Detroit, Michigan – From the ancient Mesopotamia poem Epic of Gilgamesh to the popular werewolf movies of today, werewolf stories and myths have been around a hair-raisingly long time. Stories of man turning to beast and the mixing of human and wolf blood are found in virtually every culture and in today’s pop culture.
Noted cryptozoologists and paranormal researchers Nick Redfern and Brad Steiger share their personal stories, mythology, and other blood-curdling encounters in “Werewolf Stories: Shape-Shifters, Lycanthropes, and Man-Beasts” (Visible Ink Press / September 12, 2023 / $24.95). They take a deep dive into the legends, the history, and the pop-culture take on the man-beast, uncovering details and sharing stories such as…
- The meaning and the origins of the term lycanthropy
- Fenrir, the wolf child of the giantess Angrboda and the god Loki, from the Old Norse myth of Ragnarok
- Notorious serial killers, including Peter Stumpp and Michael Lupo, who thought themselves to be and modeled their crimes on werewolves.
- The Basque butchers of Louisiana and the loup-garou
- Diana, the goddess of the wilderness and the hunt, and her pack of hunting dogs, who once ruled all the dark forests of Europe
- The “werewolf of the Dordogne,” Francis Leroy, and his uncontrollable bloodlust during the full moon
- The secret terrorist group Organization Werewolf, established in 1923, and its possible allegiance to Adolf Hitler
- Ghouls from Arabic folklore, the demonic Djinns that hover near burial grounds and sustain themselves on human flesh stolen from graves
- Tasmania’s thylacine and sightings of the “probably extinct” creature and its remarkable—and frightening—jaw capacity
- Alaska’s Kushtaka and other stories of the Bigfoot man-beast
- Puerto Rico’s chupacabra and its powerful goat-like legs, three-clawed feet, and penchant for sucking blood
- The Doñas de Fuera of Sicily, small fairies who looked human, aside from their paw-like feet, and were cruel and dangerous when crossed
- And many more stories and histories of werewolves, night-stalkers, lycanthropes, and man-beasts
With more than 100 photos, this blood-pounding story collection is richly illustrated, and its helpful source notes let you dive deep into even more werewolf tales. “Werewolf Stories” is a wild and weird road trip into the mystery-filled domain of the disturbingly real world of night-stalkers and werewolves!
About the Authors
Nick Redfern is the author of numerous books on unexplained mysteries and the paranormal, including Visible Ink Press’s “The Monster Book“, “Monsters of the Deep“, and “The Bigfoot Book.” He has appeared on more than 70 TV shows, including the Travel Channel’s In Search of Monsters; BBC’s Out of This World; the History Channel’s Ancient Aliens and UFO Hunters; Science’s The Unexplained Files; and the National Geographic Channel’s Paranatural. Originally from the United Kingdom, Nick lives on the fringes of Dallas, Texas.
Brad Steiger devoted his life to exploring unusual, hidden, secret, and otherwise strange occurrences. Brad first began publishing articles on the unexplained in 1956; since then, he authored more than 200 titles with over 17 million copies in print, including “Real Monsters, Gruesome Critters, and Beasts from the Darkside,” “Real Aliens, Space Beings, and Creatures from Other Worlds,” and “Real Ghosts, Restless Spirits, and Haunted Places.” He is survived by two sons, three daughters, and ten grandchildren, who miss him greatly.
This is sure to be a great book, especially for the upcoming Halloween season. Look for my review soon. I have included links throughout the blog so that you can pre-order. I would love to hear everyone’s feedback on this book when it comes out in September!
~David Albaugh