this thorough compendium, Guiley presents tales and beliefs from all over the world and from times ranging from far in the past to the present day. The author of numerous similar reference works (The Complete Vampire Companion, etc.) and an honorary life member of the Ghost Club of London, Guiley is an expert in this field and, from this book, it seems that no appearance of the supernatural, however brief, in folklore or pop culture has escaped her notice. Vampire books, films and TV series (such as Anne Rice’s Vampire Chronicles, the original 1931 Dracula and the gothic soap opera Dark Shadows) receive extensive entries, and even the writers and actors are discussed at length. One can read about the "vegetable vampires" of gypsy lore (pumpkins and watermelons that go bad and begin "shaking and noisily disturbing people and animals") and about the huli jing, a Chinese fairy that "seduces victims and sucks off the victims’ life force during orgasm." Vampires dominate, but legends like that of the Slavic vlokolak, or werewolf, and the Shetland wulver, another type of dog-man, also appear. Guiley is deadly serious about her subject, treating legends and modern parodies of vampire movies, such as Blacula and Count Yorga, with the same academic intensity that permeates university courses on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Short citations for further reading follow many entries, and the volume is extensively cross-referenced. Members of the Vampire Empire club, founded by Jeanne Keyes Youngson, who provided the foreword for this book, or anyone else obsessed with the literally bloodthirsty will find this a fascinating reference. 102 b&w photos and illustrations.
Submitted by Isis101
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