The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings

The Werewolf Book is a Mythology & Folklore Encyclopedias novel by Brad Steiger. Read summary below.

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The Werewolf Book Summary

From lycanthropic creatures found on television and film such as Teen Wolf, Twilight, and True Blood to the earliest folklore of shape-shifting creatures, The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shapeshifting Beings is an eye-opening, blood-pounding tour through the ages of monsters with the most amazing camouflage capabilities—they hide among us! Along the way, you’ll land at the doorstep of creatures like hirsute mass-murderer Albert Fish, and Fritz Haarman, who slaughtered and ate his victims—selling the leftovers as steaks and roasts in his butcher shop—as well as visits to mythical shamans, sirens, and skin walkers.

Covering 140,000 years of legend, mythology, and fact, The Werewolf Book provides hair-raising evidence of strange and obsessional behavior through the centuries. Learn the basics of becoming a werewolf and the intricacies of slaying the beast. A true homage to werewolves and other full moon beasts, it includes topics such as …
• Bear, tiger, coyote, and other shape-shifting people
• Classic and modern werewolf movies
• Gargoyles, totem poles, and Internet depictions
• Serial killers and sadistic rulers
• Sorcery, spells, and talismans
• Television shows, songs, and computer games

Werewolf hunters and fans of all ages will appreciate the detailed section on slaying the beast, while potential victims will find the information on detecting and warding away the occasional wayward wolfman more to their immediate liking―if not need. With over 120 illustrations and photos this ultimate lycanthrope compendium is richly illustrated. The Werewolf Book’s helpful bibliography and extensive index add to its usefulness.

READ; Sin & Lightning (Demigods of San Francisco)

The Werewolf Book Review

J. Harrington-BTop Contributor: Fantasy Books

5.0 out of 5 stars Exhaustive Compendium of Shapeshifters
Reviewed in the United States on April 9, 2012

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This books is the companion volume to The Vampire Book: The Encyclopedia of the Undead. While not comparable in sheer size to that other volume, it contains hundreds of references to werewolves and many other beast shapeshifters, including tigers, panthers, bears. It does to Werewolves what any good reference encyclopedia should to: provide nearly exhaustive reference to werewolves as found in popular legend, mythology, pop culture, films and novels. The books has a good number of black and white illustrations including some from medieval sources. This book is not only for those with a casual interest in werewolves but also for those interested in a more academic reference book. I highly recommend this book whether you are researching a term paper or, like me, you have an intense fascination with the supernatural and with werewolves in particular. My only critique is that I wish the book was bigger, but then again, this book will probably continue to grow and expand as The Vampire Book (now in its 3rd edition) has.

John A. Kuczma

2.0 out of 5 stars The Encyclopedia of Deviants and Serial Killers
Reviewed in the United States on September 2, 2000

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The introduction to “The Werewolf Book” states, “We have met the Werewolves and they are us.” Unfortunately, this pompous, pretentious volume does little or nothing to support that statement.
Less than 20% of the entries in “The Werewolf” Book have anything to do with non-fictional lycanthropes. There are multiple articles on movies, actors, actresses, various aspects of the paranormal, mythological monsters other than weres, and an almost nauseatingly complete reciting of infamous serial murderers. However, usable data relating to the phenomenon of lycanthropy and werewolves is conspicuously scarce.
There can be no doubt that Mr Steiger is very accomplished in the conducting of research and compiling of data. It would have been more useful were he accomplished in sticking to his stated subject.
As a brief reference to occult/gothic/mythological terminology, “The Werewolf Book” has some value. As a study of the history of the werewolf phenomenon, it is useless.

About Brad Steiger Author Of The Werewolf Book: The Encyclopedia of Shape-Shifting Beings Book

Brad Steiger Author Of The Werewolf Book, He was an American author of fiction and non-fiction works on the paranormal, spirituality, UFOs, true crime and biographies. His books sold well to the public but were widely criticized by academics and skeptics for making far-fetched claims without scientific evidence.