Customer Reviews

Actual Factual: Dracula, A Compendium of Vampires

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This is a must-have for anyone either interested in the roots of the vampiric archetype or thinking of writing story that includes vampires or even a RPG.

The depth is just as deep as the breadth covered and that is saying a whole lot. It reaches back to the dawn of mankind and covers all the societies and subcultures touched by these legends up to the present day. Just one more thing I must add, the author has a wonderful knack for writing and manages to add a warm and witty style even to this very serious academic work.

This is the absolutely definitive book on vampires. I seldom comment about the index in a book but this is one that HAS to be talked about. Looking for a 14th century bloodsucker that only feeds on adolescent shepherds, wears orange Liederhosen, is invisible, and can be fought off by spinning counterclockwise while reciting the Hippocratic Oath? This is where to look.

What a terrific tool for anyone researching the subject.

In a world of wannabe experts Ms Bane has proved herself to be the real deal. An awesome compendium. This not simply lists every type and name for vampires throughout cultures around the world but brings you their legends, all the details regarding strengths-known weaknesses-and where they stand in the pecking order. In a world of academic big Macs she has brought us fillet mignon. Good to the very last drop.

Theresa Bane does it again with this absolutely masterful work. The writing is clear and concise in spite of how daunting a task the research must have been. Whether you're a writer, looking for believable facts for your next bestseller, or simply a vampire folklore enthusiast, The Actual Factual Dracula will keep you spellbound from start to finish. This isn't just a book on folklore. It also gives you insight on the beliefs and fears of the various cultures mentioned. This reader would even go so far as to say that one looking up his/her heritage might find this to be additional information on one's background. And last but definitely not least, the text is complemented by the fantastic artwork of Theresa's husband, Glenn T. Bane. This book is a real treat......enjoy!!

Splendid research source! In depth and obviously deeply devoted to details without being overly wordy or difficult to understand. Cross referenced for ease of comparison. A MUST HAVE for any investigator or hunter!

Any writer of fantasy or science fiction needs to own this volume. When writer's block hits, just open to any page to jump start your imagination. This is a valuable resource for any writer, but especially for those writing about vampires. I can't wait for the rest of the series.

I picked up Actual Factual Dracula to supplement running Roleplaying Games and writing stories, and the book has not disappointed. Every page has a new and interesting creature from folklore that can be used to horrify. In addition there are other tidbits of information from folklore dealing with vampires, such as spells supposed to turn vampires back into people and the like.

The preface contains some good background. There's an introduction and a quick page on "What is a Vampire?" for the complete novice. There's a quick debunk of the vampire argument and a couple of pages on everyone's favorite vampire, Vlad Dracula, and how he might not have actually been the impetus behind Bram Stroker's famous villain.

After this brief but well-written preface is the Compendium of Vampires: 352 pages of vampires and related vampire folklore that would be absolutely invaluable to writers, storytellers and anyone engaged in creative work utilizing these blood-drinking undead.

The absolute BEST part of the book, though, is the index. There are no less than 10 separate indexes, listing the entries alphabetically, by ability, appearance, creation myth, frequency of attack, location, origin, prey, type and weakness. If your story calls for an African vampire, you simply go to the "Origin" index and turn to "Africa" where you'll find Adze, Asanbonsam, Asiman, et cetera... Need a vampire that can possess people? Go to the "Abilities" index and turn to "Possession" where you'll find Allu, Arakh, Betail, Bori, et cetera... The index is an absolute boon!

My only complaint about the book is a small one. Every once in a while the author includes a creature that isn't really vampiric, by my estimation. Under the "Zombie" entry, for example, she says that a Zombie is "A revenant in the fact that it has returned from the dead, but it is not a vampire." Just to recap, my only complaint is that this book contains TOO MUCH information.

I whole heartedly recommend this book for researches of folklore, authors, gamers, horror aficionados or anyone else interested in the vampire myth. Actual Factual Dracula is a labor of love, and it shows!