Customer Reviews

Vampires: A Field Guide to the Creatures That Stalk the Night

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

 

 

Dr. Bob Curran won my respect with his book on werewolves. He is concise while also providing valid facts and research into the paranormal and into folklore. His writing style is simple while at the same time presenting a great many useful tidbits of information.

This is an author that I highly respect and recommend. Anyone who studies the paranormal, history, and folklore should appreciate this man's writing. He is a breath of fresh air in the wake of far too many supernatural reference guides with a slant toward this or that author's favorite work of fiction or personal bias within the subject such as a different author's predisposition toward the study of "psychic vampires". Bob Curran does not use a bias. He writes with a professional straight forwardness that I completely admire and respect. I would recommend any title by this author written as a tool of research into folklore and the paranormal.

It's probably way too soon to even give this book a fair review... but 70 pages in and I'm finding mistakes and errors.

The first two entries for starters... Tomte and Wood-Wives... incorrect information there about them. Yes the Tomte can have a bad temper and aren't always nice... I wouldn't place them as vampiric entities. And the Wood-Wives, none of my other books regarding Vampire or Faerie Lore, ect reference Wood-Wives as having a vampiric nature.

Are there creatures of Faerie with vampiric tendencies. Yes there are.

El Chupacabra, Curran's done better then most, but I found errors here and disagreements on.. such as linking them to an even older story with the Zunis and a failed Spanish quest for the Cibola? Right.

He's got some facts correct such as the Ekimmu and Dearg-Dul.

I should have waited and finished reading the book before writing a review... I can't just help but feel to put a word out if there's anyone else going to pick this book up, don't rely solely on it for correct information regarding Vampires, do read and compare with other books and authors who've researched or tried to research.

I enjoy all his books - he makes the subject very interesting with a lot of information on myths and legends.

I orginally bought this book hoping to get some information on a story I'm writing but the further into the more boring it got. I couldn't even finish it. Not something I would recommend.