Customer Reviews

The President's Vampire: Strange-but-True Tales of the United States of America

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The President's Vampire is unusual in that it succeeds in lining up many strange, seemingly unrelated happenings and making them all seem like part of some unguessed cosmic stage play. Marauding phantoms of every size and shade, a 19th Century vampire, an electric "God machine," these and more parade through Robert Schneck's colorful verbiage as vividly as images from an antique stereoscope. By the final chapter, which is guaranteed to make anyone think twice about Ouija Boards, readers will be convinced there is more this U.S. of A. than could ever be imagined in the mind of mortal man. Schneck does not force his own conclusions on these mysteries but provides something much more valuable...thorough investigations garnered from many different angles and sources. A must-read for those brave enough to stand at the corner of Reason and Enigma and see what may tiptoe down the crosswalk. - Linda S. Godfrey, author "The Beast of Bray Road, Tailing Wisconsin's Werewolf," co-author "Weird Wisconsin, Your Travel Guide to Wisconsin's Local Legends and Best Kept Secrets."

I am not a fast reader, so I was really suprised that I finished reading President's Vampire within 12 hours! It is not that I read so fast, but PV is simply one of those books you can't put down once you start reading. The writer seems to have done a real thorough research of every story in the book. The one thing I particularly like about this author is the way he tells a simple but fascinating story without letting his ego getting in the way. There aren't many writers like him nowdays. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who wants a thrilling reading experience. Two thumbs up!

The President's Vampire is one of the sort of outstanding Fortean collections that only comes out every quarter century or so: original, penetrating, and I dare say, standard- setting. For while Schneck in his introduction describes his guilty affection for the "gee-whiz"/ "Strange but true" tomes penned by such as Frank Edwards, that is not at all what this book is about. Instead, the author takes on 8 chapter length treatments of obscure American tales and curiosities, lavishing each with miles of rigorous research, commentary and comparison, leaving no stone unturned to bring together an almost flawlessly complete series of case studies, each of which is put into as much context as the sheer uncertainty and intermediateness of the world will allow.

All of this is maintained and carried throughout by a clean, insightful and witty narrative voice, and prose so smooth and engaging that each page seems to draw you in deeper, not only into the book, but into the bizarre world of Fortean phenomena itself, finally leaving you excited, entertained, occasionally frightened, and perhaps even wondering about more aspects of history and reality than you were before.

I heartily recommend this tome to everyone, from the seasoned historical researcher, the paranormal buff, or simply anyone who likes a good scary story.

With the current proliferation of books about weird events, "The President's Vampire" is a diamond among briquettes. Robert Damon Schneck has done forteans and fans of the fantastic a tremendous service by picking little-known subjects and applying a scholar's research skills and a highly developed storyteller's art. The choice of stories in this collection, the degree of historical documentation, and a magnificent sense of wonder make this book a true original - possibly a classic. I'm eager to see more by Mr. Schneck. --Joseph A. Citro, author of Passing Strange.

Leagues beyond the usual tripe that passes for fortean research, this book is clearly well-researched by the author and highly engaging. I particularly appreciated the finer details provided by the author (ie. the origins of the word turnepike, a description of a drive through Essex County, NJ---and that's just one chapter) which helpfully and informatively fill out the experience of the individual stories for the reader. All will find something of interest here. I hope to read more from this author.

In past readings, I have often found that many books and anthologies on unexplained phenomena and bizarre events are either sensationalized accounts with vague descriptions and no concrete details, or dry and inspirational regurgitation of other source materials with more footnotes than original material. So it was with great pleasure that I discovered Robert Damon Schneck's book The President's Vampire.

Schneck's approach is far from exploitational. His attention to detail and devotion to searching out the truth behind the sensational and unverified leaves no doubt to the author's curiosity or credibility. Exhaustive and well-documented historical research is devoted to every subject, even when possibly debunking an even more remarkable aspect to a story. But neither is his writing boring or overly-clinical. Schneck's academic yet personal approach to his subject matter does not hide an almost uncontainable passion for the unusual and unexplained phenomena he writes about, and more importantly, it does not detract from how fun and compelling his writing is.

Most chilling and disturbing is the final chapter, Bridge to Body Island, an examination of a friend's recollected close call with a supernatural bogeyman. Many authors would present the tale on its own with perhaps a few embellishments for dramatic effect. Schneck, however, tells the story (which is genuinely creepy and unsettling) and then proceeds to examine the possible explanations for the events that took place, including research into possible real-world connections. His historical and scholarly comparisons and explanations are as captivating as the story itself, and do nothing to prevent readers who have used a Ouija board in the past from losing sleep.

That is where Schneck's approach to such Fortean tales as God Machines and Presidential Pardons for Vampires is a step above other authors in the field. He might not hold a flashlight under his face while leaning over the campfire to tell a spooky story, but that is because more often than not, the facts are far more disturbing. Robert Schneck delivers them, and thankfully so.

Robert Schneck's book is a bouncy trek through the unexplainables encountered in strange places and the often unusual backstreets of weird locations. I enjoyed, especially, the mummies and attack phantoms, as well as the sidetrips comparing the "new" with the "old."

Good job and a great read.

I found this to be a good read,the last chapter in the book alone about The Bye Bye Man & Gloomsinger is worth getting the book just to read that story,it's scary and creepy.I found myself thinking about it days later and tried to research it on the computer.How do you not think about something that your told not to think about or his radar will pick it up & The Bye Bye Man & Gloomsinger will hunt you down and find you-creepy.There are other good stories in this book & I found myself reading it all the way through until I was done with it.If you like these type's of books then this is another to add to your collection,& remember don't go out at midnight with a large green glass bottle with a cork in it,it's suppose to let The Bye Bye Man & Gloomsinger know that your trying to contact them.

This whole book is well done, but it's that last chapter which sends it over the top into truly fascinating territory. Skip to the end if you must, but don't miss the last bit! Is it an examination of the human psyche under stress? the paranormal bleeding into our everyday reality? the far and wild reaches of human suggestibility? a foray into the place where urban legends are born? Wild food for thought, and great stuff all around.

I loved this book! It is a collection of the weird and the odd all over the United States.

Robert Schneck is an excellent researcher and he can tell a great, great story!

I recommend this book to everyone!