A Field Guide to Demons, Fairies, Fallen Angels and Other Subversive Spirits (Paperback)

by Carol K. Mack (Author), Dinah Mack (Author) "WATER, CONSIDERED TO BE THE ELEMENT OF FORMLESS potential, beyond order or cultivation, covers two-thirds of the earth's surface and holds a vast supernatural population..." (more)
Key Phrases: fairy species, demonic species, disarming techniques, Fox Fairy, Madame White, Changing Bear Maiden (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review
The Macks divert our gaze from our contemporary red-faced, cloven-hoofed misrepresentation of demons to remind us of the ancient roles demons were originally assigned to play. From the Tommyknockers of North American mountain mines to the South African Mbulu that waits in the river for lone travelers, A Field Guide to Demons classifies these creatures by their domains--water, mountain, forest--rather than in alphabetical or cultural order, dishing out antique and contemporary lore on these most misunderstood of spirits. A Field Guide to Demons melds folklore and mythology; maintains a surprisingly evenhanded view of demons; and reveals their role as the necessary challenger to established order, the antagonist--without which there could be no hero--and the darkness through which goodness shines brightest. --Brian Patterson --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Review
"A round of applause for this demonic cast of characters . . . They let us glimpse other people's demons, and many of our very own." --Anna Deavere Smith, author of Fires in the Mirror

"An array of the most dreaded demons mythology has to offer." --Robert L. Carniero, Curator of South American Ethnology, American Museum of Natural History
-- Review

"An array of the most dreaded demons mythology has to offer." -- Robert L. Carniero, Curator of South American Ethnology, American Museum of Natural History

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Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; Owl Books ed edition (October 15, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 080506270X
• ISBN-13: 978-0805062700
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (43 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #111,854 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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  #76 in	Books > Religion & Spirituality > Occult > Cults & Demonism

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

73 of 77 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Forewarned is Forearmed, July 20, 2002

By	"badric" - See all my reviews

This is a great reference work: useful, accessible and well organised. The demons, fairies and other mythical beings featured in this book were taken from the legends and folklore of several cultures and they are grouped according to their place of residence: water, mountain, forest, desert, domicile and psyche. Each chapter includes a short description of the creature's appearance, habits and preferences; one of two stories of encounters with it; and a section on disarming and dispelling techniques.

This guide includes some fascinating creatures, such as the Japanese Kappa and its surprising eating habits, the helpful and friendly Norwegian Nisse, the extremely fragile Australian Mimi, and the Chinese Madame White, who gives a whole new meaning to the expression femme fatale. Some better known beings like mermaids and werewolves are also featured. The Macks' writing style is clear and engaging, sometimes tongue-in-cheek but never disrespectful to other cultures. The detailed information on how to deal with these creatures is particularly useful; if you ever encounter any of them you'll know what to do to be able to tell the tale.

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Casual entertainment, October 8, 2004

By	Megan Knouff (Cincinnati, US) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Though the serious researcher or folklorist won't find much new content here, it's a fun and easy read with a unique format and a wide variety of entries. Most of the entries have associated stories, and some wonderfully unexpected things turn up (yes, Jung's Shadow is identified herein). And for that serious researcher? The bibliography is priceless, and I will probably go bankrupt amassing it. Do not, however, confuse this with an occult volume. This is simply legend and folklore.

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Satisfies A Wonderful Curiousity, August 30, 2003

By	Deaf Writer "deafwriter" (Grand Rapids, MI United States) - See all my reviews

If you are interested in learning about demons, fairies, and fallen angels, this book is an absolute must-read! Each submission tells of the creature, the lore and the dispelling or disarming technique. Many have illustrations to boot! Along with that is an instructional aid on how to use this book, how to identify a basic demon, how to identify a common fairy, approaches to the field, and origin of the species. Covers all creatures, separated into their elements: Water, Mountain, Forest, Desert, Domicile, or Psyche. An incredibly fascinating read and a definite asset to any library. Highly recommended. :o)