Vampiro: The Vampire Bat in Fact and Fantasy [Paperback]

David E. Brown (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1994 | ISBN-10: 094438322X | ISBN-13: 978-0944383223

No bat so fires our imagination and is more renowned than the common vampire bat of tropical America. The vampire's singular diet of warm blood, its stealthy nighttime attacks, and its capability of transmitting deadly diseases, all strike us with fear mixed with fascination. It comes as no surprise that the vampire bat has assumed not only the real-life role, but acquired the persona of its mythical Old World counterpart. By giving this bat the ability to metamorphose in and out of human form in countless horror stories and films, we have bestowed on this small mammal a notoriety unmatched by any other animal on earth. Reality and superstition have become intertwined. But there also exists an enormous amount of reliable information on the vampire bat. Zoologist David Brown has gathered and distilled this wealth of studies, and sifted through the mythology of the REVIEW: "vampyre" to present a picture of the vampire bat in true-life form. Although written for the non-biologist, even bat-specialists will appreciate Brown's factual presentation of the life story of the vampire bat. "This is a delightful book. . . . For cavers interested in learning more about one of the most intriguing creatures that frequently dwell in Latin American caves, it is highly recommended. For aficionados of the vampyre in film and literature, it is must reading."(--CAVE CRAWLER'S GAZETTE)

--This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David Brown is adjunct professor of biology, Arizona State University. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 148 pages
• Publisher: High Lonesome Books (September 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 094438322X
• ISBN-13: 978-0944383223
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,007,143 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Brown practices law in the Monterey, California area, where he has represented both landlords and tenants in hundreds of court cases -- most of which he felt could have been avoided if both sides were more fully informed about landlord/tenant law. Brown, a graduate of Stanford University (chemistry) and the University of Santa Clara Law School, also teaches law at the Monterey College of Law and is the author of Fight Your Ticket (CA version), Beat Your Ticket (the national version), The Landlord's Law Book, Vol. 1: Rights and Responsibilities; The Landlord's Law Book, Vol. 2: Evictions and co-author of How to Change Your Name in California and The Guardianship Book for California.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Gone batty for this book, March 2, 2000

By 

Ronald L. Rutowski (Southwestern US) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Vampiro: Vampire Bat In Fact & Fantasy (Paperback)

Vampire bats, like few other animals, capture our attention for both pragmatic and aesthetic reasons, and this readable little book does justice to the animal itself as well as human interest in them. I especially like the love-hate balance that Dave Brown manages so nicely in his presentation and personal recollections, pointing up all the beauties of this unique little mammal while at the same time the horrors of the blook-sucking life style, both bat and human. Brown proves to be not only a good student of the biology of wildlife but also of humans, which makes this book a must for anyone interested in how nature affects human culture and societies, and vice versa.