They Bite: Endless Cravings of Supernatural Predators

The book is divided into parts, one for vampires, one for dogs (of the demon variety), one for werewolves, etc. Each part begins with an essay on the history of how humans have viewed such creatures, taking in folklore, books, and movies. For instance, the chapter on vampires explains the differences between the traditional concepts and the changes wrought by Bram Stoker regarding the vampire legend. Following the essay, the different variations from all cultures are listed. Every culture has its version of a vampire, a werewolf, a Yeti type being, monsters, demons, devils. Every culture has a being that is the result of a terrible union between a human and some beast. Every culture has a flesh eaters and blood suckers. This is not a scholarly work. It is aimed at a general audience. It is a good quick read and mentions a lot of contemporary authors of horror and monster fiction for those interested to look up. But it is also a good starting point for researchers. My only complaint is that the authors did not mention the Harry Potter series. J.K. Rowling makes extensive use of the monsters and other creatures found in folklore. The authors did include a brief appreciation of Tolkien. The part on dogs discusses Sherlock Holmes and the Baskerville Hound, noting that the hound was not actually otherworldly. Stephen King and Anne Rice are also featured. A little mention of Harry Potter would have been appreciated, although those books are not, strictly speaking, horror books.