August 6

The Werewolf Book by Brad Steiger

Reviewed for MonsterLibrarian.com

Visible Ink, 1999

ISBN: 1578590787

Available: New and used

If you want to take your study of werewolves and other shape shifters out of fiction and into the realms of history, science and the occult this is the books to start with. Not only does The Werewolf Book have entries on all manner of shape shifting beings from myth, and accounts of supposed real life were-critters, it also encompasses the books and movies that influenced the image of shape shifting and werewolves throughout history and made it what it was today.

Nothing is treated as trivial, not even the effect comedy, such as Abbot and Costello’s monster movies, has had on the mythos. And while the encyclopedia isn’t exhaustive in its entries it does offer a plethora of titles to seek out for further research. Certainly a core directive in the study of shape shifting beings The Werewolf Book is an essential part of collections that cater to researchers, occultists or fictionists.

Contains: some disturbing descriptions of witch trials and tortures

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August 3

Wolf Hunt by Jeff Strand

Reviewed for MonsterLibrarian.com

Leisure (December 2010)
Dark Regions Press (limited)
ISBN: 9780843964653 (Leisure Edition)
Available: Limited, (Mass Market in December 2010)

Ivan is a total bad guy, a complete jerk who can point out people’s stupidity with sinister calm while gleefully killing them. He’s also the cargo of two stone cold, no-nonsense mafia transport men who are taking him across Florida to…well they don’t get paid to ask questions. Too bad Ivan just got loose and is now roaming suburban neighborhoods slaughtering people.

Jeff Strand’s Wolf Hunt is a wild ride, full of characters who don’t fall for all the typical horror novel tropes, and who face their circumstances with casual sensibility. This is definitely a stand out in horror fiction, not just werewolf tales. This is the story for people disillusioned with all the other werewolves out there, especially the thinly veiled alpha male stereotypes. Highly recommended for private and public collections.

Contains: Language, violence, gore

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August 3

New Cover

I really, really love this one!

By the way, my story from this one (also the one that got me a Writers of the Future Honorable Mention) is available free in the U.S. as part of last month’s Werewolf month at Monster Librarian.

Also, I wanted to take a moment to beg ask for reviews of Rot on Amazon, GoodReads or LibraryThing. I “Like” all reviews I find (that aren’t abusive or clearly betraying that the reader didn’t actually read the book) too, so if you want to up your Amazon reviewer rank…

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