Shapeshifters: A History

(Hardback)

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Description

There is something about a shapeshifter a person who can transform into an animal that captures our imagination; that causes us to want to howl at the moon, or flit through the night like a bat. Werewolves, vampires, demons, and other weird creatures appeal to our animal nature, our 'dark side,' our desire to break free of the bonds of society and proper behaviour. Real or imaginary, shapeshifters lurk deep in our psyches and remain formidable cultural icons.

The myths, magic, and meaning surrounding shapeshifters are brought vividly to life in John B. Kachuba's compelling and original cultural history. Rituals in early cultures worldwide seemingly allowed shamans, sorcerers, witches, and wizards to transform at will into animals and back again. Today, there are millions of people who believe that shapeshifters walk among us and may even be world leaders. Featuring a fantastic and ghoulish array of examples from history, literature, film, TV and computer games, Shapeshifters explores our secret desire to become something other than human.

Reviews

"Kachuba has written a terrifically entertaining exploration of shapeshifting, from ancient folklore and fairy tales to Transformers and Twilight. I loved learning about skinwalkers, French werewolves, and where in Romania to buy a bottle of Dracula Merlot. This book offers fascinating insight into the origins of the stories we continue to tell about our desire 'to be someone or something other than what we are.'"

--Becky Hagenston, author of Scavengers: Stories
"Do you know the origin of the word berserk Have you heard about a community of vampires in Buffalo, New York Do you think of Jesus as a shapeshifter These are some examples of information from the ancient past to the present that you will find in Kachuba's Shapeshifters. This is a short book packed full of interesting details from myths and legends from around the world, historical research that sifts through the beliefs about shapeshifters in different cultures, and many brief stories of the exploits, drama, and dangers associated with these sometimes frightening creatures whether animal, human, or supernatural in form. . . . This entertaining book is the type you'll want to dip into according to your whims and use to further your own explorations on the topic. Recommended."-- "Monster Librarian"
"The book examines the history of the enduring shapeshifter archetype, which persists today, is found in almost every culture around the world and is believed by some to be more than myth. . . . [It] describes the various shapeshifter motifs such as discipline, avengement, or punishment, for example in The Frog Prince. Kachuba differentiates between those who have been involuntarily transformed through magic or a curse, and those who have voluntary control over their transformations and can shift at will between their human and transformed nature."-- "Grammarye"
"When you reach the end of Shapeshifters, it seems clear that, in addition to being a history, with most of its chapters focused on stories from antiquity through early modernity, Shapeshifters is very much a book of, and for, the twenty-first century as well. The greatest shapeshifters have always been human."-- "PopMatters"

Author Bio

John B. Kachuba is an award-winning author and creative writing instructor at Ohio University. He has investigated over one-hundred haunted locations around the world and his books include Ghosthunters and Dark Entry.