Shapeshifters: A History - Hardcover

John B. Kachuba

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 178914079X ISBN 13: 9781789140798

Publisher: Reaktion Books, 2019

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 behavior. 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.

Review:

"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"

About the Author:

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.

• Publisher: Reaktion Books
• Publication date: 2019
• ISBN 10: 178914079X
• ISBN 13: 9781789140798
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 200