Customer Reviews

Werewolves

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I bought this book in hopes of finding a comprehensive werewolf text that chronicled the history of the folklore and different mythologies of the creatures. What I got was a book full of movie reviews and synopses. The author uses films, such as Underworld and Skinwalkers, as a reference for werewolf folklore. 'In Underworld, Lucian did this:' I know; I saw the movie too. It is not a legitimate source when citing the origins of werewolf lore.

Entire chapters are devoted to reviewing the plots of werewolf movies. It is as useless as it is tedious! Ginger Snaps, American Werewolf in London and Wolf all get pages of synopses, complete with glossy film pictures. The book is an utter waste.

I returned it and thankfully got my money back.

Izzard's book for Werewolves is what I refer to as a Pop-Culture book.

He does cover some Werewolf history, but then he moves to a main focus of more recent books and movies. On one hand, I viewed this as an update to Stieger's Werewolf Encyclopedia book, covering new books since that book's publication as a way to see are there any movies or books I may have missed.

It's got a lot of good color pictures. And over all the book, kindof gives a current snap shot to how the image of the werewolf is changing or has changed.

It's on the thin side, which means it's not a complete Encyclopedia as Stieger tried to do. Nor should this one even be... Pop Culture... that kindof skims the basics and then offers some book and movie reviews/synopsis.

There are far better books out there, such as Curran's Werewolf Book, which offers an attempt at tracking how the image of the werewolf has changed over the years, Sabine-Goulding's book, Summer's book... even Guilley's Encyclopedia of Vampires, Werewolves and other Monsters would be better starting places.

I pre-ordered this book for my birthday, and I was disappointed when I received it as well. It has very little in the way of actual werewolf lore, but it is an entertaining read nonetheless (much like its counterpart, Vampires). I had been expecting the ultimate book on werewolves in folklore and legend, but I am somewhat satisfied with what I received. What the world needs is a modern nonfiction field guide on Werewolves, their origins, the folklore and legends, their strengths and weaknesses, how to hunt and kill them, etc. I could write a book like this. I hope somebody will give some thought to such a book.

Werewolves by Jon Izzard is a non-fiction reference novel on the what-else, well the werewolf. From the back: Half monser, half tragic hero, the wolf-man has stormed acros movie screens for years, howling in pursuit of his prey. But modern werewolves are complex creatures, as likely to shed a lonely tear as someone else's blood.

More of a vampire junkee than a werewolf fan - I have just found myself getting more and more into all things furry. This book helped expand my furry fanaticism by giving me a more intense look at exactly what lay behind the lore of werewolves - and not just what Laurell K. and Meyer relate about the Children of the Moon.

Werewolves introduces readers to many known and relatively obscure shape-shifters. The story of the Kitsune or the Japanese fox shifter is one of my favorite tales. It also goes into descriptions of feral children raised by wolves, Wolfitis (hypertrichosis) and then on to Pop Wolfies - anyone remember Michael J. Fox's furry basketball game???

Like its companion, Vampires, I was very impressed with the design and content of werewolves. Werewolves is designed in the same style as Vampires, and the use of imagery is very compelling. Don't judge this book by it's cover, for I think the cover is the worst aspect of the book, even though I know why they chose that particular furry friend. The image is from An American Werewolf in London (1981), which could be said brought Werewolves back into the spotlight in our modern culture.

Just like in Vampires, the writing of Mr. Izzard is informative and compelling. Topics are touched upon quickly, without dragging you down with useless facts and explanations that show-off the author's vast knowledge. Since my knowledge of werewolves needs a lot of expanded I was constantly being surprised at how vast werewolves are immersed in our society.

I recommend this book to anyone with an interest in the furry.